Maturing

Yesterday and today, our walks along the bike path proved that Guinness is growing up and developing some sensibilities. It is almost like reaching age 2 was a magical turning point. Yesterday, we encountered the older man and elderly dog. Today we met a year old Havachon and the blind dog, Winnie, that we have met before. Guinness was very gentle with both dogs.

Later, we were out on our property and met up with a neighbor and her teensy Yorkshire Terrier granddog. We have never allowed Guinness close to Toby, because he is just too rambunctious, but he was calm, and gave Toby a chance to bark at him.

The Gingerbread Man game is slowing a bit and he readily gives up his prize – usually. Grant ordered new business cards for Emmett and himself. Guinness grabbed the unopened pack of Emmett’s cards leaving some teeth marks in the plastic packaging and denting the top and bottom cards. Emmett will love that, because he says that he and Guinness are soul-mates.

Surprises never end

Guinness found a surprise rubber soccer ball on our back driveway. It must have blown there from a neighbor's grandchild. He had a ball with his ball until it popped. But then it was fun to rip apart.
We went for a walk along the bike path today. Along our walk, we met up with an older man and his 14 year old dog. Obviously, a 14 year old does not want to play. BUT Guinness was surprisingly calm around the older dog and older man! He is definitely learning to discern less able dogs and people! The man and I chatted as we walked along, and Guinness slowed his pace to ours (I let him roam on a long lead on the path). He never tugged on me. Sometimes the two dogs would sniff the same interesting spot together. When we reached the ballfield area, I released Guinness to run where ever he wanted. He didn’t run. He stayed with us. He was enjoying having a companion even though it was not a playmate. After we circled the field and headed back down the path, Guinness became his Guinny self and ran like a crazy man in circles around us. He didn’t jump on us, but just raced as fast as he could go. It suddenly stuck me what he was “saying!” He did not want us to leave the ballfield! He wanted to wander around some more with the nice man and congenial dog.

This afternoon, I screwed up the monitor for a new thermometer on the deck. Guinness was extra good while I worked. He wandered the yard, then stood near me until I was done. I patted his head as we walked inside as I told him, “Good boy.” After I put my tools away, I wanted to go out through the garage to clean up leaves that had accumulated there. I called to Guinness to come. No response. I called again and again. No response. So I went looking for him, assuming that he had something he shouldn’t and was refusing to come to me. He was no where to be found. Then I started to worry… did I leave him outside? Before I went to look, I did one more sweep of the house. He was not in the house. As I went outside, and no Guinness in sight, I recalled that he DID walk in with me like a perfect Hershey would have. Is it possible that he followed me into the tiny furnace room when I put the tools away and that I closed him in there? YES!!! Poor baby! And he didn’t even cry! Hershey would have done the same thing.

TWO YEARS OLD!!!

Guinness was treated to special frosted birthday bones. After dinner, Daddy brought home a real veal bone!

Guinness spent the day outside watching us set up our new patio furniture, then using it to share a drink with our neighbors. While he plays with a new toy, a neighbor obliges him with a tummy rub.

Guinness is bad for Mommy's well-being

A year ago, I lost use of my left thumb for a few months. I eventually deduced that it was from Guinness’s leash yanking on it. I am damaged again. When I am away, he doesn’t get a good walk. Daddy takes him on promenades around the property, and the pet hotel takes him on 15 min. walks daily. So he was wild my first time out with him, yanking on the long lead and jerking my ligaments. I was sore for the week before going to NC where I began to recuperate. Now I am home again for him to jerk my sore muscles around again. Not good! My left thumb is close to useless again. Will this Wildman ever calm down?!

Paper Thief

He has become very creative with the items he steals. Today, he enjoyed the papers from the recycle pile. Later I noted paper napkins on the floor, then found him with his mouth full of them!

No more Rawhides

Grant kept him in his crate for the first two nights I was away after eating the bread and egg. He vomited both nights. Then he had diarrhea on the Oriental in the kitchen and the dining room. Yesterday (the day before I came home), he was in pain when trying to have a BM, so Grant had to take him to the vet. The diagnosis: rawhide-itis. His colon was inflamed. He is on Metronidazole for a week and will not be able to have a rawhide at the pet hotel over the next week.