Hairless summer...

We have another few weeks under our belt now. We moved out to the cottage at the first of May and here it is the first of June already. My how time flies when you're working day and night and not getting any sleep!

Although the move to the cottage was supposed to be smooth this year, there were a few hiccups along the way to make it less than .... smooth. First was my issue with having to prepare two apartments for renting at the same time that we were trying to open the cottage and build the extension on to the house for Beckett's space. Aside from that was my need to get the horse shelter completed before I could accept the foster horses on the property. All this was delayed due to two solid weeks of wet weather. It was either raining mildly but still now allowing us to work on the grounds, or it was a downpour which made for a very interesting time getting through the mud and into the cottage.

The moving, the construction, the weather, and the lack of 'outside' time added to Beckett's setback after getting his fur cut back for the summer period. Beckett wasn't too crazy about the cottage anyway for a few reasons, or so we deduced after a spell. He didn't like not having a large open space with alternate routes of escape as he had in the apartment. He didn't like that we were able to come in the house from three directions rather than the one. He didn't like the fenced in area we built for him... regardless of the Island stone work! Most of all, he did not do well with us being away for the whole day rather than coming home every couple of hours to walk him. That on it's own seems to have set him back to week 2 or 3 with his fear of us. (It may also be his haircut... really liked him with more fur so maybe he thinks the same way LOL)

I wish I had video'd his physcial reaction about 2 weeks ago. He would run to his blanket and growl at us while physically shaking like a 4 year old who just came out of the cold ocean from swimming. He shook uncontrollabley. I don't know if it was his medication finally kicking in or if it has been the constant work we are doing with him but he seems LESS scared for less of a period but he is still in that realm.

June 13, 2011

This last weekend has confirmed that we do have a dog in need of a role model. I've seen him with other dogs and it is during these times that his true personality comes out and he is a Wheaten indeed. He romps, rolls, wags his tail, smiles and just plane enjoys his life. The problem is that he sustains this for the period that he is playing and for about a 1/2 hour after, then he shrinks back to his defensive mode and will not venture out again.

Our trainer , who has experience with puppy mill survivors, has recognized that Beckett is an extreme case of social issues with humans. She brought out her two dogs to see how Beckett interacted with them and she was completely surprised at the different dog that Beckett becomes with playmates. Like all of his other playmates, he tends to tire them out. It's going to take another Wheaten to match him and lead him onward.

I've taken it upon myself to investigate two different Wheaten organizations to see if there is a possible adoption of a role model dog that is more mature than Beckett is. I've also spoken with our breeder, or rather, potential supplier of a puppy, and she is going to check with her contacts for perhaps a mature dog that is being returned for no other reason than the people can not keep it for personal reasons. Not Personality reasons! LOL The dog also has to be okay around children because I do have my 7 year old grandaughter visiting now and then. Hyper we can deal with, aggressive toward children, not a possibility.

The horses are now in the pasture, the kennel in all it's glory is complete, the porch is screened in and for us, the summer has begun.