Piper's A Growing Girl!

DH says that Piper is Getting fat. Me: Nah, she's a growing girl! The trainer says that it is now time to feed her only twice a day. But, I can't see that. She eats at 5:30 a.m., and I usually feed her again at noon when I eat; then we feed her about 6:00p.m. She needs to eat at noon! She just stares at me with those sad puppy eyes looking at her dish. Ok, we are supposed to pick up her dishes too after she eats (water too). Sometimes we forget.

~~~~ So, last night as Piper is walking to her kennel, DH and I follow behind her, and I ask: Do you really think that Piper is getting fat? We both look at her as she walks away from us. We see her round tummy sway from side to side, right in the middle of her skinny hips and we both LAUGH hard!!

OK, OK.... I will start weening her off the lunch; and/or maybe DH shouldn't feed her so early. Hmm.... gotta talk about that, cuz she is already on a routine with DH in the a.m.
This is a picture of the Canine Coach and DH & I walking Piper while in training. See that cute little round pooch of a stomach? LOL!!!

Dings, Alarms, Bells.....

~~~~~Piper has learned that when DH's alarm rings in the morning at dark thirty, it is time to get up... RIGHT THEN! If DH, dilly dallies around, squirming in the bed, just to get up the will to get up... Piper keeps whining and whining until he gets up and takes her outside to potty.
~~~~~This morning, I received a "ding" from my phone. It was a text from FW at just past dark thirty... well, it really wasn't that early... I just wasn't up yet. So, Piper immediately starts whining -- telling me that my alarm went off, so it is time to get up! That'll teach me to remember to turn off the sound on my phone!
~~~~~ I tried to lay very still so Piper would think I was still asleep, cuz if she sees me stirring, she will get louder! Dang! My foot is cramping! Dang, dang, dang! Slowly I try to maneuver my foot to stop the cramping. Not working very well, but still gonna try. THEN.... BOOM!!!!! The electricity goes out the moment it THUNDERS VERY LOUDLY! Now, that is something that made me shoot out of bed! Piper gets her way.
~~~~The first thing I need to do is to take her potty outside. Boy, is it really pouring outside! I sit on the patio chair waiting for Piper to go potty on the grass, in the rain, trying to coax her. Instead, she starts eating any little bug that crawls her way. Ewww... Piper, take that nasty thing out of your mouth! I have to pull it from her lips as it is dangling there crawling and she can't shake it off! Yuck... Bug in my hands... yuck, yuck.... (yeah, I don't like bugs).
AW MAN..... I'm gonna have to walk out on the grass so she will too so she will go potty! So, I stand out in the rain while she starts sniffing around. !@#$%^@$ I sneak onto the porch as she is still sniffing for a good spot.
~~~~~ What a lovely way to start the day.

Shuttle-cock????

