Day one finished, no fatalities.
As I write this, she is lying at my feet under the desk, her second favorite place other than the crate. Although, I will say that she seemed pretty fond of the bed. She seems a little bit better, but I am starting to think she was either abused by men or is just used to being with her crazy cat lady, because she seems more afraid of strange men than strange women.
I measured her food, and all she has eaten was 1/4 cup. I’m no longer going to just leave the food out, though, and will put it out tomorrow morning before our walk on the rails to trails. She did, however, eat a treat tonight, so that was a step. I will also say this- I have never met another animal that takes pills this easily. I pop it in her month, and it is gone.
I took her over to my brother’s house so I could check on my garden and they could meet, and she behaved ok. She is just really shy around new people. On the upside, she does seem to really perk up when we go out. Her ears go up a bit, she gets a pep in her step, and her tail comes up and curls a little bit. Sometimes she looks like a fox, other times a little deer.
The funniest thing is her car habits. She already loves the car, but not like any other dog I have met. She hops right in, sits down in the passenger seat, curls up in ball and passes out. No sticking the head out the window, no panting and slobbering in the wind, just popping in the seat and konking out.
Also, Tunch has already settled down and is no longer acting weird every time she comes into a room. As we speak, he is back to his busy schedule of holding down the futon. I’m giving it a month before they are spooning.
Linkmeister
The car behavior sounds familiar. Although it took her about 30 trips to get that far up.
Krista
That’s wonderful news, John! And she’ll come around when it comes to new people — if you introduce her to new people but keep it nice and low-key, like it’s really no big ordeal, she’ll pick up on that lack of tension in you. She obviously has a good deal of trust in you already, which is helpful.
That’s really awesome that Tunch adjusted so quickly…quite the phlegmatic beastie, isn’t he?
WereBear
Sounds like Tunch is taking her in stride. But she has decorous manners. It’s not like a kitten tackling his head every five minutes; he lucked out!
cleek
our cats still act that way. and they’re 4 and 2 years old.
kid bitzer
that’s a pretty impressive first day, taken all in all.
she sounds eminently domesticable.
(though to tunch that probably sounds too much like “eminent domain”.)
jl
Sounds good. Tunch is settling down because it has figured out its plan for total domination and exploitation of the new situation, and execution of the plan will be snap. Tunch is already in the “I got this” chilling stage.
When John Cole figures it out, I hope he explains it to us.
Laura W
Just as it should be. This is your dog, John. You knew it, and she knew it, and this proves it.
All of this that you’ve recounted is tremendous progress for what? 29 hours?
Not that I am counting the hours from 4:30pm yesterday when you probably got her from the shelter on the way to the vet’s or anything.
I have a life, you know.
demkat620
Patience and peace will be the best friends you have right now John. Sounds like you have a very scared, sweet girl on your hands. She just looks so cute.
CatStaff
What a great life she’s going to have with you, John. I’m looking forward to lots more Lily stories and hearing about how she blooms once she realizes she’s safe forever.
Max
I can relate on the car behavior.
My wheaten hops in the back seat and stretches out and goes right to sleep (upside down on long trips). He loathes the front seat, as he’s too big to comfortably sleep.
When I drove from Florida to NorCal, he slept the entire time. I had to poke him to make sure he was still alive.
I must admit, I’m envious of those dogs that poke their heads out the window and let the wind carry them.
Anne Laurie
You’re doing good, John. And so is Lily.
A quarter-cup of high-quality dry food, for a 17lb dog, isn’t bad as ‘sustenance calories’. Our guys, who are just a little smaller than Lily, eat about 1/2 – 2/3 cup free choice per day, plus all the treats & last-bites-of-our-meals they can charm.
Two more treat suggestions: Baby carrots, the pre-peeled kind they sell for human snacking — they’re both crunchy & sweet (much sweeter to dogs than us). And any kind of cheese, the stinkier the better. I wouldn’t advise it as a dietary mainstay, but tiny (under 1/2″) cubes of Velveeta are pretty irresistable to dogs. I used them for a while in training classes with Zevon, who wasn’t very food-oriented. One nice fella from the nearest Very High Income suburb was slightly embarrassed that his sheltie, who he assured me “only liked asiago, she won’t touch anything domestic” was absolutely bonkers for Zeev’s trailer-trash cheez kubes.
Bad Horse's Filly
Yup, sounds like she already knows she is safe and will be taken care of. I predict in two weeks she and Tunch will be chasing each other around the house (in fun, not terror).
From previous thread, I was once again late to:
Laura W: Great picture of your cats (RIP Walter). I wanted to say HI to all the other Tarot gals out there. I was late getting back to the beautiful Lily thread and the open thread.
Most of my readings have animal involvement as well. Cats love the energy and one or all sprawl on my spreads regularly. I’d tell you about the most amazing experience I had with a skeptical friend and her dog yesterday, but it was one of those, you had to be there, moments.
