Yawn

Dottie has another rough night-therefore I had a rough night. Bitty stayed with us in the bedroom, and it was thus revealed that PRISSY is the 3 am wake up bandit. Bitty curled up and never moved till I picked her up. Poor old girl was wrongly accused of late night pottery.

When I wasn't holding Dottie or ignoring Prissy's howls, I was listening to the husky behind us howl. I have no idea why she was left outside, but she was clearly unhappy about it. I tried just to enjoy the otherworldly sounds because I couldn't get up and go get her. (If there had been an easy way to do it though, I would have just brought her in with us).

Cody and Greta were on edge too, barking and growling. Clearly some tragedy was stalking the neighborhood that only the dogs were privvy to. I'm not making light of that-I really do listen when they have something to say.

Trying to Stay Under the Weather

The dogs are challenged by a strong wind today. Buggy eyes and prick ears are not really suited for windy days. Fortunately, being short has it's advantages. They can easily bed down in the grass for a sunbath.

Being spoiled has it's advantages too-they can also use the sunroom.

Close call

Dottie has a seizure last night and there was really nothing I could do but hold her. When it past, she slept, and today is fine. There is really nothing more medically that can be done for her so it's just a matter of loving her and making her comfie.

I feel bad, because I was unable, as I have done with dogs past, to say "go on my love, it's OK." I held her, remained as calm as I could so as not to distress her, but I told her that I just couldn't let go right now. And she stayed. I'm glad.

A Disturbing Trend

The 3 am pee run is becoming a nightly event. I'm sure it will stop when the cold front moves in-somehow it's easier to hold one's bladder when the temp is 40 or below.

It's hard to be more than annoyed-they all file out, finish by the time I go relieve MYSELF, and then file back into their own appointed crates, settle in and go back to sleep.

I've been letting them out immediately before I retire around 11. The dead on 3:15 thing makes me think there is something else going on, perhaps a neighbor leaving work, that wakes them up at 3. The mystery deepens though, because they rush out to wee, not to bark at anyone.

Wouldn't it be nice if dogs could talk?

The Taming of the Shrill

Prissy did her best last night to be reinstated into the bed, but I was strong and did not give in. Cody is now getting green beans mixed into his kibble-I tell him "Look Cody, here's some good greasy food." and he laps it up.

It's time to move the crates out of the kitchen and back into the bedroom. I don't think it will be as traumatic for them as moving into the dining room was to begin with but I've run out of rooms to put them in for change.

I have x pens set up in the backyard still for training them to be in an x pen, however they really don't seem to mind. I think I'll prove this out by moving one to the front yard and putting them there while I garden.

Anyone who has ever gone through a dog class whilst someone's dog screamed from an x pen or a crate will understand why I do this, as will anyone who has ever been awakened at 6 am. when someone's owner left the tent to go potty without the dog.

I have wanted to throttle said owners, because the problem is fixed with no real effort, pen your dog and do what you were going to do anyway. AAAAAAGH

Saturday

Oh, where to begin. We ditched out double class on Thursday-I've been feeling truly and honestly lousy. I picked the wild gang up this morning and Prissy is glad to not be an only dog any longer. Cody has lost a bit of weight-yay Cody Mondo!

All the kids had baths and looked their shiny best and everyone was eager to get out to the backyard to chase squirrels. In fact I was able to pick up Biddy and Dottie and Greta and Cody hopped out on their own and ran to the gate, tails wagging. A passerby would have thought "wow, there goes a lot of well adjusted well behaved dogs," and at that particlar moment, they would have been right.

The neighbors have a new Rottie mix, so I'm on alert to stop any trash talking and get things off on a nice foot. They are apprehensive (it's the daughter's dog and I'm not sure of the particulars, but it's going to be up to me to be the calm one).

One of the vet techs said if Bitty ever needed a new home, she wanted her. And part of me was thinking "Oh yeah, one less mouth to feed," but the truth is, Bitty is home. She's a member of the pack and we'd all miss her if she were gone. It makes me happy though that other people see what a truly wonderful little dog she is.

All is well when the pack is in the house.

I Do Bad Things

Prissy got to wear the new nylon jacket on our fall trip. In Poteau she got a new T-shirt that says "I Do Bad Things", however, she was a good soul on her first all day trip solo. She practiced her lessons at every stop and is now curled up asleep in her Bad Things T-shirt. What a good girl.

Tomorrow we have a make up class and a regular class, so we'll see how she does. I am leaving the kiddos at the kennel since I'll be gone either with errands or at the classes. Priss will get her time as an only dog, and then on Friday we'll all be a pack again.