Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

GiGi’s current motto.
The dogs raked it in over Christmas.

Both got nice toys.
Lots of squeak.
And miscellaneous pieces to chew off.

GiGi, our young dog, is a toy hoarder.

She put all the toys into a pile.
Raindrop’s toys.
And hers.

No one is allowed to touch the toys.

She plays with each one through a rotation of sorts.
Raindrop is not welcome.
(However sometimes [...]

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Unbelievable.

GiGi loves to walk.

She walks very fast.
And pulls hard - in spite of being small.
It’s not fun to walk her this way.

For months I’ve tried to break the pulling habit.

Commanding “No pull!”
In my best alpha dog voice.
Combined with a yank on the lead.

Improvement was slow.

James didn’t reinforce my way this fall.
Progress disappeared.
Now with his [...]

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GiGi is 15 months old today.
Last winter, we brought GiGi home.

She was a bundle of high-energy puppy.
No “off button” in sight.
James and I regularly debated our sanity in rescuing her.

We quickly set up systems to keep our house safe.

We kept GiGi in certain rooms.
Chaperoned her in others.
Less destruction was our goal.

Over time our new ways [...]

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Twins, no.
We have two dogs.

Raindrop who is almost seven years old.
GiGi who is almost nine months.
Both are chugs - chihuahua/pugs.

Lately something strange has been going on.

If I call GiGi, Raindrop comes running.
If I call Raindrop, GiGi comes.
It’s sort of amusing.

Are they trying to play the identical twin game?

Switching names.
Faking people out.
As if we can’t tell [...]

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   Or is it?
Raindrop is a cool dog.

She’s a people dog.
Would rather hang with us than play with dogs.
It’s just the way she is - or is it?

Today we dropped Raindrop and GiGi at a doggy daycare.

We want GiGi (our puppy) more socialized.
And better trained.
Raindrop could use some refreshers.

The girls did the qualifying visit earlier [...]

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   Out of GiGi’s mouth - literally.
Raindrop is my 6.5 year old dog.

Her favorite toy is a Gatorade bottle filled with kibble.
She twists the tops off.
And loves the extra treats.

Enter GiGi the puppy.

Who does things differently than Raindrop.
GiGi does not twist tops off.
She chews through them until they release!

At first Raindrop was territorial.

Raindrop would not let GiGi near [...]

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And it isn’t me.
The afternoon is sunny.

GiGi and I are in the backyard.
James and Raindrop get back from a walk.
We are excited to see each other.

James comes to the gate.

I grab GiGi.
Raindrop strolls in.
James follows.

Then like a flash.

GiGi flies out the tiny crack.
And the run begins.
All over the neighborhood.

GiGi runs with joy.

Wind flapping her [...]

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   I’m gonna get you!
Gigi, our new puppy, is mystified by her water bowl.

She stares into it.
Looking at her future.
Or scanning for potential enemies.

She attacks the water one slurp at a time.

In a sporadic rhythm.
As if she wants to surprise it.
Or is wary of potential villians within.

It’s become a party at the water bowl.

James and [...]

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