We're slowly progressing towards a peaceable canine kingdom here; the older dogs are aware now that the younger one offers growls and sometimes light-contact snaps as she figures out how everything should be spaced, and she knows that the older ones are largely going to ignore her. She "protected" me from Zeke today when he and I were playing a favorite game of tug-o-war; as we wrestle over a heavy knotted piece of rope he shakes his head and offers a deep-chest growl, so she jumped on him. She'll learn this is a game between us and relax.

I am again astonished how quickly a dog can offer total allegiance to a human, once a safe home and loving environment is offered. I am reminded of the Henry Huggins story (by Beverly Cleary) when Ribsy's first owner spots Henry and the dog - they end up putting the dog between them and both call to see who he goes to. [Spoiler alert] He returns to Henry, of course (but I remember such trepidation reading that section of the book!) I read that book probably 50 years ago or more, and still think of that part of the story. This little dog has manners and expectations. She has had puppies, she came here from a shelter. What happened to her up until now? Did she have only one prior home? No chip, not spayed until she reached the shelter. Yet she has some solid well-trained skills and after nine days has thrown her loyalty in with our household. We got lucky, all of us.