The puppy is just standing here barking at me. I don't know why. I think she's ready to go out for the morning walk, but I'm not ready yet. I have to say, she was very good this morning. She was awake at four, but I made her wait until five before getting up. She stayed quiet.
We are on such an early schedule that not only am I tired all the time, but I can't really take many good pictures on our morning walks because the light is so dim. Mornings are cloudy right now anyway, and the sun is coming up later. At six or six-thirty, Natasha is ready to go. So it's either go or listen to her shrill bark.
Anyway, here are a couple of recent photos. I just learned from the news on Télématin that the giant panda at the nearby Beauval zoo is having twins. How did that get by me until now? I guess my attention isn't very focused these days.
I like the first photo.
ReplyDeleteAh, you hadn't heard about the panda babies? Someone just did a news story or a blog post about the increase in lodging going up in your area, because of the Zoo Beauval, and the impact the upcoming panda births will have. That's where I saw it!
ReplyDeleteDo you walk the baby right before bed ? no water after bedtime ? that might hold off the earliness of her needing to pee.
ReplyDeleteThat is the thing about puppies ... they wake us up, get us busy then they go back to sleep and here we are, wide awake. Actually cats do the same thing :)
Right, we go outside right before bedtime, and Tasha gets no water at that point. This morning she let me sleep until 5.
DeleteHave you and Walt gone to the zoo since you've lived in the area?
ReplyDeleteWe've been to the zoo 3 or 4 times over the years, starting in 2003. The last time for me was with Evelyn and her husband, a few years ago now. It is really worth the entry fee, and we are lucky because we can go when there aren't big crowds.
DeleteI enjoyed our day at the zoo- it's a really good one. When we move to B'ham we'll be five minutes away from their zoo. We already have a membership because we'll go often with Lila who is an animal lover already. She has grown up with two large dogs and they are like her siblings.
ReplyDeleteThose twin pandas are big news, Ken. Just read about them in a local Dutch newspaper: http://www.ad.nl/buitenland/nieuwe-hype-om-pandatweeling~a048344f/ ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat Notes said about puppy peeing. Also, when they're so small, their bladders are also very small. Poor little thing, her back teeth were probably floating.
ReplyDeleteShe's doing so well, to wait and get your attention rather than just, erm, letting it all hang out.
It is good. She hasn't had an indoor pee or poo in many weeks now.
DeleteDoes Natasha yet have a place which she associates with you not being pleased with her? We used to tell our Sheltie to "Go to your basket" sternly if he/she kept barking continually. At first the basket was in the same room, then only a short way away but in another space and out of sight. If the barking stopped they were called back in very quickly and fussed enthusiastically as a reward; if not left in disgrace for a little longer.
ReplyDeleteWe do so appreciate the problems you are having as shelties are so very shrill when they bark. Tasha is around 6 months old now, I think? Sounds like she may be in the teenager stage where she is constantly checking where the boundaries are in her relationship with you both.
Our shelties both wanted to be with us all the time, especially when young, and we found them a breed who need a lot of fussing and reassurance. If Tasha is the same, can you use that to train her? So, whilst she is going through this stage, at your side and spoken to or patted a little every couple of minutes to reassure her; when she is disobedient sent away from you - just out of sight but recalled very quickly - not left to worry?
They are often highly strung as a breed - one of the big reasons we do not have a dog at present is because we use the overnight ferry to France from Portsmouth and dogs have to stay in the car for the crossing. Many breeds would be ok but not a sheltie! The young bitch we rehomed had been bred for show and taken to Ireland to compete in a plane cargo hold when she was about 8 months old. She had become a nervous wreck and barked all the time so the owner could do nothing with her and had to give her up as a show dog. It took us a very long time to calm her down but she was such a wonderful pet when she did and so loved.
Thinking of you and hoping you start getting some more sleep soon!