Ty One On!

Another very pressing matter that the world needs to know is that I have a new puppy.  I have not had the best luck with puppies in the past (see the story of Buck) but I am hoping this will be a much happier story.

His name is Ty (short for Tayau which is the Cajun word for a big old hungry slobbery hound dog.)

Ty is freakin adorable.  He is eerily similar in description to Buck which I worry makes me some kind of crazy dog replacer but my sister says I just have a type.  I prefer that explanation.


So back to how adorable he is, I must say that he is changing by the day.  He has already gone from this:

To this carpet-wetting shiny eyed monster:

Seriously though, he is a joy most of the time and he and the monster are getting along well.  You know I'm a big fan of dogs so I'm sure you will be seeing more of these pictures.  I love the ears now, which remind me of those triangular garden flags people hang.  Maybe state flags for the land adorable.

Ty's tiny teeth
Hardly hurt at all
Until a few weeks later
When they're bigger than I recall.

He sits soundlessly in my lap
Curled up like a dinner roll
It was only half my lap
Now he takes it up in whole

Afraid of actions and sounds
As in, every one under the sun!
But suddenly he runs 'round the ranch
Exploring and having fun.

He started a tiny puppy
But is almost the size of a horse.
He is somehow outgrowing me
With no sign at all of remorse.

Bye Bye Buck

 

Buck and the Monster together

Well, sad entry here.  Poor little Buck died today.  I am so sorry for him and it sounds crazy but I really miss him even though he had only been here for a few weeks.  Even the Monster looks for him outside when I come in, and checked out his crate a few times to see if he was in there.  He was a little mini-me to her and a little buddy to me.

I feel like I let him down because he was just a little puppy and he needed someone to take care of him.  It feels like somehow I failed.

He had a lot of potential, he was smart and sweet and curious and playful.  We're not sure what caused his body to give out but I'm going to take this moment to get up on the soapbox again and say to make sure you vaccinate your pets!  It doesn't just effect your pet when they are not vaccinated, they can be carrier for diseases and possible create epidemics for other pets so vaccinate or else!  It is the responsible thing to do.

Poor little puppy Buck
Had terrible medical luck.
When his sickness really got rough
It turned out that loving him wasn't enough.

I will miss you Buck!!

Indian summer

Ok so our indian summer in Dallas is officially over.  It was so lovely for a while there...breezy, sunny, lovely weather.  I love the idea of an indian summer, you get one last week to say goodbye to warm weather. Just as you are walking forward into fall, you metaphorically pause as you are adjusting your scarf, then look back towards summer and have a brief memory of the season past.  Love it!

Here is something that has not ended: my dog's indian summer.  I am using that phrase because she is getting up there in years, but  lately she has had a surge of energy.  She is jumping around like a puppy and wanting to play all the time.  She drags toys out of her toy bin and tries to get me interested in throwing a ball or pulling a rope.  I see it as a brief look back on to being a puppy before the winter of her lifetime begins, but I hope her indian summer never ends.

Indian summer
Warm. Peppy.
Dazzling, flaring...fading.
Past youth's short burst
Reminder

Wasp Attack

Ok now that I have publicly (via blog) claimed not to be obsessed with my dog (AKA The Monster) but I have something to confess. I actually rushed my dog to the emergency clinic yesterday with a wasp sting. It gets more ridiculous, the wasp sting was in her mouth.

Yes, IN her mouth. You see, The Monster likes to chase flying insects. I honestly I don't mind that little indiscretion because she keeps our home relatively fly-free and she spits them right out.

Well my nurturing of this habit apparently gave her the courage to take on bigger insects because while she was outside yesterday she tried to eat a wasp. Obviously they have a better defense mechanism than flies do and that is how she got stung.

I fed her a Benadryl, but she started to look groggy and stumble around so I took her in to the emergency vet.

It turns out The Monster was having a reaction to the sting and the Benadryl helped, but I did not even think twice about the possible price tag before taking her in for a probably small thing. So I guess I am a huge animal softy.

And now that I have that off my chest, I would also like to admit, sometimes I actually do try and reason with her.

Canine oral wasp sting haiku:

Wasp sting on her tongue.
Could effect getting kisses
If it starts to swell.

[Ed. note: A huge shout out to Jeanie who found a nearby clinic online and talked me through the whole ordeal even though she is a doctor for people, not dogs. Also it was a Sunday.]

Canine Bulemia

People worry so much about their pets these days that it can get a little ridiculous in my opinion. I cannot imagine a scenario where I would consider acupuncture or psychoanalysis for my dog, yet both of these services exist and seem to be thriving.

I don't refer to myself as the dog's mommy since I did not give birth to her and we are, in fact, completely different species. I don't reason with her or explain why I have told her no. I don't believe in dressing her in clothing and accessories.*

But in spite of my logical approach to dog rearing, I am suddenly worried. I think my dog has an eating disorder. First of all, when I put food in her bowl, she will not eat it until I have walked away. She just stares at me as if to say "Could I have a little privacy here?"

Second, she is doing a lot of vomiting lately. I am sorry for those that find this gross but you should be aware that this activity is voluntary for dogs. They can't digest grass, so they eat it when they want to yack up whatever is in their stomach. My dog as been on a steady diet of St. Augustine with occasional side of ryegrass.

Third, she has gotten quite thin lately. I thought it was because the people who took care of her while I was away walked her a lot, but now I am starting to wonder if there are unhealthy thoughts behind that physique.
I vaguely remember from some after school special that these signs indicate an eating disorder. I am not sure if I should be worried.

Canine eating disorder mantra haiku:
Don't eat while they watch,
Nibbles only past midnight
Chomp grass 'til you yack.

*Except one Halloween but that Yoda costume was too good to pass up. If you don't belive me, please see below.

The Monster

The monster reference here is not to the Jabberwocky, the namesake creature of this blog. Instead I am referring to my dog who is lovingly known to some as The Monster. She is actually not monstrous at all (except maybe her breath which could potentially wilt plastic flowers.)
The best way to describe her is this: she is truly an "old soul."
I miss her, maybe the most of all the things I miss from home. (Nothing personal dear family, but at least you can Skype and email.*)
Here she is in my favorite picture of her, and one of 3 good pictures I have ever taken (that is a lifetime photography success rate of about .006%)
Monster/homesick haiku:
Brown and black hair found.
Distinct to my dog, back home.
Missing the small things.

*This comment is notwithstanding the one email I did get from The Monster, originating from my sister's email account. Arigato, Sister-san.