My mom is preparing to move soon, so I am having to go through my old room and gather things, as well as get rid of stuff that I either don't want or don't have room for. Sammy decided to make the trip with me. Or, I should say Samantha! My mom has three cats. Sammy is still terrified of cats. Like super terrified. He has his nickname Samantha for a reason! Just today at the dogpark he stuck up for himself to a great dane becasue the great dane wanted to drink out of the same water bowl at the same time. Yeah a great dane. Sammy had to stand on his hind legs just to sniff him! But cats, oh no, that is an evil all too powerful for him! Yet, he loves cats. Seriously can't get enough of them. If he could talk, it would just be, "MUST SEE CAT!" For him we call them kitty-cats though. Not just cats. He doesn't really respond much to cat, just kitty-cat. I can't remember what started it, I just know the reaction is much, much different. So yesterday afternoon I asked Sammy if he would like to help go to my old room and start sorting through things. This is my response:
You would think with a reaction like that, he does love the cats! But, quite the opposite. Sammy was cornered by the smallest of cats. She had his number, let me tell you! My old room was in the basement, and so Sammy ran up and down the stairs. Over and over. Fun for him for some reason. Until the cats blocked him off. Then he began to pace in the basement. Down came the Logan. Sammy would pace in what room he had left. I went upstairs to get a trash bag and I hear screams and wimpers! I ran down the stairs and they were in the laundry room. Sammy was still screaming and wimpering. I come around the corner and Logan had cornered Sammy between the dryer and furnace as Logan was slapping him in the face! After pulling Logan away, poor Sammy had this giant wet, yellow spot beneath him!! Literally, Logan had scared the "potty" out of him! Sammy, if he had a tail, it would have been between his legs, ears back and he just waddled right over to me. I bent down and he tried climbing up my legs. I picked him up, as I always do (he is quite the lover, very affectionate, especially when upset) and he was just like a little toddler. Sammy's legs were around my belly (as much as they can) and he laid against my chest with his head buried straight down, not even on my shoulder. I felt so bad for him! I carried him up the stairs and we sat on the couch enjoying some cable. Sammy wouldn't budge off my lap for quite some time. After he regained some confidence he went right back for the cats. BUT....if they came toward him, he came right back for his Momma! Samantha definately lives!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
S'more Blankets
My and Erik's birthdays are within a month of each other. This year, rather than celebrating individually and all that expense part, we decided to go camping for our joint birthdays! We went this past weekend, which also coincided with the end of my finals, so was like a triple treat for me. This was also Sammy's first camping/fishing experience. I assumed he would enjoy it, but you never really know til you put your pup out there if they will truely enjoy it. My friend who lived in a dorm across the hallway from me for 2 years was able to make it all the way from Wisconsin for our birthday trip. As well my friend and his girlfriend from class and Erik's sister and her fiancee. Erik's sister and her fiancee have a puppy as well, so it was double dog exciting! Haha. Their dog, Max, is a 6 month old Austrialian Cattledog.
We all met up at our campsite, Memphis Lake State Park (between Omaha and Lincoln), on Saturday morning. We intended for Friday, but everyone had some issues with schedules, so it was just an overnight camping trip. Sammy was sure confused with all the packing of the car. We have never had that much stuff in the car at one time. Plus us and my friend from Wisconsin! He was very excited, but confused about all that was happening. Once we got there, his intrest was greatly peaked! But, you could see him very worried about what was going on. We brought his stake and rope, and he was staked right away. Then we made trips from the car to our site for all of our stuff. When I walked away, he barked. He sooo did not want to be left behind! But could he really think I would do that?
Apparently so, when I walked up to get our water, he threw a tantrum! Oh, and Sammy was super helpful when I was trying to set up the tent. I am pretty skilled at putting up my tent in a plethera of conditions, if I do say so myself. (Last year we had a field trip for school through Wyoming. It was a 10 day trip throughout the whole state where we set up camp every evening, then picked it up every morning and made tons of stops during the day to look at different outcrops. Very fun. We had everything from wind warnings, thundersnow, waking up to 22 degrees to hiking searching for dinosaur fossils in 95 degrees, rain that flooded tents, and everything in between. Prior to that, we had a trip to Minnesota River Valley where our van broke down, and we were unable to drive above 45mph. We got to our campsite very late and I learned how to put up tents in the dark! It's a good thing I have a nice little backpacker tent! lol) I however, was not quite good enough for putting up the tent with a needy little corgi! haha. But eventually I did succeed!
