JMJ Dakota

So we've had Roxie for 4 days now and to date she's had no accidents in the house. We're taking her out of the crate gradually... we want her to remember that the crate is her safe place and eventually voluntarily walk in whenever she feels like she needs her "alone time". An exercise I have been doing with her is leashing her to my waist. This way I know where she is at all times, yet she still gets some freedom from the crate.

Another part of the training we've been doing is having her learn to stay in the crate when we open the door. This is something we've done with Winston, our first greyhound, and it works VERY well. Eventually you'll be able to open the crate door, walk out of the room, grab a treat from the cupboard, then walk back into the room with the crate -- when you give her the command "Ok Roxie!" she'll walk right out. Hey, it's just easier on everyone involved!

One update on the transition from kennel to our foster home: we've kept the muzzle on her for the first couple of days, as fosters need to do, but it's no longer needed. She and Winston get along fine, there is no territorial issue at all up to this point. She knows it's his house, she accepts it now and has moved on. She's submissive and sweet, yet playful and alert.

This morning it was pouring outside, I had a candle lit and was working from my laptop. Roxie was right standing right next to me, pushing her head into my hip. Winston walked up to me for some affection, no growls were heard at all, then all of the sudden the typical greyhound neck hug happened. To me it's one of the sweetest things to see... his neck went under hers and crossed -- I wish I had my camera on me at that time! It was a definite photo opp!

It's currently still raining outside, but when it's dry this weekend we plan on taking both Roxie and Winston to the park to give her some exercise. Her personality is coming out even more now. She's got a lot of energy and is really playful. Will be fun to see her run a bit in the park.