Sunday, February 15, 2015

A Roll in the Grass for Freedom

It must feel good to a dog who has been caged up for 8 years to roll in the grass.   Indy does so with exuberance.   I wish I could capture her fascination with the "mirror dog" who follows her everywhere in the bathroom but disappears when the closet door is open a bit.  She stops, she looks behind the door, she backs up and look again.  Precious :)

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Indigo Makes Progress on Walks

Documenting Indy's progress on learning the ways of a free dog.  What dog doesn't love to go for a walk?  Well - the world is just too big for a puppy mill dog.  When your days are all the same at a puppy mill and you know what there is to be afraid of, then the freedom of taking a walk in a big and unfamiliar world can be overwhelming.

On her first walk with us, she was very nervous.   This video is about 4 minutes long.  Further into her walk she smoothed out and walk fairly normally.  Seeing kids on bikes freaked her out and I had to pick her up.   I can't wait until she finally relaxes and enjoys her walk.


1st walk - Feb 8, 2015

Today she took her second park walk.  She has been going at night with us too.  She won't be a fan of them anytime soon but she is less nervous about getting in and out of her crate.  I'm still extra cautious about getting her out.  




2nd walk - Feb 14, 2015

It will be real progress if her tail is eventually high and waving.  Although I can't say that ever happened for Gracie on a walk.


Sunday, February 8, 2015

Day 1 with Indy

Indy learns so fast, I am documenting her stages so I can remember where she started.  This video was taken on her first full day with us.   Now we are on day six.  I got my first tail wag from her on day five but I haven't seen one since.  This morning I got several licks on my hand :)   She is yet to make a sound - really odd for a sheltie.


Pep talk with Indy to let her know - life gets better!

Monday, February 2, 2015

A New Chapter Begins

After Gracie passed away I considered what her life meant to us and how to best honor her memory.  I think she would want us to help another mill dog rescue become a family dog.

Introducing Indigo (Indy)

She is a tri-color sheltie and a puppy mill rescue from Kansas.  She is 8 1/2 years old and we are the first house she has ever lived in.

Everything is new and kind of scary.  She has been glued to her crate although I see some hints of bravery.  You can just barely see her face peeking out from her crate.  I can't wait to see her personality emerge and fear subside.


We came up with her name as we were driving down to Pueblo to get her.  We were listening to the new Neil Diamond cd and played "Something Blue".   I found the lyrics appropriate and thought this will be her theme song and if only she were a blue merle, I'd call her blue.  I dismissed the idea since she is a tri-color girl.  Then at a rest stop I saw that we were on the Blue Star Highway.  OK, there is a common thread with "blue" that I need to honor.  Then the name "Indigo" hit me.   Indy will be the shortened version.

Here we go... on with the adventure!