I am taking full advantage while the weather is mild this weekend!
My "broken" puppy is slowly mending. Saturday morning, we went on another pre-sunrise car ride, not stopping anywhere, but with 40-degree temperatures at least the streets were not slick, and I could drive us around and look at the lights.
I did not take her leash walking because Friday's leash walk was too challenging for me. She had dragged me down to locate dead things in the long grass again. Then I foolishly tried to "help" her along by assisting in carrying a large fallen branch she wanted to chew on. The conspiracy theorist in the back of my brain recognizes that this was giving her permission to chew more.
Ember accepted the return to the normal routine of me heating up the oatmeal and putting the Dog TV on the YouTube playback and went into her crate for puppy nap #1. When she got up, I had already cleaned up the family room most recent clutter and done poo patrol outside. But I still did not want to take her out on leash in the neighborhood.
I tried some ball toss. Meh, says the puppy. Then I offered her another car ride, and we went to the dog park. There she found an Australian Shepherd puppy about her age, named Ollie, and they hit it off. Round and round and lots of running. There were other playmates, too, and several of them were within a month of age so good developmental playmates.
Ollie's human was kind enough to help walk Ember out to the car. I fed her the puppy salad when we got home and she settled well enough to go to puppy nap #2 in her crate. Yay! Routine for the win!
I am so glad that car rides have become a tool for puppy management. I don't know if we're completely past the car sickness that plagued her early months, but it appears to be getting a little bit better.
The garbage man came and took away the big load of couch destruction waste Saturday morning, but here's Ember, tipping over the additional that had not made it to the garbage bin before they came.
After puppy nap #2, we just had some backyard time, enjoying the high temperature of 60℉. Pretty nice for December 28th in Nebraska, and that's a fact.
Sunday morning
Gradual improvement of the puppy bond continues. We did not need a car ride this morning. The couch is pretty much denuded of padding and has become a "puppy perch" couch. No padding for humans to sit on but look who can fit on it just fine!
Sunday morning, we played Recallers games, not being in a frenzy of couch deconstruction.
We played hide-and-seek (find Mommy). Ember was not in a mood to chase the glow in the dark balls today, so that was a pass. We did play some crate games; we're still working on trusting mom. We did some hot zone work on her raised dog bed beside the destroyed couch. We played tug in a couple of different venues. "Follow Mommy" games and some food dispensing toys were put to use as well.
It was the day for her Simparica Trio (pest control) pill, so she got extra peanut butter. Yum! We practiced some cuddle time on the couch in the parlor (the one she hasn't yet destroyed). Mommy loves the cuddles as much as Ember does.
After Mommy's breakfast and a trip outside to collect the morning poo, Ember went back into her crate for puppy nap #1. However, it took the lure of a schmear of peanut butter on one of her chew toys.
It is supposed to be another mild temperature day, for this time of year. Looking forward to an afternoon romp at the dog park with Carl, and the human crew associated with him.
Life is Good. Spark on!
It's very mild at my house also ... lows in 30/40's and highs in 50/60's. Today is supposed to hit 67!! We never know how it will be ... in November we had some weeks of 30s lows and 40/50s highs. Some years we have frost frequently this time of year. Ya just never know.
ReplyDeleteAre you able to take Miss Ember to the dog park throughout the winter and fewer walks so she can run off the energy safely until she's able to do what she needs to take regular walks? Thank goodness we had our big puppies when I was younger and didn't have wrecked knees and rotator cuffs and arthritis everywhere; they're like children in needing strenghth to raise them. I'm glad things are getting back to a bit of the ever-evolving-norm, and that you're figuring out how to navigate this trying puppy time. Hugs.
The picture on the deck makes her look so grown and muscle-y. Thank goodness she recognizes the fence as a boundary.
I still do a thing or two in a 'must do' moment that I know will cost me for the next hours or day, but avoid it if needed.
Taking her to the dog park is an option, but not every Winter day has friendly driving or park conditions, so I'll rely at least partly on "doggie day care" options. The first test of that will be on Tuesday the 31st. Based on how well she did at the dog park the past three days, I'm thinking doggy day care may be my go-to during the next couple of months.
DeleteDo you have a plan in place when she finally decides to vault the deck railing? Jogging? A 5k run? It will no doubt create a workout for you. ☺️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the best plan I have is to keep working on her recall, but we are nowhere near being reliable to recall under the level of distraction that would lead to her vaulting the rail. I just keep hoping she will learn what she needs to learn "in time" to avoid an emergency!
DeleteAs an added hope, I think the kind of thing that would lead her to leap the rail would be another human she wants to get to or another dog that she knows and wants to play with. Either of these things we have modeled with the lawn guy who left a gate open, and she just ran right to him. He guided her back inside and all was well.
Mild here too and I have been really enjoying my morning walks outside. I know they won't last and I will be taking the stairs again but even rainy day walks are wonderful. Sounds like a lot of progress with Ember. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're having that chance to enjoy some "relative" mild weather, too.
DeleteOh boy, glad that you were able to get out in the mild weather yesterday, even if no leash walk. I DON’T BLAME YOU! Miss Lilly can be a scavenger of dead things @ times and it takes a lot of strength to remain upright when she’s determined!
ReplyDeleteNOOOoooo, if Ember only knows one thing, that is she has the best Hu-Mom!
Mild for this time of the year here, too, but . . . that comes to a crashing halt tomorrow. Oh well, winter in the Midwest!
Hope it’s a good Monday for you in Emberville!
Hugs
Barb
1cd
Thanks. Heading down to try to get Ember out for one more back yard outing before the rain begins! That's what we're supposed to get Monday, in about 15 minutes!
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