Christmas Wishes

 The boys are ready for Santa!

Last week I missed the next installment of Dog Diaries. I had too much wrapping and Christmas prep to get done. I try to get everything done early so I can relax and enjoy the next few days leading to Christmas.

I have one more present to wrap and a trip to the grocery store to get apples for the pies my daughter and I make as well as a bag of potatoes. After that, I'm free and clear for the week. We did our annual Christmas visit to my brother's on the weekend. We usually stop by on Christmas Eve, but someone has to stay home with Rambler (I'll talk all about his separation anxiety in a January post). My husband stayed home with the boys, while my daughter and I (and her boyfriend) got to visit with my brother, sister in law, and my eldest nice. My youngest niece wasn't feeling well, but we dropped off her presents at her house and saw her for a few minutes. My family is small, but we're a crazy bunch. Lots of hugs and laughter. When we arrived back home, my husband's eldest brother was visiting, so we got to see him for a bit too.

After I hit 'publish' on this post, I will be done with computer work until after the holidays. I have lots of reading to catch up on, and I need to get myself out of the design slump I'm in. My artistic creativity has taken a backseat to dog exhaustion and holiday prep, so I'd like to get back into my art.

As for the new year, I don't make resolutions. I just want 2024 to be better health-wise than 2023. This past year hasn't been great for my health. Migraines, dizziness, hearing issues, and lots of pain in my neck, back, and arm have been worrisome. But as we enter January and I turn another year older, I'm hoping 2024 is much better physically and mentally. 

I've retired from writing novels. They take too much time to write and publish and I'm not a marketing specialist, which you need to be these days to get your book in front of readers. I'm pondering another writing avenue, but it's just a thought at this point. I'll keep blogging in the new year. As well as my own posts, which will include the continued journey of dog life and my art work, I have a few guests lined up to fill in the days I'm too exhausted. I'm hoping to have posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so watch for those.

In closing my last post for 2023, I want to thank everyone who follows my blog and to the ones who occasionally stop by. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Season Greetings, and a Happy New Year. May your holidays be filled with much happiness and love. Chat with you in 2024!

My favourite Christmas card I designed this year.

Dog Diaries #4

After Two Long Months...

The first sentence says everything...two long months. September and October were two of the most stressful months of the whole year. My patience reached its tipping point several times. To keep my sanity, I'd go outside alone and just breathe. Rambler was just too much for us, and I was considering giving him up. But I didn't want to drop him off at the animal shelter. Even though the little bugger drove me crazy, I grew attached to him. I couldn't let him go. He was our dog. So, I decided I would win the puppy battle or die trying.

Turning the calendar page to November was like flipping a switch. Rambler turned four months old and became a completely different dog. He started listening and lost a lot of that crazy puppy syndrome.

Maybe it was my change in research. Instead of searching for puppy training tips, I looked into the breed more. I became more knowledgeable about the Cane Corso. A quick shout-out to Jason Corey on YouTube who has two Corso's. Watching his videos gave me hope. And maybe that's what changed in November...hope and plenty of determination.

During those two rocky months, we had to put everything away and out of reach. But last month, I was able to put the mats back in the kitchen and the dishtowels out. Rambler no longer smashes through the baby gates. He now sits patiently and waits to be allowed into a room. Maybe it was the baby teeth. He's doing a lot better since most of this baby teeth have fallen out.

He still bugs Keefer, but he's not as rough. This may be because Keefer now growls at Rambler when he has had enough of playing. It took Keefer a while to step up and let Rambler know that he couldn't push him around.

I think Rambler finally knows he's not the alpha dog in the house. He tried his best to gain that role, and there are times he still tries to be top dog, and I'm sure he'll keep trying.

I still have a lot of training to do with him, but he's at the point now where he's trainable. He's listening and learning. He's turning into a really good dog. But he's still a puppy and tries to get into mischief. He nips at my husband's slippers, jumps at the counter, jumps on us, steals Keefer's bed, or slips through a baby gate, but all of that is controllable. With patience and training, I'll rid him of those bad habits.

Rambler is extremely loveable and he loves to cuddle. His favourite spot is sitting on my feet, or on my lap if I'm sitting on the floor with him. I'm so happy I didn't give up on him...and me. He's bonded into our family. We love our little moose and he loves us.

But can a dog love you too much? Enter separation anxiety. The fun continues!

Dog Diaries #3

Let the games begin.

Don't let that cute face fool you, because that adorable little guy nearly drove me nuts for the first two months. He was a holy terror. I even called him the Devil's Span as I was sure he was brought here to test me.

Our Midnight Rambler had a sketchy first few weeks. He belonged to a fisherman, who we believe owned the female. He was adopted by a family who didn't have the right household for a puppy (see my first dog diaries post). We refer to Rambler as a rescue. He wasn't mistreated (not that we know of), but he wasn't being handled properly, so he had some nipping issues and didn't like to be corrected. There were many times he'd growl to force his point. Had we been his first owners, things may have been a lot different. But, he was now ours and we had to deal with the good and bad...and this boy had a lot of bad.

As all puppies do, they are curious and get into everything. They think everything is theirs and want to chew what's in their path. This included his dog bed, the carpet, the kitchen towels, shoes, slippers, and so much more. The worst was us and our five year old lab's ears. However, correcting Rambler wasn't easy. He was extremely stubborn and had slight aggressive tendencies. There were many rough days. I was up early with him (4:30am) and stayed up. Thankfully, I work from home, but my husband and daughter don't, so I couldn't leave Rambler cry and bark all night. I would sit on the floor with him and play until he fell back asleep. But as soon as I would get up, he'd whine. He wanted me in his sight 24 hours of the day. At this point, he was a bit of a bully toward us and Keefer, who is a kind and gentle soul, so he didn't growl at Rambler to put him in his place. Keefer preferred to just go into another room to avoid having his ears bitten. 

I like to think I have a lot of patience, but Rambler tested me every step of the way. I had the bruises from his sharp baby teeth to prove it. 

Is it easy raising a puppy? No it is not. And don't let those videos of dog whisperers fool you into thinking it is. 

I watched lots of videos and did research. The Cane Corso breed is very intelligent, so training him to go outside to do his business was thankfully easy. He never once pooped in the house (knock on wood). He had a few pee accidents inside, but that's to be excepted with a puppy.  He learned how to sit on command quite quickly and he has great manners when it comes to his meals.

I felt I was gaining points. My husband called me a dog whisperer and some days it would look as though that was true, but then other days were complete chaos. It seemed like everything I tried wasn't working. Rambler was beginning to be a nightmare I couldn't escape. I've raised and trained many dogs in my life, but I wasn't sure I was cut out for this dog. I'm not in my thirties or forties anymore. I'm actually closer to sixty. Maybe I'm too old, but I was attached to the little guy and he to me. 

Unfortunately, my patience was exhausted. I was exhausted. The chaos couldn't continue. It was hard on me and my family. I kept looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Did I see the light? Stay tuned to find out!