Stella's New Friends

The farm walk had some bonuses yesterday! Stella met Opie and Aunt Bee, the pigs on a new farm being built in George the Border Terrier's neighborhood. Stella and Douce were nose to nose with those pigs, who were making very piggy noises. I had to hold the dogs' leashes tight to keep them from sticking their faces through the electrified fence. The pigs, for their part, seemed incredibly uninterested in the Shih Tzus. Stella, on the other hand, seemed to find the pigs much more interesting than the 8 week old, completely adorable Sheltie puppy brought to agility class last week. The humans gush over him, but Stella thinks he's a complete snooze.

I called Tufts today to notify them that nothing has happened since Stella started on Buspar. Absolutely nothing. Yesterday, I saw Stella out watching the neighbors use a backpack leaf blower to blast every blade of cut grass from their lawn to kingdom come. You would think that would send a dog with noise phobias racing for cover. Nope. She was at her post, calmly monitorning the situation. This is, remember, the same dog who still runs from the toaster popping as if the whole house were exploding.

Grandma is Coming Home!!

Well, it's been about two weeks since Stella has been on the Buspar, and I've seen no effects, positive or negative. My mom is coming home to Maine on Tuesday, and that's one of the best drugs in the pharmacy for Stella. She LOVES her Grandma. I'm really hoping that having Grandma here will help Stella get through the mornings better. Even though I'm not teaching now, and won't be feeding the dogs and leaving, Stella is struggling with breakfast. She may or may not eat, but always runs from the food bowl like I sprinkled her kibble with phobia powder. Lately she's been heading for her safe spot in the living room, because that's where I've been checking email.

Yesterday, she decided it might be safer to crawl under the couch to get near me, rather than to come out of her hiding spot and sit on the rug. Unfortunately, I have "apartment sized" (dinky) furniture, and she got stuck. Okay, when your 7 inch Shih Tzu gets stuck under your furniture, you know it's time to upgrade. I heard heard scrambling under there like a squirrel in the wall, and I looked under the three inch space between the floor and the bottom of the couch to see EYEBALLS. Her top knot was mashed down, and her chin was on the floor and all I could see was her big buggy eyes. I called her to come out and she wiggled. I extracted her gently, and she decided the rug was not so bad afterall.

Stella is still enjoying her agility classes. She is afraid of the teeter, and not performing the A frame like she did last summer. I wish I had this equipment in my yard so that I could let her practice at lower heights, and build her confidence up. But, my yard is in the dinky category too. Here she is last night at Tree Frog. I love her fast run at the end! She wants it! She's entered in Novice Jumpers in Cumberland the third week of the month. I pray and cross my fingers that she won't be stressed about the trial and poop in the ring. I'm prepared for that, but having your poop in the ring gives you a pretty low feeling. I know, because Stella and I have been there . . .