We had a breakthrough with Gracie! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Lou · 07-29-2010, 01:04 PM

After a year of watching Adie chasing her ball (and looking like she thought little Miss Adie was crazy) Gracie finally GOT IT.

Last night I was at my desk and too lazy to get up so I made Adie bring the ball to me and toss it up on my lap. A couple of times I didn't get it in time and it rolled back onto the floor at which point Adie would retrieved it yet again.

The third or fourth time this happened Gracie went after it and ran over to the dog pillow I keep on the floor beside my chair. She chewed on it a couple of times and then just set it down. I was so thrilled to see her go after it that I praised her over and over again. She ate that up boy!

Next I tossed the ball up in the air instead of away from me and she watched Adie catch it on the bounce. The next time I threw it she went after it just as vigorously as Adie did but not quite as gracefully.

I then started throwing the ball out of the room so Adie would leave then faked her out the next time so I could let Gracie have the ball by herself. She went after it with a vengeance and returned to the pillow each time. She would put it down and then look at me with (I swear) a smile on her face. Of course she got mega praise!

We went from the ball to the screaming monkey. This is a toy that is kind of like a slingshot. When you shoot it it starts screaming as it goes flying across the air. Adie just loves it and can get it to keep screaming all night. Well, LAST night Gracie actually chased it down right beside Adie and stole it right from under her. She then hot-footed it into her little cubby hole. I retrieved it and shot it off again and the same thing happened!

I am just so tickled that Gracie has finally started to understand how to PLAY. She has pounced on a few toys in the past but whenever we have tried to interact with her she would stop playing with the toy as if we had scolded her.

I hope she keeps it up and I hope Adie gets over the shock of not being the only jock in the house anymore.

And where is Skeeter while all of this is going on you ask.......

Sitting in my lap trying his darndest to get my finger in his mouth so he can take a nap. (The big baby!)

YorkichonBella · 07-29-2010, 01:41 PM

awww.....Loved the story! Go Gracie!!

They all have their own little personalities, don't they??

Lou · 07-30-2010, 06:19 AM

Yes they do but if you knew Gracie's story you would understand how absolutely thrilled we are! She was in pitiful shape when we got her, an wouldn't do anything but sit in dh's lap. She wouldn't even look us in the eye and would roll over on her back if I came near her. One year later - she's come a long way!

Rachael x · 07-30-2010, 06:31 AM

Aw thats great!

YorkichonBella · 07-30-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou

Yes they do but if you knew Gracie's story you would understand how absolutely thrilled we are! She was in pitiful shape when we got her, an wouldn't do anything but sit in dh's lap. She wouldn't even look us in the eye and would roll over on her back if I came near her. One year later - she's come a long way!

Look what LOVE can do!!

She now knows she's in a wonderful home & given much needed LOVE & care from her Mommie & Daddie! Bless you for turning this little girl's life around. HUGS Gracie!!

MaddiesMommie · 07-31-2010, 03:59 AM

What a great story!

Give Gracie extra lovin from me.

Mitzis Mom · 07-31-2010, 04:09 AM

That's wonderful! I know exactly what you are talking about. Maggie our first rescue started playing with the other pups after one year, Maxie the second one needed also almost a year until he stopped crying if we approached him to fast. He still (after 2 years) has some issues with playing and also acts like he will be scolded or hit when he takes a toy to play with.

TresCutePiggies · 07-31-2010, 05:22 AM

Way to go Gracie!!!

I have a puppymill rescue who was completely clueless about any type of toy when we first adopted her. To see her play fetch now and think about how she was then makes me tear up. It's so funny you mention Gracie bringing things back to her cubby hole. Once Lane finally started playing with toys, she would do this with any toy she managed to come across on the ground. She'd stack them all up in her favorite bed and then sometimes lay beside them.

I always say that Lane learned by watching Rory, and it sounds like Gracie learned by watching Adie. I really share in your joy! Oh, and I'm super impressed Gracie is already able to beat Adie out for the toys sometimes. I'd say 1 out of 100 times Lane gets the toy ahead of Rory, but thankfully they have their own ball preferences for fetch time which makes things easier!

