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My Blog
My Princess
Princess has been gone nearly a year now, yet I still miss her so. I love Gracie and Lady with all my heart and even though I know Princess is with us in Spirit I wish she was here in body. I know she would love to be with me in body and I look forward to the day when I will see her again. I know she would so love kickin’ my new pups into shape- she would be such a good mom. I will never forget my Cesse.
Mom
Lady- our pup!
We have recently begun training our new pup- an 8 month old pup She came to us as an eighth month olth pup. They asked us to take her since they were expecting a baby anyday and wanted to acclimate the baby and feared the jumping up that their pup did. I just want to enlighten people on pups. Mind you, I’m NO expert. I have learned from my own and my friend’s mistakes. Here is some of what I learned. Doggies aren’t human. They don’t understand complicated commands like, "get off the couch", "you shouldn’t be on the bed", "don’t jump on people", "get away from the counter". They understand, "Down", "Down", "Down". Anytime you want your canine friend to have all four paws on the ground- say "down" and point there with your finger. While training, pull them down to the ground by their collar. Don’t pick them up and put them there or scare and chase them away- they don’t understand that. During training, give treats freely when they do perform "Down", even if you have to pull them down with their collar- treats help them understand that what they did is good thing. Another good basic command is, "No". Whether they drink from the toilet, sniff your crotch, attempt to eat from a counterparts’ bowl, bark uncontrollably, etc. Once you tell them, "No" and they respond- give them a cookie. Also keep in mind that during training alot of cookies may be given. Count cookies as part of their diet, and get good nutritional cookies (as you should with their food). Also spend the extra money on good dog food. We adopted dogs that had quite stinky farts and soft stool and would go poo a few times a day. Good food equals NO stinky farts and less poos- which equals better health for your loved one. If you have any questions (that I may or may not be able to help with) mail me.
Licks-N-Laughs, Marlene (a/k/a Mar- Gracie’s mom)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Mom kept tellin’ me, "just wait ‘til it snows". Boooyyyy, was she right! Snow is the best thing since my swimming pool in Spring! I totally LOVE IT! I couldn’t figure out what the big deal was when there were a few white tufts here and there a week ago. Now I totally understand! We got 4 inches yesterday, I romped and played like no tomorrow. Dad kicked up snow in my face and I chomped at it like incoming fighter planes attacking my home front! I went to bed peacefully- tired from a hard day defending my home front….Little did I know…. I got up to go outside to potty today and, quite frankly- Holy Smokes!!!! That white stuff was up to my chest! Potty Time was an entirely new challenge. Mom shoveled a spot for me to do my business but that was NOT for me. I romped out into the wild white yonder and found a spot of my own! My mom said, "Whoop, whoop, whoop- that MUST be cold! She was right- but there was NO WAY I was about to do things her way. Let’s remember, I’m my own girl! I’ll do things how I see fit! Mom and I had a great time playing in the snow. Our back yard was the only one of our neighbors that suffered the damage of play-time. All the other yards looked peaceful and pristeen. I’m proud of the destruction I laid in my wake. Mom won’t admit it but so is she. She kicked snow over me and I snorted at it. She stepped toward me and I pulled away from her and started my rounds about the yard- tearing up any snow that laid in my wake. She threw snowballs and I chased and sniffed them out. We took breaks throughout the day and I lazed by mom as she wrapped presents- of course after a couple where wrapped I laid my head on her arm to tell her I "had to potty" just to get her outside once again. Pop came home and commented on the destruction of the snow in the yard, Com’on Poppa! Don’t you know me by now??? For my fellow pups that don’t understand- imagine 8 inches of cotten balls around you are far the eye could see with a cool peppermint patty sort of feeling around your legs, and body, if you’re a little guy!
