Sunday, March 10, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
I think maybe I am a cat person - by the Lady
First, I would like to say, I do love my dogs very much, but this week has made me appreciate the simplicity of my senior cats more.
It is not that the dogs have been really bad, it is just they have been exhausting.
To catch you all up on how things have been going:
Wednesday night:
10:37 pm - gun fire in the neighbourhood. Woke me up and freaked Miss Lee right out! She was terrified. I had to get out of bed and force her back. We were able to settle back down within 20 minutes.
Thursday:
Camp day for the girls. Hailey was not a happy camper. She was freakin' out all the way there, and while we were waiting to check in. I felt so bad. She did not have fun. She was very happy to be home at the end of the day.
We had mild success with Emma's house training and more importantly Phod didn't have any accidents while I was at work.
Didn't work on car training to give Phod a break to see if this would help.
10:20pm was our gun fire time . . .took more time to get Lee to settle this time. Spent the night in a dog sandwich Lee asleep on one side of my legs, Phod and Emma asleep on other side. Phod actually slept with me much of the night. At one point, he and Emma were all curled up together, it was very cute and I wish I had a camera.
 |
| Look how cute we are, we are worth the work! |
Friday:
Work at home day.
Not a good day for house training. Have discovered Emma will pee a little outside and then come in and pee some more. However, we will celebrate she did ask to go out 3 times. This is an improvement.
Car training: Every few hours take the dogs out and try and get Phod in the car. Have been able to get him to put his front feet in the car.
In the afternoon, hear Phod coughing. Realize I have heard this hack a few times over the past few days. It originally started when he had a hoof. I had assumed he had a little piece stuck because that is what is sounds like. Think maybe this is more serious, so google "kennel cough" and hear the exact cough.
Swear - a lot - like a sailor. Know my vet is at work today (because a friend had texted and asked for his info and then said she had an appointment that evening), so I call him. Stars align and he is at his desk. Describe the situation (because I have a dog who is terrified of the car and is sick . . .) he says sounds like kennel cough, his guess a virus. I am picking up some drugs that may or may not help, but won't hurt tomorrow. I have been told as long as he is eating not to be too stressed about it. I have to watch the other dogs. We are to stay away from others, so that means we can't go to flyball tomorrow. Hopefully we can join the class week 2 or we are out , a lot of $.
So camp, which was suppose to make my life easier, made it much harder.
Saturday:
We didn't hear gun fire last night, so that is good. But it could be because we had to have the humidifier running for Phod. Spend the night in a Lee/Emma sandwich, am woken at 5 am to Emma trying to get back on the bed. I had missed her getting off and it was too late she had done her business all over the floor. Decide to clean it up in the hour when I have to get up anyway! Get up, clean it up, clean up the spot coughed until he threw up a little [I must say I expect him to be coughing more with this, he doesn't cough too much but when he does it is crazy sounding. However, we may be at the "it might get worse yet" phase.]
Can't wait to see what else life brings today. I am leaving all 3 at home as I have to go and see a client. I have a few errands to run and I am bringing Aunt C out for a sleepover. It will be nice to have the support.
Is this week over yet?
Saturday:
We didn't hear gun fire last night, so that is good. But it could be because we had to have the humidifier running for Phod. Spend the night in a Lee/Emma sandwich, am woken at 5 am to Emma trying to get back on the bed. I had missed her getting off and it was too late she had done her business all over the floor. Decide to clean it up in the hour when I have to get up anyway! Get up, clean it up, clean up the spot coughed until he threw up a little [I must say I expect him to be coughing more with this, he doesn't cough too much but when he does it is crazy sounding. However, we may be at the "it might get worse yet" phase.]
Can't wait to see what else life brings today. I am leaving all 3 at home as I have to go and see a client. I have a few errands to run and I am bringing Aunt C out for a sleepover. It will be nice to have the support.
Is this week over yet?
