Building trust

We got Bailey back home on Wednesday morning. She was very happy to be home and very tired. I know she has a good time there, however. They posted pictures and videos every day of the dogs playing in one of several large play yards that they've got. Everyone has noticed the red spot on Bailey's nose; they told us that she had ran into the gate of the play yard, which I can believe. It wasn't in the pictures until the last day or two so I don't think it's evidence of her being unhappy at the facility and everything we've observed of her body language when we took her out there and the subsequent pictures indicates that she's happy there. 

But something has changed since she's been home. That first day we went to the open field at the Citadel looking for play partners and we found them. She ran around and met everyone, socialized very well with all the other dogs, but she didn't really play with any of them. No play bows, no runs. I just assumed she was tired from the week so we went on our way. It was late in the day and there were not very many people out on the walking trails and paths, so I did something I had not done before, I let her off the leash. I was very happy and only mildly surprised that she stuck with me like so many other off-leash dogs we see walking out there. If she got more than 20 yards away I'd call her and she came right to me, which I rewarded with one of her favorite duck treats. I reattached the gentle leader and leash when we got back to a more populated area. 

Since then our twice-daily routine has been walk to the field, on leash, to give her the opportunity to play. She still hasn't really engaged in big runs and play with other dogs in the field, however. She almost did this morning but it didn't quite get beyond the play bow stage. I guess she knows now that we'll be there often enough that she can save it up for the best opportunity. After some time at the field we continue our walk without the leash until we get back near the road. I'm keeping the treats flowing and she's sticking close. 

We met another off-leash dog on this morning's walk and the two dogs did the greet and sniff dance. The other dog's owner remarked how nice Bailey was. I thanked her and we went on our way. I don't have any concerns about her with other dogs. If the other dog isn't nice, Bailey just leaves it alone. She steers clear of most people but that just shows good sense.

You may notice a new harness in some of the pictures. It has two attachment points, one on the chest and one on the back. She doesn't pull me with this new harness (it's from Halti) although I don't know if that's because of the harness or just because she's walking with me so much better now. At least I don't have to answer questions about the gentle leader now. They are not common here and lots of folks see it and think it's a muzzle, which caused them to be wary of Bailey, at least until they got to know her. The other thing that's not common here is tags on collars. My dogs have always had more than others, but many dogs here have nothing on their collars at all. Rabies tags don't exist and all dogs are microchipped so many folks don't even have ID tags on their collars. Bailey has ID tags, a rabies tag, lots of tourist bling, and an Air Tag. She makes noise when she runs. 

She's doing "ups" for me often without being asked now.

Snuggling with Bailey on the day she got home.

p.s. FUCK TRUMP, FUCK ICE, FUCK the GOP!