Doggie Updates
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated you all on the furry ones in the family, so here we go: (please read to the end because I have an unrelated question I need some help with at the bottom of this post!)
BUDDY
Buddy had surgery (again) and (again) it was to remove a growth, but they think it’s benign. I, personally, am glad it’s out. It was getting bigger and I was worried about him. No cone this time. If he turns around, he can’t reach the stitches with his mouth. That’s the good news. The bad news? He can scratch the itch with his foot.
So what does the vet suggest? That we put a man’s shirt over his head and tie it – seventies style.
Do you have any idea what this did to my poor boy’s ego? Not to mention the fact that his front paw kept getting stuck in the armhole. They also suggest a sock over his back paw. Do you think that lasted long before he pulled it off? It was difficult enough getting the sock on without Bailey getting into the act, wanting to play tug of war with the sock.
Not to worry though. I’m a good mommy. I went out and bought my boy his very own doggie shirt so he can be comfortable, safe and stylish while he heals. 
The amazing thing is that Bailey seems to sense, as my youngest daughter said, that Buddy’s red shirt isn’t just so he’ll look good for the ladies. She isn’t jumping on him or causing him trouble. She just loves him.
SPEAKING OF BAILEY …
She’s training … and she isn’t. 98% of the time she doesn’t pee or poop in the crate. She holds both overnight from 9:00 PM – 5:45 AM. Then she holds it until I let her out for breakfast at 7:40 AM. She eats, then she pees and she poops. Then she has some out time to play then back in the crate. I’ll let her out a few more times in the morning/mid afternoon and only sometimes will she poop, but then around 2 PM she poops again. At 4 PM, she has dinner, she goes out to pee and poop; and then she has some more out time. The back in the crate. Then she goes out again an hour or so later and only sometimes will she poop. (Last night she ate at 4 PM and pooped after; we went out at 5 and she peed only right before we left) came home at 9 PM and she’d pooped IN the crate). She gets her last walk around 9 or 9:30 PM and she’ll usually pee and poop. Then we’re good until morning. 
This works if she gets NO real freedom. In other words, if her play time she’s on a leash and the leash is hooked to the leg of a chair. She’ll play and be good. But if we put gates up in the kitchen, so she can have confined “real out play time”, she will immediately find a place to poop as soon as I blink. Seriously. 
Nobody can be as routinized as I am with this puppy and yet … nada. She’s 21 weeks old exactly. Here she is with her favorite toy squirrel - we call it her “Squirrelly- face”
I’m frustrated but I’m determined to house break her! (I took her to the vet yesterday and she said that though Bailey is five months old, she isn’t maturing all that quickly, so maybe that’s why she isn’t “getting” the housebreaking yet. And that if she stays this way in a month, they’ll put off spaying her for a little while longer. So perhaps there’s a reason - which makes it easier to deal with. And when I mentioned all this to her breeder, she said her mother matured more slowly too. Interesting stuff.)
Why do pets make us willing to put up with anything? This one has me wrapped around her finger.
With this face is it any wonder why?
****
I’m going on vacation on Sunday … can you all recommend LIGHT romance for me to read?????
Aw, poor Buddy, but oh what sweet faces. I’m hoping Buddy will be back to his old self in no time, so Bailey can play with her pal. With big eyes like that, they own us, don’t they? I just love dogs.
Comment by Stacy ~ — August 7, 2007 @ 6:23 am
Hi Carly
I hope Buddy feels better soon. Bailey and Buddy are so cute.
Have you read “Tempting” by Susan Mallery yet?
Comment by Cherylann — August 7, 2007 @ 6:59 am
Awww, you have a “Buddy” who just had surgery, too. And he’s so sweet. Love the shirt. Very stylin. We’re working on ours not licking the stitches in his leg. It’s a constant process. I should have gone for the cone.
Potty training for dogs, like kids, is different for each one. Some get it really quickly. Some take seemingly forever, but they eventually all grab a clue.
Both pups are absolutely adorable. Hugs to both of them (and you!) :love2:
Comment by Jaci Burton — August 7, 2007 @ 7:26 am
Buddy and Bailey are so cute. I hope Buddy has a quick recovery. Our pup was pretty much trained by 3-4 months. We had a routine for him too. But I don’t care how strict you are with feeding time, they will still poop when they want. It was tough but we made it through.
