Posers!
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| Zuzu loves her bubbles! |
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| Zee was not quite as impressed. He just sort of blinked at them. |
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| He LOVES his frisbees though! |
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| And scratches. He likes scratches a lot. |
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| Play Fight! |
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| Another walk to Lake Mercer |
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| Watching a duck |
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| Twilight Kisses |
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday Pictures
Food, Cats, & Stuff
FOOD
The visit is getting better each day. I've been challenging them with more difficult food sharings as we progress.
Wednesday, there was a rawhide on the floor. That didn't go so well, but instead of attacking, Zuzu only barked furiously at Zee's face and was pulled away easily while the rawhide was removed.
Yesterday, we did more pupperoni 'sharing'. As long as I have them sitting before the bag is open, they behave appropriately and each took their treat.
Then, the big challenge was dinner last night. I fed them both outside....turkey and dry food in separate bowls, and though they ate quicker than normal, there was no fighting. Yay!
Last night in front of the TV I even ate my cheese and crackers and wine. Other than realizing that Zee is a little whiny when he begs, they did fine. Jim finally gave him a piece of cheese and he settled down. I was mean and refused to share!
THE CAT
Zee is fascinated by Koshka, but he doesn't want to scare her away like Zuzu does. He stands super still, staying quiet and just watching. Even if Koo hisses, he just watches. Most of the time it's through the cat door, on opposite sides of the screen on the porch, or through glass, but I could actually see them becoming friends.
Koshka is thoroughly enjoying having Zee here to play with Zu, because Zu is mostly leaving her alone. I've seen more of Koshka this week than any other time since we moved to Virginia.
THE HOUSE
Zee is not used to being able to wander around a house. I love when the dogs are near me though, so if they ask to come in, I let them. Zee now comes in, patiently stands in the doorway as I put his belly band on, then happily prances after Zuzu.
I only allow him on one floor at a time. The only 'accident' that he has had was after Jim and I had gotten back from a dinner function and he ran down into the basement looking for Tressa without us realizing that we had left the basement door open. He came bounding back up with a full belly band.
It took him a couple of days to realize that he could lay down in the house if he wasn't in his kitchen-corner too. He would pace and pace and play with Zu and pace some more. Finally, he slept! Now he only paces for a bit, seeing how far I am letting him wander each time and where the gates (or chairs) have been placed, then he lays down. He likes Zuzu's bed in the TV room that she never uses. It's too small for him though, so he looks a little silly on it!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Pictures that make me smile
I've never seen Zuzu do this.....
sign this boy up for an agility course!
I yelled at him to get down, but I snuck the picture first.
Hanging out after getting treats. Hoorah for belly bands!
Wrestle Mania
I was so excited that she rolled over and let him sniff. Maybe she's finally admitting he's boss?
More chasing.
Resting on the screened in porch.
Food
In order for two dogs to coexist, there must be food.
When food causes fights, it's a problem.
When the super-smart (not) owner forgets that food causes fights and decides to eat her dinner on the back deck with the dogs, the owner realizes just how non-smart she is.
Yes, I forgot. Yes, I brought my dinner of mashed potatoes and turkey on the back deck where the dogs were. Brilliant, I know.
As soon as Zuzu smelled the food, she attacked Zee. Zee had had enough of her shananigans and smashed her down onto the floor. She yelped! He stopped. She attacked again. He smashed her down onto the floor. She yelped! He stopped. I decided that was enough wrestle mania on my deck and grabbed Zee and tossed him into the screened in porch. Tressa had already brought my food in for me, so it was no longer there. Then I realized that I wanted Zu in and Zee out, so I grabbed them both and switched them. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but it worked. Then, I decided that I wanted them to figure it out on their own, so I threw Zu back outside. (I was really, really tired. It was a long day yesterday. My thoughts were not too rational.) Luckily they are good dogs, the food was gone, and they both just sat there and looked at me. Then wandered away together.
It made me worry though. It had worked that time, but we had to teach Zuzu that this is not okay behavior. So, when Jim got home, he decided to fix it. We went to hang out on the back porch and I brought some wine. Zu went for Zee and Jim swiftly corrected her (sort of a swat/grab/wrestle/yell correction). She backed off and was fine.
We decided to take it up a notch, so we brought the dogs inside and he brought out the Pupperoni's, Zuzu's very favorite treat in the whole wide world. He made them both sit, and gave them both treats. Not even a growl! They both laid down for him and both got treats. We gave them lots of love and praise and put the treats away.
We will do more training tonight.
When food causes fights, it's a problem.
When the super-smart (not) owner forgets that food causes fights and decides to eat her dinner on the back deck with the dogs, the owner realizes just how non-smart she is.
Yes, I forgot. Yes, I brought my dinner of mashed potatoes and turkey on the back deck where the dogs were. Brilliant, I know.
