Field Trip

Sorry, it's been nearly a week since I posted. I don't know where the time goes, but it goes.

We had a little softie bed left over from Ditto. Joyce put it down in a corner of the kitchen and Frances staked her claim on it. Mary, bless her heart, would just lay on the hard tile floor - unless Frances went outside or got more than three feet away from the bed. Then it would become a bit of a sibling spat. Mary nearly always lost. It was pitiful.

Wednesday, I think it was, Joyce came home with two new beds. They both chose one. Of course, poor little submissive Mary only had one to choose from because Frances grabbed one first. But, they are identical (except for smells now) and it did not make any difference to Mary. So, they quit fighting over a bed.

Yesterday we took them for a short ride in the RV, hoping to acclimate them to riding in it. We took their new bads, but it seemed the back seats were their favorite spots. And, believe me, they tried all possibilities except getting up on the beds. Joyce rode in a back seat, too, so they had to take turns until she put them both in a seat together. It was a trick as those seats are pretty small, but about the same size as one of their beds.

We stopped for lunch. Joyce had brought a bag of their dog food. She usually kneads in some chicken to interest them more and, apparently, it worked. They gobbled it all up.

After eating, we were sure they would have business to attend to soon afterward. So, we drove up to a parking area on the north shore of Fellows Lake. This was to be their first outing on leashes and they behaved remarkedly well. Joyce had introduced them to a leash at home, so it wasn't a totally new experience for them. Sometimes one would balk and refuse to move, like an old mule. But, then they'd see the other one moving ahead and the balking one would run to catch up.

It was a nice outing day for us and them. Then we headed home and on the way, they both were carsick and both vomited up that big lunch they had. Oh, well. You can't win them all.

Up 2 and Back 3

Yesterday was not so good housebreaking wise, mostly our fault. We have been slowly introducing them to "people food" by kneading their pup chow into something people-ish. Breakfast has been an egg, lunch is typically a sample of whatever we're having or some leftovers (if not too rich or spicy). Yesterday they got some roast beef that hit them pretty hard and they got the squirts. Poor little Mary got hit the worst. Unfortunately, she cut loose while they were having playtime in my TV room on the carpet. I caught her early and managed to get her outside to finish the job. She didn't have full-blown diarrhea yet, so it cleaned up easily, but it gave me a false sense of security and I let her back in. No, she didn't do it again, but she did piddle on the carpet. Not too long after that, Frances did, too! Okay enough carpet, already. Time for bed. and I purposely went to bed early to settle them down. We had quit using the big room for them to sleep and had switched to using the main bedroom. It has dark curtains and stays pretty dark when the sun comes up. We were hoping they would sleep longer and essentially they do. However, I don't, so when I get up, they get up. But, if I go back to bed, they usually settle back down. Last night was not the way we'd planned though. Mary had given me some warning that things might not be too settled and sure enough, she woke me up by stirring around at about midnight. I grabbed both of them up and took them outside and both had bad diarrhea, and both peed (there's that). We went back to bed and around 3am Mary stirred again. I grabbed both of them again and took them outside. Only Mary did anything. Yep, she still had bad diarrhea. Frances went back inside on her own, so when Mary and I came in, I was expecting the worst. But, all was fine. Frances was patiently waiting in the bedroom. We went back to bed. About an hour later, Mary stirred again. Frances was sound asleep, so I left her there and took Mary outside. Nothing... Not even a pee. She just sat looking around and up at the moon occasionally (it's still a bright Harvest moon). So, we headed back in. I put her down at the back door ramp before I slid the door open. Mary trotted right in and on into the living room. When I caught up with her she then trotted on ahead into the bedroom and reared up on the side of the bed where Frances was impatiently waiting. I put her on the bed, climbed in myself, and none of us woke until nearly 8am. Yeah!

Things were all good this morning. The girls got their usual puppy chow with a soft fried egg kneaded in. They both ate up then came over for a nap under the table (which is just a way to be ready in case we drop something while we eat). Then Mary jumped up and went outside and did her business. Frances followed shortly afterward. Mary came back in. Frances decided to try to come in via the sunroom, but the sunroom door into the kitchen was closed. Then she crapped on the sunroom floor. Up 2 and back 3.

