Tired Girl - Day Camp Day 2

It was a big day for my little girl. Her day started with her walk with her walker Stephanie. This is part of our keeping routine as normal as possible. Then at 10 am she arrived at Day Camp.  When we arrived, she was so excited to go into the store she nearly pulled me over. I was glad to see she was happy to be there, I was afraid I might get some resistance! We got to the hotel part and she was a combination of scared and excited. She had her tail tucked up between her legs, but her bum was wiggling like she was wagging it, but she was also shaking. She went with no resistance (meaning they didn't have to drag her) to the back.

The Man picked her up around 4:30. He said she looked slightly put out standing in the room with the others. The staff said she was just tired. As you will see in her report card, she actually played with other dogs. She clearly prefers the boys, but whatever. She also napped and did use the pee post. Very good signs that she can relax enough to do this.

After day camp, she came home for a quick dinner before heading to Conroy Pit. We had a showing between 5:30-6:30 and since it was a beautiful day, the Man took her there.

I must admit, it was nice to know she was so tired because the Man went out with friends and I didn't get home from work until 9 pm. I usually hate to have her alone in the evening, but I think after such a big day, she probably just slept.

Her Aunt C invited her to her house tomorrow, but given how she seems to be enjoying day camp, and how she isn't the easiest pup to have over when you don't have a fenced backyard, I think for now she will just go to camp.  I don't think I am ready for overnight boarding yet, but I can handle day camp for a few more weeks until we move.

Dog Day Camp Day 1

Well today was the big day for Lee and me. It was her first day at day camp. After our morning walk we drove to PetSmart. On the way we passed our local park and Lee was so excited because she thought we were going there. She was disappointed. She was happy to get out of the car at PetSmart and happy to be in the store. However, as soon as we reached the PetHotel/Day Camp she wanted out! They had to drag her to the back, my poor girl. It was horrible to see her like that. I was at least busy enough with the paperwork to really focus on this. Then I left thinking, man I don't know how my friends can leave their kids at daycare . . . .

Around 3:45 I went back to get her. When I arrived she was in one of the big play rooms. She didn't look unhappy, she was standing watching. Then she saw me and she looked very confused and then happy. I could hear her whining as I paid for her day.

They report she had a good first day. She was shy meeting the new dogs, but didn't seem nervous or aggressive. She didn't do any business there, which I am not surprised, often between 9-4 she is alone and she can hold it.  She seemed happy to be leaving.

However, little did she know we were not going home. We have what I call a good problem, a fair bit of interest in the house day 1 (and a number of showings booked for tomorrow). I could have left her there, but felt bad, so I picked her up and now she is sniffing her Aunt C's house while we wait for the last of the showings to be done. We will likely be hanging out here a lot on the evenings and weekends if the weather isn't nice (it is close to our house).

I am sure when we get home she will crash. Play time is 9-11 and 1-5 so not a lot of napping at day camp and not much napping at Aunt C's!

Let's hope tomorrow is another good day and that this house sells fast so we don't have to go to camp/visiting!

Nervous Nellie

Tomorrow will be a big day in our house, it will be the first day that Miss Lee will be going to Doggy Day Camp at our local PetSmart. We don't have a house showing yet, but since hopefully they are coming, we need a safe place for her when we have them and have to work. So I thought I would try this out and see how it goes.

I have been a dog owner for over a decade and a cat owner for 17 years and have yet to board an animal. I know people do it all the time, but cause it is the first time I am nervous! I am worried that this will stress my very anxious girl out.

Will let you know how it goes! Not sure who will be more nervous!

New Adventures of an Old Cat

Baggy, trying to cool off. 

Baggy is 17. He is king of the castle in his old age. His new trick is to go out and lay on the deck in the morning. We allow this because we know he is not going to go anywhere. Somehow the other day, he got left on the deck all day. When the Man got home he couldn't find him anywhere. Panic! The deck got hot in the afternoon sun, so Baggy did what any smart old guy would do, he found shade. The Man found him laying happily (and by happily I mean bitching and moaning and not wanting to come in) under the hedge. He had to force him to come back in. He was none the worse for wear. Had a snack, a big drink and a nap. This doesn't seem to deter him, he is still going out every day (and the other evening when it was cooling down!)