After all of our tents we up, and gear moved into them, coolers unpacked and a fire started, everyone was able to pull up a chair and get comfortable. Sammy found this quite reassuring. This made him comfortable enough to let his troubles go and play with Max. Boy oh boy were they ALWAYS and forever getting tangled. State Parks require them to constantly be on a leash or rope with a max of 6ft. Max is quite a bit more energetic, large and way more aggressive with playing. Sammy, luckily, has been around all kinds of dogs in his 9 months with us. In the family we also have a Shar Pei and a Black Lab, so size is undaunting there. He gets all sorts of doggie friends at the dogpark as well. He doesn't really enjoy playing that rough, never starts that rough, but he can hold his own and prefers it to no playing at all. Max likes to step over him and such, Sammy retaliates by grabbing Max's face and pulling him down. Doesn't it sound grusome? Ugh. I hate it, but they both wag their tails (or nubs) and constantly go for more. This is the only dog Sammy does it with, so they must have their own way about them, and I try to let it slide.
Don't get me wrong. I love that Sammy is able to play with all dogs: energies, sizes, play styles, all that. But I think of him as my sweet puppy, and I just don't like the way this looks. Plus, playing like this, Sammy gets super worn out fast. Then he can get grouchy and put Max in his place. I like to end it before then!
After I had enough of this playing I took Sammy for a little walk. We walked around the lake some so I could get a feel for how he would respond to the lake water. I would like to take him swimming, and unfortunatley was unable to while he was still young. Now I will have to acculamate him as an adult dog. The water is freezing still because we have yet to get really warm. Our weather is still a bit of a roller coaster here. Last week we made it into the 80's for one day, then every day since then we have been with 60 as a high. Way too cold for the water to be decent. Anyway, we went around the rocky edge of the lake, and Sammy very easily told me how it was going to be. While I was talking to Erik about how he seemed very interested (while Erik was fishing) Sammy just dove off a rock into the water! I think the temperature really surprised him because he didn't want to jump back in, but he still wanted to be along the edge! Sammy smiled like there was no tomorrow! He just loved it. Then Erik came for a little walk with us, and we found a super tiny beachy area (lik 3 feet wide!) where there was a sandy bottom into the grass and no big rocks. Very shallow incline into the water. I took off my boots and Sammy and I walked in. Brrr....it was cold, but we both enjoyed the sand in our toes. Sammy went in and out of the water on his own accord like it was nothing! I can't wait to get him swimming!
We went back to camp after that and the boys worked on the fire. They, of course, went for the giant logs! I love this picture that I took of them getting the fire ready because Sammy is looking at them like, "really?"
Sammy was in his relaxtion state, and just enjoyed sitting around, or on our laps, enjoying the outdoors! Max was just looking for play! haha.
Sammy and Max protected all of us, let me tell you. They were playing bark tag! One of them would hear something, or think that they heard something, so he would growl or "huwoof" or bark. The other would take that as a sign to protect and repeat it. Then after a little while, neither would have any idea as to what the heck they were barking at, but the other was, so he would have to follow! This happened the whole time, and both were catalysts. We have been working on Sammy's barking alot, and this trip definately set us way behind. Max was a bad influence on Sammy's barking!
As the night continued, it got very cold. We of course kept the fire going and had to eat smores! Sammy got to try them, and was quite fond of them! Lots of drool goobers! This morning we had smores over the stove, and he remembered their goodness and just drooled in hopes of just one more bite! He was rewarded for his patience! The colder it got, the more I clung onto him. He was my own personal heater! I can't believe how warm his little body was! He didn't feel any cold!
Bed time came, and Erik and I each had a sleeping bag, and we had a down blanket beneath us to keep the ground from cooling us off more. I dragged Sammy into my mummy sleeping bag where we snuggled for half the night. He was over heated and left me to my own body heat! I do not pocess any! I found that out within 10 minutes of him leaving! Eventually Sammy felt it, too. He came back for some snuggles between us!
The next morning we were up with the light. Sammy seemed rejuvinated. I worked hard at separating the dogs because Max was beyond rejuvinated! He was quite the barker that morning and I didn't want to Sammy to be the annoying dog of the camp. I thought ahead! Sammy loves these yummy beef rawhides, however I do not. They stain the carpet. It took me months to fully get rid of the stain on our carpet. I brought him (and Max one, too) a yummy beef rawhide. Boy was he exicited about it! He licked his chops at the smell!
"Thank you Mommma! Thank you, thank you!!!"
Within 2 hours of our being awake, the wind had switched and was blowing off the lake. The clouds came in, and wind went up! We packed up! It was so cold! Sammy didn't seem too opposed to our tent coming down!
