Sunday, February 24, 2013

Party Girls









Shameless


Walking
 
 
This weekend, after a couple of near falls on the steps in front of my house, I realized that I've neglected a really, really important part of Siri's training: how to walk on leash without pulling. She's only four months old and weighs nearly as much as Brea, and she's getting hard to control while on the leash.  She's easily distracted and has poor impulse control, like any puppy, and tries to go in any direction she wants.

So, yesterday, we started working on walking the way the Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer does, with me in front and the dogs behind me or next to me, not pulling ahead.  More exercise, now that Siri has recovered from being spayed and her incision healed, more exercise and longer walks.  It's been exhausting for all of us but they're starting to get the idea.

Actually, before I got Siri, Brea was one of the easiest dogs I've ever walked, but she's followed Siri's example, so lately I've been trying to walk two strong dogs.  Brea is a lot more attentive than Siri and submits more willingly to walking the way I want.
 

I don't think I'm being unrealistic, but I'd like Siri to be able to be walked by someone like my mom, who probably weighs 90 pounds, without being dragged down the street.  I'd like both dogs to be that well-mannered.  And I'd really like for this to happen before baseball season starts, because right now, there's no way I'll get Siri past the Little League crowds without her wanting to say hi to each and every one of the people there.


Friday, February 15, 2013

Brea's Rough Day

Poor Brea.  I tried to give her a little extra attention after I took Siri to the animal hospital to be spayed.  We tried to play on the ball field - no having to share with an annoying younger dog - but she got hit in the face once by a frisbee that went astray, and then she got hit again when she lunged for her rope toy as I was winding up to throw it.  After the second hit she headed for the exit, something she rarely does without being called.

With Siri gone, she returned to being her original, more reclusive self, watching me for awhile from the top of the stairs before retreating to her space next to my bed.  She didn't hang around with me downstairs.



Siri tolerated her surgery well, and spent most of the night sleeping in her crate.  Brea slept on a cushion on the floor nearby.


Just for the record, Siri weighed in at 40 pounds when she checked in for surgery.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Two Weeks, Two Collars


I'm really not sure what to do about this problem, besides taking Siri's collar off whenever she's in the house. It's been awhile, but I've had dogs escape from the house before, by pushing open a door that wasn't completely closed, or by rushing past someone who was entering or leaving, so I'd prefer that she wear a collar all the time.

The second collar was soaked in Bitter Apple and allowed to dry over night. Apparently, Brea doesn't notice or mind the taste.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Size Comparison
 



Little League Dads

The Little League Dads were back for a short time yesterday afternoon.  Four of them stood around, frowning, looking at the animal tracks in the muddy infield.  I imagine they were frowning at me as I walked my two animals along the sidewalk that goes around the ball field.  I said hi to one of them as we passed but he looked away without answering.



Don't they realize how much fun we've had playing on that field all winter? Don't they realize how much dog poop I've cleaned up from their precious field that wasn't left there by my own dogs?  Just look in the trash cans, guys.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Well, That Didn't Last Very Long


Every day, I come home from work, immediately take the dogs outside so they can go to the bathroom, and then go upstairs to change my clothes so we can take a longer walk or play on the ball field.

This morning, I came back downstairs to find Siri's new embroidered LLBean collar on the floor, chewed, frayed, the plastic quick-release buckle in pieces. Lately, Brea has developed the habit of grabbing Siri by her collar, but before today she only did it on the ball field.

Not sure what to do. I don't want her going without a collar, or without some form of identification, even in the house, at least until she gets her microchip.

I wonder if they make collars out of Kevlar.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Siri Is Catching Up With Brea


Yesterday I took Siri in for her third round of puppy shots, including rabies vaccination. She's 16 weeks old now and weighs about 35 pounds. I believe she weighed about 12 pounds the day I brought her home, at seven weeks. Last time we checked, Brea weighed about 50 pounds.



She doesn't know it yet, but next Thursday Siri is getting spayed and microchipped. Happy Valentine's Day, Siri!