Category: Dogs

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Leveling Up

I have Leveled Up several times in the “Achey-Breaky Body” game. I have dislocated a knee rolling over in bed and dislocated a hip by just laying there, unmoving.

And then there are those “rough patches” of clear, smooth, open floor. . . Dangerous when barefoot or in shoes that give good traction, ya know. Socks or smooth-soled slippers, dude. Less likely to trip over a stray cat hair.

And lest you think it’s all age-related, nope. Pretty much been this way my whole life, with the rare decade of well-coordinated, healthy, fit body wedged in.

Of course now, what with New Guy puppy* and all that, it’s fun working downfield past a VERY active Defensive Tackle; it’s challenging. . . *heh* (I dunno why he’s working so hard to take me down when he has rung his Doggy Door Bell to go out, but I guess that’s the game, eh? *heh*)

*At least, as a puppy, he needs about as much sleep as he does activity, so I do get a little bye on heading “downfield,” at times. 😉

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Amusing Ani-mules

Physical setup: My “comfy chair” in front of a bay window; blackout curtains over window (often closed, especially early morning, since the window faces east); my cat uses my chair (and me) as a stepping block to enter the bay (curtains in the way? Nope. She doesn’t care *heh*); new puppy—all nearly 40# of him, now—on my ottoman staring over my notebook at the bay window my cat has just disappeared into. . . seriously puzzled look on his face: disappearing cat?!?

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R.I.P. Best Boy Ever; Welcome On Board, New Guy

New puppy is seriously cutting into my reading time. . . and also seriously increasing my exercise time. Ah, but that’s all to the good.

Transition from outside-only (4 month old Australian Shepherd* pup) to mixed in/out going well. One “accident” on day 1, mostly from nerves/excitement but has responded very well to, first, hourly, then extended time inside/outside, etc. Have the training treats helped? Maaaayyybe. He pays his water bill in the middle of the night just like I do. (Slightly extended “water bill” time to calm him down after his trip outside).

Other: consistent response to new name by end of first full day (smart dog? Could be). Buffaloed by my cat (my Wonder Woman’s cat? Not so much), but as she adapts to CHANGE (very conservative cat), her “brutality” is decreasing—*heh*—and his fear is lessening. We’ll see, eh?

Still missing Best Boy Ever and have to stop myself doing my mom’s thing (calling New Guy by Best Boy Ever’s name), but even though we were offered this pup far sooner than we would have elected on our own to get another dog, he’s helping ease that loss a bit. Just a bit. And the “ghost” of Best Boy Ever is a good trainer’s coach.

Ah! Minor victory. At last he is comfortable going out and descending from the upper deck to the yard below, alone. I can let him spend a wee bit of time roaming the (fenced) back yard alone, then join him for another “exercise session.” *heh*

*Yeh, I know the breed doesn’t come from Australia but was developed (?) in California toward the end of the 19th Century from mysterious antecedents. Still the name of the breed.