I got up at 3:00 AM and returned to bed. Grace was lying on the floor near the head of my bed. Betsy said she put the pants on her at 5:00. When I got up at 7:30, Grace was lying on the office ottoman. Next to the ottoman were the pants. As I prepared to go outside, she came in the room. I gave her tummy rubs and put her harness on her. It was raining outside, so I took an umbrella.
Home Alone
When we returned at 8:30, I gave Grace a shower and fed her breakfast. I slipped back into bed. Grace whined. I invited her up. She came and enjoyed the attention. She then got up on the loveseat that had a towel draped over it. She seems to be keenly aware that her slight discharge is objectionable. When we left at 10:10 Grace was still lying on the loveseat. We arrived home at 1:00, Grace was on the loveseat when we returned.
Exercise Time
I fed her lunch and then took her outside. We met Sammy and walked with her. Sammy is a year and a half old. Her owner took her to the west woods bordered by the road and let her loose. He said that she will not venture into the road. I kept Grace on the leash. They played a little—which is unusual for Sammy.
We went along the north border of the complex to the lower east woods. I tried to show Sammy’s owner how Grace jumps the trees in the path. She followed the command properly, but I failed to watch the leash from catching. It looped on a branch and took Grace down. I told her I was sorry and hugged her. She seemed to take it like a trooper.
Goose Adventure
We parted company with Sammy and proceeded to the south pond area. There Grace found a goose nest, complete with geese. The geese spread their wings and hissed at her. Grace was initially cautious with them, but not terribly intimidated. After about ten minutes, I told her to leave them. When we returned home at 3:00, I gave Grace another shower since she had gotten into the water on this last trip. After I dried her off, Grace went out on the balcony.
Alone Again
At 4:00 Grace came inside and got up on the loveseat. At 4:45, we had to leave again. After I gave Grace her supper, we started to leave, but Grace acted like she needed to go outside. I took her outside quickly to relieve her bladder. She did her business and made it back in five minutes. We then said “Bye-bye” and left Grace on the loveseat. When we returned at 7:00, Grace greeted us with wagging tail and kisses. Grace wanted food. We did tricks for treats.
I Got the Munchies
At 7:15, we went out to take out the trash. Before we made it to the trash area, we met Olive and Flo. Grace greeted them and played for a few minutes. We walked with them and dropped off the trash. We returned home at 7:30. Betsy put a sheet on the loveseat to protect it from discharges. Then she popped some popcorn. Grace had the muchies. I sat with Grace on the loveseat and we shared the popcorn. When we finished, Grace went out on the balcony. At 9:00, she returned to the loveseat and napped with her head propped against the padded arm.
The Night Dilemma
At 10:30, I took Grace outside. We returned at 10:45. We went to bed at 11:00. Through the night, Betsy tried to keep the protective pants on her. I’m not a big fan of that though because it prevents her from performing her own hygiene in that area. I would prefer putting her in the cage for the night if necessary. It’s been months though since she’s been locked up.
Monday
Grace whined at 6:20. I started to invite her up on the bed, but Betsy protested despite the protective sheet we always keep there for her. I arose and gave her tummy rubs. We left at 6:30 for our morning walk. It took me about forty-five minutes to get her there, but we finally made it to the ball field at Bond Park. Grace enjoyed running free, chasing sticks. It had rained earlier, so the the grounds were fairly wet. This did have the advantage of providing clean drinking water for her though. After about twent-five minutes, Grace went to the door. It was time to move on.
Getting Clean
When we finally returned home at 8:40, I gave Grace a shower. Despite the fact that she did not go into a pond this time, she was pretty muddy and needed a good rinsing. After the shower Grace had her breakfast and proceeded to the balcony lounge chair. There her first order of business was to clean herself. Then she alternately watched the action below and napped. I put water out on the balcony.
I left to make a couple of stops in town at 11:30 and returned at 12:10. Grace watched me return. Betsy let her inside. Grace greeted me with tail wags and kisses. I fed her lunch outside. That was not enough for her. She let me know with her jaw snap. I gave her a thick dental chew. I tried to get her to eat it on the balcony, on the sheet-covered loveseat, or on the foyer floor, but none of that worked for her. I ended up getting her to lie on a mat on the floor.
First Swim
At 1:00, we went to Salem Pond Park. I ran with Grace on the leash about two laps. Betsy threw a stick into the pond. Grace ventured in too deep and had to swim just a few strokes. I’ll mark this as a milestone. Betsy took her off of the leash and had Grace chase a stick and a tennis ball. That achieved the purpose of getting her some exercise.