As soon as Zuzu smelled the food, she attacked Zee. Zee had had enough of her shananigans and smashed her down onto the floor. She yelped! He stopped. She attacked again. He smashed her down onto the floor. She yelped! He stopped. I decided that was enough wrestle mania on my deck and grabbed Zee and tossed him into the screened in porch. Tressa had already brought my food in for me, so it was no longer there. Then I realized that I wanted Zu in and Zee out, so I grabbed them both and switched them. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but it worked. Then, I decided that I wanted them to figure it out on their own, so I threw Zu back outside. (I was really, really tired. It was a long day yesterday. My thoughts were not too rational.) Luckily they are good dogs, the food was gone, and they both just sat there and looked at me. Then wandered away together.
It made me worry though. It had worked that time, but we had to teach Zuzu that this is not okay behavior. So, when Jim got home, he decided to fix it. We went to hang out on the back porch and I brought some wine. Zu went for Zee and Jim swiftly corrected her (sort of a swat/grab/wrestle/yell correction). She backed off and was fine.
We decided to take it up a notch, so we brought the dogs inside and he brought out the Pupperoni's, Zuzu's very favorite treat in the whole wide world. He made them both sit, and gave them both treats. Not even a growl! They both laid down for him and both got treats. We gave them lots of love and praise and put the treats away.
We will do more training tonight.
Similarities
I don't know if these are EMD-specific things, or if it's hereditary, but these things make me chuckle:
- When being scratched and they roll over on their bellies for tummy rubs, they both sneeze.
- When I go outside, they both grab a toy and joyfully bring it over to me, but don't let me have it.
- Fetch means chase the toy, POUNCE on the toy, bring it back, poke me with it, then run away with it.
- They love to run up and down stairs with me, right next to me, trying to change lanes the entire time. It does not occur to them that two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
- When being scratched, they lean into me. That works for my cat, but EMDs can tip me over!
- Dog food is only important if someone else finds it important.
- Turkey and/or chicken are always important and can be picked out of dog food quite easily.
- Water is good. More water is better. All the water is the best.
- When being scratched and they roll over on their bellies for tummy rubs, they both sneeze.
- When I go outside, they both grab a toy and joyfully bring it over to me, but don't let me have it.
- Fetch means chase the toy, POUNCE on the toy, bring it back, poke me with it, then run away with it.
- They love to run up and down stairs with me, right next to me, trying to change lanes the entire time. It does not occur to them that two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
- When being scratched, they lean into me. That works for my cat, but EMDs can tip me over!
- Dog food is only important if someone else finds it important.
- Turkey and/or chicken are always important and can be picked out of dog food quite easily.
- Water is good. More water is better. All the water is the best.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Photo Journal
SATURDAY NIGHT
After the first "fight", we put them in separate areas.
Zee didn't seem to mind. Zu was a little pouty.
After a time out, Jim and I took them on a walk and they did fine, even bumping into each other occasionally without reaction.
SUNDAY MORNING
Jim got brave and decided to walk them by himself. They did awesome!
Playing in the back yard.
Zee resting.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Heading to the lacrosse game.
They found the shade and watched the little boys kicking the soccer ball behind the bleachers. And they drank about a gallon of water each!
Greeting Tressa. Yes, those are the evil pringles in her hand.
SUNDAY NIGHT
On the way to Lake Mercer.
At Lake Mercer
Say Cheese!
Exploring the creek.
Zee loved the water. Zuzu was a chicken.
On the way home.
MONDAY
A visit from neighbors.
Baby Eric and Tonche Puppy saying hi!
The Visitor
The story goes like this...
On the way back from my Dad's funeral (literally...in the car from the reception back to the hotel) I decided to check my e-mails. The first title I see? "Estrela Emergency"
Can I take Zee?
Now, to uninformed readers, this might seem like inconvenient timing. To those who know me however, it was the perfect distraction to an otherwise dreadful day. God really does know what we need. He never gives us anything that we cannot handle, without His help.
So, many e-mails, texts, phone calls, and days later, I had a visitor!
Zee is Zuzu's papa and he was living in Virginia, so it was an easy fix to have me keep him for a week until I saw Cindy next weekend. Then he'll be off to the land of doggy runs and livestock and holes in the dirt to hide in. The land where all dogs are happy.
Wait....did I say 'easy'? Oops. I should really stop using that word. I should use words like 'fun' or 'adventurous' or even 'challenging'.
Zee showed up on a Saturday night. I had a houseguest from Florida (my mom) and a houseguest from California (Tressa's BFF). Luckily, they are both very dog-loving people.
Zee is the cutest thing ever. He sort of looks like a giant Ewok from Star Wars. He is not, however, house trained.
OH! So THAT'S what 'territorial unaltered male' means!
