| Carinhosamulher | 12-20-2005 10:17 AM |
Update on Matthias - and bonding advice for new parents
I have to say in general Matthias is just a great little boy. I worried about the change of enviroments of course, cause his first mommy does some things different then me, I'm sure. And then there is the living situation - my home is just different than hers, as all homes are unique. But Matt has taken right to everything, especially as of this morning. He is starting to back at the door now. He is strutting around the rooms of the first floor like he owns the place. He has claimed me as his own and now, even though he doesn't bark or attack them, he does let the cats know that he comes first now. He is starting to run to find out what my three year old daughter is making noise doing. Of course, he always runs right back to sit with me. And mommy's computer time is his snuggle time. Any time I'm sitting at the computer he is on my lap snuggling and sleeping. He is eating and drinking well. He's going potty outside - so far NO accidents in the house. He has even learned how to navigate the back decks stairs. So for potty time, we go to the door, he steps out we walk across the deck, and he goes down the stairs and to the left to his patch of grassy area that he has claimed for his bathroom. He does his business and runs to jump up on my legs to say "I did it! Let's get back inside for my reward!"
He is going to our family vet this Thursday for his boosters and then make the appointment for his neuter. Our vet is very very excited to meet Matt.
All in all, everything is coming together.
I also wanted to say, for other new adoptive parents - one thing that really made a difference, a night and day difference, is last night when I put Matt in to his kennel for bedtime, I took my shirt off that I was wearing all day and put it in the kennel with him. He slept all night with my scent right under him. This morning when we both woke up it was like he has known me all his life. He doesn't startle with any move I make too suddenly anymore. He has attached himself to me firmly. I had read about doing this with the shirt in a book when I was a kid so I decided to actually try it this time. So there is my advice from one new adoptive parent to the next. | 