Classical Rosie or not

As with most puppys, a new sound usually gets Rosie's attention.  They are typically short lived since her attention span is so short lived.  But this morning while I was checking my face book posts, I opened a video sent by my brother.  It was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in G minor.  WOW...or should I say BOW-WOW....did it get her attention.  Her ears's grew to more than their already unusually large size, she turned her head this way and that, and did a little bark.  It was quite funny.  I played it again and she responded somewhat, but when I played it later - nothing, nada, no response at all.  Interesting  though.

She doesn't pay much attention to Jerry's guitar playing. Probably because she hears it ALL the time.
We may try some other classicals, even other genre's to see what she thinks. 

I love my Rosie, whether she has a musical ear or not.
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Computer puppy

Rosie likes nothing better than to sit in my lap and chew on a toy, or my fingers.  She doesn't particularly like my laptop.  Initially, she will avoid me when she sees the laptop.  Eventually though, she climbs around it, wiggling her way until she finds a spot to sit on my lap with the computer.  Sometimes it is right in front of the screen.  She typically doesn't pay any attention to what I am doing but every now and then something on the screen catches her eye she will watch it for awhile.

The other night Alex was on my laptop and Rosie wanted to sit with her.

It is not always easy to type or play Webkinz with a puppy in the way.  But she is so hard to resist:)

I love my computer puppy, Rosie.

Reverent Rosie...so sweet

We have pretty much settled into a routine in our puppy adventures.  The morning routine consists of me taking Rosie out the front door while Jerry feeds Jack (the cat) out the back door.  This is more recent routine adjustment, because Rosie can't seem to concentrate on the business at hand when she sees or hears Jack.  Her attention span just hasn't developed that far yet:)

There is something to be said for routines. She knows when we come in from our walk, she gets a 'snack'.  She knows she will have fresh food and water.  She knows that when I come home at lunch to take her out that she has to go back in her crate when I get ready to leave.  She stays just out reach when I go to pick her up.  She knows when I get home in the afternoon we will go for a longer walk. She knows after dinner we will sit in the living room and throw her toys for her to retreive at least 100 times.

But the sweetest thing in her routine is prayer time.  I leave for work in the morning before Jerry does.  After I leave, Jerry turns off the TV and sits in his chair to say his prayers.  He says that nearly everyday, when he gets up from his prayers, Rosie is already in her crate.  She has developed her own routine of going to her crate when Jerry prays.  Isn't that the sweetest thing? Maybe she is saying her own prayers .....Dear Lord, thank you for my family that loves me.....please watch over my mommy and daddy.....please let me chase something today.........please let daddy drop some food on the floor......'

I love my little Reverent Rosie.

Toys and Running Fits........

Jerry loves to aggravate Rosie.  He has gotten all her toys, lined them up across the cushion on the chair.  A chair she easily jumps in if Jerry is sitting there eating something. But just the toys......she is incapable of getting in that chair.  She will stand there and bark at them.  Maybe even jump toward them.  But she will not jump up there and get them.  Go figure.  If Jerry went over there right now with a cup of pudding, she would be in his lap in a flash.  Mind you, she never gets people food or snacks.  Whats up with that?  I guess some things just aren't as important as others.

She just did what we call 'the running fit'.  She does this occasionally.  You know, a lightning fast fun through the kitchen (where she gets a wheel when she hits the tile floor), down the hall, by the staircase and back to the living room, jump up on the couch, bark, then do it all over again two or three times.  She can flat run.  We wouldn't be able to catch her if we tried.  I wonder what she is thinking when she does the running fit.  What triggers it?  What is she chasing?  Oh, I wish she could talk.

Oh well, some things, I guess, we will never know:)

I love my Rosie, running fits and all.

Arf Arf..I love the blow dryer

Rosie had a bath recently.  It was way over due. She doesn't especially like it either.  She just tolerates the bath.  But the blow dryer...that is something else. She sits there and turns her head back and forth and just loves it.....

She feels and smells so good after her bath and blow dry.

I love my Rosie....especially after her bath.

Attack of the paper shredder....again

ROSIE!

What did I do?????

Rosie Rosie Rosie....... What am I going to do with you?

