Almost time!

Only one day left before I go back to work.  Both looking forward to it, because I love what I do and miss my coworkers, and dreading it, because it is going to cause me a lot of pain for a while.  It doesn't help that I hurt my back yesterday while getting dressed.  Getting old when just putting on my underwear pulls a muscle...  It's not too bad, and I started icing it right away, but it is just another thing to worry about.

Just like dealing with this current period is driving me nuts.  Day 10, and it's getting heavier by the day.  I'm afraid it's going to start resembling my periods when I had PCOS.  No idea if it's age related or due to the Lexapro?  Or PCOS again?  God, I hope not.

Chip is doing pretty well with training.  He's finally gotten used to being crated and no longer throws massive tantrums.  Obedience training is going well, but potty training still needs to be worked on.  He doesn't let us know when he has to go, so we are going to try the bell method.  Just hung it up today, we'll see how it goes.  Otherwise, he really is an amazing dog.

Took him to an off leash beach on Friday. It was a long drive, but it was worth it. We had such a great day, and I think the long drive helped him like the car better.

He had no idea what to do with the water.  He was too busy saying hi to all the people and other dogs there that he didn't get into anything disgusting.  I was so proud of him because his recall was very good, even from very far away.

It's a nice, sandy beach which is kind of rare around here.  I checked his paws afterwards, but didn't have to worry about them getting all cut up by barnacles on the rocks like most beaches here.

I have to keep him tethered in the truck, because he tries to crawl into my lap otherwise.  With his tether on, he can reach my shoulder.

He also likes to rest his head behind my neck. At least it's out of the way and doesn't interfere with driving.

We tried to go to the local dog park today, but the trail to get there was just a giant mud hole, so we tried a different park about 20 mins from home.  It was nice, and very full of happy puppies.  Chip does so well at the park!  He loves the people and the dogs equally, and plays very well.

In other animal news, I suspect Dinah has a UTI.  She's been incontinent in her sleep a few times, and has been peeing outside of the litter box.  She's got meds, so we'll see if it improves. Big D thinks it's an attitude towards the new dog, which part of it might be, but I see other signs that indicate a UTI.  While we were there, we did some basic bloodwork to check on her kidney function.  It's gotten a little worse since July, and she's lost over a pound.  Going to see if supplementing her with wet food will help get some weight back on her.  But she's 18, and a decline is inevitable. Not happy about it.

Not much else going on.  Foot therapy is going well, and I can see improvement, but suddenly going back to standing on it for a full shift is going to be miserable.

Also just found out that my crazy auntie finally sold her house in IL.  Now she needs to decide if she's going to come live here, probably in a trailer next to the house, or if she's going to stay in IL.

I made this collage of all the critters.  Might set it as my profile pic.

And just because he's cute, here's another of Chip with his new jolly ball yesterday.

Repeat after me: He's just a puppy, he's just a puppy

Oh, boy, what did I get myself into?  No regrets, but now I remember what puppyhood is like, and I still don't like it.  Chip really is a good dog, and he'll be a GREAT dog once he's grown up and trained.

The list of destroyed items grows daily.  And my patience is thin the last few days.  I'm cramping, but period is late.   So I get some of the pain without anything to show for it.

Foot therapy is going pretty well. I've been limping for so long that my ankle and leg are all screwed up, so now that I can mostly walk properly, everything I haven't been using hurts.

To counteract the bad vibes of puppy ownership, here's some glamour shots I took the other day.  He's lucky he's so adorable!

He needs shades!

I did a little filter on this one. My favorite so far. You can really see his eye color difference.

Puppies are fun...

Not!  Although he is a really good boy, Chip has had NO training, and he still puppy bites very hard.  Also, the destruction tally is currently at one shoe, and one glass jar.

Training is going pretty well, except trying to get him to stay in his crate while I leave the house was a disaster yesterday.  So we are going back to very basics.  Also, we need to stop this incipient separation anxiety before it starts.

At least I have something to do! He at least knows his name now.

Saw the podiatrist yesterday. I am now officially out of the boot, and he's pretty happy with my progress. I am making a point to do all my physical therapy at home, otherwise I will be in a world of hurt when I go back to work.

Finally heard Chip bark yesterday.  He desperately wants to play with grouchy old Dinah, and thinks that barking at her while she stares him down will do the trick.  He'll probably end up with a nice scar on his nose for his troubles.

I just need to remember my patience, and that it's not his fault he's a big dumb puppy.  He'll grow out of it.

I'm in love

with my husband.  And also my new dog.  DOG!!!  We went on Saturday to go find a new canine companion, since it's been lonely without a dog in the house any more. It's been 3 months since Kota died, and I've been ready for a couple weeks.

Despite having a list of at least 4 shelters to go look at, we adopted the first dog we saw.

Meet Chip! He's almost perfect.

 His first few minutes home.

Learning to chew on a rawhide.

Shelby seems to like him.

Attempting to fit into Kota's old bed.  Tight squeeze!

Directly after his first bath!

I don't think he likes it here, doesn't look comfortable!

The shelter said he wasn't snuggly. 

"Watching TV"  zzzzzzzzz

He's listed as a heeler mix.  His original shelter in eastern WA listed him as a bully/heeler mix, but the local shelter just put heeler mix.  I think I see some lab and/or mastiff in him. He's currently about 6 mos old, and 45 pounds.  His paws and head are gigantic!  For some reason, I was picturing a small, female dog as my next pick, but this guy is wonderful!  He needs training, of course.  He is a bit younger than I really wanted, but he'll grow out of that!  (Ha!)  Most of his minor behavior issues are just because he's young.  And he was just neutered.

I've spent more time outside in the backyard in the last 3 days than I have since November.

I am over the moon.