April 07, 2005
Well, Madeline, you certainly "called it" on Astra's behavior!
Thanks for your information about that skipping gait, and what turned out to be her objection to walking at any length. We've noticed that Iris skips a little too, but that little fireball is ready to go for a walk any time.
For the last couple days Astra's fine to walk until she's done her business and maybe a little farther. When she stops, I put her in the dog pouch and she seems satisfied to ride awhile. She lets me know when she wants down to walk more. I'm encouraged - gradually we'll build up her strength and enthusiasm for our exercise time together.
Thanks again for your advice - it was right on!
Lynn Dee Smith
Thank you for the update. I called the daughter of their former owner and she said that they never went anywhere! Her mother had been housebound for the last few years---basically since they were puppies--- and literally they never left the apartment. Keep me posted on the progress. I think you'll see a whole new dog after she loses a few pounds and continues on her exercise program.
Madeline
April 29, 2005
Hello Madeline,
After 3+ weeks together, the Poodle Sisters have built up to a comfort level with our neighborhood walk that's slightly more than 1 mile, and burst out with so much energy inside the house that we are tickled to get out of the way when they start the chase! It's a hoot! I'm not sure about weight loss since we didn't check the first week, but that will likely happen since when the leashes come out, they're enthusiastic.
Astra now answers to Chanel, and Iris to Coquette. Since they paid no attention to us when we called their former names, we experimented and those names won. During the day, both keep watch at the sliding glass patio doors for golfers, cats, squirrels and in the evenings, other folks walking dogs on the course. We've also found they seem to enjoy lolling about in the sunshine for awhile on a spare piece of carpet we plopped out on the walkway in the front courtyard. After the first week, they earned enough trust to start sleeping on our bed, and manage well through the night. Oh, how they hate to get up in the morning.
Soon they'll have a (supervised) leash-free run of a fenced back yard - Thom's getting estimates this week. We wouldn't be able to leave them alone since the CC&R's of this area require that the fence can only be 3' high which isn't enough to deter dog-nappers. Poodle Sisters have worked their magic ... we're talking wrought iron fence, trees, curbing, landscaping and a badly-needed lawn overhaul. This is after 5 years of my showing Thom sketches of ideas on how I could make that area pretty. I can hardly wait to get started!
If ever you are in touch with the daughter of their former mistress, please assure her that we are delighted to have these little characters and they are doing well.
Our best to you,
Lynn Dee and Thom Smith
Scroll down to see Chanel and Coquette before...
Lynn writes:
Coquette (formerly Iris) is the smaller, lighter-colored girl, and Chanel (formerly Astra) is larger and a few shades darker. Didn't Madeline make a fantastic difference!
