Whirly Wednesday!

(Edited to add: May induce motion sickness or vertigo!)

Wordless Wednesday

Status Report

When my little brother turned five years old, my mom brought home a puppy. It was a GSD mix, maybe some Doberman in there, maybe something bigger. She was one of the last puppies left in the cardboard box at the end of the day, so she ended up being my brother's birthday present. He named her Nibbles.

Nibbles went on to grow very large and somewhat vicious, ridiculously overprotective of "her" kids and "her" house and "her" yard. That's not the point. The point is, my last experience with the special mindset of a puppy was about three decades ago.

I realize that Monsoon is two and a half, so it's not as challenging as it could otherwise could be, but this dog is a baby. You know how I know? Because I was up at 3:30 this morning trying to get him to stop playing with his squeaky toys. See, when someone gets up in the middle of the night to use the washroom, Monsoon will dart out of the bedroom, down the hall to his toys, grab one and return to bed. He's so small and quick and hard to see at night that sometimes we aren't aware he's done this until we are drifting off again and it starts.

Squeak.

Squeak. Squeak.

Squeak squeak squeaksqueaksqueaksqueaksqueak!!

We had an urgent family situation arise this week that shunted aside all my plans to start working with Monsoon more in depth. He ended up having an extra week to get used to the house and I think it's served him well. He still has some anxieties and some idiosyncrasies that need a little help. For example, he loves his dad in the house and will walk with him happily, if dad leashes him and takes him out. If I leash him and take him out and dad walks up later, Monsoon acts as if he has no flipping clue who this man could be and hides behind my legs.

He hides behind my legs a lot.

He's picked up leash manners beautifully and will trot along on my left side with a slack leash. He responds to minor correction most of the time, although seeing squirrels or people or other dogs makes him forget everything. This week, as we resume normal operations around here, I hope to start working with a clicker. The first job is to find a treat sufficiently enticing, especially as Monsoon is shy about taking treats from the hand.

He is calming and settling, and his goofy baby antics lifted my heart more than once during this long strange week. I had hoped for time to write a longer update and share some of the ridiculous things Monsoon does that make me smile, but this was not the week for it. Next week promises to be a big slice of normal and I cannot wait.

As an aside, I did make a FaceBook page for this blog so that I'll have a place to stash some of my second-rate photos and inane one-line observations. ;) Feel free to join us there! And we're also joining the Blog Hop this weekend. If that's how you found us, welcome!

We’re participating in this Saturday’s Pet Blog Hop, hosted by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume.  If you’d like to participate, please follow the rules and follow your three hosts, add your blog to the Linky and copy and paste the html code into your html editor.  Thanks again to our hosts for putting on the hop!

Worldless Wednesday

I hope I don't become a collar addict. I can't afford it. ;)

Introducing...

Monsoon

Wordless Wednesday

The Look of Love

Wordless Wednesday

Look Who Showed Up

It's Friday.

You know what, Friday? I think you might be too late.

Wordless Wednesday

Just a Hint

It would take me forever to count the ways I love him, but "tiny peek of tongue" is on the list for sure.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

There's 10 left, in case you're trying to count.

Oh Happiest of Saturdays!

 May all of your fondest wishes be granted as well!

Just Look at the Camera!

Seizing a moment of warmth and sunshine, I dragged an allergy-ridden and grumpy Drive off his couch and onto the front lawn for some snapshots. He was... uncooperative.

Not. Interested.

Hang on, I've got this itch...

Seriously, Mum, my allergies are killing me!

What are you doing? Is that cheese?

I guess I can smile for some cheese.

Now give it to me.

Happy Saturday! I hope to take Lanie out later for some special "Mommy Time" and a belated birthday treat or two. If it's a holiday weekend where you are, stay safe and have fun. If not, stay safe and have fun anyway.  And again this weekend, join us on the Pet Blogger Hop!

Old Dog, New Trick

We're alive! Barely. You should see the storms of pollen outside, following a week straight of rain. I'm just going to cut myself some slack about the whole didn't-post-for-two-weeks thing.

You know, since we got back from Greyhounds in Gettysburg, Drive has changed. He's been my best friend for six years now and I think this is the first time I can honestly say that an event has changed him. Before this, if I suggested we go somewhere he would graciously allow himself to be shut in the car and wait patiently until we arrived. (He does recognize McDonald's, though. That gets a reaction from him.)

Now? When it looks like I might be putting on clothes suitable for the outside world -- and I still don't know when he learned to differentiate, but he can, I swear -- he starts wagging his tail. Should I venture into the bathroom and brush my teeth or put on makeup, he starts grinning and the wagging gets more enthusiastic.

At this point, if I go anywhere near my shoes or keys I will be attacked.

He wasn't like that before.

Even if I'm just taking them outside for a quick walk, Drive stares at whatever vehicle is in the driveway and whines piteously. Take me somewhere, he cries. Anywhere. Just let me in the caaaaaar!

The obvious and easy solution has been to take him along on more errands. It's working for both of us, I think.

We're joining in the Pet Blogger Hop again this week. Welcome!

Happy Saturday, and a Blog Hop

First please let me express my gratitude and awe for the outpouring of love and sympathy we received after Bullie's passing on Wednesday. I could not have gotten through it, nor the terrible day that came after, without my incredible internet family.

Although we knew his time was close, he suffered rapid decline over his last few days, falling nearly every time he tried to stand. He seemed confused and uncomfortable and I made the decision to release him. I was there with him, holding him close and telling him over and over how much we loved him. Thank you so much, friends, for easing my grief even just a little bit.

"The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me?" 
--Sir Walter Scott

Join us on the Blog Hop after the cut!

Chicken Wings

Maybe because of my sore back, I've been overly concerned with finding a comfortable position lately. Sitting, standing, lying: all I can think about is the alignment of my spine. I'm afraid of angering the Gods of Sciatica.

So when I walked by our geriatric old man Bullie and saw this, I had to resist the urge to rearrange him. That just can't be comfy!

On the other hand, he seemed to be enjoying the sun on his bum.

Wordlessly Waiting

My Little Tiger

Lanie's colors stand out so much more brilliantly in the winter.