Sunday, June 28, 2009

It's A Dog Eat, Dog World Out There

Hey Y'all!

Sorry it has been a week since my last post, but I have been busy! Having a puppy in the house really takes up my time! Let me bring you up to speed on all that Paddington has learned this week!

Last Sunday, I was so worn out! I have made a few changes and they have worked wonders. I have a baby gate that I now use to put Paddington in the kitchen when he needs to have some play time. I have tile in my kitchen, so if he has an "accident" it is ok! Early on in the week he would sit at the gate and cry, but now he entertains himself with his myriad of toys and of course my kitchen rug. I don't care about the rug, it's a great chew toy for him and it needs to be replaced any way! Paddington also hangs out in the kitchen when I get ready in the morning and he has his breakfast and supper in there too. I try to let him have a couple of hours in there every so often so he gets used to it. My hope is that by the time I go back to school full time in August, I can leave him in the kitchen and not in his crate, since I am gone for almost 8 hours. I have baby proofed all of my cabinets so he is safe. He can also walk around a chase his new favorite toy.. the TENNIS ball!!

This week Paddington learned his name, had a play date with my friend Rose's dog, Diana, and learned how to play fetch with his tennis ball! It is a great game and before we go to bed at night I take Paddington into the back yard and we toss the ball a bit. He loves it and it wears him out! It has been HOT this weekend, so we have also moved our game inside. We are now working on the "give" command, and he is getting it OK! I was really struggling with him eating earthworms on our walks. Well, today I bought a water gun, and has it worked wonders! I squirted him twice and that was then end of worms in his mouth! It has also helped with his chewing too. He has taken a liking to chewing on his baby gate. Well, squirt, squirt, that stopped! In fact, I grab the gun and he backs away.

I downloaded this e-book called Teach Your Dog 100 English Words. It is basically an obedience class in a book! The author is Michele Welton and she has trained dogs for years. She has it broken down into what to teach your dog in what month. Paddington will be 4 months old on Saturday, the 4th of July! So we are working on walking with manners on our leash, come, stay and give. I am also getting him used to the "go crate" command. He is doing well! Since this is working well, I have decided to delay puppy kindergarten for awhile. I think all of the other dogs would be a distraction for Mr. P and we are socializing with all of the dogs in the 'hood!

In other news, I am halfway through teaching summer school! Yippee! I am going shopping this week to pick up a few things for my trip to Lake Tahoe that is rapidly approaching! I fly out on the 8th! Mom and I decided that she and Zoe are going to come and stay at my house while I am gone. That way Mr. P will be in familiar territory and can have all of his things around him. It will also be easier for Mom to baby gate him in the kitchen when she needs to.

I went to the beach on Friday and again today! Yesterday, I went to a Bridal Shower for my cousin Jordan in Scranton. Paddington is getting used to me coming and going each day. I want him to get used to that before I have 2 weeks off in July. :) My mom's nurse has a daughter that is in high school and wanted a summer job. She has agreed to be Paddington's "nanny" this summer while I work and help mom when I go to Lake Tahoe. That has been nice and gives Paddington another friend!

Well, let me run. Remember, if I am not posting check my Twitter feed on the right! I saw sharks today at the beach! Luckily the lifeguards were on "shark sighting"alert!
Later Taters!
:) JKP

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Raising Paddington.....

Hey Y'all!

Well, suffice to say, I am in puppy shock! Nothing that you can read or even imagine prepares you for how demanding a PUPPY will be! When I got Zorro and later on Zoe, they were a snap. Zorro was 6 when I got him. After a few days of baby gating him in the laundry room, he was fine to hang out in the house. He was completely potty trained and only had 1 accident a year in the house. That always happened on the first day of school. I think he was mad, because I went back to work! Zoe is a snap to. No fuss, no muss.

Enter Mr. Paddington! Y'all, I am exhausted! He does fine in his crate. He LOVES it. We have had several accidents in the house. Mainly those are my fault because I haven't noticed him sniffing around sooner. Today I was at the breaking point. Last night I was up all hours letting him out. This has been a challenge because I can't just walk out on my back patio. We added a doggie door on my sliding glass door last year. That renders the sliding door useless. So everytime that we went out, I had to harness Paddington and put on his leash. He was patient, but by the end of the process I think he forgot why we were going out! Sometimes he would go and others... well... he has this thing about eating worms. He loves them. He likes to pounce on frogs. And if he sees a bug, he will leap and try to catch it. All puppy that boy!

Well, today we made some minor adjustments around the house to make life more manageable for me and him. We took out the doggie door attachment from the sliding door. That way, I can just open Paddington's crate and he can waltz out the sliding door. We also bought a HUGE baby gate to block off my kitchen. That way, when I need a moment's peace, or need to do laundry, vacuum, take a shower, etc, I can put Paddington in the kitchen for a while. That way he is not confined to his crate ALL of the time! I am trying out the whole kitchen deal tonight. He has wined, but overall he has done well. My plan is to serve him breakfast in the kitchen and keep him in there while I get ready in the morning. Then I can crate him while I teach summer school. That way he is not in his crate for longer than 4-5 hours. He will be 15 weeks next week, so he will be able to hold his business a little longer. We are still having accidents, but overall he is doing well. I just have to remember NOT to blame myself when he has an accident. He's a baby!

