Day 5

So this has been the first day she has had full run of the apartment with the cat and I am happy to report there was no mischief!  While I'm sure she managed to annoy Josie at many points during the day when they are always around each other the urgency wears off for Edwina, but as soon as we come back from a walk the first order of business is find and herd the cat (the cat doesn't seem too put out by it and perhaps could use the excitement/exercise)!  if it's not alive she's not interested, there is a pile of rejected toys on her blanket, also a reject beef bone... She has only the one interest, herding, and playing with other dogs.  Last night she herded a little poodle at the dog run (he was inoculated for kennel cough and liked to play rough so didn't mind being shoved around) and tonight at the empty dog run she was trying to herd me : /  I cannot wait for the course of kennel cough meds to be done so she can chase/play with other dogs and get some satisfaction!  At home she is still an unbelievable couch potato.

I think it would work better if she didn't have a stuffy nose from the kennel cough, not sure she can smell the "high value treat" very well...

So far she knows sit and down and is learning come, if I don't have a treat she won't usually come when I call her, but if I go somewhere in the apartment she will usually follow.  During our walk tonight I tied her to the bench outside of Starbucks and watched her through the window while I was on line, no whining but she was keeping her eye on me and sitting nicely.  She was also sitting quietly at Barnes and Nobles last night (socialization mission), she pays some attention to me when we are home but is much less attentive when we are out, she pretty much ignores strangers, if someone is petting her it is not unusual for her to be watching something across the room with her back to the person, she seems slightly more friendly towards men.



Important:  something to be aware of if you adopt her is the MDR1 gene, I'm not totally sure what it's all about but ask your vet about it when they prescribe medications/heartworm prevention pills since some will have a bad effects on dogs with this gene including early death!

"Many herding dog breeds are afflicted with a mutation of the multi-drug resistance (mdr1) gene. This gene encodes a protein (P-glycoprotein) that is responsible for removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain. Dogs that carry the mdr1 genetic defect cannot rid their brains of the problem drugs. The result is a neurotoxic buildup that can cause abnormal neurological symptoms and/or death."

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/dogs/1005760-all-those-have-herding-dogs-herding.html#ixzz18tZBPAf2

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/drugs.aspx