Time Marches On

Rainey with her brown/hazel/blue eyes in a quiet moment of adolescensce

As I sit down to finally write a blog post, I am realizing it is already pushing into the Fall season, with Winter right around the corner here in Minnesota. In my last posting, I was mourning the loss of a good friend and loyal companion, my yellow lab, Tanner. Although still missed, I am grateful that he is no longer suffering here on earth. Over the past few months I have been kept busy with the daily antics and task of raising Rainey, our 5 month old Aussie. While she is a great dog, puppy hood to adolescence is always the time when many dogs wind up in shelters as the humans just can't get past this crazy teen-age stage. There are days I, myself, have to ask the question :"What have I gotten myself into with her?". But these are passing thoughts and Rainey is right where she should be in her developement.

Lessons Rainey has learned over the past 4 months:

1. Using the outdoors as your bathroom is a kind and generous thing to do for your Master- remember the garage is still considered part of the house
2. Waiting to go outside until a human is awake is even better
3. When an older dog or human approaches your food dish, step aside
4. Guarding or growling your food dish will get you in a lot of trouble
5. Fresh chicken dinner does not mean help yourself to the hens down at the hen house
6. Electric fences around the hen house give off a shock to make you never try for another chicken dinner
7. Come, Sit Stay Heel are not optional suggestions
8. No matter what path you take to your Master, always come when called. There will always be a treat or a "good girl" and scruff waiting
9. Run alongside the biker, not in front. Someone will always get hurt
10. Your human loves you in spite of your adolescence

Still Learning:

1. Jumping on toddlers/ preschoolers will get you sent to your kennel
2. Herding grandchildren, although helpful, causes fear in the "herdees"
3. Come: means come to me now
4. Sit still when you are getting petted
5. Use your nose for good, like finding my lost shoe you took to chew
6. Not a good idea to pace around at night when humans want to watch TV
7. No chewing on kid toys found in the yard
8. No chewing on things in the garage
9. No chewing on things you found in the garbage can
10. NO chewing on the above means no chewing....even tomorrow and the next day and next...forever

While Rainey is still learning, and I am daily looking for patience, she actually is a great puppy. In her learning she has taught me valuable lessons.

1. Be kind and courteous to  my elders and those in authority
2. When hungry, I can be quite testy and may want to growl and guard my food
3. Certain boundaries are an OK thing if it keeps me out of trouble with my Master
4. Run alongside my Master, it is the easiest and safest place to be
5. There are certain rules in life that are not optional (treat others as you would want them to treat you)
6. Settle down and enjoy the moment, quit worrying and pacing
7. Bad habits are hard to break.
8. Each day is a new beginning to try to do all things well
9. Sit still in the Master's presence
10. No matter what path I take, my Master will always welcome me with open arms and a "good girl", even if it takes me a few tries in getting there.