New Tricks to Learn

Shades of Black and White (and Brown)

Over the course of these next two weeks we need to master CRAWL, WALK THROUGH THE LEGS (CRAZY 8), and ummm, oh boy, it was just yesterday too! 

Sonata, 24 Weeks

Sonata with Kong, 24 weeks

What we Have Learned

So far we are working on Spin, Touch, Straight Sit, Down (a hard one), and I have a sick feeling the next one will be 'STAY,'  which, for Sonata will be VERY difficult!  Oh, she is also working on Leave It and Look at Me.  Both of which she is decent at.

A Wee Bit Erked

So, got yelled at by the Monday dog trainer.  She was upset that I missed two classes.  I tried to explain the whole time table of Sonata's illnesses and all the things that have happened, and she was rude enough to interupt me, and then to essentially call me a liar.  She is best friends with the Berner rescue lady, so why am I not surpirsed?  Ugh, I know she was in pain, but really...REALLY?  I have obviously been through the dog wars, including a serious discussion on whether to put down Serenade, and you are going to get pissy with me?  When I am PAYING you?  Forget it.  Plenty of places around that understand that dogs get sick, and life happens.  Time to move on from this joint as well. 

The only problem is I am starting to fear that I might alienate the entire dog community at the rate I am going.  Ah well.  So be it.  I will not stand to be called a liar (to my face!), and I will not stand for taking my dog (who is ill) into a room full of puppies that could potentially make them ill. 

I have half a mind to go to my vet and have him sign off on a time table and shove it at the woman, as we only have one more class.  What do you all think?

A Tale of Two Tails

It is ALL and Act! Sonata, 19 wks

I didn't post last week, mainly because I could not decide where to start.  The same I suppose goes for this week.

Sonata hit five months with the vengeance of a destructive dervish.   Then Serenade decided that mayhem should take precedence as well (in her own way).


On the morning of the the 16th I came out to take Sonata out of her kennel, when the ghastly smell of feces wafted from her area.  It turns out, the puppy who has never had a secondary type accident in the house, had diarrhea, and had tried to clean it up herself (yuck).  Concerned for her, I took her into the vet.  Turned out that she had the beginning of an upper respiratory infection that had caused her to feel bad.  A fistful of pills later, and a wallet that was MUCH lighter ($97), I contacted her first puppy class (which was on Sunday) to inform them that the vet had said to keep her from the other pups for a day, on the off chance that she was contagious.  Order rawhide bones, since they are out of them. Sonata's Weight: 34 lbs.

That Sunday, both she and Sere were ill.  They both spent the day laying in one spot coughing and just looking miserable.

Let the Games Begin!  Sonata, 19 wks

Monday:
Call vets office to get Serenade in to see the Doc.  Appointment set to take her in Tuesday afternoon.  Rawhides arrive (pretty darn quick for something not a special order!).

Tuesday:
I awaken at the normal six o'clock hour, take the dogs out, feed them, and stumble back to bed.  7:30am comes around, and the puppy wakes me up again.  I once more stumble out to take her outside, when I notice the bath rug that we have in the kennel all bunched up in the corner.  Nothing unusual.  I take her out, come back in to clean up her kennel.  I bend down to  straighten the rug, when I notice something is off about it.  I pull the rug out of the kennel, and realize that there is a section of carpet missing!  From the thick bathmat, it looks like 2 inches in width and 6 to 8 inches in length have been consumed by the puppy!  I choose not to panic.  It is still something that she can pass.  Instead choose to keep a close eye on her.   8:30-Thomas who has chosen to work from home, reports that the puppy has just thrown up.  I immediately call our vet, and they direct me to another office that has a film machine.  I call THAT office, and Sonata has an appointment for 10:30.  9:30- Thomas has stepped out to run an errand, I come into the room to get puppy ready to go, and discover an awful smell, Sonata has thrown up again!  This time, she threw up a SOCK!  Where did she get the sock?  When did she have access to a sock?  Not sure, but the miserable look on the pups face only confirms that it is the right thing to take her into the vet.  After I clean up the sickening mess (oh my the smell..this was from her bowels folks), I loaded her up and took her to the vet's office.  10:30- Get Sonata to the vet's office.  They taker her back, look at her, and inform me that they are going to have to take some films to find out where the rug is located.  I let go of the leash, and watch my girl disappear into a back room.  They inform me that they will call around 2:00 and tell me how she is doing.  11:30- Get home and listen to Sere cough a greeting to me.  Scared that she is coming down with pneumonia.  I am glad that I am taking her into the vet as well.   1:30- Take Serenade into her appointment.  Turns out that the puppy gave her bronchitis!  WOOT not pneumonia!  Call Thomas and we are both relived.  Come home with a load of medication and a lighter wallet ($95).  2:30-Call about Sonata, told to call back at 4:00, since they have not seen the barium burps move.  4:00- Informed Sonata is going to have to stay overnight, the burps have not moved all that far.  11:00- Both Thomas and I reflect that this will be the first time that we will get to sleep in since we got the puppy.  One must always look for the silver lining in a dark cloud!

