Princess Leia is All Stars!

Dear wonderful Cairn folks,

This is my first post. I haven't written or had much time to read (thank you, economy!) so please forgive my lurkiness.




I'm posting because we celebrated a really big anniversary last Monday - the one year adoption of our Cairn delight, Princess Leia (was Bangles). I wish you could see me sitting here, all beaming and smiling, because this frightened little PM mommy has transformed into the most dearest, darlingest doggie, an absolute joy, such a snuggly bundle of affection and love that we can't imagine how we lived without her.


Bangles came into our lives on July 18, 2010 from the excellent foster home of Kitty K. She joined a Cairn brother, Wookie named for Chewbacca, so she became Princess Leia. Leia spent her first week hiding in my closet. She didn't have the strength to jump six inches, was terrified of that big wide green expanse we called a lawn, recoiled from our college-age children, and promptly lost her house training.

Fast forward one year. Leia not only jumps three feet high (four if we have treats), she and Wookie run around the house wrestling all over the place, especially the bed. She adores laps and asks all of the family members for a turn, including the young adults. Leia is a nighttime snugglepuss, in contrast to Wookie, who won't stay on the bed because we disturb his beauty sleep. We fenced in the yard, and it is her big playground and fortress - all potential invaders are soundly warned not to come further! Wookie, Leia and I go for daily walks, and she has plenty of energy and strength for our once-a-week 5 miler. She is very trainable because (no surprise) she LOVES treats. Our current training project is "not freaking out when people are at the front door" (a tough one!). And she blisses out riding around with Dad in the car.


I've (hopefully) attached pictures I took yesterday. Isn't Leia a doll? :)


Thank you for all of the work you do on behalf of Cairns everywhere. Thanks to you, all of our lives, Leia's especially, are immeasurably better than they were one year ago.


Back to lurkerdom,
Marcia McC

Happy New Year from Leia!

Dear Kitty, Neola, Deborah, Sharon, Kathy, Megan and Rebecca,

Our darling little Cairn has been with us almost five months now, and I thought it was time for a Happy New Year update to all of you, who helped foster her and bring her into our lives.

In previous emails I’ve gone on and on about how much we adore Leia, so…… rather than bore you, ditto on that J

Each new day brings a little bit more confidence for Leia. For instance, yesterday for the very first time she put her paw on our older son while he was petting and playing with our two other dogs (he adores our dogs and cat). She has been fearful of our three young adult children and she still is if they approach her directly, but if they are looking away she will come right up to them, sniffing, taking food if it is offered. Occasionally she will let our daughter pick her up. You can tell that she wants to be part of their lives but she’s still a little afraid. Yet, every day, the fear retreats a tiny bit and one day I think we will just notice that it is gone.

Leia is our snuggle bunny Cairn, and loves sleeping right next to my husband and me whenever possible. Unlike her brother Wookie, who leaps off the bed the moment his beauty rest is disturbed by the slightest under-cover movement, nothing deters Leia from the bed or the chance for affection. I wonder if she is making up for lost time in the cold puppy mill. Wookie was always in a loving home; he is just the most confident guy who thinks he owns the universe, and he doesn’t need us for affection the way Leia does. She is a lap dog if there ever was one, even when we are typing at our computers. She wiggles around and works her way into our laps until she finds a stable position, and just stays and stays. Of course we love it!

She’s a foodie, just like her bro, so we are using little training treats to shape her behavior. She’s had “Sit” for a couple of months, and we are working on “Come.” We are just about to fence in the back yard (it’s on order) so I want to have the “Come” command established so the dogs will come running when I call. And, I think it’s about time to go to obedience training classes. I feel that when Leia first came to us it would have been too much for her, but now she is a pretty confident little girl and I think she can handle it. In fact, given how assertive she is starting to be with the neighbor dog, it might just be the perfect time.

Leia’s had fun in the North Carolina snow, although the first time when it snowed Christmas Day, it was quite a challenge for her. She kept jumping all around like the little terrier she is. What was this chilly white stuff, anyways??? But, she’s managing to do her business and all is well.

Both Cairns are getting a good amount of exercise and it helps that walking them is one of my true joys and one of theirs as well. I just LOVE being outdoors with the doggies!

Well, ‘til next time……

Marcia

All Stars, No Wars: Princess Leia

Dear CP Volunteers,

Here is a recent update on Princess Leia, formerly known as Bangles.

Leia is doing really well - today is her four-week anniversary with us. My hubby and I are very affectionate with her and she seems to love it. She is learning socialization from Wookie, such as the joys of going potty in the grass (thank heavens!). They love to sit outside together, and we'll sit with them and read the paper or have coffee. We go on 1 to 1.5 mile walks late at night, when the temperature here in NC is tolerable. Wookie takes the lead and Leia is a natural on the leash. It's funny - Wookie was never that great at heeling (so many distractions like squirrels and other dogs, you know!) but now that he is "big brother" he apparently needs to show Leia how it's done, because he's pretty much "head up and onward" the whole time we're walking.

Leia is becoming more & more accepting of our two teenage sons, who both love her very much and are sad because she has been afraid of them. We've been using treats and positive reinforcement to help her adjust to them. But she was immediately comfortable with our 21-yr-old daughter, who is petite. I'm guessing the puppy mill "handlers" were young men for the most part.

Thanks for all of your hard work with CPCRN!!

All the best,

Marcia