Right now I’m being called to Jamie Sams’ Medicine Cards – which all the animal lovers would appreciate since they’re all animal spirits. I alternate between not doing any divination for months, then alternating cards – sometimes Rider/Waite, sometimes Angel Cards, and several Native American Spiritual decks.
Delia
It all sounds good, actually. If she likes hanging out under your desk when you’re working there, it sounds like she’s feeling comfortable with you. If she’s perking up when she goes outside she’s already becoming comfortable with the walk routine and is enjoying all the great dog things there are to explore there. This is really fast progress.
Here’s one other hypothesis about her discomfort with strange men. Maybe it was Crazy Cat Lady who was afraid of men or who never allowed any in her life. So Lily just never had a chance to get to know any. After all, she’s accepted you pretty readily. So maybe she just needs a little more gentle encouragement when she meets new men.
Notorious P.A.T.
Great news! Hooray for Lily!
dog's eye view
I am so glad you have a dog. And Tunch too.
The Compleat John Cole.
Notorious P.A.T.
“Two more treat suggestions: Baby carrots, the pre-peeled kind they sell for human snacking”
My mom’s dogs loooove baby carrots.
Bad Horse's Filly
Great Dane car stories: My biggest boy would stretch across the back seat of my Saturn and put his head on the back window ledge. So all people driving behind me saw was this very large mounted black head. No one tailgated much.
When I was down to two, I put them both in the Saturn (yes, the old tiny kind) and would take them to the park for a long walk – and when I would drag both those beasts out of the back seat – people would laugh out loud. Clown cars had nothing on us for sight gags.
John and Lily are making me want to speed up the search for new Great Dane companions. Though now is not the right time….soon.
Anne
Yes! Sounds like you two are well on your way. Glad to hear that things are coming along. Give her some kind words for us (dunno if she’s up for ear scritches yet).
Laura W
@Delia:
You should be a therapist, Delia. That was brilliant!
(And I was not snarking, even though Crazy Asexual Cat Lady is a delicious stereotype. I think you are spot on with your assessment, is what I meant.)
WereBear
Yeah, what is it with cats and Tarot cards. I’m used to doing spreads one-handed…
robertdsc
Bless you, Lils. You’re home now.
Moonbatting Average
Congrats, John. Bring on the Lilycam!
daveX99
JC: w00t!
I’ve been biting my nails: How will Tunch handle this? With class, apparently.
I came to your blog for the political insight, but your Tunch reports have kept me coming back. I like how you dig your pets and understand them. I was worried that Tunch would freak if you actually brought a dog home (oh noes! a DOG!!!1!), but he’s one cool cat. None of my 6 cats (oh noes!!!1! six kats!!) would deal as well. They don’t even like each other, mostly.
I should have known you wouldn’t have done it if he couldn’t hack it. And of course, Lily needs you both.
-d.
Litlebritdifrnt
I have to say that I request, no dammnit I demand a Lilycam, goddamnit Cole, I want moving pictures of that precious pooch and I want them now. My Lucky sneaks himself under my feet while I am at the puter every night. Methinks that Lily knows she is home. That is a good thing, and excuse me while I go away and cry like a baby for a while.
Betsy
Sending good vibes and happy thoughts your way.
Laura W
@WereBear: Funny how all of a sudden the White Witches of BJ have come out of the shadows and opened up a big old can of Tarot Whoop Ass on the Open/Cat/Lily threads today.
Whazzup with that anyway?
Edit: Am I really the only romantic watching So You Think You Can Dance? Y’all really don’t know what you are missing in terms of talent, devotion, gorgeous young bodies, musicality, and hot, wet, sculpted bodies. Christ, Krista. Mary has hyped up her mania to 11thousand this season. Every time she screams I think of you now. Thanks for that.
Karatist Preacher
She’s fine – just needs to settle into a routine.
jl
@Litlebritdifrnt:
I agree wholeheartedly. Or at least some pics.
I assume, from my experience having cats as pets in the past, that Tunch will either love Lily to pieces, or decide to ignore the dog completely because doing anything else does not promise a good return on investment (Other than being on the watch-out to snag a doggy treat, of course). If the former, some Lily-Tunch interaction pics would be interesting.
gex
John, thanks for the update. These pet posts are such a welcome reprieve from the absolute insanity that we are talking about in the other threads.
Bad Horse's Filly
@Laura W: I know, I’ve probably started something terrible here. But what the hey, we might get flamed, but not in that way!
schrodinger's cat
More like a week, that’s how much time it took my boss cat to accept the new kitten, they still growl and fight with each other, but I think it is more like a game, though it can look pretty violent to the hairless monkeys, aka the human observers.
Dog is My Co-Pilot
What a great update. All is as it should be. Lily will be fine. Time and patience.
Laura W
@gex: Beautifully said, gex.
