Chester – Day 13
This day started out like any other … almost. When I woke up Chester was sound asleep in his kennel/bed. I tiptoed out of the bedroom and started the coffee. Upon my return, Chester was standing outside the kennel waiting for me to hook up his leash to take him downstairs and outside to potty. When we came back inside he chose to stay in the Man & Dog Cave (basement) for awhile with Glenn and Casey. Glenn said that Chester wandered around in the family room and up and down the stairs a few times, but settled back in a spot (under a table) next to Glenn by the sofa. A while later Chester actually stood at the slider door (obviously asking to go outside … that’s another first). When the door was opened, Chester went out and went potty again.
Note: Casey has scratched at the slider or lightly on the screen door since she was about 2-1/2 months old. We believe Chester was caged or kenneled most of his former life (approx 4 yrs) but for 6 months in foster care there was a doggie door for his use. Since we adopted Chester I’ve taken him outside periodically to make sure he has ample times to go. This was his first effort at letting us know. It will be more difficult to maintain this behavior unless we come up with a bell setup or something because when Chester is inside, he spends more time upstairs with me. The only way to the fenced yard is down the stairs. From upstairs our closest access outside is to the (unfenced) front yard.
Back upstairs and once in my office (he always knows to come here first), instead of going to “his corner”, he sat next to my chair. Eventually he did lie down next to me, but where I could still pet the top of his head without either of us moving. Told you he was a smart dog ;-)
Tomorrow will only be two weeks since we first met Chester and brought him into our home. We had only spent a few hours with him before he left his family (of 6 months), rode in the backseat of a car with a strange dog for a 2 hour drive to our house.
Glenn and I are thrilled at the progress Chester has made so far. He trusts us. He eats well (looks at us like he can’t believe his good fortune), sleeps soundly and knows the routine for potty breaks. His favorite stuffed toy is a very soft Clifford-type dog that he sleeps with. It’s cute the way he moves it around to suit his desires at the time, either as a pillow or for someone to snuggle. Sure, he still jumps when he hears an unfamiliar sound, or tries to run and hide when a neighbor dog barks while we walk. Although he’s coming out of corners and from under tables more frequently, he still uses them more often than not. We knew this wasn’t a “quick fix” dog when we agreed to adopt him, but we are amazed at his ability to respond to his new home, new routines and new dog “sister.”
He is yet to show signs of wanting to (or knowing how to) play. He doesn’t chew toys or chase balls. He does watch his new big sister Casey more intently, so he will learn from her. Chester isn’t even close to wagging his tail, but he will and I think that day will come sooner than later. In the meantime, he’s happy and he’s bringing a lot of joy to our lives as well.
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