BB Does the Splish Splash…by Auntie Lisa

August 20, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

How it all started, the love affair with our BB boy

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…  

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Lumps, Bumps, and Wiggles…by Auntie Lisa

August 17, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , ,

 

BB being BB, 24 wks old

You’re going to be stuck seeing older pics of the BB boy, since dummy me let the digital camera drop in the pool. Not my brightest move. Still, it’s fun to go back through the Banana Butt’s younger days! This pic is the quintessential BB: bright eyed, looking up at you, and not the least bit concerned with his dignity. That’s the Beebs: all lumps, bumps, and wiggles.

He seems to have recovered from the Emily invasion Tuesday and Wednesday, not to mention being dropped in the pool with the camera Friday. The remainder of his day, once dried off and away from the large body of water anyhow, Beebs is full of puppy energy. Maybe it’s just a “that was icky” energy, but he seems to really feel better after a swim.

So Friday he got a wander in the yard, and led his grand self to the field without his Mom. She didn’t follow, so he didn’t stay long. He drove us crazy wanting to play all day! His beloved squeaky mat squawked and his new talking tuggie toy made noise without stopping. At one point, his brother Kenai was so tired of the commotion that he got up and took the tuggie away. It was left in a corner on Kenai’s side of the barrier!

At times like that, dogs almost talk: “Enough of the toy, man!”, or “One more sound and I’m taking it away!”. Brothers…what can ya do? Of course, BB got his toy back, compliments of the house, and Kenai flopped on the couch with a huge sigh. Nothing he can do besides sigh and moan if the people persons give something back.

Saturday BB got to watch his living room get taken apart for a half-hearted cleaning. His bed got put outside to air out, and he hopped about behind his Mom while she cleaned. The room still smells, a very strong aroma of the Brother’s grin in need of mouthwash. But we’ll take it apart again during the week for a serious cleaning. Right now, most of the hair is swept up and the sheets are clean.

That’s one thing I don’t like about BB and Kenai: they have a stout body odor. That stuff lingers in upholstery and carpets. We have those bags of volcanic rock, supposed to remove odors in the air, but they have yet to work well. So we’ve switched our main attack weapon to a doggie deoderant. We really need to have the couch steam cleaned, and get the throw rug scrubbed.

Anyway, BB is making good use of the wonderfully cool morning air. August feels like fall at the moment, and we’re loving it! It was chilly enough this morning that I wished I’d had a light jacket–almost down to the 50’s F. We’ve been gipped on autumn for several years now, drought dropping the leaves with no color to speak of, and going from intense heat straight to ice storms.

I’m hoping this fall, the boys get to have a real autumn, for the first time in their lives. I already know BB will have a total blast chasing leaves coming off the trees. Can already see it: chase down this leaf, look over there another, and POUNCE. His penchant for carrying stuff will be satisfied too.

BB is a carrying fool. When he’s done with his potty, if you don’t give him a stick, he’ll grab and carry his leash back to the door. He’ll carry a toy around behind you for hours, pausing only long enough to play with it a little. Last spring I taught him to carry sticks to a spot and drop them. So raking up leaves and sticks will be his bestest game all year. And when big brother demolishes the pile, BB will set to work like a busy little ant putting it back together again! Boy heaven… You wreck, I fix.

Oh, and snow: the first snowfall big enough for snowballs will send him into puppy rapture. “I chase, I pounce” will be the game of the day for our happy little game boy. He’ll have a hand-me-down coat from Taj, a lost love that came before. Nothing like a nice fleece coat to extend the snow games.

There’s lots to look forward to, as you can tell, and I’ve no doubt that BB will find some sort of fun while we wait.

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Buckets of Joy to Spill…by Auntie Lisa

August 14, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

The boys getting settled at Melba’s

BB got to go romp with Chloe again Tuesday, having every sort of satisfying puppy fun, until he got tipped over and cried. He was hurting, that’s for sure.  So there were gentle massages of liniment, soft voice soothing, and a pain pill waiting for him when he came home. Poor baby, he was so tired, so sore, and the pain pill had to wait, since it lowers bite inhibition: Beebers had to deal with my niece being in the house again from Tuesday until Wednesday night.