Lots of Help

Last night was another success. The girls and I slept together again. We got up a couple times when business called and went right back to bed. They actually managed to go over 5 hours without peeing, Like human babies and trying to get them to sleep through the night. Breakfast time was like yesterday. They ate and ran outside, although I can't be sure if they went outside to poop or to play. They did both. Next lesson: Barking. This isn't going to be easy. They bark at most everything and play off each other. One will bark at something and the other will bark because the first one was barking. And, so it goes.

We were quite happy with our new little patio. However, after the contractor finished and left, we decided we made a small mistake in not having him fill in the voids where the blocks ran along the curving sidewalk. We intended to put mulch or maybe some pea gravel in those spaces, but on second thought we wanted blocks cut to fill the spaces. So, I thought, "I can do that." Well, I can with a little help.

The first help I got was one of the girls grabbed the end of my 100-foot extension cord and went running off. Next one grabbed the waist sash for my work apron as I was trying to tie it. Then, as I placed a block over the first space to mark it for cutting, one stood directly on it, seemingly to say, "Here, let me hold that down for you."

With all that help, we were finished in no time. Well, we stopped work to rest and eat lunch. By then the sun said we'd better not go back to work until later. So, siesta time and the girls were played out...or rather, worked out and were not to be disturbed while they snoozed. Me, too.

Yes!

The pups slept with me again last night or, rather, I slept with them. We went to bed about 10 pm and they settled in fairly quickly. They had played hard much of the day and did not take much coaching to go to bed. I usually have to get up a couple of times a night and last night was no different. So, I woke up about 1:30 am and went to the bathroom. When I returned, both girls were stirring so, I picked them up and took them outside. Mary did her business quickly. Even pooped! Frances, not so fast. But, she finally got both her chores done. I wasn't sure about her having pooped, that is until we started to go back in and I found her little surprise right in front of the door. But, they both did their deeds which was great and back to bed we went. Then, I woke up again at 6:15 am and off to the can I went. Upon returning, there they were, apparently awaiting their turn. I grabbed them up and out we went. This time Mary was not so quick, but she was first to pee and after several minutes of walking around with them, Frances let go. Back to bed we went, but they were not ready to go back to sleep nor ready for me to either.

Joyce and I know from experience, almost immediately after eating, it's time to go outside. Joyce fixed them their breakfast and then ours. So, while we were eating, I was on edge watching for the telltale indication that things are about to happen. But, before I even thought it was time, Mary headed out the doggy door with Frances following shortly after! Joyce and I did a high five.

Much of the rest of the day we were working around the yard. When we weren't, the pups were either with Joyce in the big room or in the kitchen with the gate up that I had installed between the kitchen and living room (now my TV room). Even during those times, we were inside, there were no accidents. Not even on-purpose events. This is going too well.

Damn Doctor!

Well, doctor day went well. Both Mary and Frances behaved remarkedly well, though the pieces of BBQ flavored pill pockets she (the vet is a woman) smeared on the table kept them busy. They got their DA2PPL (a shot for most everything) booster. Becky, the vet, injected them in the rear hip area and neither seemed to notice. They just kept trying to lick the goody smear off the table.

Both the girls were in perfect shape. Mary weighed 6.2 lbs. and Frances, 6.6 lbs. Real monsters. Oh, there was one little problem Becky found on both of them. Them lower canines were tending to grow inwards. They're still their baby teeth, so not a big issue, but Becky suggested giving them a small(ish) ball to chew on. She says it would help the new teeth grow in straighter. Oh great. I can just see the girls insisting on me throwing the balls for them to fetch and me with a torn rotator cuff.

Last night it got downright pitiful. We got home from the vet about 4 pm. The pups ate big because we had not fed them before going to the vet. The landscaper quit work at 4:30 pm so they were able to go outside shortly afterward. They romped and played and investigated all the landscaper's tools quite completely. Then it became time for a little nap just about dusk. I went to my TV room to catch up on the news. After a bit, Joyce called and said the pups would not move. Something was wrong. I got up and went to the big room (that's what we call our large family room) where Joyce and the girls were. There lay the pups, semi-comatose on the floor. Neither would even raise its head when I called and whistled. That was very unusual. I picked up Mary. She kind of came to life and looked OK, but when I put her down, she walked over to their big pillowy dog bed and collapsed on it. As she did, she let out a cry. Investigating, I found she was very tender on her rump where the injection had been given. I checked Frances and, sure enough, she was very tender there, too. We rightly assumed their lethargy and rump pain was the result of the injections. By bedtime, they both were more lively and would, at least, walk across the floor. This morning, all is good. Back to normal. Crapping all over the place.