Friday, March 8, 2013
Feline Friday
Ok, it is not the best picture because I was laughing too hard and Nin wouldn't stay still.
I wonder what it says as pet owner when my poor cat was in distress and my first thought (because it was not life threatening) was to photograph it!
Happy Friday!
 |
| Nin wearing a bag! |
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Update on how it is going
Tuesday was pretty good. I was at home so that helped. I gave the gang hooves [See attached pictures] for the afternoon so got to work in peace! I spent my evening working more on house training with Emma. She refused to pee outside and I knew she had to so we played the, in the crate for 15 minutes, and then outside of 5 minutes. We played this game for over 1.5 hours before she peed.
Wednesday morning went something like this: Got Emma to pee and poop outside! Emma will now eating a whole meal at meal time with some supervision (mostly to make sure Hailey doesn't push her out of the way). Got myself and everyone ready to go to camp. Got the girls loaded in the car. Tried to get Phod loaded in the car. Finally lift my 60 lb boy in and close the door. Since he is not harnessed, by the time I get to the front door he is there ready to lunge out. He then went and hid in the corner of the garage and shakes. I looked at him and the car and then said "Phod, do you want to stay home?" and he raced to the house door. So I set him up in the crate. I had booked a longer day out then he is use to because I had assumed he would be at camp. I then drove to town with a stressed out Lee because Phod is not with her, feeling like a horrible "mom" to have left my boy at home.
Left the girls at camp. Went to work. Went back and pick them up. Emma loved attention from the staff and Hailey was shy and didn't play much. Got them into the car, Lee searching the car for Phod and drove home worried about my boy who has been alone for too long. Upon arriving home I left the girls in the car and raced into the house to free my boy, only to find him standing at the door waiting for me. The latch on the side door of the crate was not done up and he must have squeezed out. There was a pee on the floor which I cleaned up and while I was cleaning it up, Emma peed on the floor (even after we had just been outside for like 10 minutes - but it was her only accident yesterday so this is progress).After dinner, and a successful Emma bathroom break, I took Phod for a walk alone to get the mail. I must say how nice it is to have one and not get pulled. Came back and started the car desensitization program. I was able to get Phod to take a cookie off the bumper. That is as close as he would get. I have cancelled camp for him today and will keep working on this car thing. I need to get him in for flyball on Saturday. We will be trying the vet's expensive drug that day. Maybe if he doesn't get sick he won't hate it so much.
So people ask me "how is it going?" and like all things in life it is good and bad. if Emma peed outside and Phod wold get in the car it would be great.
Note: Found out this morning that my brother in law will be at home for March, so Emma will only be with us for the week. I am assuming he is going to have her come and stay with us in April. That will give him a month to teach her a few things!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Day 1
Note: Our Lady is ok with you all laughing at her. She says she is laughing at herself.
After our morning adventures of Emma getting loose and running away, the Lady's day did get better.
It is 60 km (37 miles) to where the Lady was working today. We got to go in the car too because Lady was taking us to day camp! Lee was so excited she sang the whole way. Phod was not excited and threw up the whole way. Emma slept the whole way.
We finally get there (it took forever, it felt like 87 years) and as soon as the Lady put the car into park, Phod came bouncing over the seats to stand on her lap. Phod had been sick. Phod had stood in it. Phod put puke foot prints on Lady's coat and her pants. Then when he kept out the door he knocked the papers she needed to register us into camp on the ground and she had to chase them. [As our Lady is typing this, she thinks people are going to think we are making this up, but this is true]. Since the girls were secure in the car, the Lady took Phod in first.
The next adventure is checking him in. You see, the Lady didn't bring all his vaccine info and was missing one. So before they would take Phod they had to call the clinic to assure he had his shots. This caused confusion because he was under the rescues name and not his own . . . . Fortunately they did have them. Against his will, Phod was dragged into the day camp.
