It has been almost four months since we adopted Elsa the Great, the little rescue dog who shivered and shook en route home and who is still frightened of strangers and strange noises or quick movements.
In spite of being a cowardly little girl dog, she exhibits signs of mighty-ness, especially when she succeeds in training her new caretakers.
Elsa has learned many things.
BEGGING WITH BIG EYES REAPS REWARDS
We vowed we would never feed her from the table. Like most New Year’s resolutions, there are now infractions. But Elsa’s on the chubby side so it’s mini dog treats (only 5 calories each) for her. And we even break those in half. But she’s still getting noticeably rounder. Could it be the little extra bits we give her for being good, for being cute, for just being Elsa?
ELSA IS COOPERATIVE AND WILL COME WHEN CALLED (IF THERE IS NO OTHER DISTRACTION)
It snowed one night and she loves to eat snow.
Else loves to eat period.
And if she is released into our little fenced yard (for business purposes), she will stroll around devouring snow and ignore all calls to “Hurry Up!” “Do your business!” “O.K. COME!”
WHOOPIE! LOOK AT MEEEEE!!!!
The sweetest moments are when she gets the “Zoomies.” Evidently that is when a pup is extremely happy, excited and feeling just – well, WONDERFUL!
It happens when she comes in from a walk and is suddenly thrilled to know we are both on site, and again when we return from the outside world and she has been alone for even an hour, or even when she has had a long drink of water.
She literally tears around the house aiming for a collision with first Bill, then me then back and around the house again and again. It is a grand show of enormous energy and leaves us laughing at each display of unbridled joy.
KEEP ‘EM WORKING!
I am thinking of starting a new business selling pillow stuffing!
I never thought about it but Elsa has turned out to be a SHEDDER! And I mean a MEGA-SHEDDER.
In a day or two I can see hairs floating before my eyes. And she sheds multi colors since she is a tri-colored dog to begin with. She’s a combination of black, white and beige/brown. Take your pick!
Life with a mega shedder takes on a whole new meaning. It means more exercise for me (good for Big Foot?) with more vacuuming and dusting and cleaning and brushing.
Elsa is now family.
We love her but
we are all still “in training.”
Virginia Views 