Hmmm....there go my visions of Zu and Zee napping together next to my computer and at the foot of my bed.
Not that Zuzu would allow that even if Zee was fine in the house. She is a spoiled bratty brat! She tries to fight him if there is any food or water nearby! He is so mellow that he just growls back. She's a lucky little girl, because he could whomp on her in a heartbeat!
So....no roaming the house and food and water separate. No problem! We gave him a gated area in the kitchen and he actually seems to love it. I think he loves that Zu can't annoy him.
It only took us learning those lessons and they have been fine. (knock on wood) We had one 'Pringles' incident where they got snarly when they smelled Tressa's snack after a lax game, but some strong tugs on the leashes, grabbing of collars, and throwing away of the Pringles, and it was back to walking side by side.
We got a belly band for Zee too, but the first attempt at giving him free roam of the house turned into an indoor obstacle course race of EMDs on the TV room furniture. We'll try again some other day.
Much more to follow, I am sure.....
On the way back from my Dad's funeral (literally...in the car from the reception back to the hotel) I decided to check my e-mails. The first title I see? "Estrela Emergency"
Can I take Zee?
Now, to uninformed readers, this might seem like inconvenient timing. To those who know me however, it was the perfect distraction to an otherwise dreadful day. God really does know what we need. He never gives us anything that we cannot handle, without His help.
So, many e-mails, texts, phone calls, and days later, I had a visitor!
Zee is Zuzu's papa and he was living in Virginia, so it was an easy fix to have me keep him for a week until I saw Cindy next weekend. Then he'll be off to the land of doggy runs and livestock and holes in the dirt to hide in. The land where all dogs are happy.
Wait....did I say 'easy'? Oops. I should really stop using that word. I should use words like 'fun' or 'adventurous' or even 'challenging'.
Zee showed up on a Saturday night. I had a houseguest from Florida (my mom) and a houseguest from California (Tressa's BFF). Luckily, they are both very dog-loving people.
Zee is the cutest thing ever. He sort of looks like a giant Ewok from Star Wars. He is not, however, house trained.
OH! So THAT'S what 'territorial unaltered male' means!
Hmmm....there go my visions of Zu and Zee napping together next to my computer and at the foot of my bed.
Not that Zuzu would allow that even if Zee was fine in the house. She is a spoiled bratty brat! She tries to fight him if there is any food or water nearby! He is so mellow that he just growls back. She's a lucky little girl, because he could whomp on her in a heartbeat!
So....no roaming the house and food and water separate. No problem! We gave him a gated area in the kitchen and he actually seems to love it. I think he loves that Zu can't annoy him.
It only took us learning those lessons and they have been fine. (knock on wood) We had one 'Pringles' incident where they got snarly when they smelled Tressa's snack after a lax game, but some strong tugs on the leashes, grabbing of collars, and throwing away of the Pringles, and it was back to walking side by side.
We got a belly band for Zee too, but the first attempt at giving him free roam of the house turned into an indoor obstacle course race of EMDs on the TV room furniture. We'll try again some other day.
Much more to follow, I am sure.....
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Boarding
Why are vets closed on Sundays?
I understand that they need time off too, but I don't like it one bit.
I was hoping to never board Zu. Unrealistic, I know, but still...
Then a sad thing happened. My daddy passed away. So, off we go to New York for the funeral, where no dogs are allowed. And, no vets are open on Sunday, so I had to drop her off YESTERDAY.
Is it weird that I cried when I dropped her off? They weighed her and took her so fast, I didn't even have time to say good-bye. :(
I did tour the vet's boarding facility before we took her there. She will have a nice sized concrete and fenced "cell", that was probably about 5' x 7' and the whole height of the room, so hopefully she won't feel like she's crated. And we requested four walks, which is the most we could get, plus they get play time with people.
I hope she's okay. I miss her so much! The rest of my emotions probably aren't helping this week either.
At least she will get to bark as much as she wants for a few days. She'll like that! A lot!! :)
I understand that they need time off too, but I don't like it one bit.
I was hoping to never board Zu. Unrealistic, I know, but still...
Then a sad thing happened. My daddy passed away. So, off we go to New York for the funeral, where no dogs are allowed. And, no vets are open on Sunday, so I had to drop her off YESTERDAY.
Is it weird that I cried when I dropped her off? They weighed her and took her so fast, I didn't even have time to say good-bye. :(
I did tour the vet's boarding facility before we took her there. She will have a nice sized concrete and fenced "cell", that was probably about 5' x 7' and the whole height of the room, so hopefully she won't feel like she's crated. And we requested four walks, which is the most we could get, plus they get play time with people.
I hope she's okay. I miss her so much! The rest of my emotions probably aren't helping this week either.
At least she will get to bark as much as she wants for a few days. She'll like that! A lot!! :)
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