My Little Lilly

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Me & Tess
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Me & Tess »

When I first saw Lilly on Christmas eve, my first responce was that "oh my goodness, she looked like me." She was so litle. But I knew she had grit. I remember breaking into sobs. Lilly was the one. She needed me. This was also a kismet moment, one shared with Tess so many years ago. Lilly is meant to be my forever Chow girl.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Me & Tess »

Right now I am feeling angry at Lilly's other owner. Lilly was not socialized. She has issues with everyone else except Mike (sometimes issues) & me (loves me). She does not like to get in the car, Mike picks her up to put her in & picks her up to take her out. (in her eyes that may be a violation - but her legs are short and she can't just jump in the car & we don't want her jumping out only to injure herself). Lilly stiffens up when Mike picks her up. In between she is fine in the car, she seemed to be enjoying the ride today, even putting her head almost out the window. We took her for a walk along the Riverwalk & down to the river. When he picked her up at the Riverwalk to return home she gave him a couple of little nips on his ear - not to hurt & he didn't scold her. When we got home she seemed fine at first but she has been pouting behind our bed. Yesterday we took a walk on our road & our neighbors were out for a walk too. Lilly went ballistic - growling & barking and just went back home. She is now out from in back of the bed sitting by me. It is frustrating, & I am not upset with Lilly, just upset at her other family. I so want Lilly to enjoy the life she has up here with us. We will just keep trying to socialize her. We have only had her two months - sometimes I feel we've had her longer, I keep forgetting. Mike said that maybe Lilly is like she is because that is just the way she is. Lilly has come a long way from us picking her up in Missoula.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Sirchow »

Lilly sounds very much like my Bramble. Even after all these years and she loves me beyond anyone she will nip me when I pick her up to put her in the car or swing her head at me sideways which is like "get lost". She just doesn't feel safe with her legs off the ground. Yesterday we met a neighbour on the road who used to own chows and would love to stroke her but is very respectful and doesn't even look at Bramble but she spent the whole chat with her tail down on the end of her extending leash straining for home. Some chows are just like that. Isla is a bit better and is naturally inquisitive and Izzie doesn't give a hoot one way or the other.

Lilly may come round a bit but she may not but either way she has wonderful parents and I am sure with time she will learn to trust Mike more.
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Siriol, Bramble, Izzie and Isla.
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Judy Fox
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

Two months is only a very short time.

Seriously, I am sure she will get milder in her attitude. Also remember, she is a chow chow and is probably a right "snotty-totty" chow lady and probably Mike picking her up into the car etc. she sees as an affront! :lol: Our Matilda is a right snotty-totty madame but Maisie is much less so - Matilda can take offence at the turn of a coin and just strut off in a mood. 8) Maisie is always happy with a waggy tail and a happy dance. :lol:

Just keep on socialising her and she will get there. :D
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Me & Tess »

Catching up with Lilly.

It seems to be hit and miss between Mike and Lilly. We can add was smells to Lilly's dislikes. Mike was waxing the truck today. But this morning she liked Mike's petting..... Such a girl!

A few days ago I went to check Lilly's butt. I suspected that she had a poopy butt. I never saw it coming, I guess I must have startled her when I grabbed her back end & there it was, muzzle scrunched into a grizzly snarl, white teeth bared at me! I learned my lesson, never, never grab Lilly's back end. As it turn out that she did need a butt bath. Twenty degrees, me holding her and scrubbing her & Mike rinsing her off. The water was warm & she was really good about the whole affair.

Lilly started a new habit. After Mike goes to bed she likes to crawl up with me on the sofa. I have started to prepare a little pallet, my knees tucked under me so she can be comfortable. She also lets me know when it's time for me to go to bed; there is this Chow Chow Vulcan stare & tail wagging.

She is really doing good walking on the dirt/snow road with me. We do about a mile total. This afternoon I got a little spooked, I saw a big dark figure of a dog about a 1/4 mile ahead of us. I was not prepared for the encounter, so I told Lilly "go home" & "hurry." She was good about it & took my lead. If Mike was with us I probably would have treated the situation differently. It might have been Arlie's old hound. I have seen him venture as far as three miles from home. He is old and harmless, but I didn't want to take the chance.