Does anyone know what a shuttle-cock is?? I didn't, until I had to look for one in a game that I was playing. Just like in a "Where's Waldo?" book. I just learned what that item is, while playing one of these games to relax me until bed. It is the badminton "rubber thingy" that we hit back and forth while playing the game!
~~Does anyone remember anyone remember referring to that "rubber thingy" as a shuttle-cock? Maybe the teachers/coach would have been put up before the school board! (Oh, I'm so bad.... but Hello!!!!!! ..... who in the heck made up that name??!!) How about Badminton ball? It does have a little rubber ball at the end.
~~While playing this game, I was supposed to look for 10 shuttle-cocks; and I had no idea what I was looking for!
~~~ Finally, one appeared, and so did the name, and it was then, that I learned the name. LOL

Ok, I hope I'm not the only one that didn't know this!!

Been Busy Cataloging & Our Service Men & Women

Hi Y'all.
I have found, and downloaded, a program to catalog Jeffrey's many, many comic books. We started collecting them when he was a child. The idea was to use them for college $, when the time came. Yeah, right. Both he and I were attached to them and didn't want to let them go. I figured he could use them when he went out on his own.
~~~~So, now, I have all of these comic books. I'm enjoying seeing all of the comics that we began to collect together and that he continued to collect. As he became an adult....., he happened to be introduced to some "adult" comics. HA... Too funny! I'm so glad that he enjoyed the hobby that we started. I don't know what we will do with them once we catalog them all and find out what the going rate is for all of them. Probably keep them.
~~~I also started his uncle Patrick (my baby brother - 14 yrs younger) to collect comics when he was a young boy. I myself had enjoyed "Archie" comics when I was a child. Y'all remember Archie, Jughead, Veronica & Betty??? Oh, come on, I know some of you do! My grandma would stop at the drugstore after church (we walked to and from the house); and we would have a chocolate shake and each get a comic book. I don't remember what my brother got.
Anyway, I'm cataloging these comics, so that's where I've been. We are leaving this week to visit my 20 yr old nephew, who is on 2wk leave, before he is shipped to Kuwait. :(
Please, everyone, pray for Michael to have a safe life to and from Kuwait.

Talk to y'all later! Peace out! :)

Piper and Her New Adventures

Hi Y'all. I've been gone for a while. I had a bad week or so; and didn't feel like getting on the computer. You know, I still have these "bad days/week". Mostly when they come, it is just a day or two, but anyway, I did not feel like being on the computer for a while. I just couldn't focus. I'm all better now. :) I'll try to catch up on y'alls blogs as I can. Right now, I'm working on projects for Jeffrey.
~~~~~~~There are a lot of little cute things that Piper did that I could write about.... now, if I could only remember! Maybe in time.
~~~~~~~Here's one! Yesterday, FW picked up Piper and I, and we went to spend the day with her, Farmer Jr. & Lil Gal (when they got out of school).
~~~~~~~Do y'all know, that when one packs for a dog to go somewhere for a while, you pack lots of things; as if you were packing for a baby!! Come on... really?? YES!! And I even forgot some things! So, as if it wasn't a busy morning already, packing for the baby (Piper), loading most all except the kitchen sink (here is a picture of her HEAVY kennel - for those who don't remember);
and we also had to stop at our wonderful Super HEB (huge store - for staples, like Wine...).

~~~~~~We get to FW's home, so I hook up Piper's leash to a patio chair so I can help FW unload (there's LOTS). When we looked out on the patio to see how she is doing, while we put together the kennel, we both GASP! She's NOT THERE!!! All we see is the patio chair thrown in the back yard on its side. DUH... ME.... I didn't check to see how heavy the chair was!!
~~~~We both run around the perimeter of the house, different directions, and then scour the acres of fields, trying to decide which direction she has gone! She won't respond to "Piper Come!"; as we learned just the night before with our Canine Coach. FW figures that she saw a bird and chased it into the fields, only taking the muddy road down to the In-Laws' home. FW tells me to call her MIL to let her know that Piper is headed her way! ARE YOU LAUGHING YET??? YOU SHOULD BE... Just imagine....
~~~~~~~ Then I come back out to help with the search! FW has a head start. She waves me to go back... but I want to help find Piper. I figure 4 eyes are better than 2!
~~~~~~~ When my legs start feeling heavy and I look down at my shoes (sandals in MUD). Now I now know why FW wanted me to go back! I start going back to the house and wait in the yard. My sandals are CAKED with Heavy Clay Mud! FW finally spots Piper just sitting in the field with tall crops all around her, tilting her cute little head, looking at FW all innocent! FW finally coaxes her out. I can see the MIL standing at the end of the mud road keeping an eye out. We both wave to her that we found her, as she sees this when she spots the pup on the leash.
~~~~~~~~It is a loonnnggg trek back to the backyard and all three of us are covered with mud! Well, FW & I, mostly our shoes and feet, and we can barely see the Brindle markings on Piper! So, we leave our shoes out on the drive-way.
~~~~~Afterwards, FW gives Piper A BATH!!! We cleaned up then FW and I sat down to create some book markers made out of pictures of Jeffrey, Alexis & DH that we took in one of those photo boxes that are found in restaurants and other establishments. This particular restaurant is named Chuys. It is one our favorite restaurants in Austin. We would take pictures in that booth, that everytime we went there. We covered the pictures with Laminate sheets to be used as book markers. They look great! I'll use these for stocking stuffers.
~~~~~~~~~~~Piper pretty much stayed in the kennel most of the day unil it was time to eat. Then when the kids got home, all three went out running around the house on a leash, to tire her out!
~~~FW, have I left anything out? All in all, it was an exciting day. :)

SLEEPNESS NIGHTS & PIPER

Woke up this morning (wee hours of the morn) singing the song: Because of You, By Reba & Kelly Clarkson. :) Love the song, but I could not get it out of my head! AND, I was not happy with my blog posted earlier, thinking I'd had one vino too much, in my mind (in my mind, heck, I probably did!), I could hardly wait to get up to change it and kept thinking of different senarios! MAN! What a Fitful Sleep!!

