At 5:30, I got up. Grace was asleep in the chair. As I approached, she moved just slightly. She really wanted to sleep more. After gently stroking her a few times, I went to another room to study.
Good Morning
At 6:45, Betsy opened the door of the room and an effervescent puppy jumped up on me and greeted me with lots of kisses. We left for the park at 7:05. As we headed up we saw Abby enter. Grace and Abby played for a half hour. Then Grace acted like she wanted to leave the park. Abby and Grace left together.
Grace did her business and then headed out for her walk. She explored a nearby small woods between the two roads before proceeding on to Wessex and back home. When we returned home at 8:30, Grace took a shower, followed by a treat. She then ate breakfast and then proceeded to the balcony.
Grace at Church
At 9:00, I called Grace in. She came inside and jumped up on the chair. She knew the routine as we were dressed to go to church. Then, we switched things up on her and told her we were going for a ride. We took Grace with us to the service at Sunrise of Cary.
We had envisioned that she would greet the residents warmly and then calmly curl up on the big ottoman by the window as the service went underway. That didn’t happen. Grace was bored and wanted attention. Finally, Betsy had to take her out.
Nap Time
We left at 9:45 and returned home at 10:00. Grace went directly to the balcony. When we arrived, I noticed the tan puppy that looked like Beckham in the dog park, but by the time I had changed to take Grace out, the puppy left. Grace watched but was content just to stay on the balcony anyway.
When Grace came inside at noon, Betsy gave her lunch. As Betsy and I ate lunch at 12:30, Grace came inside and parked herself sitting strategically between Betsy and me. She got a little fish from Betsy. When I finished, Grace did tricks for fish. She then moved under the dining room table for a nap. At 2:45, Grace moved to the living room floor and continued her nap there, lying stretched out on her side.
Time to Go!
At 3:00, Grace got up, shook her helicopter ears, and went to the balcony lounge chair to enjoy the warm weather and watch the activity below. At 3:20, Grace let out a whine, came inside, picked up a toy puppy and tossed it my way, and then went to the foyer where she whimpered. She was bored and wanted to go outside.
Grace got up and searched her toy box for something. Finally, she settled on her sock. She brought it to me and gave me a couple of chomp-chomps. I played tug with her for a few minutes before she entertained herself by carefully chewing it apart.
At 3:30, I took her out to Borador Park. Grace played ball some and just lay relaxing in the mid-70-degeee weather. At 4:30, Abby and Betsy came. I tried to keep the ball away from them so they would play with each other. Grace kept trying to reach up to the cover over the bench. Abby’s owner finally figured out what Grace was trying to do. She wanted to get a ball that Abby’s owner had put up there days ago to get it out of Abby’s sight.
Since Grace would not let it go, I got it down and went to wash it. When I returned, both dogs wanted the ball. I threw it and Abby got it. Grace and Abby did little playing, but somehow, Grace aggravated something and triggered her limp about as badly as I can recall it. The only thing that I can figure out is that when she was on the bench trying to get to the structure above it, she pulled something or moved something out of place.
Limping Home
When we left at 5:00, Grace was limping badly. She was reluctant to walk, but she still could. She tended to put her left leg under her body and moved her right leg out to the right. Her head went up when she put weight on her right leg. Previously, I had thought it was her left, but now my best guess is it is her right. She does have a cut in the front of one of her pads on her left front foot, but pressing on it seems to evoke no reaction from her.
At 6:15, Grace came in from the balcony and ate her supper. She was still limping badly. At 6:45, Grace limped to the kitchen and wanted something else. She couldn’t do tricks for treats because she was so badly injured. I gave her a Kong loaded with duck food and capped with peanut butter. When she finished, she wanted more. She brought a toy to the bedroom where I was working. I told her to come up in the bed, but she wanted to play. Betsy refused to play with her, saying she was too busy.
I played the fetch object game with her at very close range and gave her light treats. When she finished that, we played tug for a few minutes with her sock. When Grace occupied herself with the sock, I retreated to the bedroom to continue my work. At 7:10, Grace went to her perch in the office to watch the rainy streetlight-lit grounds below.
