It's been two months since The Butter died and I miss her every day. She was an excellent companion.
It's been one month since I picked up my "new" dogs - Bella and Toby.
They seem to be adjusting ok. There are still some issues about pottying in the house which is annoying but we're dealing with that.
Tobs is like some stoned jazz musician. I think he potties in the house partly because of his meds and partly because he's old. And also partly because he's trying to mark "his" territory.
We've put the kibosh on that by using our superior intellect and opposible thumb to place a belly band on him. He doesn't particularly like it but I don't like pee in my house. And I have the opposible thumb; therefore, I rule.
Bella needed to be "re-educated" about going outside to potty and she is doing much better. She had a UTI which made her go all of the time but that has cleared up and she will now go outside without wanting me to be there with her.
Tobs is just as cute as he can be with his little one eye and his tongue hanging out all of the time. He reminds me a lot of Wheezie when he was younger. He has that "woo-woo-woo" bark (which cracks me up) and he also prances when he sees me come home from work or when he sees me get his leash for a walk. It's so cute - especially since he is so fuzzy.
I'll need to shave him this summer because he is already getting hot and it's only about 70 degrees. He's got a really thick and heavy coat so I'm sure he'll appreciate it.
Bella, OTOH, is a needy princess. She cries when I leave (which is annoying) and she screams and cries when I come home or in the morning. When I come home from work, I put my stuff away and let them out to potty and she will follow me around crying and trying to lick my face.
She usually calms down after I let her lick my face and smell me but still - it's kinda gross and she whines the whole time she's doing it. I just don't understand that behavior.
If I'm out mowing the grass or digging in the yard (as I am wont to do), she will whine at me. Molly used to just sit there and watch me work (which I found amusing) but Bella wants to be under my feet constantly. Toby will usually wander around and do his own thing and not pay much attention to me once he knows where I'm at.
I've never had to deal with such a needy female before.
In the evenings when I come inside, we all sit on the couch and watch TV or I read for a while. Then the jostling for my lap starts. I have two hands and two dogs so it should be even, right? Not to Bella. She wants BOTH hands and ALL the attention. So usually she will lay across my lap and whine and paw at my hand until I rub her belly. I scratch Toby's ears with the other hand. Lucky for her, HE gets hot quickly so he doesn't like being in my lap for too long. But she just wants constant attention.
I just don't understand that. It's not like I don't pay any attention to her - I guess it must not be enough. It's more than she was getting at the rescue but maybe it will never be enough.
I have discovered that leaving a dirty T-shirt for her seems to calm her down. If I put one of my shirts in her bed, she is better when I come home. If that's what it takes, then I don't mind.
But they are both pretty good dogs. They get along ok and there is no fighting over food, water or treats or the beds. The only "fighting" (pushing and shoving) is over my lap.
Aside from Bella's neediness and Toby's inability to control his bladder, I like them just fine. They are learning more each day of how to walk on a leash and they really seem to like their walks. Tobs gets tired out pretty quickly (he's about 70 in human years so it's understandable). So Bella and I will take him then put him in the yard and go for a quick trot down the street and back to burn off some of her energy.
It's usually enough to keep them quiet the rest of the day. Bella has made a few attempts at playing but she's shown no interest in a ball or toy. She will attack and chew up an old leather glove we've been using to play but that's about it. I'm trying to teach her how to work for her treats by putting them in an open ball so she has to pry them out. She hasn't quite figured out how to use her "hands" to hold the thing down and pull the treat out. Now she just licks it all over the kitchen until I hold it for her.
She seems to want to be near me all of the time and I'm not used to that. I'm more used to Toby's style of just chillin' and sometimes getting some love. But I'll adjust.
The Rogue Goddess saw shadows dancing at 11:07 AM
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