Bailey's First Halloween!!!

I had to stop at PetSmart the other day and while I was there I couldn't resist picking up a Halloween costume for Bails.  Her older brother and sister think I should have picked out something with a little more red in it....

Where Did September Go?!....Part 2

Actually, I spent most of the month working on renewing my Broker's license.  Every 2 years I have to take 15 CE credits, so this time I took "Insurance Fraud Awareness".  I read the book, took the test and now I can get back to my fun reading!  I'm currently working my way through J.R. Ward's "Rapture" and am picking out a new photography book to dig into...maybe one of my macro books....

And while I passed my test, someone certainly went out of their way to make it as difficult as possible...

Where Did September Go?!...Part 1

Curley spent much of the month doing one of his favorite activities...napping.

Bailey got her first haircut at PetSmart!

And we continue to make progress on family unity...

Puppy Anti-Socialization Classes

Since Bailey got her second series of shots on the 18th, she can now attend Puppy Socialization Classes.  I've found two in our area that I'm taking her to.  The first is on Monday nights at Canine & Company, where I've been taking Chica for daycare and where I board the kids when needed.  The other is Wednesday nights at Dog Days of Buffalo.  This is where I used to take Peanut for daycare and where I'd board the kids, but it caught fire in the October snowstorm a few years ago and was closed for over a year.  Some former customers re-opened the daycare and grooming, but not the kennel.

Dog Days is where we went for our first class.  Bailey started out well, playing with a Black Lab named Maybe.  Then Maybe got a little too excited and started playing a little too rough, so Bailey spent the rest off the hour either trying to hide behind me or sitting in whoever's lap happened to be on the ground.  She did seem to get along well with a Cane Corso puppy named Dozer.  He was as unsure of Maybe and Hazel, an equally excited Chocolate Lab, as Bailey.  They told me to keep coming and I will.  We missed this Wednesday's because Curley had to go to the vet, but we'll be back this coming week.

Monday's session at Canine & Company didn't go well at all.  First they put her with this scared little dog that wouldn't interact with her at all.  Then they moved her to another area with two Shih Tzu puppies and a Beagle mix.  She did great there until a Pug came along.  First the Pug started with the Beagle mix and when the Beagle's owner picked it up, the Pug set his sights on Bailey.  Bailey wasn't having any of it and the person supervising the room asked US to leave, saying it wasn't good for Bailey, but not explaining what was wrong, only saying we should come back and try again in two weeks, as they're closed for Labor Day.  Bailey wasn't the only one asked to leave.  The dog they originally put her with was asked to leave about 10 minutes before we were and they'd planned on boarding it there this weekend.  Before they left they were told it would need an evaluation first.  Frankly, I think the Pug should have been the one to leave, or moved to the other side of the gate with the more rambunctious dogs.

Another First Has Passed...Happy Birthday Peanut!

August 20th would have been Peanut's 11th birthday.  I did really good until I went to Wegman's to pick him up a balloon and a card and a little cupcake cake for me.  The tears didn't start coming until I got to the parking lot.  I miss my little boy so much...

I'd planned on taking Chica to Emery Park to send him his balloon, but the day got away from me and we went up on the roof instead.  When I lost sight of the balloon, it was heading in the direction of Emery Park.  I know he got it and in return he sent us a beautiful sunset...

Happy birthday, Baby Boy, we love and miss you so much!!!

First Family Photos!

After weeks of trying, Alex and I were finally able to get the kids out to Emery Park in East Aurora, NY on Sunday, August 19th.  We didn't get there until about 6:30, so the sun was starting to set and we couldn't stay long, but the time we had there was a blast and we can't wait to take them back.

Curley had the best time of all.  He was running all over the place, but not until he smelled every inch of our shelter for any food left behind.

Bailey, ever helpful, took it upon herself to walk Curley for me.  She tried to do this frequently.  He's very tolerant with her, thank goodness, while we wait for her to outgrow these little puppyhood-isms.

She tried the same thing on Chica, but even at 10 years old, those long legs of hers still make her faster and Bailey quickly lost interest.

We can't wait to get them back out there!

Bailey Conquers Her Biggest Fear

It took her almost three weeks to overcome her fear, but yesterday Bailey finally went down the stairs!  I followed Cesar's advice and sat a few stairs down, then held the leash loose, without tension, but without enough slack where she could run away.  I let her figure out on her own and patiently waited for her to do just that.

After she made it down the first one she decided another rest was in order and it was a bit before she tackled another step, but she eventually got the hang of it and got a whole lot of loving from her Mommy at the bottom!  No food rewards were needed-the happiness she saw in her Mommy at her accomplishments was reward enough because she goes down them like a champ now and we're working on potty training in earnest.

Love that last picture of her!  So proud of my big girl!  Now I just have to get her to stop picking on her brother and sister when she beats them to the top of the stairs on our way back in...

Bailey Learns To Play Ball

We found another way to help drain some of Bailey's energy.  I broke out these little pink tennis balls I bought for her and she loves playing ball!  It's rather funny watching her sliding across the hardwood floor after one.

She kind of brings them back...or at least to within arm's reach of where I roll them from.

Chica, of course, hates it.  She hates anything that isn't calm and sedentary.  While we play with her at one end of the family room, she lays at the other end growling.  So funny!  But the girls are getting better.  They actually laid together today and took a nap!