It was a much better day today. The Canine Coach came today. Although Piper kept jumping at me while I went this way and that way with laundry and whatever.... I carried a spray bottle of water and anytime she interrupted my day by tugging on me, my clothing, or my laundry, I sprayed the water on her. At first she didn't like it, but I think she was getting used to it and thought of it as a game, like she does everything!
~~~I really liked Floyd a lot. He was well prepared and seemed very knowledgeable. He had a booklet for me, and he told me what notes to write where, and underlined and *** anything he told me to! Wow. What a difference! BUT, as in all things, when he left with all his goodies, about after an hour and a half, Piper was re-energized and it was like Floyd was never there!
~~~~ When he first got there, we sat at the kitchen table. Piper immediately jumped on his leg an he immediately pushed at her nose with his opened hand and said OFF! WOW, my Hero! She didn't get back up on him the whole time we were there talking! And, all he said it was ONCE!!!
~~~~~~He told me that if I felt Piper's snot on my hand once I pushed at her nose, and told her OFF, and she sneezed, I had done it right. EEEWWWWW........ Snot??? The first time I tried it after he left I apparently didn't do it right. 1) I did not have SNOT on my hand. 2) Piper jumped back up on me, again, and again.... POOH!!
~~~ I guess I have to shove harder. EEwwww.... He said I wouldn't hurt her... and I saw that it DID work... Note: Need to work upper arms tonight.

HA -- FUNNY, It was piper's bedtime, so I went to open the kitchen door to the patio to let her out for potty. YUCK, step in WET! I don't know when she did this cuz I was at computer & she was with DH who was asleep in chair... So we let her out anyway, as I wipe the floor and we leave the door open. Piper comes back in and WHOOP! SLIDES - All for legs go opposite sides! HAHA ... Made me laugh, like an ice skater does when not sure footed on the ice! Like ME! hahahaha.....

Ah, this little pup give me much laughter, I just wish I was young enough to care for the "Energizer Bunny"! Now, If I was still doing Jazzercize twice a week with FW like we used to do, I would be in Great shape!! Sadly, that is not the case.

HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF THE WEEK!!

PLANTS & A BOXER

We have been without rain for at least a year, more or less. Anyway, we received some rain for about 2 weeks! It was too late for the farmers, but it was appreciated just the same. Our lawns are green and our plants are thriving! Take a look!
~~~~~Well, they were thriving, until Piper happened! I left her outside most of the day, with breaks into the house for water and naps. I checked on her often, but apparently not enough!

I was not able to get the picture of the half eaten plant; but you can imagine... it is the colorful one up front. Two branches gone. Leaves scattered in the back yard. No more unsupervised visits outside!
~~~~~~I telephoned a "Canine Coach" yesterday. He is coming over tomorrow afternoon. I hope I see fast results! Yes, he comes to the home! Isn't that great?! Even though I love this little pup, I still envision her living with Alexis starting Thanksgiving when we visit her. I'm hoping that we can get the training bit down before the transition.
~~~~~I just can't handle the responsibility of this rambunctious pup. I can't handle the accidents (of all sorts) - running under tables, knocking things over, plant eating, the running leap to jump on top of me, the biting , the scratching, front and back. She literally throws herself at me, and she's only getting bigger. Then I have to follow her around the house when she does leave my side to make sure she doesn't potty in the house, then take her out, for her to do nothing, then when we come in, she potties.
~~~~~~ Another thing is that I cannot have Jeffrey's door open all the time. I miss walking into his room whenever I want, taking a look around, and not worrying about what Piper is destroying now. I miss viewing the inside of his room and listening to his music, when I pass it in the hall.... I think that I am ready to tackle some of the projects of keeping Jeffrey's collectibles preserved and ready for display; and that takes time without constant interruption. I am stressed out most of the time now. During Jeffrey's childhood, he started to put stickers on his bedroom door. So, now it is covered with stickers. It's a nice memory. Well, Piper started jumping on it and started tearing the stickers off with her nails and teeth. Yet, another reason I'm not happy having her here.
~~~~~Ah, things could always change. Who knows? But, I just hope that DH won't give me grief over this. It shouldn't come as a surprise, I've been mentioning this to him and Alexis over and over, so they will get used to the idea. After all, this is her dream dog dog that she finally purchased, and then she gives it to us?
~~~~~~~~ Although I have come to love her, I've have neither the energy, nor the patience for this dog. She needs to run everyday for exercise, and play all day, and I know Alexis would be able to give her what she needs.

TRUDY'S FAMOUS MEXICAN MARTINIS

Gary, here is the Mexican Martini recipe I promised you. It's good whether the weather is hot or cold! Try it! It's Yummy!

Trudy's Famous Mexican Martinis

The original, from Trudy's here in Austin, TX, My choice of tequila is Herradura Silver, also my personal favorite.