Wednesday: 

I wake up at 6:00 (habit), take Sere out and feed her, stumble back to bed.  Wake up at 10:00.  Wow 10:00!  Feel refreshed and ready to take on the world!  Realize the world includes a tornado of a 5 month old puppy.  Time to start looking for new solutions!  Thomas decided to work from home, ends up taking a half day, to help with new 'puppy/teenage' proofing the house (again).  I run up and get groceries while he runs the sweeper, and digs under the couch and behind the washer and dryer.  He finds 5 socks.  FIVE.  Next we decide to get her a crate to sit beside us in the bedroom, since we need to keep a close eye on her.  Go to Petsmart and get a LARGE plastic crate.  Set it up in the tiny master bedroom.  I now have two feet of room to crawl into bed.  We also got her a Large Kong Pillow that claims to be water resistant and chew resistant.  We'll see if what they advertise really holds up!  The last thing we do is get a piece of plywood and some hinges.  I create and put a half box over the top of her kennel so that she won't be able to see into the living room (and get distressed), and now the top of the kennel has a hard cover, so she won't be able to pull anything down from there.  The whole time I was making this creation Thomas kept looking at me like I was crazy.  Get a call from the vet telling us that Sonata can come home at 4:00, she has passed most of the rug.  All that remains is a small bit, and they believe she will pass it without any problem.  5:00- Our puppy is home!  We got her out of hock for $289.

Thursday:Still haven't seen any evidence of the rug, and not for lack of searching!  Keeping Sonata kenneled, and feeling sorry for her, she has basically been caged since Saturday!

Friday:
Still searching for the rug, but we believe that she passed it the evening before (I forgot to take out the flashlight).  To be on the safe side I still keep her kenneled, since I was told to keep her quiet for a few days.  EVENING- I let Sonata out of the kennel to run around.  Poor thing is so skinny!  She has not been allowed to have a real meal almost the whole week.  Instead she gets a can of Science Diet Uber Bland Diet.  While I am on the computer I hear a ripping sound, I look around the corner, and discover that Sonata has ripped up Serenade's squirrel plushy.  When I inspect it more closely, I discover that it was mainly ripped along the Velcro.  Glad that she didn't get the squeaker out of the plushy, I don't even think, and hand her a stuffed chipmunk.  A minute later I come to my senses, realize that I have done, only to get to the chipmunk to late.  It has lost its tail down the gullet of a puppy!  At that point I can't help it, I don't know what to do!  I call the animal hospital to ask them if I should get her to vomit, and they tell me that that could make her aspirate.  I call the other vets office (page them-it is now 1:00am), and ask the vet on call what I should do.  She tells me to bring the dog in that morning.  In the mean time I just sit back and start howling with laughter, till the tears start coming.  Thomas joins in. 

Saturday:

Sonata 21 wks

Sonata is once more back in the Doctor's office!  This time the doctor gives her half a cup of barium, makes her swallow a burp, and tells us to bring her back if the puppy starts to act abnormally.  Putting her in the car we both look at each other, 'Abnormal?  What about this whole thing is NORMAL?'  vet visit: $57  Sonata's weight 30 lbs.

