Saturday. She cries in the car, but quiets when I begin telling her fairy stories and sing "Hush, Little Baby," although I have to make up words. Conrad and Marple are astonished, curious, and decide to hold a watching brief on this little thing. At bedtime, she finally quiets in her nighttime crate when I pull up Conrad's dog bed and sleep on the floor with my hand in her crate. Note to myself: replace the lining in that bed. It's lumpy!!!!
Sunday. It's very cold in our yard at 6 AM. My husband gets his first view of her when he gets up at 8, and is in instant total love. Beginning crate training turns sweet Weezie into the Exorcist puppy temporarily, but a book-on-tape of Eudora Welty saves the day. A new location for the nighttime crate allows me to sleep in my own bed tonight. Her's is now serving double duty as puppy crate and bedside table. Has Ethan Allen ever considered....? Marple discovers that puppies are good for something: she finds a BONE in the unoccupied downstairs crate, and happily steals it. I begin showing Weezie the clicker. Note to myself: we need to tighten the fence security around here. Weezie can get through small spots the Bigs would never even see.
Monday. It's very cold in our yard at 6:20, but the sky is beautiful. John the Safety Inspector thoroughly examines each and every dog toy for labels or forgotten plastic tags. He also arms himself with much chicken wire and a staple gun and goes out to do battle with Small Spots in the Fence. Weezie plays a trick on me when we are playing Mr. Carrot and Mr. Weasel Keepaway. She fakes me out and gets Mr. Carrot after cleverly fixating me on Mr. Weasel. Clicking and treating continue, and she wears her collar twice for 15 minutes. Note to myself: one should really TRY to be smarter than an 8.5 week puppy!!
Tuesday. The great crate training battle continues. Weezie likes the Weather Channel almost as much as she likes Eudora Welty. She also likes following the Bigs around when they are patrolling the perimeter. They are not quite as sure, and continue to be bemused. She visits the library, and graciously greets my co-workers. Then she is very tired. She drags her leash around on her buckle collar three times for 15 minutes. Note to myself: when crate training a puppy, always find your jacket and hat and get them on BEFORE opening the crate door.
Wednesday. 6:30 is a perfect time of the morning to be out in the yard with a pup. At 7 AM sharp she is looking for her breakfast. At 7:30 I am showered and dressed, and we play in the yard and the house for an hour. At 8:00 AM I notice I have a raging case of "hat hair". At 8:30 she's in her crate and sleepy. I puppy-proof the linen closet, and am just APPALLED at what was reachable. I follow Weezie around with the leash in my hand. Note to myself: never buy dog toys at the supermarket. In 2 minutes Weezie was pulling huge strings out of her new fluff ball. Sargent's is going to get a fairly stroppy letter from me, along with 1 slightly used $5.99 fluffball.
Thursday. Eloise goes to the vet. It is a very nice place, where she gets lots of cookies. She weighs 14.5 lbs. She is licky-face with all the vet techs. She is remarkable. Leash training is now to the stage where I sometimes stop when following her, and she wonders what that's all about. But when she stops and looks at me I click her, and she comes running up for her cookie. What Conrad likes: when I click, baby gets a treat and he gets a treat. What Conrad doesn't like, but puts up with: when she jumps at him. To apologize, I lie on the floor between the Bigs for an hour, and brush them.
Friday. Pupternity leave is over, and I must return to work. I head off to work with hat hair, but experience deep fears halfway to work that I am not absolutely sure if I took her collar off before I put Weezie back in her crate, so I turn around and come back home and check. Her collar is right on its peg where it should be. I am late to work. All morning I experience deep and irrational fears that terrible things have happened to my little girl in my absence. I rush home at lunch, and find her happily sitting in her crate. Afternoon a repeat of the morning, minus the collar detour. Note to myself: get a grip!
Saturday. Work again, but John is home all day, so the nameless fears are a little less urgent. Marple plays with the pup a bit, mostly whacking near her with her paws while craning her head coquettishly and grinning. Later Weezie gets carried away, however, and Marple gives her a look similar to that of Queen Elizabeth viewing a rather dirty soldier. Note to myself: Weezie has been here one whole week. Our Thanksgiving came a little early this year.
Necessary puppy equipment: a cordless phone so you can accept all the congratulatory phone calls while wandering around the house and yard keeping an eye on the bad baby.
Special thanks to Aunt Winnie for showing up with two shopping bags
of toys, treats and Nature's Miracle as baby presents.
