Life. After losing a dog and finding a dog.
We *somewhat* accomplished our goals of socializing her with other dogs, becoming less afraid of her surrounding, and basic command skills.
She loves to 'sit'. It's her favorite command. And she really loves when a treat follows the command. Haha!
Bubbles is a good girl! And, she loves me to tell her that, too. I say it often. Bubbles was heaven-sent.
I love looking back on my blogs and reading about all the adventures we went on in the past. Our biggest adventure these days is walking Bubbles around the back yard. We are trying to fix her fears by short trips to stores and pet stores where she is forced to be around noise, people, and other dogs.
*sigh*
On Monday she will graduate from a five-week puppy training class which has helped her a lot in socialization. She now sees the other dogs there as her friends and it's cute how they touch noses when they are around one another. But outside of class, her fears return.
On Monday, during class, she was distracted by a man trimming a tree in the lot next door. It didn't go well that day.
"I was ascared!"
Still, we keep trying.
Next week Bubbles goes in for her very first grooming session. From my understanding, they only bath them and cut around the face and trim up essential areas on the first visit. Puppies are unpredictable, so I get it. We took her to the groomer for a nail trim on Saturday - mainly to get her acquainted more. She was good.
I love her fluffy look, but I know she needs a trim. We shall see what happens. I've been trying to brush this shaggy coat every chance I get to keep her from getting matted, and we do butt baths weekly. I'm hoping this helps prepare her and that it makes her easier to groom.
Honestly, she is heaven sent. An almost perfect angel.
On Monday I loaded Bubbles into her crate and took her to my daughters for a visit with her, the granddaughters, and their dog, Ellie. She was nervous, to say the least. We left her there while we did some brief shopping. My main objective was to get her more socialized, and since she loves them a lot - what better way!
She stayed anxious up until about five minutes before we returned to pick her up - then she started warming up to the idea of being there with them.
Yesterday I forced her into her crate again and took her two minutes down the road to pick up papers for her training class that will begin on the 23rd of this month. When we got there, I walked (more like forced) her inside on her leash. Once inside, she began timidly smelling all the doggie merchandise and her fears eased a bit. When we got back in the car, she was not happy with being put back inside the crate, however, she settled down and was fine. I drove around the neighborhood for about ten minutes, trying to get her used to this.
I believe baby steps into socialization with her will help her be more at ease. She's a work in progress.
I'm thinking of renaming my blog. I thought for sure Bubble Trouble would be perfect, but I wasn't expecting that this puppy would be so perfectly good.
Bubbles is well-behaved and does all she can to stay out of trouble. She can't help it that she has anxiety and fears.
I enrolled her for a training class that will begin later this month. It will be good to get her out there around other people and dogs.
It is only a new set of numbers. Twenty-twenty-three. 2023. Two-thousand and twenty-three. No matter what way you say it, the calendar is telling us we are beginning a new year.
Last year was hard for so many. The year before was not easy. It all started with 2020 - and we all know how that one threw us for a loop. So, I am not expecting much but I'm hoping for more.
Bubbles was heaven-sent. I have never been more sure of anything in my life. She has taken my focus off the emptiness Gracie's absence has left, and brought the the focus on her care and sweetness. She is a cuddly lamb, and such a good baby.
I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays.
Not long after Thanksgiving Day, Gary tested positive for Covid. I tested positive a week later, and about a week after that his 90-year-old uncle who lives in an adjoining apartment tested positive. So going into December was not a walk in the park for us. More like a climb up Mt. Everest. I'm exaggerating - but still - it kept me from thinking Christmas decorations and such. About a week or so before Christmas, I was feeling better and rushed out to do the last minute shopping. Still though, the only way you'd know it was Christmas in our house is the pile of gifts I had wrapped and sitting on a table.
Our candlelight church service was canceled due to an icy parking lot, so I watched a couple great services online.
It was cold. Really cold. I came to find out Bubbles loves frigid temps, which is fine. BUT. She also likes companionship and she will not go outside without an escort. You get the picture.
Christmas came together nicely and Bubbles has been a delight. She is still shy, but sweet when it comes to guests. She has one small problem. She leaks when she gets excited! And when my daughter Lindsey and granddaughters Summer and Rissi come - she leaks a lot!! She is crazy about them! I'm told she will likely grow out of this. Fingers crossed.
Bubbles was pretty much fully potty trained a week after we had her here... but still, that leaking.
I put together a nice box of baked goods and some of my sister's favorite things and shipped them USPS to the rehab center in Annapolis YESTERDAY and they are out for delivery already today. I am impressed! My sister suffered a stroke several months ago and is just now getting feeling and use back in her right side. She is making great progress, it just takes time. She is so patient and upbeat and has such a wonderful sense of humor. She just retired from teaching in June of this year and was preparing to move 'home'. If you think of it, say a prayer for her full recovery. I admire her perseverance so much.
I am still having trouble commenting on other blogs. It is so frustrating. Some, I can comment fine. Others, will not let me comment. FRUSTRATING.
Anyway...
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I pray God brings good health, lots of love, and most importantly His mercy and grace in the true and perfect love of our Savior.
I knew in my heart that Christmas 2021 would be her last. We savored every inch of it. She was an angel. Relaxing and enjoying every minute of it.
It was special. Christmas 2021. I knew it. She knew it. And now, I look back on that time, and I am in awe of God's grace and thankful for our last Christmas with Gracie.
She took a part of my heart with her when she left this world. I will never be the same.
This Christmas we have Bubbles. And she is a delight. From our house to yours, we wish you lots of love, good health, good times, and God's blessings upon your home and family. Merry Christmas.
Bubbles is literally afraid of her own shadow. Her own reflection in the glass. Her, looking back at herself in the mirror. Dogs barking. Dogs not barking. Just plain barking. Any item that has been moved. People. Traffic.
The list goes on and on.
She's scheduled for her first grooming appointment in two weeks. I took her to introduce her to the groomer so she wouldn't be afraid. The groomer, she liked. The dogs that were barking, she was terrified of!
What to do!
I've tried socializing with success. But the minute she is out and off guard and hears a dog bark or sees one within miles of where she stands SHE FREAKS OUT!!! Slipping from her harness and running for the door. It concerns me because I don't want to put her in danger, but if I don't take her out she will never get used to dogs.
I am so very open for suggestions.
For over two years, Bubbles has slept in a 'cage' at night. It's like a deluxe penthouse suite with water, food, a luxurious be...