Siesta
When we returned home at 2:30, I gave Grace a bath. She went out on the balcony and saw Olive. I took her out to hang out with her friend for about fifteen minutes. Olive now uses a flea and tick collar. This makes playing with her a problem since the collar is toxic. When Grace returned, she jumped up on the loveseat and napped. At 5:00, I went out shopping, and I returned at 6:00. This time Grace didn’t flinch when I entered. She had her supper. After we ate, we gave her scraps for treats.
Unwinding
Grace went out on the balcony, but at 7:30 she was ready to go outside. I took her. She immediately met Olive and Flo. They played with the squeaky tennis ball and with each other. When Grace tried to roughhouse with Olive, I had to repeatedly call her off because of the pest collar. I spoke with a friend for about ten minutes. When we returned home at 8:15, Grace went back out on the balcony. At 8:50, she came inside. I gave here a treat and invited her back up on the loveseat. She jumped up an conked out. Betsy took her outside for the last time at 10:00. They returned at 10:10, Grace went back to the loveseat, and we went to bed shortly thereafter.
Tuesday
In the middle of the night, Grace joined us. At 5:45, I got up and returned to bed. At 6:40, Grace started her day. After some tummy rubs, we set out for our morning walk. As we headed down to Bond Park, both today and yesterday especially I noticed Grace seemed interested in eating grass along the sidewalk. The morning was cooler with a temperature in the low forties. When we made it to the first ball field, we found it locked. We went to the next one. It was pretty muddy, but it was open.
Fetch
We had found another baseball on the way, I picked up a stick, and had brought a tennis ball. Of the three, Grace liked the baseball best. She played fetch with it for about twenty minutes before we headed back home. We made it home at 9:00. Grace ate her breakfast and then went to the balcony lounge chair. There she carefully cleaned herself, rested, and watched the action.
Trip to the Lot
At 9:50, Grace and I went out to my lot to meet with a builder. While we were there, the neighbor dog and his friend greeted Grace. I asked the neighbor if they were fixed. She said they were. I still kept Grace on the leash. It was a shame though because they would have had a good time playing. We returned home at 11:00.
Afternoon Erands
At 11:50, I fed her lunch. After that we headed out again to go around town. We first stopped at the tax accountant’s office. Next, we went running. I’ll mark this as a milestone. Grace likely could have done this a month or so earlier, but this was the first time that I tried and succeeded. Grace ran with me the full three miles on the leash. When we finished, Grace wanted a little freedom to play in the lake. She had a good time digging in multiple places from the water into the shoreline.
On the way home, I picked up something at the grocery store while Grace waited patiently in the car. We made it back at 1:05. Now that we are using a harness on her (in case the collar was causing the cough) Grace is back to her turf surfing again. We do it multiple times each day. After we came inside, Grace went out on the balcony. Within a few minutes, she spotted Olive and Flo. I rushed downstairs and we ran around the complex. Despite our efforts, we never saw them. When we returned home at 2:00, I gave Grace a shower. She lay on the kitchen floor in front of the refrigerator.
Late Afternoon
Betsy and I were opening both the refrigerator and dishwasher doors and walking over her. After fifteen minutes, she gave up and moved to the loveseat. I went out to do more errands and returned at 4:30. Grace was still on the loveseat. At 5:00, she got up and let me know it was time for her supper. I fed her and gave her a dental chew. At 5:30, she acted out of sorts—like she wanted to go outside. I took her out.
Goose Visit
Although it wasn’t urgent, her stool was a bit on the loose side. She didn’t have any different food. Perhaps it related to hormonal changes. Grace went by the nesting geese again. She seems intrigued by it all. I finally led her by them and shewed off the male with my voice and gestures with my hat. When we returned home at 6:20, I gave her a quick shower. Betsy gave her another dental chew—which lasted about five minutes.
Grace went out on the balcony and at 6:40 spotted Olive. We raced down. They played until 6:55. Betsy then called me in for supper. Betsy gave Grace a bully stick. She worked on that while we ate. After supper, at 7:30, we saw Fraggle. We went down and they played. At 8:15, Grace barked at some approaching person and dogs. As they came closer, we saw it was Olive and Flo. Grace played with them for about fifteen minutes. We returned home at 9:00.
Every time I went for any food, sweet little Grace was there looking me in the eyes. I gave her doggie treats. When I finished up in the kitchen, I turned off the light. Grace went to the loveseat and settled in for the night. At 10:00, she had to go out again. Grace had diarrhea. We returned back at 10:15. I went to bed at 10:30 with Grace back on the loveseat.