Ingredients
2 fluid ounces tequila (Herradura Silver)
1 fluid ounce Cointreau liquor
1-2 fluid ounce Sprite
1 fluid ounce orange juice
1/2 fresh squeezed lime juice

Directions
Shake all ingredients and strain into glass rimmed with salt; add stuffed olives.

They are soooooo Yummy!!
Try them sometime. Trudy's has been around a long time.

Trudy's Dirty Mexican Martini
Ingredients
2 ounces tequila (Herradura Silver Tequila)
1 ounce Cointreau Liquor
1 ounce orange juice
1/2 fresh squeezed lime juice
3 teaspoons Sprite
3 teaspoons olive juice
sweet and sour cocktail mix
3 pimento-stuffed green olives, for garnish

Directions
1Pour first six ingredients into a shaker with ice.
2Fill shaker with Sweet & Sour.
3Shake well to mix and chill.
4Pour into glass and garnish with olives.

I hope someone tries them out! Enjoy!
PS: Go great with Nachos, hot sauce, chicken flautas, & Guacamole!

Back to Straw One ~ SIGH

Just look at her... Ready To Strike!

Well, if I don't kill this dog first (accidentally, OF COURSE!); she's gonna kill herself!
~~~~~~The first injury occurred when I was getting up from my recliner. I heard this THUMP, HELLOOO.... she was under the chair! I quickly lifted the chair (recliner step) and felt her head and body trying to figure out if she was emergency hurt!
~~~~~~~The second time came today. She was up to her old tricks. All over me... jumping on me.. biting any body part she could reach, and also grabbing on my clothing; either while walking or sitting. BIG SIGH.....
~~~~~~She was out of control and nothing I tried worked, so I took her outside and was gonna leave her there to wind herself down. I kept checking on her. After an hour, (ok, the weather is not in the 100s anymore); I let her in. Sameo... sameo..., she stayed in for a while. When I couldn't take it anymore, Out she goes!
So, from previous experience, I know this dog is too smart! So, I tried to walk out far, and then run in to the kitchen and shut door before she can get to the door! Aaggghhh..... I slammed the door just as she stuck her head inside. :( DON'T HATE ME! I would never knowingly abuse an animal! She trotted on inside, I dropped to the floor and started checking her out. I rubbed her everywhere gently. THEN she thought we were playing. The Games start again!
~~~~~~~So, since then I've been out to water the plants (that didn't get rained cuz on the patio); and we both came in together. I'm walking through the kitchen.... she decides to run around to the front of me and jump me! BOOM! She falls with a THUD backwards onto her back!
~~~~~~~I scoop her up and rub her head, back. She starts biting me. She's fine. SIGH.........

PS: I've called a "Canine Coach". That's what they're calling themselves these days. Am waiting for a call back.

Taylor Swift Wins MTV Award!

WHAT? Doesn't Kanye have enough awards of his own? Is he such a spoiled brat with no manners, that he wants to be the center of attention all of the time?

Kanye West Storms The VMA Stage

VET VISIT!

PIPER IS GETTING BIG!! She's only 2 months

~~~Today, we finally got to visit the vet! He was so wonderful with lots and lots of great information! In order to show Piper who is in command (which I knew I had to do, just didn't know how - and the books weren't much help).

~~~What we need to do is need to hold her in our arms upside down and cradle her like a baby, with our hand firmly on her upper chest, close to her neck, (just under her mouth so she can't move her head down to bite) holding her down. We need to do this until she stops squirming and growling. When we get a chance when she is calm for a while, touch her paws. The Vet says that this is something that her mother would do, so doing all of this will show her that we are the boss and we are to be trusted. I asked: What about what about when she gets older and too big to hold? He said: Get down on the floor and turn her over! Oh yeah, she gets treats after each hold until she doesn't squirm any more.

~~~And, also, open her ears to check them, and also her teeth. This is something that also shows she trusts us (if she doesn't bite us!). JK, I've already been in her mouth several times to remove foreign objects. LOL

~~~ I've held her twice since then. She's NOT BITING OR SCRATCHING ME!!! WOO HOO!!!

Maybe I shouldn't be so excited... we'll see about tonight! LOL

~~~The vet suggested we go with a private trainer, rather than a Pet store. So I think we will do that, since she doesn't have all her shots yet, and the sooner we do this, the better!

~~~~BTW: The Vet was SO VERY CUTE!!! SSHHHH..... Don't tell DH!!

WHEW - Piper Is Finally Taking A Nap!

The "Yelping, or Yipping (as we were saying, to keep her from biting & jumping on us), only lasted one evening and one morning. Back now to saying STOP! SIT! GIT! NO BITE! Still fighting to be master! LOL
~~~~~~Tomorrow we get to take her to the Vet for shots and a check up!!! WOO HOO!!! That means she can start a Training Class at Pet's Mart!!
~~~~~~ I get tired of her following me around, making me trip and still nipping, so I put her outside for a while. Can't do that any more. She's eating all my beautiful plants, that we received when Jeffrey passed. They are doing so beautifully now. I had to move all I could fit onto this table! Look what she did to my little palm in that blue pot! :( It was struggling as it was, and just getting new sprouts!

