Ember keeps looking for a new "aggression toy". Sunday, for the second time, she focused on stealing a broom and dustpan out of my closet/pantry. I decided to make a game of her play with the plastic dustpan.
Whenever she got it "right side up", I would drop a handful of kibble into "the magic bowl". If she had it upside down, of course, no kibble. This creatively got her breakfast into her belly, and kept her entertained until the sun was up. As soon as it was "close" to 6, we went out for a walk. Runkeeper clocked it as 5:57 a.m.
Later that morning, Barnaby invited Ember to play in his back garden, and of course we did so! Ember was in a much better mood having had play time with another pooch.
The Father's Day outing for Lacey's dad went very well, despite the gusty conditions. He played tag with a heron as they kayaked the backwaters of Branched Oak lake. I'm glad they had such a good outing.
Monday morning report
Another good "aggression toy" for Ember are the fallen branches, after a windy day. She will happily gnaw at one of these, snapping off twigs and sub-branches, for a good portion of our walk time.
Speaking of walk time, the 6 a.m. walk was calm winds and therefore a calm walk. We explored a little further than usual because of the calm and alert demeanor and behavior of the four-legged member of the team.
We played the "magic bowl" game this morning with a disposable plastic dish. When she flipped it rightside up, I would drop kibble into it. When she had it upside down, no kibble fell. This was a kind of combination game... some respect for things like bowls, I hope, and also puzzle for her puppy little brain.
During a puppy nap, I called and scheduled her spay appointment for August 2nd, and the pre-op exam on July 31st. I packed her four meals for her boarding appointment, too.
A second walk gave Ember some social interaction with other people, as there were men waiting to start a project down the block. They asked if they could pet her, and one even gave her a puppy biscuit, which I asked him to break apart because it was a bit big for her.
She also found a plastic bottle to gnaw on, on the way home from the second walk.
And now: turning her nose up at special treats, she's just ready to nap again!
Life is good! Spark on!
She just about fills the step! As my elders used to say, "She's growing like a weed."
ReplyDeleteIndeed she is! I don't even know what she weighs, but I'm guessing about 35 - 40 pounds. I'm feeding her based on the 40 pound 4 - 6 month old guidelines.
DeleteI remember when Carl couldn't fit!
ReplyDeleteSo do I! The house is soooo empty right now. I'm on dose #1 of prep, and Ember is at her boarding/day care. She was so excited to meet her kennel care-giver. That gal let her put her big paws on her shoulders! Yes, she's that short!
DeleteWith all the procedure prep, you will get to admire the new shower from another angle. 🚽 Sorry! The opportunity was too good to pass up.
ReplyDelete🤗💖
Mimicking a bidet, by chance?
DeletePHOENIX1949 here
ReplyDeleteHope procedure goes well. Veteran of multiple colonoscopies here since age 50 due to recurring polyps. The prep is the worst part.
Miss Ember looks like a very healthy, content puppy who does have her zoomies and nibbling on hu-Mom . KC the Sunshine Dog has been prone to almost daily zoomies, sometimes multiple times -- I think his healthier diet may be a contributor or maybe the boredom of staying indoors due to the extreme heat here.
Yeah, this is my third time on this particular medical voyage, so I sort of know what to expect. But the prep has changed a bit. I'm about ten minutes away from dose #2. Onward!
DeleteWhat a brilliant game, Barb! And EMBER ENJOYED IT! Glad she got to play w/Barnaby. Yup, they enjoy socializing w/their canine buddies!
ReplyDeleteThat’s nice that the Father’s Day outing went nicely!
And o no! The dreaded neutering appointment! Poor baby, but . . . has to be done.
LOVE the picture of her on the step! Sure like Carl did as a puppy, too. Fun. And playing w/the magic bowl. LOLOL
Here’s to a great Tuesday.
Hugs
Barb
1cd
"Manage the dog's environment" is one of the tools a trainer I follow on YouTube talks about. You have to be one step ahead of the pup, and these pups are smart!
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