Abbey's Story...

Shayla,

I thought you might like an update on how she is doing. What a sweet little one she is. We just love her. She was very afraid of part of out house in the beginning. We determined that she was afraid of the slippery floors, not the steps - she likes carpet. We put down some runners and towels in the hall and she is doing much better. She is just starting to venture into the kitchen -she has determined that the bar stools will not bite.

She loves the yard but wants you to stand on the deck when she is out. We have to leave the sliding door area so she cannot see us, then she will go into the yard. Once in the yard, she wants to stay there. We do not let her stay out long, it is too cold. We just stand and watch her, I do not think she knows there is a fence with all this snow.

She loves Jessy. She bites Jessy's paws to get her to play. She also takes Jessy's bone. Jessy does real well with her. We got her a flexible nylabone (at the vet's suggestion). The vet says it will be easier on her teeth. She also like a tug rope and will play tug of war with us.

The vet put her on 3 feedings a day to get some weight on her. She was still only 16 lbs at the vet on Saturday. Her tummy is all healed. They clipped her nails - I do not think she has had that done before - she screamed. They did a little bit. She goes back for her Flu shot booster in 3 weeks and they will try again to clip some more.

She loves being in the house. She will sleep in her bed at night but sneaks up on ours about 4-5 am. If she wakes us then she gets put back in her bed so she is starting to come up quietly and lay down between us in a little ball. If I see her I just point to her bed and say 'Abbey go beddy' and she goes like a good girl. If she doesn't wake me, then she is near my pillow when I wake up.

Anyway, she is great and we love her. You do not have to worry, she has a good home now and will not want for anything. I am planning to take her to classes when the weather gets better. Obedience for sure, agility if my legs are feeling better. She is a good jumper and I have had some experience with agility classes with the dog she replaced.

Keep up the good work with the web site - I will check it to see when you are in Des Moines.

Thanks again.

Carol