~~~~ Here is my beautiful tree that was thriving, until Piper ripped some branches off! Look at this!











It took us a while to figure out how to take care of our new plants, cuz we got rid of our plants many moons ago when Alexis was a year old, and would dig into the plants and eat the dirt (kinda like Piper does now - LOL)! We have not had any more since then. Oh well, just something else we need to keep an eye on!
~~~~~~She is majorly trying to jump up on our recliners! I just put her in the kitchen behind the gate (we got a new gate! - it doesn't connect to the wall very well); but we are just propping it up. We wanted to go back and get a metal one, but that one costs $100.00!!
~~~~~~So, look at this! She doesn't look too happy, but at least we don't have to worry about her going potty in the other rooms!
Ah, she's growing so fast, and getting so big!! I foresee bigger problems in the future! Maybe with this training we are going to get, we will get a handle on things! :)

FOUND NEW PICTURES OF JEFFREY

My daughter has plans to put together a photo album of Jeffrey, Family & Friends. She is awfully busy, with her home in constant repair, in the middle of switching roommates, and the start of a new school year.
~~~On our last visit, I wanted to take the photos home, but she was insistent on creating this photo album when she has time. I don't know when that will be, but I'll just have to be patient.
~~~~ I did, however take the 'double' photos I found in the bunch. I didn't get a chance to go through them all, but I have some great ones, some I've never seen. :)
~~~~~I also found a roll of film in his room that was undeveloped. Here are some of them. Jeffrey & his dad for Great Grandpa's 100th birthday in California.

Jeffrey & his girlfriend of 5 years.

~~~~~ When we lost Jeffrey in 2006; Alexis, Angela (girlfriend) and I, divided most of his T-shirts into 4 groups. We put the T-shirts into a pile. Then, I would pick up a T-shirt and if I wanted it for my blanket, I would say so, and that's how it was between the 3 of us, we chose one that was special to us. We also created a pile of T-shirts for one of Jeffrey's bestest girlfriends who wasn't there.

Here is Jeffrey and our "Penny Girl". She was such a sweet dog. She was with us for 7 years. She is the "miniature golden lab". That's what we called her. she was small and looked just like a Labrador. She also had the characteristics of a lab. They are such sweet dogs. Of course, she was a mix of Labrador and something else. Jeffrey is holding a friend's new Rottweiler puppy. Yes, Jeffrey's tongue is blue... :) He loved his jawbreakers! :)

~~~~~Anyway, Alexis knows of a lady that she used to work with that made blankets. She was going to get her to make 4 blankets for us. You know, throw blankets. Well, she's been so very busy, she hasn't even called her yet. I let it go for a while, then would remind her every now and then, and now - it's already been 3 years! I pleaded with her to Please call Nancy about the blankets, or give me her number and I would call. I reminded her again last week. No word yet. I think I'll give her a call.

Play Time with Lil Gal and Farmer Jr.!

SHE'S STILL SLEEPING, SO I GET TO POST ANOTHER ONE!!

Last weekend, we went to visit FW and her family to introduce them to PIPER!
~~~ I had already warned FW how active Piper was. I was concerned that she might hurt Lil Gal. So, we sat in the grass in the front yard, so they could meet Piper. Afterwards, we headed for the back yard. Well, I didn't have to worry about Piper hurting them! Farmer Jr. ran around the yard with her all day! The he started throwing a Frisbee and Piper was chasing it!

~~~ When he got tired, he would come and drink some water and lay on the patio to rest up some. And, that's when Lil Gal could love on Piper. Piper was pooped, so she just lay there!

LOL

~~~~ We had a lot of fun just watching them all play! It was so nice to not have to pay attention to Piper's needs!
~~~~~~ We brought the kennel, just in case, that Piper need some time out, or time to nap, but she didn't use it. Instead, FW and the children were climbing in and out of it just having a grand time!

