Puppy-proof shoes

And sometimes you must improvise. All puppies love to chew and shoes are a favorite. I’ve modified a cheap pair of canvas loafers that I wear around Lucy. Masking tape covers the leather laces so she can’t get at them. More importantly, the soles are smooth. This makes it easier to hose off the dog shit. This is important because it’s no longer possible to simply avoid stepping in dog shit.

Our house sets on the corner of about three acres but we only use about one. But that’s still a lot of yard and woods. Even with two dogs shitting twice a day, you’d think it unlikely you’d step in a pile that often. I’m running about 20%. I know the dog shit is there and I make an effort to watch for and avoid it. But I keep stepping in it. As one that looks for –and finds– life’s lessons, this one is pretty obvious. If you want to live in a world with lovable Golden Retriever puppies, you must be prepared to step in dog shit and deal with it.

Lucy: 9 Weeks

We’re spending so much time with this new pup that it’s a little hard for me to observe that she is getting bigger. Of course, she is. Happy, playful, getting along well with Ripley. Trying not to go nuts with photos but couldn’t resist posting a few new ones at Fotki. Barb and I keep our Casio Exilim “Wearable Card Camera” close at hand. I can’t get over how cool these things are. This brief (40 seconds) video clip was shot with the Casio and edited in Studio 8. The camera can only shoot 30 seconds of video at a time but you’d be surprised how much fits in half a minute. If you’re thinking about a digital camera, the Casio Exilim is THE camera to buy.

Lucy: 8 Weeks

I’m only a few hours from the end of my Weekend Alone with an Eight Week Old Puppy. I think it’s gone very well and Lucy and Ripley have expressed no opinion on the subject. Ripley is getting more comfortable with the pup every day. They both want to play but need a little more time to get there.

And for those that need one more Life Lesson: Life is like our big back yard/woods. Dog shit everywhere. You know it’s there and you do you best not to step in it… but you do. And you will again. Just clean off your shoe and keep going.

Lucy: 7 Weeks

House-training a new puppy builds character. Like computers, this experience teaches patience. While Lucy is not fully house-broken, she’s well on the way. Sleeping through the night tolerated by Ripley (our other Golden). Next weekend I solo when Barb goes on firm retreat.

Lucy at home

We have a new member of the family. She’ll live in the utility room for a while but will have full privileges before long. Ripley is still a little uncertain about what this new creature means to her but will warm to her quickly. They grow quickly so we’re taking lots of pictures.

Lucy: New Pup

That’s the new pup’s name. We pick her up this coming weekend. She’ll be doing her business on the Wall Street Journal until house broken. If images of puppies make you queasy, you might want to stop back by in a month or two.

Lucy: 3 weeks

The new puppies are 3 weeks old so we drove to Union, Missouri to select the new member of the family. The Head Human at Country Golden Acres is Theresa and the woman radiates love for her Golden Retrievers. There are two new litters. One 5 weeks old…one 3 weeks old.

Barb selected #17 (we’re working on a name). Theresa spends ALL of her time with her dogs but treats each one like a member of the family. She’s been at it a while but says life is good when surrounded by the Golden’s. It’s like a love farm…you come away glowing.

Ripley by the wood pile

Years ago I vowed never to do an unpleasant job if I had the money to pay someone else to do it. My reasoning is quite sound: I love the work I do and would, in fact, do it for no pay. If I give that money to someone to do those things I dislike doing, I can go get so more money by doing something I love. Is that so hard to understand? But there are a few manual chores I enjoy. Splitting firewood is one of those. All those sticks and no fetching. Ripley was not pleased.

Scary week.

Our oldest pup got really sick on Monday of last week. Took her to the the local vet and by Wednesday it looked like we might lose her. Thursday morning Barb suggested we take her to the MU vet school where they found a nasty thing on her liver and did emergency surgery. Still not out of the woods but looking better every day. When I get really sick, this is where I want to be taken. This is great facility with really smart, caring people.