Locked Up

Today was a not-so-fun day for the girls. We're having a guy redo our little patio area and laying some border blocks around the tree in the back yard. So, they had to stay inside and let the man do his work. It was a relief to all when he quit for the day and they could go outside again. Whew! Talk about pent up energy.

Tomorrow is doctor appointment day. No, not for me or Joyce, but for them. They get to meet Dr. Becky, at Route 66 Veterinarian Clinic. Dr. Becky was Ditto's vet since we moved to Springfield, about 5 years ago. Mary and Frances need to be brought up to date with their shots and a general checkup to set a baseline. Based on their performances this week, there is nothing wrong with either.

A Few Photos Finally

Here's Mary (used to be "No-collar)

And here's Frances (used to be "Collar")

Nearly always together.

Today was a lazy day. I think Frances wasn't feeling very well (something she ate, no doubt). Consequently, their roughhouse playing was a little slower pace. Mary, however, was her typical self, full of crap and always trying to get rid of it here, there, wherever. Housebreaking is a slow process, especially with two at a time.

In case you are wondering, I got out my trusty old Canon to shoot the girls with.

Training Day

(heh, heh) Joyce has started to introduce the girls to a leash. Yeh, right. This is gonna take some time.

They have taken the day off learning, it seems. We've been having trouble with wets and poops today, just about the time we thought they were showing some promise. But, it's too hot to sit outside with them waiting to praise them for squatting in the grass. I can take them out and one will poop, but the other, nothing. Go inside and sure 'nuff, let her rip and that's one thing about trying to raise two pups together. It is difficult to praise or scold one when the other is nearby.

I hear one of them barking now. Joyce just came out of the shower room sighing. We have a handicapped bathing chair in there and apparently, it was crouched to pounce on Mary or something. She had been telling it off, anyway. Mary, also, has an affinity for their brush. She found out the other day that it sticks her nose if she gets too close. So, all we have to do is lay it on the floor and she will bark incessantly as long as it is there. We have to put it away to make her stop.

Tomorrow is mower man day. I'll have to go out and walk the yard to pick up toys and stuff they have dragged around out there. One of their favorite toys is an old knotted sock. Those would raise havoc with the lawn mower...not to mention the mower would raise havoc with the sock. Luckily, my old socks are white so they are easily spotted. Another of their favorite toys is a Frisbee. Unfortunately, it's not so easily spotted.

Pictures. I'm sure you would like some pictures now and them. I have tried several times to get photos of their antics, but my phone camera just isn't fast enough. By the time the phone camera decides to snap, they've moved out of the scene or they are just a blur. Guess I'll have to break out my Canon...camera, that is.

Mary Frances

Now, this is weird. While I was in the backyard with the girls, the neighbor woman across the street came over to see the pups. She "oo'd" and "ah'd" and we struck up a conversation about the pups. She asked what their names were and I told her, "Mary and Frances" and where the name came from. She kind of took a breath then giggled and said, "That's the name of one of our dogs" (they have four dogs of various sizes and shapes). She said it was the name of their littlest (which is the noisiest). I asked which name, Mary or Frances and she said, "Both". Their dog's name is Mary Frances! How surreal is that?

Now Where Was I?

Here it is, already Saturday and I'm even further behind. But, we are making headway with the girls training. Joyce worked with them only a few minutes Wednesday evening and had them sitting on her command. It was pretty amazing even if it did take a treat each time. But, that's how you train them and it works!

Both Mary and Frances are making some attempt to go outside for "business". It's not been too difficult to get them to go outside since we introduced them to the doggie door. They love it outside. However, getting them to go when needed is a different story.

Joyce has cleaned out the atrium (she has had all her potting and plant stuff in there) so the girls could use it at night for their business. We penned them in the breezeway and opened the door into the atrium. It worked pretty well. We want them to get used to staying at home once in a while so we can have a date night now and then. Yeh, right. Last night they both slept with Joyce. Amazingly, none of them messed or even wet the bed, including Joyce. She did have to get up and let them into the atrium once or twice, but that's no more than either of us have to get up, anyway.

Hmm, I hear barking now. They are getting acquainted with the trash truck, I think.

