Hannah goes to town and settles in...

It has been years since I've had a puppy. Hannah has been a blessing in a way. She fills my heart with joy when I watch her run willy nilly through the sprinkler like a toddler on a hot summer day. She plays with the heart of a terrier.

But I want her to be sociable and a good girl in public. 

So Saturday I put her in the car and not in her crate. I wanted so see if she'd sit in Charlie's pet booster [she is too big!] and ended up putting her in the back seat with the seat folded down. She promptly laid down and was quiet. She didn't get excited, jump around, or whine. She was so quiet [unlike Charlie]. 

When we got to town I parked on a side street and got my doggy poo bags attached to my backpack. We walked around the Farmer's Market so she could get a feel of the downtown with traffic and people walking by. 

Hannah's response to seeing people and strollers was pure puppy bliss. She bounced and strained against her harness. 

I let her bounce around for a bit to reduce her high energy. Then I picked a place to squat down and lean against a building so she could watch people walk by.

After a few minutes, she sat and watched too. She turned often to see if I was okay. We got up and went around the block. 

We came to a spot where a Brass Band had set up. Viroqua is filled with music everywhere in the downtown on summer Saturdays. 

Hannah was afraid of the players [or the music??] at first. So I sat down and let her watch. The guys were playing a tuba, a horn, drums, and another brass instrument I didn't know the name of.

Quickly they realized that we were watching and they all turned towards us and smiled and played to Hannah. I guess they could see the joy on my face and watch Hannah go from being frightened to a wiggly waggly pup who seemed to enjoy the music.

I dropped some cash in their donation box and we entered the Farmer's Market with the rest of the crowds. The Market allows pets and so this was a new experience for her too. She met a Collie, a Rotty, a Cavalier, Lab, Poodle, and some other very large dogs. All the owners asked if they could sniff each other. Hannah did the proper thing of getting down low on the ground to submit to the big dogs.

We stopped at two of my friend's Vendor tents and Hannah took time to settle down each time. She sat and watched people wagging furiously if anyone stopped and asked to pet her.

A boy parted from his parents that were watching us.

"What is your dog's name? Is she a puppy? What breed is she? My folks want to know because she is so cute!" A couple other folks had stopped to watch.

"Her name is Hannah and she is 5 months old. She is a mutt or as I prefer to say, an All American Dog. Her mom was supposed to have been a Rat Terrier and anything else in her heritage is a guess." 

"Are you going to DNA here or find out more? Where did you get her? How big will she be?" These were questions from the parents of the boy.

I answered, "I won't do an DNA test because she is what she is. She came from a Foster Home. As for how big will she be? I don't really know. She might get a little taller. I picked her because she was part Terrier and I like Terrier energy and playfulness."

I don't refer to Hannah as a 'Rescue Dog' or as an 'Adopted Dog' because I feel the muses in charge of the Universe put us together for a reason. We both needed something.

She a home. Me? Help with mending a broken heart. She wasn't rescued, she rescued me.

And how is Charlie handling this new addition these days?

He is finally accepting her. He plays with her, chases her, and then tells her when he is done. They have figured out their places in my life.

Charlie is still in charge of the house. Hannah Belle is allowed to snooze next to him and he has accepted the fact that she too likes to sleep at night with us. No growling, just snoring.

Funny thing is, I get better sleep with them in bed at night. Plus, I never need an alarm to get up. Hannah creeps up to my pillow at the first hint of dawn and snuffles my face carefully.

Charlie joins in and despite efforts to NOT get up, I start laughing and wake up.

After years of sleeping on the love seat and listening all night for hubby, this feels like the lap of luxury.

My early mornings are easy. Make coffee, feed the dogs, and have some quiet time before going out to do summer time chores. 

Charlie has his chair:

Hannah stretches out on the couch:

By 7am we are out the door on our way for a walk or some other adventure. With the heat of summer, we do early morning adventures and outdoor work.

The Socialization of Hannah

It was time to take my car in for its complimentary oil change, tire rotation, and safety inspection at the Subaru Dealership.

Charlie has been my companion on these trips for 8 years. I decided to take just Hannah on this excursion to see how she'd handle meeting people in a strange place. 

One of the things I've discovered with her is that she is a quiet dog in the car. Charlie moans and groans almost all of the time while travelling. It is annoying, but I'm fairly used to it now.

Hannah rarely makes a peep. For now, she rides in her crate behind my seat. When I got to the Dealership, I opened up the door and helped her out when one of the 'Associates' came out to get my key. 

I walked into the Service area with Hannah and all the Service people turned to her immediately. 

"Awwwww"
"Awwww, a puppy!"
"Oh my gosh, so cute!"

And then...
"Oh wait! Where is Charlie? Is he okay?"

Hannah was so overcome by all the attention, she of course piddled right there and wagged her whole body.

I had to assure the Service Department that Charlie was indeed okay and that I felt Hannah needed to come on her own this time.

I took her to the mini dog park attached to the Dealership where she stretched her legs and smelled all the interesting signs that other dogs had left behind.

When we walked through the showroom the Sales Staff all inquired about Charlie and mooned over Hannah. 

To her credit, Hannah wagged and behaved with no more puppy accidents. People waiting for their Subies to be finished asked what 'breed' she was and I happily replied:

All American Dog aka Mutt

Hannah wiggled.