At 7:15, Betsy made some popcorn. I shared mine with Grace in the usual way. When we finished, Grace gently pushed me off of the chair. As I went to the kitchen and made various things to eat for myself, Grace came in asking for a little bit of something. It was pitiful that she even made the effort to walk into the kitchen with her limp.
First it was a doggie cookie, then a dental chew, next a doggie beef stick. Grace kept coming. Finally, I gave her two half-cups of her food — one at a time. She ate both. At that point, I left the kitchen and went to the bedroom. Grace joined me in my bed at 8:00, and after checking her front claws for injuries, I turned down the light in the room.
At 8:55, Grace got out of the bed and lay on the floor next to me beneath the window, I took her out five minutes later. I carried her down to the elevator. The pavement was wet. As we left the elevator, her limp seemed to be resolving. Ten more feet of walking and it had completely resolved! Could it have something to do with the wet pavement? I don’t know, but if she limps again, I will definitely wash her paws with a wet wash cloth. When we returned home at 9:10, Grace came my bed to be with me as Betsy had the lights and television on in the living room.
When Betsy went to bed, Grace got down and I presume went to the sofa.
Monday
At 4:00, when I walked by Grace, she moved, and I stroked her softly before returning to bed. At 5:00, I did the same. At 6:50, the alarm clock sounded. I got up to find Grace on the living room floor. She rolled on her back, and we did tummy rubs and kisses. At 7:00, we went out.
Soggy Morning Fun
Abby was entering Borador Park as Grace approached. Grace and Abby played for ten minutes. Grace needed to go out to do her business. I told Abby’s owner we would be right back, but Abby was eating dirt, so her owner decided to take her out too. After a short walk, we took a lap down the Greenway and back. As we passed by the car wash, I stopped and cleaned one of the balls that belonged in the park while Grace waited patiently leashed to a water outlet. I then returned the ball to the park before we headed on.
Grace went out to Wessex again. After about five minutes, the precipitation picked up to a full rain. While it didn’t seem to phase Grace, it was quite a slog. When I returned home, I went straight to the laundry room and washed everything that I had on — including my tennis shoes. Grace had a shower followed by a doggie treat. She then curled up on the living room chair and took a nap.
At 11:00, I prepared to go shopping. Grace got up and wanted to go with me. We moved on to Walmart. Grace waited patiently for about ten minutes as I did some shopping. We went to a second Walmart for another ten minute stint before heading home.
Dreary Afternoon
At 12:45, we returned home and Grace went to the balcony. I prepared my food and a half hour later, gave Grace her duck and scrambled eggs lunch. She came in and ate it but wanted more. After eating a beef jerky treat, she went to the balcony. When the rain intensified at 3:15, Grace came inside.
At 3:30, Grace went for a short walk, returning fifteen minutes later to go to her bed. At 5:00, Betsy took Grace to pick up a package at the office and get a treat. Grace greeted Zeke as she passed by the park but didn’t play. The rain intensified again and Grace came inside.
Evening Dining with Grace
At 5:15, Grace had her supper and then went to the balcony. A half hour later, she whined, came inside, and got up into the chair. As Betsy was fixing supper, Grace got up and sat observing her, begging with her eyes. Betsy gave her a bully stick. While Betsy and I ate, Grace engaged us in a game of fetch. This proceeded through clean-up.
At 7:30, Betsy loaded a Kong with her regular food topped off with peanut butter. When she finished her snack fifteen minutes later, Grace again played fetch. She went to the balcony at 8:10 and returned to the sofa five minutes later. At 9:35, Grace went out for the last time and returned ten minutes later. After a doggie cookie followed by a light treat, Grace lay down on her side under the dining room table.
Tuesday
At 4:00, as I passed by her sofa, I found Grace lying on her back. I reached over and gently stroked her chest and face before returning to bed. At 7:10, I got up to find Grace standing at the master entrance. Five minutes later, we went outside, and walked to the park. There, Grace met Abby and the fun began. After a half hour of running and wrestling, Grace went for her morning walk.