Falling Behind Already

I can tell already I'm not going to keep up with this. I don't even know what today is!

We got the collars I ordered for the girls, today. Frances is the one that has been wearing a collar and she never noticed I changed her collar from a larger red collar to a smaller lighter blue one. Then I put a pink collar on Mary, (aka "No collar"). She did not take to it well. First, Frances insisted on chewing on it and dragging Mary around by her new collar. The Mary realized something was on her neck and went screaming, "Ki Yi, Ki Yi", apparently because it was going to chew her head off. After Joyce picked her up and soothed her a little and put her back down, she just sat there and wouldn't move. This is going to be interesting.

The girls have had company since yesterday. Mike & Russ's dogs, Jette and Dahlia have been staying with us while Russ flops around in the hospital. His surgery went well and so the cousins went home this evening. It was very entertaining but exhausting to watch them try to socialize. Jette doesn't care, although, she did get a little cranky when Mike came to get them. He put her leash on and just dropped it. Frances could not leave it be. We looked up in time to see little 4lb Frances trying to lead 80lb Jette around the room. Dahlia ran and hid from everybody. She hates the girls. Frances wanted to play with everybody no matter how big they were. Mary wasn't really sure of her cousins, so she mostly tried to ignore them.

The cousins are gone now and Frances is between my legs on the recliner. Mary is tucked in beside Joyce in her recliner. So, that's a quick summary of day 6 and 7.

Day 5. Monday, September 2

Today was a good day. The girls ran and ran and passed in and out of the doggie door like they had thought of it themselves.

Barking: This is going to be difficult. If one barks even just once, the other is triggered and the avalanche begins.

Napping: The girls can curl up and fall asleep at the drop of a hat. So, it's like having a baby in the house. Naps mean you can sit down and breath and maybe even get it a nap yourself. But, having two pups is like having twins. Getting them both settled down is tricky.

Mornings: I haven't gotten up this early since I retired. Shortly after 6 a.m., at least one of us better be up and turning the herd out; My usual "up until 1 a.m". is over for now. I'm dozing off during the 10 o'clock news...even earlier sometimes.

Day 4. Sunday, September 1

Today is my birthday, so...

The mess the little girls made last night sent Joyce to her sewing room. We had put down an oilcloth and weighted the corners with some 9" tiles. The idea was to keep the pups from moving the oilcloth and just pee and poop on it so it would be easier to clean up. Nope, the oilcloth was found in a ball in the middle of the breezeway with the tile floor exposed all around, covered in poop. So, she had an idea.

The breezeway, for those who have never been to our house, connects what we call "The Big Room" with the sunroom. It's an all tile floor with two opposing side doors as well as the door at each end. One side door goes into a small atrium while the other leads outside.

Joyce had a large painter's dropcloth made from canvas that she had bought years ago to make into curtains. That never happened so it was tucked away in her sewing room. She dragged it out and went to work. The result was genius. She had cut the canvas to the same width as the breezeway and over half as long. Then she added tabs on both sides that were to fit under the side doors. The idea being to lay the tabs on the threshold then shut the door, trapping the tab under the door. Work nearly perfectly. On the end of the canvas that reached the sunroom she, also, sewed a big tab like the sides. There is no door there, only an open doorway. So, I had devised a wooden panel that could fit across the opening and be clamped in place. By setting the panel down on top of the big tab, the canvas was trapped there. Hopefully, you get the idea. We had to have a place to contain the pups overnight and be relatively easy to clean up every morning. So, we threw Ditto's old pillow bed at the end of the room where the canvas does not reach, added a water bowl and locked the pups in.

The results were not perfect this morning, but very promising. The problem was the pups had managed to dig at the canvas and work it out from under the panel. But, never fear. She had made the tabs by folding material and sewing it to the edge of the canvas. This made large casings like one might find at the top of a curtain. We ran 3/8" rope through the casings so now, the rope gets trapped on the other side of the panel and doors, as well. I don't think the pups can dig it out from under the doors now (fingers crossed).

That was a long story about the breezeway "cage". Sorry. But, there was a shorter story of success with the doggy door training. Joyce got inside at the doggy door while I stood outside. She would shove the pups through the door while I called and coaxed them out. I gave them a treat then sent them back to Joyce where she gave them a treat. It didn't take long before they were running in and out, very proud of themselves.