Brisk Morning Walk
Grace got up at 7:15. Her diaper was lying on the floor in the office. I got up and found her on the loveseat. We did tummy rubs and kisses. At 7:30 we headed outside. It was cool enough to see Grace’s breath. As we walked by their apartment, Olive and Flo came out. They couldn’t stay long, but did spend enough time to say hello. We then headed off to Bond Park, taking the scenic route through Oxford Hunt.
Change of Plans
A few minutes after we went to the ball park, a man opened the gate and drove in a tractor with an infield grooming attachment. With those doors wide open, I had to leave and go to the next field. Grace fetched the baseball for about twenty minutes. She was less energetic that usual. Her running was a little slower and she would return some distance away from me.
Home Alone
When we returned home at 9:30, I gave her a shower and then gave Grace her breakfast. I put her pants on her and left her home alone at 10:15. When we returned home at 1:00, Grace greeted us joyfully. Grace had her lunch and went out on the balcony. After a few minutes, Olive and Flo showed up. At 1:00, Grace ran downstairs to meet them. Grace played mainly with a ball. Her energy again was less than normal.
We led them over to the goose nest at the vacant lot to the south. We finally came back home at 2:00. Grace went back on the balcony. I believe she knows that she can be free of diapers out there which motivates her more to hang out there. I took Grace out quickly at 4:55. We returned ten minutes later.
At 5:05, I got up from my chair. Grace promptly came over and curled up there. I brought her water bowl over to her to drink. She drank a fair amount. A few minutes later, she went to the foyer floor—likely to be cooler. We left her home alone again at 5:10.
Sweet Surfer Girl
We returned home at 7:45. Grace gave us her royal welcome. At 8:00, we went outside. Grace saw Sammie. The problem was that I could not let Grace off of the leash, so they could not run together. Later she saw Olive come out, but she could not play. Finally she met an older dog named Bruno. Bruno’s owner marvelled at Grace’s sweet disposition. After we crossed the street Grace did a little turf surfing. Jack’s owners saw it and laughed. We returned home at 9:05.
Grace went out on the balcony and stayed there until 10:30. She saw me eating a snack and hit me up for a doggie treat. She then went to the office ottoman that has a towel draped over it. At 10:50, she came into the living room with us and curled up on the loveseat.
Monday
In the early morning Grace joined us in bed. At 6:45, we gave her tummy rubs. At 7:00, we went outside. Grace explored around the complex. At 7:55, she met Olive and Flo. They played for fifteen minutes. I had to leave for an appointment. After Grace ate breakfast, she went with me for a ride. We arrived at my appointment at 8:30. Grace waited in the car for ten minutes until I returned.
Trying Off the Leash
We headed on to the park. As we entered, we watched birds and geese in the meadow. I reluctantly released her from her leash. As I started my run, Grace raced after the birds, scattering them in the air. I watched her expectantly hoping that she will not bolt. I’m hoping that she may be past the stage of running away to find a mate, but I cannot be sure. I tried the recall whistle. She came after about three tries and I rewarded her.
Grace Bolted
As I was completing lap four, a friendly dog and owner came by. Grace bolted. I tried to recall her but to no avail. Thankfully the dog was a female. Grace played a little with the dog and followed me around lap five. Half way into lap six, I stopped and walked to allow Grace more freedom to interact with the other dog.
Trip to the Lot
When we finished up, I took Grace to our storage rental. I wondered what she would do. The previous time we were there she wondered and explored. This time, she just rested in the shade next to the car. When I finished there, we went to the land. Grace was anxious to see if Buddy was there. He wasn’t. I walked her through the neighborhood on the leash.
When we returned back, Grace wanted to try looking for Buddy again. She heard a bark, perked up, and made her way to the clearing on the other side of the woods. There was Buddy. Grace ran toward him. He was a bit afraid until he realized it was Grace. Then they played chase for a few minutes. Grace then lost interest or energy, so we went home.