Sunday:
Sonata, for a whole five seconds, has two tails.

Puppy See, Puppy Do

Sonata Chewing on a Bone on a Pillow, 17 wks

Well week 17 has come and pass with its many adventures.  One of the best perhaps was when Sonata had worn down the patience of all the animals in the house.  Thomas and I were sitting on the couch and love seat, talking to each other when Sonata came roaring into the room.  Seeing Sere between us she immediately launched herself on her.  Sere responded with a nip and a growl that clearly said, "Back off!"  Of course, Sonata wanted to be up on the love seat so that she could be beside Thomas, and look out the window (she has discovered that if Thomas is on the love seat, she can sit up on the pillows behind him), so she carefully crept under the coffee table and around Sere.  When she decided she had enough distance she launched herself onto the two-seater, only to discover that her greatest nemesis, Grey, was up on the sofa!  She managed to whirl around before the claws hit her, and go nailed in the rump!  Yelping, she launched herself off the love seat, only to land on top of Sere.  Of course Sere was fed up at that point, and with deep growl nipped her, again, on the rump.  Poor puppy! She went and sat under the coffee table for a whole three minutes with her tail between her legs, while Thomas and I howled with laughter.

Sonata with Bone on Pillow, 17 wks

In other news, our girl STILL hasn't learned how to use the bell to go out.  Instead I have had to learn how to translate puppy dancing.  I am extremely frustrated on that occasion (lucky Lexi!), and wish she would learn the trick.  I keep hoping she will pick it up from Sere, or from when we hit it and say 'Outside,' or make her ring the bell in order for us to pick up her leash.  No go so far.  Frustration ensues on that front.

Isn't this Mine? Sonata, 18 wks

Whose Chair was This? Sonata, 18 wks

We are taking Sonata to two S.T.A.R. puppy classes.  The first is more for socialization then training.  There are 13 puppies in the first class.  Of course Sonata is one of the most active and rambunctious of them.  I keep looking at all the nice calm pups, and then at Sonata, and scratch my head.  The other class is for more training.  There are only 3 other pups in that class, and the trainer is able to address every question you can come up with.  Which, with Sonata, is very nice.

Sonata is very food oriented.  She has already learned to counter surf, at the larger class, one of the mastiff puppy owners mentioned getting a scat mat if she becomes any worse.  It may come to it.  She is getting sneaky about it now.

I have sat here saying all her bad virtues and none of her good! She is doing very well with her sits, but now we have to work on straighten, is we want to do obedience, we can't have the Berner flop sit.  The trainers have told me that will be points off is she does that during competition.  Thankfully she has sit nailed.  I don't want to confuse her...but we will figure it out!  She also has 'Look at Me' nailed down, all I have to do is say it, and bam! she looks me in the eye.  We are currently working on 'Come,' and her emergency word is 'Cookie!' which she has down.  Did I mention that she is VERY food motivated?

So there we have some of week sixteen and all of week seventeen outlined.  Now, welcome to week eighteen!  I do hope the rest of you keep contacting me and telling me how much your fur-balls weigh and how they look.  I enjoy every single update!

Puppy Tears

Sonata and Serenade (17wks)

Last night (or early this morning, however you choose to view night and day), I was awoken by the most pitiful of whines.  It simply slowly filtered its way through a closed door, and into a very nice dream, and woke me up to a pitch black room.  Looking around I tried to figure out what it was, then came to the sleepy realization that the puppy was whining.  Now, this isn't anything new, I am used to her whining.  Usually it is an indication that she needs to go out.  Muttering to myself, I got up, banged into the hallway walls (they make excellent guides, and help me stay upright) and stumbled out into the living room.  The first thing that met me was the smell, telling me that the puppy had wet her kennel.  I have to admit, that it saddened me, since we had managed to have a dry kennel for two whole days.  However, it was the SIGHT that greeted me that pulled on my heart strings.  There was Sonata, with her head tucked between her shoulders, highlighted by the lamp on the kennel, staring at the wet towel, crying.  Oh my it was so sad!  I immediatly went and got her out of the kennel and told her that it was all right.  Even then, instead of curling up in my lap like she usually does, she instead walked under the futon and stared at me while I cleaned up the mess.  The whole time, she didn't try to chase the rag, instead she just sat with her head between her paws.  Poor Puppy!