Flooded Greenway on Trek to Wessex
The steady rain from the night before had lifted the water level of Lake Crabtree to flood over the lowest section of the Greenway. This presented no problem for Grace, but for me — trying to keep my tennis shoes from getting soaked — it was a bit of a problem. I had to navigate through briars to find high-enough ground.
Once we made it past the low area, it was free-sailing past Grace Beach, to the end of the Greenway, and up Winstead. When we reached Ready Creek Road, Grace turned left and headed for Wessex. We took our usual route running to Grace’s friend’s house, turning around there, and running back.
Christmas Shopping and More
When she returned home, Grace went straight to the balcony while I prepared her breakfast. When I finished, she came in, ate it and jumped up on the living room chair for her morning nap. As I prepared to leave for some shopping, Grace perked up and came to the foyer. She wanted to come too.
At 9:30, we left for our ride. The first stop was to fill up the tank with gas. Next, we put air in the dires. Grace got out of the car for each of these operations and enjoyed checking out the new places. Our next stop was Walmart. Grace stayed in the car for about twenty minutes while I spoke with a sales person and finally purchased something.
I wanted Grace to have something for Christmas too. We stopped at a pet store and looked around. Nothing looked interesting, but at least Grace had a chance to go into the store and sniff around. We stopped next at another Walmart where Grace waited patiently in the car for about fifteen minutes. When I returned, I gave Grace a treat for being so patient.
Our next stop was another pet store. There, Grace enjoyed interacting with staff and other dogs. She also found a new fox toy. She liked it. She wanted to take it then and start playing with it, but I took it away. She seemed to go with the flow of that without too much disappointment. I then made a short stop to Radio Shack while Grace waited in the car.
Mid-Day Snack and Treat
At noon when we returned home, Grace went to the balcony. A half hour later, Grace came in and got up in the living room chair. I began making some food at that point. By 1:00, her duck and eggs dish was ready. When she finished, I shared with her a small piece of toast as well.
I received word at 1:30 that we had a package at the apartment office. The side of the office with the treats was locked. Grace followed the lady in the office back to the package section. When the lady and Grace returned with the package, the lady said she would unlock the other section. When the doors opened, Grace went in, sat as commanded and ate her treat. We thanked the lady and then left.
Afternoon Walk and Play
Grace returned home to find Betsy preparing to take her out for a walk. At 2:00, they left. When they returned and hour later, Grace had a shower and a treat. She then proceeded to the balcony. An hour later, Grace came inside, devoured a dental chew, and retreated to beneath the dining room table.
At 4:40, Betsy moved Grace’s bed to the back corner of the dining room against the walls. Grace must have liked the new location because she moved there immediately. At 5:00, Grace went to the park where she played with Abby, Hannah, and Miley. Thirty minutes later, she came home.
Home Alone
After eating supper, Grace went to her bed. Fifteen minutes later we left Grace home alone. When we returned, about three hours later, Grace greeted us with wags and kisses before going to the balcony to watch the action. At 9:00, Grace came in and lay down in the dining room to await her last walk for the night. We went out at 9:55 and returned ten minutes later. Grace packed it in for the night snuggling up on her sofa.
Wednesday (Christmas Day)
The time was 5:30. In the darkness of the pre-dawn, I spotted Grace awake on her perch. I went in and gently stroked her face before returning to bed. At 6:45, Grace was seated at the entrance to the bedroom. She whined softly. As I got up, Grace proceeded with her stretch, sneeze, and helicopter shake to get things moving. She then jumped up on the bed and greeted Betsy.
Merry Christmas Morning
At 7:00, we went to the park. Grace, being the first one there, played ball with me. Later Abby and Zeke joined her. After about a half hour, the other dogs left. We played ball in the park until 8:00 and then proceed for a walk.
Grace took me directly to the Greenway, up Wingate, to Weston, and on to Wessex. While there, Grace relieved herself on one of the lawns. I believe this was the first time she did anything that needed cleaning up in that subdivision. As I prepared the bag to do the clean-up, a lady, who acted like she owned the place, complained immediately saying that she was legally blind and did not want dogs messing in her lawn. I asked her if she still wanted me to clean it up. She did. When I finished, I wished the lady a merry Christmas and moved on.