He didn’t do well with that, having only a 2 day break, especially after the antics of last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I managed to salvage some of the contact with Emily as rewarding experiences for him. At least Beebs won’t have that stressor again for 9 days. This coming weekend our house is an Emily-free zone.

Considering just some 6 or 7 weekends ago he was snapping at every child that got close, his improvement has been absolutely supersonic. He can walk up to Em, lay down beside Emily’s chair at the table, and sometimes even play with her without any distress. Warp speed!

So we’ve gotten him mostly past the “experiential reactivity”, which is changing his experiences about something which in turn changes his reaction. He’s let go of the times she terrified him and even caused him pain back when my brother refused to supervise his daughter and she chased all of us around.

Now what’s left to recondition is the “instinctual reactivity”, or the fear reactions BB has when run at or feeling trapped in his pen. Those are based on instinct, and it takes much longer to change the reaction. Anytime you have to overcome a defensive instinct, you have to repetitively alter his reaction until the response you want is so deeply ingrained that it too becomes instinctive. That takes time.

I’ve become even more vigilant now, in keeping the puppies from being alone with Mike. His attitude is getting increasingly sour towards BB in particular. He’s wanting to take his resentment out on Beebs, saying how tired he is of “that dog”, and ”what’s wrong with that damn dog” when he barks at my niece.

He’s less virulent with Kenai, but I have no doubt Mike would punch or slap either of them if he felt like it and nobody was there. His idea of puppy training is to beat it into submission or kill it if that doesn’t work. Mike can be horrible if he doesn’t get his way.

Ya know, if you wouldn’t slap a child in the face for crying when startled, or protesting when being tormented, why would you do it to a puppy? Why would you hurt them at all? Not only is it counterproductive, it’s absolutely vile. BB has yet to meet a person he didn’t charm the pants off of, with one glaring, screwed up exception.

So with my brother turning ill-tempered, I won’t allow the pups to be alone with him for even a second. He’ll get much, much worse when he’s given the date to be gone by. Just last night when we walked past from the kitchen, BB sat up and did his yawning hello, Mike’s reply was “F—you” and kept going. That’s my brother… a joy isn’t he? Even Mom is actually looking forward to him being out of our house.

In the long run, there’s a lesson in maintaining healthy boundaries for Mom to benefit from. It breaks a life long habit of suffering silently at the mercy of whatever someone else does to her. We aren’t and shouldn’t be at the mercy of others, because few people have any mercy.

It’s a selfish world, full of selfish people, unconcerned about the harm they cause to get what they want. Mike is one of them. Once in a while you come across a marvelous person who is kind and considerate, but they are few and far between. You’ve got to be willing to take up the welcome mat when there are foot prints on your back.

So Wednesday BB had multiple car rides until Emily was gone. He went to Mom’s PT, but his favorite stop was the bestest ever there was puppy store in all the world. He LOVES that store! He can go off leash, romp about, get his quota of love and just be happy. Hurting or not, he has to go have puppy fun: if we wait for his pain to stop he won’t ever get out of the house.

So off he goes, sideways scampering, floppy gaited, Marmaduke clumsy, bunny hopping BB, with a huge grin on his face and buckets of joy to spill on everyone. Spill some on me, baby boy.

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More than BB could handle… by Auntie Lisa

August 11, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

BB taking a break from the puppy games at Melba’s, 31 wks

BB had a really tough few days, starting Thursday. That’s Mom’s errand running day, and he was stressed by her absence. Most dogs are stressed by being left by their owners. He had Auntie Lisa and Big Brother with him, though, so he was handling his lonesome okay. Then without warning, my 2 year old niece appeared. My brother had decided with his ex he would take her for 3 or 4 days, without so much as telling Mom, let alone asking.

My nieces’ presence changes our plans, since we have to keep a close eye on the Brothers Grin. Kenai is usually very good for a puppy, taking her noise and running about in stride. But BB is still quite reactive to small children. For a timid pup, stressed by children, having a 2 year old in the house is like stuffing a clausterphobic person in an elevator for a few days. So we try to limit the time he has to deal with Emily, or he’s an absolute wreck.