Week 15 Going, Going, Gone!

Sonata at the Vet, 15 wks

Sorry that I didn't update last week, things were a little busy around here!  Enough about us though, onto the the four legged critters!

Serenade and Sonata, 15wks

Sonata had her last round of puppy shots last week.  When I took her in for her rabies and distemper they told me that she weighed 26 pounds.  She is so tall right now, but hasn't put on major weight in the past few weeks, which makes me a very satisfied person.  We have been trying hard to ensure that she not become a fat puppy, but at the same time wanting her to remain a healthy, happy animal.  I believe that we have achieved both.  Well, more that mother nature has!  I have been continuing to feed her 3 cups a day, at a regular schedule, and ensuring that she remains kenneled right after she eats.  Probably mother nature and genetics is coming into play here more then our desire for her to stay on the thin side.

Still Able to Fit!  Sonata, 15 wks

I spoke with one of Sonata's brother's owners (Bentley) and at 15 weeks he now weighs 37 pounds.  Perhaps the reason Sonata is small is because she is female?  I know at this age Sere was almost 40 pounds as well.  However, she was no where as active as this little one is, and it sounds like Bentley is pretty active.  It is a puzzle.  I should see if I can somehow get pictures of Bentley posted, he is such a handsome pup!  I wish some of the other litter mates would respond back to my emails, I am curious as to how they are doing.

The other big event that happened last week was that Sonata was taken to our groomer (Patty) at Petsmart, and had her first 'professional' bath.  Patty said that she did very well, her only problem was the dryer.  She didn't like the air blowing in her face.  I can understand that!  Sere didn't like it at first either, so we can only hope that after a few more visits that Sonata gets used to it.  We wanted to make sure that Sonata got in while she was a puppy to start learning.  Sere has managed to break three tables there at Petsmart, we don't need Sonata doing the same!

Ankle Biter!  Sonata 15 wks

Best Seat in the House, Sonata 15 wks

Finally the last thing that happened last week that had me tearing out my hair was trying to find a place to take Sonata for training.  I wrote to the AKC GAZETTE, and one of the editors there sent me a link for the mentor program that the AKC sponsers.  I also fired off and email to the local Bernese Mountain Dog club, and recieved back an email with a contact name for a person who lives near us.  I am going to call her tonight.  I ment to last night, but apparently that was the night of family members calling.

I also contacted the Medina Kennel Club.  They have a S.T.A.R. Program for puppies.  They consider a dog a puppy until they are a year old.  Thus Sonata would not be training with older dogs while she is doing this first program (which is also AKC recognized), which makes me very happy.

Enjoy the pictures, and look at how leggy our girl is becoming!

Burrs and Stickers

Sonata (14wks) and Sere (4yrs)

Every Spot is a Burr or Sticker on Sonata

I think that Sonata has managed to find every burr and sticker patch that we have in the backyard.  She found them, and then brush against them.  It took me half an hour to comb her out.  I had to literally wait until she fell asleep before I could even approach her to begin to get them out.

Sonata (14wks) Sitting on My Lap

I wish that I could get a picture of Sonata at night, when I take her outside.  We have a light on over the garage that is always one.  Since it is light, night, and always there, the moths flock to it (and the spiders folk to the moths).  Sonata is fascinated by the moths.  We get to the top of the porch steps and she zeros in on the biggest moth that is with in reach.  As soon as I give the release command to go down the step, she goes flying!  Think of what a fly ball dog would look like.  She hits the gravel hard enough for it to spray up.  As she finishes the skid with a snap at the unsuspecting bug, she twirls around and kicks up more gravel.  It is hilarious to watch the whole process.  I think she has only gotten one moth to date.  All the rest just tend to flutter past her head.

