State: California

Owners: Dawn and family

Hi Sue,

I have had it in my mind to update you on our life with Lulu for awhile now.  Wow is life busy with a puppy!  Attached are a couple pictures of Lulu (and us of course).

 

Lulu is wonderful, we love her to pieces.  BUT she is really hard work.  She does NOT like being alone at all and as much as we have struggled with helping her to adapt, she has been as stubborn.  We have adapted.   So, in mid January when she figured out how to get out of the kitchen, we bought a crate and started getting her used to it.  No such luck.  She will stay in it to sleep for a couple of hours and then is relentless when she wants out.  In recent nights, we have let her sleep in our bedroom on the floor.  During the day I leave her outside (70's & sunny) while I work and she is learning how to occupy herself when alone.  SO, progress is being made slowly.  She gets plenty of exercise; I take her for a walk mid day and Martyn takes her out at night.  She LOVES our other dog, Marty but when they are together she just doesn't listen.  The more they are separated the more she looks to us as the leaders.  The life of pack animals...

 

Lulu passed her puppy obedience class of about 25 and will start intermediate class in April.  The trainer, PAige Tyson, has come over once for a private lesson to help us all stay on the same page with her training.  Ironically enough, Zachary, our 21/2 year old is the best with her.  He tells her sternly to sit and she listens.  If she is too rambunctious around him, he will swat at her and tell her "down".  And she does not seem afraid of him.  He just doesn't care about her "feelings" and she knows she can't manipulate him with her personality and good looks... as she does with the rest of us...

 

Well, I yammer on.  Bottom line is we love her, she is part of our family and drives us nuts like the 3 kids do...but wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

 

I hope you are doing well.  We still have the travel crate to return to the person in the East Bay...on our list...

 

Hugs to you and thank you again for everything.  Enjoy the pics and keep in touch.

DC