Here are the latest pictures of Misty taken today. She loves to snuggle with the kids on the couch when they have some TV time. Although living with four children is sometimes chaotic, one benefit is that there is just about always someone petting her.
To anwer your question, we haven't seen the play biting in about two weeks. The boys now know not to rile her up too much in the back yard. She doesn't chase them when they run; only when they INVITE her to chase them, which they now know not to do. (Again, the humans at fault, not the dog.) Also, she stops whatever she is doing, when I call her name and clap my hands. She is so eager to please! It's easier now that she's interested in fetch, because it gives her and the boys something to do together that doesn't involve chasing, which seems to stimilate her desire to nip. She likes tennis balls the best. Also, I think she gets enough play biting with Kipper now that they play so much together. Maybe that was what she missed, having lived with many other dogs for so long. SOmetimes she tries to play bite me when I am putting on her coat. I don't mind, although I still tell her "no". I know that she is just excited to go for her run.
Misty loves her walks and jogs! We've settled on a morning routine that is part jogging in the neighborhood on-leash, part walking in the woods (lots of sniffing) off-leash, and a 20 minute stop in between so we can all have water and the little ones can play at the play ground. She does just great with this; not overly friendly with other dogs on-leash (protecting?), but no problem. I have to hitch her to a bench at the park while the kids play, so I can give the kids my full attention. I hate it and she doesn't like it much either, but she seems to understand that I need to catch the babies if they fall, so she has to wait. We keep it brief, and she's fine. She's such a good smart dog. At night after all the kids are asleep, Mike or I take both dogs for a walk around the neighborhood. On weekends, we all take both dogs for long hikes in the woods. She gets a lot of exercise and loves it and is looking great! her waist line is really starting to show.
Misty is an expert at the "please feed me, I'm soooo hungry" look! She would weigh 120 lbs. if we gave her all the food she wanted. We are trying to stay firm with her diet plan, even though we all love her so much, we all really want to give her lots of cheese and other fun snacks. She's such a good sport, though, because when she does get into something we know she shouldn't have (No, Misty, that bread Edward dropped is not for you - too many carbs), she gives it up, no hard feelings. You can reach right into her big mouth and take it away and she just lets you. Cooked carrots are good, though. Not too fattening and she loves 'em.
More later,
Katie
