Yesterday, Marley had her annual vet appointment. She's healthy, but 8 pounds overweight, so we decided to cut back from 3 cups of food/day to only two. This morning, she let me know that she was still hungry by grabbing a cardboard box and ripping it to shreds. I gave her tough love though by I scolding her and not giving in to her whimpers for more food. We'll see how long it takes her to adjust.
Last night after Marley's vet appointment, Eric and I went to PetSmart to buy food, treats and a toy for my not-so-little terror. We can't buy her stuffed animals because she rips them apart and then eats them, we can't buy her plastic toys because she breaks them apart and eats them and we can't buy her tennis balls because once again she eats them. So we have to resort to the more expensive Kong-brand dog toys that take an extra long time for her to destroy.
Last night, we decided on getting her a tug of war contraption. The concept is that she grabs one end, we grab the other and we wrestle, which would give her more exercise and help her shed some of those unwanted pounds. The problem is that Marley can't comprehend the game. She just wants to chew on it. And while I am so glad that obedience school is starting to pay off, Marley no longer understands the game of tug of war. When we get our end of the toy, Marley instantly drops her end. Eric even tried putting his end in his mouth so that she could visualize the concept of the game... gross. It took more than 20 minutes before Marley finally understood that it was ok to play with the toy by tugging on her end while I held on for dear life on my end. It was short-lived, however, Marley walked away within 5 minutes of the game starting and went back to chewing on it. We'll practice again tonight.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunshine = Smile
I am very happy that the warm weather has finally decided to grace us with its presence here in Western New York. Don't get me wrong, we had a relatively mild winter, and some even say we didn't have much of a winter at all. However, in my opinion, it was still chilly until just recently and this past week has been gorgeous!
Warm weather puts me in a fabulous mood - although not the hot, hot, hot weather (when it's too hot, I'm a hot mess) - rather when the temperature allows the sun to warm your face, but not drench your hair with sweat. I love to open the windows and let a nice cross breeze in, and it's music to my ears hearing the birds chirp and the neighborhood children laughing as they play outside. It's just hard to be unhappy with the sun is shining bright. Last night, I met a friend for a stroll in the park and although it had just rained, and the mugginess and the bugginess were not the most pleasant (refer back to the sweat hair comment) it was still wonderful to be outside doing outside things. Happy Spring all!
Warm weather puts me in a fabulous mood - although not the hot, hot, hot weather (when it's too hot, I'm a hot mess) - rather when the temperature allows the sun to warm your face, but not drench your hair with sweat. I love to open the windows and let a nice cross breeze in, and it's music to my ears hearing the birds chirp and the neighborhood children laughing as they play outside. It's just hard to be unhappy with the sun is shining bright. Last night, I met a friend for a stroll in the park and although it had just rained, and the mugginess and the bugginess were not the most pleasant (refer back to the sweat hair comment) it was still wonderful to be outside doing outside things. Happy Spring all!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Cinco De Mayo, fifth in class: coincidence?
Saturday was Marley's last obedience class, but she wasn't as excited to go as she normally was. She seemed off from the minute we woke up on Saturday, and Eric leaned over and said to me that maybe we should skip the class. I told him no, that we were going to the class, and that she'd be fine. I said her ADD would subside once we got settled, but I'm ashamed to admit that I was wrong.
When we got to class, she was going crazy. She was jumping, not listening and pulling as we walked into school. She just wouldn't settle down, and it was as if we were back to week one. She "forgot" how to lay down, she needed to be told repeatedly to sit and she refused to do the obstacle course in a timely fashion. Needless to say, I was embarrassed by Marley. After the obstacle course, we went outside to practice come when called. I was adamant that she would listen to me and I was determined to prove my husband wrong, I told him she really did know the command and she wouldn't be distracted by the other dogs and the play area. Little did I know, Marley was dead set on proving me wrong. She ran right passed me, and refused to come back. When we finally went back inside, we were given awards and Marley placed last, but the trainer tried to throw us a bone by saying she tied with the American bulldog in the class for fourth. I told her that our feelings weren't hurt, and it was ok to be honest, Marley placed fifth out of the five dogs in attendance. It's hard to admit when you're wrong, but I should have listened to my husband and stayed away from the evaluation class. Marley and me, we still have some work to do.
