CPCRN recently received this adorable update on Nellie who was adopted in 2003. For some more photos of Nellie go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/66342404@N00/ Here's what she's been up to:
Nellie was a rescue and as being such, was extremely shy and timid with everyone. She finally warmed up to us, and ONLY us after a few months. After a year time, she had fallen in much as love with us as we had her. When it’s just the three of us home, she’s just a completely normal happy Cairn - FUN to be with, loving, loves her belly scritches....LOL.
Here's just one example of how her love and trust have grown so immensely: A year after we got her, if thunder moved in, she'd be under the bed for hours after it was all over. Now, when it's over, I'll go tell her "It's all over Nellie" and raise the skirting on the bed. Within about 5 minutes, she's out from under the bed and has rejoined us and gotten beyond it.
Another example of her personal growth and confidence. Up till even a year ago, when anyone came over she ran to her bed and there she stayed till they were gone. Again, sometimes even hours after they were gone. For a time, she'd be shaking like a leaf. The shaking stopped after a year or so, she just continued to want to be away from the people and stay in her bed. Recently, recent being in the last 6 months or so, she started poking her nose out to take a look see what was going on and what these people were doing in HER house. A couple of months ago, she went from poking her nose out, to actually walking all the way out and even into the room a few feet. Then came several more feet. That turned into actually slowly approaching people.
All our friends and family knows how Nellie is/was so no one ever tried to approach her so as not to scare her. She will now actually go UP to may of the people, smell their hands and stick around for a little bit. And should anyone offer her a Yip-Yap (her favorite treat) she'll gently take it right out of their hand. By the way, she is ALWAYS gentle. When the 2 granddaughters were over a couple weeks ago, she actually SAT on the floor with them and were part of the program for about an hour.
She also SAT with one of them in one of our patio chairs for some time enjoying the petting and company. Personal Growth! Still growing, it's just such a wonderful thing to see and be a part of!!!! ALL of you would be so proud of her!!!!!
It is not a stretch nor is it an overly proud Pa when I say Nellie is darn near the PERFECT dog. She loves to snuggle with my wife in her chair in the evenings, it's part of her ritual. She'll even sometimes fall asleep on her lap, sprawled out on her back. Just like a human baby. She does next to nothing wrong. Maybe an occasional roll in the yard after a ran when the worms are active (yuk) or catching a bird of given the chance. And while she's very good at following commands, she is still a Cairn and may easily decide to just completely ignore me for such things as "Give me that bird". Well, she does more than ignore me, she'll run to keep it away from me!....LOL
Earlier I mentioned Nellie's perception of this being HER house. Now while she's perfectly behaved and respectful of our home, just witness the mailman or a stranger approach. It's unbelievable the way she gets! To see her and what she tries to portray as viciousness is a sight to behold. You would swear she would or could rip them to shreds. She just HATES the mailman. And it's any mail carrier, not just our regular one. I've tried working with her on this issue but it's been for naught for the most part. In her mind, this is her home and by golly she is GOING to protect it.
For the longest time, we asked ourselves and each other how we were so fortunate to end up with Nellie, and Nellie with us. The only answers we've ever come up with are fate and good matching skills on the part of Col. Potter staff. It's hard for us to imagine life without or before Nellie. To say she's the perfect fit for us and us for her would be a major understatement.
A little over a year ago, we had decided to adopt another Cairn to keep Nellie company. We still weren't sure if this was the right idea or not but decided there was only one way to find out. So, we went through the process, got approved again and were on a watch list to match another Cairn to our family. We think more so now than before Nellie would do well with a pal to play with, spend time with and above all, lay in the sun with. She LOVES sunbathing. Now she might NOT want a pal when it's time to load the dishwasher. you see, Nellie has created the position of pre-wash dishwasher assistant, as in licking the plates as my wife loads them into the dishwasher. Even though they are scraped and rinsed first, she still needs to examine them closely seeking any evidence of any actual morsels or flavors that may have escaped the rinsing. Not long ago, when my wife and I had our backs turned and were talking, she actually got ALL THE WAY up on the open dishwasher door!! (See photo)
So, I've probably rambled on the point of boredom for any reader of this, it's just my way of again saying THANK YOU, from Nellie and from ourselves, for the perfect match of the perfect dog into her perfect forever home. THANK YOU all for doing what you do, working as hard as you do and caring as much as you do. Thank God for folks like you!!!!!!!
By the way, we just discovered your videos on You Tube. GREAT idea and NICE job!!!!!
Again, Thank You and our best to you ALL!