Zoe came over today and was a little bit more tolerant of Paddington. She still runs and hides from him. However, she likes it when he is in his crate! Paddington LOVES all of his toys and likes to run and play with them. He really is a sweet little boy. I can't wait until he is just a little older and can sleep with me. Right now, he is too young and has not earned the privilege.

Well, I am going to take Paddington for a short walk and count how many worms he is eating!
More on my adventures tomorrow!
:) JKP

Friday, June 19, 2009

Paddington's First Day!

Hey Y'all...


Pictures can say what words can't.... He's here!!



We have had a really busy day traveling from Columbia, meeting friends and of course Paddington meeting Miss Zoe Bowie. Zoe is not sure of Paddington yet, but I know she will come around! Tomorrow starts "Potty Training 101!" He did great today in the car, no accidents. He had 2 tonight, but I know he is exhausted and in a new place. More pics soon!
:) JKP

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

We Interrupt This Broadcast To Bring You a Special Message..

Hey Y'all,

Sorry, it's been a week since my last post, but I have been mourning my little guy. Also, top that off with the end of school and life has been a little much!

Last weekend was very tough. It's the little things that get you the most. I'll go and reach for something and all of the sudden just be flooded with thoughts of Zorro. Sleeping is very hard because I am so used to having him right there with me. I have been having a hard time eating because I am alone now, and before I always had Zorro interested in what I was eating. All of my neighbors have come by to check on me because I have not been out in the 'hood. It has been surreal. This week I have been able to do things that I have felt guilty about over the past year since Zorro has been so sick. I went to the movies. I went out to eat. I went and sat on the beach yesterday. All of these things I have not been able to do because I was scared of leaving Zorro alone. I have really been grieving since February when his vet told me that it would not be long.

In some ways it is a relief that Zorro is not suffering any more, but I miss him dearly. Even when he felt so bad, his little personality would shine through. There will never be another Zorro.


My house is very quiet now and that hurts my heart. That is why I have made a very important decision. One that I knew if I didn't make soon, I was going to go somewhere very scary.


Folks, meet Paddington!


My heart and arms need fur. And while it has only been a week, I need to focus my attention on something else. I always wondered if I would be able to get another dog after Zorro. I got Zorro when he was about 6, so I never got to experience the "puppy stage" with him. Paddington is 13 weeks and will be coming home next Friday.
While I miss Zorro tremendously, and always will, I feel that it is time to open up my heart to a new little one. I felt that if I waited to long that I would mourn Zorro forever and never move on. Zorro trained me well, and it's time that I share that with another fur ball.
I have a feeling that Mr. Paddington is going to keep me on my toes!
:) JKP

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Senor Zorro "Ritz Bitz" "The King" Pressley

Zorro passed away this morning. He had a very rough night last night and couldn't walk this morning. Mom took him to the vet this morning and they put him to sleep.

I am devastated and heartbroken. I don't know what I am going to do without my little guy.

JKP

Monday, June 1, 2009

Hurricane Season Begins Today... Cue Dramatic Music Here...

Hey Y'all!

Happy June!
Oh, and first day of hurricane season to you too! As I was reading my Sunday paper yesterday, I was met with all kinds of hurricane ads and stuff. Two inserts with tracking maps, and notes on how to be prepared for the season. Oh, and on the news this morning and tonight, all folks can talk about is how unprepared folks are going to be this hurricane season due to the recession. Goody. I guess I shouldn't have broken into the hurricane "kit" tonight while the power was out to get some supper! Hey, a girl has to do, what a girl has to do.

Y'all know my fascination with weather. I should have been a meteorologist. But. Well. MATH. Anyhoo. I do not hold any degree in forecasting the weather. But I am a big believer in the past teaches us alot. So, in my book we should be worried. This is 2009. Let's look at other years where hurricanes have bothered us.

1959- Hurricane Cindy makes a direct fall on Charleston, SC. She is a 1.
Hurricane Gracie makes a direct land fall in SC. She is a 4 when she hits.

1979-Tropical depression two makes landfall in SC on June 16.
Hurricane David makes landfall in Savannah, GA. He is a category 1. Folks... I was in this
one because I lived in Beaufort at the time. Not. Fun.

1989- Hugo. Enough said.

1999-Hurricane Floyd. While Floyd did not have a direct hit on SC.. it hit NC, which caused
terrible flooding in Horry County.

So as you can see.. the years with 9 in them don't fare well on the SC coast. All I can say is be prepared. I would rather be prepared and nothing happens than for the worst to happen.
There was also a nice little blip today on the news about how now, the worst hurricanes are not forming off of the coast of Western Africa. They are now forming right in the Atlantic basin.
Comforting thoughts. Check out the video clip here....http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=13762104

I am off to enjoy the comforts of air conditioning. Boy did I miss it!
:) JKP