Balcony Breezes
At 10:15, we returned home, and Grace went immediately to the balcony. There she napped in the pleasant breeze. At 1:15, Grace spotted Fraggle. We went outside until 2:25. When Grace returned, I gave her lunch. Then she went to the balcony. Betsy fed her supper at 5:00, gave her a doggie treat, and finally at 6:00 gave her a bully stick which she polished off while we at, finishing at 6:15. At 7:00, she went outside for fifteen minutes and returned to the balcony.
At 8:00, a train came by. It spooked Grace on the balcony. She came in and wanted out. We went out and saw Olive. They played for about fifteen minutes. We visited with Patches’ owner and returned home at 9:00. Grace went back out on the balcony again.
At 10:00 she came in and sat on my chair for about five minutes. Then she heard Betsy eating some crackers and went into the office to get one from her. She lay in the middle of the office floor behind Betsy. At 10:30, Betsy put a diaper on her and they both came to bed.
Tuesday
Grace whined in bed at 6:30. I gave her some tummy rubs. The diaper was not on her. At 6:40, she slithered out of bed. At 6:55, she told me she was ready to go. We left at 7:00 on a morning walk. The weather was very pleasant with an unseasonably warm day forecast. She explored the grounds and found the black sock over by the pond in the vacant lot. She brought it up to a grassy area on the grounds. Grace greeted the Great Danes and later said hello to Tucker. Then she went back down and brought up a strong, four-foot-long cardboard roll like the kind used to package vinyl sheeting.
Cardboard Tug Toy
While Grace worked on the roll, she spotted Olive and Flo. They played for a while before I mentioned that Grace had found a useful toy. We went over, and they started in on shredding and tugging it. At one point, they tore it into two pieces. When they finished, there was nothing left. After Olive left, Grace stayed in the complex area and enjoyed just lying in the grass. She also socialized with some children and an adult waiting for the school bus.
Picnic Breakfast
When we returned home at 8:30, Grace went out to the balcony lounge chair. I prepared her breakfast and took it out to her—giving her a picnic. At 9:30, Betsy went out there and paid attention to her. Betsy left the balcony door open and Grace came in. Betsy gave her a doggie treat. Grace came in and watched as Betsy prepared and ate her breakfast.
Fraggle Play
She went back on the lounge chair a 10:00. Minutes later she let out some moaning. Fraggle was in the courtyard. We raced down to meet her. Grace and Fraggle did what they do best—wrestle. They had a good time, but after about twenty minutes of spirited play in the sun, vied to find a cool, shady spot. At 10:30, we had to go.
Morning Trip
We went upstairs briefly and then headed for a ride. Our first stop was to the attorney’s office to pick up some papers. After that we headed on to the park for our daily run. I brought a container of water with me for Grace to drink. She drank a little at the start. I again decided to risk it with her and let her run free. She did very well. I’ll log this as a milestone for being safe off the leash during her heat cycle. Today her energy level seemed a little higher but still diminished from usual. It also looks like her discharge has now stopped and genital swelling is starting to reverse. We’ll log this as a milestone in winding down her first heat cycle.
Afternoon Lounging
At 12:15, we returned home and I gave Grace a shower. After the shower, Grace had lunch, followed by a doggie treat, followed by a dental chew. She sprawled out in front of the refrigerator on the hard floor to cool off. Unfortunately, when I opened the door, it disturbed her. She got up and moved a few feet over to the dining room. When I finished eating, I moved to my living room chair and Grace curled up on the loveseat to take a serious nap.
At 1:30, I went downtown Raleigh to do some errands. Betsy left shortly thereafter to go shopping leaving Grace home alone. I returned at 4:00. We left again at 4:30 to go to the bank. When we returned at 5:50, Grace was lying in the foyer to stay cool, but got up with her usual tail wags and kisses to greet us. Betsy fed her dinner.
Evening Play
At 6:00, we went outside. Grace played with Beretta through the patio railing. We explored the west side of the complex and returned home at 6:45. As we reached the landing between the second and third floors, I spotted Olive. We went back down to play with them. They played in a low-energy way wrestling and pulling a ball from one another. Fraggle came to say hello. Then Jack walked by. Grace went over to play with him. Flo and Olive followed. After a few minutes, Flo and Olive left. I was then called in for supper. We returned home at 7:15.