BHF: I think it’s very healthy, actually. So much of “this stuff” is ridiculed, mocked or easily dismissed if just one of us is posting about it. I realize it’s a political blog by nature, but ya know, there is a lot of diversity that coalesces around this site for many reasons, and it’s nice to give voice and space to express to all the niches.
passerby
I think it’s happy news that Tunch is getting in the groove with Lily, after all, he was there first so it’s his world. And I don’t have a crystal ball but I swear I see a future with a well adjusted and happy Lily…which means a happy John, too.
And 2nd what gex said: Lily updates are a welcome break.
Betsy
@Laura W:
I am watching it for the first time, and good god, that is a lot of sexy on the screen. The host woman and the middle judge are *intolerable*, but everything else is awesome. The middle judge kept terrifying my poor cat. Though her Botox quip made me lol.
Beauzeaux
Is it wrong of me to more eagerly anticipate updates about Lily than any of the political analysis here at BJ? Cause I do. (Not that I don’t still enjoy the political posts.)
kommrade reproductive vigor
Dogs and cats, living together!
@Litlebritdifrnt: Now I’ve got this stuck in my head.
JL
So the new dog treats worked.
My dogs enjoy plain mini rice cakes. Rice cakes have always been a dog treat staple in our house. When my son was younger, he assumed that they were only intended for dogs. He came home from school one day and promptly told me his teacher ate dog food for snacks. I asked him what he meant and he took out the rice cakes.
I’m so glad that things are working out for you.
Krista
I know, I know. I want to watch the show. I really do. But that screeching of hers just sends shudders down to my very toes.
Besides, my husband, for some odd reason, has become addicted to the trainwreck that is “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!” At least he admits it’s a trainwreck.
That IS kind of funny that all the BJ White Witches have come out of hiding, as it were. I’ve dabbled in Tarot and read up on Wicca, and the philosophies in general make a lot of sense. I’m just too apathetic/lazy/short-attention-span to become seriously involved in any belief system. :)
mary
Yay! So glad things are going well. So much progress in just one day.
Phoebe
I love these posts too. Anything about this dog I will read. And I am not a dog person at all.
grumpy realist
Re: cats and Tarot cards.
A simpler explanation is that you have the cards out there and need to be accessing them….
Whenever we needed to find the cat, the easiest method was to put a newspaper down on the floor and start reading it. Invariably, 5 minutes later Petroc would be sprawled right out in the middle, all 15 pounds of him.
It’s like it’s….magick!
Laura W
@Betsy:
I know in my heart of hearts that if any of the men who read this blog would tune in for just 10 minutes, they would never turn away.
Likewise for the women!
I truly feel this is the hottest show on teevee EVER, based on the astronomical number of pulsating sexy vibrations per minute — calculations that probably only BOB could explain to us.
Louise
My rescue, Mackenzie, gets in the car, gets in the passenger seat — and then puts her front paws up on the center console and spends every car trip with her face next to my face. Occasionally, she sticks her head between my shoulder and the seat back.
She’s weird, and I love her.
Spot
Dogs take their medicine. Cats don’t.
grumpy realist
(Addendum: slight possible caution with the baby carrots. My dog Tycho absolutely loved them….but only as chew toys. Which meant a pile of gnawed baby carrots on the rug. When I remonstrated with him, he would give me the do-you-think-I-eat-vegetables-you-silly-rabbit look.)
John Cole
This is completely OT, but have any of you ever had an Edy’s Frozen Fruit bar? Damned the lime ones are good. It puckered me up pretty fierce, but it sure was tasty.
Laura W
@Beauzeaux:
I really wouldn’t worry about it too much until you find yourself calculating the precise amount of hours that she has lived with John, and referring to them in your post.
At that point, you probably need to find a new hobby. Or a good therapist.
Litlebritdifrnt
“ya’ll watch TV” I mean really? You watch this bullshit? I cannot even imagine. I watch morning joe and GMA in the morning, other than that MSNBC is on in the background in the evenings. But you guys watch the “I’m a celebrity:” bullshit, really? I am amazed.
Betsy
@Laura W:
Wow. I can’t say that I ever would have made the leap from SYTYCD to BOB, but I kind of love that you did.
Betsy
@Spot:
You’re kidding, right?
JL
@John Cole: Put a few in a blender with some rum. The strawberry ones are even better.
Betsy
@Litlebritdifrnt:
No no, it’s not
celebrity ballroom or whatever it’s calledDancing With the Stars. It’s like American Idol for dancers, except unlike American Idol, it doesn’t suck ass, and the people on there are immensely talented.DemonDem
Glad to hear Lily is settling in. Growing up, all the pets in our house (two dogs and at least 5 cats that I can remeber over 18 years) were “castaways.” While they often took a lot of work – especially the dogs – to get acclimated, the rewards – in appreciation, affection, and trust that you get in return make them SO worth the effort – the best companions in the world.
Congrats – I wish you both much happiness.
debit
@John Cole: Try the orange and cream ones. Seriously. Like a creamsicle (sp?) with real orange. Delicious.