After getting the car packed, we loaded up. Sammy got in between the three of us and fixed his bed with our down blanket. He was passed out before we even hit the highway!
He was less than pleased when we got home. He had to leave his bed. Which he fought me on. As I pulled him forward, he pulled back. It was as though we played tug of war with his body. Good thing he was exhausted.
Sammy got over it as soon as he made it to the couch.
In fact, we got back at about 10:30AM Sunday morning. He slept the rest of the day Sunday. Got up only to eat and potty. We (people) met for dinner, and he stayed at home. When we got back and took him to potty, he came back in and beat us to the bedroom. Today, he has slept the whole day again. We made him get into the car and go to the pharmacy with us, and he just slept the whole time on my lap. It is now almost 5pm and he might have been awake for 2 hours total since we got back to Omaha! Currently we are in the bedroom because we have maintence working outside our living room windows (driving Sammy mad!) and Sammy has half the bed claimed as his is laying there spead eagle with his head on the pillow! Haha. He isn't even this tired after a day at doggie daycare! Can't wait til we get to go camping again, hopefully with better weather!
We all met up at our campsite, Memphis Lake State Park (between Omaha and Lincoln), on Saturday morning. We intended for Friday, but everyone had some issues with schedules, so it was just an overnight camping trip. Sammy was sure confused with all the packing of the car. We have never had that much stuff in the car at one time. Plus us and my friend from Wisconsin! He was very excited, but confused about all that was happening. Once we got there, his intrest was greatly peaked! But, you could see him very worried about what was going on. We brought his stake and rope, and he was staked right away. Then we made trips from the car to our site for all of our stuff. When I walked away, he barked. He sooo did not want to be left behind! But could he really think I would do that?
Apparently so, when I walked up to get our water, he threw a tantrum! Oh, and Sammy was super helpful when I was trying to set up the tent. I am pretty skilled at putting up my tent in a plethera of conditions, if I do say so myself. (Last year we had a field trip for school through Wyoming. It was a 10 day trip throughout the whole state where we set up camp every evening, then picked it up every morning and made tons of stops during the day to look at different outcrops. Very fun. We had everything from wind warnings, thundersnow, waking up to 22 degrees to hiking searching for dinosaur fossils in 95 degrees, rain that flooded tents, and everything in between. Prior to that, we had a trip to Minnesota River Valley where our van broke down, and we were unable to drive above 45mph. We got to our campsite very late and I learned how to put up tents in the dark! It's a good thing I have a nice little backpacker tent! lol) I however, was not quite good enough for putting up the tent with a needy little corgi! haha. But eventually I did succeed!
After all of our tents we up, and gear moved into them, coolers unpacked and a fire started, everyone was able to pull up a chair and get comfortable. Sammy found this quite reassuring. This made him comfortable enough to let his troubles go and play with Max. Boy oh boy were they ALWAYS and forever getting tangled. State Parks require them to constantly be on a leash or rope with a max of 6ft. Max is quite a bit more energetic, large and way more aggressive with playing. Sammy, luckily, has been around all kinds of dogs in his 9 months with us. In the family we also have a Shar Pei and a Black Lab, so size is undaunting there. He gets all sorts of doggie friends at the dogpark as well. He doesn't really enjoy playing that rough, never starts that rough, but he can hold his own and prefers it to no playing at all. Max likes to step over him and such, Sammy retaliates by grabbing Max's face and pulling him down. Doesn't it sound grusome? Ugh. I hate it, but they both wag their tails (or nubs) and constantly go for more. This is the only dog Sammy does it with, so they must have their own way about them, and I try to let it slide.
Don't get me wrong. I love that Sammy is able to play with all dogs: energies, sizes, play styles, all that. But I think of him as my sweet puppy, and I just don't like the way this looks. Plus, playing like this, Sammy gets super worn out fast. Then he can get grouchy and put Max in his place. I like to end it before then!
After I had enough of this playing I took Sammy for a little walk. We walked around the lake some so I could get a feel for how he would respond to the lake water. I would like to take him swimming, and unfortunatley was unable to while he was still young. Now I will have to acculamate him as an adult dog. The water is freezing still because we have yet to get really warm. Our weather is still a bit of a roller coaster here. Last week we made it into the 80's for one day, then every day since then we have been with 60 as a high. Way too cold for the water to be decent. Anyway, we went around the rocky edge of the lake, and Sammy very easily told me how it was going to be. While I was talking to Erik about how he seemed very interested (while Erik was fishing) Sammy just dove off a rock into the water! I think the temperature really surprised him because he didn't want to jump back in, but he still wanted to be along the edge! Sammy smiled like there was no tomorrow! He just loved it. Then Erik came for a little walk with us, and we found a super tiny beachy area (lik 3 feet wide!) where there was a sandy bottom into the grass and no big rocks. Very shallow incline into the water. I took off my boots and Sammy and I walked in. Brrr....it was cold, but we both enjoyed the sand in our toes. Sammy went in and out of the water on his own accord like it was nothing! I can't wait to get him swimming!
