OMG the landscapers are here!

 

I admit I did not know the exact dates that the landscaping work would begin.  I had agreed to authorize the work, and as close a time/date as I was given was "early in the season".

Turns out, between the weather and what it did to other job sites, "early in the season" turned out to be Monday afternoon.

Just what I needed.  A puppy with diarrhea (returned) and a yard being torn apart and put back together.  They were only here for a couple of hours this afternoon, but they will be back in force tomorrow.

I introduced Ember to the crew, and they all made entirely too much of a fuss over her and she got overexcited.  I thought I had her calmed down and then after she finished her supper and started to play, she went for me.

Ankles first, then wrists, then climbing up onto the couch and... 

Unfortunately, I am learning that I am a reactive human, not particularly calm when those teeth hit.

I got her into her crate, and then when she whimpered and yelped, I thought, given recent bathroom history, that she might need to go and I tried letting her out, but the scene repeated on the back deck, and in the end I grabbed her by the nape of the neck, and she just got more determined, and nailed me on my bare arm, breaking the skin quite nicely.

Back in the crate, with a whimpering mommy and a protesting puppy.  Dang!  

In retrospect, I probably should not have introduced her to the crew but sheltered her from so many people (all young men) at once.  She does love people, but she gets overexcited and doesn't know when to push the "off" switch.

Shortly after that, her poo was practically liquid with a few chunks in it.  That drove me to the pharmacy and I gave her a tablespoon of Kaopectate on her lickimat.  She lapped it right up.  Back into the crate with her, and steeling mom's will to not be manipulated by her complaints. 

The overnight report:

Sigh.  Well, mom was not to be manipulated by complaints.  But mom had the history on her mind and started trying to let her out every two hours, "just to make sure".  This strategy only lasted for two trips out.  First, the trips out were unproductive.  Ember would have been happy to just lay on the grass out there, but remember, we have a very tired sleep deprived Mommy on our hands.  

Mommy lost the battle to have Miss Emmy get back into her den around 10:30 p.m. or so.  At this point.  I gave up on the "sleep in the family room" idea and shifted to my chair in the parlor, while Ember snoozed on the mat by the back door.  

As I snoozed, she moved to the floor by my feet.  No indications of needing to go out.  My extremities started to complain, so I shifted myself to the couch.  Emmy took over my wingback chair, and continued her peaceful slumber all night.  Well, if all night means until 3 a.m.

I decided to leave her in the chair while I did my morning ritual weigh-in, meds, including eye drops, and dress.  That was all the time she needed... there was a big gift in the hall outside my bedroom when I opened the door.  Sigh.  I had been concerned about her getting all awake and excited and missing my own needs if I took her out first.  But there we were.

Fortunately, the kaopectate did the job, the poo was fairly solid.

After she came back in, we continued having the "teethy" issues.  Mom by this time is working hard at "don't react in an alarmed fashion", and we determined this is the hungry puppy action.  So, breakfast comes out, and lessons begin.  Before 4 a.m.!

By 4:15, she's ready for a puppy nap, and is starting to snooze on my chair, with breakfast only about half finished.  She is there as I finish typing this.

Anyway, the so-called "battle of the wills" seems to already be in progress with a puppy not quite four months old.  When Mommy is calm in her response to the first nip, we can achieve a more gentle release.  But when Mommy yelps, things do not go well.

Mommy is not fond of this particular game, but this is the puppy I have, and I am already bonded to her.  I'm doing the typical human reaction (for me) of second guessing every decision, every action I have taken with her.  I definitely am failing at consistency in the environment, and it's not going to be any easier the next few days.

I canceled the Tuesday trainer session, feeling the need to be here while the crew is working on the yard.  I warned Bill that with the landscapers here, we might not be able to do a yard romp with Barnaby on Wednesday as we had planned.  Aware, he will watch to see what's going on in my yard, and we'll make the call then.  I waved off the neighbor across the street, whose toddler had wanted to "pet the puppy" last evening... I said "not today, she's been a little nippy."

And life in Emberville goes on.  Regardless of all challenges, that Life is Good!  Spark on!