Since the girls have arrived Lily has a new hobby. Her hobby involves frustrating both dogs by never letting them get close enough to sniff her. (You can look but you can't touch!) At first she would peek around a corner and run when either of them looked her way. Then she progressed to hiding in a room where they couldn't see her but she could watch them. Eventually she became really brazen and would sit in a doorway watching them without even hiding at all.
Every time either one of the dogs tried to go check her out she would stand her ground and crank back a paw...just waiting for them to get within striking range. She has hit each of them several times but she's never used claws...always used a "soft paw" when she smacked them. Of course the pups would jump back like she was spitting fire when she smacked them. And they never got a clue that maybe they would be more successful if they approached her individually. I can't even count how many times they would both bound at her..only to find themselves uncomfortably close to a furry arm flying out to smack the nearest one.
The pictures here are of the first time both of them have been able to get close to her at the same time. Lily was coming up from the basement and decided to peek from the doorway before venturing out into the room. Both dogs knew she was in the doorway but neither one was brave enough to get close to her. (I'm sure Bell remembers Lily bopping her on the top of her head last time she stuck her head in that open door!) For once Nicki and Bell laid down calmly and just waited instead of jumping at her like they usually do. Lily became braver as time went by and she actually came out into the kitchen with both of the pups frozen stiff and staring at her. Lily was trying to make it to Justin's lap but she never made it. The pups broke the freeze when she got really close and she was off like a shot!
Despite the fact that we are not one big happy family here yet, progress was made this day. Lily is losing her fear of the pups or learning that her "mysterious creature that watches" routine has some definite benefits. The pups are learning that patience and a calm demeanor may work in their favor when it comes to figuring out what this elusive animal is all about. And I learned that I really need to take care of the trim and that patched spot on my wall! (when you live with it you tend not to see it anymore...sheepish grin here).