I am thankful for "spring ahead," and the days getting longer. The "going to the woods" is spooky in the dark of night. Warmer is good too. When we first rescued Lilly it got dark at 5:30 & the temps were in the teens. Lilly won't go out without me. It's a good thing for now. I have covered more territory with Lilly than I have ever done at any other time. She has discovered squirrels & birds in trees. Sometimes at night we just look into the woods & stare, listing to the sounds of the forest, Lilly sitting on my feet.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

Hee! Hee!
Little Lilly perhaps does not like you messing around with her knickers!
My Tilly doesn't but Maisie doesn't mind she just stands and twitches her tail while I clean her but neither of them will let Fred near there pants! 8)
I suspect you are both going to enjoy the spring and summer when it arrives.
Today when I was out with Maisie she spotted two wood pigeons up on a branch just sitting there and cooing - she planted her feet and was disinclined to move - she just wanted to watch them and because there are not leaves on the trees yet she could see them.
Funny girl. :D
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Ingrid »

Lilly sounds adorable, a tad spoiled and a little bossy, and yes you can thank her previous owners for the bossy part! I would try the Nothing in Life is Free Method. I think you both will really like it because it is reward based and very gentle. You can read about it here, it's simple and it feels like a little game for everyone involved.

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/do ... _free.html
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Re: My Little Lilly

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Lilly is progressing. I do practice some of the "nothing in life is free." She now sits, stays as I walk away from her, my back to her, then I turn around and say Lilly come," and she is rewarded with a nibble of cheese. I was proud of her yesterday when we were on the road, I was pretty nervous about meeting another dog. We were told that Lilly didn't like other dogs. Tess was the same way & I had to separate her from other dogs several times; but I knew Tess, & I knew she would never bite me. I give Lilly lots of hugs as rewards. She loves that. I have also been stern at times. Doesn't like that. I was so happy when Lilly started to show me her belly, that was only a few weeks in. When we are walking in the wood, she will come to me & wants to smell my face; I take that as a kind of greeting. Lilly is learning, she "sat" yesterday with me just signing - no treats, just a hug to her. She can be a spoiled little diva. But the personality I was hoping for is breaking thru. Tess used to order me to bed too, only Tess was verbal, low growls all the way to a bark. I have a tendency to go to bed very late - I guess "they" know/knew when it was just too late & "time for me to go to bed."
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Re: My Little Lilly

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Lilly is my "sweetie-pie." She gives Mike a hard time & just loves me. She is the best ever Christmas present from Mike & that includes all past jewelry; diamonds & pearls. Even though she didn't get the socialization that a Chow needs, I respect & love her. I'm not going to force socialization on her, I am gently encouraging her. She makes us laugh, with all her growling and barking, sometimes she sounds like a little Ewok. She really needed a Chow knowledgeable home, & in this north country Chow Chows are scarce. I sang to her yesterday and her waged her tail. I used to sing to my children. I "lost" my song when I was a small child. But sometimes I can find it in areas where no one can criticize me. Lilly also loves it when I dance. Dancing come to me freely. Tessie used to protest when I danced.

Mike, Lilly & I took a good hike yesterday, all the way to the State Forest & to the end, about 2 plus miles. There was puddles along the way for Lilly to drink. Most of the snow was gone. As much as Lilly protests against Mike she loves to play run/zoomies with him. She stays really close although sometime she likes to smell & investigate the log piles along the way. Lilly keeps watch on me. We got the last throws of winter today, several inches. I have been cooking & have encouraged Lilly to go out without me. If I stay on the porch she is ok.

Lilly loves the creek. She takes samples of the water in different areas. She has moved pebbles away with her paws. We have hiked across the creek. I follow her. Sometimes it lands her in brambles & I have to show her the best way out. Lilly can make a little hike traversing back and forth & the time flies from minutes to half hours. Lilly has a paradise here in the north country.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

Lilly is a lucky little chow lady and she has found people who love her and understand chow chows. Tess did her job well. :D
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Re: My Little Lilly

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All in all it was a good day for Lilly. It started out a little shaky. Lilly is a very smart Chow girl. I started talking about going in to town today, wasn't sure because there is still ice on our driveway. Mike had to go in to get a pull rope for his chain saw so I decided I would go with him and stop at the market & the hardware store to get Lilly some treats. Lilly was hiding. She hates getting the Trooper. I wish I knew why, what her back story was. We decided to leave her home. I knew she had to spend a penny and tried to get her out the door. I had to carry her somewhat - she gets really stiff & it is like trying to lift a log. Got her out and she ran to the woods. Then came back & sat on the porch, still worrying about the car. We decided to leave her out. We were only going to be gone a little while. I think I had more separation anxiety then Lilly. This was her first time out alone. When we came back she was sitting on the porch. I told her we had treats & that perked her up. We all took a nice little hike. We always go farther when Mike is with us. We went to visit one of our neighbors property. They reside in south west Montana & built a 12 x 12 one room rustic log cabin, to use when they come up. We hadn't seen it for a while. It looks like a cabin you would see in the days of old. Their forest looks like the forest prime evil. They didn't get the big blow down of four years ago, we lost so many trees in that blow down. The dirt road is for now a mud road. Lilly got a little muddy. When we got back Lilly & I went to the creek so she could get a big lap of fresh water and get the mud off of her feet. Then we took the trail back home. Lilly running a little and passing me by then she laid down in the typical Chow fashion in the middle of the trail. She got a good pet then she was up and running. Then it was zoomie time! She was running and jumping, funny little girl. She has surprised me with a little lap on my face. She never did that before. & now she even does a little jump of joy. Sometimes she likes to get up on the sofa with me in the evening. She loves to be hugged. When we walk together, I feel so happy and relaxed. She is so soft (we are still working on grooming issues). Lilly isn't arguing with Mike as often, and he gets to give her some hugs. We've had her now three months to the day. She has come a long way.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