Litlebritdifrnt
Johm cit up hotdogs are the best treat…., nothing beats it.
sacrablue
@John Cole: Yep, all of their flavors are tasty. Here on the west coast, they’re called Dreyer’s, though.
Krista
I didn’t say I watched it, I said that my husband, for some perverse reason, watches it. And he hates most reality shows. I guess to him, this one is just so awful that he can’t look away.
My kind of “reality” shows are cooking shows, thanks.
Laura W
I missed this the first time through. It’s funny.
@Betsy: Thank you. I exhausted myself taking up the cause all alone for the last two audition weeks. I felt so alone. I’m glad I can count on you, at least (KRISTA) to promote the fabulous cause of sexy talented, hot, sculpted, nubile bodies.
Amanda
Glad to hear the pooch is settling in and the kitty is adjusting well.
@debit: Indeed. Takes me back to my days as a Girl Scout — we always had Creamsickles. But the lime ones are good too — especially for something with no fat content…
@Krista: Cooking shows are the greatest. Definitely an addiction of sorts. Altho the show I’m really addicted to is Diners Driveins and Dives. I’m a sucker for quirky weirdos who can turn out gourmet grub, I guess :-)
gex
@Litlebritdifrnt: This was posted +x. Is x > 5? ;)
Krista
There are certain causes that are just too important to ignore, my darling.
Face
Dont sweat the food, JC. She’ll eat more when she’s less nervous, then move to eating the cat’s food, and finally graduate to eating whatever’s left in paws/tongue range on your countertops.
Max
I love So You Think You Can Dance. Best show of the summer.
I’m currently watching Top Chef Masters. So good!
donnah
Congrats on everyone surviving the First Day. Lily is a lucky girl. And you’re lucky, too, as far as the whole car thing goes. Our dog pukes.
Delia
And I hope Lily is properly impressed with her welcome banner in the sidebar of your blog, John. Not every rescued dog gets one of those.
Though I have to say Pippin is now and always has been utterly and completely bored by computers. I used to have a cat, Vita, who liked them. She’d walk all over the keyboard while I was trying to work and would claw the computer monitor. I think she liked the feel of the electrostatic charge on her claws. Alas, she got sick and died when she was only eight.
John Cole
Ok. This is just sad.
I just took her out for her bedtime walk, and came in and decided I would give the food one more chance. I led her to her cage for bedtime, and took the food, which had been sitting by her crate untouched all day, and while she was in the cage, put it right next to her. She spends so much time looking to me for a lead on what the appropriate behavior is, I just got an on the spot hunch that maybe she was looking to me for approval to eat. I put it right underneath her nose, went to the kitchen to start the dishwasher, came back no less than three minutes later, and she had inhaled the entire bowl and all that was left was drool and she was there smacking her lips.
I think I am going to have to explicitly give her the food and let her know it is hers. Maybe this is something she picked up at the pound, or maybe this is something from when she was with the pet hoarder.
Any tips on how to handle this? And I’m kicking myself not thinking of this earlier.
KRK
Glad to hear the day went well. Tunch is a trooper. And it sounds like Lily is figuring out that she’s in a good place. But isn’t mid-July likely to be a little hot for spooning? I could see the spooning Rubicon being crossed the first cold day Tunch realizes Lily can be used as a heat source.
PurpleGirl
Sounds like the day went quite well for all three of you. Lily is going to settle in just fine.
When my friend and I would take his Doberman Pinscher driving, Hugo would sit up straight between my legs in the passenger side leg well . He could turn and look at my friend, or turn and look out the passenger window. Best of all though, it was the perfect position for me to pet him and keep my hands on his head, neck and back. He would look down and then look up at me with a “You aren’t petting me” look in his eyes. Ah, sweet memories of Hugo.
I come here for the politics and current events but the pet stuff is icing on the cake.
KRK
Don’t feel too bad. It was still a good day. You and she will figure the feeding/eating out. Didn’t some of the commenters on the recommendation thread say to feed her in her crate?
Laura W
@John Cole:
It’s been 29.5 hours. Not that I am counting. There is not a lot of “earlier” here, John. It is not “sad” and you don’t need 300 more “tips”. YOU figured it out, in the moment, by trusting your instincts. I’d stick with those, if I were you.
Now you know what works. HOORAY!
Use it. Move on.
Really…these little epiphanies are going to come in cascades by the day. Notice them, recalibrate to them, and keep moving forward.
Not everything will be your fault. Lighten up on yourself! Lily clearly has!
Comrade Kevin
@John Cole: Out here they’re called Dreyer’s, and yes, they’re good.
Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse
I want to hug Lily RIGHT NOW, except that she’s hundreds of miles away and probably not up to hugs just yet.
Your gut instincts are good, John. Don’t kick yourself, because remember that she did take some food on her own earlier today.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with explicitly putting her food inside her crate right now, or even for the next few weeks. As she gets more relaxed and confident, you can tweak the routine, maybe moving the plate to the border of the crate, then out of it, further and further away, until she figures out that plate-that-Lurch-puts-down = Lily’s Food.
