Author: the outside lane

Happy. That about covers it.
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Puppy Progress

the outside lane

About a week before we were able to unveil Hoo, a neighbor backed into our fence and busted out two support beams and three full slats.  Now, while we are waiting for the landlord to do the repairs, we have about 8 slats into the corner of the fence that are leaning inside the yard, held up only by the bottom support, and a three slat hole that is more than wide enough for a puppy to pounce through.  What to do?

We aren’t going to keep Hoo in the house, save for sleeping in his crate, and the garage doesn’t give him much room.  So, I got a yard stake and a 30 foot lead for him.  The 30 foot lead allows him to go anywhere in the yard or on the patio (where I’ve set up Dogtown with his crate, a bed, and his water bowl tucked securely under the patio table), but pulls him up short about 5 feet from the back fence, keeping him a safe distance from the hole and the cars coming down the back alley.    I also got him a reflective, stretchy harness to wear, so he isn’t being yanked around by his throat, and he can’t slip out of it like his collar.  How are puppy heads so collapsible?  How can they just twist their heads and slide right out of collars?

He seems happy enough.  He plays with his toys, barks at the squirrels, and bounces around with delight for no apparent reason.

Once Thor is finished having the flu, I’m sure he’ll be outside all the time.  Til then, Hoo is extremely patient in letting Thor hold him for long periods of time.  Very much unlike my first dog, upon whose body I had to keep a kung-fu grip, lest she “fall out of my bed”.  Poor Susie.

Hoo/Boy.
Hoo/Boy.

 

Hoo

Hoo’s on First

the outside lane

Hoo is what Thor has named his puppy.  It’s an unusual name, but it fits him rather well, as he is an unusual dog.  We really can’t tell what he is.  Animal Services called him an Australian Shepherd, but he has Terrier fur, Schnauzer eyebrows and whiskers, a sleek unfanned tail, and big ole Labrador paws.  He doesn’t appear to have much of a herding instinct, but will steal your cheese pizza when you aren’t looking.

I took him to the vet this morning and dropped him off, and the nurse asked me, “What is his name?”

I said, “Hoo.”

She said, “The dog.  What is his name?”

Thor giggled and I laughed.  “Hoo is the dog’s name.  H-O-O.”

I forsee a great deal of this in his future.  Actually, it works both ways.

I called the clinic to check on him.  “Hi, this is Lane B-,” I said.  “I dropped off my puppy this morning for a check-up.”

“Hoo?”

“Lane B-,” I said.

“Oh!  No, I meant Hoo, the puppy?  Is Hoo your puppy?”

We both laughed. 

He’s healthy.  They told me how sweet and good he is.  I agreed.

Hoo’s a good boy?  Hoo is.  Yes, he is.  Hoo’s a good boy.

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Christmas Day

the outside lane

Our Christmas was eventful.  It started at 2am, when Thor woke up sick, and then restarted again at 4 and 5, and 5:30, when I gave up, got up, and called to find out when Grandma was heading over.  She was here by 6:30, but it was after 7 before Thor felt well enough to get up and paw through his gifts.

His second-to-last gift confused him.  It was full of tennis balls, dog chews, training treats and assorted canine goodies.  I asked him, “Who do you think those are for?”  He said, “I don’t know… a dog?”

Tennis balls, chew toys, and poop scoop bags...what?!
Tennis balls, chew toys, and poop scoop bags…what?!

Then, I gave him the little gold box.  He opened it up to the dog tag and read it aloud.  I asked, “What do you think that means?”  He said, “…Maybe one day I’ll get a dog?”

"Maybe one day I'll get a dog?"
“Maybe one day I’ll get a dog?”

While Daddy and Grandma talked to him, I went to get the puppy (who was dressed in his Santa suit) and carried him into the living room.  I tried to video and give the dog at the same time, which resulted in blurry video work, but I still caught the moment!  You can see it here

Thor was pretty happy.  Very happy.

IMG_1239

 

 

But not so happy that he could ignore how he felt.  So, we ended up in the ER for 2 hours, but after some iv fluids, some medicine, and rest, he was finally hungry after two days of not wanting to eat at all.  Now, he is snug in bed and his dog, Hoo, is snug in his kennel next to Thor’s bed.

Oh!  And it snowed.  We had a white Christmas!

I’m happy we’re home.  I’m happy we’re all okay.  I am thankful for everything.

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Revealing the Reveal

the outside lane

So here’s how we’re going to do it.

See that little gold present? That wrapping isn't up on the "present key", so Thor won't know whose it is.
See that little gold present? That wrapping isn’t up on the “present key”, so Thor won’t know whose it is.

 

When all the other presents are opened, I'm going to give that one to him.
When all the other presents are opened, I’m going to give that one to him.

 

And here is what he will find inside. It's a bit like opening a gift and finding car keys.
And here is what he will find inside. It’s a bit like opening a gift and finding car keys.

 

When he reads the dog tag, we’ll tell him to close his eyes, and then we’ll bring the puppy to him.  Hopefully, joy will abound.  And no one will pee on the floor in excitement.