Cooking in the Dark

Hop over to the The Chocolate Dog Blog for a chance to win a DogPause bowl.  Designed for healthier eating, Joe, our voracious Australian Shepherd, would be a great test of the product.  Fairfax, on the other hand, rarely cares about his food.  So much more in the world to get excited about.

Fairfax hit 7 months with his usual enthusiasm.  A somewhat terrifying visit to the vet aside (yes, it's true, Fairfax will not propogate), Fairfax has embraced adolescence.  Our perfect puppy morphed into an "I can't hear you," "no, I won't let go of your favorite moccasin" teenager.  

Lisa, our beloved puppy trainer and awesome Pet Stop invisible fence salesperson, warned us against starting rituals with a tiny dog that might prove difficult as they grow.  I took that piece of advice and hid it under the invisible fence so I could enjoy "ups and kisses" over and over and over.  Every time Fairfax comes out of his little kennel, or wakes up from a nap, or just the first time I see him in the morning, I say "ups and kisses" and he jumps into my arms and licks my face.  At 5 pounds, this was fun; at 10 it was a good workout; now, at close to 20, it's dangerous.  Maybe I'll sit down first.  Of course, then I have trouble getting up, but that's a story for another day . . .

Fairfax is now a proud member of Lisa's puppy training part-two class. Once again, there are only 2 other pups; lots of individual attention.  Petco hosts these classes; I can't say enough about our local Petco staff.  They are not only knowledgable, kind and helpful, they seem to genuinely love Fairfax.  He struts about the store bestowing kisses on anyone willing to bend down.

There's sad pet news in our house this week.  We had to put Louis, one of our 12-year-old Aussies, to sleep.  I've never had to do that before and sobbed openly in the vet's office while D1 and I held Louis until she took her last breath.  Such a wonderful dog.  My Breck girl; red all over and the thickest coat.  She would lay her head in my lap in my lowest moments and trot around the block with me in the good times.  Joe, her sister, seems a bit sad and confused.  Fairfax is doing his best to help Joe through this transition.

Which brings me back to our first second-round class; we met the most incredible dog. The Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) was setting up an area for people to view their dogs up for adoption.  One was named Cloey.  She looked like Fairfax in the face and the ears but she was tall, tall, tall.  Turns out Cloey is a Foxhound mix.  Unlike Fairfax, she is red and white.  She's absolutely gorgeous.  The APL is chronically short on funds, so D1 and I are sponsoring her:

Cloey

Tomorrow, I'd like some lox and veggie cream cheese, please.



Concerned about Cuba, Fairfax nervously chews The Economist.

D1 took Fairfax on vacation with her to see his original family in Virginia.  He reunited with D1's good friend who is now getting married; D1 and Fairfax are co-wedding planners.  Amazingly (thank you, Lisa, trainer extraordinaire), D1  has taught Fairfax to sleep in the passenger's seat of the car.  He doesn't crawl under her feet or sit in her lap or jump into the back.  When I was kid, there was often at least one pet on top of the driver's head, claws firmly planted.

I missed Fairfax terribly.  Missed D1, too.  They arrived home last night and Fairfax didn't know who to lick first - me, my husband or the Aussies.  The cats hung out on the stairs looking dejected; they thought he was gone for good.

At the moment, he is snoring. 

This is going to get worse before it gets better.




I sure wish there were an actual ice cream in this wrapper.



Chewing on a towel; I'm not tired, honest.

Today is puppy kindergarten graduation.  Couldn't be prouder.  We've gone from a puzzled look to sitting regardless of the command to correct responses for sit, stay, wait, down, leave it, off, watch and come.  And he still loves us.











I can make this jump, I can make this jump, I can . . .