When we got to class, she was going crazy. She was jumping, not listening and pulling as we walked into school. She just wouldn't settle down, and it was as if we were back to week one. She "forgot" how to lay down, she needed to be told repeatedly to sit and she refused to do the obstacle course in a timely fashion. Needless to say, I was embarrassed by Marley. After the obstacle course, we went outside to practice come when called. I was adamant that she would listen to me and I was determined to prove my husband wrong, I told him she really did know the command and she wouldn't be distracted by the other dogs and the play area. Little did I know, Marley was dead set on proving me wrong. She ran right passed me, and refused to come back. When we finally went back inside, we were given awards and Marley placed last, but the trainer tried to throw us a bone by saying she tied with the American bulldog in the class for fourth. I told her that our feelings weren't hurt, and it was ok to be honest, Marley placed fifth out of the five dogs in attendance. It's hard to admit when you're wrong, but I should have listened to my husband and stayed away from the evaluation class. Marley and me, we still have some work to do.
Monday, April 16, 2012
From suicidal to homicidal?
While I was on the phone with my mother yesterday I overheard my husband tell Marley not to move. His exact words - in a low, calming voice were, "Marley, don't move, relax. Ugh you are such a crazy dog." My ears immediately perked up as I asked him what was going on. Still in a calm, soothing voice, he tells my that the dog has gotten a hold of a steak knife, and she has it in her mouth... Seriously? How did she get a hold of a freaking steak knife?
I tell my mom that I'll have to call her back, because Marley is in a stand off with Eric and she has a knife in her mouth and could lunge at him at any moment. She couldn't help but laugh at this hilarious, but dangerous situation. As I left the home office, Marley booked it down the stairs and into the living room. I tried to cut her off by using the kitchen entrance, but she ran past me. Eric, in a now annoyed voice, asked me why I didn't do a better job at blocking her... um, hello, have you forgotten the important fact that she has a knife and I don't want to get cut and have to explain to a doctor how I was injured in a knife fight with my 1 year old labradoodle.
Within seconds, however, I got her to drop her weapon by using the highly-persuasive negotiating method of bribery by pupperoni. It's her kryptonite, and she immediately dropped the knife without incident. Luckily no one, including Marley, was hurt, but I'm still baffled as to how she got the knife from the drawer.
Something tells me Canine Academy is going to regret offering pet owners the option of repeating obedience classes for free. Marley certainly has not mastered any of the commands that we have been working on - such as come when called, drop it, or leave it. She's a sweet dog, but I seriously think she could benefit from seeing a psychologist. She's literally nuts!
I tell my mom that I'll have to call her back, because Marley is in a stand off with Eric and she has a knife in her mouth and could lunge at him at any moment. She couldn't help but laugh at this hilarious, but dangerous situation. As I left the home office, Marley booked it down the stairs and into the living room. I tried to cut her off by using the kitchen entrance, but she ran past me. Eric, in a now annoyed voice, asked me why I didn't do a better job at blocking her... um, hello, have you forgotten the important fact that she has a knife and I don't want to get cut and have to explain to a doctor how I was injured in a knife fight with my 1 year old labradoodle.
Within seconds, however, I got her to drop her weapon by using the highly-persuasive negotiating method of bribery by pupperoni. It's her kryptonite, and she immediately dropped the knife without incident. Luckily no one, including Marley, was hurt, but I'm still baffled as to how she got the knife from the drawer.
Something tells me Canine Academy is going to regret offering pet owners the option of repeating obedience classes for free. Marley certainly has not mastered any of the commands that we have been working on - such as come when called, drop it, or leave it. She's a sweet dog, but I seriously think she could benefit from seeing a psychologist. She's literally nuts!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Changes to be Made
Ever look back at life and think of ways to improve? I've been doing some considerable self reflection in the past few months and realized that I can definitely improve the way I choose to lead my life.
For instance, somethings are better left unsaid. I have learned the hard way that I need to be careful of what I say in my attempts to be an open and honest person. Sometimes, I may have a tendency to reveal my feelings when maybe it'd be better if I kept my thoughts to my self. Life change number 1... take a step back and think before I speak.
