The Goopening

We were finally able to take Maizie to the vet, yesterday. Her eye will be fine, and according to the doc, it's not from having been poked, but is instead a result of the head cold she has had. She has puppy pink-eye. Luckily, the conjunctivitis is not communicable to humans.

So, we were given a different prescription for a more current medication (a broad-spectrum antibiotic), "Clavamox", and a tube of eye ointment, and a lesson in how to apply it. That first dose given in-office has already made a major difference for her, and she seems much happier, already. Poor thing must have really been suffering. And before anyone gets out their torches and pitchforks, I TRIED to get her in sooner, I really did. But my the brakes on my car went out unexpecctedly and there isn't a vet's office within walking distance of my house, so I had no choice but to treat her at home as best I could and wait until I could get someone to take us there. Rest assured, this is not a normal situation for us.

But good things: I was treating her (sans meds) at home in just the exact right way (go me!), and Maizie has gained weight! She was checked over by the pet store's veterinarian immediately after we picked her up, and weighed in at 8 lbs, exactly. In the week and a half she's been with us, she gained over a pound! So, she now weighs 9.2 lbs! whoo hoo! Puppy kibble that she actually wants to eat combined with meat-varieties of baby food have been working for us! I think that next, we will try the pureed green beans my aunt recommended.

Another good thing is that Maizie has been doing extremely well with night-training. She hasn't messed in her crate overnight for 2 nights in a row, now! We still have a few daytime accidents indoors, but that is due more to certain people (who shall not be named) not paying as close of attention to her as they should be.

She just doesn't have many "tells" that she's going to make. she doesn't sniff around a whole lot, and is prone to just go as the urge strikes her, regardless of where she is. So it's imperative that she be taken outside immediately after feeding or play. This will reinforce the idea that she needs to go outside to eliminate. I'm having a harder time getting my husband and kids to understand this than I am with impressing it upon the pup!

As long as her general schedule is followed and she is watched carefully when not in the crate, indoor accidents are not an issue. It is simply going to take time for her little bladder and bowels to catch up and for her to learn to hold it, and she IS slowly but surely starting to learn. She's a smartie, our Maizie.

Still a total snuggle-bug, but wow, very stubborn. She makes up her puppy mind how something is going to be, and will do her darnedest to ensure she gets her way. And when she doesn't, look out, because she will have a small tantrum. I find it amusing, because after 4 human kids, a pup acting like that is no match for me. I just do with Maizie the same sorts of things I did with my kids when they'd get like that as babies/toddlers, and it is working well. She is starting to learn that tantrums don't get her what she wants at all, and if she wants something, she can let us know, but is expected to behave properly before she'll get it. So, the tantrums are becoming fewer and farther-between in just a few short days.

Aside from these small things, were are doing pretty well with having a dogger in our home. Having her here, as part of our family, feels very right, and Brian and I are already having a hard time remembering what it was like without her. We don't really mind the accidents like we thought we would, and we are really enjoying her personality. I love snuggling with her on the couch in the evenings, while I read a book or watch tv. She just adds a specialness and richness to our lives that we didn't realize how sorely we were lacking it until we adopted her.