Short night, long walk(s)

Unfortunately last night was even worse. Ghandi cried and howled a lot. The longest he was quiet was about 2 hours and then he started again, 2 hours rest and howling again. At 06.30am I got up and let him out of the transport box. Again, he was so happy, that he almost went crazy. Jumping, snapping, whimpering. Wesha didn't like it one bit. So the first few minutes were really chaotic this morning. Once Ghandi had calmed down a bit (I had to hold him and stroke him for a while), it got better.

I did notice that Wesha seemed a bit tired, so I decided to take Ghandi for a long walk, so that Wesha could get some sleep. The walk with Ghandi went really well. When we just left home, he was obviously insecure and he kept jumping up on me. I kept walking at a pretty fast pace and after a while he gave up on that behaviour. I guess it was because we went without Wesha. Wesha is so calm and certain on walks, that must influence him. And without her, he wanted me to carry him and put him at ease.

After he stopped jumping up on me, we had a lovely walk. Soon I let him walk off leash again and he walked right next to me for most of the time. We met a friend who has three Greyhounds (all 3 from Spain too) and Ghandi ran with 2 of them. He is really pretty fast, although the Greyhounds could easily shake him off, of course! At that same time, a woman with 3 dogs walked up and Ghandi played a bit with 2 of them too. But when I called him, he immediately came to me. Really perfect. And as soon as I started walking again, he was right next to me.
We met 4 other dogs on our way home and all meeting and greeting went well. Ghandi played quickly with one of them too.
After almost 1.5 hours we were back home.

I changed dogs (Wesha had eaten and had been sleeping while Ghandi and I were walking) and went for a walk with Wesha. I don't notice any change in her behaviour while walking. Being in season doesn't seem to bother her. She cleans herself well when she isn't wearing her little nappy and she is happy as usual. We had a quiet walk, didn't meet any other dogs. Wesha did go into the Rhine a few times, but never far enough to really swim.

Reto told me that Ghandi had been crying when I had just left with Wesha. Ghandi had also been searching us. He didn't really sleep, and barked at every sound. Now Ghandi is sleeping on the floor next to my feet. He still sleeps lightly and barks every now and then when he hears a sound that disturbs him. Wesha is sleeping again too. I think the nights are too short for her too.

I do feel a bit sorry for both Wesha and Ghandi. Wesha doesn't get enough sleep because Ghandi is crying and howling. And Ghandi is obviously not used to sleeping in a transport box and away from people. If we would only have Ghandi, I would let him sleep in our bedroom, because I think that would work best with him. But since we never allow Wesha upstairs (the rule is: no dogs upstairs), that is not possible. The idea is, that soon we can let them sleep "free" in the living room. But that is impossible right now, because they don't know each other well enough yet and because Wesha is in season now. Besides that, as soon as we go upstairs, Ghandi is crying downstairs, so it might not even help him much.
So I guess Ghandi will just have to get used to it. It is very much the way it was when Wesha came to us. She didn't like sleeping in the bench either. I did feel sorry for her too when she was crying in the first few nights. But she got used to it soon and I hope Ghandi will get used to it soon too.

I am taking Ghandi to the vet on Thursday morning and I will start training with him next week Wednesday. I did start "home schooling" with him yesterday and he does "sit" pretty well already! Clever dog!