Saturday mornings and Rosie

Of course, like most people, I love Saturday mornings.  I am a morning person so I am up early. I love being able to just get up, take Rosie out, walk to mail box to get the paper, then sit on the couch with a cup of coffee, my laptop and Rosie.

Rosie loves Saturday morning too.  She gets in my lap (or should I say chest) and snuggles my neck and watches the computer screen. She doesn't demand that I throw toys for her to retrieve and she doesn't nibble on my fingers.  She gives me sweet kisses. She sniffs the air for the sent of coffee and would really like to take a sip.  She just relishes the laziness of a Saturday morning.

All of this calmness lasts about thirty minutes, then she is on her way to playing with her toys, scavenging the kitchen floor under Jerry's feet as he cooks breakfast, and just her general mayhem of the day. 

I enjoy the peaceful snuggling while it lasts and, I think, so does Rosie.

I love my Rosie, especially on Saturday mornings.

Scaredy cat...ummm I mean dog

Rosie has several small squeaky toys that she loves to bring to us to throw.  Just like a baby, she will do it over and over again.  She loves this game.  Sometimes Jerry will throw the toy in a little black plastic basket that I put her toys in.  This basket sits next to a trunk in our living room.  For some reason, Rosie is scared of the basket.  When Jerry throws one of her toys in the basket she will find another toy and bring it to Jerry. Once all the toys are thrown in the basket, she will eventually sneak over and grab the nearest one.  It is quite funny.  She doesn't have a problem getting a toy that land next to the basket, only if it lands in the basket.  Go figure.

I love my 'scaredy dog' Rosie.

The world is your potty

What makes a dog sniff, walk back and forth, and turn around in circle before deciding on a place to poo?  I mean, heck, it's the outside.  The world is your potty.  You don't even have to hide behind a bush or tree for goodness sakes.  Just do it!

Sunday, Rosie didn't have but one accident in the house and it was of the #1 variety.  I say that is a little progress.  We haven't figured out her 'code' for outside yet.  I just took her out more than usual.  We are trying to figure a way to block her in the living room when we are in there.  That way we can keep an eye on her any time that she is not in her crate.

Well, we will continue to work on that part of our adventure.

I love my Rosie, accidents and all.

One of those 'dog people'

I never thought I would become a dog person.  Oh, I have always liked dogs, and cats for that matter.  I guess animals in general.  Jerry and I have had a multitude of animals in our married life.  Mainly cats.  I couldn't even guess how many cats we have had over the years.  We use to have inside cats until it was determined that Jerry was allergic.  Then they all became outside cats.  Jerry went to great lengths and built a very nice cat house.  It had a two stories with a plexiglass front so we could see them and they could have warmth from the sun when it was cold.  It was really quite cool.  That was years and years ago.  More recently we have Jack, a black and white cat.  He is beautiful and probably one of the best cats we have ever had.  A couple of years ago, Jerry built him a heated house.  Painted it blue with a black roof to match our house. Jack loves it in the winter,  the summer, not so much.

We have had birds over the years too.  Parakeets, cockatiels, and even bird-sat a parrot for a friend.  Our kids had bunnies. Paige had a guinea pig.  Ian had a corn snake and an iguana. Of course we had aquariums over the years, too.

The main dogs we have had were Norman, a pekinese/poodle mix, and Fritz, a mini schnauzer. Both were good dogs. Norman disappeared in 1986. We later got Fritz and when Paige moved out, she took him with her.  That was 1994.

So Rosie is the first dog that Jerry and I have had on our own. She is like our baby.  I buy her toys and clothes.  I want to take her with me places.  I love coming home and taking her for a walk and miss her if I am away from her very long, I even started a Blog about her......hence, 'A Dog Person'. Or should I say 'Dog People'. Jerry is very much into Rosie. Some people may even say, 'crazy dog people'.  I don't care.  I love being one of those people.

I love my Rosie.

