How Ben learned to fetch.

Would like to say it was me but, honestly I very little to do with. Since Ben came to live with us Owen has been Ben's  best buddy. Owen is our friend and neighbor Lisse's dog who loves to play fetch and tug of war. When Lisse goes out of town we get to take care of him, he is wonderful and easy going little man. On Owen's first visit we were playing and Ben was just watching, Owen starting running around me and gave the toy to Ben who used it as a pillow. Owen did this until Ben had all the toys and was sound asleep on top of them. Over Father's day weekend Owen stayed over again, much to my surprise as Owen and were playing Ben started to join in, the three of us playing fetch and tug of war. It's great watching Ben feeling safe enough to have fun being a dog.

With play Ben is getting stronger and growing more confident. The shaking in fear is being replaced with curiosity. Hes warming up to Jane too that's making it easier on both of us, since I've been sick he's learned that without Jane's help I'm stuck! So instead of growling and showing his sharp white teeth at her, he wines softly to her, what a good dog hes becoming.  

   

Posted pictures of the three dog's from update on Ben

As well as on here

I took this one today of Ben 

Mr. Owen

may not be the same as the blogspot

The big one is Grey girl.

Update on my buddy Ben

It been a bit rush, wasn't going to dog sit until Thursday, but Grey Girl human mom e-mailed on Monday that she wanted me to dog sit Grey Girl on Tuesday, let her know about Ben, by e-mail that she said she didn't read it. Ended up having Grey girl the rest of the week, they got along fine. It set back some of the training Ben needed before Thursday when Mr. Owen would be staying with us while his human Mom went to visit her sister, they came over on Tuesday afternoon so Ben and Owen got to know each other, with us all together Ben even let her pet him a bit, there were no problems.
Wednesday was good Ben and Grey girl got along great both slept most of the day, nice break for me. About 9 O'clock that night the tenant started going through her boxes stacked 5 feet high, filling her side of the basement, having hard wood floors you can hear what's being said shes not a quiet person, I understand she needed to get it cleaned out. Wouldn't have been a problem if she had stopped at 11 O'clock, and didn't have her music up loud and trying to talk to her friend who was helping her at 2:30AM she stopped. Ben was upset and shaking, didn't want to go out
Thursday had Ben, Grey girl and Owen they all got along great, Ben still needed to be very close to me, when Jane got home from work Owen followed her everywhere, as he always does when he is here, he is her bed partner, that's Jane's favorite part.
Friday was a rush as the tenant on the other side of the duplex was packing and starting to move out with all the noise Ben wasn't dealing with it well at all. He got so jumpy and afraid, some of it rubbed off on Owen add in Grey girl, as we were all going out the tenant's friend were coming in, Ben ran back into the house and jump up on the table. I knew he needed to go out to go potty, thought it was safe, it wasn't in comes the tenant and friend again, grabbed Ben to get him outside but we didn't make it out fast enough, did half his business on me and the floor, got it all cleaned. Got all three back in, got Ben calmed down was playing with Owen Ben doesn't know how to play yet Ben was laying just behind me, when Owen ran around me and gave Ben the toy oh my what a sweet little man he is! Ben laid his head on the toy, Owen did this  until all the toys were around Ben, Owen is a sweetheart.
Saturday and Sunday went the same as Friday just no Grey girl, and more people coming in and out, at all hours and it seemed they did so as LOUDLY as humanly possibly! Mr. Owen was great thank goodness he can bark, very good at it I'd like to add it helped Ben a bit. Mr. Owen has a great human Mom thank's Lisse.
Monday was the get rid of crap day, piles of boxes everywhere...ect! That night Owen's human Mommy came to pick him up. Oh was he happy to see her, not sure but it almost sounded like Mr. Owen said "Mommy get me the heck out of here!" Tuesday was major moving day what a cluster muck, sounded like a herd of elephants with Jane home I put my five most calming CD's in and cranked it UP Ben went to sleep more from exhaustion I think, it was raining a bit that night everyone got some much need sleep. Almost done!
Wednesday they got it all packed up and ready rolled out of here at 11pm. we did the walk through it was empty, what a mess good thing she had a cleaning lady coming on Thursday don't know what she paid the cleaning lady but it wasn't enough! the place looked great all shined up like a brand new penny.
Ben is doing great, after hes gotten some rest and me too. Ready for the weekend the new tenant won't be moving in until the end of April! Thank goodness we now have some much needed peace and quiet!

My friend Kit thought I should add Pictures of the three dogs so I have Thanks Kit;-)

Mr. Owen

The big one is Grey Girl

This is Ben

Dog sitting Grey girl

Is a treat she is a retired Greyhound and sleeps 20 hours a day.

Isn't she cute, Grey girl is our friend Ruth dog, don't see her to often any more that okay. Jane is more then ready to get another dog, I'm the one who's don't ready to get a dog yet. After Honey girl and my m.s. not sure I can handle a dog so I'm dragging my heels. Here are the dogs we dog sit for this is Mr. Owen  he's quite the little man.

We also dog sit for our landlord dog's Goldie and Glenda, they are Mother and daughter and don't get along with other dog's. Glenda the dark one is very protective of her Mom.

They are all nice and I can handle and take care of them, for a week or two, right now that about all I'm able to do. Having a dog and doing right by him or her is a whole another thing, keeping a dog untrained for any reason isn't right. Yes, I know training is hard work for both the person and the dog not doing it isn't being fair to the dog or anyone who interacts with them. It's the main reason I'm not ready for a dog. Now once everyone knows and follows the rules the relationship grows into a bond of trust and love that rarely needs words. The relationships I've had with animals have been better than most of the human relationships, but that's my fault because for me it's a matter of trust. Loving almost all animals, sorry not a fan of mice not even in a cage. One day a may have another dog, but right now I enjoy dog sitting and it's more than enough, they each have wonderful and different personalities, just like their owner's. It's time to make another leaf pile for Grey girl to lay on, it's one of her favorite things to do here in the fall.

  Oh so sweet don't you think