Cookie
Cookie is a Bi-Black female. She was born December 7, 2007.
She weighs 6.6oz.
Cookie's parents are Satie and Autumn.
Update: February 19, 2008
Hi Alexa,
Tony and I are thrilled to meet you!!
We saw how Cookie was playing with the adult dog and were sad to take her away. She whimpered about 20 minutes during the drive. She seemed to be looking for her family but the moving road and the sights distracted and calmed her. We were concerned about being stranded in Iowa due to the storm and were grateful that the system passed through.
Cookie is outgoing, likes to be held and takes easily to people. She is alert and we were amazed at how she is figuring things out despite her tender age. We have a lot of mirrors and Cookie likes looking at herself. We first thought that she found another playmate but we're sure she's aware that it's a reflection. She seems to be chasing her shadow when we have her out...so cute. You are correct in saying that she likes toes and is now undoing my shoelaces. She also managed to pick up one of my Croc shoes and being so small, all you saw was walking shoe.
Cookie was very good at the airport and during the flight despite the 2.5 hour delay due to cancelled flights on Sunday. We were concerned about the air pressure on her ears but never heard her cry at any time during the flight. She adapted quickly to her leash as we walked her in the gate area where she was an instant hit with the passengers and especially the children.
Landing at our airport was after midnight at 74 degrees. Cookie burrowed her nose into the grass maybe thinking it was green snow. She's nibbling at the grass and playing with the branches. Monday morning we had her out front when strong breeze came through stirring up some leaves and she jumped up trying to catch them. I wished you could have seen her. And oh yes, I had to dig out her mouth a worm that she befriended and the good news is that the worm was intact but her passion seems to be grass and fallen leaves.
We're using the crate for house-breaking and taking her out every two hours for her "business" and she's quick at learning. We've had a few home "deposits" and it's a small challenge keeping her focused as she would rather explore outside all that's new. The neighbors who've met her are smitten. I'm planning some photo ops this weekend and will share them with you.
Cookie's scratched in her ear area and I'm assuming that it's the glue that will eventually wear out. There's a clump between her ears and I'm picking off the pieces that have lost adherence.
I'll email this weekend with some pics of Cookie's new home.
You take care and stay warm.
Kindest regards,
Anna and Tony
Update: March 10, 2008
Hi Alexa,
My deepest apologies for not getting back to you earlier.
We were getting Cookie situated and I had an unexpected trip to Seattle on family matters and then it was to the Vet and Puppy School during the third week. How time passes. I wanted to bring you up to date with Cookie...she's adjusted quite well in her new home. Our Winter here was non-existent and we're pleased that the transition from Spring to Summer will be easy on her. We'll keep close tabs on her.
Week 1:
Discovered that the green covering is not snow and savouring everything new. This girl is a real go-getter and has no fear. She scrambled up half-way to the second floor to the landing. Her paws were too short to come downstairs so I had to coax her with a ball. She was overly confident during the last two steps and tumbled down in a somersault. She loves anything that moves on two or four legs. I never expected her to greet adults, childen and friendly dogs with so much enthusiasm.
Week 2:
Our neighbors are in love with her. Cookie makes her rounds every morning with kisses. Our macho neighbor John was reduced to mush and kept picking up and hugging Cookie. Cookie greeted the black community cat from the safety of our deck with an assertive bark. She's noticing the hawks but thinks that the airplanes are just bigger birds. She's very focused on the squirrels and the ducks since they are her size. She's met the community canine kids - Duke the Pomeranian, Lucy and Nola the mini dachs, Lisel and Gretl the mini long-haired dachs, Bubba the Westmoreland/Terrier Mix. She loves being around people as much as the canine kids. Did I mention that she loves shoes and socks? consequently we're keeping her occupied with Kongs and chew toys. She's a teaser when we try to retrieve her. She hunkers down as if she'll be picked up and does her "angle" move and off she goes. She is one fast Cookie.
Week 3:
Yikes! An evening with the Vet at 6.5 lbs. Everyone oooh'd and ahh'd her before falling in love with her charm and personality. She was crying and squirming in the waiting room when I thought she might need "outside". No, there was a Boston Terrier pup in the next room that she had to meet. As a matter of fact, she checked out every waiting room and greeted everyone, pooch and human in office. What an impression she made! There was a very four month, well-behaved, leashed pit bull (and I was spooked) that Cookie took to. I was very cautious as the Pit Bull's head was a large as Cookie. The pit bull was very friendly, but I'd rather stay away from breeds with a history. It's always the owners, but I still believe in inborn behaviors uniquie to each breed. Cookie's made it to the the second floor and flying down two stairways with grace. We started puppy school on Thursday where she learned how to sit, lie down and stand easily since she's food driven and an easy learner. She's socializing at school with 4 labs, a Havanese, and a host of others but I think she prefers someone her own size. We can't wait to see how she does next week. We're continuing to potty train her with the crate and she's moving along. Our neighbor had his grandkids over for his birthday and Cookie whined and pawed when she heard the children's voices outside. I let her out and she immediately took to the children (all around 6-13 years) and of course, the children took to her and she loved the attention. I couldn't help but think that she missed the children in your home.
As you might see, Cookie's features have gone from round to Sheltie definition as you'll see in these pictures. If you don't mind, I'd love to provide monthly updates.
