Dear Ranelle and
family,
7-14-07
It's been one week since we visited and found our Nalie (Swedish for Teddybear)
and we couldn't be happier. She is a wonderful addition to the family and
everyone loves her. Murphy our three year old Manchester terrier is her best
friend and they just have a blast playing together. When we brought Nalie home
they were almost the same size, but it's amazing how Nalie has grown in just one
week!!! She's about two inches taller now!!
In just one short week... Nalie has mastered swimming in the pool and being able
to get out all on her own, the doggie door, being able to sneak up and ambush
Murphy, playing fetch with a tennis ball and we even went for our first lengthy
walk this morning. The first part of the walk was a bit of a stand-off, but on
the return portion of the walk we happened across several other dogs out for
their walks. Once she figured out that she meets friends on these trips, she was
all perky. The rest of the walk couldn't have been any more fun for either of
us. She was great... right at my side and prancing all the way home.
We also went to see the vet this morning with Nalie and Murphy. They were the
two best behaved dogs in the waiting room ( Nalie laid down and almost fell
asleep). They both were given clean bills of health and we'll go back in three
weeks to finish up the combo shots and get her a rabies vac.
As expected, we've had a few indoor accidents, but she understands having to go
outside and it's getting better. As you mentioned, she's really coming out of
her shell. Murphy has helped a great deal. He's still dominant and probably
will stay that way, but Nalie gives him a good 'clubbing' with her feet now and
then. If play time gets too wild Murphy gives her a nip and a bark and both
quiet down right then and there. She's working out great in the house. We can
watch TV and she spends the entire time with us laying at the foot of the sofas
or on her bed and working on a chew stick. We actually heard her bark for the
first time the other night as well. The family room ceiling fan blew the blinds
into motion and she saw the movement and let us know something wasn't right in
the other room. It was a perfect reaction.
Again, we want to thank you for all the time you took to spend with us last
Saturday and for allowing Nalie to come into our lives. We'll continue to stay
in touch and give you updates on the 'Adventures of Nalie and Murphy'.
Till next time...
Scott and Cindi Anderson
Dear Ranelle,.
7-18-07
Nalie continues to grow and it won't be long till we need that bigger doggy
door!! She's up to about 18 pounds with a growing appetite to go along. We're
cutting teeth and going through chew sticks like crazy, but she knows only to
chew on them. She hasn't chewed on anything else so far. She did find one of
Scotty's tennis shoes and came running out of the bedroom with it hanging out of
her mouth. We simply told her NO and she dropped it right there... hasn't gone
back for it again.
The pool seems to be her favorite activity. Getting in and out is no longer a
concern. She's a fish!! You can see the intelligence as she swims around and
then looks for the steps by the patio. She knows exactly where they are every
time, and when she gets there, she can jump out. She was actually out on the
end of the diving board the other day, but backed out. That's a bit too high
right now, but believe me it won't be long and she'll be doing flips!!
We're working on more photos, but she's VERY active now and it's hard to get her
to slow down much less stop for a photo shoot. We'll send more photos when the
'blur affect' goes away.
Talk to you soon,
Scott and Cindi
Hello Ranelle,
9/22/07
Hope all is well with you and yours. We just wanted to give to an update on
Nalie at five months. She's turning into everything we had hoped for in a
family member. You may remember that 'shell' she was in when we picked her
up...GONE!!! We've made every effort to socialize her with other dogs and
meeting new people and she's now the perfect lady. As a puppy, she still shows
submissive traits with other larger dogs, but she makes friends very easily.
She weighs in at about 40 pounds and the vet was noticing her large bone
structure and confirmed she's going to be a large girl.
She's received all her shots, has a clean bill of health and we'll be taking her
back for spaying in a couple of months. She has all kinds of energy and I try
to take her for long walks when ever I can. Everyone we meet out on a walk has
to stop and pet her, comment on how pretty she is and how well behaved she is
with strangers. That's what we wanted!!! That's not to say she doesn't protect
her home very well and LOUDLY when needed. We had one of our sons drop in
unexpectedly and very late one night after we had gone to bed. She was sleeping
in our bedroom and heard a faint noise and when flying out of the room growling
and then barking. Steve made it through the service door from the garage into
the family room and that's as far as he made it. She stopped him in his tracks
and backed him up against a wall. She didn't attack him, but she took a posture
that let him know he'd better not move or else. When we got there and she
realized who he was, things were cool, but I was impressed with how she handled
the scenario. It was perfect. Steve said he's going to call ahead next time
and not visit that late at night anymore. He said that she was very
intimidating and he didn't want to have that happen again.
We still have 'play time' manners to learn. Nalie and Murphy tend to forget
that high speed chases are for outside... not inside!!! At 40 pounds, she's
getting too big to fit through some of the furniture clearances that she used to
get through as a smaller puppy. We tend not to think of her as a puppy at her
size, but then we remember she's only 5 months old!! I can step in and she stop
the racing, so she knows who's the boss and reacts properly.
So, thanks again. We are extremely happy with our choice in Nalie and from all
the kisses and licks we get, I think she's happy as well.
Best regards,
Scott and Cind
This is a Shaman and Cheyenne puppy. DOB:4-18-07