At 9:10, Grace returned home and went straight to the balcony. Ten minutes later, she came inside, ate her breakfast, and curled up in the chair for her morning nap. At 11:00, I directed Grace to her Christmas gift, wrapped and placed in her toy box. Grace began opening it. After creating a hole in the wrapping she pulled the tail of the the toy fox out. As she continued to pull out more of the fox, Betsy intervened, finished unwrapping it, and removed the material used to hang the toy on the display rack.
The toy contained two squeakers — one in the head and one in the tail. After thirty minutes, Grace had removed the head squeaker and disabled it. Grace went to the foyer and lay on her side at noon, but ten minutes later resumed playing with her new toy.
Merry Christmas Afternoon
Then Betsy said the word *egg*. Grace perked up and went to the kitchen. Betsy brought Grace’s dish to the kitchen and put a half cup of her duck food into it. She then cooked an egg for Grace and put that in her dish. Grace whined. Betsy told her “Hot.” By 12:25, her egg had cooled, and Grace enjoyed duck and egg meal.
Fifteen minutes later, as I ate my meal, Grace worked me over with her eyes. I shared with her a few small pieces of turkey sausage before I finished. She then proceeded to the foyer, indicating that she wanted to go outside. After five minutes, when we didn’t oblige her, she went to the balcony instead.
After five minutes Grace returned inside only to go back outside five minutes later. Again at 3:00, Grace came inside for a few minutes and then returned back to the balcony. When Grace saw me in the kitchen, Grace came in and marched right to that magic area of food storage and preparation. I needed to finish up with what I was doing, and I told her to wait. Ten minutes later, I gave Grace a Kong loaded with her duck food and topped off with peanut butter.
Grace polished that off in ten minutes flat. Then it was time to play some more with her new fox toy. At 4:20, Grace got into her bed, but after twenty minutes there, went to the foyer to let us know she was ready for her late afternoon outdoor session. At 5:00, Grace went to the park where we played ball.
Hearty Appetite
After forty minutes, Grace returned home and went straight to the balcony. At 6:00 Grace came in and lay on the dining room floor. Fifteen minutes later, Betsy fed Grace supper. At 6:30, Grace indicated she wanted more. She did tricks for chicken scraps. When she came into the kitchen as I cleaned up, I gave Grace a dish to clean out. As usual, she did a superb job. She then lay on her side on the kitchen floor as I finished up.
When I left the kitchen, Grace moved on to her perch. At 8:15, as I returned to the kitchen for a snack, Grace came down from her perch, made her helicopter ears move, and came in to get a doggie treat. After enjoying her snack, Grace returned to the perch. At 9:00, Grace went outside for the last time. When she returned ten minutes later, she jumped up into my bed and went to sleep.
Thursday
At 6:25, Grace greeted us from bed with a soft whimper. Five minutes later, she got down and sat on the floor facing me. She made a louder cry. I rose from bed and checked the weather. Grace brought me her fox toy to play tug and fetch while she rather impatiently waited for me to take her outside.
Morning Play and Exercise
At 7:00, we left for the park. When we arrived, no dogs were there so we headed on for a short walk. As we walked from the park entrance, Abby appeared. We turned and rushed to the playground. Grace grabbed the ball and Abby excitedly entered. The dogs are unable to play with a lot of energy if one dog has the ball. Usually, Grace will drop it momentarily when she’s also trying to wrestle. When she did, I grabbed it and put it in my pocket.
Grace knew I had the ball and periodically jumped up on me to indicate she wanted to play with it. I told her to play with Abby. After a half hour of play, Grace played ball for five minutes before heading out for her walk.
She went to the Greenway as usual. As we were finishing our second lap, I decided to let Grace head south past our last turn back to the apartment. Once we had gone about a half mile, we turned around and headed home.