Needless to say, already stressed BB came unglued Thursday morning. If I wasn’t fast enough at getting his attention, he would spin around barking, lunge at Emily yipping when she came close to the expen, shake and curl up while she had her fits… The look at that game we learned from the “Control Unleashed” book prevented most of his barking and panic, but I had two puppies to handle and Kenai was in a heightened state just because his brother was.

It took my brother an hour and a half to get the idea that I meant it when I said he absolutely had to take Emily out of the room and keep her out. Beebs was just shy of going wild, and Kenai was getting bent out of shape too. I was losing control of both of them, and together they have a combined weight of just over 180 pounds. He didn’t leave with his daughter until Mom came home and let him know how ticked off she was about the circus he caused.

Thursday was hell on earth. Emily literally screamed, whined, demanded, and pitched hissy fits all day long. Up and down the stairs, charging into the living room, ignoring when she was told not to do something… BB was so freaked out by evening that he started peeing. The rugs, his bed, his spot on the couch next to Mom all got soaked. If you touched him, he jumped.

So Friday it was decided that we would take both pups to Melba’s house. BB loves going there, getting to play with their lab Chloe, having attention, and generally making his puppy self tired out. Good for him, hard on me. Keeping the excited boys from picking fights and causing trouble requires just as much vigilance from me as keeping BB under control around Emily does.

I could only handle 3 hours before I had to bring Kenai home. But BB got the run of Melba’s place when we were gone and came home completely exhausted. He was too pooped to do more than sit up in his pen with Em in the room. He was tired, but not relaxed. His muscles were taught as piano wires.

Saturday was not quite as horrid as Thursday had been, and Mike was on notice to lay down the law to his daughter and make it stick. Had she been allowed to carry on Saturday the way she did Thursday, Mom was going to send her home. I guess my brother got the idea he had crossed a line, and Emily went home Saturday night. He was fairly cautious Sunday, and didn’t even appear upstairs more than to get some food and return to the basement.

Today is Monday, and BB is still wound up, in desperate need of run time outside to detox the last of that extended weekend out of his system. It’s already been declared than next weekend our house is an Emily-free zone. Mike can go to see her, but she doesn’t come through that door. Nobody cares if he likes it.

Beebs is getting lots of massage and relaxation work, but it’s not going to help until he has some exercise. He’s hurting and a little wobbly, but his mind needs the outdoor time to play. As much as dogs loving being in the house with their human pack members, we still must remember that they are creatures of the natural world. Our artifical world isn’t enough to satisfy their need to explore and run.

I’ve got a big day with Kenai, but I will try with all my will to get Banana Butt out to the field. The CFIDS makes my muscles go weak and trembling, sometimes they quit working altogether. But Mom isn’t getting him out to play, so I will try to push through the weakness and migraine pain.

He’s such a fun and loving little boy, he deserves to have his needs met, his limits respected. BB would do anything for us, and I see no reason not to reciprocate! So if you pray, send a wish or two up on his behalf? And mine, so I can have the strength to help him.

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The indomitable banana butt…by Auntie Lisa

August 8, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

  BB after his dip, 31 wks old

Mr. BB had his splendid self a dip in the pool Tuesday! Oh the shaking and resistance when the life vest went on… I tore the handle trying to pick him up with the vest, so it was back to the old fashioned lift and shove to the edge, followed by an unceremonious lift and splash. He did the four legged puppy paddle for about 10 minutes, with rests on the stairs between bouts of swimming.

Hopefully today we can get him back in the pool. I have a tracking harness that I believe will be big enough to go over the life vest, and provide a truly sturdy handle for picking him up with. It’s easier to cart him around than it is to fight the mule, so to speak. Thank God BB isn’t as strong as his brother! When he is too strong for me, then he earns the right not to splish splash! Poor little poops, the indignidities…

Bless his sweet heart, it is so traumatic for him when he knows he’s going in the drink. But for physical therapy, nothing beats the pool. He uses all four legs in it, and uses the repaired leg more afterwards. He’s far from having a four leg gait, but that is from lack of effort on Mom’s part. She wasn’t doing his PT before the bowel obstruction, and she wasn’t doing it afterwards, either, so he had gone back to curling up and carrying around his leg. That makes the dip in the big bath unavoidable for our bent bottom boy. I’m sorry baby!