(It’s the same kind of behavioural shaping that is used to toilet train cats. Skinner was an absolute bastard in many ways, but rat research has taught us a few things.)
patrick
@John Cole:
You’re fine. It won’t take 2 more times before she gets it.
And Lily is fine too. You have to be pretty sadistic to actually damage them.
julie
You are a very nice guy for adopting that pooch…
Turgidson
Tails curls up and she looks kinda like a fox? Sounds like there’s a decent amount of Shiba Inu in her blood. Super cute.
Max
@John Cole: I think you are over thinking it. Dogs are remarkably forgiving and live “in the moment”. You’re not going to screw things up, and Lily will soon be jumping on the futon to stare at Tunch.
I went from a single cat household to a single dog household and the difference was incredible. My cat, Max, seemed to hold me in total disdain, except for feeding time. My dog, Max, would take a bullet for me. Someone once explained it to me that dogs want people to love them, and cats the reverse, people want cats to love them.
Laura W
Pee Ess:
Be sure to get her up and out early tomorrow morning, if not in the middle of tonight if you wake with insomnia, because if this is the first full meal she’s eaten in a couple days and you’ve not seen her do the #2 on your watch, best believe this late night meal will set her bowels in motion.
Just sayin’.
Ramalamadingdong
What the eff do some people do to animals to damage them this way? It makes me want to cry.
Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse
Oh hell, you won’t even need weeks.
Try this: tomorrow morning, put the plate in her crate while saying “Here’s your food, Lily.” Tomorrow night, put the plate at the crate doorway, saying the same thing. I’m almost 100% certain she’ll be OK with that. The day after, start moving the plate out of the crate as you tell her what it is and who it’s for. Back up to the last acceptable point if this does turn out to be too fast for her, then try slowly again.
grumpy realist
Don’t worry, John–the two (or three) of you will figure it out. I trust and pray that you have had the experience of having a dog before (not a shelter dog), so you won’t be in the state of continual panic I was taking care of the lost/strayed/abandoned puppy that had showed up on my doorstep. (“no, no, he’s simply breathing. That’s ok.”)
Steeplejack
@Litlebritdifrnt:
You watch Morning Joe and you’re calling bullshit on anything?! I am amazed.
wonkie
I’m so happy for you both!
tom
@Max: Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.
Mister Papercut
@John Cole:
Is your concern about her apparently not eating in your presence, or about her inhaling her food? Or is it a combination of the two?
Delia
@John Cole:
Maybe she just finally really relaxed and began to feel things are okay. If I’m going out around Pippin’s dinner time I have to wait until he’s eaten because if I don’t he won’t touch his food until I get back, and he’s a 60 lb. dog who always inhales his food. But he just gets really nervous about me being gone. I think she was just nervous before. I bet she’ll be a lot better about eating from now on.
Tattoosydney
@cole
As the proud owner of a slightly fucked up, anxious (but incredibly loving) dog, I don’t really have much advice for you beyond this (entirely inexpert) advice, which reflects what we are going through with Pedro now …
I suspect you are doing everything right – what Lily needs right now is love and care – everything will follow from there, once she falls in love with you (which will happen pretty quickly).
There is a chance that in the next 12 months she will do what Pedro has done – because he combines anxiety with unquestioning love of us, he is overprotective of us, to the extent of wanting to attack anyone who comes near us, we think out of fear that a “stranger” might hurt the other members of his pack who love him and care for him. He would never think of attacking one of us, just anyone who isn’t a member of his pack.
Two things – make sure she is introduced to, and spends time with, as many of your friends and family in this early stage as possible. The bigger the “pack” that she feels she belongs to, the less people she will see as “strangers” who might harm you.
Second, give her firm, caring structure so she knows that she can rely on you to protect yourself and make any decisions which need to be made for her. This is where Pedro’s problem comes in – because he is not entirely convinced that all three people who live in his house don’t need his protection, he thinks he needs to protect us.
As a result, we are currently dosing him with antidepressants to keep him calm and make him trainable, and imposing strict, loving but firm authority at all times to get it into his little doggy head that he doesn’t need to protect us from the scary world outside.
I know you’ve probably gotten lots of advice, but this is the best book I have read on being in charge of your dog – 8 pages of perfect, loving advice that is my bible at the moment.
Zuzu's Petals
Congratulations on the successful first day!
Hoping for pics soon…preferably some with her next to something so we get a better sense of her real life size.
Thank you.
That is all.
Fulcanelli
@Ramalamadingdong:
Makes me want to beat them to a bloody pulp with the nearest heavy, blunt object. I go blind with rage when I see animal cruelty. I hear my blood pounding in my ears and my vision gets blurry. No. Mercy. At. All. None, whatsoever.
