Hi. My name is Minnie. I’m a chocolate smooth hair mini.
This is my third home. I can’t really tell my new owner much of my past, other than through my behaviour.
My new family is huge! There is Maximus, another rescue. He is a little older than me and very energetic. He’s had a similar past to mine. Very handsome lad, but gee he needs a lot of attention. Similar to me. But I get on well with him, and he adores me, and we chase each other around the yard. What a big yard it is, even just the doggy yard is like half an acre! Then there is Kasper. He is a placid old fella. He has dreadlocks. But my new mum cuts them out. He has been here the longest. He is so chilled, I have learned to watch and learn. He and I get to stay together all the time, and he calms me. He’s assured me, that mum is loyal and has lots of time for us as she works from home a lot, and the property is very big and on weekends mum spends time with us everywhere.
Then there is Ice. He is an albino deaf boxer and he is huge. I didn’t like him much in the beginning as I think he reminded me of a big dog that must have malled me before, as my mum found scars around my snout and belly. I know I was over reactive and bit him on his snout unnecessarily, as it took me a while to learn he was a big boof-head and meant no harm and both Max and Kasper completely trusted him. In fact, when I stood back and watched them, I could see he was always fascinated by Max and Kasper and keen to protect them and play with them. But mum had to have a lot of patience to let me learn to calm down and get to know his true character.
I have given mum loads of trouble and she has been so patient to teach me. I used to pee and poo everywhere inside and really ruined the carpet. I didn’t know any better. I would always wait for mum to turn around before I would do a big pee inside.
Well, after a lot of going back to basics, and routine, I am now crate trained, and will not do a pee or poo in the house and know she takes me outside plenty of times every day, and I know to do it outside. I do however get distracted, as I get sensory overload with so much to see and sniff - it is such a big property with so much going on, and I race everywhere and mum plants so much and has so many native animals visit, that I get so excited I sometimes forget that I’m outside to do my business. And mum thinks I haven’t spent much time outside, as I have the longest toe nails in the family.
I am learning words like ‘sleep-sleep’, ‘outside’, ‘treat’, ‘pee-pee’, ‘poo-poo’ and I have learned that I can snuggle into my blanket in front of the fire place. Sometimes I stir Kasper up, and if I am calm, he will come and snuggle up with me.
I am a super guard dog for mum, but I am learning I do not need to be, as mum lives in the country and it’s super safe here.
I am now feeling comfortable with Ice, but I am still wary sometimes. I’m super gentle with mum, but still a bit wary and in fight/flight mode from whatever I went through in the past.
I love it here and it’s so exciting, there is so much to take in but I am learning. I would one day like to sleep in mum’s bedroom at night, but understand that mum had to take it back to basics with the crate and toilet training. I know I am super smart like Max and Kasper and OMG Ice can only understand mum’s sign language and facial expressions - that is amazing! And Max has learned to dance with mum on signals and command - imagine what I can do, given what I have learned so far in such a short period of time!
Signing off now as I like to snuggle in front of the fire on these cooler nights! And I do have a habit of wearing myself out by being hyper-energetic! Just as well I have a few acres to run around on! Oh…. And I don’t like lawn mowers, but can see mum is in control and I trust her, so I just stay behind her and watch what is going on…