But you can see from the photo, the after-bath treatment isn’t so bad! Some shiney up the puppy rubs and resting in the sunshine with his Mom makes it all better. There’s kissey fests, and back-talking galore, too. The water also seemed to get rid of his belly rash, and helped considerably with his smell. The boy just has a strong body odor, smelly again only a couple days after a bath. I’m guessing the food and stress is the culprit. Nothing I can do to reduce BB’s stress, and I won’t change the food since he is doing so well on Eagle Pack again.

The indomitable banana butt has also mastered his footstool!! He gets up on the couch with Mom all by himself now, carefully placing his feet and using all his legs to do it. All his legs! It might be a small thing to get up on the couch for another dog, but it is a mighty victory for Beebs. He gets praise from everyone and sometimes a treat, then settles in for a satisfying cuddle, which is the best treat to be found.

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Lift the Rump and Shove the Mule…by Auntie Lisa

August 5, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

BABY PICTURES!! This was the Beebster at a decrepit 11 weeks old. Awww…

I got into the boy’s baby pics this morning for a smile. What a tiny fart he was! There BB is at 11 wks old, wearing the collar he would later eat and obstruct his bowels with goofus. The ears were as big as his head! He was a heart stealer from the start!

The Beebs found himself going to Melba’s house with Mom last Friday, to have a play with their lab, Chloe. She’s alot gentler than his brother, Kenai, though he did get knocked down a couple times. The tripod isn’t as stable. He thoroughly wore his puppy bottoms out, too!  Flip and nip, swat and sneeze, flop and nap… all the best puppy games were played.

He came home, ate a bowl of food, and crashed, snoring away for 4 solid hours. He wasn’t a nippy pest to his brother at all the rest of the day, either. He was too tired for that. Guess he got his quota of games!

BB is a real pain to get in the car now–he lays down and you have to coax him to the back seat. Then it’s lift the rump and shove the mule: he sticks out his front feet and tries to move back out of the car! Silly boy, you don’t always go to the vet! I know he’d prefer the hatch he has always ridden in, but he doesn’t fit anymore. So it’s the back seat from now on.

BB then got his furry self a bath Sunday, and what should I find but a couple fleas… must have picked them up out of Melba’s yard. So Monday morning Kenai and I brought home a tube of Frontline for the funny game-boy, and sprayed the house again. I hate doing that because the chemicals make me sick, but then, who wants fleas? Ick.

The original reason for the bath is Beebs seems to be one of those dogs that has a continually strong body odor. The day after his bath, he was a bit smelly again. Stress? The food? He’s always just had a stronger smell than most dogs, more even than his brother. Not sure why. So he gets bathed more often, and we use a natural deodorant spray on the soft furnishings. The Febreeze type stuff makes us all itch, though we can get away with it on drapes and things that won’t be in contact with our skin.  

Little boy also came home from Melba’s with an ugly rash on his belly—probably a reaction to fertilizer or something. A bit of cream should keep him from licking himself raw because of the itching. Dogs are apt to do that, like a kid with chicken pox or chigger bites: even if they know they shouldn’t, they can’t help it. BB’s pretty good at leaving parts of himself alone if you’re there to tell him to—guess all the practice with his multiple suture lines. He’s quite the collection of scar tissue, our happy-anyway banana butt.

To keep banana butt (and his big bro) happy, I’m looking on the internet for a place to get the big bully sticks in bulk. We’ve got to buy longer chews because the knuckle heads try to swallow them when they get small. So a 30” bully gets tossed when it’s chomped down to 8-10”. Sort of a waste, but better than making them throw up the remnants. A stash of bully sticks should keep the boys grinning, and occupied in the evenings!

 

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BB the Bouncy Bottoms…by Auntie Lisa

August 1, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

BB telling me how fun his playtime was, 30 wks old

BB telling me how fun his playtime was, 30 wks old

 BB got a real, honest to goodness, gobs of fun boy play Wednesday, complete with stick carrying, Auntie chasing, and tall grass exploring! Poor kiddo was so bored being stuck in his pen all morning while Mom and I were out that I wouldn’t have been surprised if he exploded into bits of puppy popcorn. So before sittng down to cool off, I opened the door and said “let’s go!”.

