March 31, 2005

It has been over 5 months since my last entry and Lexi Loo is still looking for her forever home. Lexi has gone through many many changes since October. When I look back to the dog she was in September, when she first came to me, I realize what remarkable changes she has gone through.
She no longer barks, barks, barks, at every passing item that goes by the front window. In the house her ability to take commands is pretty darn good. She will come off when jumping, chewing, circling etc. Doesn't stop her from committing the act but she sure does listen when you ask her to. Her enthusiasm for life is really coming through. She does everything with such energy and joy. This is not say that Lexi still does not have a certain amount of fears outside of the house, but her ability to focus on me and not allow the fears to take over has improved greatly.

In January Lexi began beginners agility. I just knew she would be a star in the making. In her first class, the instructer told me she would only be able to handle the jumps but Lexi went up the A frame. I knew she would do it when I saw her checking out the mini schnauzer doing it. In her second class she chose to go through the weave and through the tunnel. The instructor said her heart was beating hard because Lexi was doing so well. In her seventh class she went up and down the see-saw. The other amazing part of the class was Lexi initiated a relationship with the instructor without the instructor having to use any type of treats. She comes around much faster at trusting people. Although she still picks and chooses who she likes.

Lexi is an incredibally smart dog. Sometimes I am not sure how she accomplishes the things she does. For instance she managed to take off the metal lid of a peanut butter jar without putting any dents in the lid. She managed to take a pot at the back of the stove, remove the lid, leave the lid on the counter, pull the pot onto the floor and eat the contents of it without appearing to have tipped over the pot. Although it can be infuriating that she gets into so many things there is also a part of me that is astounded by her ingenuity. She quickly learned "if I sit real pretty I will get fed, get walked, be let outside to the backyard. There are endless possibilities for me if a sit pretty and look cute".

My wish for Lexi is that she find a home that is experienced in agility. She has such potential and the beginner that I am, I am just holding her back.

Leave a Comment