Serenade (4yrs)

Sonata (14wks)

Sonata (14wks)

Today Sonata sat and my lap.  I had to keep my legs crossed, otherwise she would have fallen off.  She is now almost to big for my lap.  When you pick her up you have to suppose that she is at least 30 pounds.  More probably.  The pup however, is still a pup.  She licks, she chews, and she still spins around in circles.  I have counted, and it looks like she has at least four teeth currently coming in.

Sere and the Pink Eye

Sonata 14wks, Staring out the Window

Sonata 13wks, Sleeping Under Desk

Well, I decided last night and this morning to give Sere an eye drop full of pink eye medication, simply because her eyes have been looking really read this past few weeks.  What I thought were blood shot eyes looks to be pink eye.  I can see that she actually has white in her eyes again.  So, turns out I have two dogs with pink eye.  WHEE!!

Simple Joy of the Popcorn Kernel

Sonata 13 wks, Wobble Kong (First Meeting)

Remember when you were a kid, and the simplest of objects could keep you entertained?  Apparently that holds true for puppies as well.  Usually in the morning it is a water bottle that she is fascinated with, however this morning it is a popcorn kernel.  That kernel is the most fascinating thing in the whole world!  It needs to be run circles around and witness belly slides!

This weekend we also got Sonata a Kong Wobbler.  You fill the top part up with food, and then the bottom has a sand filled bottom that when the dog hits will come back upright.  There is a hole on one side that will deposit the food.  I have been using it for Sonata at lunch time.  She loves the toy!  Actually a little to much.  She growled at Sere when I had it out for both of them.  Guarding a toy is NOT something I want to encourage.  So now, I only use it in her kennel.  Which seems to suit her and Sere just fine.  She hits it around the kennel, and Sere sits outside, eating any food that falls her way.  No conflicts and everyone is happy.

Another amusing thing that happened this morning, about 40 to 60 geese flew up out of the swamp.  First they started calling to each other, and then they began to appear over the tree line.  Scared Sonata enough that she tucked tail and ran.  Wish I had had Ride of the Valkyries playing!

Starving Pups

Digging for Food (Sonata 13 wks)

Questioning Why there is no Food (Sonata 13 wks)

Apparently I starve my dogs.  Even though I feed them at 6am, at noon, and again at 6pm, they both inform me that I am being cruel and am starving them.  Sere, who was only being fed twice a day is taking advantage of the situation and starts ringing the bell to inform  me that I have anywhere between 20-30 minutes until their next meal time.  She rings the bell for the whole duration, until the food is placed in front of her.  Sonata on the other hand begins a great food search 3 hours after she is fed, and does not let up until the food magically appears in her bowl.

Pinkeye

Sonata (13 wks) and Thomas

Yep, you read right, my puppy has pink eye.  Pink eye.  Yes, apparently dogs too can get pink eye (vet has assured us that canine conjunctivitis is not able to cross over to humans). So, all that worrying about the puppy class just disappeared, like the morning fog.  There is no reason for her to go to puppy class, since she will have to miss two classes.  Sonata is not allowed to be near any puppies for the next ten days.

We have already checked, the kennel club has not cashed the check, so we are going to call up the credit union and cancel payment on it.  The kennel club down in Medina does a class by class puppy socialization get together.  They are about the same distance out, but with less traffic.  Hopefully I can contact them and find out when they are doing puppy socialization, and also find out what puppy S.T.A.R is all about.  Anyone have any clues? 

Pink eye.  My four legged toddler has pink eye!

Of Skunks...

