Strong Foundations

Sheba came to live with me and ten other dogs when she was nine weeks old. Thankfully, they bathed her at the shelter before I picked her up and she stayed clean in the car. After the mandatory potty-on-arrival and introductions to the human household, she and I set to work outside on the porch. It was all the simple things - recalls, hand touches, sit, and down. She was such an earnest little pup. Only now, do I realize that her earliest impressions of me and home were very closely connected to learning, doing, staying engaged, and being rewarded.

In a very fundamental sense, she was easy to teach and train because she wanted to. Not only was her food drive off the charts, she truly enjoyed learning, and earning well for her efforts. It gave her a lot of confidence.

And, of course, I was never stingy with the rewards. She had endless cubes of cheddar cheese, boiled pork liver, and bright red tender juicy hotdog, crackling strips of homemake ground chicken and oats treats, and balls of hard baked molasses and peanut butter. I literally became her pin up for food. 

Those early days were our watershed. Our time apart, just for ourselves. I would wake Sheba up at 4:15 in the morning, go downstairs, and let her potty in the garden. We’d then grab the treats prepared the night before and start training. I have no photos or videos to show of those times but I can still see her clearly in my mind - her face looking up at me in the shadows of early morning. It was extremely fulfilling. We learned much about each other and the work. It was in those hours that we built the foundation of everything we were able to accomplish later. 

One weekend when she was about five months old I suddenly became conscious of watching her play with the other dogs, and marveling at how lovely she looked. It dawned on me then that I loved her. That she was like a daughter to me. She had ceased being homework and had become a beloved partner and companion.