Sorry I don’t have any suggestions. I’m reading Harlan Coben right now and have CMH next.
Comment by Michelle — August 7, 2007 @ 7:56 am
Light romances…anything by Katie MacAllister. Not sure if I spelled her name right, but her books are funny, funny, and fun. Very quick reads. I aslo just read the new Julia Quinn, Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, if you’re into historicals. It was very good, as all of hers are.
My cats are the ones who have me wrapped around their furry little paws. I have my eye on a very expensive “cat condo” for them. DH is starting to cave. They also have their own water fountain (circulates clean, filtered water for them) and eat off Brighton bowls! Yes, they’re spoiled, but they spoil me, too, with love.
Hope Buddy feels better soon! I love Bailey’s ribbon in her hair. How cute is that!
Comment by Becca — August 7, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Buddy and Bailey are adorable. Each dog learns at their own pace, but like the loving owners we are we put up with their uniqueness and treat them like the kings and queens they have taught us they are…right.
I am reading Linda Conrad’s final book in her Night Guardians series called Shadow Whispers. I love reading about the Navajo nation and their legends. It is part of the Harlequin Silhouette Romance Suspense line.
Have a wonderful vacation!!!
Comment by Shari C — August 7, 2007 @ 9:07 am
I finished There Goes The Bride by Lori Wilde last week. That was a good one!
Comment by Jess — August 7, 2007 @ 9:11 am
I got Lori Wilde’s at National, so I’ll bring it. I have Rachel Gibson’s newest, Susan Andersen’s out today, I have a Katie McCallister I think, so I’ll take that too. I read a book a day on vacation and I write
CAN’T WAIT!
Thanks for the doggie compliments. We’re hanging in!
Comment by Carly — August 7, 2007 @ 9:12 am
I read HelenKay Dimon’s Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy and really like it. Has a little mystery to add to the romance. Picked up Rachel Gibson’s new one too. I am in the process of finishing a series of Blaze books by Cara Summers. The P.I(June), The Cop(July), and The Defender(August). I’m about half way through The Defender and can only say I’m loving these books.
Comment by Liza — August 7, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Here’s how you solve the clothing problem from both ends.
Small shirts. One on each end. Tied together with rubber band mid back. Dog can’t reach the leg stitches or the torso stitches! We went through this about 5 times!
Comment by Alison Kent — August 7, 2007 @ 9:42 am
And yes, with the t-shirt in back like that, you have to remove it for the dog to take a potty break.
Comment by Walt — August 7, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Thanks, Alison! I think we’re almost finished with just the red shirt … stitches out Friday I hope. LOL. What we do for our dogs!
Comment by Carly — August 7, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Aww… thanks for the doggie update, and glad Buddy’s nearly better! Hmm… light romance–recently I’ve really liked Sarah Mayberry and Rhonda Nelson; if you haven’t tried Susan Kay Law, her books (historical) usually manage to make me laugh. (I especially enjoyed Marry Me.) Have a great time!
Comment by Fedora — August 7, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Becca ya beat me to the katie MacAllister suggestion. She is one of my favs. I have the newest sitting here calling my name but am making myself wait. Pure torture.
Carly- When you take her out of the cage, take her outside immediately. I think she may equate getting out of the cage with going potty. Now you need to imprint on her that going potty means going outside. Our newest one now puts them together and only uses the puppy pads if no one takes her out when she is ready to go. Small dogs and puppies have small bladders and hubby’s and kids have short attention spans and memories. If you ask her if she has to go out, she gets all excited and herds you to the back door.
The daschund got a buzz cut yesterday- now she looks like Yoda.With eyebrows.
Comment by Heather — August 7, 2007 @ 10:53 am
I have had dogs all my life and everyone of them is different. But the patience needed to train them has to be there.
As for my cat…..
Comment by Heather — August 7, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Buddy looks so sweet in his shirt. I think it’s pretty cool that Bailey seems to know she shouldn’t jump on his shirt and try to pull it off right now.
To add to your list of books: Real Vampire’s Have Curves by Gerry Bartlett.
Hope you enjoy your vacation!!!