Cute animal feeding story #4: My 11 month old Yellow Lab/Sheppard/Chow mix shelter rescue pup Max, lived with about 6 others his size in his pen when we got him. When we brought him home, for the first 2 weeks when we put his food down he would run up to his bowl and get in this crouching stance with his rear legs spread out wide behind him like he was fighting for space at the bowl even though he was all alone. It was so fuggin’ funny and cute at the same time…
John, I’m so happy for Lily and you both. You will reap much good Karma. Now is the time to buy a few lottery tickets or maybe play the number of the date you brought her home!
For the record, you’ll know she’s really settled in and has made herself at home when you take her outside to do her business and she poops out one of your socks.
Laura W
@Tattoosydney: Thanks. Coming from you, and Pedro, I’m gonna get that tomorrow when I’m awake. Leah still has a few neuroses that drive me mad, and I know this will shock you, but I am not the most patient person on earth. This might help us both.
Heelers Out.
Zuzu's Petals
@Steeplejack:
Speaking of Morning Joe, Jon Stewart did a good one on him tonight. Best joke in passing, re Joe’s motto “brewed by Starbucks,” Stewart says the show is really “brewed by Massingill.”
Guess you had to see it.
gex
@John Cole: I’m not quite sure how I got to this point, but I call Casey over while I’m dishing out the food and make him wait. Then I give him his release word (O.K.!) and walk away to let him know he can eat. Pick a release word and try to say it at the point where she seemed to get the hint that she could eat the food. She’ll get the hang of it.
Anne Laurie
John, you have good instincts. Lily seems quite submissive, but she knows the crate is “hers”, so food in the crate = food safe to eat. If she grew up with 22 cats & several more dominant dogs, she may quite reasonably have learned from experience that only food in “her space” was safe to eat. You can try hand-feeding her treats while she’s sitting in the crate, or in her “den” under your desk, to convince her that they’re safe as well.
Of course, six weeks or six months from now — probably right after you’ve bragged about what a well-behaved Gooood Girl she is — she may very well come out of her shell & start raiding the kitchen trash, or Tunch’s litter box. Because that’s what dogs are for, to teach us that Life Is A Learning Experience.
Rosali
After she ate her entire bowl, do you think you need to take her out again for another walk?
InflatableCommenter
John I sent you listmail, a message from my dog whisperer.
Cheers,
TZ
PaminBB
Best of luck with your new housemate. Please give Tunch plenty of love during this transition as well.
We have three crazy cats (sibs) who were rescues, but were pretty much feral with their very young mom until they were about 4 months old – pretty much unsocialized and traumatized.
Sounds like Lily just needs a bit of time, and she’ll be a real sweetie.
CaseyL
Oooh, I am loving the updates. Keep ’em coming!
I have to stand up a bit for the felines among us. Cats just don’t have as strongly developed a sense of ‘pack’ as dogs do, and so don’t have the same protective interests as dogs. I have had cats who were sensitive and responsive to my moods, and did their best to comfort me when I was upset.
But dogs are genuinely amazing persons. Recent research has confirmed they do have a moral sense, as reflected by their capacity for regret, guilt, compassion and forgiveness. IIRC, the article said dogs developed it during the 10,000-odd years they’ve lived on intimate terms with humans. So it might be true that dogs are what humans aspire to being.
asiangrrlMN
@Litlebritdifrnt: @Fulcanelli: I’m with you, Fulcanelli, it physically pains me to hear about animals being abused. I don’t want anything to do with people like that.
@Litlebritdifrnt: I don’t watch any reality TV or Morning Joe. In fact, I mostly watch sports on the teevee machine.
@John Cole: Be kind to yourself, John. You are loving Lily and providing her with a good home. You are not psychic, and you are not being abusive. You, Lily, and Tunch will figure it out.
To all mah white witches out there–what decks do y’all use? I have many (cat deck, mother earth, Chinese deck, Japanese deck, and more), but I find myself using the Thoth-Crowley more often than not. I know, I know, so old-fashioned. Sigh.
Does anyone else scry?
asiangrrlMN
@Zuzu’s Petals: And then, Mika and Joe threw a hissy fit, so Stewart dissed them again. When will they ever learn not to cross Jon Stewart?
Allan
Lily is precious.
The main thing I have learned about dogs is, they like for things to always be the same. Life can never be too routine or predictable as far as dogs are concerned.
The anxious face on my dog can always be summarized as, “This is not normal.”
Steeplejack
@Zuzu’s Petals:
I did see The Daily Show tonight. Win.
I don’t know why, at this point, anyone in the media, or at least the bloviatosphere, would want to pick a fight with either Stewart or Colbert. Talk about a death wish.
And Jason Jones completely pwned the New York Times in his piece tonight. Again, why would any allegedly hip, “media savvy” outfit not prepare for this seriously?! If I was a big-shot exec and I heard, “Hey, The Daily Show wants to do a piece on us!,” I would be soiling me armor. Jones made Bill Keller (executive editor of the Times) look like a tool, he completely buffaloed another editor about the Times‘s “aged news”–“nothing from today”–and the “communications manager” the Times assigned to walk Jones around the building was a bland mouse-girl who was almost a caricature out of Central Casting. Ugh. I hate to see the Times foundering, but, man, they look old and slow.