07-29-2010, 01:04 PM	#1
Lou Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: A little town south of Chicago Posts: 4,525	We had a breakthrough with Gracie! After a year of watching Adie chasing her ball (and looking like she thought little Miss Adie was crazy) Gracie finally GOT IT. Last night I was at my desk and too lazy to get up so I made Adie bring the ball to me and toss it up on my lap. A couple of times I didn't get it in time and it rolled back onto the floor at which point Adie would retrieved it yet again. The third or fourth time this happened Gracie went after it and ran over to the dog pillow I keep on the floor beside my chair. She chewed on it a couple of times and then just set it down. I was so thrilled to see her go after it that I praised her over and over again. She ate that up boy! Next I tossed the ball up in the air instead of away from me and she watched Adie catch it on the bounce. The next time I threw it she went after it just as vigorously as Adie did but not quite as gracefully. I then started throwing the ball out of the room so Adie would leave then faked her out the next time so I could let Gracie have the ball by herself. She went after it with a vengeance and returned to the pillow each time. She would put it down and then look at me with (I swear) a smile on her face. Of course she got mega praise! We went from the ball to the screaming monkey. This is a toy that is kind of like a slingshot. When you shoot it it starts screaming as it goes flying across the air. Adie just loves it and can get it to keep screaming all night. Well, LAST night Gracie actually chased it down right beside Adie and stole it right from under her. She then hot-footed it into her little cubby hole. I retrieved it and shot it off again and the same thing happened! I am just so tickled that Gracie has finally started to understand how to PLAY. She has pounced on a few toys in the past but whenever we have tried to interact with her she would stop playing with the toy as if we had scolded her. I hope she keeps it up and I hope Adie gets over the shock of not being the only jock in the house anymore. And where is Skeeter while all of this is going on you ask....... Sitting in my lap trying his darndest to get my finger in his mouth so he can take a nap. (The big baby!) __________________ http://www.its-a-yorkie-thing.com Gracie Skeeter Adie Tyler

07-29-2010, 01:41 PM	#2
YorkichonBella My little Shadow Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NC Posts: 4,132 Blog Entries: 2	awww.....Loved the story! Go Gracie!! They all have their own little personalities, don't they?? __________________ Bella Ganma-ma to ColeRIPNoahRIP

07-30-2010, 06:19 AM	#3
Lou Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: A little town south of Chicago Posts: 4,525	Yes they do but if you knew Gracie's story you would understand how absolutely thrilled we are! She was in pitiful shape when we got her, an wouldn't do anything but sit in dh's lap. She wouldn't even look us in the eye and would roll over on her back if I came near her. One year later - she's come a long way! __________________ http://www.its-a-yorkie-thing.com Gracie Skeeter Adie Tyler

07-30-2010, 06:31 AM	#4
Rachael x Poppy's Mamma ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Posts: 3,751 Blog Entries: 3	Aw thats great! __________________ Rachael & Poppy

07-31-2010, 05:22 AM	#8
TresCutePiggies Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,893	Way to go Gracie!!! I have a puppymill rescue who was completely clueless about any type of toy when we first adopted her. To see her play fetch now and think about how she was then makes me tear up. It's so funny you mention Gracie bringing things back to her cubby hole. Once Lane finally started playing with toys, she would do this with any toy she managed to come across on the ground. She'd stack them all up in her favorite bed and then sometimes lay beside them. I always say that Lane learned by watching Rory, and it sounds like Gracie learned by watching Adie. I really share in your joy! Oh, and I'm super impressed Gracie is already able to beat Adie out for the toys sometimes. I'd say 1 out of 100 times Lane gets the toy ahead of Rory, but thankfully they have their own ball preferences for fetch time which makes things easier! __________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here.

07-31-2010, 03:59 AM	#6
MaddiesMommie LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 4,060	What a great story! Give Gracie extra lovin from me.

07-31-2010, 04:09 AM	#7
Mitzis Mom No Longer a Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,837	That's wonderful! I know exactly what you are talking about. Maggie our first rescue started playing with the other pups after one year, Maxie the second one needed also almost a year until he stopped crying if we approached him to fast. He still (after 2 years) has some issues with playing and also acts like he will be scolded or hit when he takes a toy to play with.