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Saint Bernard General Discussions / Millie aka Amelia's new family!
« on: August 15, 2007, 04:33:38 pm »
In case you are interested in an update on Millie...
My family and I did indeed meet & pickup Millie on our way back from a family vacation to Florida - we are a crowd with the 3 large kids and a big 4 year old Australian Sheppard.
Millie is a sweet dog with a healthy attitude towards the changes forced on her. We met her to see how she would react to all 5 of us and our other dog - the one we USED to think was BIG. She apparently will take to anyone that will pet her big ears! She is good at making the rounds to any willing hand. She is obviously under weight - and maybe a little lethargic because of it – she seems to struggle a little right now to just get around. It could also have been the 104 temperature that day. After some visiting, she came with us willingly. But I know one person that was heartbroken to see her jump into our van without a look back!
The drooling issue has improved during the week. And she has seemed to get a little more energy each day.
However, one ‘problem’ arrived the first evening: Millie is scared of heights! The kids escorted her throughout the house and eventually upstairs – but she would not come down! Not even with the temptation of treats. She stayed up there for an hour or two before we decided to find another solution. Millie was determined to not get within 5 feet of those stairs! Carrying her was out of the question because of her weight (I’m not that big!), her newness to us (did not want to scare her), and we didn’t want to make her even ‘taller’. My son had the good idea: 4 of us carried her downstairs backwards in a huge Christmas storage box. She had no problems getting in that box either. That told me a lot about her. And the plan worked beautifully.
She has gone upstairs on her own only once since then. But whined and barked when left alone. So, the kids ‘ushered’ her back down, one on each side. She has been on the first floor ever since. And she seems happy to just stay there – only staring at me as I walk up to go to bed. We will stop having one of the kids stay the night on the sofa … and see what she does. I hope I don’t wake to some barking, lol. But I think she will be fine now that she is used to us.
Oh, our Australian Sheppard “Cookie” is adjusting well. She is also very accommodating and easy to please. Of course, her back does get wet from time to time – as she circles Millie and walks under her chin!
David
My family and I did indeed meet & pickup Millie on our way back from a family vacation to Florida - we are a crowd with the 3 large kids and a big 4 year old Australian Sheppard.
Millie is a sweet dog with a healthy attitude towards the changes forced on her. We met her to see how she would react to all 5 of us and our other dog - the one we USED to think was BIG. She apparently will take to anyone that will pet her big ears! She is good at making the rounds to any willing hand. She is obviously under weight - and maybe a little lethargic because of it – she seems to struggle a little right now to just get around. It could also have been the 104 temperature that day. After some visiting, she came with us willingly. But I know one person that was heartbroken to see her jump into our van without a look back!
The drooling issue has improved during the week. And she has seemed to get a little more energy each day.
However, one ‘problem’ arrived the first evening: Millie is scared of heights! The kids escorted her throughout the house and eventually upstairs – but she would not come down! Not even with the temptation of treats. She stayed up there for an hour or two before we decided to find another solution. Millie was determined to not get within 5 feet of those stairs! Carrying her was out of the question because of her weight (I’m not that big!), her newness to us (did not want to scare her), and we didn’t want to make her even ‘taller’. My son had the good idea: 4 of us carried her downstairs backwards in a huge Christmas storage box. She had no problems getting in that box either. That told me a lot about her. And the plan worked beautifully.
She has gone upstairs on her own only once since then. But whined and barked when left alone. So, the kids ‘ushered’ her back down, one on each side. She has been on the first floor ever since. And she seems happy to just stay there – only staring at me as I walk up to go to bed. We will stop having one of the kids stay the night on the sofa … and see what she does. I hope I don’t wake to some barking, lol. But I think she will be fine now that she is used to us.
Oh, our Australian Sheppard “Cookie” is adjusting well. She is also very accommodating and easy to please. Of course, her back does get wet from time to time – as she circles Millie and walks under her chin!
David