Novel at Home

Good gravy, where has the time gone!?

It has been nearly a month since I picked up Novel and brought him home, and he has settled back in to life here - this time as a pet - very well.

I'll admit, the first few days (week) were a little rough for both of us. Novel obviously needed a few days to adjust after the whirlwind of changes that he had undergone in such a short amount of time, and for the first day or so he wasn't quite himself. I was still adjusting too. Please don't misunderstand me, I was - and am! -THRILLED to have my boy back. Still, it is hard (impossible?) to let go of a dream you've carried and worked toward for over a year and a half in just one or two days.

It's sometimes hard to not feel like I've failed in some way when he is here with me, and all around my circle of CCI friends, other raiser's puppies are still getting monthly reports, or rotating into team training. And when people ask why he was released, it is really hard to not feel totally ridiculous when I tell them that he was released for "inappropriate toileting." I mean, come on, that's basic stuff. I had him for a year and a half and I wasn't able to potty train him thoroughly?

Of course, I know in my brain that the toileting issues at advanced training were almost certainly stress related. I haven't had the slightest iota of trouble with it since he has been back home. I know that I did my very, absolute best with him, that he had as good a chance as any, and ultimately he went to the very best place for him. I knew all that in my brain a month ago, but it has become increasingly easy to accept it in my heart; to let go of the old dream and look forward to new exciting adventures in the future.

All that being said, I'd like to share a video with you. I think you'll enjoy it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKAraTnIXiw
(about the plastic bag at the beginning...he had apparently been working on the "hold" command using a
plastic bag, and when he saw it he thought he was supposed to "hold" it ;)