Last night around 4am I woke up to a horrid stench.  I heard Sere get up and move to the bathroom, to collapse on the floor in there, and figured that she has let loose a real doozy, and tried to stealthily move onto the next room.  Then the smell, instead of dissipating, seemed to become even more intense.  I lay there thinking do we have a carbon monoxide detector?  If so, when was the last time I tested it?  Wouldn't it be down in the basement?  Man it STINKS!  I tried slinking down under the covers, that didn't work.  I tried pulling my shirt over my nose, and glanced at Thomas to see if he had woken yet to the stink bomb.  He hadn't.  THEN I sat there glaring at him wondering if HE was the culprit of the current situation.  Finally I stood up and opened the bedroom door to see if the smell was throughout the house.  Sweet air came wafting through the door.  Without a seconds thought I grabbed my pillow and made a run for the couch.  Curling up in my compter blanket, I was all ready settle in, when suddenly Sonata started to make gagging sounds. 

Sonata 13 wk, Will Not Stay Still for Camera

Now, I agree, the smell was bad, and she was now downwind of the smell, but it wasn't vomit inducing.  Just headache inducing.  Worried, I leaped off the couch and ran over the kennel.  I sat there in front of her doing MORE worrying.  This time it consisted of all the areas that we have traveled over the past few days, what she might have been exposed to, and then remembrances of Sere at the same age throwing up in the kennel.  Cursing fate that at 13 weeks Berners start vomiting I opened the kennel and pulled my puppy out.  Then I took the towel that she was sleeping on, and quickly started to clean up the inside of the kennel.  It was while I was doing this that I found the reason why she was gagging.  Apparently at some point earlier in the day she had gotten a hold of a hair tie (Thomas believes that the cats once more tried to assassinate her), and tried to eat it.  Thankfully she puked it up!

Feeling sorry for the pup, and relived at the same time, I put the leash on her, and took her outside to potty her.  When I opened the door the strong odor of skunk hit the nose.  Apparently, the skunk had sprayed in the backyard, making the bedroom stink.  Having discovered that the house was NOT filling with Carbon Monoxide, I carefully scanned the area, and took the puppy out to potty.

My Phone

Serenade and Sonata (13wks)

Sonata found a new toy today, my phone.  Yes, my Hero has now been puppy tested.  Thankfully it looks like most of the damage was done to the outer plastic bounce shield that I have on it, and not the phone itself.  However, there are now some toothmarks in some rather obvious places.  I need to run some more tests on it now that the slobber has finally dried on it.  Hope that it is all in working order!  Otherwise it is a $100 payment for the insurance.  At that cost I might as well get a new phone, considering that the current phone that I have is a first generation android that we got just before (a week in fact) the new one was released.

Sona (13wks) Chewing on Sere's Groomed Mane

I haven't' really done much with Sonata this week, and I really should.  It has been so hot that she runs outside, does her business, and runs right back up the stairs to get back inside.  It is supposed to be in the ninetys for the rest of this week, and then on Sunday it is supposed to drop down to 68.  Fun times for the sinuses!

Puppy Class

Sonata 12 wks, Comparing Growth to Flip Flop

Well, Friday we went to puppy class.  Apparently our shot records were not up to par, so I have to back into the vet's office and get them to actually write out what shots she has had, and when.  They won't take the check marks that are beside each named vaccine.  Oh, and I was told, "If you don't have the shot records, then we can't let you into the class.  We take the health of our puppies very seriously."  Hrm?  Was that an implication that I don't take the health of my dog seriously?  Yeah, I was a tad bit erked, still am actually.  So it appears I will once more be bothering the staff up at Doylestown.  They will have to write out all her shots for me I suppose.  When I asked the lady what more she wanted, she told me a computer print out of Sonata's upcoming shots.  When I informed her that my vet doesn't use a computer, she was rather disbelieving.  Ah well, I may be getting my check back this Friday.

Sonata 12 wks, Under Foot (or Desk in this Case)

Of course, during the puppy class, it turns out that Sonata is one of the largest pups, and that she is also one of the youngest.  She was terrified of the other puppies, and went to go visit all the humans sitting the chairs, while keeping a wary eye on the activity around her.  I hope she gets over this fear.  I want her to have fun! 

She turns 13 weeks tomorrow,  and last time she was weighed (on Friday) she weighed 21 pounds.