Moving Sucks - by Lee

I don't really understand what my people are doing these days. They keep talking about moving. I think that moving sucks. So far this has happened:
1) I had to spend a beautiful afternoon alone in the backyard away from my people. My Uncle Chris was here without Emma and I didn't get to play with him.
2) The house is empty, my stuff is gone, and that is stressful.
3) My people haven't been spending enough time with me because they have been packing and cleaning.
4) It has been really hot so my walks have sucked.
5) I was all excited last week cause my Lady took me in the car. Then we got to the vet. I didn't like it. I shook and cried and freaked out. The vet wasn't someone I knew. My Lady knew him. Said he took care of Gemi when she was dying. This didn't help, I thought maybe I would die too. In the end, he put some drops in my nose. My Lady said I need this so I can go to Doggy Day Camp on showing days so she and the Man can work. I think they should just quit their jobs and stay home with me. Then I had to wait in the clinic to pay. Sometimes I get to wait in the car, but my Lady said it was way too hot, so I would stay inside.
6) My Lady told Stephanie my dog walker when my last walk with her would be. I am SOOOOOO sad about this. Lady talks about acres and country and running free, but I don't understand that.
7) Strangers keep coming to my house. People they call realtors and photographers. There is talk of cleaners and window washers . . . .it just gets worse!
8) We went to Aunt C's last night. This was fun, but I wasn't allowed to go to the basement to play with Lemew. My Lady and Aunt C took me for a walk. My Lady said I was bad, pulling and lunging and was embarrassed when someone told her I need to be socialized. I think I am allowed to have a bad day!

Help needed - Removing Cat pee smell from concrete

One of the biggest challenges with this move is trying to get rid of the cat pee smell from the concrete in the basement. This is made worse by the fact that someone insists on continuing to pee on it. Access to this has now been blocked, the litter has been moved.

Any suggestions on how to get the smell out? We have tried a lot of things but nothing has really worked. The internet has lots of ideas, but I was wondering if anyone out there had tried something that worked.

Thanks!

Packing Up the House

It has been an insanely busy week, not made better by the fact that it has been as hot as Hades and we don't have a/c. So packing and cleaning is made worse!

Here is a summary of our events last weekend:

I am totally stressed I hear funny noises outside!

Something is arriving

Let me check this POD thing out, this is where all our stuff is going to go.

80% of what we own is now in a POD in storage. Lee hated us filling it because she had to stay in the backyard so we could keep the doors open. She did manage to get out once, and run and visit the neighbours, but other than that, she was good and safe. 

Lee: "I thought it was stupid that my Uncle Chris was here and I had to be outside alone and Emma didn't come. I think my people hate me!"

So the packing is done . . . now for the selling!

Happy Adoption Day Baggy!

Don't forget to pack me!

Don't worry Baggy after 17 years, we won't forget you!

Erratic Blogger

I fear for about the next week I am going to be an erratic blogger. I will do my best but I fear until this house is on the market my free time will be spent packing, cleaning and dealing with all that other pre-moving stuff that need to be done right away. I will try to give a few weekly updates:) I appreciate all your patience while we do this. The reward for this craziness is below (assuming the bank stops being stupid and just approves the mortgage . . . FYI having the money in the bank and A+ credit doesn't make mortgage getting easy . . . .but this is not the time nor place for that . . . it will work out!).


I realized last night and Lee curled up between us in bed to get some love, how stressed she is about this. I wish she would understand when I tell her, you are coming with us . . . you will love your huge new yard. At least she is not destroying things out of stress . . . yet!

101 Ways to stress LeeLee

Way 58: Pack.

Baggy Helping out

Packing is apparently very stressful for the pack. Hopefully the packing will be done this weekend (well, 60% of the house needs to move out until the official move date) and then they won't be so stressed!

Lee - not happy about the packing

Manic Monday

Yesterday it was hot and I thought we would celebrate the hot by Lee going on 2 walks in the morning. See I had written down that our lovely dog walker Stephanie was still away, so I took her out around 7:30. Guess who shows up at 8:40, our beloved Stephanie. So Lee got two walks. This was probably good because the rest of the day was really, really hot here. Unusually hot. Lee spent it sleeping. This was also good because it was our house buying day. Yep, assuming all is good the next 10 days with the financing, building inspection and water testing, Lee will be moving to 2 acres in the country. What is most exciting? The new house has a/c. Lee did not appreciate the window unit a/c. She wanted out of the room and was very mad when I made her stay! She went under the bed, she didn't like the noise I think.

Let's hope today is less busy and cooler!

Jump

Sunday we went off to the dog park for a date with Emma. I realized I was a bad aunt and didn't get pictures of Emma. On the walk, we found a great way to tire Lee out!  Enjoy!

