Spa Visit

Maya went to the groomer yesterday for her last summer cut.  I've been to this place before, and I really like it.  And since Maya practically dragged me in through the front door (or as much as a 10-lb dog can drag someone), I figure she really likes it too. 

I have to admit that I wasn't thrilled with her cut.  She was shorter than I wanted, and they did something odd with her face.  I can't put my finger on it, but she just looks......different.  There are only two groomers at this place, and a different one did her this time, so I'm sure that's why.  She still a cutie, but I'll be sure to request the other groomer next time.

And in case you're wondering, here's how she turned out. 

Told you she was still cute.  :)  And I don't know what the deal with the bows is.  I forgot to tell them no bows, so they gave her a couple.  I'm not a big fan of yellow on her (or in general), but this isn't the first time someone has put something yellow on her, so maybe it's just me.  And probably the most shocking of all -- the bows are still in!  Apparently she doesn't mind them as much when they're tiny like these.

Haircut Time?

Time to catch up on some Maya adventures!!

I've decided that Maya needs a harness.  It something I had considered in the past, but hadn't thought about recently.  Then Maya broke her leg.  Then I broke my foot.  Then we've had 40 days of 100+ temperatures.  So what does that have to do with anything?  It means she hasn't gotten regular walks in a LONG time, and she's somewhat forgotten how to walk on her leash.  If we got out to potty, she has no problems.  But if we try to head out for a walk, she gets super-excited and pulls like crazy.  She's choking herself, coughing and gagging, but she won't stop pulling.  A friend took her for a walk the other day, and she suggested a harness.  It should help her not pull, but even if she pulls, she won't be getting choked.  That made sense to me.

The next day, I took Maya to PetSmart to check out the selection.  Maya loves going to PetSmart because she knows they have treats at the register.  Of course, that's the first place she heads (pulling the whole time).  The lady there knows her and bends down to pet her.  The first words out of her mouth?  "Hi there!  Looks like you're going to see the groomer today!"  Um, no.

Now don't get me wrong, I know that sometimes I let her coat get a little too long, but I thinks she looks really cute right now!  Am I right or am I right?

I don't know, but that seems like something you shouldn't ask, kind of like asking someone who's gained a little weight if they're pregnant.  (Ok, it's not that bad :P)

And by the way, they had a horrible selection, so Maya is still harness-less.

New Toys!

I've realized that Maya is like most puppies, meaning she's like a little kid.  And like little kids, she loves getting new toys.  I took her for a haircut a couple of days ago, and unfortunately, I didn't realize until late that night that her ears were lopsided.  :/  I was not happy about having to go back the next day, and she was even less thrilled.  She hates going to the groomer, but I figured a new toy might make it better.  So while I waited for them to finish up evening her out, I decided to take a look around the store.

I've been thinking about getting Maya something new for a while now, but I hadn't decided what.  She already has balls and ropes and other random stuff, and I can't give her any stuffed toys because she tears them open and eats the stuffing.  And that when I stumbled upon the stuffless stuffed animals.  They had the cutest little fox, and I just knew Maya would love it.  I went ahead and got it for her, and I was right, she LOVED it.  In fact, once we got it home, she didn't put it down for almost 2 hours!!  She "hunted" it, dragged it around the house, chewed it up, tried to shake the stuffing out of it (someone beat her to that one!), and everything else dogs do to their toys.  Then she comforted it.  :)

Look what I caught!!

Please be ok! Please be ok! Please be ok!

Snow Day 4

I finally decided to grab the camera and share a few pictures of Maya playing in the snow.  She spent most of the time with her face buried in the snow, and she had a really cute snow mask going, but she wouldn't look at me long enough for me to snap a picture.  But here's our little adventure.

First, she spent some time looking out longingly at the snow, almost as if she knows how much fun she could be having out there.

 

 Finally, she convinces me to take her outside.

 

Notice the shaved hind leg.  That's gotta be cold!!  Also notice how snow-free she is.  That doesn't last long.  Before you know it, she's attacking the innocent, snow-covered bushes.

 

It looks like the bushes got her back.

Our adventure didn't last very long.  Soon, she was cold and shivering, so I put her inside my coat as we walked back inside.  A quick shake of her coat and a warm towel on her paws and she was good as new, back at the window wanting to go back outside.

Broken Puppy

Well, it finally happened -- I broke my puppy.  :(

Ok, so I didn't actually break her, but I feel bad anyways.  When I left home on Thursday morning, she was perfectly fine.  When I came home that afternoon, she wasn't.  She stays in her kennel when I'm gone and will run out when when I open her door, running circles around the living room and practically jumping into my arms.  On this particular day, I opened the door, and she walked out very slowly.  Then I noticed she was limping.  I checked her over, but couldn't find anything wrong with her.

We ended up at the vet's office where x-rays showed a break in her rear leg.  She came home with a cast that day and had surgery the following afternoon.  She slept a lot the first couple of days, but is getting back to her normal self. 

Through it all, Maya has been a trooper.  When I found out her leg was actually broken, I was amazed that she hadn't cried at all.  She even let me (and the vet) touch and manipulate her leg without so much as a whimper.  She was putting weight on it by Saturday, and today I've already had to stop her from running and jumping.

She looks pretty pathetic with her shaved leg and cone head, almost like she's ashamed.  I wouldn't want to embarrass her even more by posting a picture, so here's one with her little cast.

Attack of the Killer Leash

One of Maya's favorite toys is actually her leash.  She loves to roll around on the ground with it, chew on it, drag it around.  No matter what she's doing, she will eventually get all tangled up in it and it ends up looking like they were wrestling.  Sometimes she wins, sometimes the leash wins.  Here's sample of a wrestling match from a few weeks ago:

Security Blanket

Just thought this was really cute.  Yes, she's asleep.  And yes, that is a towel.

Puppy's First Hair Cut

I had noticed that it was getting harder and harder to bathe Maya, and that she needed a bath more and more often.  And with her hair as long as it was, I'm sure she was burning up in this Texas weather.  So today Maya had her first trip to the groomer. 

I barely recognized her when I picked her up!  She looks good, but it almost looks like they threw her in a dryer and shrunk her -- she's tiny!!  Anyways, here are some before and after pics.  Let me know what you think.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

I wanted to get better pictures, but she wouldn't sit still long enough.  I should get her now since she's sleeping on my feet.

No Habla Ingles

For the last week or so, I've been working with Maya trying to get her to voluntarily go into her kennel.  I started by giving her a treat when she walked towards it, then when she put a paw in, then when her head got in, etc.  And I'm saying "kennel" each time hoping to form a link between the two in her head.

Last night, I thought she finally got it.  I got her attention, said "kennel," and she walked right in, all the way!  Yahoo!!  But alas, it was not meant to be.  This morning, I did the same thing, and this was her reaction.

Apparently, "kennel" in English translates to "come sit in my lap" in puppy-speak.  Oh well.  Good thing she's cute.

Attacked by a Bed

Last week, my brother brought over a bed that used to belong to Amos.  Apparently Amos likes to eat beds, so he doesn't get one anymore and Maya inherited this one.  She wouldn't go near it until I washed the cover.  I guess I just needed to get the smell of Amos away.

Anyways, she doesn't ever sleep in it.  I'm pretty sure she just considers it an extra large toy.  Here's her favorite activity:

 

At one point, it actually flipped over on top of her.  She was trapped underneath and couldn't figure out how to get out.  I couldn't help but laugh.  Too bad I didn't get a picture of that, or better yet, a video.