Just How Large

Sonata, 12wks, and her Favorite Toy

Just how large can one puppy bladder be!?  I am taking her out every ten to fifteen minutes every morning.  Is it just the water going through her system I wonder?  Probably.

Sonata and Grey Stare Down (Sona 12wks)

She is currently having a stare down with Grey

Cone Comes off at Two

Begging for a piece of the action (Sonata 12wks Sere 4yrs)

Well Sonata will be happy, her personal torture device will be coming off permanently at two tomorrow.   Of course, we have been taking it off for an hour here and there, just so her ears can get a rest from being pressed forward.  I am worried about one of her ears being lopped over her face.  I know it will go back with lots of pets, and massage, but I do hate even the idea that she may have a deformed ear.  Thus the reason why we have not kept the cone on her consistently these past two days.  I don't doubt that the vet will be able to figure it out, considering that half her stitches have been chewed through.

Free! (for the Moment)

I can Still Fit!!  (Sonata 12 wks)

Did I Finally Win? (Sonata 12wks and Sere 4yrs)

Along with Sona getting her stitches taken out, she is also going to be going to her first night of puppy class.  I am really hoping that there is going to be another herding breed in the group, since Sona is starting to show the tendency to herd objects.  While it is funny to watch her herd cats, I don't want to watch her herd other puppies.  Thus hopefully if she is with another breed with a tendency to herd then they will have loads of fun with each other.  I am almost wondering if I should see about finding out about herding classes for her.  Not that the club (as far as I know) offers the classes, or that I have any animals for her to practice on here-well I do have cats, but herding cats...yeah.

Cones Tug on the Heart Strings

Sonata 11 wks, Cone #3

I haven't posted much because, well...the cone just makes one sad.  Every time I see poor Sonata I want to rip off the cone, and actually see my whole pup again, not just a section of her face, and the rest of her fat wriggly body (and REALLY long legs).  Alas I can't.  She has to remain in the cone until Friday.  Not that she hasn't tried to escape from it.

Serenade is Scared of the Cone (Giving Sonata the Eye)

That's right, the cone she is currently in is actually her THIRD cone.  On Saturday evening she managed to split cone number two.  I don't know how she did it.  I was in the other room, came back in, looked in the kennel, and she was chewing on her foot.  Thomas ran up to Petco to get a collar, but the size they had was to large, so we ended up once more heading up the ER hospital to purchase one.  Thankfully they had her size.  The whole time he was gone, I had to keep her entertained, to ensure she didn't chow down on her leg.  So instead, the arm was chewed, the ears were chewed, hair was gnawed, well, you get the picture.

Sonata Circles in the Carpet

She has learned to get things off of the ground by shoving down on the collar as hard as she can.  In fact she does so with so much force that her front feet often leave the ground, and circles are now indented into the carpet (I tried to take some pictures, no, the carpet is NOT that bad, just the camera).

Sonata, 11 wks

Finally, the other day I was bragging to Thomas.  Words that got shoved down my throat.  Sonata has been doing very well with housebreaking.  Of course, she has been spending half her time in the kennel, due to not wanting her to get to worked up with her stitches.  Right now she walks sideways if she gets to tired or starts to hurt!  Anyhow, so I was proud of Sonata, due to the fact that she has been doing so well.  Thomas' boss recently got a new puppy as well.  Charlie is now four months old, and is still learning the art of housebreaking.  I bragged that my pup was house broken at 11 weeks.  Yes, words that came back and got me!  Within 20 minutes, she peed in her kennel, twice!  So, let that be a lesson to everyone.  Don't brag till you are really really sure!

Cone of Shame! (Thank You UP!)

The First Cone of Shame, Sonata 11 wks

...and this one literally is a Cone of Shame.  Sonata has had her back dew claws removed.  I told the vet that it was up to him what he thought should be removed, and he opted only to remove her back ones.  He deemed that those were dangerous because they were so loose.

I got Sonata home, and placed her in the kennel.  She wanted water, but I have been told she is not allowed to have any until around 7pm.  After much noise and whimpering and whining, she finally settled down, and I proceeded to fill out paperwork for her, so that I could get her micro-chip information off as quickly as possible (and her AKC registration).  I happened to glance down at her, so that I could see what position she was sleeping in (since she was so quiet), and horror of horrors, the blasted dog breed with the giraffe tongue was ripping out her stitches!

