Joya (aka "The Puppy from Hell") and The Boys

Walks with her are even more enjoyable now that we know each other and have a mutual trust. You've got a gem in that puppy! /Judy

02/02 Wed:  It was so nice out today (comparatively speaking) that Joya and I jogged part of our walk. Joya may have eaten a small piece of Styrofoam. [If' that's all she hate, you're doing very well!] I stopped her from puling the Styrofoam food box out of the snow.  Whenever I command her to drop it and snap her leash, however, she grabs a bite and swallows it! /Judy [This is one of the things we truly hope she outgrows!]

02/03 Thursday: We're getting a bit farther each day.  Today we got to the edge of Edmonston (where the perpendicular dike joins the Northeast Branch dike.)  As the snow and ice recede, Joya finds more things to eat. My technique of saying, "No! Drop it," as I grab and open her muzzle doesn't work anymore. She sniffs, grabs, and gulps all in one fluid motion. today's findings appeared to have been all organic, no Styrofoam. I wonder if a "no" and leash snap would work? At least until she figured that one out.

It's sure a good thing she is obedience trained and submissive. Her combination of bulk and brains could make her very powerful. /Judy

02/04 Fri: Our return walk took less time that I expected, so Joya and I walked around the front yard and played briefly with her ball for the remaining time. A low-flying airplane went overhead during our walk. she looked up a few times but didn't slow her pace. I'm sure you've see her do her "bow" trick. She holds her right front paw up close to her body while lowering her head and chest so she can get a close-in sniff at a hole in the snow.  She looks elegant doing it.

I hope Laurie works out for you in the coming weeks. Thank you for your business. /Judy
[Judy is going on a well-deserved vacation and will return on February 24. Joya and her folks will miss her and wish her a safe and fun experience! See the news from Judy and Rob on their Mediterranean Cruise.]

What command do you use for her to go back in her crate? I tried crate, kennel and bed, but she just sat there and looked at me (I assume she knew quite well what I was talking about and was just pushing her bounds!). I finally just hooked a finger in her collar and walked her towards the crate until she went in! /Laurie [Joya knew exactly what Laurie was saying, but figured it was more entertaining to watch Laurie's response!]

02/07 Tues: So, Joya had a good walk today and went to bed when told!!!! I jogged her to the playground and we walked back (probably more for my exercise than hers!!) 
She seemed to be intent over eating snow and fought me over giving up a mitten that she found, but other than that, it was a pleasant time. I have a scheduling problem for tomorrow. I can walk Joya, but would have to do it before noon. I am very sorry about this; but it is unavoidable. 

Elsa (my Borzoi) is scheduled for surgery on Thursday to have a lung lobe removed. The pre-op with the surgeon is tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Gaithersburg and I have to pick up her X-rays from my Vets in Olney. I can't remember if I told you, but we have been battling with this lung since New Years Eve. Have had numerous tests and needle biopsy done, but all tests keep coming back inconclusive and the X-rays show a more solid mass of the lung. I have been advised by 3 Vets to have it removed. I thought that it was going to the week of the 20th, but my Vet apparently scheduled it for this week. We are going to a specialty clinic in Gaithersburg and whenever you go to this place (and god, I hope you never have to go there) they will only set up appointments through your referring vet. This has come up on me very suddenly and I am really sorry about it. Please let me know if it is OK if I walk Joya earlier than the 1-2 time frame or what you would like me to do. Thanks. /Laurie

02/15 Tue: Elsa came home Sunday morning. She is doing great. Usually, she is mostly a couch potato dog, so I didn't think that the orders of "keep her quiet for 3 weeks" would be all that difficult. However, she has apparently decided to 
act like a puppy. I am constantly scolding her and sending her back to either the couch or the bed! 

Yesterday, I took Joya and Spinner (my Border Collie) for a walk. Joya tried Sooo hard to get him to play with her, but he just kept ignoring her. They competed as to who could walk faster, so the walk was actually longer and faster than we have ever walked!!! They both met their first (at least Spinner's first) horse. One of the Park Police was walking his horse along the trail. I took both slightly off the trail, since I wasn't sure how either would react. They were both fine although Joya did seem curious about the really big dog! Today, I left Spinner at home Joya and I worked with the ball and retrieving. She didn't seem to have any problem bringing it back, but did seem to lose interest after about 1/2 a dozen throws. We did this on leash on the trail. Well, I'll talk to you later. /Laurie

02/22 Tue: We had a great (almost 2 hour) walk/hike today. I took her and Spinner over to the park by me and we walked around the park and onto a little foot path that goes to the metro station in college park (had been wanting to explore 
for quite a while, but the weather had been awful). Joya only peed once and that's all she did, so I don't know if she truly didn't have to go or was just too excited. I tried her on my big dog flexi leash and she really enjoyed it. We worked on the stolen/paid for trick for about five minutes and worked on her down-stays (while in the van) quite extensively! She was 
VERY eager to get back to her bed! 

I just spoke with Judy and I will continue walking her up to and including Thursday. My class on Thursday morning was cancelled (this is my carousel carving class) so Thursday is not a problem at all anymore. Judy will pick up on Friday with her walks. We talked about me doing Tuesdays/ Thursdays and her continuing with MWF schedule and she is fine with it. (I didn't want to step on toes) if that is still what you want to do. Does she need the key that I have? Also, I saw that you got your first order through pets.com. Guess it ended up being a good deal for you too, huh?

02/25 Fri: Joya was really excited to see me today. She was exceptionally good today.  She wasn't responding fly to my "heel" command at one point. I turned to see a tiny Pomeranian off-leash and on her heel. The tiny dog stood on its hind legs to get tall enough to sniff Joya's muzzle. Joya just sniffed it too and let it go on its way. The little dog's owner was running behind and apologizing.

Joya got really hot and thirsty today. I usually bring water for the dogs and for me. Next time, even if it IS February, I'll bring it. How do you feel about Joya drinking river water? My previous job was coordinating adult education on the Northeast Branch for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. Analysts there told me the worst pollution problem is too high a count of coliform bacteria and it occurs primarily after a rain storm.

Joya and I surprised a pair of mallards in a tiny creek in the park. They were only about 20 feet from us and stayed in the water as long as Joya was sniffing the ground.  When she looked up and saw them, they took flight, quacking loudly and startled Joya. She jumped.  Later, however, a low flying helicopter went right over our heads.  She looked up a couple of times, then ignored it. It's rewarding to see her self-confidence growing. /Judy

02/28 Mon: It was beautiful out today. Joya was raring to go, especially when she was Rob who walked with us.  Joya set a brisk pace so we got all the way to and across the Decateur Street bridge. 

Thanks for the print out of how you received my email.  Rob is looking at it. 

Joya was very well-behaved today. She picked up something in her mouth.  I didn't notice until she stared sheepishly, expecting me to take it, which I did. /Judy