For everyone else don’t forget I’m giving away a signed copy of Carly’s Cross My Heart book this week on my blog.
Comment by Vicki — August 7, 2007 @ 11:23 am
Good luck with the potty training of Bailey. I don’t have any dogs in the house and your post reminded me why. LOL
As far as books, I also recommend “Tempting” by Susan Mallery. I am also reading “When She Was Bad” by Cindy Kirk. Both books are great and light reads. Hope you have fun on vacation.
Comment by Patty L — August 7, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Awe Buddy we love you you poor pouch.:love2:
Zoey has had only 3 accidents since I got her.
I have never had a dog train this quickly.
Gee I hope she is not maturing to quickly.
Zoey poops twicw a day either 9am or 2 pm and 9 pm at night.
Always right after eating. After every timeout in the crate
I take her to her p-pad or outside if we are at camp.
She goes P every time. then 10 minutes after each meal
to the p_pad or outside. She is probably the smartest dog we have ever
and it amazes us how quickly she is picking things up.
I know this may sound a bit over the edge but:
Most dogs aim to please so I make her going on the paper a big deal.
“What a good girl” and it’s accompanied by excited applause
and lots of smiles. Thank heavens it’shot and the windows are closed or
the neighbors would think (well maybe they know) I’m a little crazy.
It works though!
Bailey is pet #2 and she may be wantingmore attention however
she can get it.
Hey maybe she’s saying to her self,:doggie:
“Buddy is well behaived and look what they do to him.”
Poor Buddy! As for light romantic reads I don’t do many.
Comment by jeannie — August 7, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Last thought on Bailey
Are you leaving food out all the time?
I feed zoey 3 times a day and pick I up the food dish.
Then she goes at more predictable times.
Might be worth a try until she gets into the
swing of things. Just a thought.
Comment by jeannie — August 7, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Glad to hear that your pooch is healing.
Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter is really good. I loaned Pleasure Slave to a girlfriend before I read it, but she’s enjoying it.:thumbsup2:
Comment by Erika — August 7, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Your dogs are so cute…
LIGHT romances hmmm…let me think… Debbie Macomber’s stuff is pretty light, so is Carolyn Davidson…I just finished reading Tara Taylor Quinn’s Sara’s Son, which was pretty light as compared to the Blazes….Penny Jordan’s All the Queen’s Men is light too…Facets by Barbara Delinsky that’s all I can think of…
Carly, have a wonderful time on vacation…
Comment by Paula R. — August 7, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
so cute.
any hot blazes.
rachel gibson
chery adair
lori foster.:love2:
Comment by kim h — August 7, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Any suggestions for house breaking husbands or kids? LOL!
I’d go with CARPE DEMON or any from that series or the SECRET SOCIETY GIRL series. LOVE THEM!
Comment by katie — August 7, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
How can you not love them - they give such unconditional love. But I must admit cats are a lot easier when it comes to potty training
Comment by catslady — August 7, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
lol I like the idea of house breaking husband and kids…all though, I think that would be a life long job
Jeanine, I think Yorkie’s train faster than any other dogs, I’m not sure what it is but our Yorkie was pretty much trained the first week we had him, we just showed him where to go and that was that.
Poor Buddy:cry: I’m glad he’s doing better. and that Miss Bailey is being a good sister to him.
As for the light read I always enjoy Donna Kauffman, she has a new release that just came out and I can’t wait to read called The Black Sheep and The Princess…my favorite’s were Cinderella Rules, Not So Snow White, and Sleeping With Beauty.
Hope you have a relaxing vacation
Comment by Tina Martinesi — August 7, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Carly,
Oh, bless their hearts! There is nothing like having a dog. All that unconditional love wrapped up in fur and the sweetest faces on the planet. We have a miniature dachshund named Spike. He is 11 1/2 and completely spoiled. He’s our little “brown child”.
Give Buddy a big healing hug and Bailey a kiss on her adorable face. :-) Those guys are too cute.
As for light reading…I love Rachel Gibson and Susan Elizabeth Phillips when I’m looking for something light. Carl Hiaasen is also just plain fun to read. He’s got the whackiest characters and plots.
