Adolescent

Eventually my blog will return to other subjects...but for now it seems to have gone to the dogs. Cooper is six months old now.

Cooper at six months: one part dog, one part worm.

Dude is seriously gangly.

It blows my mind how quickly he's grown. Cooper loves small, tight spaces to nap, and has long outgrown most of his usual spots: the small china cabinet for my teacups, our wood buffet cart, under the hassock or under the beds. Of course, our bed is his favorite place. If he pushes off the wall with his back feet, he can still wedge his body under the frame of the bed. This would be fine - except once Cooper squeezes under there, he can't get out by himself. 

Momma, I'm stuck...again.

  
Our vet recommended that we wait to neuter him until he matures a little more (physically, obviously). She said that it doesn't really hurt to wait until he's almost a year, and there's less health risks to waiting than a there would be for a female dog.

This is the complete opposite to what the puppy class trainer thinks: "Cut 'em off! He's a total punk, and all he is thinking about is sniffing butts." The trainer is completely right, so the people pleaser in me is struggling with my inner rule-follower. It's a dilemma.

Regardless, Cooper is completely obnoxious. Aside from the constant gratuitous looting of items that don't belong to him, Cooper is a total shit. He is a terrible bully to Riley, and highlights of last night included Cooper being hauled off and sequestered in a time-out in the kitchen...twice. It's like our early childhood days with the kids all over again. 

Components of what used to be my pen.

Also? Dude REEKS. He's emitting these nasty, funky pheromones and if it's been longer than a week since his bath, I have to wash my hands after petting him. He's the most physically affectionate dog I've ever owned, so this means I'm constantly hand-washing. 

I consider this a quality problem, obviously...but it brings new meaning to being so 'stinking cute'.

Bird Dog

I'm finding it impossible to believe that 7 months ago we put Cafe down. I actually found myself angry about her loss the other day, as if my recent struggles were because her constant vigilance isn't around to protect me anymore. There are weeks that pass and I don't think about her at all. It's not because I don't miss her - nothing could be further from the truth. But, with two teenagers and a busy household, there's not tons of extra time for insightful reflection or feeling sorry for myself.

One of the things that keeps me busy and moving forward through my loss is Cooper. Recently, when trying to determine if our on-the-cusp-of-being-too-old puppy should be kept in puppy class or moved into the Novice class, I had this conversation with the trainer:

Trainer: So, tell me about your new baby?

Me: He's a Labrador retriever. 

Trainer: Okay. I'm deducting maturity points for being a Lab...and also for being a boy. We'll put him in the puppy class. 

 At five months old, he's moved past the adorable puppy phase and right into bratty adolescent. He's either sleepy and endearing, or full-on Asshole Mode. 

In an effort to get away from Cooper's overwhelming attentions, Riley has taken to jumping into my lap. This would be fine - if he didn't weigh almost 100 lbs. It also doesn't work, because if Cooper feels like Riley is inaccessible he becomes frantic to get to him...and then their are two dogs wrestling in my lap. *sigh*

It's in everyone's best interest to keep Cooper occupied (read: exhausted). Here are photos of today's walk around the lake, and Cooper's first experience seeing ducks:

There's not a whole lot of complex thinking at work here...just happy thoughts!

This is one of my favorite places to go running.

Vigilant look-out bun, keeping an eye on the dogs.

Bird dog...seeing ducks for the first time! Um, intense much?

Snapping

This is a game I call Animal Kingdom. Unfortunately, the game always seems to take place in my lap.

There's generally lots of teeth and sneezing. If you listen closely, you'll hear the clicking of teeth...sort of like doggie castanets.

Riley and Cooper: Animal Kingdom

Never Forgotten

How can four months have passed already? I am missing our old girl dog so much today that it physically feels like a hole in my stomach.

The puppy has been a welcome distraction, but coming back from the vet this morning with Cooper the feeling of loss rushed in so strong, I was overcome by it.

January seems like years ago, but I miss my girl as much today as I did in the first few weeks without her. I guess grief is like that. I adore the puppy and Riley is my best boy...but Cafe was my guardian. Without her, I feel unprotected and left on my own.

I wasn't going to share this photo with anyone because it is from the quiet moments I had with Cafe, minutes before she died - but somehow the gesture of sharing it makes me feel less alone, and closer to her. I miss you, Girl.

Parasite

About 5 days after we brought our pup home, I worried that we had 'broken' him. He began retching bile last Friday, and refused to eat the following morning. This was, of course, followed a night of puking and diarrhea. Poor bunny cried to be let out every time he had to vomit.

In an older dog, I would have taken the wait-and-see approach - but when the afternoon nappies became lethargy, I knew it was time to call our vet. Since the pup had been straining, I worried that there was blockage if some sort. After probing his tummy and a quick x-ray, nothing was revealed. It was determined that he had a case of irritated bowel, you know - just from the newness of being in a new environment. He was given fluids under his skin, and prescribed anti-nausea meds. By the evening puppy felt so much better. He ate a small meal of the bland wet food the vet gave us and began to turn the corner.

Our vet had asked for a fecal sample to make sure pup didn't have worms, so the next day I brought one in. Spooning into a fresh turd and putting it into a sandwich bag has to be one of the most incongruent, contrary acts. It's just so...wrong.

A day later, we found out why pup was so sick. His diagnosis of colitis was upgraded to Giardia.

The breeder had actually sent us home with medicine to give puppy over 5 days to treat giardia. Apparently one if her pups in the past had contracted it, so she made a policy to treat all her pups. I remember thinking two things - that it sounded sort if suspect, but also that it seemed like overkill. A couple of the doses didn't get in the puppy very well, so he didn't really get the benefit of the full course of medicine.

You would never know he was sick, though. He's made a full recovery, despite the fact that I have to wipe his ass every time he poops so he doesn't reinfect himself. I'll say that again: I have to WIPE THIS DOG'S ASS. It's a good thing he is so freakin' cute!

Cooper at 10 weeks old

Mind Over Muscle

So I ran a half marathon yesterday, despite the fact that I have only run four times since January - and none of those runs were farther than 3 miles.Yeah. I don't recommend that. I'm so sore that I can barely walk.

I finished 2:40:55 - which was the best of my worst, but I'll take it. Aside from walking at two water aid stations, I ran the whole thing. Every step. One of my favorite signs had a photo of Ryan Gosling and read, 'Hey Girl. Let me rub Body Glide on your chafe.'

The other sign that popped up two or three times and carried me through the event read, 'Someday you'll no longer be able to do this. Today is not that day.'

And it wasn't.

Race day! Right on!

Mind Over Muscle

We Run DC: These beauties were
made special just for this race:
Tiffany blue with white satin laces
and a charm with the race date. 

Puppy Love

When we lost our older dog in January, it was very difficult for me. What I didn't anticipate was how hard it would be for our younger dog. As surly and unappreciative as our older dog was, Riley has been completely lost without her companionship. Until yesterday.

We've been waiting on this litter since early February, and the timing was perfect: spring break. It's been a wonderful few days and it is so tender to see Riley with 'his' puppy.

Internet, meet Cooper:

Riley and Cooper

March 24, 2013 Cooper's First Photo
On our way home with our new puppy!

Cooper and Smurf blankie

Snuggle puppy

Precious baby boy!

Right before...brat attack!

Cooper raids Riley's basket of toys.

Puppy Vacation is one of the sweetest trips you can take!