Time - it sorts all sorts of issues out, bless her - she sounds such a sweet little girl. :D
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by chow4life »

Lilly is so special. I love to hear of her progress. My only thought is I definately would not leave her outside while there is no one home. To many things can happen to her. Why take that risk? If anything just leave her inside to rest while your gone. At least you'll know she's safe.
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Re: My Little Lilly

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It is amazing just how just a couple of days can make a difference. Since our last walk with Mike, Lilly has mellowed towards him. She has been quite a little lady, responding to his whistle & she will come towards him. Lilly leads me all over the woods. It is amazing how those little legs can jump over logs. She plows thru the undergrowth with me following her. She is more inquisitive than Tess was with the wild things in the forest. She can pause and smell a smell until she gets her fill. The days are getting longer and warmer. We stay out for hours. Lilly feels free to investigate when Mike and I are outside. Even after our last walk she wanted to stay outside and investigate under the porch. It was ok with her that I went in the house. I think I am going to have to get items needed for a possible skunk spray soon.
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Re: My Little Lilly

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Lilly & I are having adventures. She is my sweet girl. She is a handful. Seems the only one she loves is me. She tolerates Mike. I left her alone yesterday with Mike to go into town, this was the first time. She sat on the porch & watched me drive off. Mike said she wouldn't come in for a while and stared down the driveway. She finally came in and went directly up to the loft and in back of our bed. When I came home, she came down the stairs, tail wagging, had to smell me - as she always does.

What Lilly likes: Walks in the woods, pushing thru bush and brambles, short legs jumping logs, me following. She investigates all smells. Lilly has led me to places on our land I have never been. We walk slowly, sometimes I can't get to the places Lilly can & I just wait until she gets her fill and comes to me ("Lilly home"). She loves to drink the water in our creek. She will follow the creek to the spring that comes up from the forest floor. She chases the deer, but only so far & away they flee, white tails up high. She loves Brown Cow yogurt, rice mixed with Brown Cow yogurt or just plain Brown Cow yogurt or just plain rice. Has favorite places to rest; in back of our bed at night, in back of a chair in the living room, it's under our stairs. When Mike & I sit on our sofa in the evening she will sit at one end on the floor, sometimes she will climb up and sit on me. Lilly loves hugs & loves to smell my face, any clothing I have on & buries her face on me.

What Lilly doesn't like: Cars, being in one or cars driving by. New people. Sometimes Mike, depends on what he is wearing, how he smells, what he says. Her butt investigated, not so bad at butt baths. Loud noises, any sound not familiar with. The dog that shows up every evening when Lilly is on the stairs looking out the window (her own reflection) & Mike magically makes it disappear. Last but not least the leash!

Sounds that Lilly makes: Growls, barks, Wookie noises. grunts, snuffs, & snores.

Happy me! Lilly was meant to be.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

Funny little girl! Our girlies love to sleep behind the settee in the evening. Then when ~Fred goes into the kitchen to get their dental chews they are both sitting up waiting for him. :D Cheeky little girls - they know our every move.
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Me & Tess
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Re: My Little Lilly

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I feel like my heart is broken. Lilly attacked me yesterday. The morning was going well & then Mike & I were playing with her. She had gotten a paper towel took it in back of her favorite chair and started shredding it. I reached to get it and she bit my hand then bit my arm. There was no warning, no growls or nips only full on bites. (I have taken things out of her mouth prior & with no problem.) I am sure this is not new to her, and her previous owners just didn't disclose the facts. There have been behavior problems that have cropped up. I feel I have only two options, one, to give her a second chance or two, put her down. I had a bad night, thoughts of what to do, awful heart burn & pain. I decided to give her another chance & just be very careful with her. The alternative pains me, but I would have to step up & be responsible if she attacks again. Lilly is upset too. After the ordeal (Mike hit her, though not hard ) she couldn't keep water down. She paced around, not knowing where to go. I had told her "bad Lilly" over & over again. I also put her outside by herself & I didn't give her the walks she is used to. & didn't give her extras with her food. I am not afraid of her but my trust is out the window. The wounds are still weeping & my hand is swollen. Mike wrapped my hand up last night & we took the bandages off this morning so my wounds can get some air. I feel bad for her, she wasn't socialized, or trained adequately. I really believe too that she did not have only one owner & that her behavior is what made them give her away. I will have to take precautions with friends & and family. I really shouldn’t even think of taking her for walks away from our property. I had dreams of taking her for walks along the river, dreams of taking her in town & walking up & down the sidewalks, dreams of walking trails together.

