We are puppy-sitting!
Our neighbors, who have taken our dog Goldie several times for us, are on vacation in Boston, and we have their two 7-month old Shelties: Thor, and Zena (the Warrior Princess)!
Actually it was the first night that was the worst -- after all, it was the puppies first night away from home. Every howl of a coyote, or distant barking dog in the night, woke them up and they proceeded to respond with wild, piercing, barking of their own. What a way to be jarred awake -- several times!
The 2nd night Rick slept in the guest room! But the puppies were much quieter. And I closed our bedroom window and doorwall to keep some of the night sounds out. They have still been waking up pretty early, but it's been much better.
Goldie isn't so sure though! She goes to lay down in her favorites spots and, oh no! A puppy is there. She'll go somewhere else, and, oh no! A puppy has followed her! She's snarled a couple of times as one of them tried to come near while she chews on a rawhide -- which, by the way, she stole from them!!!
But puppies are fun! They follow me everywhere! They are really good dogs (except for the ear-piercing barking). They are potty-trained, and well, mostly quite.
And energy!... geez, they run around our yard, hoping up rocks and hills, spinning around, diving between cactus and succulents, running through bamboo, back down the rocks, around the pool, over the deck, and then they do it again! Oh, and they bark crazily while running all around! :)
Saturday: well, 2 quite nights in a row! And coyotes and dogs were barking outside during the night! That sound woke me up, even though it's distant, 'cause I was prepared to hear the puppies go at it.... but nope! they didn't! And I didn't have to get up until 6:30!! They were awake earlier, but played QUIETLY! wow!
Our other neighbors, Wayne and Gunde, come by at 7:30 and take the pups for a long walk each morning. They (all 4!) come back tired and ready for a nap! It's already hot by the time they return.
Sunday: The pups are doing GREAT! I think we are all much more used to each other and calmer. Suzanne has one of the "Dog Whisper" books at her house and I have been reading it while sitting outside with the doggies. The book is probably helping too. This morning the pups woke up but just hung around quietly until I got up.
I have to take them home while Rick and Julian packed up Jule's car to head back to MSU. He arrived about 10pm Saturday night, and he and Rick left at 10am Sunday morning!
With them gone too it will sure be quite when Thor and Zena go home Monday. Then it will be back to lazy days with a 13 year old Golden Retriever! Us girls will have to just sit in the shade by the pool!
Monday:Well, the puppies went home. And we were starting to have a very good relationship! I had several full nights sleep, they played QUITELY in our yard and theirs, and well, they are really good dogs! Good thing they only live across the street! I will see them every day and we can continue to bond! :-)
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