Crissy

Crissy is a very happy girl. She has adjusted beautifully to life as an only dog in a city apartment. 

From day one she has handled elevators, crowds and traffic like a champ. She has had zero potty issues and has asked politely to go outside on the rare occasions she can’t wait for her regular walk times.

Her leash manners are excellent-no pulling or lunging. Crissy is a champion sniffer and looks forward to her walks in the park and along the Katy Trail in downtown Dallas. She has zero interest in squirrels, however when a white cat behind a fence ran across her path, she definitely went into hunting mode. I was very glad for the fence between them. Crissy so far has been polite and even tempered when meeting strangers and other dogs on our walks. She shows no signs of fear or uncertainty. When a young intact dog tried to sniff her, she gave him a warning growl and he backed off immediately. She was not aggressive, just corrective and continued peacefully on her walk.

She doesn’t like getting into the car, though gets out easily. We went to Uptown Pup, a mom & pop pet store, where she was beautifully mannered and picked out a bully stick treat for herself. She even took it to the counter to pay all by herself. I was so proud! After shopping she sat quietly at an outdoor cafe enjoying her treat like all the best ladies who go out for lunch. We are going to continue reinforcing that car rides are a treat, and I hope she will get more used to climbing in.

At home Crissy is eating well and showing no signs of resource guarding. Now that she is feeling more secure, she is just beginning to test the counter surfing waters. We are reinforcing that’s not acceptable and making sure any hazards (onions, sharps, etc.) are kept out of reach.  

Crissy is sleeping well and she prefers to be with people at all times during the day, although she does sleep in the living room alone every night. She is an equal opportunity lover and spends the same amount of time cuddling with, or just sleeping near, every member of the household with no particular favorites. She will fuss a bit when one of us goes out the door and on the day all three of us had to leave her alone for 3 hours, she showed signs of distress for the rest of the day. Nothing alarming, she just made more mischief than usual and displayed some Velcro behaviors.

As for mischief, Crissy is a mild chewer and occasional shoe thief. We gave her a sturdy chew toy and are careful about keeping eyeglasses, remotes, and other temptations out of reach. So far, she has shown zero interest in squeaky toys, but for sure enjoys cuddling and nibbling with soft stuffies.

Crissy is an absolute love. She is super affectionate and a big chatterer. One of her cutest attributes is when she is particularly happy and content, she “purrs” like a kitten. She is obedient and very easy to handle. This girl is such a pleasure and so far has shown no diva tendencies. Is that because she doesn’t have to share our attention with other dogs? Maybe. All I can say is she is easy-peasy to love and care for.