Griffin actually let the puppy lay next to him in the car. She has truly won him over!
Aw
Category: dog
Roll over
My strategy for training is to teach “sit”, “down”, then “roll over”, because then it is easier to wipe the mud off the dog’s feet. (Note, I am not a trainer, nor am I advocating any philosophy of training; muddy foot prints are just irritating.)
Muffin tin brain game
My sister shared the idea of putting treats in a muffin tin and the putting balls on top as a brain game for dogs, so I had to try it!
The first time I put it out for Missy (with bits of hot dog in the cups), it was a wonderful challenge for the puppy, and she spent a good 15 minutes rooting out the balls to get the treats (not grabbing the balls and removing them, which was my prediction). It was great for keeping her occupied without running and jumping since she just had surgery.
The next time, it took 15 seconds. Smart little thing.
Izzy the cat just complained loudly that the puppy got something she didn’t until I gave her a bit of hot dog too. Who has trained who?
Surgery wrap
Missy went in for her spay, and rather than a cone of shame or donut of doom, I made her a surgery wrap from knit fabric. The wrap keeps her from licking the incision site, and a little shaping keeps it clean and dry when she has to do her outside business.
To make the wrap, I measured her back from neck to tail (16”) and around her chest (18”). I cut a rectangle from knit fabric that was 16” x 19” (the extra inch around makes it easier to pin). I measured between her front legs, across her chest (4”), and made 4 slits 4” apart at the top and bottom of the wrap for her legs. I cut a curve out between the back legs so the wrap wouldn’t get wet or dirty when she eliminated.
I tried a version with velcro, but it didn’t fit as well as when I just used three safety pins to pin along the back (and velcro is loud!) I put her legs in the four holes, pulled the fabric snug but not tight, and the pinned the fabrics at the back of the neck, mid back, and near the tail.
Missy is surprisingly OK about wearing her little vest! Is it as fancy as the surgery wraps you can buy? No, but I’ve made them out of old t-shirt material, so they can be free to make. For something that you only need for 10-14 days, free is good. They work for cats too! At least female ones. When Sophie had her spay, we used a similar surgery wrap.
Puppy’s eye view
The tree is up! Shortly after we brought Missy home, we blocked off the office/music room because there was just too much to puppy proof, and she kept piddling on the carpet. It works out well to put the tree there too because it is out of the puppy’s reach. It is also appropriate that the tree is blurry in the photo, as Missy seems to be near sighted. The world is big and fuzzy and she barks at what scares her. Poor wee mite.
Critters and Craft 