To be fair ...

(see comments under Entry #2)

I should point out that Don didn't actually say Ginny won't pee in the doggie toilet. What he did say, repeatedly, was "hahah". Which is a good indication of what's going to happen if I can't get Ginny to pee there.

On the plus side, she did enter Poo Castle on her own this afternoon. She skulked about as though expecting to be attacked at any second, so I doubt if she peed. But at least she went in.

5. Dog Toilet - Complete

I decided to disguise the dog toilet as a large garden, by placing a small camoflage garden in front of it. Thus the unfinished bit in the foreground.

I am happy to report that Iggy has peed in the dog toilet. Of course Iggy will pee anywhere,especially if there's a treat involved.

Ginny, on the other hand (the dog for whom the $200 cost and two days of labor was incurred) will only enter the doggy toilet on leash. Off leash, when I stand in or near the doggy toilet and call her, she runs into the house and hides. I don't think this increases the odds of her actually peeing in it.

2. The Doggy Toilet

This is my partially built doggy toilet.

I read about it on the internet. It should be 8' x 8'. You should dig out the sod, build a retaining wall and fill the area with hardwood mulch.

Digging out sod isn't easy. Well, it is easy, I suppose, but it takes a very long time. So I decided to kill it with landscaping fabric.

And why is the doggy toilet L-shaped instead of just 8' x 8'? There is an answer to that question but I don't want to talk about it.

Anyway, I laid out my landscaping fabric and pinned it down with little green stakes. Don measured and cut the landscaping ties (as these particular "boards" are called). He said, "Hahah. It's not square." He wasn't referring to the L shape, but to the two front corners which, yes, I must admit, are not "square".

He said, "(Hahah.) Why is it so big?" I said, "It's supposed to be 8' x 8'." Well of course he had the tape measure in his hand as all handy-men do. "It's about 8' x 12'," he said. "Hahah. You're supposed to measure."

Well I don't think the dogs care if it's square or exactly 8' x 8'.

I bought 11 bags of mulch at Home Depot. What you see in the doggy toilet is all 11 bags. Don said, "You should just get a truck full." Oh, and of course, "Hahah."

I can just imagine how funny it will be if Ginny refuses to pee in it.

1. Female Dog Pee Spots

Here, Ginny and Kona are resting quietly after a long evening of chasing each other (around the yard of course).

And all those yellow patches? Ginny is now two years old, and this is what adult female dog urine does to grass. There are ways around this, I understand - for example, watering down the grass right after said adult dog pee has landed on it.

But I have a better idea ...

Cona the Dignified Doggy

Yes, it's the same dog, but I have to get used to calling her Cona because that's her new, more dignified name. She goes to her new home at the beginning of June.

This morning I started an exercise regimen. It's called Yoga and Weights with Dogs because Ginny and Cona were flopping all over each other and me the whole time. So the meditative part was missing, but it was more fun than most exercise plans.

Cerise (now Cona) has been adopted!

And Ginny says, Fine, then! I won't miss you either! (Iggy said the same thing, but he really means it.)

Cerise vs. Chew Toy

The Puppy Bed

For some reason, the puppies all seem to gravitate to this little stool. I think I should get a round little cushion to put underneath it...

Iggy and Cerise

Oh, Iggy, you are so big and handsome!

Cerise bites off more than she can chew....

Cerise is adjusting happily to pack life. She even sleeps through the night now. And this morning she went back into the crate after her morning pee and slept for another hour. Bonus!

I've left her on her own in the crate a couple of times, just for an hour or so. She doesn't protest going in and both times she was asleep when I got back. I think we can safely say she's a crate-trained puppy.

We've been hitting the bike paths for the past few days, because Cerise has way too much energy to be carried. Today she fell into an almost perfect heel for over half an hour - she's learned that reaching the end of the leash, either by running ahead or falling behind, means a gentle tug that interrupts her little puppy flow.

We took her off-leash just once to let her fetch the ball, which is usually Ginny's full-time job. She looked so forlorn when Iggy got a turn that we just had to give her a turn too. She knew exactly what to do, and fetched like a trained professional.

And now she's having her giant post-walk nap, so it's time for me to catch up on some work.

Cerise the Devil Dog in Training

Do you need a guard dog? Then Cerise is the one for you. Sure, she weighs less than a bag of carrots, but check out those teeth!

Ginny the Devil Dog

... having Cerise for lunch.

Ready for a walk

And here is the carrier all the little ones have to get used to until their shots take effect. (Well, this is a new one because somebody chewed through the first one so it won't zip up anymore.) Cerise didn't like it at first and kept trying to wiggle her way out. But after about 10 minutes she realized there was no hope, so she just settled in watched the world go by.

Cerise Update

Cerise slept until 6:45 this morning! That might be because I took her water away at 8:30 last night. Here she is going for one of her many romps through the backyard.

I smell puppy cookies!

Hmmm, what do we have here?

Bingo!

Big walk, big nap!

Cerise walked part way and was carried part way on our outing this morning. She's beginning to grasp the leash concept: since we're both going the same way, I may as well just come along.
She's been asleep for a while now - every once in a while she wakes up and yawns, comes part way out and then crawls back in for more nap. It's just too comfortable in there!

Ginny and Cerise get acquainted

Trying to blend in

A so-so snack

A great snack

Crate Training Report

Cerise's first night was very quiet. She settled into the crate right away and fell asleep. No noise until 4:49 - that's right! Almost the magic "slept through the night" hour of 5:00 a.m. Then she made some little snuffling noises that could have meant anything (including "I have to pee") so I picked her up and carried her outstide. My snuffly-noise interpretation was almost right. In fact, what she meant was, "I have to pee Right Now" and by the time we got outside my pajama leg was all wet and she didn't have to pee anymore. Oh well.

This morning Cerise will go on her first "walk" in the carrier. I think she's going to be one of those puppies with boundless energy, so we'll also find a quiet bike path and see how she does on the leash.

Cerise can't get on the couch yet, but she can sail off of it. She seems to think the floor isn't as far down on the other side of the living room. Or maybe she thinks she can fly...

BONJOUR CERISE!

Here is our new baby. We thought she was quiet and shy, but that was just silly! Cerise's confidence is growing by leaps and bounds. She has had a very busy evening! So far, she has:

1) peed on the floor (but only when Megan came home and only because her tail was wagging so hard)

2) played with the squeaky ball

3) barked at the cat

4) had a nap

5) bounced around the yard as though she has springs on her feet

6) peed outside (because she happened to be outside when she had to go pee).

More tomorrow! All I know for sure so far is that she is a sweet little puppy with lots of spunk.

Do you have these in a small?

Puppy Conversation

CERISE SAYS: Ooooh! a toy!

GINNY SAYS: You're gonna get in trooooouble....

Ginny Pulls Rank

Ginny wasn't quite as hesitant with Cerise as she usually is with puppies. But I think Cerise will hold her own - her name should be jack-in-the-box. It only took her about an hour to turn into a very bouncy little pup.

And here's the close-up.

When you see a big foot coming your way.... close your eyes!

Wait! I just want a small bite!

That's Ginny's foot on Cerise's head. I'd like to think she's telling Cerise not to chew on shoes, but I don't think she's quite that smart.