Winding Down
Grace hit us up for more doggie treats. After we finished eating, Grace did scraps for treats. At 8:00, Grace picked up and dropped a tennis ball. She looked at me to let me know it was time for tricks for treats. She did them with her usual skill. Grace then went outside on the balcony.
Grace came in at 9:00. I took her outside at 9:30 and we returned at 9:50. When I left my chair to go in the office, Grace grabbed my chair. She was there when I went to bed at 10:15.
Wednesday
At around 6:00, I noticed Grace lying sprawled out outside the bedroom door. At 6:35, she started whining. I took her out at 6:45. After ten minutes, I realized that I had forgotten to take a baseball with me. I brought Grace back to the apartment to get the ball. We then ran most of the way to the ball field at Bond Park. Once there, Grace chased the baseball for a while.
New Twist
The game then changed. I threw the ball and retrieved it as Grace stayed put. Then as she crouched ready to pounce, I threw the ball in her direction. Grace fielded the ball like a shortstop. We ran back home most of the way. Grace found a jumbo pine cone and stopped to systematically rip it apart one pedal at a time. I finally had to take it so we could make it home.
Balcony Time
At 8:00, we returned home. After feeding Grace breakfast, Betsy and I left to do some paperwork, leaving Grace home alone. We returned home at 9:00 and let Grace out on the balcony. She stayed out there until noon. Grace had her lunch. Her serving bag was empty, so Grace came with me to watch me refill from the big bag. As I filled the bag, I gave Grace a few pieces. At the end, I spilled some, but Grace behaved herself and allowed me to gather it up. I rewarded her with a little more at the end.
Afternoon Outing
At 12:30, we left for the park. Our first stop was the paint store. She liked exploring the place and caused no trouble, but did become a bit impatient and the time dragged on, just as a young child might do. We left for the park. Betsy took the ball for Grace to chase. It was the hottest day of the year with the temperature soaring to 89 degrees. Grace was happy to take a few dips in the pond and stick with Betsy most of the time rather than run around the course.
Something New
At 4:54, I witnessed a new dream behavior of Grace. Apparently she was dreaming that she was drinking something, because she made a slight movement of her jaw and tongue in a highly minimized drinking motion as her head lay on its side. At 5:45, Grace told Betsy it was time for her dinner. Betsy fed her. Betsy took Grace outside from 6:00 to 8:00.
When she returned, Grace joined us in the office as we worked on taxes. As the room heated up, she left and lay on the kitchen floor. I took her outside at 10:55. Grace promptly did her business. We returned at 11:05 and went to bed at 11:30.
Thursday
Grace never made it to our be last night. I got up a couple of times with leg cramps but never saw her. She came to our bedroom door and whined at 6:05. After some kisses and tummy rubs, we left for our morning adventure at 6:25. I guided her to the park. She wanted to take the scenic route by the lake to the left. We ran about half of the distance.
Play Ball
When we made it to the ball field, Grace the Borador again poised herself to do the Border Collie crouch and run fetch of a ball thrown her direction. She was not interested in doing the standard fetch game. After we played for about twenty-five minutes, we headed home. Grace, familiar with the location of the door, walked to it. On the way home, Jack caught up with us. Grace puppy played a little with Jack. They walked together the rest of the way home.
Weight Stabilizing
At 9:00, when we returned, Grace had her breakfast. After breakfast, Betsy ground the nails on Grace’s front paws. Grace tolerated it well. Grace went out on the balcony to relax on the lounge chair and watch the activity below. I made a trip to the post office and attorney’s office and decided not to disturb her. She did not seem to notice my leaving or returning. When Grace came inside, I picked her up to weigh her. On the way, I tripped on a vacuum cleaner cord. I didn’t fall but jostled Grace in a frightening way. Grace took it in stride. She weighed in at 46.5 pounds.
Park Play
We left for the park at 11:30. Grace enjoyed the pond and played with Betsy. She caught up with and ran with me on a few laps. Surprisingly, as I approached the end of my final (sixth) lap, Grace turned and went to the car. I’m wondering how she knew. perhaps she can sense the duration of a half hour.
