Today, she has continued to use it. Because she is learning the cause and effect that ringing it gets her let outside I am letting her out every single time she rings it. That means even if she rings it 5 times in an hour she gets let out each and every time. And, today, that's pretty much been the story. I work from home so I moved my laptop near the back door and just waited. I took some video of her ringing it and it is below. Excuse the fact that I moved my cell phone angle so part of the video is sideways...so you'll have to tilt your head to the right when watching.
So, this is great progress for a girl who was having an accident in the house about once a day and who had been given up by her previous owner because they could not housebreak her. Today she's had no accidents in the house which is great. But, we continue to take baby steps here. She's learning that the bell gets her outside now she needs to continue to make the connection that all the potties need to be done outside too. That's where the positive reinforcement continues to come into play.
She's taking steps forward in her housebreaking journey which is awesome! She's also taken a step back recently. About a week ago she started doing #2 in her crate when I would put her in there while I ran errands. Someone is home almost all day but occasionally we're all out and in those instances I do crate her. She always fussed some when I put her in but recently she began pooping in there too. I'm not a dog psychology expert but because this behavior is new and because she never has accidents in her crate at night I think that this is her way of protesting being crated. So, what I'll be working on with her is showing her that the crate can be a good place. I'll be giving her a bone or a filled kong toy and then crating her for short periods (like 30 mins at a time) and then building up to more time.
She is just a wonderful girl! She's very playful and enjoys entertaining herself when necessary. She gets along well with all three of my dogs who are 2 to 4 times her size. She is good with strangers. My sister-in-law came over last week and Lucy was very happy to meet her. My sister-in-law would kill me if she knew I posted a video of her a Lucy so don't tell her but there is one linked below. She has a little dog of her own and was cuddling with Lucy like she cuddles with her own dog (and talking baby talk to her).
Lucy is my own cuddle partner at night. I let her climb into bed with me while I read or watch a little TV. She falls asleep next to me. My husband goes to bed much later and he then moves her to her crate in our room when he comes to bed. Again, she keeps her crate clean all night.
Lucy is wonderful with my two daughters and there is also video below of Lucy and my youngest daughter. They scoop her up and cuddle her and Lucy is fine with all of it. Also, Lucy is good in the car. I took her to school with me yesterday when I picked up my daughter. Lucy sat in my lap and watched as all the kids walked by and was very happy when my daughter got in the car.
The Petfinder site says that Lucy does shed. But, I don't think she's much of a shedder. I don't find hair in her crate and I don't really see any on the brush when I groom her. If she does shed it's very minimal. That said, I know she does need her face trimmed up and I will get to that...I promise. In the mean time there are a couple pictures of her shaggy face below.