Breakfast and Ride
At 8:30, we returned home. The play in the park had gotten Grace fairly dirty. I gave her a shower to get the mud off. When she finished, Grace had a doggie treat as her reward. When she finished her treat and ate her breakfast, Grace got up on her perch for a nap.
At 10:00, Grace moved into the dining room and lay in her bed. An hour and a half later, I went to the foyer to put on my coat and get my keys. I was headed out to the bank. Grace popped up and joined me there. She wanted to come too. Of course, I brought her along. Unfortunately, there were no treats this time.
Watching Me from Near and Afar
At 12:15 when we returned home, Grace went to the balcony. About forty minutes later, I went out into the parking lot to install some parts on the car. Grace watched. When I returned inside at 1:30, Grace met me at the door. She jumped up to kiss me and inadvertently knocked a basket from the ledge in the foyer. It contained just paper items, so after our greeting, I picked up the basket contents. Grace went underneath the dining room table to lie on her side and nap.
At 2:00, Grace moved to her bed to continue her nap. At 2:35, Grace got up, shook her ears (helicopter style) sniffed out door, moved to her sofa across from me for another nap. At 3:00, she got up, checked outside and saw a black dog in the park. She looked at me. The dog was leaving. I told her the dog went “bye-bye” and refused to take her out. Grace went to the office, but the door was shut. It wasn’t latched so I told her to push. She did and went up on her perch.
Child’s Play
At 3:30, we had visitors. Included was a boisterous three-year-old boy. That seemed to scare Grace. I could not get Grace to stay in the same room with them — even with treats. Grace retreated to her perch. When our guests left at 4:30, Grace came out.
At 4:50, we went to the park. After playing ball for about ten minutes, Grace welcomed Abby and her family. Grace and Abby ran and wrestled for a while. Then two grade-school-age boys played keep-away with the dogs. The younger boy dropped it often enough to allow Grace and Abby to scramble for it occasionally and make it fun for them.
Food and Stimulation
At 5:45, Grace returned home and got into the living room chair. There she curled up to rest. At 6:00, Grace had her supper. When we ate supper at 6:15, Grace watched. When we finished, Betsy gave Grace a dental chew. At 7:00, Grace took a long drink of water and went out on the balcony.
After returning five minutes later, Grace complained. Her toy box was gone! I returned it to its spot. Grace grabbed her toy puppy and brought it to me as I cleaned up in the kitchen. I kicked it, and she would fetch it. When I finished, Grace wanted more. We played tricks for treats. Grace enjoyed it and did well — including the push and tug door trick.
Winding Down
When we finished, Grace went to her perch. When she wanted out at 8:50, strangely, she didn’t understand to tug the door open. She whined. I directed her to tug and practically put the sock in her mouth, but she didn’t understand. We have more work to do.
At 9:00, we went out for the last time. When Grace returned ten minutes later Grace went to the sofa and went off to sleep.
Friday
At 2:00, Grace was on her perch awake. I stopped by and stroked her gently before returning to bed. At 6:15, Grace entered the bedroom and began to whine softly. We invited her up on the bed. She went up reluctantly. For fifteen minutes she tolerated being there. Finally, she stretched down, sneezed and stretched. I followed her, but took my time getting ready.
Frosty Morning Adventure
When we left at 6:45, I started the car to defrost the windows. I had forgotten a few things, so I returned to the room — leashing Grace to the fire water valve. Grace sat there patiently, with a loose leash, as I retrieved what I needed. After a few minutes, we were off again.
Grace happily ran down the stairs again. When we reached the park, it was empty. I took Grace for a very short walk. When we returned, Grace played ball for about ten minutes before Abby joined her. I took the ball so they would run and wrestle. Abby found the ball left in the park. That stopped things dead until Abby’s owner took it. Grace and Abby had another high-energy run and chase session before Abby left about a half hour later.
Grace played ball for a few more minutes before heading off on her walk and run. The grass, like the windshields, was covered with frost. Grace’s scent-searching activity was heightened as she followed her nose with urgency. We went past Grace Beach and proceeded to the end of the Greenway. Grace led us up Winstead and then turned at Reedy Creek Road. Just as we made the turn, there were not eight tiny reindeer, but four mature white-tailed deer. They were sporting their long gray coats. Grace tried to run after them, but the leash restrained her.
