Pup

[Hopalong]

Y'all ready to hear about him for another 15 or so? Who needs men?

Pup is insane. I think he needs an exorcism. He has the most hilarious face. He looks at things completely wild-eyed: "What's going ON here?". You can spot all his gene parts: shiztu, corgi, doxie and mini schnauzer. His face looks like an old soldier's with mutton chops, he has like Pooch did a long-limo torso; and he's got a really chipper curled, white-tipped tail. Helps you spot him at twilight. When he stares into the Great Beyond (back yard) he suggests Rin Tin Tin now and then, which is difficult for a three or four-pound dog to do.

Better today because I got EXHAUSTED. Plus, pain. Hurt my other knee in a fall a day or two before Pooch died (coming in the house with her on a leash and carrying too much stuff--tripped over my own feet or the threshhold). Lay on the floor howing and moaning, at which Pooch was, as ever, unimpressed. And my back is spasming a lot. Bending bending bending for pads cleanup. Washing blankets day after day. I have two weeks' worth of filthy dishes in the kitchen and Mt. Everest laundry to fold.

But he's worth it. A sweet and funny little madman. Whew. One day he'll live up to the mellow shitzu part. Now he's mostly a maniac.

Which fits, since I am insane to start with a puppy at 74. Gotta grind through this chapter and then...maybe?...I'll have the calm lap companion of my dreams. Or...not! He's forcing me back to life in a lot of ways. Cried for Pooch briefly this morning, just staring at my tea. I'll miss her always. There was incredible communion with her.

But it's coming with Pup. A friend who came by said she could see how bonded to me he is already. He performed his first nonstop outdoor zoomies for us, which were outstanding. So much laughter. He was so tired he slept nearly all day yesterday.

Hugs
Hops

[lighter]

So. Tiny!  Three or four pounds is so small! 

Sounds like love to me, Hops.

Hope you heal up and feel better quick.

Lighter

[Hopalong]

The rescue lady estimates he'll top out around 10 lbs.
Could be, though that may be as reliable as her description of him as "mostly housetrained." HAH.

But she heard how important the weight was to me, and may have told me what I wanted to hear. He won't be really big, and smaller than Pooch, I'll wager.

She also hasn't produced written medical records, which irks me. I've asked twice.

Hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Keep asking, Hops.  Don't ask, don't get.

[Hopalong]

Well, they may not exist...not sure what her problem is. She talked about given and will-be-needed shots in an email. I'd just like the paper trail to give our vet.

[Hopalong]

[Longwinded account of a very minor thing, so don't waste energy. Just benefitted from writing it out, fwiw.]

Well, Pup is a terrorist. While he's looking all handsome and charming, he is plotting murder. He found a baby bunny and dumped it on the step as he scooted back inside, all "who, me?". The next day he re-found it and I got the poor thing away from him. Holding it, I was surprised that it looked perfect, just quiet...then turned it over and found a horrible slash across its belly/torso. Oddly no bleeding, but it looked like what a sharp puppy tooth could do. No visible puncture or stuff hanging out though, so I took it in, looked up stuff and put it in a small box on a soft towel, with a heating pad under part of the box.

Called a rehabber twice, no luck. By two days I'd had enough (all sources said no food or water, leave in quiet with heat source) -- so I'd just be imagining this lovely hurt young creature dying alone dehydrated in my kitchen. I drove (with an excited Pup as distracting passenger --- couple hair-raising swerves on the interstate) to the best wildlife center there is. We went over the mountain and they said they'd be glad to treat it, push antibiotics etc. To fix that wound surgically would take VERY tiny stitches. Big relief. I was afraid it'd die on the way.

A last thing I love about this org is they give you a patient number for the wildlife you bring in, so you can inquire how they're doing in a few days. Lovely idea.

Anyway, this was long and prolly boring, so feel NO need to reply!

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Oh, Hops.....the little bunny got the best care.  I wasn't bored reading all that.  I was on the edge of my seat ...and procrastinating for a minute at the lake house. 

Pup isn't a murderer, btw.  Just following his programming.  I hope his desire to please (you) takes over.

The situation sounded very stressful.

[sKePTiKal]

Pups (and kitties) will do that because they're trying to take care of you - bringing you food and teaching you to hunt.

LOLOL. Ain't reciprocity GREAT? more LOLOLOLOL.

[Hopalong]

Pup has Aunties!
Thanks, y'all.

I remember cracking up the first time I learned that cats are not trying to feed you critters....they're patiently repeating unwanted wounded victims on the kitchen floor  because they don't understand why these enormous dim-witted kittens won't catch on!

My two "hunter" dogs were generally lousy at it, fortunately, though I was sad to witness two bloody groundhog slaughters, complete with horrible screams, from my last Big Dog....she was a gorgeous mystery creature...stunningly beautiful and, as it turned out, lethal now and then. Before her, the Biggest Dog was fortunately a hunting doofus. Purebred and huge yellow Lab, brought to a tiny rural shelter because he was a lousy hunter. Perfect for me! So gorgeous a fancy pimp on the street in the 70s once stopped us and said, "I'll give you five-hunnert for that dog!" Forget it, buddy.