OUT into the field we went, Beebs pausing only long enough for a piddle. He pounced and chased and had oodles of puppy play for at least as long as his brother does. Wow. He still wasn’t worn out, but he has satisfied. I should have cut it short though, happy boy or not, since he was awfully sore later on. How could I, seeing what a good time he was having? He doesn’t get field wanders with me too very often–it’s a big treat when he does.

In this pic, he’s ‘talking’, which is a hysterical conversation. When Beebers talks, he mimics our syllables, and does this Scooby Doo ‘ro, ro, rrrooo” sort of sound. I tell him I don’t believe him and he talks louder, I tell him what a silly boy he is and he wiggles, I tell him I know how hard it is to be a little boy and he moves his head around… told ya it was hysterical!

BB yesterday had his first outing since his latest bout with the surgeons. He didn’t get out of the car, but it was a nice long ride. My niece, Emily, and her brothers were coming to swim that evening. Mom and I were just not feeling up to handling the absolute chaos of a 2 year old, a teenager with severe but no longer medicated ADHD, and a preteen with emotional problems. Especially since it gets the pups in a great uproar, adding to the noise, wildness, and confusion. Nor did we want to tell them they couldn’t come. 

So we went out for awhile. The boys have finally reached a size that they won’t both fit in one car anymore, so we had a puppy caravan. It was down to the diner for a leisurely supper, then up to Walgreens for a few necessaries. Being so hot, we leave the cars running with the AC going for the puppies. Hurts the gas milage, but better that than have Beebs overheat. A boy has to get out in the world, hot or not, right?

We came home and Emily was still there. My brother decided he would keep her since he isn’t working now (grrrr), so BB has to work on his reactivity from Thursday night through Sunday morning… weekend number 17 came early, whether I’m up to it or not. Hhhhhh. He’s doing much better, but it’s a tremendous amount of work and vigilance.

I don’t have any help with it, either. If I’m not there when Emily comes into the room, nobody does the “look at that” game with him, and Beebs gets riled up. Then I start over with his re-conditioning. When it comes to training dogs, it can’t be just one member of the “pack” doing all the work, or the progress is either slow or non-existant. Everyone has to do the same things, the same way, with consistancy. That’s not what’s happening here, so the progress is slow.

But BB has a sweet personality, which is a plus! He doesn’t want to bark and fuss at Emily, she just scares him running around and making so much noise. He’s able now to not react if he sees or hears her, and is friendly if he can walk up to her. It’s when she comes at him that he doesn’t do so well. Em’s learning not to run around him, kudos to her.

I guess we’ll see how the weekend goes. Hopefully Mom will help me keep her puppy exercised so he’s got less energy to react with. That’d be better. Keep your fingers crossed and a prayer in the pipeline!

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BB gets to be Jungle Boy…by Auntie Lisa

July 29, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , ,

BB’s first satisfying game of tuggie in 2 weeks. The boy loves his squeaky mat toy! 30 wks old

BB is officially staple free, as opposed to his unofficial self-removal of the 18th. The incision line was HUGE, a full 18” long from mid-ribcage to near the back of his boy parts. He has returned to 76 pounds, packing on the 7 pounds in 11 days. Less, if you count the 2-3 days where he only got ½ size meals or missed them entirely because of sedation.

BB has been a piglet boy ever since, eating 2 cups at each meal. Four meals a day, since small and frequent is the way to put weight back on recovering puppies. No more a bag of bones! Skinny Minnie, but not looking like a rescue anymore.

Being staple-free, he is now free to romp and roam. When he’s done with that, I’m sure he’ll want to roam and romp…Beebs is happy to report that he doesn’t have to take a pool bath for another 10 days. I don’t like it, since it’s good PT, but the vet wants that incision area to have more time to strengthen before he gets his banana butt picked up by the life jacket. (No way does he go in the drink willingly).

Sweet guy is so small, compared to his littermate, Kenai. A full 25 pounds lighter, and 3” shorter. He’s the size I’d expect a Dane pup to be at about 5 months old, and he’s 7 ½ months today. In a way, it’s a good thing that he’s growing so slowly, though multiple surgeries are not the easiest way to take your time!

