Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Oliver update....
I knew I wanted a dog and after meeting Steve I knew I wanted a greyhound. I didn't know I would fall deeply madly head over heels in love in less then a week.
When things weren't working with Wildcat I thought perhaps we had made the wrong choice bringing a dog into our family. However I felt compelled, if only because we had already invested so much money, to try another dog.
*Enter Oliver stage left*
I was so wary that this match wouldn't work either but I was right to trust Jeanette's judgment. Oliver (Rogue Villain "Rebel") was meant to be our dog. He is sweet and kind and loving. The other morning when he was me he wagged his tail! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. We have our share of daily challenges, Gil and I being first time dog owners are learning a whole new game. Oliver can be mind blowingly stubborn but I think that our classes will help all three of us learn to communicate better.
He is also afraid of pretty much everything including the cats (yay), the wind, traffic noise, the hardwood floors (oh dear!) and shadows but we are working everything out.
We have had two small accidents. A pee in his crate because he refused to leave it to be let out for a bathroom break the first day. And a poop on my mom's kitchen floor. That was our fault, we missed the signs. My sisters made me feel much better by telling me that when their dogs had done the deed it had been on the carpet.
On Monday he had two firsts (with us), a trip in the car which we were nervous about but he was a DREAM. As well he had a fairly large social gathering with my whole family including my three sibling's dog. He was AWESOME. He was nervous at first but quickly warmed up and was the center of attention all day. He was particularly fond of my 94 year old, stone deaf grandfather who knows none of us anymore but was very smitten with Oliver.
Today we celebrated a whole week together by taking an extra long walk at Shubie park and hitting Three Dog Bakery for some treats. Right now he is passed out cold in his crate but he seems very very happy.
When things weren't working with Wildcat I thought perhaps we had made the wrong choice bringing a dog into our family. However I felt compelled, if only because we had already invested so much money, to try another dog.
*Enter Oliver stage left*
I was so wary that this match wouldn't work either but I was right to trust Jeanette's judgment. Oliver (Rogue Villain "Rebel") was meant to be our dog. He is sweet and kind and loving. The other morning when he was me he wagged his tail! I thought I had died and gone to heaven. We have our share of daily challenges, Gil and I being first time dog owners are learning a whole new game. Oliver can be mind blowingly stubborn but I think that our classes will help all three of us learn to communicate better.
He is also afraid of pretty much everything including the cats (yay), the wind, traffic noise, the hardwood floors (oh dear!) and shadows but we are working everything out.
We have had two small accidents. A pee in his crate because he refused to leave it to be let out for a bathroom break the first day. And a poop on my mom's kitchen floor. That was our fault, we missed the signs. My sisters made me feel much better by telling me that when their dogs had done the deed it had been on the carpet.
On Monday he had two firsts (with us), a trip in the car which we were nervous about but he was a DREAM. As well he had a fairly large social gathering with my whole family including my three sibling's dog. He was AWESOME. He was nervous at first but quickly warmed up and was the center of attention all day. He was particularly fond of my 94 year old, stone deaf grandfather who knows none of us anymore but was very smitten with Oliver.
Today we celebrated a whole week together by taking an extra long walk at Shubie park and hitting Three Dog Bakery for some treats. Right now he is passed out cold in his crate but he seems very very happy.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
A tail of two dogs...
Gather 'round folks and let me tell you a story. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll think I am crazy...er. So as you know we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of George. The day we got to bring him home was a very happy one for us. He was great. We got him home, went for a walk, he was awesome. So handsome, so sweet, so perfect. Then he met the cats. We had been assured that this dog passed cat school. Ummm yeah okay, I guess a D is still a passing grade. This perfect, handsome, awesome dog really REALLY wanted a piece of my cats... to chew on. We hoped it would pass.
The first time he was left home alone in his crate he broke the door off of it. I am so not kidding. But still his general behavior was awesome. Until he caught a whiff of cat. I am not even sure this dog got a D, I think he forged his grade. He thought of nothing BUT the cats. He hunted them through the house, he found the cat bed and rubbed his face all over it. If the cats were in the basement he would stand at the top of the stairs and cry and whine and drool. If a cat came into his sight he BOLTED. This first time he almost caught Mango it was truly terrifying. Day three he wanted Tikka SO badly he followed her up onto the dinning room table. I wish I were kidding. We called the lady at the kennel and told her we were at our whits end. We didn't know what to do. Then we found out that he had FAILED the first time around and the next time he was exposed to a cat who lived in a house with a whole bunch of dogs. Cheater.