Afternoon Siesta
When we returned, Grace took her bath. She slipped on the way in. In the future, I will put down her towel on the edge of the tub to eliminate that problem. Grace had her lunch followed by a doggie treat. While Betsy and I ate, I invited her to the balcony. She reluctantly went out leaving both of us inside. Betsy draped a sheet over the rails and the back of the lounge chair to make her a tent. Before long, Grace was fast asleep.
When I retreated to the bedroom to study at 2:30, Grace asked to come inside. She went to the loveseat to continue her nap. At 5:05, the phone rang. After I finished with the ten-minute call, Grace exchanged with me kisses for tummy rubs. She then had her supper. After supper Grace returned to the loveseat to continue her nap, and I retreated to the bedroom to continue my study.
At 5:38, I received another call. At 5:50, I finished the call and fed Grace supper. She then wanted to go outside. I took her out for ten minutes and returned. It really felt nice outside. Grace didn’t want to come in, but she obeyed reluctantly. While Betsy prepared dinner, she gave Grace a bully stick. Grace made short work of it, consuming three fourths of it in ten minutes. Betsy took the remaining piece and gave Grace and antler instead.
Sundowning
After we finished our chicken drumsticks, we gave Grace the ends as scraps for treats. She wanted more. I gave her the remains from the doggie treats box and the box itself. Grace then wanted to play tug. I did that with her for about twenty minutes as we watched a TV show. Eventually, she relented and went out to the balcony lounge chair. Grace came back in at 8:20 to say she wanted to play with Sammie. They returned at 9:15.
Betsy gave her an application of topical flea and tick medicine on her back at the shoulder area. Grace sat with Betsy on her sofa as I continued my studying. I went to bed at 10:15.
Friday
Grace finally came to our bed around 5:30 AM. We gave her tummy rubs as the morning broke. Rain started and then let up. Grace was out on the balcony when Olive and Flo showed up. We raced down to meet them but they were nowhere to be found. We spotted them heading into their apartment, but it was too late.
Beach Ball Bust
Grace saw a beach ball. It spooked her causing her to bark at it. I showed her that it was just a toy and tried to show her how to play with it. She kept wanting to bite it. Eventually, it was just to tempting for Grace. She punctured it, and the fun was over. I kept Grace on the complex because the grounds were wet and muddy. Grace mainly relaxed and chewed on grass and wood.
Trip to the Park
When we returned at 9:00, Grace had her breakfast and lay on the loveseat for a nap. At 11:30, I took Grace to the park. She found a fisherman and hung out with him. I whistled for her. She came running immediately. I gave her a treat. She had a good time going in the pond and following me around the path.
Barbecue Picnic
We finished up running and went on to a church barbecue just down the road. While Betsy purchased the food, Grace charmed one of the organizers to give her a couple free hush puppies. We sat down outside at a picnic table. Grace wanted to get up, but I told her no. I then gave her pieces of food on the seat as we ate. She enjoyed bits of hush puppy, pork, and boiled potatoes.
More Munchies
We returned home at 1:30 as the rain was letting up. Grace came in and lay on the loveseat. At 2:00, Grace had her lunch. She then went outside on the balcony. At 3:00, Grace spotted Sammie. She came in whining. I told her “No.” As I made a sandwich, she acted like she should get some. I gave her a doggie treat and sat at the table to finish my sandwich. Grace went back to the lounge chair to nap.
Home Alone with Milkshake
At 3:30, we left for the afternoon and evening. On the way back, we stopped at Cook-Out for a milkshake. Betsy had a strawberry, and I had a vanilla. They were really thick. When we returned home at 10:15, Grace met us at the door with tail wags and kisses. I took her outside and brought my milkshake with me. After she did her business, I gave her the rest of the milkshake, holding and turning the cup for her and ripping the cup back to help her make it to the bottom.
I picked up the mail and returned home. I gave Grace the rest of her delayed dinner, but she wanted something else. I gave her a doggie treat followed by the remains of a bully stick. Betsy also gave her a large dog biscuit that came in the mail from PetMeds. After taking shower, I went to bed.