Let’s hope there isn’t anymore of that for a long, long time, if at all. Amen and pass the canned lamb, is his reply.

Beebs’ surge of bossy pup is waning, with a few rather stern corrections for puppy nasties. He decided he could scratch, swat, and chew on Auntie Lisa until my inner bitch reared up. He’s become his sweet self again with me, and Mom is starting to get the idea across that she’s his pack leader. Kenai has gotten frustrated with his bite me games a couple times too. When Beebs is stronger, I’m sure big brother is going to waylay him for it.

Unfortunately we still use the expen as a barrier for the boys. Your side, my side, since the bite and shove posturing is still going on. It’s been a problem with them since day one, and right now I don’t have the energy to remedy it (if I was even sure how best to go about it). By the time I sit down in the living room, I got nothing left, which means keeping the two from getting out of hand all evening is out of the question. Ugh.

It would be nice, though, if they could lay in their places and leave each other alone. Nicer still if they could lay down together and keep the teeth put away. I’m just too exhausted to make it happen.

Today is a busy day for me, but hopefully I can get Brat Boy out for a lovely, and long overdue exploration of the field. He has piles of lumpy fun, finding sticks and smelling smells not found in the house. Oooh and high grass…His definition of “high grass” is 12-18 inches, unlike Kenai who will fearlessly rip through 6 foot Johnson’s Grass. A foot and a half is enough for BB to feel like the “jungle boy”.

The between run flops in sunny patches is contentment itself, and the after-wander naps are chock full of happy puppy dreams. As it should be! For all he’s been through, BB hasn’t lost any of his funny and affectionate personality. He’s one of those funny little boys, with a big old goofy streak and a sense of mischief.

He wants to follow us around, see what we’re doing, and be a part of it. When Mom goes to the bathroom to get dressed, he wobbles along behind her, usually carrying a toy. When she’s doing dishes, he lays on his bed and begs for his pat on the head as she walks by. If I go to the kitchen in the evenings, (Kenai stays on our side of the barrier), Beebs goes along with me.

BB is still very puppy like, still has his super soft puppy coat and “everything’s a game” personality. His brother has become more mature, and very dignified, but I think the Beebster will always be more silly and playful. That’s fine too. Who would complain about a pup that makes ya smile?

Not me… 

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Em bounced on her bottom…by Auntie Lisa

July 26, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

please let me out to play, BB 29 wks old

BB looks so sad in his pen here, poor little guy. His staples were supposed to come out yesterday, but the vet can’t see him until Monday. But at least he doesn’t have to stay in his pen nearly as much until then! He’s been following Mom around, and playing with his toys some too, so he isn’t a total prisoner. He has been kept much quieter than his puppy energy can stand though.

So today I plan on taking the boy out for a teeny tiny romp in the field.

Emily came yesterday morning, since my brother has been off work while the company computers are down. That means a 3 day weekend with a 2 year old. My hard work with Beebs and Em is paying off: he was loose while she was in the room and he did very well at not being reactive to her. She just won’t leave his toys alone, though, and when she got into the toy box while he was there, he bonked her with his head when he stood up.

Em bounced on her bottom and kinda sat there, and BB went off with his toy. Not good manners, but my brother just doesn’t get the idea that Beebs isn’t gentle like Kenai. He’s been cooped up for a week, which makes it worse. So you can’t just turn him loose with a two year old while you sit your butt on the couch. He meant no harm, that’s just BB: bump, lean, wiggle and swat. Now later when Em sat down on the floor, BB came over and lay down near her when he was called. He did fine because an adult was right there overseeing the play.

With some reminding, Em is learning not to run at him, and he doesn’t react. If he is in his pen or on the couch, he still barks when she comes. He must feel either trapped or barking because he doesn’t want to be ignored. If he can walk up to her, he’s fine. So the toots has come a long way!

Beebs has gotten a reprieve from the planned pool dip, since his staples aren’t out yet. And Mom hasn’t done a thing all week with his physical therapy. I’ve been really sick, so there was no getting to it myself. She has less and less control of him almost every day, too. She can’t get him to come when she calls, let go of a toy he shouldn’t have, stay on the bed while we eat…she can’t even get him to go to bed at night.

