September 5, 2022
The BIG BONE was wrapped in a plastic bag and sat in the rear of my car going home, emanating a slightly fungal odor during the ride back. Tom had presented the massive bovine bone as a gift for Gracie during our brief trip to central PA this weekend. When I got back home, I carried it to my deck, took it out of the bag, and offered it to Gracie. Since then, she’s literally spent hours with it. (And it seems like the more foul-smelling it becomes, it’s even more desirable!) While I’m inside. I can hear a faint and steady “thump, thump, thump” as Gracie pulls on the bone, stripping fragments.
Gracie couldn’t have received a more satisfying gift!!
During her contented mastication stretches, Gracie comes into the house only when she gets thirsty (and of course I have to make sure the toilet lid is down!) Today she managed to gnaw the bone into two pieces. At one point I let her into the house and before I knew it, she carried the smaller piece onto my living room floor. (NOT allowed.)
Our next sessions in our endless series of IMPORTANT DOGGIE LESSONS will be to train Gracie to 1) keep the bone outside and 2) NOT KNOCK DOWN THE SCREEN DOOR TO GET BACK ONTO THE BALCONY.
By the way, Beth Bower, while in the area, I boarded Gracie at Mount Nittany Vet for one of the two nights I was there, and all went VERY WELL. Thank you so much for your recommendation! I think I missed Gracie more than she missed me because she not only received caring treatment from the staff – with food, treats and toys, she had another puppy companion to keep her company during her stay.
September 8, 2022
Gracie was groomed today! She walked out of the salon looking and smelling great. I managed to keep her cleanliness in check for only a mere 3 hours until we went to the Teegarden dog park. At the park, Gracie was very happy to greet her doggie friends after being couped up inside while it rained the past few days. But as they romped, several of the canines generously slobbered all over her. Shortly after, Gracie led her doggie friends into a muddy stream. When she emerged, she rolled in the stinky doggie turf to dry off.
Sigh. So much for looking and smelling her Sunday best.
I managed to capture this picture of Gracie BEFORE she UN-DID her pristine coiffure.
September 10, 2022
It was a beautiful day yesterday, so I took Gracie for a nice hike in the woods in Valley Forge Park thinking it was not only a great place to go but we could minimize any mud she could get into. Though we managed to avoid the muck, I hadn’t considered the seasonal BURRS. Gracie managed to contract a whole slew of them in her fur. I spent quite a while picking those prickly pests out of her after our walk.
It was great to have Gracie freshly groomed on Thursday even though the unspoiled stage was awfully short-lived. I decided it’s probably fruitless to keep Gracie both happy AND clean. So, I will opt for happy. Today we went to Skunk Hollow Trail in Willow Park Preserve in Radnor where Gracie joyfully trotted through the woods, inspected flora and greeted numerous dogs. Then she swam, splashed, and chased sticks with Corgis, retrievers, and setters in Little Darby Creek. Gracie came back home looking fairly grubby, but nevertheless – I have no doubt – she’s BLISSFULLY bushed.
September 15, 2022
Today Gracie is 9 months old!!
We started intermediate level doggie obedience training this week! This training is taking place at a different PetSmart location than the last time (it’s closer) with a different instructor (natural-color haired Melissa – not purple-haired Jen). So far, natural-color haired Melissa seems much more down-to-earth than ADHD Jen. Our first day’s lesson this week consisted almost entirely of the “settle” command. “Settle” means Gracie must sit, then lie down – turning slightly on her side (a more relaxed stance), keep her tail still, and hold that position for 10 seconds or more. After prompting with MANY treats for encouragement, Gracie performed the command very well, even with two other active puppies nearby. We’re practicing the “settle” command A LOT this week! (I’m practicing “settle” on myself, too, by taking extra naps.)
According to Melissa, this intermediate training is all about managing your dog around distractions – an endless list, including noises, people nearby, other dogs, vehicles, animals, children, toys, sudden movements, smelly things, etc., etc. I think this instruction is a great next step – and I have high hopes for Gracie making good progress.
It occurs to me I might also benefit from a disciplined course for HUMANS to manage my own distractions – an infinite list, too, including Internet surfing, email, cell phones, Facebook, instant messaging, TV, and Netflix…
Gracie in a “settle” position:
September 19, 2022
Skirmish with a Corgi on the 30-yard line…
September 25, 2022
Today was our 3rd class of intermediate doggie training and we’re already halfway through the course! It’s been a gradual progression. Nevertheless, trainer Melissa has proven to be a fine instructor – very down-to-earth and no-nonsense. In today’s class we worked on commands HEEL, SIT, STAY. and COME. Melissa is patient with both Gracie and me as we go through our paces. At one point, Gracie was getting more and more distracted by her classmate, Geo (a lively labradoodle) – despite lots of enticing from me with her favorite BIL-JAC chicken liver treats. Melissa noticed my struggle and gave me some different BACON and CHEESE treats (sold by PetSmart) for Gracie, and they worked like a charm! Gracie responded perfectly. Guess I’ll have to stock up on a fresh supply of NEW bacon and cheese treats.
Obviously, Melissa appears to be a skilled marketer, too.
September 27, 2022
Last week I felt wistful in the waning daylight as summer 2022 drew to a close. I hate to let go of the warmer season of long. sunlit days and face colder, shorter days ahead.
As I reflect on Gracie’s first summer, I think she sure made the best of it. Swimming was the highlight of the season for her. She took advantage of any opportunity to get in the water – from her initial plunge into the local swimming hole, to her countless hours of retrieving sticks tossed into streams, to her doggie-paddling with canine companions in area waters. To my water-loving soul, it was a joy to watch my golden noodle delight in her aquatic adventures these past several months.
Raising Gracie 