Cher
Comment by Cher — August 7, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
We had the same problem trying to train our pup. What finally worked was utter consistency. We took her out to the bathroom literally every 1/2 hour when we were awake for the first week, (we set a timer) then every 45 minutes for two more. Then we did every hour for about another month, gradually increasing to every two hours. Every time she went in the right place, she got a top shelf treat. At night, my husband stayed up late and I got up early so she had only a total of about 5 hours in her crate. We also hung bells on the door which we rang every time we took her out.
The accidents stopped, but it took about three months before she could be counted on to ring the bells if we were in the room, a year before she would do it if we were upstairs and she was two before we left her alone and uncrated. Even at three, we never leave her alone in the house for more than four hours and crate her at night.
Comment by juli — August 7, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Buddy and Bailey are so cute. Thanks for the update.
I just got back from vacation and I would recommend Rachel Gibson’s, “Tangled Up In You,” and Nora Robert’s “The MacGregor Brides.”:thumbsup2:
Comment by Ardie — August 7, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Karen,
Those are very cute. You must have unlimited patience–I don’t think training my children was that difficult–LOL.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I loved Suzanne Enoch’s Contemp series which starts with the first (& best), FLIRTING WITH DANGER. I call it a Romantic Mystery, but, that sounds more mystery than it is. Sam (heroine), cat burgler who only steals artwork from rich people (not museums), gets caught stealing by Rick (hero), rich, English businessman with royalty connection. He’s ready to call police & turn her in, when she sees a wire with grenade attached ready to go off, & saves his life. He doesn’t call police & they work together to find who set the granade & who was its target. She’s sexy, smart & brash: he’s sophisticated, intelligent & suave. This is a crackling good fun, sexy, romantic series. So far, 2 sequels, the latest 2-1 book entitled TWICE THE TEMPTATION, first 1/2 about a necklace during early Historical age: 2nd, a great story about the necklace with Rick/Sam & 3rd sequel due out 10/1. Any book can be read separately, though, I think FWD would help if read lst. This is not gory or scary, just clever. Dialogue, frank & sexy–chemistry great.
Also, liked the S. Mallery’s “one” series, beginning with THE SPARKLING ONE, set in CA wine country. This recently rereleased.
Hope you have a great vacation, with family, & those good books.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — August 7, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
I’m glad Buddy is getting better.
I have a suggestion abnout the book I just finished reading Gina Showalter’s Playing with Fire that book is soo funny and also the Stone Prince
Comment by nancy — August 7, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
Janet Evanovich is a fun read! Also Nancy Bartholomew and Tori Carrington.
Comment by RachaelfromNJ — August 7, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
Something Borrowed and the Sequel Something Blue by Emily Griffin. I’ve already read them twice each. Have fun!!
Comment by Barbara-Jo — August 8, 2007 @ 9:49 am
How about those Hot Zone books by Carly whats her name. Oh, wait, that is you. LOL.
How about Building Dreams by Ginna Gray - an oldie if you can find it. I read it a few mos ago while in Fla. Or any one of SEP’s Chicago Stars books - I re-read that one in Fla. - Did a lot of reading while there. Manhunting by Evanovich was v.g.
Hope Buddy heals up fast.
Comment by Pat L. — August 8, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Your dog is so adorable! Good luck on potty training him. We had a dog once and nicknamed it Logger as you will soon see why. He pooped in every room of our house. He was not very bright. Oops! I know! Well, he was stubborn in the dept. of potty training.
I would recommend for light romance reading, Whose Number is Up, Anyway? by Stevi Mittman. This is a fun murder mystery. The two main characters Teddi and Drew have an on again, off again romance. Also, I love Jennifer Crusie’s books, oh and there are always Carly Phillip’s books that are just delightful in the steamy, hot passion dept. Oh that’s right, that is your books! Ha, ha! Hey I love your books Carly! I couldn’t help myself!
Oh hey I just read a fun romance book that is a quick read. It is “She Did a Bad, Bad Thing” by Stephanie Bond. It is about an average looking gal who wins the lottery. She heads off to Vegas for a wild weekend and a beauty makeover! Surprises await her and she just might win the man of her dreams. Have a fun vacation Carly!
Comment by Michele L. — August 8, 2007 @ 10:31 pm