All this is so disheartening, we’ve been having good times together, walks together in the woods; I have had to save her a couple of times in the brush of the fallen trees. We had a blizzard & wind storm a few days back. Lilly loves the winds, I couldn’t believe it. She looked so pretty, her fur flying around. She is my little companion in the house helping me with chores & cooking. She loves to be in the kitchen with me. Now, we have to learn to trust again. She knows she did something wrong & walks lightly around the cabin.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

Oh my dear, I am so sorry - I only wish I had the wisdom to tell you what is best to do- but I do not. :(
I only can say that you will eventually sort this out one way or the other.
Be sure prayers and good wishes are winging their way across The Pond to you.
The girls send purple kisses. x x x
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Re: My Little Lilly

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Thank you Judy. I have been so happy with Lilly's progress and the fun we've been having, now I feel so deflated as does Lilly. Will be starting our regular routine tomorrow. I am now practicing NILIF. I really want to give her some hugs, but am refraining. I want everything to return to the normal we shared.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by chow4life »

I am sooo sorry to hear this. I hope your ok. I will tell you this has happened to me before. I kind of thought this might be an issue with some of the things you have shared about lilly in your previous posts. Some signs were familiar to me. Didn't wanna go there though. I absolutely understand the uneasiness you feel around her and will continue to feel. This will be hard to over come.Lilly has been making such great progress but reality is as stated you are uncertain of her complete history. Lilly might be the type that you are going to have to really watch her body language as to triggers. I just think sometimes in our own mind we want something one way, but it doesn't necessarily always happen. Please, please don't give up on lilly. She may not turn out like what you'd hoped for, but that doesn't mean she loves you any less.
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Re: My Little Lilly

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I have felt there is more to Lilly's history then we know. There have been signs, & I have tried to watch. We can't just play with Lilly as Lilly doesn't know how to play. Wish I could replay yesterday & skip the play & skip the bite. My hand is swollen & have been soaking it in peroxide & putting Neosporin on the wounds, the worst is just under my thumb. My arm looks ok, but I was wearing long sleeves. It's up to Mike & me to watch Lilly's behavior, she is just a little Chow girl. I don't want to give up on her. I keep having tears for her. I am not physically giving her any sympathy, and I am cold towards her. We just came back for a short walk in the woods. Will resume being "us" with modifications tomorrow.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Cam Atis »

I am so sorry to hear this. And belatedly also. For your wounds, dont put in peroxide too much as it will damage the cells and make the wound heal much much later than if you didnt apply peroxide. Povidone Iodine or Bactroban ointment (Mupirocin is the active ingredient) will do an excellent job with minimal cell damage. I would recommend you stop using peroxide. It would already take long to heal. Next time, if ever you wound yourself, dont apply hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. Just the antimicrobial ointment or povidone iodine.
As for Lilly, I am happy to hear second chance. I know you are doing a great job with Lilly, but maybe we all get carried away and be too trusting. You did an excellent job with Tess, we are all hoping Lilly will also be made like Tess. And I know she knew she did you in and was so nervous as to what the outcome would be, as evident by her pacing back and fort. With tail held down I guess. Let us hope she learned from there. Really sorry.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by chow4life »

It will take alot of time to overcome the fear of being bit. It did for me. I think what worked for me was not letting that fear pass on to her. They can sense this. Implement as you stated NLIF. She will respect you for this. Always think before either picking her up (this is how i got bit), or approaching her in tight areas. To me when a dog goes behind or under an area they are saying "i want to be left alone". This could be because they want solitude or they have a favorite treat or toy they like. I wouldn't worry so much about not being able to bring her down to the neighbors. Some chows as you know will not accept strangers. That's ok. That's who she is. If she can't be trusted around family ok just put her in a different area when you have company. I guess i say all this because from my past experience you realize some things have to change. I think lilly will be a great dog, it's just going to take time. She has great owners and is very lucky to have you and Mike.
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Re: My Little Lilly

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I'm not really scared of her, but she lost my trust for now. I did start NILIF today. Right now she is coming up the stairs, her eyes looking at me & tail wagging. Will be taking her out again soon, a little longer for our 7pm walk then I have been taking her yesterday & today. Trust will return in time.
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Re: My Little Lilly

Post by Judy Fox »

I think the NILIF is an excellent idea and also watching her body language. Chow chows by nature are aloof so I should not worry to much - just take steps to ensure that she cannot hurt anybody else.
She will have known what she did as you have explained. Glad she is getting another chance but I did not think she wouldn't. :)
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