I groomed and bathed Mercy again. I started out cutting the hair on her paws. Then I put a piece of cotton round in Mercy's right ear to prevent the loose hair from falling into her ear canal, and just started shaving the inside of her ear. It wasn't until I finished with that ear that I realized that she just lied there and didn't move at all when I was shaving her! I proceeded with her left ear. Her left ear is always a little more sensitive, but overall she just lied there and let me do it! She was a little unsure when I was shaving her muzzle, but she settled down enough that I was able to shave all her whiskers. Either that she's getting more used to being groomed, or she finally realized that she would get some yummy treats whenever I mess with her ears (she doesn't get treats at any other time because I have enough trouble getting her to eat her regular food. Don't want to spoil her appetite with snacks). There was no trouble when I was cleaning her right ear after her bath (when I was taking out the ear cleaning solution and cotton balls, I saw Mercy licking her mouth, maybe she was anticipating the treat afterwards), but her left ear is still a little more sensitive.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
This morning when I went to school to use the internet, I left Mercy in the bedroom with Anastasia. When I came back, I saw that Mercy took a small piece out of the wooden window frame. I didn't leave any toys in the bedroom because Anastasia was in the room with her, but definitely from now on I will leave Mercy's Nylabone in the room with her.
This afternoon we got a nice visit from Janet, who is an ESRA foster home applicant from La Grange (near Columbus, Georgia), and her friend, Susan. Janet was going to bring her Springer, Bonnie, and her English Cocker, Boo, both rescues, but they didn't have time today. Janet and Susan are both "loyal viewers" of Mercy's webpages, and they were glad to meet "the star" in person. They said that Mercy is even prettier in person, and her fur is so soft, and she doesn't seem hyper at all (I ran around with Mercy in the tennis court for fifteen minutes before they came, because I thought if she's tired then she would be nicer to Janet's dogs). Mercy was a little shy initially as usual, but she was happy to be the center of attention.
Picture from yesterday when we were playing in the children�s playground at the elementary school.
When I took Anastasia to Atlanta for the therapy cat test, the center also does Canine Good Citizen class and test. The class is $150, but my test evaluator (who's a member of the Mini Schnauzer rescue) negotiated with the trainer, and they said that I can get Mercy to take the test for free, since she's a foster dog, and since we live so far away. But the test is in the middle of November, after my Baltimore trip. If Mercy's still around at that time, I'll get her to pass the test in November. I've also called several places around Auburn, but they all said they are not going to do any tests until next year.
I would say Mercy's potty trained. She hasn't had any accidents on the carpet for three or four weeks, and I am able to take her out potty about every six hours during the day, and eight hours over night. When we were at the bike trail yesterday, I decided to let her go leash free. Well, she walked through the thin line of trees and right into the road. We were lucky that she was still on the side of the road when a car zoomed by. She then ran across the street into a well manicured lawn. Of course I was yelling at her to come back throughout the whole ordeal, but she completely ignored me. So unless there's a clear boundary that would make her stop, I would not suggest letting her go leash free.
An adoption coordinator from Georgia asked me how Mercy is about taking food from little kids� hands, because there�s a family in Georgia with little kids who�s looking for a female Springer, and I just tested Mercy with food today. She would try to take the food from my hand, but it's nothing like snatching, like what Oscar would do. I told Mercy "No", and she stopped, but she tried again about twenty seconds later (Mercy can be a little stubborn, even the vet noticed that). After about five No�s, Mercy left the food alone and went back to her bed.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
The dog crate has been in the closet since Friday, and Mercy doesn't seem to be affected by the disappearance of it.
Millie said she hasn�t gotten any more emails from perspective adopters. Maybe there'll be more interest in Mercy once she gets Canine Good Citizen certified. But of course the certificate is no good for the adopter because it will have the handler's name on it. So definitely I would encourage the adopter to go through obedience class with Mercy and then get certified again with her.