Life change number 2. I don't know everything, so I need to make a better attempt to learn something new every day. Rather than nodding and keeping my questions to myself, I need to ask the right questions so that I can learn the necessary information, rather than having to go back and look it up later. No one will think I'm ill-prepared if I ask a pertinent question. In fact, there may be someone else in the crowd who's wondering the same thing.
Finally, I need to realize that I can not control everything. Sometimes, you just have to leave things to fate. I need to enjoy my life as it is today, and welcome the changes of tomorrow.
There are always ways to self improve, and that's what I intend to do. I'll strive to be a better wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend and professional. At the end of the day, I need to reflect and be proud of who I am and who I intend to be now and in the future.
For instance, somethings are better left unsaid. I have learned the hard way that I need to be careful of what I say in my attempts to be an open and honest person. Sometimes, I may have a tendency to reveal my feelings when maybe it'd be better if I kept my thoughts to my self. Life change number 1... take a step back and think before I speak.
Life change number 2. I don't know everything, so I need to make a better attempt to learn something new every day. Rather than nodding and keeping my questions to myself, I need to ask the right questions so that I can learn the necessary information, rather than having to go back and look it up later. No one will think I'm ill-prepared if I ask a pertinent question. In fact, there may be someone else in the crowd who's wondering the same thing.
Finally, I need to realize that I can not control everything. Sometimes, you just have to leave things to fate. I need to enjoy my life as it is today, and welcome the changes of tomorrow.
There are always ways to self improve, and that's what I intend to do. I'll strive to be a better wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend and professional. At the end of the day, I need to reflect and be proud of who I am and who I intend to be now and in the future.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Seven years feels like yesterday.
It's hard to believe that yesterday marked the seventh anniversary of your going home to heaven to reunite with the love of your life, but I want you to know that when you left, a void was created that can never be replaced.
I'll never forget that fateful day that I left my house keys in my dorm room and needed to come over to borrow yours. I had planned on a visit anyway, but the situation prompted me to come over sooner in the day. I'm glad that I was there, but sad that I didn't understand the severity of the situation until later. At first, I thought you were sleeping, but the look on your face told me something was wrong. The look in your eyes and the urgency in your grasp is an image and a sadness that will haunt me forever. I wish I could have brought you some comfort in your time of need as you did so often for me. The ensuing week was one of the worst of my life, but knowing that you were heading home has brought me great comfort. Time may heal pain, but on the day you left, you took a piece of my heart. It's a piece that always belonged to you as my Nanny, my family and my confidant.
I'll always cherish the conversations we had about your childhood and how you grew into the strong, spunky and beloved woman that you were. The sound of your voice still rings in my ears, because some of my favorite memories involved sitting with you and talking - talking about today, talking about yesterday, talking about Papa and how he would drive you mad, but it didn't matter because you loved him with every fiber in your being. With these talks came life lessons and it's because of these lessons that you taught me to be strong and independent; to be spunky and fun; to be kind and to love from the tips of my fingers to the depths of my soul. You taught me to have faith in Christ and the Blessed Mother, and you taught me that the power of prayer can help conquer any roadblock that may come my way. The life lessons that you gave to me will always be present in the decisions that I make.
I love you today as much as I did then, and I hope that I have made you proud. Miss you always and forever.
I'll never forget that fateful day that I left my house keys in my dorm room and needed to come over to borrow yours. I had planned on a visit anyway, but the situation prompted me to come over sooner in the day. I'm glad that I was there, but sad that I didn't understand the severity of the situation until later. At first, I thought you were sleeping, but the look on your face told me something was wrong. The look in your eyes and the urgency in your grasp is an image and a sadness that will haunt me forever. I wish I could have brought you some comfort in your time of need as you did so often for me. The ensuing week was one of the worst of my life, but knowing that you were heading home has brought me great comfort. Time may heal pain, but on the day you left, you took a piece of my heart. It's a piece that always belonged to you as my Nanny, my family and my confidant.
I'll always cherish the conversations we had about your childhood and how you grew into the strong, spunky and beloved woman that you were. The sound of your voice still rings in my ears, because some of my favorite memories involved sitting with you and talking - talking about today, talking about yesterday, talking about Papa and how he would drive you mad, but it didn't matter because you loved him with every fiber in your being. With these talks came life lessons and it's because of these lessons that you taught me to be strong and independent; to be spunky and fun; to be kind and to love from the tips of my fingers to the depths of my soul. You taught me to have faith in Christ and the Blessed Mother, and you taught me that the power of prayer can help conquer any roadblock that may come my way. The life lessons that you gave to me will always be present in the decisions that I make.