At 4:30 AM, Grace whimpered in bed. We tried to comfort her. At 4:45, she got down and whimpered some more. Something was wrong. We got up and Grace led us to the door. I quickly dressed as Grace waited patiently. As we started our walk, I could tell things were different. Grace had a resolute and quicker pace. She headed straight for the area where she likes to do her business. There was not much sniffing and meandering this time. Again, she had diarrhea. About ten minutes later, we returned inside. I gave her some cheese and milk to help settle her digestive system.
Wednesday
Grace curled up on the ottoman in the office and looked out the window. I returned to bed. At 7:30, Grace was ready to go outside again. While the urgency wasn’t like a few hours earlier, she still had another episode of the runs early in the walk as well as another about an hour later. When we returned at 8:55, I gave Grace more cheese and milk followed by her usual breakfast. When she finished, Grace went out on the balcony lounge chair to rest.
At 10:30, we went out to the park for our run. I noticed that Grace seemed to be marking territory with about twice the former frequency. When we returned at 11:30, I gave her a bath. I left at 11:45. At 3:00, I returned to find Grace lying on the floor by the balcony doors. She greeted me, and I praised her for being good while home alone. I bought both cottage cheese and yogurt to aid her with her digestive distress. I gave her a heaping tablespoon of both followed by her normal lunch since I did not know whether or not Betsy had fed her.
As I prepared a sandwich for myself, Grace watched acting like she wanted something more. I gave her a couple of doggie treats. She finally was satisfied and retreated to the loveseat. At 5:00, I gave her cottage cheese. She then went out on the balcony. At 5:30, I noticed that Grace sat up and looked intently toward the parking lot. Betsy’s car was back. I let Grace back in and we went to the door to meet Betsy.
At 5:40, I took Grace outside. Apparently, her diarrhea has gotten under control. She met Fraggle and they wrestled on the leash. I then tried again to get photos of her sitting in the car. At 6:15 we returned inside. Betsy fed her supper. After supper Grace looked at me, snapped her jaws and whimpered. Then she lay on the carpet and softly panted. Perhaps she’s hot. After supper, Grace hit me up for another doggie treat. At 7:15, Betsy put protective pants on her.
At 8:00, we went outside and we returned at 8:50. Grace came into the office with us and lay on the floor as we worked on taxes. I went to bed at 9:30.
Thursday
Grace never made it to our bed. When I got up, Grace was lying on the office ottoman, calmly looking out the window. She still had her pants on. We made it outside at 7:15 and walked down to Bond Park. Her diarrhea was now gone. Grace retrieved a baseball in the baseball field for about a half hour. On the way back, we met Peaches again. She is a sweet ten-month-old collie puppy. Grace and she greeted each other for about five minutes. We sunk into some mud at the shore of the beaver dam. When we returned home at 9:25, I gave Grace a shower and fed her breakfast.
After breakfast, she went out on the balcony for fifteen minutes and then conked out on the loveseat until we left at 11:10. We went to the land to again see people interested in it while we drove up. Grace enjoyed her time there and seems to be settling in to the idea of living there. We stayed about an hour and then went running at Bond Park. The sleet changed to light rain. Grace still enjoyed walking there on the leash with Betsy which included walking in the pond.
When we returned home at 2:00, I gave Grace a shower. Betsy bought doggie diapers and put one on her. She then had her lunch followed by a dental chew and a doggie treat. She finally collapsed under the dining room table as we ate. When I moved to the living room, Grace followed me to the loveseat.
At 5:00, I fed her supper. At 5:30, we left for a party at the clubhouse. When we returned at 6:45, Grace was happy to see us and gave us a royal welcome. It was raining, but I took her outside for fifteen minutes and returned. As we prepared supper, Grace was lying on the kitchen floor in front of the refrigerator door. We ate a small late supper and Grace wanted something. We gave her a doggie treat and a dental chew. She then lay under the dining room table as I ate.
When we finished and moved to the living room, Grace returned to the loveseat. At 10:00, I took Grace outside for the last time before bed. When we returned at 10:20, Grace went to the office. I presume she stayed there all night.
Friday
At 6:45, Grace whimpered that it was time to get up. We gave her rubs as she gave us kisses. I took her out at 6:55. It was wet but not raining. We stayed closer to the complex, but did venture into wooded areas some, covering most of the area. When a train came by and we were within twenty feet of it, the whistle startled her. She again went up to the goose nest. I moved close enough to kick the male, but didn’t. When we returned at 8:25, I was distracted and forgot to feed her.
