Whew....boy were we nervous

[Deena Womack]

We had to board Cali for a couple of days this week as I had to have surgery and was told I may have to spend the night in the hospital. Cali was also in a need (a very big need) of a grooming. So we arranged everything at the same time. We were very nervous as she has had seperation anxiety since she first came to us and we were not sure how she would be once we brought her back home. We really expected accidents and a more timid puppy once we brought her back home. I was very afraid that we would be starting all over again with her as it took quite awhile to build the trust with her and how unfortunate that I would need to go in the hospital now. All of our fears seemed to be wasted..... she was excited to see us when we picked her up ( as we got kisses for the very first time) and she doesn't seem to be as anxious when we leave the room. It is like she has realized, "hey they are coming back and they are really not leaving me." She sniffed everything when she got home (even her dishes) and jumped up on the couch and looked around as if to say "I am home." I look at her now and think maybe the time away did a world of good for her. She so much more adjusted and seems like she is very comforable with us.
It is funny, as yesterday she whined a little when my husband left as she most often does and then she decided she wanted to howl. Which she has not done since she has been with us and I asked her if this was something new she learned at the vets while being boarded? I decided to howl as well (actually sounded like a very hurt, dismal animal) she looked at me like I was an idiot and stopped. I have to laugh about it now as I am not a good howler at all and she hasn't howled since.

I wanted to share this with everyone, as I am very proud of Cali and the big steps that she took. It is a good feeling to know that this puppy is happy to be with us and is so willing to show us. She seemed to be such a beaten dog when we first met her and opened our home to her, it is now so obvious that she has come a longgggggg way. I am sharing a couple of pictures of her with her new doooo!!! I am so proud of her!!!

[Tamara & Giada]

That is great!! Makes you wonder what does go on the their little sweet heads:)

[Maya]

Are these the AFTER photos? You know... you might have answered the question I've been meaning to ask for days - is it too early too get Cassie groomed? She joined our family on 11/8 and I was so eager to take care of everything, so I immediately scheduled her first grooming (first in our family, I mean) for 12/15... I didn't know how fast her hair would grow. Having seen so many other Doodles since then, I realized that most of them have much more fur than Cassie... so I called yesterday and changed her grooming appt. for 12/22. Now that I see your puppy's photos, which I am pretty sure were taken after the grooming... I wonder if we should wait another month or so. Please, if you have a minute, look at my page, all the photos are pretty recent, and tell me what you think. It seems to me that, except for the difference in color, your pup and mine have very similar hair, and your doggie's hair NOW, after the grooming, is not that much shorter than Cassie's (only, of course, hers is a BEFORE)... What do you think? Should we wait some more?

Also, I am so glad to hear that your dog did well 2 days without you. We are going to Oregon for Christmas, to visit some friends, and I booked boarding for Cassie some 20 min. from where we'll be... I am a little worried how she'll do, but I feel so much better that she'll be near us, instead of being boarded here in WA State, where we live. I don't know why, it just feels better that she'll be nearby.

Thanks for 'listening' :-) Happy Holidays! I hope you recover quickly after the procedure you had!

Maya

[Deena Womack]

These were our after going to the groomer pics attached above. I have attached acouple of pictures right before she went (below). I loved her bangs and then they got really long and I knew it was time for a trim. I am getting used to her with no bangs. I am learning about the grooming needs of the doodle and her hair seemed to grow very quick all at once (much like my own). We seem to do very well for awhile and then you wake up one day and think OMG, I need a trim. So it is hard to say how soon you need to take her in for a groom, I am sure there are plenty of people here that have better advice then me as I am a really new doodle mom and loving every minute of it.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

What a nice story!!

We had a similar situation last December - we had Kirby since August and had to board both doodles when we went on vacation. When we picked them up, there was a definite change (for the good) in Kirby...he was much much more loving since that.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, Deena, so glad to hear that Cali has adjusted so well! She looks beautiful, but more importantly, she seems so happy!
I love the 'howling story". She must have been thinking that anything she did to cause you to make a sound like that must not have a been a good thing, LOL!
So happy for you all!

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

Congrats - and she looks beautiful!!