~~~~~~ It was getting late and Piper was pooped. We just knew that Piper and the kids would have a good nite's sleep that night! All us grown ups got a chance to visit w/o interruption (well not much). All in all, it was a super visit!

~~~~~ The next day, it was back to normal... Piper jumping and (the book calls biting - nipping) nipping! I texted FW that I wanted her to bring Farmer Jr. over to play with Piper to tire her out. She just laughed (you know with school and all). Gee Thanks!

YELP!!

Yesterday I was ready to leave the house today and stay out all day, and go to the movies! BUT, I don't think she can stay in her kennel that long cuz of potty issues. She's still too young. Maybe 4 hours, but not 8. I was ready to drive to Dallas and drop her off at my daughters! I couldn't WAIT UNTIL DH CAME HOME!
~~~ Last evening I was able to read a couple of dog books regarding her current behavior. Get this! When Piper jumps up and bites me, I'm supposed make a high shrilled YELP. Supposedly, she is viewing me as an equal, and just wants to play like she would with another pup. (Prohomemaker saw this and commented on it).
~~~~~ Anyway, just how do you YELP? Yell "OW"... yell "Yelp", "grunt"? DH finally got bit and he yelled something that sounded like a high pitched hiccup... sounded like "YIP". Does anyone know??? If so, please let me know.
~~~~~So I've been Yelping all morning! LOL!!! Every few minutes when she runs at me and bite me I say YIP (high pitched sound); and she STOPS!!! Sometimes it works! Well, she tested me every few minutes. Maybe she just likes a deep voice like DH's.
~~~~~~~(off topic for a minutes - tv commercial was on about TP! It showed the TP roll with the TP over the top! Made me think of FW -LOL!)

~~~~~~~Last night, when it was time for dinner, there she was just ready to jump into our plates for a scrumptious steak dinner! So, DH put her in the kennel. I did the same thing when I was ready to eat lunch today. I gave her a treat cuz I had not put my food on the table yet, so I had not scolded her, so I wasn't rewarding her for acting up. Now she is napping. Ahhhhh.... It's so nice....
~~~~~~Every time I make that yip sound, she goes off to either chase her tail (haven't been able to capture that yet on camera, I'll try!); or play with a toy. So, I get some time to myself. I'm afraid to lay back in my recliner for fear of her jumping on it and trying to bite again. Well, here goes... I lay back. DID NOT ATTACK IT/ME!! Well, not right away. I was starting to relax, and then she comes from behind and jumps at me from the back corner of the chair! Couldn't yip cuz she didn't bite,but she was clawing the chair every time she thought she was gonna fall. NOT GOOD.
Gotta figure that one out. Maybe sit. Gonna try yelping, cuz she is biting/tugging at sheet again. WHOA, didn't have to... she stopped!
~~~~~Here I am taking notes, cuz I can't get to the computer just yet. She is too frisky. (Oh, I can just hear FW now... See, I told ya, you need to get a Lap Top!) LOL
~~~~~~~~ Dang! Phone is ringing. Bet she wakes up!
Piper has great Peripheral vision too! I got up, very quietly to get my pills and she immediately turned her head to see what I was doing. Whew! She didn't come over. Nosey gal!
~~~~~ Well, better check on her since she's been in the kennel a while. Maybe she's awake. That means she has to go potty!
Later Gators!

