Eyes on Mommy

 

"Eyes on Mommy."  That's my sub-command, when I say her name:  "Ember.  Eyes on Mommy."  I copied that from the puppy pre-school class, because that's what the puppy is supposed to do in response to her name:  focus on her human!  Only when I see her eyes lock on mine does she get her name treat!

Her Auntie Alicia snapped this photo while Ember was being hand-fed her supper during our Wednesday sister time.  We make her work for her meals, going through the sit, down, stand, and come (recall) command.

Before her supper, we went on a walk, practicing some leash manners.  We went about a block, down to the entrance to the park, and over the bridge.  She did get to exchange sniffs with another dog, and of course she was ecstatic to have not one, but TWO humans paying her attention and praise.

Ember stopped being interested in her food and decided a nap was in order, where she could feel comforted while the sisters yakked.  So clearly comfortable under grandma's Duncan Fyfe table.

The bunny came with Ember when she came to me.  Being fabric, I don't want her learning to destroy cloth, so she only gets to play with the bunny under the watchful eyes of her people.

We must have worked her puppy brain really hard on Wednesday, because overnight she showed no interest in going outside at all.  She came out of the crate to lick my hand, then retreated back into the safety of her cave.  I left her be, as she wasn't whining or showing signs of pain, but I was dog-mommy concerned.

When at 4 a.m. she came out extra hungry (remember the skipped dinner?), I felt we were a-OK.  She lunged for the cat's food dish on the deck and I had to whisk it away.  Prisoner showed up looking for his breakfast.  After some drama, Prisoner got his breakfast in the laundry room because it started to rain, and he wanted some shelter.  Hunger satisfied, he came upstairs once Ember was settled in her crate again, to hop up on the counter and get some pets and give some purrs in return.  Yes, mornings are exciting around here!

Puppy proofing the house has been an incremental process, as she reaches each new level of boldness.  There is no longer a TV in the front room, it's been moved to the family room, because that electrical cord is just too tempting to the pup.  The recycle bins are about to be moved from the kitchen/dining area to the garage, for similar reasons.  It's so hard to keep track of all the no-no's in a human dwelling, thinks Ember.  Everything should be a toy!

Anyway, that's all I can write this morning... the saga continues.

And life is good!  Spark on.