Savannah's Overdue Progress Report

Savannah in pursuit of a squirrel in this tree.

I picked this photo because it speaks so much of Savannah's personality and illustrates what will be in this progress report. Let's just say this is a long overdue six month report. It's over due because 1), I was in Russia on her six month anniversary and, 2) I've been posting and blogging about our trip for the past month. So let the evaluation begin!

Savannah has remained very healthy. Let me explain. It seems that the memories of (as well as expectations) the last dog carry over to the new one for a period of time. For instance, Maggie was deaf and blind when she passed and, consequently, I was surprised by Treasure's ability to hear and see. And Treasure was ill with bladder cancer and troubled with incontinence, so I have been surprised by Savannah's energy and twelve-hour bladder! Just having a healthy dog who requires only flea and heart worm medication is a huge change for me.

She is still extremely active and inquisitive. For weeks she was very demanding, requiring us to go for a walk at least twice a day. Gradually, though, she has found more and more interest in the back yard and, with the diminishing curiosity for the Polaris, can be trusted to stay outside for longer periods by herself. She gets engaged (or obsessed) by something in the yard and focuses on that for weeks. Then she moves to something else and entertains herself anew. It could be squirrels, lizards or, her newest obsession, possums. So now we walk only once a day except on Sundays. And she is doing really well on her leash.

As we have bonded with each other over the months, Savannah has learned how to compromise. I do spend a lot of my time upstairs at my sewing machine or computer and for a long time she would show her displeasure by verbally bantering with me until I would take her outside. In just the last few days she has discovered she can sit or sleep in a chair beside my workspace and is quite content to just be close.

Sleepy eyes are making ready for a nap.

Her two favorite things (apart from stalking squirrels, lizards and possums) are to play with her grandboys and go to Bible study. Andrew (and sometimes Adrian) loves to play ball with her. And she is vigilant whenever he is eating a cookie, just in case a crumb falls to the floor. Bible study, though, is the best of all her worlds. She gets lots of love and attention from the ladies and, if Jefferson is there, she gets a little doggie time in. But what she really loves is the open door to the small backyard. Sometimes she'll sit inside the door, looking and waiting for something to appear. Usually, though, she's outside exploring. And on rare occasions, she'll come inside and find a comfy spot by one of the ladies and have a good snooze.

I took her to the Doggie Spa this morning for a bath and there were two older Westie boys ahead of her. This time she just sat on the bench beside me, quietly waiting her turn. No barking, no shaking, no hesitation when the attendant picked her up. Now, that's improvement!