Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Life Outside the Gate

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I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with me.  Perhaps it’s my lack of sleep, perhaps it’s exhaustion or stress from dealing with a post surgery Sampson, maybe it’s just blogging burnout but right now I feel like I can’t manage to string two sentences together to make a blog post.

None-the-less I’m going to take my best shot for Thursday’s Barks and Bytes.

Sampson – A post surgery Sampson is exhausting me.  He wants to run, and he’s tired of being confined to a little room, in fact yesterday he made his way down the STAIRS.  If I’d put some thought into it, I would have led him out the garage and back into the yard, BUT in my blind panic, I led him back up the stairs!

I’m still kicking myself and praying he didn’t damage anything.

Since he and I are sleeping on a futon mattress in the office, and he’s pretty bored, he’s taken to waking me up shortly after 3:00 am so I can take him outside where he stands forlornly at the gate staring out into the great outdoors.  I think he’s dreaming of life outside the gate.  Once back inside he seems resigned to his fate and snuggles up with his head under my chin.

He’s also wise to how we are giving him his pills.  He used to take them willingly in a big ball of coconut oil and then that stopped working.   I switched to Ricotta cheese and when that stopped working, I started rolling the Ricotta Cheese in some dried beef liver.  He’s wise to that now too.  Yesterday I started out the day with him spitting pills on my wall.  My comforter was covered in Ricotta, he was covered in Ricotta and when I got in the car I realized I too was covered in Ricotta.

Yesterday we had a great conversation on my Facebook page and Carol Bondy suggested Liverwurst.  I stopped by the grocery store and picked some up (I can use it for training if need be) and last night he took the pills without a problem!  Thank you CAROL!

There were lots of good suggestions, such as peanut butter (which I’m trying to stay away from because of the calories and his limited exercise,) Tripe, Vienna Sausages and would you believe Marshmallows?

On a positive note, Delilah and I have been getting out and enjoying some nicer weather with some half hour walks.  It’s a start.

And because I can, some photos I’ve been wanting to share.

Sampson and me the day after surgery when I picked him up.

Holy Woof, please tell me my hair doesn't really look like that from the back!

Holy Woof, please tell me my hair doesn’t really look like that from the back!

When he first came home we worked super hard to keep the dogs separated.  Let’s face it, Delilah can be a bit of a bull in a china shop.  But the first morning she came in to check on him and it was SO cute.

You gonna be okay Bubba?

You gonna be okay Bubba?

VOTE NOW

Remember that pancake I dehydrated?  Well now is the time to vote.  As of right now, I’m getting my ass soundly handed to me by a BICHON.  WTF?  Please, please for the love of dog, CLICK HERE and vote for #9!

I did mention that it was Thursday’s Barks and Bytes, didn’t I?  The blog hop for pet bloggers and non-pet bloggers and everyone in between!  Hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog.  Grab the badge, add your link and join the fun!

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No Is When the Negotiation Begins

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I’ve frequently said Delilah and I are very alike.  We are both determined, stubborn, and persistent, with a desire to please people. These traits can be both a blessing and a curse depending upon the situation.

One of my favorite sayings that I heard from my friend Laura is “No is when the negotiations begin.”  I would say this holds true for both Delilah and myself.  The surest way to get me to do anything is to tell me I can’t do it.

I try something and it doesn’t work so I try it in a different way.  Sometimes though, I have to accept the fact that it’s just not doable.

Thankfully dogs are not capable of understanding can’t. And Delilah NEVER takes no for an answer.

Me: Delilah you aren’t a lap dog.

 

I'm comfy, how about you?

Delilah: How can you say that?  Look I fit.

 

When we got our last big snowstorm, I didn’t get around to shoveling off the back stairs and once the snow starting melting, the stairs got really dangerous.  I took to placing a wicker patio chair upside down at the bottom of the steps to prevent the dogs from going up or down.

Except it didn’t.

What the woof is this chair doing in my way?

What the woof is this chair doing in my way?

Delilah of course,  went off into the snow and jumped off the wall.

These dogs will be the death of me.

Sampson had his ACL surgery on Tuesday.  

The surgeon said it went exactly the way you’d like your dog’s surgery to go.   The procedure used is called TTA.  This required Sampson to spend the night at the vets.  That was super hard for me, as he has never stayed at the vet’s office before.  I checked in on him throughout his stay and he seemed to tolerate it well, although he may have a touch of stress colitis going on, so I’m keeping a close eye on him.

My sister went with me to help me get him in and out of the car and into the house.   While we were waiting we got a bit silly.

3-27-14-2

 

They had this really cool statue in the lobby, I’m not sure you can tell or not, but it’s on a platform with wheels.  After waiting about 10 minutes, my sister said, “Let’s put the cone, collar and leash on the ‘dog’ and I’ll push, you pull and we can take it for a walk.”

