Closed Basket Mystery Part 2

When last we left our culprit, she was stuck in the bicycle basket, 2 meters off the ground.

Since this is Emily, we pretty much assume it was her own fault.(read: she's a genius!) The sitch:

[Front of the sofa]

Emily needed some convincing to pose for Mommy, so Froggy-treat it was:
[Does my bum look big if I do this?]

Next, a simple step up for Emily:

We don't let her on the sofa, and she knows it's a big no-no. Which is why she jumps up on it every time we're out, and jumps down (faker) when she hears the door opening. (yes, we know this because we've climbed over the patio fence to spy on her through the living room window)

[Emily in the Promised Land]

And it has a cool walkway, too:

[Piece of Cake for our Circus Dog!]

A simple flick of her paw gets the hood open. She probably bounced around (Cowie's in the basket). And voila:

[Mommy, get me out!]

Case closed.

Of course, Emily got some free sofa time today, for being a good sport.

Closed Basket Mystery Part 1

Sunday evening, we decided cooking was out of the question, so out for Mexican it was. Emily was to stay home with food, water, her nummy calf rolly, and lots and lots of toys. She makes a fuss following us out, but usually we find her snoozing on her red cushion with Bunny.

That night, we came home to this:

[What are you staring at? Get me out!]

We'd left a pretty happy puppy only 2 hours before.

[Your sock, Mommy? MY sock!]

And to give you an idea (apologies for the back light; daytime re-enactment's a girly dog), this is the situation: timeout box, basket (with hood), my straw hat. Basically, the whole setup is about 2 meters high.

So how did she go from this:

[dum dee dum dee dum...]

to this:

Have a good guess, Sherlock. Mommy figured it out in a minute (after she was done laughing her butt off). That's why she's the Big Boss Lady.

Closed Room Trap

When H&M came back from a rainy day fajita dinner, Emily was found trapped, the safety hood down and clamped, in her bicycle basket, which in turn was stacked on top of a large (2 foot high) cardboard box.

Mystery reenactment to follow!

Aunt Mmii wanted reports

You forget a couple of days, and it's harder to come back, 'cause you've got no excuse for slacking off except laziness. The Internets are like that. (like dissertating) You start getting behind and you can't ever catch up. tee hee.

Emily's been busy eating and sleeping and learning new ways of being whiny. Chip off the old block.

[Boring! Change the channel, Daddy! I want Dog Whisperer]

[And bring me more icecream]

Today was the last day of Puppy Class (12 weeks!) She can do Down and Wait, now. Also, can tolerate dogs she knows (except when she doesn't want to and snaps at them). After Puppy Class, Daddy takes her upstairs for a bath. She's a huge baby: 3 kg. We should call up her vet for a spay- consultation, soon.

[What? But I need to be a WOMAN!]

--

ps, the title is not a typo, but a clever way of preserving Aunt Mmii's anonymity. Now, no one can guess her name! (SMRT!)

Ducklings

This is all about Mommy. Emily is so not into ducklings, not even to bark at.

[grassy]

[swimmy]

-------------------------------
Emily Notes

This week Emily could go on walks without barking at people passing by. She still barks at other dogs and at bicyclists.

DOGnets: What do you do when you've read all the news stories on Bo, the Obama Puppy?

Emily is on Twitter!

Duckling watch is on.

Busy Morning

Emily's Morning: guaranteed to get you brisk back to work after watching.

[First, the Warm up]

Mommy has 4 different cuts of this on tape. Who's the silly one now?

Easter Carnage

Late Saturday Afternoon, Emily Puppy was found Wrapped Around a Tree.

[It's here! It's here! My Fur!]

Earlier that day, victim exhibited signs of unrest and made several cries for help:

[Quick, I'll flop over here, you draw a chalk line, Mommy]

Authorities suspect domestic issues. Victim and mother were witnessed engaged in several heated arguments over the past 2 weeks. Threats ensued.

("If you don't sit still when I'm putting on the leash, Mommy's going to shave your neck, Emily!)

[The Victim: In Happier Times]

The victim, Emily Puppy, was found 30% smaller at 6pm Saturday. Authorities soon discovered the cause: excess clipping by a non-professional. Puppy was found pursuing the shreds across the patio. Clear weather conditions preserved crime scene.

[Carnage]

Victim's Daddy was napping upstairs when incident occurred. He claims no knowledge of his wife's diabolical plans. Police are skeptical. ("A likely story!")

[Do I look fat with this haircut?]

Please support puppy rights. Write to your SPCA, Senator, MP, today.
Prevent the atrocities of home-grooming.

---
H&M are watching too much Mentalist.

The Emily Mobile

[Funner than it looks]

Much as Emily's barking and crazy and brattiness drive me bonkers some days, I feel I'm going to miss her hyperactive naughty Highness when she's all grown up.

