MISS LACEY - DAY 13

My mother was kind enough to let me know that I am a slacker and I have been neglecting my blog/sharing my days with Lacey with you (with her).  So, after a two day absence, here we go!

Lacey is becoming a better and more secure dog everyday.  She is feeling much better this week, and we have been enjoying a lot of playtime.  She has taken a liking to her rawhide bone as well as her "wubba" (a toy made by Kong) &  because of this, we have gotten the fetch thing down pretty well.  I honestly think I have more fun playing fetch than she does...

She's really been enjoying the snow over the past week.  Not only does she get to her "business" faster, but she also likes to jump around and play.  It's really nice when she gets into a play-mode outside, since she is normally in fear-mode.  I've been walking her with the gentle leader collar and dual looped leash to start teaching her not to pull and to stay behind me.  Its been three days and she's really starting to respond.  She doesn't like walking down the stairs with the leader on, but thats understandable, so I've started putting on the harness when we get downstairs.

After Lacey got sick last week, I decided to implement a "no laying on the furniture" rule.  I was a slack foster dad for the first week as I pretty much let her relax wherever she wanted to.  On Friday I started telling her "no" and making her lay on the floor next to me or would make her go to her crate to rest.  If you are wondering about her progress, she's lying at my feet right now while I type this on the couch.  (And I didn't even tell her to)

From the beginning of this blog I have suggested that Lacey is a really sweet dog.  I am finding that the more that we break through her fear-based issues, the more I am finding her to be a very smart dog.  All of Lacey's issues lie with trust and fear.  She is comfortable enough in my apartment now that she can be herself.  I have even started inviting friends over to meet her, and other than one time with my friend Eric, she has come out of her crate and greeted them/smothered them with love after about 5 minutes.  Once she works past the outside issues, she's going to be a really happy dog.

MISS LACEY - DAY 5.1

Today was a great day.  

Thats all for my post this evening.

I needed a reason to post this photo.

MISS LACEY - DAY 5

Miss Lacey and I are really getting a chance to get to know each other this weekend.  I've had to work all week, so this is the first day that I have been able to relax with her at home for most of the day.

She and I had a nice long walk around the East Village of NYC this morning.  It's the longest walk we have taken, and Lacey handled it very well.  She stopped once or twice due to loud noises, but as long as I didn't react, and kept up the forward momentum, she kept moving.

We got back to the apartment around 11AM, later than I had wanted, because Lacey still needed to eat.  She's really liking the food I'm giving her now.  Dry food, with one scoop of wet mixed in.  She has been eating like a champ the last two days.  I couldn't be more proud of her.

MISS LACEY - DAY 3.1

This is what Lacey looks like when she's happily licking her chops after eating a well-deserved treat.

I have to say that this dog is surprising me left and right.

I came home for lunch today and she didn't react as well as I was hoping.  She was curled up and shaking as if she didn't know me.  Not only that, but she hadn't touched her food at all.  I decided to cut the visit short, and head back to work, but also decided to leave on a classic rock radio station for a little ambient noise (How could you love a dog that doesn't know/love Led Zeppelin??) and perhaps the occasional pleasing human voice.  Needless to say I left my apartment feeling a little bit crushed.

Much to my surprise, when I got home later, Lacey came right out her crate and said hello to me!  Kisses and all!  Where has this dog been all along??  On top of that, she ate her food right away!  To be fair, I cheated and added a scoop of wet food, but come on!  She loved it!

I fixed myself a little dinner (rotisserie chicken and veggies) and sat down on the couch to eat.  She hopped up to sit next to me, but didn't beg or try to take my food.  Not even once.  It was pretty incredible.  Every dog I've ever known has been quite the food hog.  This is refreshing.

Surprise number two, and I don't wanna jinks myself (or her) but Miss Lacey has pretty much overcome her fear of the stairs.  She went straight down, no hesitation at all.  It was beautiful.  I'm so proud.

Well, we are going to have early evening as I am not feeling 100%.  Lacey, on the other hand, is inching toward that line.

MISS LACEY - Petfinder.com

Lacey is a very sweet and gentle adult female mixed breed dog. She loves being around people and will follow you anywhere you go. She will go off and do her own thing too if you are busy with something else. But as soon as you call her over she is ready and happy to be reunited. Lacey will make a wonderful addition to the family. Please come to the shelter and meet Lacey.

Lacey is up-to-date with routine shots and spayed/neutered.