I sat down and she asked for 'lap'. 

She promptly fell sound asleep.

Other than her puppy behavior, Hannah is proving to be a super chill little dog. Life going on around her doesn't seem to concern her one bit.

It is so fun to be learning about her personality. 

The best thing about the visit?

The smiles that a nice wiggly puppy brought to everyone's faces.

The Weekend.

Here is Hannah Belle face on.

After weeks of living in crates and cage things in noisy situations, Hannah has found her new life in a quiet household with Charlie.

At night I allow her on the loveseat with Charlie and I so we can do a bit of cuddling time. Hannah doesn't burrow into the blankets but splays out like she is on a beach in the Bahamas. 

Charlie has his half of the couch and Hannah has to stay on her side. I am allowed to sit in the middle.

This photo shows you the size difference of them at this time. I imagine that Hannah will grow tall and be slender like Rat Terriers [and whatever her 'mix' is]. She adores Charlie and he is actually showing interest in her. 

He waits at her crate door to greet her after a nap and then show her where to do the potty stuff. She watches and follows.

I've always believed in having an older dog teach the younger dog things. 

Manners are the first things I have been teaching. 

Hannah will even sit for a 4 year old child when I show the child how to do it without words. 

Amazing what pups can learn in tiny little sessions that are consistent.

I don't mean for this to turn into a 'training' blog, but this is what captures my interest at the moment. I don't follow any particular 'method'. I have methods that were taught to me 40+ years ago plus life lessons with hound dawgs. I've used the same 'methods' of consistency with both my equine and dogs.

Charlie? He had to be the hardest dog I've ever had to work with. He was the first dog I had that had such a mind of his own. He could turn his ears off and totally ignore me. I found his secret to attention was 'food'. 

Consistency and nibblets of food work so well with both Charlie and Hannah. 

It isn't all training and for a pup, work only lasts for 5 minutes at a time. 

I let Charlie do the hard stuff. 

He shows her where to potty, he comes on the run for recall which teaches her to return quickly also.

I have found that while travelling in the car, Charlie is quieter with Hannah in the crate next to his car seat. 

She should eventually get her own car seat so they can see each other. I've downloaded an app called BringFido. This app was suggested by my oldest son to find places that would allow the 3 of us to travel and stay over night together. 

[Though under what is currently happening, we may be camping in a pasture overnight to have our wilderness experiences together.... and that is okay with me.]

After all, I need to learn how to set up a tent and do a camp out. Why not do it with my pups in our pasture for the first couple of times?

Saturday Hannah Belle met her pupsitter for Easter Weekend when I go visit my eldest son and get to see my beautiful youngest grand daughter. 

Charlie continues to show Hannah the ropes. 

And then this weekend my youngest son came to visit.

Charlie shined while calming my grandson.

Hannah showed considerable love and attentiveness to the gals.

My doubts about adopting a dog disappeared. Hannah took to everyone. She was calm and non-reactive. She took everything in stride.

She also fell for Elena who showed a great interest in caring for Hannah while I worked with my son, Jer, on cutting down trees around the crushed garage or on a hike. Elena fed Hannah, pottied Hannah, and kept watch over her in the yard while I was working.

Thank you so much Elena. You showed a special perception at knowing when Hannah needed feeding, pottying, and petting! Awesome!

I have to also credit Charlie for his incredible attitude. 

I quipped at one point that I should have named Hannah the Queen of Chaos. She and Charlie handled the kids and all of the competing commands they gave the dogs with grace. They just did their thing which is be kind to the kids.

I have Million Dollar Doggies.

Jer and I cut down the box elders that have grown around the crushed garage. The plan is to clean things up and have Frank take down the old beat up building. This area will be cleaned up and graded. 

We have a plan and are working on it.

The kids are gone. Charlie, Hannah Belle, and I are chillin' on the loveseat.

What a busy weekend.

My Opinion on Hannah Belle by Charlie

I'm pretty sure that no one asked me about bringing a kid into my house. Mom says she will be my baby sister. I didn't want a sister, I didn't ask for a sister.

Mom thought it might keep me from being so lonely. 

I'm not lonely. I'm stoic, I'm just fine with having the whole couch to myself.

I'm fine howling when she leaves the house and will continue to do so forever.

I'm fine taking up half the bed at night.

I'm fine with overseeing the yard and whining in my car seat. 

I'm fine with every toy in its proper place and not spread out like some hurricane came through the house.

This was my look after our first morning walk together. 

Mom said with that chipper voice of hers: It will be fun! We will be happy!

Honestly, do I look happy?

The chewing, pooping machine kept trying to distract me by trying to run up and grab my tail.

She did not chew on me and she was actually pretty respectful after I gave her low throated growl.

Mom didn't interfere, I give her that.

Mom calls her Hannah Belle.

I call her Hannibal Lecter. Though I do admit she isn't a serial murderer. She hasn't even been able to murder a toy yet. I can murder stuffies in seconds.

Maybe I should teach her a thing or two.

In fact, today I let her walk right next to me for a long time. 

I'm still undecided. Though I do like it that she goes choses to go in a crate at night and doesn't request a spot on the bed.

Perhaps I'll give it a few more days.

Signed....

Charlie