Ride After Breakfast
When we returned home at 8:25, Grace went to the balcony. When she saw her food arrive, she came in and ate it. After finishing her breakfast, Grace got up on the living room chair for a nap. Just then, she saw me dressing to go back out. Grace approached me indicating that she wanted to go too. I leashed her and we were off for our ride.
Grace stayed in the car as I went into the bank. When I returned fifteen minutes later, Grace was seated in the driver’s seat watching for me. Our next stop was the mall. I left her in the car this time. The stores were closed, so I returned and we moved on to the second bank to make a deposit. The drive-in window there does not give treats though.
Our next stop was Lowe’s. Grace went with me there and enjoyed all of things to see. When we returned after fifteen minutes, we went back to the mall. I took Grace with me to a different entrance. There they had posted a long list of restrictions including limitations regarding bringing pets. Based on that, I took her back to the car.
Noise
When we returned home at 10:45, Grace went to the balcony. Betsy came home early at 12:30. Ten minutes later, I burned the toast — setting off the obscenely loud smoke alarms.
Betsy ushered Grace out on the balcony while I opened the window and turned on the exhaust fan. Grace acted bewildered but stayed out on the balcony until the ear-piercing noise stopped.
Food, Alone, Reunion
At 12:30, Grace enjoyed her duck and scrambled eggs and returned to the balcony. Forty minutes later, I left to get a haircut. As I prepared to go, Grace came to the foyer. It’s always very hard to leave her when she wants to go with me. I told her I was going alone. She understood and walked sadly to the balcony.
Grace stayed there the whole time watching for my return. At 2:20, she as I came in the door, Grace was there to greet me with lavish non-stop kisses that lasted a minute or more. She was happy to see me. I was happy to see her too.
Afternoon Hunt
At 2:30, Betsy took Grace outside to enjoy the afternoon sunshine. As Grace neared Grace Beach, she spotted a herd of deer (perhaps the ones we saw on our morning walk) and tore after them. Betsy released the leash. While a dragging leash could be dangerous if it hit a snag, at least the leash was attached to the harness and not her collar.
Grace came back to her after about ten minutes of running through the meadow and up the briar-covered hill. Betsy was relieved. It had been many days since Grace had run free, so Grace was eager to take advantage of her opportunity. Later in their outing, Betsy let Grace off of the leash again. Grace allowed Betsy to leash her after wading some in Lake Crabtree.
Afternoon Play
When they returned home at 4:00, Grace had a bath followed by her treat. She then returned to the balcony. A half hour later she, came in and lay on her sofa — watching out the balcony window. Almost immediately, Grace spotted her friend Abby in the park. We raced down to join the fun.
Grace first wrestled and chased with Abby but after about twenty minutes, when the dogs tired, the started playing ball with Abby’s family. Grace played ball with me for a few minutes after they left. Then, as darkness set in after about an hour in the park, she went home.
Good Eater
When we returned, Grace had another shower. Her paws had a fair amount of mud on them from that stint in the park. After her shower, Grace went back out on the balcony but returned inside ten minutes later. Grace then took her Kong into the kitchen where Betsy was preparing supper, and dropped it on the floor. Betsy gave her supper.
After she finished her supper, Grace came into the kitchen wanting more. Betsy gave her a loaded Kong. While that satisfied her immediate hunger, by 6:30 as I was cleaning up, Grace came in looking for more. I gave her a half-cup of her food. That satisfied her. When she finished, she went to her bed and curled up for a nap.
An hour later, she moved to her perch until I pulled out her leash at 9:00 for her last walk of the day. When we returned ten minutes later, Grace went to her perch.
Saturday
At 4:30, Grace was in her bed. Her head was hanging off of the side a bit. I gently stroked her face and chest before going back to bed. I thought I heard a few whines from her earlier, but at 7:00, when I got up, Grace was lying between the bedroom entrance and the foot of the bed. We greeted with pets and kisses. Grace was cordial but not enthusiastic.