At 10:30, I remembered that I did not give her breakfast. I fed her and gave her a doggie treat. We left for our run in the park at 12:30. We first made a stop to sign some papers. Betsy brought Grace inside. Grace sniffed her way to find me. Betsy took Grace for a walk while I was inside. Grace promptly found a goose nest. Betsy had to pull her away. We got in the car and headed next to the park.
Betsy took her most of the time, but she did give me the leash for a few laps. Grace found a tennis ball. Betsy through it while Grace retrieved it off of the leash. Grace gave no indication that she might try to bolt. When we returned home at 1:55, I gathered an armful of things and brought Grace along.
As we approached the stairs, Olive and Flo rounded the corner. I dragged Grace back to the car and dropped off the stuff. Grace played with them on the leash for about twenty minutes, wrestling and exchanging a tennis ball squeaky toy. When they left, I walked back to the car, picked up my stuff, and returned to the apartment. Grace immediately went out on the balcony. I fed her her lunch and water there.
She came in at 4:30 and napped on the loveseat. I put a diaper on her. At 6:00, Betsy gave her the antler up there to work on. She got down at 7:00 and lay by the patio door. At 7:50, she moved to the dining room floor as Betsy went the kitchen. She then went out to the balcony at 8:05.
A group of four people sat in the outside barbecue area. Grace socialized with all of them. We walked around the grounds and found one of the dead small bushes uprooted. Grace went after the root ball with zest. She tore it apart until there was nothing left. It was great fun.
When we returned home at 9:00, Grace showed a bit more life. We put the diaper back on her. She hit me up for a couple of doggie treats. She wanted more, so we did tricks for treats. Afterwards, Grace lay on the floor and whimpered. I turned off the lights. She stopped.
Saturday
Grace joined us in bed in the early morning. Around 6:00 she started to whine or cry longer than normal. It was sort of like a wolf howl in duration, but it was s simple cry in intensity. We gave her lots of tummy rubs, and she responded with lots of kisses. Betsy took her outside at 8:00. They returned at 8:50. Betsy gave her a picnic breakfast out on the balcony. Grace greeted him with wags and kisses.
She hung out with us in the living room until 10:00. She then went out on the balcony. Betsy gave her a picnic lunch. I noticed at 12:15 Grace had removed her pants. At 12:25 she came inside. She waited for me to spread a towel on the loveseat and then carefully jumped up to curl up there.
Afternoon Adventure
We headed for the park at 12:45. On the way we stopped at the traffic light. There on the corner was someone in a dog costume. I turned Grace’s head to see it. She was spooked and barked with her low woof sound until we pulled away. Grace mainly went with Betsy. She still did not run away as she retrieved a ball off the leash.
The next stop was the lot. Grace was fascinated by the rooster next door and spooked when a bird displayed its fan tale. She saw Buddy. We let her off the leash. They played well together. Buddy is a neutered male, but he kept trying to mount her anyway. They played for about thirty minutes. After our time there, we stopped by Burger King to get some iced tea and french fries. Grace said she had the munchies. I gave her some dog food and Betsy shared with Grace some of her french fries.
We then headed down the road to go to the Tobacco Trail. On the way, we saw a neighbor who knows what’s happening in the area. We stopped an talked for about thirty minutes. It was nice catching up with him and learning the details of what was about to happen in the area.
We finally made it to the Tobacco Trail at about 4:00. As usual, Grace was excited by the new territory, the expanse, and the woodsy feel. We walked about ten minutes and returned. We made it home at 4:45. Grace immediately went to the balcony for twenty minutes. When she came inside, we gave her a bath. Betsy put a very small amount of soap on Grace’s back to clean her.
After her shower, Grace had supper. Betsy then gave her some left over chicken from the refrigerator. Finally, Grace went up on the loveseat and went to sleep. We ate supper at 6:15. Although we had chicken, Grace remained unmoved through half of the meal. Finally, she made her way to the table. When we finished we did tricks for scraps. After that Betsy gave her a dental chew.
While she lay in the dining room, Betsy put her protective pants on her. Grace did a little whine. Betsy threw the tennis ball for her to retrieve, but Grace was too tired to play that game. At 7:00, she went to the loveseat. At 7:30, she made her way out of her pants, got up and went out on the balcony lounge chair.
At 8:05, Betsy gave me some cake. Grace, ever vigilant for food, came in at 8:10 and hit me up for a doggie treat. She then went up on the lounge chair and worked on an antler. At 8:30, Grace went outside on the lounge chair and stayed there at least two hours.
I took Grace outside for the last time at 10:00. We returned at 10:15. Betsy put a diaper on her. I was working on paperwork and didn’t make it to bed until 11:15. Grace was curled up on the office floor beneath the window.