'Cause watching her FRAP and try to dig a hole through the bottom of her crate while upending the pillow so she looks like a giant white turtle, on the car trip back from puppy class? Pretty effing funny.

------------------------------------------------
Emily Notes

During March we had been actively working to minimize Emily's barking at people and dogs.

The principle has been to keep her from going into a state of fear. When the warning signs appear, we either feed her yummy treats, or make her focus on us by dancing with her, or give her affection and stroke her tail.

In the last 2 weeks, she has become much friendlier and at dog class she was finally happy with the other people and dogs.

At class, we also found that it helps Emily to meet other dogs by distracting the other dog with a treat so Emily can gently sniff around the strange dog without getting into a wresting match.

Stuck

Every half hour, I stop what I'm doing, follow the whining, and rescue the puppy stuck on the steps. [I swear, the carpet made me do it]

Hair

[Maltese Halo, Redux]

Now it's more than just eyeliner. More like Panda eyes. tee hee.

Woke up a little late today (9:10) to find that Emily did a massive poo in her pen. And rubbed it all over her butt. So, had to trim it off.

It's been a while since I trimmed her hairy bum. It's tempting to pick up an electric trimmer over at zooplus. Even though I know I go scissor-happy and trim too much. Lately, her face fur's been growing back from the last bad haircut I gave her, and Emily's been startling me with da SuperCute Fuzz Face!~

[I slept on my side, drat]

Gross Things Your Dog Will Do #394

--> Munch on the Toilet Brush.

(hey Daddy, wait till you come home for a ripe smoochie!)

Snackies

[Nyam nyamm nyammy!]

To make up for coming in early from a morning walk (5 minutes in, it started to rain -- H. bore it for another 5 minutes before deciding the jacket was too thin), Emily got her tender lamb chewy a couple hours early today.

She also will have chicken strips on top of her normal dogfood (as we had whole chicken roast last night, and H. collected all the choice bits).

What nyummy things did you eat today?

H. is in the mood for pierogis, but probably won't be able to find it easily, and will have to make do with nabbing M.'s gleeful burrito stash. Poor dude.

Yes, marriage means all your foodies are belong to me.

(mwee hee hee)

Thank God The Internets don't Smell

You probably wouldn't know from looking at her, but Emily has the stinkiest farts this side of the Noordzee. Stealthy, too.

Puppy: asleep under the coffee table.
Us: vegging w/ TV.

Then, wafting up, the smell of a dozen vengeful skunks.

H&M bow before her smelly superiority.

Obvious Title Omitted for the Rude Factor

[Emily's Kingdom]

A good puppy parent would say "No!" take away her loot, and drag puppy butt back into the living room where she belongs. H. had to record it for blog posterity.
--
Emily is currently chomping on her tripe rolly, using my bare foot as a snacking table.

Basket Cases

The Emily Mobile! (powered by Mommy pedals)

[And I can play innit, too]
The black cover had gaps wide enough for Emily to poke her head out and jump (since she believes she can fly). Mommy's crafting skills make it harder to escape -- really useful when the bike is moving.

[Hippy Space Dome]

It hooks over the handlebars -- M. got the headlight removed, and taped around the bars so it wouldn't wobble. We bring the basket inside after we park the bikes. Turns out, Emily loves goofing in baskets.

[Sorting through the recycling]

Expectations

Some things to remember... by M.

From Good Owners, Great Dogs by B. Kilcommons, on raising puppies:

"He comes happily, sits sometimes and downs with guidance. It sounds like you're doing well."

"No pup is going to behave with the consistency or focus of an adult dog."

[Spying on the neighborhood kids]

----

Other things to remember... by H.

Dorko (aka Emily the Puppy) is still a girl, has always been a girl. Yup, April Fool's.

She also jumped on the sofa (common misdemeanor when we're out) and peed on it, late last night after H. had gone to bed and M. was still on his way home from a Ph.D. defense in Twente.

M. just goes, "Hehehe, she's just a puppy. I've been expecting this to happen," soaks the sofa cover in the tub without fuss, cleans up, takes Dorko/Emily out for a proper potty, and goes to bed. Case in point that H. is married to the nicest guy ever.

[Spying on the neighborhood kids, now with lamb chewie snacks]

Emily now has a covered bicycle basket, for trips to the park. Pedal faster, Mommy Chariot!

Big NEWS!

[Silly HuMons!]

There was a reason for all the HUMPING and BARKING! Hormones, H. thought, but not just growing-up hormones.

(confirmed as H. starts making arrangements for spay/neuter surgery in next few weeks)

You guys were right! Emily is a BOY!

CRAP. This calls for a name change. Oh well, we've been calling her/him "Dorko," lately. Maybe that will do.