We went back to camp after that and the boys worked on the fire. They, of course, went for the giant logs! I love this picture that I took of them getting the fire ready because Sammy is looking at them like, "really?"
Sammy was in his relaxtion state, and just enjoyed sitting around, or on our laps, enjoying the outdoors! Max was just looking for play! haha.
Sammy and Max protected all of us, let me tell you. They were playing bark tag! One of them would hear something, or think that they heard something, so he would growl or "huwoof" or bark. The other would take that as a sign to protect and repeat it. Then after a little while, neither would have any idea as to what the heck they were barking at, but the other was, so he would have to follow! This happened the whole time, and both were catalysts. We have been working on Sammy's barking alot, and this trip definately set us way behind. Max was a bad influence on Sammy's barking!
As the night continued, it got very cold. We of course kept the fire going and had to eat smores! Sammy got to try them, and was quite fond of them! Lots of drool goobers! This morning we had smores over the stove, and he remembered their goodness and just drooled in hopes of just one more bite! He was rewarded for his patience! The colder it got, the more I clung onto him. He was my own personal heater! I can't believe how warm his little body was! He didn't feel any cold!
Bed time came, and Erik and I each had a sleeping bag, and we had a down blanket beneath us to keep the ground from cooling us off more. I dragged Sammy into my mummy sleeping bag where we snuggled for half the night. He was over heated and left me to my own body heat! I do not pocess any! I found that out within 10 minutes of him leaving! Eventually Sammy felt it, too. He came back for some snuggles between us!
The next morning we were up with the light. Sammy seemed rejuvinated. I worked hard at separating the dogs because Max was beyond rejuvinated! He was quite the barker that morning and I didn't want to Sammy to be the annoying dog of the camp. I thought ahead! Sammy loves these yummy beef rawhides, however I do not. They stain the carpet. It took me months to fully get rid of the stain on our carpet. I brought him (and Max one, too) a yummy beef rawhide. Boy was he exicited about it! He licked his chops at the smell!
"Thank you Mommma! Thank you, thank you!!!"
Within 2 hours of our being awake, the wind had switched and was blowing off the lake. The clouds came in, and wind went up! We packed up! It was so cold! Sammy didn't seem too opposed to our tent coming down!
After getting the car packed, we loaded up. Sammy got in between the three of us and fixed his bed with our down blanket. He was passed out before we even hit the highway!
He was less than pleased when we got home. He had to leave his bed. Which he fought me on. As I pulled him forward, he pulled back. It was as though we played tug of war with his body. Good thing he was exhausted.
Sammy got over it as soon as he made it to the couch.
In fact, we got back at about 10:30AM Sunday morning. He slept the rest of the day Sunday. Got up only to eat and potty. We (people) met for dinner, and he stayed at home. When we got back and took him to potty, he came back in and beat us to the bedroom. Today, he has slept the whole day again. We made him get into the car and go to the pharmacy with us, and he just slept the whole time on my lap. It is now almost 5pm and he might have been awake for 2 hours total since we got back to Omaha! Currently we are in the bedroom because we have maintence working outside our living room windows (driving Sammy mad!) and Sammy has half the bed claimed as his is laying there spead eagle with his head on the pillow! Haha. He isn't even this tired after a day at doggie daycare! Can't wait til we get to go camping again, hopefully with better weather!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
...But I Love You
This week was finals week. Not very much fun for me. Even less fun for Sammy. I was home alot more, but whenever I was home I was studying. Not playing with him. We didn't go for any walks. And aside from one trip, no dog park (we usually go 3 times a week (we don't have a back yard for him to run in)). Sammy has pulled many study allnighters with me before, but not back to back to back. He was a little unhappy with our new schedule consisting of 4 hours a sleep a night. Before, Sammy wouldn't go to bed til I did, but he gave in this time. He went to bed with Erik a couple times. He still wanted to get up with me (5-6am depending on the day). Well, I shouldn't say wanted to. Sammy is not a morning dog. Just rolls away that early. But once I am up and moving, he goes to the edge of the bed and just whines to get down. Then he sticks to my legs. If I stop, he just falls down and starts to go back to sleep. If I get up, he struggles to his legs, and walks with his head dragging! He is just so sweet!