Saturday
During the night Grace came up in bed for about fifteen minutes and then left. At 5:45, she came in whining. There was a dog playing out in the courtyard. It takes me a few minutes to throw on some clothes. This made Grace impatient which she expressed with her nodding yawn and a whine.
Big Dog Play
When we made it downstairs, we found Sammie. I let Grace off of the leash. They retrieved a ball and played chase. Sammie always beat Grace to grabbing the ball, although Grace is at least as fast as Sammie. The did get some rounds of really fast chasing though. Then Grace bolted after another dog over by the car wash area. I tried to call her back, but didn’t think to use the whistle. Grace gave no indication that we even heard me. I feared it might be one of the pit bulls. It was just Beretta.
I leashed Grace back up and brought her to the courtyard. Grace and Sammie finished playing at 6:30, and we returned inside at 6:45. Grace went out on the balcony to look for more friends. At 7:00, she saw Olive and Flo. We raced downstairs in about a minute. They were gone. We searched the whole complex, but they had strangely disappeared. When returned at 7:15, Betsy called her to bed to greet her. Grace then went back out to the balcony lounge chair.
Snap, Snap
At 8:20, she came in and snapped her jaws to tell us it was time for her breakfast. I fed her and filled her empty water dish. Grace snapped again. Betsy gave her a doggie treat. She snapped again. This time, Betsy moistened her deer antlers with warm water for a few seconds and gave Grace that. Grace proceeded to work on it. That worked for ten minutes. Then Betsy did tricks for treats with her. After that, she gave Grace a dental chew.
Morning Play
At 11:15, I took Grace out to play with Olive and Flo. They stayed on the leash and wrestled and vied for the toy ball. Ellie showed up for a few minutes and the dogs said, Hi.” Grace has continued her ramping up of the big-dog woof when anything or anyone spooks her. This is a milestone of sorts I suppose.
Run in the Park
At 11:45, we went back upstairs for a few minutes and then went on to the park. This time I took her harness off also. I regretted not having her collar on though for an identifier just in case. Grace enjoyed chasing birds through the meadow and taking a dip in the pond. As she followed me around the course, she stopped at the fence. On the other side lay a worn-out toy soccer ball. I reached through the fence to work it over. She grabbed it and ran with it for part of the day.
Food Change
I noticed the sample dog food that we were given at the dog show was different from the last bag Betsy picked up. The food we’re using now is Purina Pro Plan Focus. I think Focus must be very similar to her former food called Shredded Chicken. The type we were given is called Sport. The difference is that Focus is puppy food while Sport is dog food. She inhales both, but seems to enjoy the Sport food the best. I tried a couple of recalls with her and she did great.
Staying Cool
When we returned home at 12:50, I gave Grace a shower followed by her lunch. She then retreated to the office for some serious napping. She decided to lie on the plastic carpet protector to stay a little cooler. I took a nap at 2:30 while Betsy went out. Betsy returned at 5:10. They came in and Grace greeted me in bed with wags and kisses.
Short Walk
At 5:40, I took Grace out. We first saw Luna running free and playing with children. As she ran circles around a bench area Grace wanted to join in. After a few loops, Luna came to play with Grace, but her owner must have been concerned over the size difference and took Luna in. Grace liked the mild sunny weather. She wanted to stay longer, but because I needed to return to resume my studies we came in at 6:00.
Scraps for Treats
At 6:30, we ate supper. We had chicken legs and Grace wanted her scraps. I told her to wait. She was pretty patient, but let us know that she was waiting. We I finished eating, I gave her the ends of the chicken bones and some scraps of meat. It was scraps for treats. At 7:20, Betsy took Grace outside as I continued to study. They returned home at 8:00.
As I finishing up studying, Betsy brought Grace in to see me. Betsy said Grace missed me. Grace greeted me with kisses and tail wags. I took Grace out at 10:00 and we returned at 10:20. I took a shower and went to bed. Grace was lying on the loveseat as I packed it in for the night.