When the Lady had called to make our reservations in Pet Smart Doggie Day Camp, she did not realize she was calling the U.S. She couldn't figure out why the girl kept calling him Zedaphod until she checked him in. When she spelt his name she spelt it Canadian Z=zed not Z=zee, so when the person heard "Z=zed" they wrote Zed. We laughed at our American friends. So many people (even in Canada) have trouble with his name. Maybe HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy should be required school reading.
Next were the girls. Hailey was pleased to go to the back, Emma whined and carried on. A semi-guilty Lady then left and went to work where the first order of business was to try and remove the puke foot print.
Lady shouldn't feel too guilty because we had a good time.
Emma's report says "She was a tiny bit shy going into the playroom at first but with some reassurance and cuddles she warmed up quickly and played with Daisy, Lidan and hung our with Oreo."
Hailey and Zedaphod (teeheehee)'s says "Zedaphod warmed up very quickly and was meeting new dogs in no time. Hailey preferred to stay quietly on the side lines but did get the chance to say hello." Talking to the staff, apparently Phod's new BFF is Otis who he played with until he collapsed and Lee would only play with Phod. She can be shy in these situations even when she is happy to be there.
The ride home was quieter. Phod threw up some more. Lee got stressed when it was dark. Dinner was good and we had a fairly quiet evening, most likely because they are all very, very tired! The only catch to the evening was Emma wouldn't/won't go lay down alone. She has to be on or beside the Lady. This presented some challenges, but we hope to work through those.
Today will be different as Lady is working at home all day. We slept until 6:30 (yay!). When the Lady went to take us out, 7 deer were on the road in front of the house, so we went out back. 2/3 have pooped outside and one inside, even though Lady took her out alone for like 10 minutes and just stood there. We will keep working on it.
After our morning adventures of Emma getting loose and running away, the Lady's day did get better.
It is 60 km (37 miles) to where the Lady was working today. We got to go in the car too because Lady was taking us to day camp! Lee was so excited she sang the whole way. Phod was not excited and threw up the whole way. Emma slept the whole way.
We finally get there (it took forever, it felt like 87 years) and as soon as the Lady put the car into park, Phod came bouncing over the seats to stand on her lap. Phod had been sick. Phod had stood in it. Phod put puke foot prints on Lady's coat and her pants. Then when he kept out the door he knocked the papers she needed to register us into camp on the ground and she had to chase them. [As our Lady is typing this, she thinks people are going to think we are making this up, but this is true]. Since the girls were secure in the car, the Lady took Phod in first.
The next adventure is checking him in. You see, the Lady didn't bring all his vaccine info and was missing one. So before they would take Phod they had to call the clinic to assure he had his shots. This caused confusion because he was under the rescues name and not his own . . . . Fortunately they did have them. Against his will, Phod was dragged into the day camp.
 |
| Emma, helping write the blog |
Next were the girls. Hailey was pleased to go to the back, Emma whined and carried on. A semi-guilty Lady then left and went to work where the first order of business was to try and remove the puke foot print.
Lady shouldn't feel too guilty because we had a good time.
 |
| "Hailey, what do you want Lady to write about camp?" |
Hailey and Zedaphod (teeheehee)'s says "Zedaphod warmed up very quickly and was meeting new dogs in no time. Hailey preferred to stay quietly on the side lines but did get the chance to say hello." Talking to the staff, apparently Phod's new BFF is Otis who he played with until he collapsed and Lee would only play with Phod. She can be shy in these situations even when she is happy to be there.
The ride home was quieter. Phod threw up some more. Lee got stressed when it was dark. Dinner was good and we had a fairly quiet evening, most likely because they are all very, very tired! The only catch to the evening was Emma wouldn't/won't go lay down alone. She has to be on or beside the Lady. This presented some challenges, but we hope to work through those.
