After my recent rant about Suh, I wanted to update you on her progress. Because she is making remarkable progress as we I get more patient with her.

One of our biggest hassles was how OVER-excited she would get each time we got ready to go for a walk. As soon as the socks and sneakers come out, she’s spinning circles and losing her mind with anticipation. Which usually involves knocking us over, getting underfoot, and tearing up the hardwood as she races from the front door to the bedroom in an attempt to hurry us up already. We’re frustrated and exhausted before we even get out the door. And to deal with this twice a day? Yuck.

Awhile back we had to start kenneling her during the day while Brandon and I were gone at the same time. She would pull out laundry, chewed a pair of flip flops and seems to really like sucking on my slippers, rendering them unbearably-unwearably soggy. After only a couple of days, she started to associate me getting ready for work (since Brandon usually leaves the house first) with going in the kennel. By the time I was rinsing with mouthwash, she was already settled in and waiting for me to close the door.

Brandon decided to take this affinity for her kennel to an extra level. Now whenever we start to get ready to go for a walk, he tells her to wait in the kennel. He leaves the door open, but tells her to go inside and wait. And she does. She lays down with her nose sticking out and patiently waits for us to hurry up and get ready.

This morning when Brandon got up (extra early), she went in the kennel straight away and waited to be called for her morning walk. It’s awesome!

She really is a friggin’ brilliant dog. If we can continue to figure out these little tricks that she’ll latch on to establish routine and keep her excitement from escalating, then I think she’ll come a long way fast.

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