Bath Time

With the blooming of the flowers and trees comes the blooming of the fleas. Petey had one, so he had to get a flea bath. As soon as he's dry the dreaded flea treatment will come. We documented the joy...


















Once the bath was over Petey got a treat. He was too quick jumping for it to actually get the shot.

What Else Can be Said...

Who sleeps in the Master Bedroom in the master bed? The master, I guess...

A Clear Delineation of Duties

It is imperative in every family that there is a clear delineation of duties. Everyone must know their role and perform it well for a family to function as it ought. If there is a family out there struggling with this issue, please let me offer Petey's assistance. He has designated every one's responsibilities and checks several times per day to see that each individual is carrying out his/her said responsibilities.

A fine example of this is the role of letting Petey in and out of the house. During the daylight hours it is my (Lori's) job. After dark it is John's job. We aren't sure why. Perhaps it is too dangerous after dark for me to open the door. This is not something that has developed over time. Petey has always awakened John in the night to go out. I must say I never discouraged this practice, and was/am secretly glad that I am not the night time designee.

During the day, however, the back door is me & me alone. Petey will walk by John to get to me, to ask to go out. Not kidding!! He has come all the way through the house by passing John on the way to me and then the way back to the door, so that I will open the door. On really pretty days, I can wear myself out opening & closing the door for him. I've propped the door open so that he can come & go as he pleases. He'll still come get me to walk to the back door with him. He will come in on his own. I guess he hasn't figured out how to come get me to tell me he's coming in without actually coming in.

John and I understand our roles with regard to the back door and it works well for the three of us most of the time. Earlier this week John was out of town over night for two nights. We were a little concerned that Petey would not make it all night without having to pee since he gets John up at least once and sometimes twice a night. He's also taken to peeing in the living room floor while we're at work, lately. We aren't sure if he's just old and tired of the no peeing in the house rule or if perhaps he needs to see the vet. Right now we're leaning towards the former because...well...because that's just how Petey is. (He has no other symptoms that would make us think he needs a doctor.)

In response to the peeing in the living room floor, we got some training pads for him. John fixed a nice place for him with about 5 of those monsters right in the living room, right where he pees. The plan was to slowly move the pads to the hall bathroom, where it would be a little more acceptable.

So...I went to bed the first night John was gone thinking for sure I'd have to clean up pee in the morning. I woke up about 3:30 am and had to pee myself. So, after I took care of myself. I woke Petey up and made him go out too. That was a trick in & of itself because it was night and that wasn't my job. I was about to pick him up and carry him out when he decided to go on his own. He came back in, got a treat and we both went back to sleep. I was a little concerned about setting a precedent with Petey. I don't want to become the night doorman. But otherwise, I felt a little proud of myself for averting a wet floor in the morning.

Alas, I did not. When I got up the living room floor was wet. Yes, the floor, not the pads. It was right beside the pads. I don't know if Petey has poor aim, or if he was trying to avoid the pads completely. I sort of think the later because the pads cover nearly half of the living room floor. Petey saw when I noticed the pee and ran down the hall away from me to avoid punishment. I cleaned up the mess and moved on with my day.

The second night, I was in a real quandary. Getting him up in the night didn't help, and I had that precedent thing to worry about. I went to sleep and slept all night long. When I woke up with the alarm, my first thought was that I was going to have to clean up pee again. Then I thought that maybe, just maybe, he hit the pads this time.

Petey greeted me in the hallway eager to go outside, which was a good sign. I let him out and went to check the floor. It was dry! Go figure. Perhaps because John wasn't there. He knew that he couldn't go out at night and held it. John will be at home tonight. We'll see how many times Pete wakes him up!!

Petey Gets His Nails Trimmed

I can't believe it has been a whole month since I blogged about Petey. He does something every single day that is funny or aggravating and most days he does both, sometimes at the same time! I'll use the excuse I've used for everything lately, I've been sick. The first couple of days I was sick, Petey was my constant companion. He likes nothing better than a sleeping buddy. After about two days though, I think I was beginning to cramp his style, or at least cut in to his naps somehow. He kept his distance. He was never openly hostile, but it was clear it was time for me to move on. BUT...that isn't why I decided to post today. Today's entry is about Petey's claws.