I love you today as much as I did then, and I hope that I have made you proud. Miss you always and forever.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
suicide hotline for dogs?
So, I'm pretty sure that my dog is suicidal, since she just loves to get into things that could potentially kill her. Yesterday, while I was in the shower getting ready for work, I heard my hubby start yelling at Marley that she's a nut case with a serious screw loose. Then, he called for me to get out of the shower, because Marley managed to get an unopened bottle of aspirin off the counter and proceeded to eat the 32 pills contained inside.
First of all, I thought these bottles were child proof? Apparently that does not mean they are dog proof. Hair still soapy, I immediately got out the peroxide to induce vomiting. The first spoonful, I had help from the husband because I thought Marley would fight tooth and nail to not swallow it. Not my dog, she enjoyed the taste and wanted more. After 7 minutes of no throw up, I called the vet to explain the predicament we were in. I gave her a few more spoonfuls of the peroxide and finally she started to puke. The vet told me to bring her in right away, so I rinsed the remaining suds out of my hair, threw it back in a ponytail and got Marley into the car. She vomited two more times on the floor in the car and was ready to go once we got to the office. After an evaluation, we decided to keep her hospitalized for the day with fluids and another "coal" diet to help induce more vomiting. I went to work and kept the cell phone glued to my hip.
At 4:30 the vet called to say Marley was ready to come home and she was quite a handful while there. I asked the vet if there was a suicide hotline for pets we could call, and while she laughed, she explained that some dogs are just destructive. She then told me that Marley is the first dog they have ever seen that wanted more coal after her first bowl to help get her to vomit. After her stomach was cleared, she pretty much wanted to play all day, making it difficult to keep the IV with fluids in. She barked most of the day and kept the vet techs amused with her usual antics. Eric picked her up and when I got home she was happy and the same old puppy as usual. Later in the day I noticed she looked a little queasy, and it's my hope that she learned her lesson. I know that I have - when I get medicine it needs to be immediately locked away in the medicine cabinet. I don't have children yet, but I guess I need to start child proofing the house for the 66 lbs Labradoodle-terror that I have living with us.
We have her in obedience classes, and she's definitely made progress, but maybe she needs therapy, too. Anyone know of a dog psychologist they can recommend? We definitely have our hands full.
First of all, I thought these bottles were child proof? Apparently that does not mean they are dog proof. Hair still soapy, I immediately got out the peroxide to induce vomiting. The first spoonful, I had help from the husband because I thought Marley would fight tooth and nail to not swallow it. Not my dog, she enjoyed the taste and wanted more. After 7 minutes of no throw up, I called the vet to explain the predicament we were in. I gave her a few more spoonfuls of the peroxide and finally she started to puke. The vet told me to bring her in right away, so I rinsed the remaining suds out of my hair, threw it back in a ponytail and got Marley into the car. She vomited two more times on the floor in the car and was ready to go once we got to the office. After an evaluation, we decided to keep her hospitalized for the day with fluids and another "coal" diet to help induce more vomiting. I went to work and kept the cell phone glued to my hip.
At 4:30 the vet called to say Marley was ready to come home and she was quite a handful while there. I asked the vet if there was a suicide hotline for pets we could call, and while she laughed, she explained that some dogs are just destructive. She then told me that Marley is the first dog they have ever seen that wanted more coal after her first bowl to help get her to vomit. After her stomach was cleared, she pretty much wanted to play all day, making it difficult to keep the IV with fluids in. She barked most of the day and kept the vet techs amused with her usual antics. Eric picked her up and when I got home she was happy and the same old puppy as usual. Later in the day I noticed she looked a little queasy, and it's my hope that she learned her lesson. I know that I have - when I get medicine it needs to be immediately locked away in the medicine cabinet. I don't have children yet, but I guess I need to start child proofing the house for the 66 lbs Labradoodle-terror that I have living with us.
We have her in obedience classes, and she's definitely made progress, but maybe she needs therapy, too. Anyone know of a dog psychologist they can recommend? We definitely have our hands full.
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