Craig, Karen and Nellie in Toledo OH
P.S. Nellie may be getting a Cairn sibling in the near future!! Luck four-paws!!
Nellie was a rescue and as being such, was extremely shy and timid with everyone. She finally warmed up to us, and ONLY us after a few months. After a year time, she had fallen in much as love with us as we had her. When it’s just the three of us home, she’s just a completely normal happy Cairn - FUN to be with, loving, loves her belly scritches....LOL.
Here's just one example of how her love and trust have grown so immensely: A year after we got her, if thunder moved in, she'd be under the bed for hours after it was all over. Now, when it's over, I'll go tell her "It's all over Nellie" and raise the skirting on the bed. Within about 5 minutes, she's out from under the bed and has rejoined us and gotten beyond it.
Another example of her personal growth and confidence. Up till even a year ago, when anyone came over she ran to her bed and there she stayed till they were gone. Again, sometimes even hours after they were gone. For a time, she'd be shaking like a leaf. The shaking stopped after a year or so, she just continued to want to be away from the people and stay in her bed. Recently, recent being in the last 6 months or so, she started poking her nose out to take a look see what was going on and what these people were doing in HER house. A couple of months ago, she went from poking her nose out, to actually walking all the way out and even into the room a few feet. Then came several more feet. That turned into actually slowly approaching people.
All our friends and family knows how Nellie is/was so no one ever tried to approach her so as not to scare her. She will now actually go UP to may of the people, smell their hands and stick around for a little bit. And should anyone offer her a Yip-Yap (her favorite treat) she'll gently take it right out of their hand. By the way, she is ALWAYS gentle. When the 2 granddaughters were over a couple weeks ago, she actually SAT on the floor with them and were part of the program for about an hour.
She also SAT with one of them in one of our patio chairs for some time enjoying the petting and company. Personal Growth! Still growing, it's just such a wonderful thing to see and be a part of!!!! ALL of you would be so proud of her!!!!!
It is not a stretch nor is it an overly proud Pa when I say Nellie is darn near the PERFECT dog. She loves to snuggle with my wife in her chair in the evenings, it's part of her ritual. She'll even sometimes fall asleep on her lap, sprawled out on her back. Just like a human baby. She does next to nothing wrong. Maybe an occasional roll in the yard after a ran when the worms are active (yuk) or catching a bird of given the chance. And while she's very good at following commands, she is still a Cairn and may easily decide to just completely ignore me for such things as "Give me that bird". Well, she does more than ignore me, she'll run to keep it away from me!....LOL
Earlier I mentioned Nellie's perception of this being HER house. Now while she's perfectly behaved and respectful of our home, just witness the mailman or a stranger approach. It's unbelievable the way she gets! To see her and what she tries to portray as viciousness is a sight to behold. You would swear she would or could rip them to shreds. She just HATES the mailman. And it's any mail carrier, not just our regular one. I've tried working with her on this issue but it's been for naught for the most part. In her mind, this is her home and by golly she is GOING to protect it.
For the longest time, we asked ourselves and each other how we were so fortunate to end up with Nellie, and Nellie with us. The only answers we've ever come up with are fate and good matching skills on the part of Col. Potter staff. It's hard for us to imagine life without or before Nellie. To say she's the perfect fit for us and us for her would be a major understatement.
A little over a year ago, we had decided to adopt another Cairn to keep Nellie company. We still weren't sure if this was the right idea or not but decided there was only one way to find out. So, we went through the process, got approved again and were on a watch list to match another Cairn to our family. We think more so now than before Nellie would do well with a pal to play with, spend time with and above all, lay in the sun with. She LOVES sunbathing. Now she might NOT want a pal when it's time to load the dishwasher. you see, Nellie has created the position of pre-wash dishwasher assistant, as in licking the plates as my wife loads them into the dishwasher. Even though they are scraped and rinsed first, she still needs to examine them closely seeking any evidence of any actual morsels or flavors that may have escaped the rinsing. Not long ago, when my wife and I had our backs turned and were talking, she actually got ALL THE WAY up on the open dishwasher door!! (See photo)
So, I've probably rambled on the point of boredom for any reader of this, it's just my way of again saying THANK YOU, from Nellie and from ourselves, for the perfect match of the perfect dog into her perfect forever home. THANK YOU all for doing what you do, working as hard as you do and caring as much as you do. Thank God for folks like you!!!!!!!
By the way, we just discovered your videos on You Tube. GREAT idea and NICE job!!!!!
Again, Thank You and our best to you ALL!
Craig, Karen and Nellie in Toledo OH
P.S. Nellie may be getting a Cairn sibling in the near future!! Luck four-paws!!
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