Please let us know how you're doing and let us know if there's a problem viewing the pics. I also have vid clips that I will be sending in a separate email
Kindest regards,
Anna and Tony
Update: May 7, 2008
Hi Alexa,
Hope all’s well with you. Today is Cookie is five months old and she’s been the light of our lives from Day 1 and growing into a beautiful young lady. She’s completed her shots and is a whopping 11 lbs. 10 oz. which makes it too easy for us to turn her into a lapdog. The vet is wants her spayed in June and we’re firming up a date for her surgery. Ideally, we’d like to have it done close to Friday so that both of us will be home during the weekend should there be complications. Her body seems well proportioned and her ears (still gluing them) appear to be the only body part she’ll grow into. We had an admirer ask us the other day if she was a “miniature” sheltie ??!!
Cookie’s completed the six week series of Basic Training and will begin additional training in manners on 05-10-08. We’ve signed her up for an intro to agility on 05-11-08 to see how she responds to the apparatus. It really doesn’t matter how she does as long as she has fun.
Aside from basic commands, Cookie has learned how to ring a ribbon of bells to be let out. She’s crated during the day when no one’s home but she’s out in the evening when we’re in. Just last night I was preoccupied watching Dancing with the Stars and she whacked the heck out of the bells and we are so proud of her. We always use the leash and have started with a gentle leader so she won’t hurt her neck when she pulls.
Cookie continues to exhibit an outgoing personality and loves everyone, especially children who are charmed by her affectionate demeanor. She whimpers when our neighbors or their dogs don’t acknowledge her. She has to say hi to anything that moves or speaks. Cookie’s petite size doesn’t seem to matter to her as she displays no fear of larger dogs. We’ve been socializing her with her other dogs nearly every weekend at the dog park and she gets along well with both large and small dogs, but decided the “under 30-lb” area is more suitable for her. Cookie greeted a large Shepherd, jumped on the Shepherd and then grabbed the Shepherd’s tail causing the larger dog turn around and look down at our little pup. The Shepherd seemed to be asking what does this little thing think she’s doing? Cookie has also joined in the fun with 7 larger Welsh corgis, not to mention bull terriers. After that one day, we decided that she belongs in the smaller dog playpen.
Cookie’s antics makes us smile. Last week she figured how to unroll toilet tissue and remove it from the holder. This past weekend, she discovered that she can grab and walk with the tissue creating a trail behind her having a ball! She was joyfully prancing past me when she learned this new trick - see the picture, I didn't have the heart to stop her. She’s met several types of ducks, still trying to figure out the turtles, likes to play with baby frogs and there’s the ever-present squirrels. Her latest passion is trying to catch lizards in the yard…and also trying to catch butterflies.
Here's pictures to show how Cookie’s grown. Enjoy and we’ll write again.
Anna, Tony and Cookie B.
Update: July 26, 2008
Hi Alexa,
It's great hearing from you and seeing outdoor pictures without the snow. It looks like a beautiful summer up there. It's the typical summer here with daily thunderstorms. It's more of an annoyance with Cookie. She did very well and was not traumatized by the July 4th fireworks in our community. Cookie is getting used to the summer but if we can't avoid the walks during the peak hours, we take it very slow with her. She is in her third series of classes - this one being Manners Plus - where they teach distance commands, prolonged stays and canine citizenship. She loves agility apparatus, especially the A-Frame which she attacks without hesitation or fear. The staff think that she's a beautiful jumper, very light-footed and graceful with great timing. The little girl is so smart and has so much energy, we may continue with agility classes to keep her stimulated. Cookie has made the connection with commands and tricks on an average of 5 tries. We are so proud of her.
Cookie was spayed on June 26 and recovered nicely. She was groggy for one day and the next day you would not have known that she had surgery. It was very difficult keeping her from running or going up the steps so we crated her. We couldn't fnd a correct fit for the cone. The one that fitted correctly was too short for her long snout and the one that was correct for her long snout was too large for her neck. Poor thing had to wear both for 10 days. She kept looking at herself in the mirror.The scar's barely visible but just lumpy and the vet stated that it will be so for 6-12 months.
She has pearly white adult teeth and we continue to glue her ears. I read somewhere that this should continue until she's 18 months? Does this sound right? The glue does come off and her tips are bent though they try to stand up. I'm clipping her nails twice a week and brushing her teeth. She's always trying to eat the poultry flavored toothpaste. Tony and I noticed that she never appeared out of proportion since we had her, i.e., hugh paws, etc., but only that she needed to grow into her ears.
She's 13 inches tall and weighed 17 lbs. at the Vet's office yesterday and is growing into a beautiful young lady. Her personality is so endearing that everyone gushes over her. She loves chasing lizards and frogs and has caught and played with a few...ughhh!!
Her best friends are Nola and Lucy (two dacs) Duke (Pomeranian) Riley (mix poodle??) Penelope (pug). It was so cute the other day when she went up the a huge but friendly German Shepherd (a big, big baby) and pawed her on the nose. The look on the Shepherd's face was precious. Cookie still doesn't know her size.
Rocky is so small and adorable and has the cutest face.
I'll be updating you with some new pics, but here's one of her with her two cones.
Take care and I'll write again soon.
Anna, Tony and Cookie.
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