I adopted Ellie, producer of the mega-litter (12 puppies). I brought her home for less than two days - then returned her to Canine Canyon so Leslie (Dogmomma) could put her back on Petfinders. I moped and cried for two or three days - and drove back out to Leslie's and brought her back home again. I gave up the first time way too soon, didn't give it a chance. She is a sweet dog with a great personality. She shows no desire to be alpha, but try to explain that to my two little ones, a Chi and a mini-Dox. To them she is a monster who has moved in and is trying to steal the affections of their mom. It's pretty funny to watch my 6# Chi try to threaten 50# Ellie away from me. It's sad, she just wants to play, and they want nothing to do with her - yet, I'm sure they will eventually come around.

I need help - training suggestions! It hasn't been easy. She has some behavior issues. She suffers separation anxiety (easy to understand why). She would not respond to her name. That sort of worked in my favor because 'Ellie' is too similar in sound to 'Lili', the name of my mini-Dox and Lili was getting confused. So, we've started calling Ellie 'Nell', she has started responding to that. She walks well on a leash, but will not obey the call to come back when she is off it. She thinks she is a lap dog, crawling or jumping up when ever I sit down, regardless of where I sit down...I have to shut the bathroom door every time I'm in there now. She nips when she plays, she nailed the side of my tit - owie! She doesn't understand the concept of "no" no matter how or what tone it is given in. We have a wrestling match every time I sit down at the computer because she gets under the desk, and in her attempts to get in my lap, she gets tangled up in the cords and wires.

Yesterday, I was sitting on the porch watching/talking to my husband who was building a nice dog run. Nell was behind me on her leash and I was thinking how well she was behaving - suddenly, the leash went slack. I turned around and there she sat with, I swear to you - a shit-eating grin from ear-to-ear on her face - and the chewed off portion of leash in her mouth. I had to just laugh out loud, so did my husband. She was so proud of herself.

This morning, we went out for our walk, I was using a rope tied to her other short leash. I didn't check the knot, and it slipped. I called to her quickly, she turned around, did a little dance step - again grinning - and off she went. I called and called, I could see her through the trees going back and forth. I figured she was a goner so I headed back up the other side of our property to get my car, and there she was, grinning and dancing coming down the driveway.

In about three weeks, I will take her into the vet for a check up and get her appointment for spaying set up. No puppies for this dog mom!

She has bonded well with both myself and my husband. With patience, I know we can overcome her "issues" - anyone know the dog whisperer? lol...