Saturday, August 21, 2010

Sleepy Baby! :)

I have always enjoyed letting my puppies sleep out of their kennels, especially during the school year. During school, Jorinda is kenneled from 8 to 11 and then from 12 to 2. I know it's not super long, but when you are 16 weeks old, all alone in a kennel, it seems like forever! Hopefully little Jo will be able to go to school with me soon. I hate having to lock her up for most of the day, and then lock her up again at night.
Last night Jo had a major test, and she passed! I let Jorinda sleep outside of her kennel, loose, for the first time ever. I don't like to have my puppies sleep on tie down because I am such a heavy sleeper. If she were to get tangled up and whine, I wouldn't wake up. So instead I just jump right in to letting them sleep loose in my room. Jorinda did great last night! She slept from 11pm to 9am without waking me up. When I rolled over at 9am to check on her, she was happily laying on the floor chewing on a bone. I am so glad she did great! My family was up cooking breakfast, taking showers and whatnot, and even though you can hear everything in my room, she just laid there and entertained herself. My little baby girl is growing up :).

And really, what's better than waking up and having your little 4 month old puppy rest her head on your bed while you say good morning!

I love my little Jo!

Maddie and Jorinda

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Oh for the love of vets!

Last Friday we took Jorinda into the vet to get a sterile sample done because they though from the free catch sample that she still wasn't over her UTI. A sterile sample is basically when they take a urine sample directly from the bladder. They say it doesn't  hurt the dog, but really? It sounds pretty painful to me! Anyways, today we got the results of the test, and she is UTI free! So somewhere between her bladder and hitting the ground, her urine is being exposed to bacteria. It could be something as serious as a dip in her vaginal wall where urine pools up allowing bacteria to grow or it could be as simple as having bacteria in her hair that gets in the urine when she goes potty. For now the vet wants us to wait and see, before doing an ultrasound. If she starts to get little red bumps by her little girl parts they want us to bring her in again.

Jo looking up into the camera with big eyes. She has a
Poor me :(

My poor baby girl!

Maddie and Jojo

Monday, August 16, 2010

The Big Goodbye

Friday was the big day, recall day. It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Sure I cried plenty that morning, and on the car ride down, but I didn't cry when I loaded her up. Betsy is a dog who really sets her mood off of other emotions, especially my emotions. I knew if I put her on the truck crying, she would be nervous the entire ride. So I put on my big girl pants and put her on with a smile on my face.

Maddie and Betsy walking up the steps into the puppy truck


The truck driver told me that, Betsy (human), the lady Betsy (puppy) was named after, was so excited she was being recalled. Betsy (human) told Joe, the puppy truck guy, to assure me that she would give Betsy (puppy) a little TLC :). Betsy (human) is a kennel welfare technician (I think) and was the lady in Gabrina's kennel. I got to meet her when I was out in California for Gabrina's graduation. I know Betsy (human) will take great care of my Betsy (puppy)! Confused much?

Maddie talking to the puppy truck guy while Betsy sits by her left side. Betsy is staring off into space


Betsy was placed in her kennel and immediately picked up the bone in there to show me. She wagged her tail and was so excited to be somewhere new! She gave me a big ole kiss and I told her to make me proud! As I closed the door she had her big happy smile on :). I kept my smile on; doing my job to make her confident.

Maddie gives Betsy one last kiss while Betsy is in the kennel

As I was leaving with baby Jo, my CFR stopped me to tell me that because of Betsy's cough, they decided to spay her as soon as she returns to GDB. I am disappointed that she isn't going to be a breeder, but that's okay. My CFR said they would get her back, give her a few days to adjust to the kennel, do the surgery, give her a couple weeks to recover, and she would enter training. She said they try to complete all the medical tests if they can while the dog is recovering. There is a slight chance Betsy will enter the training string with the dogs she went back with, but most likely she will wait for the next recall. So watch for my baby on the phase report in 2 -3 weeks!

Maddie, Betsy, and Jorinda in front of the puppy truck. Both dogs are wearing their vests. Betsy has a big purple bow around her neck


Jorinda is adjusting okay to the leaving of her sister. She was a little whiny the first night, probably because Betsy always slept right by the kennel so Jo was never really alone. Now she is doing great. She still looks for Betsy around dinner time and when she wants to play. Jojo definitely has more energy now that her little play toy is gone!

Jorinda sleeps with her head resting on Betsy's back




Maddie and Jorinda

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Here comes goodbye

Betsy leaves tomorrow at 12:30. To say I'm going to miss her would be an understatement!
 


Why was this painted in the street? I have absolutely no idea.






The queen of having her tongue out during pictures! :)



















Goodbye sweet girl! <3
 






Maddie, Betsy, and Jorinda

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

It's Official

Betsy is officially going back for training on August 13, 2010. I think it is finally setting in that she is leaving. I am having mixed feelings about her going back. With Gabrina, I knew she was ready for it , so I was excited for her. But Betsy seems so happy here. She isn't bored and looking for something to do, she is happy. It is definitely going to be hard putting her on the truck. She is the perfect pet dog for me: calm, laid back, and happy to hang out at home if I'm going to be gone all day. I struggled having her as a PIT because I live a super busy life style and she would rather hang out at home, but as a pet she would be great. I know I would take her back in a heartbeat.

So I guess all I can say is:


"Betsy I hope you either fly through the phases so I can walk you across that stage, or quickly tell them that you don't want to be a guide so you can come home to me! I love you baby girl!"









































I'm gunna miss you Sue Sue!


Maddie, Betsy, and Jojo