Ace of Spays

These are low quality due to being taken on my BFs phone and not my camera...but they convey the story.


This was the response to the command "show mommy you love her".


Puppy is still excited for car rides.


There's far too much to smell for abby to pose for pictures. :(


Abby say bye...for now.


Tired...but I can almost keep my eyes open.


Abby post-op...take me home!

Thanksgiving Celebrations

For Thanksgiving dinner we went to Brendan's parents house.


Abbie as a lap dog.


The other two dogs had to go upstairs but Abbie is tiny, so she was allowed to stay for dinner.


Then on Saturday we took her to my Dad's house. This was her first time sleeping over somewhere else.


Cozying up with Brendan.


She and the bird got into a few arguments but overall they got along pretty great.


I thought the light and lines looked cool.



Doesn't she kinda look like a German Shepherd with her ears like that?

Puppy in a Kitty Bed

Abbie made it clear she did not like her bed when she hijacked the kitty's. We have since bought her a similar style but larger version.

New Clothes and Toys!

Introduction of Squeaky aka Squeakums aka McSqueakington...



She has such good posture!






New Christmas Eve PJs!





Just wait till Brendan gets home!!!






New coat for night time walks and the wintery weather.








DANCING :)

Hiking

These are old pictures from a couple weeks ago. Abbie was very headstrong (this was largely when we decided she needed a harness) but the trek was an absolute pleasure.





















"See now kids- that's a real dog. You aren't used to those," a man to his family as they hiked with their Bichon Frise.

One Month Pupdate

Abbie has adjusted to home life.
1) House training: We haven't had any accidents in our house since the first couple weeks. She has had a couple when we brought her to Brendan's parents, but not my mom's or dad's house. I think it's something to do with them having two dogs and the excitement of it all.

2) Commands: She definitely knows to sit whenever she wants something, but she is learning "Go Lay Down" and "Stay". For the most part "stay" is limited to very short stints usually around keeping her from eating until commanded with "Good Girl, Go Ahead".

3) Medical and Vet: She's getting spayed tomorrow! I am a little sad and scared about this. She had her second appt. and was 39.9 pounds. The vets loved her again. This was for her pre-op.


Waiting patiently for the vet to come in.


She hears someone coming!


Abbie loves the vet! (Because she gives her treats.)

We have also decided to crate train her. Originally I didn't plan to but she kept eating things in the basement (tupperwares, insulation, paper towels) that I feared for her health.

She is getting along very well in it. She sleeps in it as well because we didn't want her to associate it with being alone, so if it was her bed area too- may be she would grow to like it. She knows to go in to get a treat and then to sit after the door is closed to get another. It no longer takes much coaxing to get her to walk in.

We've also gotten a harness for walks, and this has helped oodles with the pulling. She is still not accustomed to spending time alone in the back yard but we are leaving her there for 10 min segments occasionally and she is doing better with it. She used to just bark, cry, jump on the gate, and try to dig her way out, but now she sniffs around and relaxes a little.

Also, despite her love of chewing- we have found that she does not destroy her stuffed animal squeaky toys. I am sure she will one day but they are lasting so far. She does, however, eat the foam beds.
Toy count:
- Stegums (Dental Stegosaurus)
- Bone (Castor & Pollux Pressed Rawhide)
- Pigums (Stuffed Pig with squeaker)
- Squeaky (oblong shaped green dog with squeaker)
- McRopington (Rope that used to have tennis ball attached but she destroyed the ball)
- Wishy (Wishbone shaped chew toy)
- Variety of tennis balls for fetch.

A Feast & a Beast

Brendan's birthday was yesterday. It was a time of celebration for all! Brendan got one of his favorite dinners and an adorable pup (and snow boots unpictured), and Abbie made out pretty well too.



Abbie with Stegums and Wishy. We name her toys so that hopefully one day when we say "bring Stegums upstairs!" she will understand. (Fingers crossed!)

Fetch

We have a yard! Well OK, we've always had a yard. But NOW it has a fence! We have a fence!!! It still won't do to leave her out there. She is into digging holes. But it does mean we can engage in the age old past time of FETCH.

First, we tell her to sit. This doesn't last long, she sorta squats until the ball leaves Brendan's hand, at which point she runs off bounding like a deer for a few steps and then full sprint.

VICTORY




For some reason she tends to veer to the right (or left from her point of view).



more VICTORY




Eventually she gets so tired that in between throws she just flops down.




Brendan is her main fetch buddy so far (I am in charge of photography!).


He also helps when she loses sight of the ball. We love Abbie, but she is not the most brilliant of fetchers in the world. If she thinks you are throwing left, she'll get a head start, and then completely lose it if the ball goes right. But Victory or not, she's just the happiest pup ever!