Maya and I have run into people in the last few weeks that we haven't seen for a while, and they all say how big she's gotten. To be honest, I thought they were crazy. I see her every day, and she looks exactly the same. And I guess that's the problem. When you see someone (or something) every day, you don't notice the small changes. It's only when you stop seeing them for a while and those small changes add up that you notice.
Why am I mentioning this? Because yesterday, I realized Maya could no longer fit under the bed. We were playing fetch (yes, inside) and one of her balls went under the bed. This has happened before, but it usually goes all the way through to the other side and she can go around the bed to get it. Well, yesterday it didn't make it to the other side. She ran around the bed like always, but there was no ball. So she came back to the front side, but still no ball. She went around a couple more times before she realized where it was, but she still couldn't get to it. Then she got mad and I had to grab it for her.
I remember when I brought her home and she used to love going under there. It wasn't really hiding, just hanging out. Somewhere along the way, she stopped doing it as often, and now she can't do it at all. I guess those people who told me she was getting big were not all that crazy to begin with and my baby is just growing up.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Tree
This is my first year with a puppy, and I've had to make a few adjustments along the way. For example, I don't have any Christmas decorations up. I blame it on Maya, because she would eat them. Of course, I'm ignoring the fact that I just didn't have any spare time this year to get any decorations up.
I've never completely decked out the house at Christmas time (or any other time of the year), but I always at least have a tree. However, there's no tree this year. This is for a few non-puppy reasons and a few puppy reasons. The non-puppy reasons are boring, so I'm going to ignore them for the time being. The puppy reasons are really just two -- Maya loves leaves/branches and shiny things. And when I say she loves these things, what I really mean is she loves pulling on them until she can run away with them and hide while chewing them to pieces. I can see her now with a branch or ornament from the bottom of the tree in her mouth, tugging until it comes crashing down. That's why I don't have a tree.
But as we all know, Christmas is just not Christmas without a tree. So here is my compromise tree this year:
I've never completely decked out the house at Christmas time (or any other time of the year), but I always at least have a tree. However, there's no tree this year. This is for a few non-puppy reasons and a few puppy reasons. The non-puppy reasons are boring, so I'm going to ignore them for the time being. The puppy reasons are really just two -- Maya loves leaves/branches and shiny things. And when I say she loves these things, what I really mean is she loves pulling on them until she can run away with them and hide while chewing them to pieces. I can see her now with a branch or ornament from the bottom of the tree in her mouth, tugging until it comes crashing down. That's why I don't have a tree.
But as we all know, Christmas is just not Christmas without a tree. So here is my compromise tree this year:
Next year, when she's not so into branches and shiny things, we'll go back to the real thing.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thieving Puppy
Like most dogs, Maya is a thief. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for me), she's not a very good thief. She's still a puppy, so I expect her to get into things she's not supposed to, but I swear she'd get away with so much more if she were just a little sneaky about it.
For example, she loves socks. I don't know if it's because they're soft or fit perfectly in her mouth or just smell really good, but she absolutely loves them. Whenever she can get her teeth on one, which is more often than I'd like, she takes off running with it in her mouth. I can't actually catch her, so I either have to trade the sock for a Cheerio or wait for her to get tired of it and set it down. And since she actually chews on it, and I don't want hole-y socks, she gets a Cheerio.
The reason I say she could get away with more if she were a little sneaky is that she takes off running every time! If she would just go about her business like normal, even walk away and go sit in a corner, it would take me a lot longer to realize she had something, and she'd keep whatever she had that much longer. As it is now, if she takes off running, I immediately go see what she's gotten into.
A while back, an out-of-town friend came to stay for a few days so we could attend a mutual friend's wedding. One night, she left her things in the corner by her suitcase, but didn't put anything inside of it. After a few minutes, we both see Maya head in that direction and start sniffing around. Since she wasn't actually in my friend's things, we left her alone. Not a minute later, she takes off running. Knowing this is "the sign," I went after her to see what she got, and what do I see but my friend's wedding ring in Maya's mouth!! I trade her for a few Cheerios and get her ring back, and my friend packed up her stuff and put everything inside the suitcase.
So while Maya is a thief, I guess I should be happy that she's still a bad thief. If she were any sneakier, I might have been mailing the wedding ring back a few days later.