Let's talk about time

Dear LeeLee, Nin and Baggy,

Thank you so much for your concern that we are sleeping in. It is kind that you care to make sure we are a live and getting up. However, we want you to know that this does not need to be your job. We are more than capable of getting ourselves up. We have this magic thing called an alarm for most mornings and believe it or not we can just get up when we want some mornings. That is just like you, you can get up when you want. So you can stop waking us up.

Just to be clear, just because you can hear birds and think it is getting lighter, does not mean get up time. It will NEVER be get up time at 4 am. 4 will always be sleeping time.

You just leave us and we will get up when we are ready and we will be happier to get up and you will get fed faster.

Thanks for your time,

The Lady and The Man

101 Ways to Stress LeeLee Out

Way 18 -

Have hedge trimmers arrive and be working in the backyard about a half hour before you get home from work. Have them continue to be working for an hour or so. Strangers in the backyard is very stressful. Not being able to go out and see them because the gate is open and it is not safe, is very stressful.

Needless to say she had a great sleep after they left!

Feline Friday - Sleeping with a Nin

Nin is not a good bedmate. The issue is that sometime when he thinks it is time to get up (so he heard birds at 4 am so it was time) he starts to meow and walk on you. He manages to get a paw between my ribs with every step. It is really uncomfortable and far more annoying then keeping the door closed and him meowing outside that it is time to get up.  Still, we have been letting Nin sleep with us about once a week.  Note to self, let me sleep with us on a weekend:)

A conversation

While driving home from dinner last night I had a conversation with my hubby that sort of went like that:

Me: "I think we should get Lee a thunder shirt. It might help with her anxiety."
He: "There is no freakin' way we are buying one of those. Waste of money,"
Me: "A lot of people swear by them. She gets so stressed during a storm. It might help."
He: "No way, we are not getting one."
Me: "People swear they help."
He: "Just put her in her jacket and she will be so enraged she won't be scared."
Me: "I really think we should. I have read a lot of good things about them."
He: "People do a lot of stupid things (he gives some examples that while I thought were amusing, but are inappropriate to post. )"

I was laughing so hard that I don't think I did a great job at selling this idea. I would just order one, but I did my business books for the month and traveling is expensive . . . it will have to wait!

Writer's question

I noticed today that my pretty blog has just turned white. The beautiful background that was designed has disappeared. Does it just look white on your computer?

I haven't touched a thing.

If it is white we will have to ask the creator, Ali from Shine Creative (formally Thorne Avenue) to help us. So Ail if you are reading this, let me know what I can do!

Wordless Wednesday

Lovely

Last week I was on the west coast. I must say both Seattle and Vancouver were very dog friendly cities. If I thought Lee would like to fly, I would travel with her, but I think that would completely traumatize her, and regardless of what she says, it is not my goal in life to stress her out!

One of the things I did was take a bus trip to Whistler (4 days were work, 4 were play - the perfect trip). While my friend and I were wandering around Whistler, we ran into our tour bus driver walking a dog. Turns out, on his breaks (aka the 3.5-4 hours we were walking around) he volunteers at the Whistler Shelter walking dogs. On the day we met him he had George. George was a lovely golden coloured mutt, medium build, who clearly had a rough life before being rescued, he was covered in scars. He was so friendly and affectionate. He gave me big kisses. I wanted to bring him home. Unfortunately I have promised no new pets until we live through this whole move thing . . . so hopefully soon:)

While I had been enjoying this tour guide, I will be honest to say that finding out he spent his break time walking dogs made me love him more and it was reflected in the tip I gave him!  

House Hunting

So we have lost our minds and have decided to move to the country once we find the right house. I didn't realize it, but the fur kids impact house decisions. For example: For Lee - yard, door to go in and out, nice places to cuddle. For the cats - where would the litter go? Other considerations, where would the water go? Where would we feed them?

It is hard enough to find a place the humans like, let alone to consider the pets . . . .

The Lady is Home

Lee was so excited I was home, the past 2 nights she has slept on my legs. She has been extra happy that not only have I been home, but I had a bit of a bug so I didn't do anything or really go anywhere. She will be sad tomorrow when the real world comes back to us! She will be extra sad because Stephanie, her beloved dog walker is on holidays next week.  Hopefully we will survive!

Lady is back!

The house was very exciting at 1:15 am last night. Lady came home. Lee was beside herself with excitement when I came in.  I thought she was going to wiggle herself to death. The cats were also very happy to have me home.

Will catch up on the trip etc later.