In the end it was decided that no matter how much we liked George, no matter how awesome he was under most circumstances, we could not have a dog who wanted to eat our cats.
There was a dog they thought was a better fit who was being fostered just down the road. We got George all together with his stuff and walked him down the road in the drippy wet rain/snow. Yeah start weeping here. Pretty sad stuff.
The house were the foster pup was living also had like a BILLION other dogs. George walked in, pissed on the floor and forgot all about us. That was pretty much the end of that story. End one chapter and on to another. George's foster brother Rogue Villain was all set to head off into the world with us, although he didn't seem all that eager. Half way home we were soaked all three of us, a plow came down the street and I was pretty sure he was going to keel over from heart failure. When we got to the steps we met our first real obstacle, the stairs. After a long time of him crying and shaking I picked him up and carried him up the stairs. This is NOT a small dog. We got him in the kitchen and dried off. He didn't move. I mean really... did not move an inch... for hours. The cat came near to see that was going on. The dog cried. No really, the dog CRIED. After a few hours we decided that there was no way were were getting him to the crate to we brought it to him... in the middle of the kitchen floor. He would not go in. I had to pick up his paws and WALK him in. He was shaking so hard I thought he would break. We went to bed. I was worried because he was downstairs and he would likely cry all night. He slept like a baby. A proverbial baby since everyone knows real babies wake up and cry in the night. He didn't make a peep. not one. I got up at 5:30 to get ready for work and he was so quiet I thought maybe he had died of fear. Nope he was sitting pretty. I opened the crate. He wouldn't come out. Gil drove me to work and came home. He wouldn't come out. Gil came to pick me up from work 4 hours later, we got home and he still hadn't come out. I begged, plead and bribed him. No dice. I got him to come half way out. Front paws out, back paws in. He stayed like that for an hour and a half. he tried a few times but he seemed TERRIFIED of the hardwood floors. I could go on and on about this dogs fear. we did eventually get him out, at least long enough to move the crate into the computer room. The cats in the mean time did some testing of their own and found they could rule the dog with an iron paw. So it was decided, despite the fact that he is afraid of EVERYTHING including his own shadow and wind (yes, you read me right, he is scared of the wind) we know that he is here to stay so we decided that he needs a name. We loved the name George but he was the first dog and we could not recycle the name. We like people names for dogs. Because he is a tuxedo dog (black with a white shirt) we thought he needed a distinguished name and I came up with Oliver and we both love it. So Oliver is our dog and he is pretty cool.
We have a long way to go with the trust. He still basically exists in his crate, he only comes out if I am taking him out. But we have conquered the front steps. That was a real battle. We have been out for a few walks and he has started to make pees and poops and he even ate a little, which makes me pretty happy. Best of all when I got up at 6 this morning to take him out for a pee I came into his room and he stood up and wagged his tail!! He was happy to see me. He wasn't the dog we picked or planned on but he is awesome and I think we are all going to be very happy.
The first time he was left home alone in his crate he broke the door off of it. I am so not kidding. But still his general behavior was awesome. Until he caught a whiff of cat. I am not even sure this dog got a D, I think he forged his grade. He thought of nothing BUT the cats. He hunted them through the house, he found the cat bed and rubbed his face all over it. If the cats were in the basement he would stand at the top of the stairs and cry and whine and drool. If a cat came into his sight he BOLTED. This first time he almost caught Mango it was truly terrifying. Day three he wanted Tikka SO badly he followed her up onto the dinning room table. I wish I were kidding. We called the lady at the kennel and told her we were at our whits end. We didn't know what to do. Then we found out that he had FAILED the first time around and the next time he was exposed to a cat who lived in a house with a whole bunch of dogs. Cheater.
In the end it was decided that no matter how much we liked George, no matter how awesome he was under most circumstances, we could not have a dog who wanted to eat our cats.
There was a dog they thought was a better fit who was being fostered just down the road. We got George all together with his stuff and walked him down the road in the drippy wet rain/snow. Yeah start weeping here. Pretty sad stuff.
