Amazing Thalia

by Cheryl Orian
(Mauritius)

Born 2nd September 2015, Thalia is only 5 months old today and has been with us for just 3 months but she is so much a part of our little family already. Named after the Muse of Comedy (one of Zeus's daughters), she certainly lives up to her name. She adores our two and half year retriever, Cindy and bullies both Cindy and our 11 year old pug, Verdi mercilessly yet they seem to love her and are protective towards her. If she barks, Verdi, old as he is, runs to her to ensure that she is okay and that everything is in order.

She won't join us in the pool as the others do and prefers to dig in the mud and do the gardening for us - hopefully she will grow out of this - and I seem to need to clean her up frequently but she has bonded to all of us, especially to me, though my husband comes a close second - and we are all (other dogs included) totally besotted with her.

Comments for Amazing Thalia

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Feb 10, 2016

Amazing Thalia NEW
by: Cheryl

Your comment is so true. Thalia will go in the rain but she won't go on the wet grass.

At the moment she is wetting Verdi's cushion (not Cindy's or her own) for some reason and I don't know how to stop her doing that. Poor Verdi.

The comment about using a blow up raft in the pool is a great one. Thank you. I am going to try that as soon as the rain stops - we are having torrential rains, very unusual weather and even flooding on some parts of the island.

Feb 09, 2016

Thalia NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

Jonah loves to stand under the sprinkler faucet @ the dog park & will run & jump into the kiddie pool when we get home (we don't have a pool the complex does) but if the grass is wet in the morning from the sprinklers he will not walk in it & walks around on the rocks. He hates to get his feet wet. If we were to walk in the rain no problem. Whatever the difference is I'm not sure but he won't get his feet wet in the grass. 😀😀😀😀

Feb 09, 2016

Amazing Thalia
by: Cheryl

Thank you so much for your advice. It's great to hear from you and I will certainly try but I must admit that Thalia really hates water. It's our rainy season at the moment and the grass is wet. Sadly, she was doing so well - going with the others to pee outside but with the ongoing rain, she has started doing it in the house. I am not quite sure what to do with her except making her go on the grass and then blow drying her tummy and brushing her which she loves.

I have notices that Verdi (our old pug) is very much in charge and that he growls at her if she does something he doesn't like and she backs off. Even big Cindy retriever minds her manners with him. It's very interesting to watch. On the other hand, he really is a courteous old gentleman and if Thalia wants to eat from his bowl, he steps back and allows her to do this. I have been stopping her, though and making her go back to her own bowl.

All advice on how to bring her up is really welcome and thank you for replying.

Feb 03, 2016

Thalia
by: sherry cotton candie

Hi Cheryl,

I guess after having her for 3 months you realize what a special little dog they are. Very determined and loving. When I got Cotton she was 5 months old and did not seem interested in the pool either. She was however fascinated with the water and the bubbles from the pump and would sit and watch forever, if she thought I was putting her in she would run.

I started holding her and sitting on the steps keeping her dry and just talking with her, then would walk around holding her in the pool. After a few times of that I dipped her feet in while talking soft to her and telling her how good she was.

One day she started squirming in my arms as we approached the steps and I put her in. She swam and sat down on the steps. After that she loved it and could swim great from then on.

I bought her a fiberglass boogie board but she did not like it, her feet would slide so she took over my blow up raft. She would float around in the pool as long as I would let her.

It such great exercise and when humidity is high walking is not possible. Maybe you could try this and hopefully she will want to join you in the pool.

They are such a great breed, full of opinions and love. Good Luck and Thalia sounds like a energetic little gardner. lol

Feb 03, 2016

Thank you!
by: Cheryl Orian

Thank you so much for your advice. It is most welcome and I will begin to put this discipline in immediately. She does get fed last (Verdi being first) but she does insist on saying good morning first and actually growls at the others, demanding my attention first. I see that this needs to be stopped immediately. I am going to take her into the pool with us too. She hates being bathed, though. Being the height of summer here and the hottest month of the year the pool water is warm so this would be a good time to start her. Any other advice would be most welcome.

Feb 02, 2016

Thalia
by: Vicky & Jonah

She sounds adorable. She will join u in the pool as long as u take the time to teach her how to swim( even thou they know pretty much) & how to get out. That's great that's she gets along w/all but just a thought. At no time is a puppy allowed to bullet an older dog. It must be nipped in the butt w/o correction using your voice. Start while young. Just like kids they must respect the elders. Ur older gets their food first. They get their treats first. They get their hello morning pet first. That's how a household w/pets works. 1st the oldest then the next &so on

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