So I’ve come downstairs with Kenai for his morning piddle and meal twice this week, to find that I have to split up the ruckus and seperate them before my eyes are focusing. While she’s in bed asleep. He doesn’t mind her because he doesn’t respect her, and she makes no effort to change that. It’s going to become a big problem if BB gets in his head that he can be top dog and rule the pack. He’s started marking…

I don’t understand my mother. She can sit there and watch the dog whisperer show, but not get the idea that she cannot just get frustrated and give up after 3 seconds. If he doesn’t get up the moment she says, she gets mad and walks away. BB wins the battle. Every time. It’s like she’s abandoned his management to me, she’ll just babysit when I’m not there.

I don’t understand, but I do know that with 2 unnuetered males in the house, a lack of control of one can lead to some serious fights. Sick or not, I’m going to have to ramp up and try to solve the problems with the 2 boys myself. With a passive, frustrated, weak energy from Mom. Does the Dog Whisperer take on charity cases?

So that’s our good news, and the not so good news. The Beebster is doing well for the most part, and is putting his weight back on nicely. His coat is still a bit dandruffy and dull, though it’s improving. I can’t get Mom to brush him and use the conditioning wipes, which would correct this quickly.

I’ll try to get more posts up, not realizing it had been so long. The past couple weeks have been downright punishing. Maybe this next one will be better.

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BB is Bored…by Auntie Lisa

July 21, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

Poor BB can’t run and play, 28 wks old

Our funny little gameboy is having a hard week. He got home again late Thursday night, and Friday evening we discovered he’d popped out an inch long area of staples in his suture line. BB! So I bandaged it well enough to hold until the next day, and Saturday he was back at the vet. The rest of the day was a wash, with him stoned on sedatives from being reclosed.

Oh but Sunday, he was bouncy and playful again. Yay and uh-oh at the same time! I’m glad to see his personality again, but he’s on bed rest until Friday when the staples are out. He’s gonna be worse than a ferule cat by then! Especially with all the extra calories we’re pumping in him. He lost weight, of course, and now we’ve got to get some meat on his bones again.

He was a mess when he came home, and it’s taken two days of brushing and baby wipes to get his coat back to shiney and not shedding. He’s made the switch to Eagle Pack lamb with his brother which he scarfs right down. The boys have both always loved lamb meat. So heat or not, BB’s eating well again, and hopefully when he goes to get his staples out, he’ll have gained back what he’d lost. Right now, he’s 35 pounds lighter than his brother.

And he’s not nuetered…

So for the sake of his bored little bent puppy tush, Mom, Kenai and I went to the puppy store to pick out a couple really snazzy new toys to entertain him. We found this fuzzy baby in the shape of a checker board, with squeakers in every square. That one was a big hit! He tossed it about and squeaked it for a few minutes before he got too sore and laid down.

He doesn’t care for the other toy, a bone shaped tennis ball with a squeaker. But I’ve found that a toy that doesn’t go over at first becomes the greatest thing ever a month or two later. Or if brother decides to play with it. Whichever comes first. He’s got his squeaky mat until then.

I was really getting worried about Beebs Saturday. He just wasn’t throwing off the sedative. He’d been knocked out something like 4 times that week, and he had that glazed over look. He couldn’t even sit up without wobbling. He got lots of cuddles and soft touches, and even Kenai gingerly sniffed and licked him. Thankfully Sunday morning he woke up with mischief again.

Unfortunately, his leg’s PT progress became backsliding, and he’s not using it at all, curling it up and carrying it around. He can’t go swimming, and we can’t take him walking, so it’s back to the laying down stretches. Stretch and massage, massage and stretch. At least he does have some pain pills for his tummy, so we can mess with him while he’s sleepy and he can’t resist as much.

Come Friday, he’ll burst out of that expen like a race horse at the starting gate. PLAY, GIMME PLAY, will be the cry. He’ll get some of the evil and cruel splish splashing in the pool, poor baby, but at least he’ll also get to take a zig zag through the field. That should make up for the dunk.

This little guy seems to take all the hits. He starts doing better, and whammo, another problem. He’s got the biggest heart, though. He just keeps on pulling through. Our little heap of scar tissue hasn’t lost his fun at all, so we just keep on nursing him back. How could we do anything else?

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