The house were the foster pup was living also had like a BILLION other dogs. George walked in, pissed on the floor and forgot all about us. That was pretty much the end of that story. End one chapter and on to another. George's foster brother Rogue Villain was all set to head off into the world with us, although he didn't seem all that eager. Half way home we were soaked all three of us, a plow came down the street and I was pretty sure he was going to keel over from heart failure. When we got to the steps we met our first real obstacle, the stairs. After a long time of him crying and shaking I picked him up and carried him up the stairs. This is NOT a small dog. We got him in the kitchen and dried off. He didn't move. I mean really... did not move an inch... for hours. The cat came near to see that was going on. The dog cried. No really, the dog CRIED. After a few hours we decided that there was no way were were getting him to the crate to we brought it to him... in the middle of the kitchen floor. He would not go in. I had to pick up his paws and WALK him in. He was shaking so hard I thought he would break. We went to bed. I was worried because he was downstairs and he would likely cry all night. He slept like a baby. A proverbial baby since everyone knows real babies wake up and cry in the night. He didn't make a peep. not one. I got up at 5:30 to get ready for work and he was so quiet I thought maybe he had died of fear. Nope he was sitting pretty. I opened the crate. He wouldn't come out. Gil drove me to work and came home. He wouldn't come out. Gil came to pick me up from work 4 hours later, we got home and he still hadn't come out. I begged, plead and bribed him. No dice. I got him to come half way out. Front paws out, back paws in. He stayed like that for an hour and a half. he tried a few times but he seemed TERRIFIED of the hardwood floors. I could go on and on about this dogs fear. we did eventually get him out, at least long enough to move the crate into the computer room. The cats in the mean time did some testing of their own and found they could rule the dog with an iron paw. So it was decided, despite the fact that he is afraid of EVERYTHING including his own shadow and wind (yes, you read me right, he is scared of the wind) we know that he is here to stay so we decided that he needs a name. We loved the name George but he was the first dog and we could not recycle the name. We like people names for dogs. Because he is a tuxedo dog (black with a white shirt) we thought he needed a distinguished name and I came up with Oliver and we both love it. So Oliver is our dog and he is pretty cool.
We have a long way to go with the trust. He still basically exists in his crate, he only comes out if I am taking him out. But we have conquered the front steps. That was a real battle. We have been out for a few walks and he has started to make pees and poops and he even ate a little, which makes me pretty happy. Best of all when I got up at 6 this morning to take him out for a pee I came into his room and he stood up and wagged his tail!! He was happy to see me. He wasn't the dog we picked or planned on but he is awesome and I think we are all going to be very happy.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Still waiting..
We have an appointment at the kennel on Saturday morning. I hope this means that George will be home VERY soon. I can't wait. I have been doing doggy prep for a week. I am ready. Gil is ready. The cats will never be ready.
My back isn't ready but my back is just going to have to suck it up princess. I am in bed tonight on the heating pad and pumped full of drugs. Is it me our am I always sick or injured over the holidays?
My back isn't ready but my back is just going to have to suck it up princess. I am in bed tonight on the heating pad and pumped full of drugs. Is it me our am I always sick or injured over the holidays?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Good glorious morning to you!
It is a very cold and windy winter morning and I am glad I have no place that I need to be today. My tea is hot and my chair cozy. I am thinking about starting a batch of sugar cookies and I have the Christmas tunes playing. Both cats are napping in close proximity to me and hubby is still curled up in the warm bed. It is pretty much a perfect Saturday morning. I am ignoring the fact that I have a mountain of laundry to do and that Christmas is in two weeks and I have done precious little shopping. Those things will still be there this afternoon but for now I am content to be a puddle of mush in my chair.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Last day of vacation....
I feel like I have a hang over. Up SO late last night working Operation Red Nose. My body doesn't know what to do with little sleep. My head aches and so does my back. My house is a freakin' mess, the tree is half up. There is a pile of laundry the threatens to kill us all. And my poor husband had too many cups of coffee last night and hasn't been to sleep YET! Yup he has been up for more then 24 hours and pretty soon he is going to come crashing to a halt and will be totally unable to help me with the million things that need to be done.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Vacation day 6
Wow what a lazy day. It has been pouring all day so any dreams I may have harbored about taking a walk have become soggy. Man I haven't gone for a walk once this week. SO lazy. We did get up at 8am for breakfast fish cakes and poached eggs for me, smoked salmon french toast for Gil, but that was only so I wouldn't be hungry when I went to my 9am massage. Decadent!! Since then I have plopped in front of the tv watching trash. Trolling through the internet. You haven't lived until you have been through this blog. After this week I will be able to go without TV for a good long time. Really there is so much crap out there. I mean even stuff I love is terrible. Yup come Saturday I am ready for a detox.
Of course I will pretty busy getting ready for George and then having George. Also I will be getting ready for the holidays and I am no where near close. Although Gil and I did do some shopping yesterday in Liverpool, that was fun.
I am determined that the holidays are going to awesome in spite of or in light of our decision. We are going to have our fur babies, lots of good food, lots of friends and most of all each other.
