A video…it is probably not going to happen often, but I do want to document some of the training and as I looked at this video, I realized that Bear is doing much better than I. My commands are not consistent and they are not timed properly :(
There were 4 whitetail deer that I could see, maybe more that I could not. They were 100 yards off.
Oh…this video and all outside photos of Bear have been taken with my phone: HTC Thunderbolt.
Upon arriving home Sunday, I let Bob out of the motorhome first. He had, after all, ridden in the back by himself and it was his “turn”. He kind of shook himself as he walked to the house, got a drink and went inside. Once he was inside checking out his food bowl, I got Bear out and we went for a very brisk, very exciting walk around the property before going in the back door where I put him in the office/sunroom…which has glass doors.
Bob took a look, looked at me and left.
When I was sure Bear was settled, had food and water, I went back to the motorhome to unload those things that don’t stay…and found Bob…
“Are you going to come in the house, Bob?”
“You’ve got to be kidding!! How long is that dog going to be in there?”
“He lives here???”
“…not good news.”
“Tell me again why we need a dog.”
***So…this might take awhile. My plan is that while I am keeping everyone separate, the separation is glass doors or the kennel so everyone has to deal with seeing and hearing everyone else. And I make sure I get plenty of both of their scents on me and we occasionally switch areas so they must be where the other has been. I hope that eventually this works :)!
A Montana woods is a pretty exciting place for a guy just off the ‘plane from ‘Jersey :)!
Silly squirrels!
Mountains and deer and turkeys.
Places to go and things to see.
Bear is doing very well. He does get very excited about deer and squirrels, but you can see here that he is on a loose lead even watching the deer. I’m working on getting him to “give me his eyes” even in the midst of something exciting going on. If we are ever to go off leash, I need for him to listen and trust me enough to obey a command.
Bear is very smart. He understands everything I’ve asked of him. He’s given me a paw to trim nails, he comes when called in the house, even when he wants to do something else, he sits, he stays, he goes down and does a down stay – all happily, not robotically. He was trained with love.
There is a lot of training to be done to live here with him as I’d like and it will take awhile, but he is a joy to work, play and just be with.
Loving Bear does ease the grief for Karl in some ways and in other ways, it makes it more intense. Sometimes a mannerism that is so like Karl brings tears. Sometimes it is just doing things with a dog that is not Karl, a dog that requires that I change how I do things. And that brought back memories of the same thing when Karl was a puppy and it required that I changed how I had done things with Zack. It is all good and all part of the process. We learn to live with loss but there is always someone, some dog, some cat missing. We ultimately feel more joy in memory than in sadness but certain things can trigger sorrow as well.
As I experience more, I’ve learned to be ok with those times of sorrow, to notice and think about them and then go on. The more I’m in the woods with Bear, the more I feel the joy of Karl and of a new way of doing things.
Bear.
Lookout Pass on the MT/ID border.
Found the toy box.
The chair…
…so comfy!
Squirrels!!!
I’ll elaborate and hopefully photos, but we are all home. Bear got so excited when we pulled in and I think is on sensory overload. But he seemed to know this was the place. He is so excited and badly wants to see everything so all I can do to manage that at the moment, hence no photos. We’ll get there :)! It has not even been 36 hours since he flew 2500 miles, met Bob and I, stayed in and travelled 230 miles in a motorhome past cows and horses (very exciting).
I know he is still tired. He wanted to sleep on the way home, but although he rode quietly, looking out now and then, he didn’t really sleep until we were almost home. There is about 50 miles of narrow 2 lane that is up and down and curvy…usually someone throws up…no one did but he was licking his lips like he was a bit naseous.
That’s it for tonight…Unloading and settling in to do, a work day tomorrow. I know you are all wanting to know and see – I’ll do my best but the priority is for all of us to get settled….and for Bob and Bear to be able to be in the same room :)!
Oh…I do want to mention that Bear has been loved well these last weeks since his person, George, died. And he was loved particularly well this last week with Sherry, her children and her neighbors. They wanted to keep him but just not the situation that would allow that. All the love that he has received these last weeks AND with George have gone a long way, I know, to allowing him to make this current transition and be so relaxed. He is a wonderful, loving dog and I feel priviledged to now be his family.
Bear didn’t see this view…this was on my way yesterday morning. It was a beautiful day. It looks a bit hazy as it was very windy and even though we’ve had plenty of moisture, there was a lot of dust in the air. BUT, the wind was from the ENE which gave both Wild Thing and Bear’s aircraft hefty tailwinds. Bear’s flight arrived a half hour early from Minneapolis!
I had been watching flight status and Bear’s specific tracking info all day on my phone so had all current info.
When they brought out the crate…2 people and I got the door :)! – Bear was curious and excited but not anxious in any way. When I said his name he smiled and started tapping the door. I fumbled with the latches and getting a collar but he was patient. Once out it was kisses and smiles and looking out the window and let’s go! So we did.
Bear and Bob had a few choice words for each other but Bob DID start it and carried on the hissing so he got some crate time of his own while I got situated. I moved the motorhome nearer the terminal in a temporary spot so I could retrieve Bear’s crate. Bear waited in the driver’s seat for me – no barking, just quietly waited. An excellent start and much more than I expected considering he’d been in a crate for 12 hours on 2 airplanes.
Once the crate was dismantled and stored we left the airport and drove 20 miles toward home to an RV park I’d spotted. Bear rode where you see him above – quiet…sometimes standing to look out or give me a kiss but seemingly unconcerned about the new mode of transportation and sounds.
We took a long walk around the rv park shortly after arriving as it was getting dark.
After our walk, I put Bear in his crate for a bit and let Bob out to see how things worked in reverse. Bear was fine, Bob was still hissing. But you can see how big that Giant crate is as well as how much room Bear had.
Later as I was considering sleeping arrangements, the crate came in handy as I was able to block the door to the bed/bath area so I didn’t have to worry about Bob and Bear annoying one another and we could all hear and see each other.
As I was fixing my very late supper…10:30 my time, Bear went to sleep on the “living room” floor. And I do mean asleep. He did not move or flick an eye – he was out…the day finally caught up with him. Shortly after, it caught up with Bob and I as well and lights went out shortly after 11:00 p.m. which is usually middle of the night for me.
All slept well and quitely and even this morning, Bear has not asked to go out and except for rolling over for a stomach rub and dispensing a few kisses…
…he made himself comfortable for a little more shut-eye and I got to have my coffee :)!!
Meanwhile, a kind of truce prevails. Bob IS going to ride home in the bedroom/bath area with Bear up front, but no one needs to be crated and there are signs that all parties will accept the others as family in not too long…some more grudgingly than others.