Rosie had an exciting day today.  My sister, Dana, and I went to the Ninety Six town yard sale and then back to the house. Dana brought Milo (Rosie's cousin) along.  Milo is a 5 year old dachshund. He loves everyone and could not believe Rosie was jumping and barking in his face.  Not only did she jump and bark in his face, she jumped over him several times.  Milo was very patient though.  He didn't growl or snap at her. She finally calmed a little and she and Milo had the opportunity to sniff each other up.  Then they played a little.  Milo on his leash so Rosie wouldn't chase him.  When we went outside they both ran and played, but Rosie was still a little over powering.  She has got to calm down around other animals.  I guess that will come with time and exposure.  Jerry and I then took Rosie to Ninety Six with us to pick up a speaker cabinet Jerry wanted to buy.  She did pretty good but got hot and tired. She has slept most of the afternoon.  Poor baby.

Below (I think) is a pic of Rosie and Milo.

I love my Rosie and Milo.

Rosie with a few of her closest friends.

Not once, but twice, today Rosie has gotten hold of a napkin and torn it to shreds all over the living room floor.  She seems really proud of herself too.  The episode that just happened started on Jerry's chair with shreds of paper all over the arm and seat.  It then spread all the way across the living room floor.  I don't know what possesses her to do such a thing.  She doesn't eat it, well at least not much of it.  She just tears it in to a hundred pieces. She must get some enjoyment out of it though. 

We have learned to keep our shoes out of her reach because she will chew on them. We keep most things off of the floor because she will chew them. We have moved the paper recycle box so she can't get to it because she was stealing papers and chewing on them.  She has sufficient toys to play with but she is easily lured by the sent of anything she is not suppose to have and the dream of chewing it to pieces.

Well, I guess that is how it goes with puppies.  This too, shall pass (I hope).

We took a walk today and visited a friend and her dog, Rosco.  He is a chihuahua and is a couple of years old.   Rosie did her usual 'jumping in his face' thing and he wasn't too thrilled about it. Rosco had a few low growls for her and she decided to sit in my lap for a while.  They eventually sniffed each other some more.  Maybe with a few more visits they will get use to each other. 

I bet Rosco doesn't tear up napkins all over the floor. Rosie needs a friend that will be a good influence on her:)

I love my Rosie, trash and all.

Rosie the mop...aka... Floor Licker

Rosie is a floor licker. Without fail, every time Jerry goes in the kitchen to prepare something to eat, she is all under foot.  All I can figure is that Jerry must be a messy cook and drops crumbs on the floor.  I am sure he would not agree. Rosie sniffs all around and licks here and there.  I guess there is no need to ever mop the kitchen floor again, just sprinkle crumbs all over it and Rosie will lick them up:)

It is so nice to come home in the evening and have someone so glad to see you.  Rosie gets so excited, we go for a walk and then get a snack. She is so funny when she hears Jerry's truck pull up in the drive way.  No matter what she is doing, those giant ears perk up and she jumps up and sits on the arm of the couch, stretches her neck looking toward the kitchen waiting for her daddy to come in.  If he doesn't come in quickly enough, she jumps down to go look for him and demands to be held and petted.  Once Jerry sits down, the shoe un-tying begins.  She is as much of a creature of habit as Jack, the cat, is.

Jack, however, doesn't eat everything that falls in his path like Rosie does. Cats are a little more finicky I guess.  Rosie, on the other hand, is a mop!

I love my Rosie.

An Ouchie! then a Kissie!

After her shot yesterday, Rosie was extremely sore last night.  If you barely moved her she would yelp in pain.  She went to her crate and got in by herself.  She rarely does that. She was quite pitiful and we were more than a little worried about her.  This morning....wide open! Running, playing, eating, peeing, pooing.... Very glad she feels better.  Jerry was so happy he actually kissed her. Yes, I said kissed her.

I bought her a brightly colored sock monkey today.  At first she was scared of the monkey and backed away from him, but now she is beating him up and happy to do it:)  I wonder what she is thinking about when he attacks her toys.  It is so funny to watch. She has a favorite toy I've mentioned before, an ostrich with rope legs.  Jerry will say 'beat em up' and she will get it and sling it around.  Then Jerry will say 'bring it here' and she will bring it to him. Not always right away but eventually.  She seems to learn some things quickly, others, like the potty thing, not so quick.

Well, we will keep working on that part of the adventure.  She will still get shots...Ouch!  But she will always get kisses too.

Think she is ready for a Spa day?

ARF!

Do you ever wish you could understand puppy talk?  Rosie has a number of arfs, whines, and barks that I just can not figure out.  She looks at me and it is as if she is actually telling me something.   Maybe with time I will understand her.