Okay since I started writing this I have watched two more episodes of CSI, eaten a salad, because lets face it, that website I posted above made need to eat a vegetable. This is officially the laziest day ever. With that in mind I think I will go have a nap.
Of course I will pretty busy getting ready for George and then having George. Also I will be getting ready for the holidays and I am no where near close. Although Gil and I did do some shopping yesterday in Liverpool, that was fun.
I am determined that the holidays are going to awesome in spite of or in light of our decision. We are going to have our fur babies, lots of good food, lots of friends and most of all each other.
Okay since I started writing this I have watched two more episodes of CSI, eaten a salad, because lets face it, that website I posted above made need to eat a vegetable. This is officially the laziest day ever. With that in mind I think I will go have a nap.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Waiting for George...
So as I mentioned we are getting a dog. More to the point we are adopting a retired racing greyhound. His name is going to be George. We are getting him from the Greyhound Pets of Atlantic Canada (gpac). I have been really into Grey's since I met Steve, Melissa and Dave's dog, three years and a half years ago. He was so cool. So we have talked about it on and off. More on in the past few months. Now that we have made a decision about how we want to progress with our family it seemed like a good time to do something positive for ourselves. So here we are, about to be George parents. I am really excited and nervous. It will be a big adjustment. George is not meant to replace the child we are not having or getting, he is a baby in his own right but he is not a replacement. We are going to the kennel this week to find out which hound is the one meant for us. Like I said I am excited but nervous. It will be a big shock to the cats. Mango will likely be fine but Tikka is going to be pissed. The dog will have gone to cat school at the kennel but the cats will have had NO exposure to dogs. It should be interesting.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Vacation 2009!
Praise be to gods! We are finally on a relaxing vacation enjoying some much needed down time. We were both so close to burn out. We have both been working our asses off and as you know we have made some major life changes. We needed to sleep, we needed to sit and talk or sit in silence. We needed to play chess. We needed to recharge our batteries that were SO low. We are on day 4 and things are going very well. I have been napping. I have been, for the most part, sleeping well at night. We are eating and talking and dreaming. We have been swimming and reading and hanging out in front of the fireplace. We have also been watching WAY too much tv and surfing the net. It has been awesome.
No time like the present.
Some changes we have made since our choice to remain childfree. Funny how the little changes can feel so big...
1. Moved the medicine from the high, hard to reach shelf into... the medicine cabinet. No more needing to use a step stool every time I need a damn Tylenol.
2. Moved the nail clippers and other sharp or pointy bathroom accouterments into the drawer in the bathroom.
3. Moved fragile glassed and bowels into the lower shelves of the island.
4. Started making plans to take a BIG vacation.
5. Started making plans for the spare room.
6. Don't freak out.... started the process to adopt a dog. Okay I asked you to please not freak out. I am not replacing my dreams of a child with a dog. A dog can't replace a kid. I have just wanted one for a long time and at the moment we think it would be a good, therapeutic time to lavish some love on a 4 legged buddy. We will probably have him by Christmas.
7. Made arrangements to donate crib and various bits to a local shelter for abused women.
8. Purged house of books and magazines about parenting and pregnancy.
9. Gave $300 breast pump to girlfriend who just had a baby.
10. Started to sort toys to give away and toys to keep in a box for young visitors.
11. Talking to each other about our choice. About what it will mean, what it will look like. We are together 100% here and that is the most important thing.
1. Moved the medicine from the high, hard to reach shelf into... the medicine cabinet. No more needing to use a step stool every time I need a damn Tylenol.
2. Moved the nail clippers and other sharp or pointy bathroom accouterments into the drawer in the bathroom.
3. Moved fragile glassed and bowels into the lower shelves of the island.
4. Started making plans to take a BIG vacation.
5. Started making plans for the spare room.
6. Don't freak out.... started the process to adopt a dog. Okay I asked you to please not freak out. I am not replacing my dreams of a child with a dog. A dog can't replace a kid. I have just wanted one for a long time and at the moment we think it would be a good, therapeutic time to lavish some love on a 4 legged buddy. We will probably have him by Christmas.
7. Made arrangements to donate crib and various bits to a local shelter for abused women.
8. Purged house of books and magazines about parenting and pregnancy.
9. Gave $300 breast pump to girlfriend who just had a baby.
10. Started to sort toys to give away and toys to keep in a box for young visitors.
11. Talking to each other about our choice. About what it will mean, what it will look like. We are together 100% here and that is the most important thing.
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