Please send rescue team.

This is all I have for you today.

Checking In!

Hola! Hope you're all having a lovely day, wherever you are. I know I'm just waiting for Cincinnati to flip the "heat" switch again. But at least the heat in the apartment is working :) Pups say hi (no new photos though :( ). Berry is doing great with calming down. She still gets a little feisty but she's doing well sleeping alone and Wrigley is doing well free at night. No evidence of them killing each other while crated together when I'm away, so that's good. They've also stopped chewing on my things (kind of), which is nice...although it's probably only because they ran out of boots. I did switch their diet. They went from Beneful to "Simply Natural," which I believe is a Petsmart brand? Miraculous. They wolf it down and everything is "consistent," and they seem much happier about it. It was a good cheap(er) alternative to Blue Buffalo. I'm sorry but I can't afford paying upwards of $35 for fifteen pounds of food, no matter how much I love them. Simply Natural is a good compromise, I believe it's ~$25 per 15-lb. bag? Beneful was about $17-20, depending on where you got it. So it's not a drastic increase. I don't know if I ever did a review on this - probably not, as I got it when Wrigley was just a pup and didn't start this until Berry came along - but I think it's worth mentioning. If you ever see the Nylabone dinosaurs (awesome, I know - and they come in different species!), pick one up. Seriously. I only got one, and it's time I step up my game, because these two constantly fight over it and have all but demolished it. They have an entire basket of other toys, but they like that one. This is just a brief posting, because I'm out the door on my way to work but figured I might as well update everything at once! -E

AHH FINALLY

It's only been maybe a year. For the longest time the post page wouldn't load. So I have lots and lots and lots to catch you up on, dear, devoted readers (all one of you, Mom). Let's do a brief summary. Wrigley's first birthday is January 16th! He's gonna be a big boy. I'm still trying to figure out what to do for him, I'm considering trying out a Pawalla box (), or maybe assembling my own little kit. It really comes down to what is more cost-effective. He now weighs around 28lbs., give or take. He is still a perfect gentleman with the greatest manners (aside from a little "manly" habit we're trying to get under tabs). He's turned into quite a stunner, and he still treats Berry like she's the queen. Berry is weighing in at about 17lbs., and is acting as spoiled and aggressive as ever. She's still a shrimp, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. I spoke to a trainer about her (a relative of a co-worker) and per her advice, we are trying a couple different techniques to see if we can smooth her out. If not, I see a doggy behavior specialist and possibly anti-anxiety medication in our future. Currently I'm working on teaching Berry to sleep alone in the crate at night, while Wrigley is out. According to the trainer (here on referred to as "Jill") the dogs are still establishing a hierarchy, which is why the playing often turns into a fight. I am supposed to just let it happen, and let them figure it out on their own. Sometimes it gets a little scary. We'll see how that all works out. I am definitely interested in getting Wrigley involved in therapy training. The pug, Bella, that does the reading time at my store, is about to move I think, so maybe Wrigley will be able to earn his keep! ;) I'm just trying to find a reputable training program, and an affordable one. Yikes. If you have any suggestions in the Cincinnati area, let me know! We are also looking for a low-key (small population, reputable staff, safe techniques and environment) daycare setup for the pups, also at an affordable rate. Because of the hours I work and am in class, I'm hoping for something that has an evening program, not just a day one. Currently I'm in class Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays from 8-11, and then typically have to go straight to work, where I'm usually stuck until 10:30. Both of the pups are fixed and up-to-date on their shots, other than Wrigley's bordatella. Berry got put on a Petsmart vet plan when she got spayed, and I'm still coordinating Wrigley's vet care because... wait, context. I don't know when the last post was, but I might have mentioned that my mother bought a house in July. Until very recently we had been living with her (the house was kind of set up as two separate units). However, the pups and I just moved back to the Norwood area! We're currently (and hopefully staying) residing in an older apartment building in between downtown Norwood and Golf Manor: cheaper rent, more space and more character. We even have a porch and a kitchen more than big enough to turn around in! Anyway, when we moved in with Mom, we left Pleasant Ridge Pet Hospital. It was sad because I really enjoyed the staff there, but it just wasn't practical. So when Berry needed to get spayed, it made more sense to do a payment plan through Petsmart, because it's transferable. So we hopped from PRPH, to Mason Petsmart, and now we're at Oakley Petsmart. Wrigley just hasn't transferred from PRPH yet. I'm in no hurry, either. He's all caught up until we find a daycare. Both of the babes are doing good with their training, although Wrigley definitely understands more. Berry has very selective hearing, and she has to be in a "mood" to do what I ask of her. They're still quite a handful, but at least they're letting me put sweaters on them now ;)

Too little.

