confidence ... it's a funny thing.

hello, i love you. :: 36/52, originally uploaded by sarah ....

Since Kaleb had his surgery, the first week, he had no walks - so it was just Gyp and I. The second and third week we have been getting back to normal, but I have been limiting K to 2km - 4km walks/jogging in the 'hood twice a day, and not off leash yet as I don't want him moving his back end so much and he likes to run in bushes and roll where he shouldn't and he need to keep his wound clean.

So what does all this mean?? OMG Gyp has to do her majority of walks/runs etc on her own. Not a biggie, right? 

Flash back 6 years ago to when I got her, she was so worried about everything - people (hard to believe I know), sounds (which is still an issue, but we deal and she is a zillion times better). Because Kaleb has NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER met a stranger, he was the best thing for her. He taught her more than I ever could. 

If Kaleb's cool about it, Gyp is cool about it. So these last few weeks Gyp has had to cope on her own without her sidekick on nearly every walk. Kaleb's bombproof nature towards noises and people have rubbed off on Gyp - in all of the good ways, but when he's not with her, she is far more skiddish and worried. I knew that he gave her confidence, I just never knew how much until he wasn't with us. In the coulees she is fine by her self running with me, at her Pet therapy visits, but even my feet shuffling behind her and a kid on a skateboard made her almost hit the ground. Whereas Kaleb doesn't even bat an eye at that. She doesn't react with barking type of fear, she freezes. It's funny because she has passed the confidence she DOES have to other dogs when she needs too - Tag was worried about people too, so Jolayne would often be seen walking then together, Gyp would run up to a person, Tag would follow, and realize it was cool. It really changed Tag's demeanor to have his Gyppie girl at his side.

It's amazing the things dogs can teach eachother, and they don't even have to read a book or attend a seminar to do it. I'm only talking about the good stuff of course ... we will talk about teaching the BAD stuff another time ;)