Shell Goddamnit
My Gergi (Corgi and GSD) is so not-food-oriented that it was impossible to train her in classes with other dogs, since they were far more interesting than any treat I could offer. As it turns out she is quite fond of bologna, given that she is not distracted. Spiced loaf is even better, and so cheap!
KG
@101: honestly, I don’t think some of these folks get just how much things have changed lately. They probably think, “well, look at their ratings, not that many people see it, so who cares?” And they don’t get that the clip gets spread across the internet and everyone and their brother has seen them being a jackass by the time the sun sets.
Delia
There was the time I got a new leather sofa and I put the old sagging cloth one (which had its share of puppy pee impregnated in its cushions) out on the patio for a few days before I could get it hauled away. The dog and the cat promptly went out to the patio to sit on the old one and stare at me with big reproachful eyes. “Why are you taking our lovely old sofa away?”
asiangrrlMN
@Steeplejack: I think it’s also the any pub is good pub thing. Or, they keep making the mistake that since Stewart and Colbert do comedy, they (the made fun of) don’t need to do anything to prepare.
Studly Pantload
John —
I am loving this story! And don’t worry too much — two of the Mrs.’ and my kitties were pretty much invisible their first 48 or so hours in their new home. Sounds like Lily’s coming along just fine.
One thing the nanny in me would ask, though, is if you’d consider putting Lily in the back seat when you two go for rides. FSM forbid it should happen, but if you get in an accident, Lily would be thrown into the dashboard or could be injured by an airbag if the passenger seat has one. Whenever I take my cats to the vet, even though they’re in a crate, I always put ’em in the back. Okay, ’nuff said.
Other than – congratulations to the two of you (& possibly Tunch, too, if the two warm up to each other)!
Steeplejack
@asiangrrlMN:
Good point. And I think they are so deeply immersed in their own cocoon of self-absorption that they think, “Well, we’re hip, of course, so what could go wrong?”
Johnny Pez
@Louise:
Kleopatra, my elder basenji, sometimes positions herself on the passenger seat with her back half in “sit” position and her front paws on the console while she stares out the windshield looking at the passing scenery. Whenever I brake the car she stiffens her front legs to absorb the momentum. Basenjis are smart dogs.
Louis, the younger basenji, claws at the window whenever we pass someone walking their dog. If I have the window open he sticks his head out and stares at the other dog as we go by.
MikeJ
Don’t you usually get on a horse from the other side?
Chuck Butcher
Gus in truck
After about 1/2 hour he starts to take naps.
Anne Laurie
Gee, Chuck, I bet you don’t have to worry about locking your truck, either!
(Srsly, Gus looks like a sweetie. But not such a sweetie that I’d try messin’ with his stuff.)
g-rant
Hi all,
I understand how hard it is to adopt. Before I left, I volunteered in a kill shelter until it was just too hard. Eventually I adopted a “chow” mix who was supposedly “agressive”. He was actually very calm and really just a fluffy sweetheart. A few commands and he was/is nice around other dogs. Yes, he’s pretty quiet and not huge friend of other dogs, but who cares? He became a favorite at the ohlone dog park in Berkeley and now is a regular at Its beach in Santa Cruz, CA. In the worst case he tries to hump other dogs, but if I yell at him he jumps off and takes a sit now. It really wasn’t hard to train him this far and he was a “problem” dog. This has always made it hard for me to volunteer…
g-rant
Ahh Chuck. I love big friendly dogs. I can just imagine your pooch asking for a butt rub. If your ever in Santa Cruz, come say “hi”. My dog will act all aloof, then be his best friend.
Zuzu's Petals
@Steeplejack:
Hey, I have to wonder why ANYONE would agree to a DS/CR interview.
Zuzu's Petals
@asiangrrlMN:
Oh, I think he might have been repeating the diss then … as Napoleon crying his eyes out. Hi-larious.
passerby
@asiangrrlMN:
My niece gave me my first deck and I used it for years, a Liz Greene creation using the archetypes and stories from Greek mythology. Because the backs of the cards have a non-symmetrical symbol, I got in the habit of not using reverse interprtations for inverted cards. [ BTW, I only used them for self discovery, I did not read for anyone else–wasn’t my thing.]
Later on, after listening to a lecture by Stephan Hoeller (a Gnostic Bishop and excellent lecturer) on the iconic Rider Waite deck, I got me one. The cards are smaller and the stories are simpler. They worked just as well for me as my Greek deck. But like your T-C deck, the Greek is my default deck as it is the one I’m most familiar with and I like the passion, agony and triumph that are elemental to the Greek myths.
I don’t use the cards much anymore, going on a year or so now, I realized I already knew what they’re going to show. I found encouragement and insight when I used them and I guess they helped me learned to trust in my own intuition. Still I can’t resist the excitement and fun of a Samhain spread, complete with candles and the whole set up.
