How it all started, the love affair with our BB boy
Sorry there’s not any new pics: the repairs could take 2-3 weeks, so we have to make do, huh? This pic was of our first meeting, a baby brat of 9 weeks old and his new “mom”. It’s their best pic together!
BB went for another splish splash Monday, being carried with towels the last 20 feet of deck to the pool. He’s outgrown his vest, and pops the latches if he’s picked up with it. It holds in the water, but not with any real weight on it. So I’ve got to find a Dane sized life jacket for him. Personally, I think he’s hoping we forget where the pool is…
Beebs didn’t seem as strong this time, tiring out pretty fast, and not paddling as hard. He can swim like a fish when the stairs are in sight! But he has bad days like I have bad days, so we tough it together, me and him. He loved the drying off part as usual: shiney up the puppy is fun when you can play nip and swat with the edges of the big towels. He gets a rest in the sun with a people person, and often a favorite bone or toy as a reward. Then it’s in the house, up the footstool, on the couch, and SNORE.
Tuesday morning Mom actually took him out to run around in the yard. She’s no morning person, so that was spectacular. Or a spectacle if you don’t like seeing grandmothers in mumus and slippers on your way to work! Either perspective you have, Mom quit too soon, because she only managed to wake him up and energize him. OY! By the time the four of us were ready to head out in the car, I was considering Velcro to stick him to something immovable!
We got all four of us in one car, so there was no tolerance for the bite me games over the seat back. I wasn’t about to crawl around putting up the barrier: they’re old enough to stop with the snippy snappy and fussing. Only one getting out and laying down the law was needed, with a couple reminders. And I made sure to open a back window some, because they don’t want the strong wind in their faces… use whatever tools are at hand, right?
Beebs waited with Mom in the car while his brother got weighed at the vet, then it was off to a puppy store. This one they don’t get to go off leash, and have to behave. His plow ox habits on leash got curtailed by a gentle leader. Tools are good things. He got plenty of attention, being so obviously damaged in the back end, and he soaked it up.
The real test came when two small toddlers came in. Worst possible timing too, because Mom was writing the check and I had both boys to content with. He heard them the same time I did, and darn it, I had forgotten to bring any treats for “look at that”. He barked, twice. Darn it. I had Kenai getting riled up from BB’s reaction, and Mom wouldn’t stop writing the darn check and help me, either.
I told her about it too—when I need her help, I need her help. The cashier could wait a minute or two. She’s there for 8 hours regardless of how fast the customers move! Mom doesn’t get the idea of responding BEFORE the dog is out of control. Timing is everything when your goal is to prevent the freak out when it’s still in the uncomfortable stage.
Anyway, I couldn’t break BB’s fixated stare without physically moving his head and turning his body. I swear somebody swapped his spinal bones with rubber because he twisted around to look over his own back! He really needs more work in public, and without his brother there. That way I can concentrate solely on him. I’m not one of those remarkable people who can train more than one dog at a time.
I have no delusions that Mom will work with her own puppy. BB might just have to wait until I have Kenai reliable enough in his public service dog work not to need so many outings of his own. Three to five times a week I’m out with Kenai, and it’s all I can manage, so the funny Beebers will have to wait for the intensive practice his brother gets. It’s not ideal, but it’s how things are I’m afraid. He responds quickly to me, so I hope he’ll snap out of his fearfulness fairly fast when we get the chance to work on it in public.
He gets yet another reprieve from the 2 year old niece this weekend, by a happy chance of fate: she is going to the lake to see her other grandparents! Yay! That will be a 15 day vacation for BB (and us). I don’t feel sorry for my brother not seeing his daughter because he’s been unemployed for two full weeks now, and could have gone to take her out for a picnic, to a sand box at the park, or some structured kiddie events anytime he had wanted.
Her mother isn’t the least bit stingy about that, understandably glad for a little relief from the grind of a single mom: work, school, and 3 kids day and night, one of whom is in the throes of the terrible twos. Shannon would send her off with him most any time he wanted, but unless he can hole up with Emily in our house, he won’t go see his own daughter. That’s his choice, so I don’t feel sorry for him.
Today is Wednesday, so Mom has PT this afternoon and Beebs has to pine for her in the living room with Kenai and I. I think we could all use a quiet day at home, myself especially. I had 2 hard falls last week, from muscle weakness and tremors, so resting is no longer just an optional nap each day. My health is in a free-fall, and I need to turn it around. A few good laughs at the Beebster’s antics are always welcome medicine.
He’s such a goofy gus, there’s no end to the funnies. When I get my camera back, I’m thinking about taking some pictures of him in costumes, just for laughs. Like having a doily over his long, thin head and calling it “BB auditioning for the big bad wolf”. Or putting a t-shirt on him and sunglasses. His skinny Minnie body, and silly personality naturally lends itself to poking fun…
How it all started, the love affair with our BB boy