Petey hates to get his toenails trimmed, but it is one of those horrible necessities of life. We have two sets of clippers in an attempt to get some that don't make a loud noise and make things worse. John even got a Pedi-paws on clearance for $2, but that was a disaster. We never could get him accustomed to the noise, much less get it close to him.

Pete knows where John keeps those horrible implements of torture and if he sees John any where near the rack where they're kept, he'll steer clear of John for the rest of the day. Not to be outdone, John will slip the clippers in his pocket while Petey is outside.

On Saturday, it was time to do the deed. John let Petey out and once he rounded in to the back yard out of sight, John slipped the clippers in his pocket. The three of us walked around the back yard for 20 or 30 minutes looking at the new growth in the yard and planning what to plant in the garden. Petey had no idea that the clippers were in John's pocket the whole time.

We made the full circuit around the house and were at the back door. Petey thought we were going in and headed up the steps. John pulled the piece of carpet we use for a welcome mat over to the edge of the porch so Petey would have a soft spot on which to lay while his nails were getting trimmed. Apparently, John moves the carpet over every time he trims Petey's nails and Petey knows. As soon as John moved the carpet, Petey took off running through the back yard. John had to chase him down.

He did, and caught him. I had to hold him down while John did the actual trimming. Pete was mad, but his nails no longer looked like they needed polish!

Petey and the Vet

Petey went to the vet yesterday for his annual physical. He didn't care. He didn't really like it, but he was good by Petey standards. He is also in very good health for a dog. The vet commended us on taking such good care of him.

He got a battery of tests designed for the geriatric pooch, including both blood & urine tests. The vet called back this morning to say that all his tests came back fine.

While at the vet, John noticed a poster on the wall with estimated dog ages on it. It said that Petey was 72. The vet suggested that was a little on the low side for ole Pete, but didn't give a better estimate. She told John that Petey had at least two more good healthy years left. He's been so healthy that I was a little surprised to hear only two years. Who knows though, really. I'm not going to spend any time worrying about that.

The only cause for concern, is that he's developed a heart murmur. The vet said that 'at his age' it was not unexpected. Even dogs get the "at your age" speech from their doctors!! As of now, it is mild enough that all we need to do is take him back in 6 months for a recheck. Apparently, this issue will progress to a point where medication is needed. In the meantime we are to watch for him to get lethargic. If so, we are to bring him in right away.

Petey's had a day or two where he's laid around and acted like he just didn't feel well. But most of the time Petey's running around commanding to be let out or something. Right now he's outside 'helping' John work on the car. You'd never know he was in his mid 70's with a heart condition!!

Share and Share Alike

...ummm...not with Petey. Petey knows what is his and has no qualms about staking a claim on it. John and I know what most of his stuff is because we gave it to him and he keeps it near the fireplace. Every once in a while we discover something that Petey deems to be his, that we thought was ours, such as my snuggi. We can protest and fight back all we want. Petey is persistent and undeterred. Petey always wins in the turf wars. It is a fact of life with Petey that we have come to understand.


Last night, however, Petey kicked it up a notch. Apparently, the heat in the house is his and his alone as well. Petey knows where all of the heating vents are in the floor and will lay on the nearest one when the heat kicks in. His favorite being the one in the living room floor. Long time readers may remember pictures like the one to the left. This is one of Petey's favorite winter time places.
So on to last night...

John and I had watched a DVD. Petey was in another of his favorite spots, snuggled up with me under the snuggi while we watched the DVD. Once it was over, I got up as I generally do, and Petey stayed under the snuggi like he usually does. We had the fire going in the fire place and I walked over to warm myself by it while John got the DVD from the player. Petey somehow sensed that I was close to the fire and immediately got up from the couch and got in is ring bed which stays in front of the fireplace. He gave me a look that communicated in no uncertain terms that the fireplace and heat were his and not mine. I tried to explain that there was enough heat for both of us, but I knew even before I started that the battle was lost. I went back to the couch.

Petey Treats Part 2

Scroll down and read the previous entry before reading this one...

I just offered Petey a bacon treat. He sniffed it and walked away. I may get my wish after all - this could be a lifetime supply. When will I learn???