New tricks
I have sit, lay-down, paw and "other paw" down pat. I know when I come in from potty-time that I get a treat and even know stay, that is until mom is over 10 feet away! I used to close my eyes REALLY TIGHT when mom threw food at me, at the time I thought, "What the HE double hockey sticks!" NOW I get it. I just watch real close while she counts to three moving her hand in and out toward me. It goes "one, two, three, RELEASE". Now I catch alsmot every scrap and morsel tossed my way! I am currently embarassing mom in front of my pop. I also know "Bow"- mom puts her hand on my forehead and tells me "Bow". I will do it all day long with her but in front of pop- FORGET IT! I just don’t like an audience! Mom says as soon as I can perform for my pop she’ll teach me roll-over. Mom says I’m just getting lazy and don’t want to continue with my trick training. Oh well, mom, you’re the one who calls me PooPooHead!
My name is Gracie and I'm a Whino!!!
My mom likes havin’ a glass of wine every now and then- I slurp it up out of her glass before she gets a chance to tell me "no". I seek out her glass like a hound as she rakes leaves, vacuums out the cars, etc. I play with my neighbor kitties and doggies and still go to mom’s glass like a hound! Mind you she likes to enjoy a glass of wine every now and then- I just slurp it empty and she scoldes me but I push for more- my mom tells me "NO WAY!!!!
I rolled in POO!
Bright and early yesterday morning I found some rancid animal poo in the groundcover out back behind my house. I like to leave my scent whenever I find anothers in my yard. In the past it’s always been a "dry" rub and roll- no harm no foul. This morning was different. I went out to do potty time and smelled something amiss. I went and did my sniff & roll before mom got a chance to stop me. I was COVERED. Mom says I looked like I had war paint down each side of my face from just under my eyes, down over my collar and along the sides of my chest. She was furious. I thought I smelled pretty good but mom thought I smelled so awful that it actually made her puke! She chased my butt into the house and kept me on my feet running until she caught up with me and put my leash on that she grabbed as she entered the door as we got back inside. I have to admit I kind off felt bad since she was in nothing but her robe. Of course, first I ran through the entire house with her hot on my heels. She says it was because she didn’t want me to roll or lay down on ANYTHING. Once she got the leash on me, she got me into the bathroom and my lil’ butt went straight into the tub. I truly hated this bath with all my might. Mom held onto my snout and it took what seemed like forever for her to clean the poo spread off the sides of my face. I got the scrub down of my life. Mom now says I smell extra pretty as I have cherry scented shampoo. My nick name is PooPooHead, I guess I showed mom that she should be careful what she calls me! I hate to disappoint mom but I cannot guarantee that I would never do that again!
Socializing
The day I met my mom I was 10 weeks old. Before mom I was on a farm in a barn with my natural mom and my siblings, who got "picked out" one by one. I was shy…not a quality people look for in a pup. I was scared of almost everything as I was introduced into my mom’s world. My mom is home all day…great advantage for me to be able to adapt to her but what about everyone else? My mom had a plan. Almost everyday I’d meet someone new. Didn’t matter if it was a big fish or not- just someone- maybe even the same person over several different periods in time, maybe the UPS or USPS guy just once. I won my mom’s heart without even meaning to. The next thing I know I’m in Caledonia in my forever home. I was very shy of everyone and everything at first (‘cept those cats and birds- I started off from day one letting them know exactly who I was! I started socializing slow. I started with the neighbors stopping by most nights to see me. Once I got used to my people neighbors I was well on my way. Next thing I know I’m in the bank and video rental store. My mom’s trick was just to include me in everything possible. I went from being a scaredy-cat to lovin’ everyone. I now leave my barkin’ tail waggin’ bit to those individuals who dare to cross into my yard uninvited. After hearing "Grace~!" I know it’s time to back off the visitor and pick my spot to sit and observe him or her. Once I see that they’re OK with mom and pop, I’m cool! I’ve become so well socialized just boppin’ around town and being in the boating and camping community that I’ve completely forgotten what it means to be anti-social. I’m now tackling my cousin’s football games and just love being amongst that crowd- they leave lots of scraps on the ground- perfect for a scrounger like me!