Calling the vet's office I quickly scooped her out of the kennel yelling at her to stop, and raced her off to be checked over.  When I looked at the towel that I had put down on the seat I noticed a few drops of blood.  That was when I realized that she actually had managed to pull out at least one stitch.

The Second Cone of Shame (Sonata, 11 wks)

When I got her into the Vet's office (Doylestown Animal Clinic), they took her back and looked her over.  They confirmed that she had pulled one stitch, and took care of the problem much to Sonata's yelping dismay.  When they returned her to me she had a 23 inch collar on, the next size up (for an additional $2), and the inability to even think about getting to the floor let alone her stitches.  Looks like I am going to be holding chew toys and water bowls for the next week.  Please feel pity for both of us!

**Update on Grey:
Grey also went into the vet's office, because she started to ooze pus yesterday out of her wound.  I actually even filled out 'euthanize' paperwork for her this morning, thinking that this was the last of her.  Turns out that thankfully it was unnecessary.  Grey is now home, meowing more like her old self, and even with some of her old spunk back.  The doctor found a warbler? worm embedded in the wound, and removed it.  He gave her a two week long lasting antibiotic shot, and sent her on her way.  She will not end up with a collar unless she keeps scratching the wound.  I dunno if I could handle TWO animals with the Cone of Shame!

**Sonata now weighs 16.5 lbs

Count Down Part 1

Well, tonight Sonata is off of food and water.  She has been since 8:30, and she can't have any breakfast either.  It is going to be hard keeping her from the water when I take her out, since the bowl is next to the door. 

...and you Wonder why I am Tired All the Time...

That's right, she goes in for surgery tommorrow to have her dew claws removed.  I hate putting her under.  I really REALLY hate putting her under, however, when I was a kid we had a dog who got one of her dew claws caught in wire, she almost lost her leg due to the incident.  I don't want to take that chance.  It is literally one evil verses the other.  So, keep the fingers crossed, and say a little prayer for us (or a major one, your choice!).

Meeting of the Minds

Grey, Balanced on Baby Gate

As you can see, Grey is slowly healing.  She is also bored, and making sure that we all know it!

Grey, Balanced on Baby Gate

Today I took Sonata down the street to meet up with the two neighbor boys, and their little girl (read toddler).  In the same way as Sere, Sonata ran from the two boys at first, and was unsure about the toddler.  However, once I had the little girl loaded Sona up with treats, she was much more willing to go to her.  The oldest boy she was much more willing to go to and allow pets, with the younger boy, she was not sure of his shouts of exuberance.  I am going to have to get her around more kiddos, so that she will relax more around them.  A couple also went past with a stroller, which I made sure to get Sonata over to and sniff.  She was less then impressed with the whole get up.  She licked it twice, and then collapsed in the grass beside it, panting because it was hot.

Sonata, 10 wks

Last night I spent 45 minutes with Sonata outside, introducing her to an umbrella.  In order to get her close to it I had to put it on the ground and throw Bil-Jacs on it.  Once she started to sniff it and get used to it, I spent lots of praise on her, telling her that she was a really courageous puppy.   By the time I was done praising her, she thought she was queen of the world, and attacking the umbrella like it was a new chew toy!  I made sure to take the umbrella out with me again today, and she simply grabbed it and tried to take off with it.  I am now assured that she is acclimated to the umbrella.

Sonata, (10 wks) Sleeping Under Desk/Foot

Finally, Sonata has taken to curling up at my feet under my desk, and usually with her head on my chair.  Yes, I have already rolled over her once, and tend to end up having to put her into her kennel once she passes out at my feet.  I can't wait till she is a little larger where this will be uncomfortable.  I do understand why she lays there though.  There is an air vent that my desk sits up against, and the air comes flowing out from under the desk.  Or maybe it is because she likes my company?  Nah!