Today will be different as Lady is working at home all day. We slept until 6:30 (yay!). When the Lady went to take us out, 7 deer were on the road in front of the house, so we went out back. 2/3 have pooped outside and one inside, even though Lady took her out alone for like 10 minutes and just stood there. We will keep working on it.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Mischief Monday
Last week was full of mischief:) Our Lady did remain calm and didn't want to kill us.
Recap of the highlights:
Monday:
Take potatoes off the counter and rip the bag up - no damage to the spuds.
Tuesday:
Nothing, other than growl at the new bed our people got.
Wednesday:
Do really well at off leash training until we are just about to go in the house and then take off. For the first 15 minutes we just ran around the valley and hills behind our house. Our Lady calmly tried to catch up. First we would go up the mountain and she would climb up and then we would run down. She tried to tackle Lee. At this point Phod went back to the house with her and Lady got the leash and went out after Lee. Lee was no where to be seen but since there was lots of snow (we got another foot or so on Wednesday), she tried to track her. Unfortunately Lee went into the Valley where no creature had gone this winter. The snow was waist deep on Lady, making it hard to track. As Lady was turning around to find a trail, about 200 meters away she heard a familiar panting. A very happy Lee had returned. They climbed back up the mountain to the house. Both were exhausted after. Lady decided off leash training was on hold.
Thursday:
Get into the recycling (which the people have finally got smart enough about and moved to a place we can never get it)
Poop and Pee on the floor.
Friday:
Nothing, but the man put Phod in the crate to reduce the change.
Saturday:
Lee peed in her dog bed.
Sunday: Emma caused mischief cause she is not house broken, but nothing major.
Today: Emma got loose and started down the quiet road we live on. Of course it was commute time so one of the 6 people who lives on the road was coming. She almost got hit. Lady had Lee on leash. Phod followed. We made it to the last house on the road before Lady was able to tackle Emma. So she had to carry Emma, with Lee on leash with the neighbours dog trying to play. Phod had taken a detour to the lake. We all made it back safe and sound but Lady was a little frustrated. All this happened the 30 minutes before the man left. She says it is going to be a very, very long week.
We will try and get into more mischief this week, but we are in camp several days so it will be harder.
Recap of the highlights:
 |
| Off leash training |
Take potatoes off the counter and rip the bag up - no damage to the spuds.
Tuesday:
Nothing, other than growl at the new bed our people got.
Wednesday:
Do really well at off leash training until we are just about to go in the house and then take off. For the first 15 minutes we just ran around the valley and hills behind our house. Our Lady calmly tried to catch up. First we would go up the mountain and she would climb up and then we would run down. She tried to tackle Lee. At this point Phod went back to the house with her and Lady got the leash and went out after Lee. Lee was no where to be seen but since there was lots of snow (we got another foot or so on Wednesday), she tried to track her. Unfortunately Lee went into the Valley where no creature had gone this winter. The snow was waist deep on Lady, making it hard to track. As Lady was turning around to find a trail, about 200 meters away she heard a familiar panting. A very happy Lee had returned. They climbed back up the mountain to the house. Both were exhausted after. Lady decided off leash training was on hold.
 |
| We are acting out a heart shape here |
Get into the recycling (which the people have finally got smart enough about and moved to a place we can never get it)
Poop and Pee on the floor.
Friday:
Nothing, but the man put Phod in the crate to reduce the change.
Saturday:
Lee peed in her dog bed.
Sunday: Emma caused mischief cause she is not house broken, but nothing major.
Today: Emma got loose and started down the quiet road we live on. Of course it was commute time so one of the 6 people who lives on the road was coming. She almost got hit. Lady had Lee on leash. Phod followed. We made it to the last house on the road before Lady was able to tackle Emma. So she had to carry Emma, with Lee on leash with the neighbours dog trying to play. Phod had taken a detour to the lake. We all made it back safe and sound but Lady was a little frustrated. All this happened the 30 minutes before the man left. She says it is going to be a very, very long week.
 |
| Our house in the woods |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)