New Year check in:
How's everyone doing? I assume just as busy as we are. Thelma Lou is growing like a weed. She has long muscular legs and her body is getting long as well. Her mother was on the smaller side and we thought Thelma Lou would be as well, but I am wondering if she is going to take after her father, who is big and muscular and 85 lbs. Her paws are still much too big for her body.
We've been making some good strides-still, biting is the most difficult thing we deal with. My favorite times with her are right when she wakes up (she's so cuddly) and when she curls up at my feet (like now) chewing on a stick or a toy. She's getting prettier every day-my husband's aunt called her the beauty queen of dogs.
Potty training is still coming along. I determined yesterday that we are going to train the bell. She goes outside most of the time, but it is usually not because she signalled us, rather we just took her out. So, while there are fewer accidents, I wouldn't consider her house-trained.
Yesterday was her first scared time. Some people moved in at the end of our block, with two barky dogs-one big black, scary dog. I'll just stop here and say that I am probably unlike most people on this forum. I consider myself a cat person. I love my dog, and goldens in general, but I am not a big dog lover. Anyway, this big dog is in a fenced yard but he has a big, scary growl and bark. I really hate it, actually, because up until now the neighborhood has been so happy and kid friendly.
So we were taking our walk last night around the block and it was dark. She was sniffing along at everything when we got close to their house and then that dog started barking. She couldn't see him (in addition to the fence, there was a hedge in between us with just a small break) but that bark scared her. The boys and I tried encouraging her along but she was pulling back on the leash and didn't want to go past their house at all. I ended up picking her up and a carrying her. Her entire body was shaking, poor thing.
This house is on our usual, and practically only, walking route, so it's something she's going to have to get used to. Once we got past their house she wanted down and then was playful again.
My chore this week is to find a hotel that will allow dogs when we go visit my in-laws in a couple weeks. It's my father-in-law's 80th birthday and we are all dropping in to wish him happy birthday. The hotel we usually stay at does not allow pets of any kind so I've got to do some looking around. I don't think we can (or want to) board her and I can't think of anyone here I would leave her with for three days. Staying with the in-laws is not an option.
And other than that, life is back to normal.
Hope you're all having a great week!