spend more time with my dogs

Over pizza dinner and too much wine after a very bad day, i was reading and berating an article about ridiculously posh doggie spas. My voice was escalating as i became more incredulous (and more sauced) and by the time i was reading about Labrador-only camp sessions and rich sons annoyed by their fathers blowing their inheritance on the family dog, i was nearly shouting.

Tristan and Simon (who are always nearby when there’s pizza crusts to be had) were becoming concerned about the state i was in.

All of a sudden i stopped. The magazine was spread across the top of the pizza box, a corner projecting off the edge of the table.
Tristan, obscured by the table, was covertly nibbling this corner as if to inconspicuously tug away the magazine that was making his PupMama so upset.
He saw us looking at him but proceeded to nibble nibble nibble while looking up at us with apprehension.

We burst out laughing. It was, honest to god, the hardest i have laughed in weeks, maybe months.

I guess it’s one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments but i tried my best to recreate.

Yesterday we went back to the park. I think it’s becoming our regular place. Tristan had lots more energy this time… he didn’t want to go home. Simon went a bit in the water again along with Tristan who shows no fear. I’d love to get retractable leashes, just to see how far they’d go. I have the weirdest greyhounds.

Simon’s cone is off, and he doesn’t try to aggravate his booboo anymore !! So glad. Going to take them both for a nice walk along the rail trail to celebrate. It’s suppose to rain but the sun’s holding out for a bit.
Leaving right now – see you all laters :)

Pups woke me up at 2am with full blown fight. Simonpup kept crying. Discovered he had a real nasty wound on his hindquarter thanks to Mr.T.
Thankfully my vet is also a 24hr hospital so was able to call immediately tho we determined it could wait until morning> appt. at 8:30am.
Late to work
Out another $200
Poor Simon has ugly wound and a cone around his head.
Was going to take them hiking this weekend. >:(
Hence today’s morale: 1

Took the “boys” over to the state park nearby. I think they are in worse shape than i am! Not fat, just panting a lot. Still Mr. T was, as always, alpha—plowing ahead. Superpup lagged behind. I clearly need to take them for long walks more often. Bad pupmom. >:(

At least some dedicated activity each day. A walk, or a hike, or just sitting around brushing them. They are always there for me (well, at least 1, he’s a love sponge, the other guy just acts too-cool-4-school). I’ve been so busy and depressed. They know change is happening and lately they have been sticking closer to me, i’ve noticed.

I haven’t been spending the time I should with them lately. I am going to try to be more active with them. Taking them for walks, to the park, just getting them out of the house more often. They used to go everywhere with me…I’m neglecting them and I feel horrible!!!

All of that, and here I am adding another dog to the mix.

Cosmo is a 7 year old Aussie, just like Holley, but he’s a black tri. He came from a neglected home. I found him for free on Craigslist. He came with breeders’ papers and testicles…and heartworms.

He’s fitting into our home quite well. Holley’s been very good at teaching the newcomer good manners. The pissing in the house has stopped, although Cosmo did perpetuate it by marking for a few days.

We (I say “we” because I really got Cosmo for Tom) got him Father’s Day week. At first, all he would do was hide in my powder room under the stairs. He was scared of us, of the other two dogs, and he wouldn’t go outside to go potty because he was afraid we’d leave him out there like his previous owner.

Now look at him: spooning with Mommy on the couch!

I guess I need to spend more time with my dogs. Holley, my 8-year old Australian Shepherd, has begun peeing in the house under the dining room table. She doesn’t have any health problems; she’s jealous of my boyfriend.

This problem is two-fold: Holley pees, then my 13+ year old toy Terrier, Sugar, comes over and pees on top of that! Damned marking behavior! Holley’s urine is very pungent and there’s always a lot of it; Sugar’s doesn’t smell and there’s just a bit. But either way, it’s gross and bothersome.

I have laminate flooring which has already been ruined in that spot. It’s peeling up around the edges of the boards. I’m sure the odor has soaked all the way through the laminates and down into my subfloor. Whee!

To solve this problem, I’ve begun crating them any time I leave the house and at night. That sucks for them during the school year, because I crate them at night, get up at 5:30 to let them out, then crate them right back up after I’m ready to go to work at 6:30. There they sit until I get home until about 3.

After all the research and vet visits, the only thing I can conclude is that they’re still adjusting from my separation and subsequent divorce, and having a new man around the house so often. shrugs Wish they would realize how much better this one is! He even treats them better!

I have to adorable dogs that I love to death, but have not spent enough time with. I would be even better to do this with my fiance’.