The Dalmatian Diaries Blog

Hopefully this will be the only time I ever write about something like this, but Widget and Browser had a little adventure this evening...

We're having massive construction done on our house and one of the crews is very careless about closing the gates to the yard. After they leave I religiously shut the gates before allowing the dogs in the yard. Tonight, Brent shut the gate after they were in their cars getting ready to leave. I came home with the dogs as he was doing this. I got a call on my cell as I was getting the dogs out of the car so I stood there a few minutes talking before "releasing the hounds". Got them through the house and into the yard. Brent and I stood there and talked while they ran around. Then they ran out of sight. It's not like them to not reappear within a few seconds. I noticed this after a minute or so... then went to check. Sure enough the gate was open and the dogs were GONE. The )(@#*$ workers had come back in the yard for whatever reason before finally leaving and left the gate open after we had JUST closed it.

So, I start screaming for Brent. I run to the house and grab leashes and bubbles. I run out to the yard (I should mention, it's dark at this time and of course there is no moon out!) and start yelling "let's go see Howie!". Howie is the dog next door and Widget is in love with him. Browser will follow Widget anywhere so the goal was to get her first. Sure enough she fell for it and I ran right up to Howie's door and caught her there. Browser was right behind her.

I don't imagine that trick will work forever, and of course, the dogs must be within ear shot for it to work. Oh, I had grabbed the bottle of bubbles in case that would entice Widget - but found that during a great escape, bubbles are useless.

Both pups were konked out early tonight from their excitement. Glad they had fun - because I sure didn't. I still have a headache from it.

I made the mistake this morning of going upstairs while the pups were outside, leaving the back door open so they could let themselves back in.

I was busy working (making backups, was having some computer issues this morning) when I hear them RACE up the steps and gallop into my office. I took one look at them and shrieked. They were covered in mud. They tracked it thru the kitchen, living room, up the carpeted staircase, around the long carpeted hallway and into my office (also carpeted). I immediately got them back downstairs (of course, retracking the mud the whole way) and outside again. Just in time for the lawn crew to show up to mow. So, into their beds they went (still dirty) while I dragged out the carpet shampooer (we have beige carpet).

Once the carpet, and the dogs, were all cleaned up we headed outside (it was afternoon at this point) to enjoy the weather. The second they went out the door they ran right for the mud puddle they had discovered earlier.

Sigh.

The newly added muddy puppy photo was the next day - Widget got into the mud yet again. I'll be going to Lowe's shortly to buy fencing.

It rained today. I think the pictures are evidence enough. Both pups ended up submerged in the pool at some point after the mud fiasco. I swear, I had nothing to do with it.

Both are mud-free for now.

Ugh. 4 1/2 days accident free. She was over-tired and all wound up and in psycho puppy mode racing around my office. She pulled apart her puppy sofa (removing the cushion) and then it happened. She peed on the base of her sofa. She had just been out too. Sigh. I know, she's only 3 months old, but it just seems like with the amazing progress she's made this week that she would have at least tried to tell me she needed "out".

So, restart the counter.

She did sleep all night last night without a potty break, so that was a big accomplishment. Now if we can just extend her sleep time! I really don't like getting up at 5am. Especially since I always start waking up about an hour before that. I'm getting about 6 1/2 hours of sleep a night, and that's just not enough for me.

I still love her to pieces though. What a sweetie!

There is a reason Mom doesn't leave me alone very often in her office.

Fortunately she's getting better about the puppy nips.