Little Miss Darcy, aka Darcy Doodle (I know, I'm corny), has had quite the week of attempted adjustment and chaos. From a whirlwind pick-up last week to instant crate training to a weekend in Vermont. The little girl is both tuckered out and a bit manic about who she is, who she belongs to, and where she lives.
In general, Darcy is so sweet and loving. She has mastered the art of puppy dog eyes. They are both heartbreaking when you're leaving and heartwarming when she's flashing them at you from the dog bed she settled herself into without being asked.
This past weekend in VT can be summed up in a two words: Sh*t Storm. Literally, a storm of doggy doodoo took over our lives and the lives of those who so graciously welcomed us into their home for the weekend. Oh. My. Word. What did we do??? The poor girl got so stressed out (totally our fault for putting all this on her so soon) that she blew up the crate with poop and then proceeded to scratch and chew her way completely out of the crate. She chewed through a zipper and canvas. That's determination!
We've started clicker training as recommended by a friend and in this book. She's definitely a smart girl, and I know that with more time and some training both in home and professionally, she'll be a great dog. When you're apologizing profusely for an entire weekend about the chaos your dog has created, it's difficult to remember that, but I do really believe she'll be OK.
And when you see her mugging for the camera, you're again reminded that there's a sweet, well behaved girl in there somewhere:
Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement last week and today. We'll get there... but there is much work ahead of us!
*PS- What dog food works best for you? She's between 1-2 years old, so adult food, but no need for the senior dog stuff. We've got her on Beneful to put some weight on her, but I'm wondering if it's contributing to her poop issues.
yours,
Whitney
Iams Lamb and Rice in the red bag.. makes for less pooh!!
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