The eagle has landed… I’m connected again with the outside world and I am up and running. I cannot believe how disconnected one feels without those things that we are use to, such as the internet, email and DSTV for the news.
We have arrived in our new (rented) house, sort of settled in, and trying to deal with the wind. I thought I would be use to the wind that always disrupted our classes in Vierlanden, but I’m sure the wind gets made here, it’s ten times worse.
First of all, thanks to everybody for your sms’es of encouragement and good wishes!! I’m already missing see you and your dogs and giving classes. But now I have another project…my own Cindy, is having difficulty to settle and adapt. I’m trying some different approaches and will keep you updated. She is very noise sensitive and the howling wind is not helping!
Ben took about two weeks to adapt and settle in. I never for one moment thought that the move would be so stressful on them. Now as long as he gets his ‘once-a-day-bakkie-trip’ to the beach or the new property, he is happy as a clam. O yes, and the beach is about 9 minutes away – lucky dogs!! No more getting up at 4:30 am to be at the beach first thing in the morning so that we could be the only ones on the beach.
Cindy has never been fond of going into the sea. She however loves rivers and dams, especially if there are ducks to swim after. Now ever since she spotted a cormorant bird in the waves, we have difficulty keeping her out! She just couldn’t understand that it disappears and then re-appears as it dived under the waves. I thought it will be a good example to explain how great reinforcement for a behaviour can maintain the behaviour. If something is so REINFORCING, they will do it again and again. Every time we get to the beach, she runs straight for the water.
Ben's tongue lolling after a run at the new property
Some good news – the building is coming along nicely and we are on schedule. We take the dogs to the new property everyday, also the house will be exactly the same, except no thatch this time, so that they can familiarize themselves with the environment and smells. They are enjoying the new smells and there they have space to run again, whereas where we are living at the moment, there is not much space.
