One step at a time…

I have to admit that when I first heard about Allie, her story was heart-wrenching and I didn't even know all the particulars. I pictured a broken dog we'd hopefully rehabilitate.

When she arrived, other than being frightfully underweight, she was quite lovely. I could tell, too, that without necessary limits (she's being treated for heartworm) she'd be plenty spunky. I forgot until about two or three days after she came to stay that she was blind in one eye. This was after she misjudged a doorway and gently "bonked" into it. My husband pointed out that the blindness was likely why she was at the time having trouble with stairs, because it would affect her depth perception. Her prior owners said she would refuse to use the stairs and they'd just carry her. My feeling is that dogs will train you if it's convenient for them and you allow it.

Allie trotted right up the steps from day one. But she seemed to worry so much about going down that she initially tried to take all the steps at once, which - thankfully - wouldn't work because we had her on lead. We began walking down the steps in front of her, blocking her way and forcing her to take them slowly, one at a time. It didn't take long before she was confidently picking her way down the steps. We now walk down alongside her and she doesn't even try taking more than a step at a time.

Greyhounds are so smart, and Allie's no exception. She and other foster hounds we've had learn not only by our teaching, but by the examples set by the other hounds in the house. Their confidence with the steps and other potential challenges no doubt rubs off on her.