PIPER THE TERROR

OMG This Dog Won't STOP BITING ME!!! She grabs on to my clothes (whatever is hanging - like a skirt, shorts, nightgown, etc.). I had to cover the furniture with sheets so she won't tear it up, and now, she is pulling the sheets trying to tear them apart. So far, there are holes.
~~~~~~~~~Today was the WORST DAY EVER!!!
I took her out several times so she wouldn't go potty in the house. The last few days she has had accident, after accident! Today I mopped the kitchen floor with Clorox, and I wasn't about to let her go there again!
~~~ I can't sit for a few minutes before she literally runs and jumps me and I have to put out my arms and grab her so she won't bite my face! I grab her arms and besides telling her to STOP - DON'T BITE - She won't! As she tries with all her might, she swings her head back and forth in a frenzy! I try to put her paws in her mouth so she will feel how it feels and stop!
~~~~ HA! A lot of good that does! I grab a chew toy and wave it in her face. She takes it for about 1 minute, then BAM! There she is again biting anything she can get her mouth on... my ankles (by the way, she can put her whole mouth around my ankle), my toes, my legs, and when, of course, I try to stop her, she attacks my upper body again!
CONTEMPLATING THE ATTACK:
~~~~ She won't let me eat, she jumps at the table to get at my food! So, I put her in the kennel. I leave her there for about an hour. She takes a nap. I'm exhausted and my body stings from her scratches from her claws and scrapes from her teeth. Ah, one hour free of fighting this sweet looking dog. Looks, as they say, can be deceiving.
~~~~~ Reluctantly, I let her out of the kennel knowing she needs to go potty. It is raining outside. We have been in a drought for about a year, and it's raining today. Sweet little Piper will melt if she gets wet, so she won't go into the grass. I sit in the chair trying to get her to go on the grass. OOPS! Remember - can't sit down or will get attacked!
~~~~ I'm SO FRUSTRATED, that I leave her on the patio and run in before she can run into the house!
~~~~ This happens ALL FREAKING DAY!! I know she hasn't gone potty now for about 2 hours. Not good. I finally have had ENOUGH! I put her in the kennel again and decide to leave her until DH gets home. Can't do it. Maybe... just maybe... she will have figured out that her actions have consequences. NOT!! I take her outside... it has stopped raining finally. She won't go potty unless I LEAD HER INTO THE GRASS! Ok, so I do. We come inside, I sit to watch a program, ATTACK!!!! So, I take her outside again and leave her outside... one more hour before DH gets home then she's HIS problem!
~~~~ I check on her outside cuz I don't see her thru the windows. I get worried that with all this rain, she may have dug thru under the fence! DH & Alexis would NOT be happy with me. Here she comes running up, like nothing happened.
~~~~ Inside again... sameo, sameo... You get the picture. Then I get a text from DH. "I stopped to have a beer with the guys." AAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!
~~~~~~Guess where she is??? Outside.

CARE PACKAGE!

Uh-Oh.... Piper found a small hole in the carpet at the door leading to the laundry room, made by an old pet - a Gerbil! She is now trying to make the hole LARGER!!

I'm sending my daughter a care package. She and Bently love to get care packages! I usually throw in something for the Yorkie too! Among other things, I'm sending her a very cool new Iron. You see, the last time we visited, I was playing with the dogs, so I tried to move the ironing board out of the way, and the iron fell, crashing to the tile floor! :(

I told her that while playing with the dogs, they ran under the ironing board and the iron fell to the ground, breaking pieces off of it. I was too chicken to tell her I dropped it. Oh my... I'm so chicken! Well, I told her I'd replace it since it was I who was playing with the dogs. That's close to the story, right? :)

Oh yeah, I know why I fibbed. The last time I was there, I was washing dishes and left the burner on the pan w/water to soften food and forgot about it! It dried out and the ruined pan, so I had to replace that! Didn't want her to think I was gonna break something every time we visited! LOL

So, I know she will be happy with the new iron! :)

As much Fun as an Empty Box!

Piper is at it again! This time it's a cute thing. I'm trying to find more fun stuff to play with. She's getting bored with what she has. So, I gave her an empty box. Remember how 1 yr olds, at their birthday parties, or at Christmas, love to play with the empty box? Well, she is just loving it!
Yes, she's ripping it up, but it is a challenge, and she's BARKING AT IT!! LOL

At first I thought she was barking at me to go potty - Yeah, right - but I looked at her and she is barking at it! TOO FUNNY!

Since I have her blocked in the family room/kitchen, she peed on the kitchen floor. :( I stepped on it when I stepped over the "blocker", and almost slipped!! Well, she got an earful, as much good as it did.

Here she is sleeping behind my recliner on top of her green pup!

Did I tell you about the first day she was here? DH & I were sitting in recliners watching tv. I got up to get something from the kitchen. As I close the recliner with my legs, I hear a THUNK! OMG!!! WHAT WAS THAT???!!! Did I break Piper???!!!

I quickly raised the chair and she was already running out from the back! Whew! That little girl! I think she has learned her lesson. I haven't seen her doing it again, although, I am always conscious getting out of that chair!

I found Piper chewing two appliance cords today. One is to the paper shredder, and the other was to a portable fan! She had pulled the cord of the fan out from the outlet, while it was on!!

Am I going to have to give up my life and follow her around like a puppy does? Hmmm......

When she came back to see me, she put her paw up and when I scratched her behind ears, she started pawing and scratching again, so I grabbed both paws and danced her around to the sounds of Kenny Chesney's song: She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy. She seemed to like it!