I took her to the vet today. She does not like riding in a car and usually cries the entire time.  Today, however, she did not cry at all. Baby steps.  She weighed in at 4lbs and got a Lymes disease shot.  Back in two weeks for the follow up lymes and the 3rd Parvo.  Does it ever end? 

I'm thinking about taking her for a 'Spa Day'.  Maybe a little trim, get her nails done, get a bow in her hair.  I'm not sure how she would like that though.  I am also thinking about talking to my boss to see if I might be able to bring her to work with me a couple of days a week. He likes dogs. I think he might go for it.  Of course I would have to 'puppy safe' my office.  Paper clips, staples, and computer cords are all hazards since she will eat anything off the floor.  I do mean anything. Food or not! At Easter, someone left a piece of foil on the floor that she tore up.  I took it away from her but we still saw shiny poo for a day or so.  My daughter took her chihuahua to the vet and he had to have a xray.  They saw a nail and an earring in his stomach.   Paige said she knew exactly which earring it was. The vet said he would probably pass it. Hopefully he will not have a problem.  He passes Legos all the time. That is still scary though.

I love my Rosie.  I just wish I knew what she wanted.

Vet appointment tomorrow

Rosie has an appointment at the vet tomorrow afternoon.  That means she gets a bath tonight.  She really isn't crazy about the bath but she loves the blow dryer.  She just sits and enjoys the warmth and the air blowing on her.  It is quite cute. Her shots tomorrow will be lyme disease and, I think, parvo.  Not looking forward to it.  It hurts her feelings:(

We went for a walk earlier and she does pretty good until she meets other dogs.  She goes berserk wanting to play with them.  Most dogs don't appreciate having something jumping up and down in their face like Rosie does. Go figure.  Right now she is acting like a crazy dog.  She is beating up a stuffed ostrich, slinging it back and forth trying to shake the guts out of it. When Jerry gets home he usually takes a short nap on the couch, if Rosie lets him.  She gets up there with him and the first thing she does after licking him in the mouth, (he doesn't appreciate that but you would think he would learn), is untie his shoes. She works at it until they are both untied.

Well, I'd better get off of this thing.  We are going to our grandson's soccer games.  Debating on whether to take Rosie or not.  She does alright but after a while she wants to start running around, jerking on her leash, trying to hang herself when we don't comply. If we don't take her though, she will never get use to all the commotion.  We'll see.

Please, daddy, let mom get a puppy!

I have wanted a puppy for a couple of years now.  Jerry did not. He cited two reasons.  The first is dander.  Jerry occasionally makes home brewed beer.  He is particular about contamination and said that an inside animal would have dander and could ruin a batch of beer.  Like I am a spotless housekeeper or something. Like our house doesn't already have dust and whatever else lives in a house besides us. His next complaint is that he doesn't like pee and poo on the floor.  I told him I did.  Now I understand that, but honestly who does like pee and poo on the floor.  That is something we would have to work on.  Excuses, excuses.

The day I saw the ad in the paper, my daughter, Paige, was at my office and I showed it to her.  She called the number, got a description and directions and went to see her. She came back to my office with a shakey, drooling, ratty looking little pup. She said if her dad wouldn't let me have it she was keeping it for herself.  Jerry just happened to be out of town so she texted him...Daddy, please please please let mom have a puppy.  She is so cute. I promise to come to your house and de-dander everytime you make or bottle beer and I will keep her during the process.  PLEASE....  Keep in mind this daughter is 36 years old, not a little girl. (Although her daddy might differ in that opinion.)

Paige took her home to bathe her and get her looking beautiful for when Jerry came home.

When Jerry got home that afternoon, he told me he got an interesting text from Paige and he read it to me.  I told him I saw the puppy and she was cute and that I really wanted her.  He sighed, finally relented and said OK.  I asked him if he responded to Paige's text and he said not yet. He replied and only said 'OK' on the text.  Paige called me immediately. She was so excited. She brought her over and the rest is history, or at least history in the making.
Anyway, after a couple of years of subtle hints and occasional conversations, I finally have a puppy and Jerry LOVES her.  He plays with her all the time. He oohs and aahs over her.  He even named her. Ah, love.