Independence

Lacey went to bed nicely on the 4th night and didn't awaken us until about 4 am. However after taking her out to potty her cries were prolonged and insistent. We ignored them uncomfortably until taking her out about 7.

She ate and drank hungrily as I am sure her growing is rapid. She weighed in at 4 pounds at the vet's office last Thursday and I am curious how big she will be at our next visit.

We leave the leash on quite a bit. It helps her get used to it and its another toy to play with. Outside it is necessary to constrain her curiosity.

But there is also the aspect of command and control. Lacey, as all right thinking terriers, does not naturally see herself as under someone else's control. The leash is a point of contention when she wants to go south and I want her to go north. She does not readily accept that that is not a battle she will win. Its good to see that spirit, but firmly and gently she must learn that she is not ultimately in control.

But she has her moments: We left Lacey in the gated kitchen to chow down. A little while later I heard her calling and assuming she was finished went to gather her. When I came upon the kitchen she was stuck in the gate with her leash dragging behind her pointing out into the living room and not the kitchen! (The gate slats are wide enough for her to poke her head through without it getting caught but heretofore seemed to narrow for her belly and hips.) She had managed to make it out and circuited the Christmas Tree before deciding to go back in to eat some more. But then she couldn't remember how to swivel her hips to make it completely through the gate. Guess I will have to temporarily rig up some chicken wire to block her pushing through the slats until she is big enough that she can't push even her head through.