Chilly Morning
As I got ready, Grace watched. At 7:10, we left for the park. The morning again was cold and the grass was frost-covered. Of course, that didn’t phase Grace. Her limp was noticeable but not severe. As always, it seemed to have no effect on her play. As we approached the park entrance, Grace looked back at me. I told her to go on for a walk to do her business.
When returned to the park a few minutes later, Grace found the ball, and we began to play. After ten minutes, Abby came. I took the ball. Grace and Abby launched into action. They played for about thirty minutes before Abby left. Then Grace played ball until about 8:20.
Food and Exercise
At 8:30, Grace returned home. She went straight to the balcony as I prepared fresh water and breakfast for her. When she saw her food was ready, Grace came in, ate it, and jumped up on the living room chair for her morning nap.
At 9:45, we left for Borador Pond Park to go for a run. Betsy came with us. We stopped at the bank first (the one without treats). Betsy and Grace waited in the car. We made it to the park at 10:15. Grace enjoyed running free. Betsy brought a Chuck-It ball and launcher. Grace played fetch with Betsy when she wasn’t chasing the gray heron and the crows.
Guests and Home Alone
When we returned home at 11:05, Grace had a shower, enjoyed a treat, and went out on the balcony. When guests arrived at 11:15, she stayed in the living room — curling up on her sofa rather than fleeing to her perch in the office. As we got ready to leave for lunch, Grace got up and came to the foyer. I told her she was staying home alone. She sadly went to the living room chair and curled up for a nap.
When we returned home at 4:05, Grace was in the office but could not get out because she could not remember to tug the rope to open the door. This is perplexing to me because when we’re doing tricks for treats, she does come, push, and tug flawlessly. When I opened the door for her, Grace greeted me with tail wags and lavish kisses.
Afternoon Outing
Grace proceeded to the foyer to let me know she was ready to go outside. Betsy didn’t want Grace to go to the park because the wood chips seem to be aggravating her limp. Her friend, Abby, was at the park. By 4:15, Abby was gone, and I took her out. Grace went straight to the park gate and looked back at me with those expressive orange-brown eyes. I told her that Mommy says “No.” She moved on.
After a few minutes, she circled around and came back to the park. Again I told her we were not going in. After a wait of about three minutes, Grace moved on. We went up the clump-grass hill that borders the neighboring apartment complex. Perhaps Grace was following the scent of the hated white cat. I saw the cat at the top of the hill and told Grace. She excitedly traced the trail up the hill, but by the time we made it there the cat had disappeared — perhaps under a car.
We then spotted Ella the Flat Coat Retriever in the other dog park. Grace went in, and they greeted one another. Then they found sticks to chew on. Grace played fetch with hers. As Ella was leaving she engaged with Grace in a war of wills for a stick. After about four minutes of tugging, Grace won, as usual, and Ella left. Grace then played fetch for about fifteen minutes.
Enduring a Tense Evening
We returned home at 5:30. Grace had a quick shower to get the mud off of her feet followed by a treat. She then ate her supper followed by ice cream for dessert and then a dental chew. At 6:00 Grace went to the balcony. Twenty minutes later she came in and curled up on the loveseat.
At 7:00, the atmosphere got a bit contentious between Betsy and me. Grace got up and moved to her bed in the dining room to get some measure of peace. At 7:20, Grace got up, came into the living room and took a long drink of water. She then retreated to her perch.
At 8:15, Grace came into the living room and made a high-pitched talking sound as she walked toward the foyer. I told her to wait. She moved from the foyer to the living room and lay there as I returned to the living room chair. After a few minutes, Grace went to her toy box and pulled out one of her tennis balls that we use for playing fetch. We played for ten minutes before Grace stopped and transitioned to chewing the ball.
At 8:30, Grace whined some more. At 8:40, I relented and took Grace out. When we returned, Grace went to the kitchen. She wanted “a little something.” I gave her a half-cup of food. She still wanted more. After eating crumbs from the doggie cookie box and a doggie treat, she was satisfied and went to her perch.