[Dailydrool] Calendar hounds, part 2

[Sherrilyn]

When Lola came to live with me, she was very skinny and had a dull coat and terrible dandruff. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I found out that Lola had already been in 3 homes in under 2 years.  It quickly became apparent that she had been abused and had a lot of issues. She was aggressive, willful, and destructive. She had no manners, refused to poop outside, bit me, bit my maid, and chewed up books, shoes, and Baby Jesus (twice!) from a nativity set. I began to understand why she's been abused and bounced around from home to home. However, after 10 years of reading the Daily Drool, I knew that many others had lived through this behavior and worse. Lola didn't know that she had come to the home of someone more stubborn than she was. She gave me a run for my money, though. That whole first year together, I wasn't sure that both of us would survive.

My vet recommended that I contact the top animal behaviorist in Mexico--a professor at the National University. He set up guidelines for structure and behavior that my maid (who was home with the hounds every day) and I were to follow. He also came to our house and worked with Lola twice a week for 3-4 months. During that time, Lola wore a training lead attached to her harness in the house. That allowed us to guide her away from trouble while keeping our hands away from her jaws. It was a very rocky time, and we had a lot of setbacks, but I am happy to report that, 4.5 years later, Lola is a lovely, happy, 90% well-behaved hound. She still has her moments, and I am very careful to avoid situations that would make her anxious. But I am so proud of all her hard work; it paid off, and I think we are both very happy with our life.

It's been a challenge to outsmart Lola. Every time I think I've figured out how to keep her from getting into trouble, she finds new trouble to get into. It has almost become a game, because I'm always amused by how creative she is. So imagine my surprise a few years ago at the Michigan Waddle when Lola and I had a session with the pet psychic. One of the questions that Lola had for me was, "Do you think I'm pretty?" Weird, right? Where would that have come from? However, I immediately recalled all the times I had told people that Isabella is the pretty one and Lola is the smart one. Busted!! Ever since, my friends, family, and I have made sure to tell Lola how pretty she is. I don't know if it's because of that or age, but Lola has mellowed a lot since that time.

And now you know a little more about the May 31 DD calendar hounds.

Sherrilyn
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