For example, she loves socks. I don't know if it's because they're soft or fit perfectly in her mouth or just smell really good, but she absolutely loves them. Whenever she can get her teeth on one, which is more often than I'd like, she takes off running with it in her mouth. I can't actually catch her, so I either have to trade the sock for a Cheerio or wait for her to get tired of it and set it down. And since she actually chews on it, and I don't want hole-y socks, she gets a Cheerio.
The reason I say she could get away with more if she were a little sneaky is that she takes off running every time! If she would just go about her business like normal, even walk away and go sit in a corner, it would take me a lot longer to realize she had something, and she'd keep whatever she had that much longer. As it is now, if she takes off running, I immediately go see what she's gotten into.
A while back, an out-of-town friend came to stay for a few days so we could attend a mutual friend's wedding. One night, she left her things in the corner by her suitcase, but didn't put anything inside of it. After a few minutes, we both see Maya head in that direction and start sniffing around. Since she wasn't actually in my friend's things, we left her alone. Not a minute later, she takes off running. Knowing this is "the sign," I went after her to see what she got, and what do I see but my friend's wedding ring in Maya's mouth!! I trade her for a few Cheerios and get her ring back, and my friend packed up her stuff and put everything inside the suitcase.
So while Maya is a thief, I guess I should be happy that she's still a bad thief. If she were any sneakier, I might have been mailing the wedding ring back a few days later.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
New Friends
This is actually a story from a couple of weeks ago, but it's cute so I thought I would share it.
Maya's best friend is Lizzy, a little yorkie who lives a few doors down. Lizzy has a couple of roommates, George and Gypsy, two cats. George is actually bigger than Maya, and I've seen the two of them play together before. Gypsy is pretty small and very shy. Her mom told me that she found Gypsy when she was about 6 - 8 months old. Her previous owners had declawed her, and then threw her out.
Gypsy is literally scared of everything. While Maya, Lizzy, and George play, Gypsy hides somewhere out of reach. Her mom tells me that she's ok with her, her boyfriend, and Lizzy and George, but doesn't like new people or animals. She also shared that it took over a year of her boyfriend living with her before Gypsy would come near him.
The day I picked Maya up from the vet after getting spayed, I had a class that I absolutely couldn't miss. I didn't want to leave her alone (just in case), so their mom offered to keep Maya at their place. I knew Maya wouldn't be as active as usual and assumed that she would mostly want to hang out or sleep, but I didn't expect what I saw when I picked her up later that day. Maya was fast asleep in the cats' bed, curled up with Gypsy!! It was the cutest thing ever. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera, and they woke up right about that time. But I'm happy to report that since that day, Maya and Gypsy are buddies too. :)
Maya's best friend is Lizzy, a little yorkie who lives a few doors down. Lizzy has a couple of roommates, George and Gypsy, two cats. George is actually bigger than Maya, and I've seen the two of them play together before. Gypsy is pretty small and very shy. Her mom told me that she found Gypsy when she was about 6 - 8 months old. Her previous owners had declawed her, and then threw her out.
Gypsy is literally scared of everything. While Maya, Lizzy, and George play, Gypsy hides somewhere out of reach. Her mom tells me that she's ok with her, her boyfriend, and Lizzy and George, but doesn't like new people or animals. She also shared that it took over a year of her boyfriend living with her before Gypsy would come near him.
The day I picked Maya up from the vet after getting spayed, I had a class that I absolutely couldn't miss. I didn't want to leave her alone (just in case), so their mom offered to keep Maya at their place. I knew Maya wouldn't be as active as usual and assumed that she would mostly want to hang out or sleep, but I didn't expect what I saw when I picked her up later that day. Maya was fast asleep in the cats' bed, curled up with Gypsy!! It was the cutest thing ever. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera, and they woke up right about that time. But I'm happy to report that since that day, Maya and Gypsy are buddies too. :)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Trick Doors
I'm in the middle of finals, so it's been up to Maya to entertain herself lately. She usually does ok, but eventually she'll come jump in my lap or on my books. That's her way of telling me to play with her. It's also my hint to step away from the books for a few minutes and get some fresh air or just relax.
Yesterday, I noticed that she was being really quiet. I looked around and even called her name, but nothing. There's absolutely no way she can get outside, so I wasn't worried about that, but I figured she must have gotten into something and didn't want to fess up. Or she found a partial treat she hid somewhere along the way.
