Hi, Shirley-

"Mama Dog" is happy, healthy and shiny in NH. She continues to fascinate me as I get to know her. In the house she is "top dog"...knows the routine, knows when we get up/go to bed and assists with the children, esp. my young daughter, with whom she's developed an exceptionally close bond. Valerie was experiencing nightmares that had her running into my room at night in tears. Now as soon as she elicits distress noises "Mama Dog" runs to her room, hops on her bed and presses against her. I can always tell if Valerie had a bad night because MamaDog is in her room the next morning instead of routing me out of bed!

She is less quiet these days. She "talks" in little moans, yips and squeaks, especially when she's happy which is most of the time. She will bark if someone comes to the door until I answer it and tell the dogs, "It's ok" then they both settle. When the children come home she gets very happy, esp. when it's "her" little girl, then she dances on her hind legs and "talks" like crazy.

We had a family gathering of about a dozen people last weekend, and that was a little overwhelming. MamaDog got downright scared so I put her in my room and made it Off Limits to everyone. When people eventually settled down, some outside, others scattered about the house, I let Marlise out to socialize with the small groups which were less overwhelming. She was still nervous, but not frightened as before, and eventually she settled down on her pillow in the corner where she could observe without being in the midst of things.

She is doing great with "come" (98% success rate) and is learning "sit" and we're working on stay...she seems to know the hand signal for stay but it isn't consistent. Typical of herding breeds, she likes everyone to be together and she and Hope (another herder) love to "work the herd" when the kids go outside to run around.

I'm going to try to attach some pictures...my tech skills are pretty poor so bear with me.

Hope you don't mind the lengthy update....I love to go on and on about my dogs!

Have a happy Memorial Day -

Kathy