We giggled.  Then I handed her my phone and said, “Push this button and take my picture with the dog and the cone.”

Oh yes I did.

3-27-14-4

I’m best not left alone to my own devices when I’m anxious.

Eventually we met with the physical therapist and FINALLY she went and got Sampson.  As soon as he got out of the car, he peed and pooped.   Once in the house he took a big drink of water and finished his breakfast.  About fifteen minutes later,  he threw up.  The next time he went outside and pooped I noticed a little blood on it.  I called the vet’s office and that’s when they said he may have some stress colitis going on.  We both tended to agree the vomiting was due to him drinking so much water. but I was advised to keep an eye on it and call if it continues.

I’m planning a post on Sampson’s recovery and what it entails and that will probably be some time next week, but I did want to update you all and let you know how he was doing and thank you all again for the awesome support.  I couldn’t have gotten through Tuesday without your texts, phone calls, messages and comments.  You are the very best friends a girl could have!!  Please bear with me as we get through the next phase of Sampson’s recovery and I hope to be back visiting and catching up with all of you soon!

Welcome to Thursday’s Barks and Bytes hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog.  Please grab the badge and join the fun!

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Chip ‘N Delilah

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Chip ‘N Delilah

Today is the first day of Spring!!  Yay, I love Spring, it’s one of my favorite seasons.  Despite our weather’s decided lack of cooperation, there’s one sure sign of Spring at our house.

The chipmunks are out.

Yesterday morning found Delilah back to her favorite spot to window watch the chipmunks.  Believe it or not there have been times when I’ve actually caught her sitting there with drool hanging from her mouth.  It’s totally not her fault, the lab up the street told her they taste like chicken.

As I was bustling about in the morning, packing my lunch, washing dishes and my general morning rush, I looked over and found Delilah glued to the window.  Luckily my camera was right on the counter, so I grabbed it and started playing with the settings taking various photos.

Don't ask me what the setting is. Like I can remember! LOL

Don’t ask me what the setting is. Like I can remember! LOL

It wasn’t until I got right on top of her that I realized there was a chipmunk not more than five feet from her.

I didn't even see the darn thing at first!

I didn’t even see the darn thing at first!

In my best effort to help Delilah realize her wildest dreams, I ever so carefully removed the bell from the door knob and moved it out of the way, when I went back to unlock the door, the chipmunk was gone.

Drats!  Foiled again!  Hang in there Delilah, one of these days you’ll score you a chippie.

It’s Been So Long

It’s been so long since I’ve taken my dogs on a walk that I’ve quite forgotten what goes into it.

Yesterday I went home at lunch to give the dogs a break.  I left Delilah in the yard and walked Sampson down the driveway to the front of the house.  This is a sure way to get him to tinkle.  There is something about tinkling in the front that he absolutely loves.  He really wanted to hobble about so we crossed the street and then looped around and back into the yard.  The whole hobble took less than five minutes, but I hope it gave him a change of scenery.

Delilah was up next.  I grabbed her collar, leashed her up and walked out the door.  (Sampson of course, was ticked off and went to the window to bark his displeasure.)

We walked up the street and straight into the park and then I realized I was still in my work shoes, I had no phone, no camera, and no pepper spray.  And when Delilah responded immediately to me and looked at me for her reward, I realized I had no treats either.

Dog walking = epic fail.

Winter has been too long and too hard and it’s been far too long since I’ve enjoyed some bonding time with my dogs.  I mean to rectify that sooner rather than later.

Unhappy Puppy

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Sampson is learning how to get around on three legs.  When he first hurt himself he was okay with laying on the his bed on the floor for the night.   All of that changed Tuesday morning.  He woke me up about 3:20.  I leashed him up and took him outside where he sat down and stared at the sky.

I took him back inside and into the room that is supposed to be my office.  It is equipped with a futon, which is much lower to the floor than our bed.  I helped him get up on there, then climbed in beside him.  As I lay there unable to fall back asleep, I decided that this is where he and I will be sleeping until he has fully recovered from his surgery.  He’s happier snuggled up with his Mama and truthfully, I’m happier with him beside me.

This weekend Hubby and I will be working on this room to turn it into safe place for him to recover.

But while I was laying there in the quiet of the early morning, I swear I heard a coyote.  It was pretty darn cool, mostly because I was inside and they were not.  I’m pretty sure I’d feel differently if I was sleeping outside.

Have you heard about Thursday’s Barks and Bytes blog hop hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog?  It’s a blog hop for anyone.  All we ask is that you grab a badge from one of our blogs and mention your hosts.  Oh and don’t forget to add your link.

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