Post 14 - conclusion

I stopped writing blog entries after Aurora was returned to PAWS and cleared for adoption.  She was adopted on Feb 29.  https://www.pawschicago.org/pet-available-for-adoption/showdog/aurora-1/

Day 13 - Ear kisses

Friday, Feb 7, 2020 @ 6-8 am

I suspected yesterday that Aurora has been going outside with Molly but not doing anything.  This morning, I brought her outside and stood there until she did her business.  She peed right away, but then ran back to the door to return inside while Molly finished up.  Because I didn't follow right away to let her in, she came back down the stairs and back into the yard to poop.  I think that's exactly what happened yesterday. I may have to continue monitoring her morning venture outdoors.

Dogs inside for breakfast, Aurora in the crate for hers and today she went in and stayed there to wait for her bowl.  Progress!  The most notable thing to happen this morning was ear kisses.  Molly each morning will get a hug from me and she licks my ear when my face is next to hers. It's just a weird thing that we do.  She licks my ear and I tell her that I love her too. This morning I managed to get both dogs onto the couch at the same time, on either side of me.  When I reached over to hug Molly and turned my face to let her lick my ear, Aurora put her front paws on my back in order to reach my other ear, which she licked.  I laughed out loud when she started climbing on my back like a goat, and laughed more when she licked my ear.  This only encouraged her and she kept trying to do it again. Better start today, always nice to start with a smile. I'm off to work, leaving Aurora free to roam.

Day 12, This stinks

Thursday, Feb 6, 2020 @ 6-8 am

For a few days in a row, we've allowed Aurora to spend the night roaming free in the house and there have been no incidents overnight, until last night.  When I came down, I found that Aurora had pooped on the floor.  It's unclear how long it had been there.  While that was getting cleaned up, she peed on the rug.  That's on us, for not letting her out first thing.  But the poop thing...Sigh.  We had made such progress and now I'm back at square one.  This morning, she went into the crate when I left for work.  Not pleased with this development.

@ 7-10 pm
After the excitement this morning, the evening was calm. She did go into her crate on command but came right back out and then wouldn't go in again. Continuing with teaching the command and associating the crate with mealtime and treats. Good news is no additional accidents.  Couch snuggles until bedtime. 

Day 11, Finding her voice

Wednesday, Feb 5, 2020 @ 6-8 am

Morning routine went fine.  We have started with crate training, even though she doesn't spend the night in the crate.  I put her food dish in the crate and give her the command to go in her crate.  Except she's smart enough to know when I have food and when I don't.  When I have food, she'll go in her crate.  When I don't, she hesitates. Ha!

@ 7-9 pm

I was late getting home and we had dinner a bit later than normal.  Feeding the dogs, going out and treats went fine and I settled down to watch a hockey game.  Aurora is cuddled beside me, still not comfortable enough to lie down immediately but she gets there eventually.  She falls asleep and it's a quiet night until my son returns from his game night.  Aurora perks up at the sound of the door opening and barks!  Not non-stop barking her head off but a single bark when he walked in.  We've never heard her bark before.  I know previous foster dogs took their time finding their voice but I took this as a sign that she's feeling better, or at least good enough to bark.

Day 9, Same old dog

Monday, Feb 3, 2020 @ 6-8 am

Mornings are becoming pretty easy, and Aurora is comfortable just following Molly down the stairs.  It's amusing to me that Molly is teaching Aurora how to dog.  Dogs are fed and watered and I'm off to work.

@ 6-10 pm

We're in stasis now, with Aurora not really showing us anything new.  She continues to cough and hack, and the medicine doesn't seem to be doing a whole lot for her.  I have to trust that this will clear up and she will be a happy, healthy dog.  I'll post again when she does something interesting.

Day 8, I won't pee on the grass.

Sunday, Feb 2, 2020

@ 6-10 am

More big things happening today.  They went outside together again, and I'm thrilled that I don't need to stay with Aurora outside until she does her business.  To come back inside, she launches herself at the door which is kind of hysterical but I'm worried she's going to hurt herself.  They can be fed at the same time, but Molly won't eat while Aurora is in the room.  I have to bring her bowl around the corner.  Molly is growing more tolerant of Aurora, but only just.  We load into the car to go to the sitter, who will watch them when I go out to watch the game.  Aurora is in the basket in the front seat and Molly is in the back seat.  She still tries to climb out of the basket, and doesn't understand the command to sit.  I'll have to keep working on this.

@ 2-4 pm

I hang out for a while so the dogs can get acclimated to the new place. Molly, who is already familiar, gets up on the sofa.  Aurora, not to be left out, gets on the sofa next to her.  I'm on tenter hooks waiting for sparks but there are none.  They nap together on the sofa and I breathe a sigh of relief.

@ 5 pm

Before leaving for the game, I prepare their food bowls and take them each for a walk.  Aurora, who has peed on the sidewalk more than once, didn't even make it to the grass before squatting to pee.  So far, she has peed on the sidewalk, in a parking lot, on my deck and in my friend's driveway - less than two feet from the grass.

@ 9pm

After the Big Game, I pick up the dogs for the drive home and they were so well behaved that I let them both ride in the back seat.  Molly growled a couple of times but nothing escalated. We went inside and I decided not to put Aurora in the crate, letting her spend the night roaming free.  Crossing fingers that this won't be a decision I regret.

Day 7, car ride!

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 @ 8-10 am

Late start this morning but went through the morning routine with zero complications and one remarkable change. The dogs went out together. I still keep them separated while feeding but Molly's willingness to go through the door knowing Aurora was coming with her is a huge milestone. They aren't cuddling together but this is still a big deal. I give Aurora another week or so before she will be interested in playing. Until then,  I'm pleased with this development. 

I took the dogs for a car ride this morning. putting Aurora in the front seat inside a laundry basket and Molly in the back seat. Besides Aurora trying to climb out of the basket and into my lap, the experiment was a success. I had to drive with one hand so I could pet her with other but overall I think it went well. 

@ 10am-4pm

I ran some errands and left the dogs home for an hour or so. The house was still intact when I returned.  It was a calm day of snuggles until I had to get ready to go out. I fed the dogs early and they went outside (together! I'm going to marvel at that for a while.) and before I left I led Aurora to her crate.  This was not an easy task. She doesn't like the crate and generally won't go in willingly. I had to trick her to get in half way and then shove her the rest of the way while I closed the gate behind her. 

I was home late and B reported that she had outside time before he returned her to the crate.