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 ;)