Kiss With a Fist

Loving the Florence and the Machine CD... and love, love, loving the puppies more than anything~  So for today's I will combine the two!

Flo and the Machine will do the singing, while Lucy and Ricky provide the choreography...

Future Therapy Dog #2

As I had reported last week, Ricky got to go see our favorite neighbor, Rex, who now lives in assisted living.

Lucy got her turn this weekend...

Lucy was a little more squirmy, but she loved Rex too!

My two sweet pups!  Every day is a happy one with them in our lives!

Please Don't Feed The Puppies

When I first got the Ricardos, and would take them out around people, I would give people--strangers, even!- kibbles to feed them.  I wanted all their people-meeting-experiences to be positive ones.  But then, the dog trainer at our puppy class told us only WE, the pups owners, should be doling out the goodies.  Because first of all, we want them to love us above all else, of course.  But also, because we don't want to create little monsters that demand treats from all strangers.

So, since I got that good little bit of advice, that's what I've been doing.  Right after they meet a new person, and they are friendly and brave about it, I give them a little kibble.

But the other day, when Lucy and I were at the bookstore, a man came up to Lucy and pulled a Milkbone out of his pocket and started feeding it to Lucy.  I was so annoyed by this, but for whatever reason sort of froze and neglected to tell him, "No thanks."  And Lucy chomped away.

And then the weirdest thing happened.  After Lucy and I walked away (quickly) from this man, Lucy coughed a little.  That started me thinking, "What if he gave her some kind of arsenic?"

Why my thoughts ran in this direction, I'm not sure.  I'm not usually so suspicious of strangers.  But this man smelled super stinky.  And what kind of a guy carries Milkbones around in his pocket just looking for the right puppy to give it to?

Lucy only coughed once or twice, and then she was fine.  I think she just wasn't used to something other than the kibbles I feed her.  And maybe she didn't like how smokey that dirty guy's hands smelled.  And maybe, without me even really telling her, she kind of knew taking candy from strangers isn't a good idea.

Next time a stranger tries to feed Lucy or Ricky, if there ever is one, I'll say "No thanks."  I wouldn't tolerate that if I had a child and a stranger gave them candy.  So why should the rules be different with dogs?

Cool Tricks

When people meet my puppies, lots of times they say, "Oh, Australian Shepherds are really smart!"

No kidding.  Besides both of my 10 week old puppies already knowing "sit" and "down" and at least 75% of the time, "touch"- they also know a few other tricks that I didn't even teach them!

Lucy knows how to wink!

And Ricky has a great talent for hiding.

Doctor! Doctor! Give Me The News!

Today was another milestone for the Ricardos.  Their first visit to see our vet, Dr. Tolleson.

Last time I was there, was the day we had Zoe and Scout put to sleep.  Such strong and sad emotion that day.  I told Ricky a little about it on the car ride there.  He just looked so calm and confident about the upcoming visit, that he made me feel great about it too!

We went during an "off" time, so we were the only patients in the waiting room.  I was kind of glad, because I don't want Ricky picking up anything from unhealthy doggies while he's still working on getting all of his vaccinations.

I filled out a little paperwork for both he and Lucy, and then they asked us back to the examination room.

It just happened to be the very same room where I last held my sweet girls.  Dr. Tolleson walked in and said, "Well, well, well!! Who do we have here?"  I was so happy to be showing off Ricky, to have such happy news to share this time around, that I immediately hugged our vet and cried while eeking out the words, "I'm so happy again!"

Ricky with his heartworm prevention and ear drops.

Ricky was big and brave and did great for his exam.  He weighed in at 10lbs/14oz.  Dr. Tolleson asked me what his feeding regimen was.  I told him, and then he asked if I was still feeding him the same amount as when I got him 2 weeks ago.  (I was.) He told me as he grows, I need to feed him more.  What was enough food for a 6 lb puppy isn't necessarily enough for an almost 11 lb puppy!  So yay for Ricky!  He gets to eat a big dinner tonight.

His heart thumps like a champ, his boy parts are all there, his teeth look great...he's perfect!  He does have a little bit of an ear allergy or something-- which I knew because he had been itching-- The doc said it was probably from shampoo if he got a bath before I got him.  (Which he did.  And I was told it was with Palmolive.  Palmolive?! )  He got some ear drops, and was sent home with enough to make it all better in the next week.

One of the assistance that works there mistook Ricky for a Bernese Mountain dog.  I understand.  His markings do make him look like he could be that breed.

Next, it was Lucy's turn.  So I dropped Ricky off at home for a nap, and Lucy and I drove off for vet visit #2 of the day.

When I walked in with Lucy, there were a few more people in the waiting room.  All of them oohing and ahhing over my girl.  Then one of the vet assistence said, "So this is the pretty one!"  I guess he meant Lucy is pretty, and Ricky's handsome?!  It was weird.  The receptionist said, "I didn't really even notice him (Ricky), but I can't stop looking at her (Lucy)."  Ok, I agree-- She's beautiful.  But were these same people in a coma when Ricky had been up just 30 minutes earlier?!!

Lucy was also brave.  But not so big.  She weighs a few pounds less than Ricky- Right around 8 1/2 lbs.  But after "the talk", she'll be eating a bigger dinner tonight too.  But she is a female, and 4 days younger-- Most definitely smaller and feels lighter in my arms.

Dr. Tolleson said her heart and eyes and teeth, etc. all look and sound great too.  And her ears are all clear, so no drops for her.  Just the heartworm prevention.

"she's the pretty one"

The puppies are sleeping now.  I think the shot and the fecal exam completely wore them out.

Puppy Gifts

The only kind of babies I've ever had or will have are puppies.  And so I've never had a baby shower.  Or a sip and see.  Or anything like that.

Baby boy and baby girl gifts

But I am just as elated and proud as any new mother.  And my babies are just as deserving of gifts as other babies! Right? Well, right! It ends up they are!

My friends weren't sure what we had named our puppy, so look at how the cards are addressed!!  Mr. and Miss. Little Puppy Arista!  So cute!

It was so sweet that the other day, when my friends came over to see the Ricardos, and they brought gifts for them!

Ricky got a blue squeaky dog.

And so of course, Lucy got a pink squeaky dog.

And they each got their own box of puppy scooby snacks.  Yum!

Therapy Puppy

Yesterday I took Ricky to see our favorite neighbors.

Alice and Rex have lived across the street from us since we moved into the neighborhood about 10 years ago.  When we moved in, they were right around 80 years old, and up until just a few years ago, Rex still mowed and edged his lawn, and put all of the rest of us to shame!  At the end of last year, Rex moved into an assisted living facility very nearby.

Alice goes there and spends each and every day with Rex.  They are really the two sweetest people I've ever known.  And when it comes to a long and happy marriage, they are our role models.

A few days after I brought the Ricardo's home, Lucy and I saw Alice outside and I introduced them.  She told me Rex loves dogs and would love to meet our puppies, so we made a date for a visit.

Since Fermin was playing golf that day, and I was on my own with this, I decided just to take one puppy.  It was Ricky's turn for a field trip, so he was the lucky one that day.

Rex did love him!  And he loved Rex.

And Alice.

And their daughter, Sara.

Ricky was so calm, and so sweet.  I think he might just grow up to be a great therapy dog for people in hospitals, or assisted living places someday soon. 

After a lot of time in laps and arms, Ricky laid down next to Rex's chair.

The next best thing to hand holding for Rex and Ricky.

Next week, Lucy gets to go visit Rex!  And she can't wait!

My little nature love, Lucy.