This is probably the latest I've stayed up in a very long time. I've been sharing daily habits with old ladies and quite enjoyed it. It just hit me today that we'll be in the new house in three weeks (!!!) ! And then I realized, wait...I'm working forty hours a week. With that, when am I supposed to get two households packed up and Berry up to date on her vaccines? So of course, logic dictates I stay up until ungodly hours packing to make up for the hours I am sleeping, or working, or showering, or walking dogs. This special night bonding session with the pups has led me to some odd observations. Berry gets tired very early, as a baby should. But as a toddler does, she fights her sleep and gets grumpy. She takes it out on Wrigley, who is old enough to stay up later without visible signs of exhaustion. She becomes "dominant" and tries to get him to calm down, when all he's doing is quietly chewing on his 20 oz. plastic bottle (his new favorite toy). Thank god Wrigley's new favorite past-time, chewing plastic bottles, is cheap and a good way of home recycling. At least this way, before they go in the trash, they get some use. I tend to have multiple unfinished water bottles laying all around. Usually the leftover water goes to the plants, and now Wrigley gets the bottles until he completely destroys them. He usually has a bottle for about a half hour. They are both getting used to the crate. Finally. Berry will often go in to lay down when she's had enough. Wrigley is used to it as "chill time". I often walk back out to find them laying down and relaxing in there. My last observation for the evening: Wrigley is too small for all of his love and loyalty. He will walk in on Berry and I having mommy-sweet pea time and jump in to take over. But he doesn't just give kisses. He gives kisses so forcefully he shoves his entire face into mine, as though jabbing his snout into my cheek is going to prove he somehow loves me more. So forcefully, I nearly topple over. I think he's trying to tell me he loves me more. The pups are still getting used to all of the boxes, but they're adapting. I'm nervous, but so excited, to see how they do with the new house. I know they'll love having a yard they can run around freely...I just hope they don't destroy the place completely our first day there. Hopefully they'll get used to it sooner rather than later. And hopefully, Berry won't be able to hear the trash trucks from the basement apartment. I don't know if she can handle the anxiety they gave her.

Training update!

Both Berry and Wrigley now know: Sit Lay down Down Shake We are in the process of learning: Not to jump up on people (they get to greet on all fours) Heeling (Wrigley-specific at the moment) Sit and hold it. When I give them treats they have to sit and stay that way. No jumping up when the treat gets close. To sit before we go through any doorway. To sit before we enter/cross a street. We're also learning to ring a bell when we have to go out :) Berry usually just whines, though.

Side note

The pups got a much-needed bath last night, and we finished up with a nail trim. Berry did excellent, sat like an old champ, and while Wrigley still needed some motivation (read "treats") throughout, he is definitely getting better about it. He even let me clip his dew claws! We've finally gotten to a good point where the dogs are going to sleep in their crate on their own, without me prodding them like cattle. The door stays open most of the time, and they're both resting peacefully right now. Such cute little babes. As moving day looms in the distant-but-not-too-far horizon, we're all in a bit of a bustle. Between work and spending my off days with them, I have zero motivation to get any more packing done. I'm content with stacks of boxes and piles of crap around me. I'm just feeling too lazy to do much more. I know eventually I'll have to get over that, but I'm also prioritizing getting the dogs out as much as I can when I'm not working. We're headed to the park this evening, to get out as much energy as we can; hopefully it stays cool.

New news.

The good news is, after such a long time, I have finally found a job. I am working full-time at Half Price Books, which is great; but the hours keep me away from Berry and Wrigley more than I would like. I should mention, that while unemployed, Berry's shots have become less of a concern than feeding the two of them. She received her first DPPV shot of the sequence, and that is it. She got the worming medicine when her and Wrigley were both "sick," from neuter post-op and worms. But I just didn't have the funding to get her the rest of her shots right away. I am happy to report she is well and as soon as I get my first paycheck, she'll be going in for the second of the sequence and her rabies. Little baby girl will be all up to date, finally! They are both doing great. We are finally mastering potty training, Wrigley for the second time around. He's put on a lot of weight these past couple months, so we are up to two brisk walks around the block (one before I go to work and one before bedtime), and he is eating either two small meals or one regular meal daily. Berry is hardly keeping weight on she is so active. She runs around in circles nearly all day long, and it's nice because it eventually wears her out (thank god). They have both mastered down, sit, lay down, and shake. They are learning not to jump on either mama or guests, or the table. They have completely demolished my favorite orange chair, so we are starting to learn toy rules. BUT NOW, FOR THE BEST NEWS OF ALL!!! The first week of August, all of the pups (PJ included), my mother, her cat, and myself, will be moving into a lovely new-ish house out closer to the country, tucked right in between a little podunk town and suburbia. There's a lovely fenced yard for everyone to romp around in. I cannot wait for this. The house is essentially two separate apartments: the upstairs, where my mother will reside; and the basement, which the people completely finished, and has two bedrooms, a full bath, a kitchenette and a laundry room. The best part of all? The basement has a separate walk-out to the backyard. The pups can go out whenever they want, without disturbing PJ's peace upstairs. There are several hiking trails around the neighborhood, a pond, and a pool right down the street. They'll be getting more than enough exercise :) I'll be posting pics of the house for days after we move in, I'm sure. I still have a lot of painting to get done down there before it's "mine," but definitely super excited. On a sidenote: I'm sure there are already a million people doing this and I'm behind ten years, but I've started recycling bread bags for poo duty. When I can't get out to pick up more Bags on Board, they come in super handy. I also eat a ton of bread though.. What household stuff do you repurpose for your four-legged friends? -E