Duncan Hines and Little Debbie

We have had a busy weekend! Debbie came home on Friday night. I had put Duncan outside and Gracie in the bathroom so Debbie could check out the house without any pressure. She came into the house a little timidly, but walked in on her own. She did not have to be carried. She spent some time checking out the living room and Barbra and I petted her some. She seemed very attached to Barbra, which is not unusual for a rescue. They often get very attached to those who rescue them.

Then I brought Gracie out of the bathroom to meet her. I could not have asked for that meeting to go any better! Gracie did not hiss or act contrary in any way to Debbie's presence. As a matter of fact she walked past Debbie at one point and rubbed the length of her body under Debbie's chin, the way cats do.

Then we took Debbie out to meet Duncan in the back yard. Duncan was of course very interested in Debbie, but was wary of Barbra being there. And Debbie wanted to stay close to Barbra. We went back inside again after a bit and signed adoption paperwork. Then I took Debbie back outside so she wouldn't see Barbra leave through the front door. As soon as Barbra left Debbie turned on to me like a light switch. She immediately looked to me for attention and comfort and confidence. Where she had clung to Barbra only a minute before, she now clung to me.

Since Debbie's confidence was so much higher than Duncan's had been when I'd gotten him, I felt it would be ok to take the two of them out for a walk that night. We needed to get at least a little practice with the leash since we would be going to the reunion picnic the next day. So we went to our favorite park and walked the path once. Debbie started out a little futzy with the leash, but very soon she had gotten the idea and was trotting alongside Duncan! She does tend to speed up and slow down and doesn't seem to have the concept of a steady pace, but she did so incredibly well for her first walk.

We then stopped by my parents house to meet them and their dog Hannah, another thing I would never have been able to do with Duncan on the first day. Hannah was very interested in playing with Debbie, and while Debbie met everyone with no problem, she understandably was not in a mood to play yet. Hannah usually goes on our walk with Duncan and I, so I felt bad she hadn't gotten to go with us that day. So, I let Duncan stay with my parents for awhile and I took Hannah and Debbie back for another round at the park ... more practice for Debbie. Again, she did beautifully.

Afterwards, we spent the rest of the evening quiet at home. And at bedtime I put Debbie in her kennel for the night and gave her a treat. She laid down and I didn't hear a thing out of her till about 8:30 the next morning!