Sammy overall was very good about it all. But a couple times, he let me know how he really felt.
"Hi Mom! Let's play now!"
"Here Mom, study these. These are toys. Learn. Then, we can play!!"
This was my favorite. Sammy had been laying on my notebook, so I started working on my notecards. So, he just rolled on his back with his head on my lap! I have a witness that it was all him!! Haha.
"Hi. Can we play now? ...But I love you, Momma"
"Ok, time for bed!"
Then Sammy got to watch me with my notecards! And he could sense when I was getting proud of myself for doing well. He just had this supportive smile on his face!
"Good job Mom! We should get treat to celebrate! Is it time for bed?"
Sammy overall was very good about it all. But a couple times, he let me know how he really felt.
"Hi Mom! Let's play now!"
"Here Mom, study these. These are toys. Learn. Then, we can play!!"
This was my favorite. Sammy had been laying on my notebook, so I started working on my notecards. So, he just rolled on his back with his head on my lap! I have a witness that it was all him!! Haha.
"Hi. Can we play now? ...But I love you, Momma"
"Ok, time for bed!"
Then Sammy got to watch me with my notecards! And he could sense when I was getting proud of myself for doing well. He just had this supportive smile on his face!
"Good job Mom! We should get treat to celebrate! Is it time for bed?"
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Nibbles
This weekend is the weekend before finals! Ahhhh! Right? Yes!!!! Unlike most weekends before finals, I have been unable to hibernate. My grandparents moved into their assisted living apartment on Friday, and we visited on Saturday. (P.S. found out Sammy can go visit them! Yay!!) Spent almost all of Saturday there or running errands. To Sammy, Saturdays in recent history have been Samdays. All about the Samster! Dogpark, walks, visiting grandparents, playing with the neighbors, birthdays, road trips, seeing his cousin, etc. Yesterday was quite the rude awakening to how our Saturdays will probably be for a while. When I got back home, he was full of energy. We had a dogpark run. Came back, not much studying to be done. Today we got up and Sammy was just roaring with energy! We saw our doggie friend neighbors outside and that just got him full of more energy! I took him to the dogpark. We weren't having a good time with the other dogs there, so we left early. Came home to new neighbors moving into their apartment across the parking lot. Sammy was WAAAY into this. Not helpful. Then the storm clouds came. SOO not helpful. I picked him up took him to the bedroom, closed the window and blinds and turned on Marley & Me. I love Marley & Me. I have the book, the movie, the soundtrack, and I was beginning to think, the dog. Once Sammy got isolated, he calmed down quite a bit. Thank goodness. I got about one problem into studying before I was took caught up in the movie to make studying worthwhile. (I know, I'm a terrible student, right?) We enjoyed the movie. Sammy likes to watch dogs on TV. He jumps up to the TV, listens to the speakers, barks back...the whole bit. With Marley & Me (we have watched it alot) he enjoys the puppy times, but about half way through the movie the focus is more on the "& Me" part, John Grogan. I still enjoy it, Sammy nods off. For those who haven't seen the movie, I won't say too much, but everyone knows that the movie is Marley's life, and the movie ends when Marley dies. It is very emotional. Usually I just turn it off before we hit the ending because I am too emotional about dogs dying. I'm fine with other movies, no tears for people, man, usually not to much for kids, bu when a dog goes down, I'm done with that TV show OR movie OR book. It's over. (With a few notable exceptions like Marley & Me or The Art of Racing in the Rain, LOVE that book!) This time, Sammy was all curled up with me, we were under the blankets with rain outside and I thought I could just do it not to disturb the moment. That was a mistake. I was sobbing like there was no tomorrow. And when the kids were saying goodbye to Marley, ugh....tears. Sammy, being the BEST dog in the world, he was lying next to me, and I was petting him started licking my hand while looking up at me. Then he did his little nibbles on my hand! Ah, it was soo cute, made me tear up soo much more. I haven't ever had a dog that nibbled at this age. Usually they just grow out of it. Sammy did his nibbles Day 1 of bringing him home, and kept up with it. He doesn't do it nearly as much as he used to. He used to nibble on my hand almost every night or every morning. Now it's just every once in a while when he is especially lovey mood, maybe once a week or every other week. He is always lovey, but not just overcome with it too often. I love his little nibbles, and am so happy he didn't grow out of that. Always reminds me that I AM his momma! And really, what could be better than that!
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