Piper and her New Doorway Blockers

So, yesterday was pretty much the same. Piper wasn't happy that both of the doorways were blocked so she could not go potty in other rooms, and had to say in the family/kitchen area. We had looked at buying gates, but they were so expensive, and we were already buying so much stuff!
Too funny - This morning (after we had been out twice), she went to the blocked doorway in the kitchen and started whimpering. She was telling me she wanted to go poo on the living room carpet!!! Is that too funny/sad, or what???!!! I promptly shook the bell on the door and said potty, and we went outside. Most times she won't go outside unless I go with her, so I have to walk out in the grass before I can sit and wait for her. For some reason, she will pee outside, but won't go poo, so I get walk her around the yard, Then she will go... but not all the time; she saves that for indoors! lol

This is the doorway from the kitchen to the hall way down to the computer room and bedrooms. (Thanks goodness that the bedrooms have a door!) Here's Piper Pouting... :)

The contraption I figured out to use is my container of gift wrap paper, and a chair to hold it from falling.
A lot of good that did! She peed on my kitchen rug, tried to pee on carpet in family room in corner, but I caught her! Since she is getting to run around with me in the computer room and hall way, she pooped & peed at 2 of the doorways. Of course, me - instead of watching her every second, I was on here - the computer! POO!

This is the second door blocker which I, again, cleverly thought to use (lol), since it's HUGE! I used her Very Large Kennel (I hope she doesn't grow that tall!!!!). The pet store said this was the one to get for a Boxer. UGH.... Please... Please.... Please..... don't grow that big!!!! This blocks the doorway from the family room to the front living area.

The pillow on top I bought cuz it's soooo cute! I picked Piper up and lay her on top of the pillow with a chew toy, and she stayed there for a mili-second, then jumped off to sniff out another place to go potty in the house. :(

Today, I put the puppy pee pads to try again. This time, I put it in the kitchen and taped it down (I know.. I know... I didn't know it had Tape on it before!); so, when I went to the kitchen to check on her, she had torn it to shreds!!

What is it about these puppy pads that is supposed to get them to pee on them, but instead, she tears it up? I suppose that this, plus numerous other questions will be answered once we get to take her to PetsMart for training class. We cannot take her there until she gets all her shots, and she can't get all her shots until she's a certain age. Our appointment with the vet is 2 weeks from now. I never had a problem this huge with training our other dogs! Of course, they were not pure bred. I'm assuming that is the problem? Who knows.

More on the THE SUPER DESTRUCTIVE PIPER saga when I return.

AAAGGGHHHH... Puppies - Chewing, jumping, and scratching!

BITCH SESSION: Yesterday was a BAD day! All due to this cute little puppy! I haven't been taking her for a walk cuz it's too dang HOT! DH takes her out in the evening. SO, I have to put up with her "hyperness" all day!
Even though, I take her out at least 4-5 times a day to run around in the back yard and to go pottie, all she wants to do is jump on me, pull on my shorts, or skirt, and claw & bite me! Sometimes she will only go wewe, and save the stinky stuff for my carpet!
I try to catch her when she walks to the front rooms (where we frequent least); and by the time I realize she is gone, it's too late! So, I go clean up poop and pee (yes - she likes to do both on carpet). I swear, she has a hole in her that water runs thru the minute after she drinks water!!
What's up with that??!! The MINUTE she finishes drinking???

So Yesterday, I was ready to drive her to my daughter's home out of town and drop her off, so I wouldn't kill her first. (aw - y'all know I'd never do that - I just felt like doing it!!).
Piper went to the front room and started chewing dried flowers off of the skateboard that the florist made for my son's Rosary, with his nickname "Jeph" on the skateboard. I've had it up front with some of his pictures. I was so upset, I moved the skateboard to Jeffrey's bedroom and almost left her outside (it was cool and cloudy); but she kept throwing herself at the kitchen door!
And, that's another thing. I am no longer able to keep Jeffrey's bedroom door open so I can see in it as I walk by, and/or walk into to look at his things; and listen to his music/stereo that I turn on everyday. That makes me sad.
When I take Piper out, she eats my plants!!! Don't know how to get her to stop except to yell at her, and move them. Of course, once she gets bigger, she will be able to reach them.

I put her in her kennel when she would not stop jumping on me, while I was sitting on recliner and scratching my legs, arms and the chair. I fear she has mangled some of the upholstry. I checked on her after a while in the kennel, and she was eating the new pad we put in her brand new HUGE kennel. Bits and pieces were everywhere! AAAGGGHHH!!!!
We went to PetsMart to spend tons of $$$ on doggie stuff to keep her safe and entertained! $$ down the drain.
I even bought pottie pads to begin to train her since the bell on the door only works sometimes.
Well, I put the pad down... and just guess.... She started chewing the pad!!
Then, she found a large roach bait that was hidden in a corner, so we forgot about it. She was chewing it. ***SIGH....***
Ok, all done. Thanks for listening.
PS: Anybody want a super cute Boxer puppy?