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4:40:00 PM EST
Feeling Loopy
Hearing Vibrations from my hands clapping for Pickles
Stubborn, Bullheaded
Shhhhh..............The little pup's finally settled down for a nap. Whew!!! In all honesty having a hearing dog can be alot of work. But the rewards in the end far outweigh anything else. Tuesday was the 2nd week since Pickles arrived on my doorstep. Yep, you guessed it, she has the leash off now when she is indoors. Actually we cheated a little and it came off Christmas Day. Call it an early Christmas present to us both LOL. She was a little nervous that first day staying close to me which she is suppose to do anyway. Toward the end of the day she unwinded a little and we played for the majority of the evening. Yesterday was a little more of Pickles temperment coming out...... I shouldn't be surprised my lovable pup has a stubborn and bullheaded streak, not unlike my own. If I tell Pickles to wait, she is suppose to sit in that spot or lay down, but remain there. Yesterday she decieded , she would wait, but it would be where she wanted to. K, we'll meet somewhere in the middle as long as she kept me in her view. Then later on in the evening when I called to her ( I clap my hands, then tap my legs for her) she would look at me and flat out refuse to come to me.
I was dumbfounded what happened to my well behaved Pickles. A little later in the evening I realized when I called to her I was in the kitchen. If I wasn't in the kitchen she would come to me immediately. K, this was definately a complication we had to try to work through. Her food and water dishes where in the kitchen. I looked around the kitchen perplexed as to why she had set boundaries for herself at the entrances to the kitchen, she would go no further. Then I had a Duh!!! moment the answer was right in front of me. All my cats where hanging out in the kitchen. She had previously been told no, to chasing them. Being Pickles , so ready to please , she had made a point to stay away from the cats so she wouldn't get in trouble. I put the leash back on her when I needed to go in the kitchen, this provided a little extra security while we where in there. Then while she was in the livingroom , and I was straightening up the kitchen, I moved her box of Milkbones. I looked down and there was Pickles in the kitchen all on her own. Remember how it seems everytime we open a pkg. of cookies our children are right there. It was just like that. So here was yet another incentive to get her to go into the kitchen.
Today, day 3 no leash....she still presses her luck a little bit. But when I raise my voice a tad she knows I'm not happy and straightens right up. Hey, it worked on us when we where kids right?? But all in all I think things are finally falling into place. I have to keep reminding myself it's only been 2 weeks, patience is needed more than anything right now. Lo and behold Pickles went in the kitchen on her own to get water this morning. The one and only time today....to me it's still progress. She has walked up to Feather , our smallest cat, to about a foot away. They both stood thier ground without running, hissing, and shrieking. If anything Feather seemed to look at Pickles as some huge , bouncing , furball. Pickles so wants to play with them so much. She is such a loving , precious dog. I can't remember what life was like without her. Nor do I want to.
Albiet Pickles is probably a little more work than most working dogs would be. Considering she survived Katrina, and is shy around crowds. But I knew that going in , and was more than up to the challenge. With alot of love and patience, we are both going to be so much more enriched with one another. I know I already am. I have more confidence being outside and around people than I had before. When you are deaf and alone, it can be overwhelming. I can't describe how frightening it is to not know someone was behind you until they come up right beside you on a sidewalk. I don't know how many times Doc used to walk in the door and I would be upstairs and round the corner to find him on the stairs. I would almost jump out of my skin trying to stifle a scream. With Pickles, she is trained to listen for sounds, so if I watch her and look where she is focusing her attention I can see what is making noise, I'm no longer caught off guard. In a sense when she looks at a bird in a tree because it's singing, I can say I heard the bird, because my attention has been drawn toward that sound because of her. It takes courage to face the world with a disability, but with Pickles my courage is twofold. I know she is looking out for me. She definately takes the boredom out of my day. I'm still not used to not being able to work even though it's three years later. I have worked all my life, not working hasn't been easy. It takes some reminding from time to time, that it isn't my fault, and thatit doesn't necessarily make me worthless. Having Pickles around makes me feel wanted. I look in her eyes and I realize she needs me just as much as I need her. K, I'm going to try to get a little down time myself while she is still snoozing. LOL, sometimes it feels just like when Amber Skye was a baby, in her own small way Pickles is still a baby , still learning. But then so am I, I don't believe we ever stop learning in life. Stay safe and loved !!! Indigo
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Thank you so much for coming by my journal and leaving such a lovely comment...
Your journal is just beautiful...fun and sounds like you are having fun with Pickles...your one awesome person...I am coming back for sure...adding you to my alerts right now...many hugs and love,
Joyce
http://journals.aol.com/springangel235/TreasureChestFullofL ife/ -
Pickles is a sweetie and a smart one also. LOL..poor thing trying to hard with those kitties. You two are adjusting so well. It seems much longer than two weeks. I'm thinking that soon Pickles will become just like another child to you. Love reading about you two getting to know each other. You are such a wonderful writer! Love ya, Chris
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This adjustment period has been very interesting to read about. There is always the honeymoon period where everyone is on their best behavior learning about each other, then comes testing to see if they will still be loved even with certain querks, LOL. I don't know how many times I have been startled by someone when I was deeply involved in a project. I can't imagine what it would be like daily. I am seeing the importance of Pickles more and more reading your entries. Thanks for sharing.
Julie -
I LOVE TO READ ABOUT YOUR DAY WITH PICKLES...WHEN YOU WRITE I WOULD NEVER GUESS YOU WERE DEAF...YOU WRITE AS THOUGH YOU CAN HEAR! HAVE A BLESSED DAY!! TERRYANN
12/28/06 2:47 PM
have fun
http://journals.aol.co.uk/sjn
stacey xx