I gave up and headed to the bathroom. When I opened the door, there she was, looking up at me oh so innocently. Apparently the bathroom door was a little open and she walked in. Then she closed the door behind her and was stuck. The surprising part was that she didn't make a sound. I figure she must have been in there a good 10 minutes, but there was no barking, crying, whimpering, or even scratching at the door. And since the light was turned off and there are no windows in that bathroom, I guess she just sat in the dark that whole time.
Today, she disappeared again. This time, I heard the bathroom door close. About 20 seconds later, she was barking. I guess she figured out I would be glad to let her out, just as soon as she let me know she was stuck. I wonder how many more times this will play out before she decides there's really nothing interesting in there...
Yesterday, I noticed that she was being really quiet. I looked around and even called her name, but nothing. There's absolutely no way she can get outside, so I wasn't worried about that, but I figured she must have gotten into something and didn't want to fess up. Or she found a partial treat she hid somewhere along the way.
I gave up and headed to the bathroom. When I opened the door, there she was, looking up at me oh so innocently. Apparently the bathroom door was a little open and she walked in. Then she closed the door behind her and was stuck. The surprising part was that she didn't make a sound. I figure she must have been in there a good 10 minutes, but there was no barking, crying, whimpering, or even scratching at the door. And since the light was turned off and there are no windows in that bathroom, I guess she just sat in the dark that whole time.
Today, she disappeared again. This time, I heard the bathroom door close. About 20 seconds later, she was barking. I guess she figured out I would be glad to let her out, just as soon as she let me know she was stuck. I wonder how many more times this will play out before she decides there's really nothing interesting in there...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Yummy, Yummy
So lately Maya has been bringing chunks of mulch into the house. Since they're mostly sticks, and since she just chewed on them and didn't eat them, I figured it was no big deal. Then she started throwing up....and she's been eating them.
Not wanting a sick puppy (and not wanting to keep cleaning up puppy puke), I decided to get her some more appropriate chew stuff. She has toys, but apparently that isn't what she's been in the mood for, so off to PetSmart we went.
I got her a variety of rawhides. Yesterday, I gave her one that was wrapped in sweet potato. I wasn't sure if she was going to like it or not. When I held it out, she came over and smelled it, then licked it, then snatched it out of my hand and ran to her favorite spot. She stayed there chewing on it for the next hour, literally. Then she went and got a drink of water, and went back to the rawhide.
She finally got tired of it after about 3 hours, but there was still a good amount left. I'm guessing she thought someone might take it away from her, so she proceeded to look for a place to hide it. First she tried to dig a hole in her bed. That didn't work. Then she tried to dig a hole in my tennis bag. That didn't work either. Next she tried to dig a hole in the carpet. Still no luck.
After trying a few more hiding spots, she finally decided her kennel was the way to go. First, she took everything out of it. Then, she dropped the remaining rawhide in the corner. Finally, just to be sure nobody accidentally found it, she dragged her shirt/blankie back into the kennel and put it on top of the rawhide. I guess she couldn't take the chance that another dog was going to find it.
Not wanting a sick puppy (and not wanting to keep cleaning up puppy puke), I decided to get her some more appropriate chew stuff. She has toys, but apparently that isn't what she's been in the mood for, so off to PetSmart we went.
I got her a variety of rawhides. Yesterday, I gave her one that was wrapped in sweet potato. I wasn't sure if she was going to like it or not. When I held it out, she came over and smelled it, then licked it, then snatched it out of my hand and ran to her favorite spot. She stayed there chewing on it for the next hour, literally. Then she went and got a drink of water, and went back to the rawhide.
She finally got tired of it after about 3 hours, but there was still a good amount left. I'm guessing she thought someone might take it away from her, so she proceeded to look for a place to hide it. First she tried to dig a hole in her bed. That didn't work. Then she tried to dig a hole in my tennis bag. That didn't work either. Next she tried to dig a hole in the carpet. Still no luck.
After trying a few more hiding spots, she finally decided her kennel was the way to go. First, she took everything out of it. Then, she dropped the remaining rawhide in the corner. Finally, just to be sure nobody accidentally found it, she dragged her shirt/blankie back into the kennel and put it on top of the rawhide. I guess she couldn't take the chance that another dog was going to find it.
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