Olivia loves to cuddle

Olivia continues to settle in.  She hasn't been here a week yet and already we're seeing her get more comfortable.  I think it was Patricia McConnell who said you will see changes in adopted dogs at 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months.  In my experience, I would say that's true for the fosters as well.    I would even add three years to that list though.   It's three years in July that we adopted our Miles from Fluffy Dog Rescue and he's a much more confident dog than he was even a year ago.  A book worth reading for anyone interested in an adopted dogs is Love Has No Age Limit...Welcoming An Adopted Dog Into Your Home  (http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/store/Love-Has-No-Age-Limit.html).

Back to Olivia.  As she's settling in I've noticed that she is less surprised by the commotion in the house.  If one of the girls is racing down the stairs it doesn't concern her like it might have before.  She does still get a little frightened when my dogs go from 0 to 60, like when I come home from running errands.  She will bark nervously when the other dogs get a little crazed but she calms down pretty quickly.  And, again, it's not all the time, just occasionally.  Plus, she calms down pretty quickly.  Again, I've been getting her to focus on targeting my hand and I give her a click (with my mouth when the clicker isn't handy) when she does.  She seems to be a fast learner.

I say this and things like the smoke alarm going off in the house (hey I never said I was a good cook) don't bother her.  They bother my Miles and he usually goes and hides as soon as I start the oven (really, I'm not kidding).  Today the smoke alarm went off  and Olivia was fine.  Also, on our walk today we passed a lot of trucks that were removing the dead and dying Ash trees in the neighborhood (courtesy of the Emerald Ash Borer) and all the whirling, chipping, shredding, didn't bother her at all.  Also, she was fine with the dogs that we passed as we walked.  She is doing really well on walks.  We did a mile yesterday and today.

She is a lover and does love to cuddle.  Last night I relaxed in bed and watched some TV.  I allowed her to come up and cuddle with me while I watched.  After a few minutes of me rubbing her belly she was fast asleep on her back.  To me, when a dog falls asleep on their back it shows that they are relaxed and comfortable with their surroundings.  It is a very vulnerable position to be in.  Again, she's settling in and it's been less than a week.

She is a pretty low key girl from what we've seen so far but she has started to play with some toys.  She amuses herself and will chew on some of the soft toys or a nylabone.  After a few minutes she will rest again.

She does follow me around.  She has mastered getting up the full staircase but hasn't mastered going down.  So, when I go into the basement and she can't follow me my  husband says she will go into her crate and rest.  Just today she mastered the going up part after my encouragement.  She'll get the down soon too...they all do.

She is more outgoing and you'll see this from the videos below.  One video shows her jumping up on me.  She doesn't do this often, again she's a pretty low key girl, but she does do it.  So, something her new family can work on with her.  :-)

Thanks for reading and thanks for thinking rescue.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Her potty habits continue to be very, very good.  I think maybe there was one more accident.  But, I think she understands to do her business outside.  Hey, for a dog that's maybe about 6 months 2 accidents in about 1 week is not bad in my book.

Also, she does great in the crate at night now.  She settles in without whining and sleeps all night until we get up.

Olivia enjoying a toy and a nylabone next to my desk while I work

Smiling on our walk today

Oliva showing Leah some love

Olivia happy and jumping up on me