It’s like with hearing the updates about Lily. I get a strong and clear sense that she will thrive. It’s more than just knowing that she will receive all that she needs under John’s stewardship, I can virtually see her as a devoted and waggily-tailed goo’-girl dog.
Edit: Yipes! it’s 3:15 a.m. Made the mistake of eating some Starbuck’s Mocha Frappacino ice cream at about 11:30–guess it has caffeine. Duh. and Doh!
passerby
…but damn it was good.
Batocchio
I’m glad the pets seem to get along – that can be a big hurdle.
JGabriel
passerby:
Sigh. I’ve made that same mistake with Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch.
Of course, sometimes I do it on purpose.
(BTW, is it me, or is BJ awfully slow this morning?)
.
harlana pepper
Look forward to the spooning pics. It’s things like this that help keep me sane. I so enjoy these updates! Terriers rule, by the way, as I’m sure you know from past experience. Thank you for sharing. Everyone here seems to enjoy following Lily’s progress as much as I do so I feel very at home on these threads. At least I have a little knowledge to contribute as I DO know something about animals. heh. Plus I enjoy reading everyone’s pet stories so much. I’m just so glad you started doing the “pet thing” on this blog as it provides much needed respite from what has become almost daily right-wing horrors.
harlana pepper
Since I see “butt rubs” as a topic here, my tortie loves to have her tailbone rubbed with my foot. Really into it. She prefers the foot to the hand. She is just weird.
harlana pepper
I always get on the “dawn” thread while everyone else is sleeping off their late nite commenting. Ah, my black princess (kitty) is nudging my arm for attention. She is my best girl. Love my cats, but something about 3 females competing with each other, urgh. If only the other two could be like her, she is so mellow and doesn’t really give a shit what the other two do, but THEY care, too much. Like having kids that never grow up. (sigh)
harlana pepper
Anybody checked out the army of god website? I don’t understand how such *deeply, profoundly* disturbed, openly homicidal people are just walking around. I need to stop watching Maddow.
WereBear
I use the Eileen Connnolly deck, it’s lovely. Learned on Rider-Waite. Or rather, started learning. I also like the Runes.
I do a lot of charity benefits with readings, and every year there’s a Block Party where I set up a table and half goes to the Humane Society. I go four or five hours and rack up the donations.
The first couple of years, a Designated Bible Belter would approach and start in with the Devil’s Tools, but I know the Bible better than they do. After a few tries while I quoted chapter and verse about God wants us to be happy and I’m helping people here, they backed off.
It’s been several years with no locusts, so I guess we have a truce.
dr.hypercube
On the food thing – I agree w/ Anne @93. You may want to make meal time explicit – as was suggested elsewhere, give her the release word as you put the bowl down (my 2 ijits have to sit-stay while I dish out their ration – I don’t need their ‘help’). Bring the bowl out of the crate, step-wise and slowly, to wherever her eventual meal place is going to be. This may all be noise too – I’ve seen a number of rescues flip a switch when they figure out they’re safe and ok (and as Anne says, commence other behavior – “mmm, Tootsie Rolls!”).
If she’s esp. timid meeting other folks, encourage the humans to assume non-threatening positions – low (squatting/kneeling), sideways (less frontal area), no direct eye contact. They don’t move – she comes to them – give the human a treat for her if you want. If someone says “All dogs LOVE me. I have a special bond!” and throws themsleves at an overwhelmed Lily (seen it happen), punch them in the neck. Hard.
Skepticat
Laura, you say that as though it’s a bad thing. I like being this way. ;-P
The Saff
@harlana pepper
Goodness, yes! I love the combination politix/current events/pets.
I’m so glad all is going well with Lily and Tunch, John. If they know TLC is unlimited, their respective worlds will be fine. I was having a hard time concentrating on work yesterday with the “Lily’s First Day at Home” thread.
gex
@asiangrrlMN: +1. Hearing about violence towards animals causes me pain too. The story about what Cheyenne Cherry did (DO NOT Google it if you don’t already know it) wrecked me for a week. It was like I had PTSD just from reading the story.
Mister Papercut
@gex:
Ohmydeargod.
Rage… rising… Must… punch… nearest… wall…
One of these days, I’m going to learn that when someone says not to Google, I need to not do exactly that and just back the hell away.
Betsy
@Laura W:
I will try to rise to the challenge.
asiangrrlMN
@gex: I am going to trust you and not use the Google. I believe you that it’s horrific. I just don’t understand that kind of mentality.
@WereBear: @passerby: Thanks for answering. I am in the mood for a new deck. I don’t read for anyone else, either, passerby, and I don’t do it often, but I like to do a personal reading once a year or so. WereBear, it may be mean of me, but I love it when I can stump a fundie with my knowledge of the Bible.
@harlana pepper: You crack me up, girl. Got a pic of your black cat? I have a thing for them. Plus, how goes the dating?