Last Big Dog was discovered in the belly of a stray some vet students in Atlanta (one the son of a publisher friend of mine) were "learning surgery on" -- they had missed that the stray subject was pregnant, and the son-vet brought the two surviving puppies home on holiday break. They invited us over and my D went berserk for the pup, whom I cared for for the next 13 years after endless passionate promises "Mom, I'll do all the work..." LOL. Big Dog was wild-looking and mysterious -- a really spectacular being. People would stop on the street and ask "What breed is that?" Hah. Don't do breeds -- she was a magnificent mystery mix. Double coat that flowed in the wind, erect ears, sort of wolfish face, reserved personality, coiled energy. Her mam was a white shepherd mix, her tongue was black (like a chow). No telling about genes, it was pre-doggy-DNA.

I've loved every dog I've ever had. Pooch was in a different category altogether...soul bonding, like living with a sister version of Buddha. But every one has walked right into my heart. Pup is chewing, clawing, barking and peeing his way...but he's in.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

What a nice post to have morning coffee with, Hops. 

My DD23's spirit animal is her pug.

Strangely, she watches mice cross the kitch n floor and doesn't even stand up.  Once she pulled a baby mole out of the underbrush and was all...."can we keep it?"

No killer instinct, past ripping doggy toys apart, starting with the nose.  Every time.

I'm curious if you're writing, Hops.  I hope so.

Lighter

[lighter]

How is your little chap pup doing, Hops?

Need an update, please!

[Hopalong]

He needs to go to military school.
But he's trying. Cute in manyyyy ways.
I love him. The heat's turned us both into pancakes.
It's a LOT of work ime, and I need to give him more time, stimulation, training.
Feel like a bad Mom sometimes. We're signed up for obedience training next month.

My sleep is so messed up that I got day and night mixed up after an all-nighter (I was nervous about seeing the handyman I've developed a crush on and didn't sleep at all). Felt like a 14 y/o. If there are 14 y/o zombies. Two nights later I still hadn't recovered (from the no-sleep night) and crashed into a nap in the evening without
realizing I'd left him on the patio not in his pen. The nap turned into a coma. Oops.

The next morning after a heavy rain I opened the door and there he was, absolutely soaked. He looked at me with a total What the F**k? expression, marched in and I dried him off and fussed over him a lot and we cuddled in bed and he bit me half as much. (That's how I'm measuring our progress. He likes to bite everything but is catching on.) Teething must be driving him nuts, Bully Sticks help.

A few poems have appeared, Lighter. I'm pretty slow these days, unproductive. But I did get the kitchen cleaned up before the cleaner came this morning, and when she saw me clutching the piano to not fall down she offered to come back next week. I was glad she did. I've been having low-BP and/or hypoglycemia episodes pretty often in the mornings...I'll get quite weak and worry about the legs giving way. Started having a fat spoonful of honey morning and night, will see if it helps.

Thanks for asking about Pup. Wild man. I'm glad he's here and I hope I will do right by him. Oh, got a fancy heavy new black chaise for the patio. Once the bugs ease up I'll spend more time outside with him, which he loves. Still does great zoomies. The bugs have been horrid this year. My ankles and arms are bug ice cream...

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Oh, dear!  Sounds like an adjustment with the puppets.  They all chew and need training   You're doing fine.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but my T recommended Hawthorne to even out blood pressure.  She takes it.  I take it.  You might consider it.  I don't like how wobbly you're feeling, but understand it's complicated.  You're informed, I know that much.

Can't wait for crisp cool fall weather.  You and pup will enjoy that chaise when the bugs go.  Sorry you have so many bites.

I think my standard long sleeves and pants keep me mostly unbitten.  My sister thinks I'm crazy for dressing this way in the heat, but I just really hate bug bites!

Don't judge  how your days line up or sleep patterns.  When energy comes, and it will, embrace it.

Otherwise,  don't waste the down time feeling guilty.  Embrace it, sans shame, and see what's there, besides a wet and disappointed pup, lol. 

I really enjoyed reading your post, Hops.  I'd be happy to read your recent poems, if you don't mind sharing them.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

How are you & pup getting on Hops? Negotiated a truce yet on the housebreaking? 

[Hopalong]

Thanks, guys. Pup and I are making progress.
The reason he's only half housebroken is me...when your person sleeps all morning and you GOTTA go, you gotta go. But he's catching on and his mistakes are fewer. I have puppy pads everywhere. The classes should get us both into practices that help.

The heat might be breaking, though I'm afraid to get my hopes up. Fall will come, regardless.

The patio side has its glam new black door and looks much better. The only planting I plan is some mums in the big pots...waiting for handyguy as my back Will Not at the moment.

The rain garden is choked with growth, and I can't tell which are weeds and which were intentional. I'll turn garden guy loose on it next time he can spare a few hours. Mostly this summer, I've just let it all be so it's getting jungly. Out back, mimosas and wild grape and all sorts of invaders like that are enjoying themselves, and I don't mind it not being manicured at all. It's "ungardened" though regularly mowed. Birds and smaller wildlife definitely feel at home.

My current Pup worry is something he does now and then. When I'm not hypervigilant he'll come right next to my head and deliver a truly piercing very loud bark and my ears (already with tinnitus) will ring at double volume for hours. That actually does worry me as although it's funny to think about, it could contribute to permanent hearing loss. Grrr.

Anyhoo, I do love him and when I feel energetic enough to take him places and entertain him with new people, he's very sweet and fun. The gory truth is, though, I wouldn't do it again. It was a grief-crazed impulse and I should've stuck to my initial plan of adopting a mellow elder dog. So be it...life is made of such decisions.

He's just a little tempest of testosterone!

Thanks for checking on us.

hugs
Hops