Sassafras, the 5 month old Deaf OES-Adopted

December 6th Update:Pix should give you some idea of the size difference between the two furkids even though in one, they are both lying down, and in the other Zen is standing and Sassy is sitting. I have been taking them somewhere they can play in a fenced yard, and Zen loves being chased by the little half pint. She has started following him as if he is her hero. She will sit (mostly) when asked, because she follows Zen, and she is learning how to “down”. “Stay” is a different story. She has learned how to go up and down all flights of stairs. She is pretty brave and self-confident, though she does like it when Zen does the reconnaissance work for her. Her appetite is enormous.

She is a lovey little munchkin and quite smart (oh dear). Her worst habits so far are jumping up on the counter (though we are making progress, and Zen is not a good role model since he is a chronic counter surfer), and picking up/eating acorns and stones. A few housebreaking accidents, mostly my fault because I don’t have her schedule figured out. I have a new, metal baby/puppy gate which is in a doorway and she does NOT like being confined away from the action so she barks non-stop. In the crate is even worse.

She is crazy about seeing her own reflection in the sliding doors and the basement ground level windows. Today, we had some snowflakes and she was fascinated. I always love the dogs’ reaction to the first real snowfall and I try to get a video of their antics

We will work on holiday photos once I can finish decorating without quite as much sheepie “assistance”. My small gated bathroom now contains a very large crate, and when I need to use the commode, I have to practice being a contortionist because I also have TWO assistants supervising my activity. The big boy just comes in and lies down, taking up most of the space, and Sassy like to get very close to make sure all activities are closely monitored – this requires holding her at arm’s length while using a free hand to complete toilet activities.

We are off to do something that requires a lot of dog energy, not sure what, but I can tell it’s time.

fritzi

December 15th Update:

Not a super great Holiday photo, but at least it’s a start. I will do better. Am trying to get a video of the two furkids playing, it is a riot. Sassy follows Zen around as if he were her hero. She starts wrestling matches and is fearless in pursuing him.

She is putting on a little weight and eats quite ravenously. She still has stool the consistency of soft ice cream, so I may put her back on the Science ID diet or make her boiled chicken and rice (she finished a course of Flagyl and will finish her Albion tomorrow.Several times I wished I could get to a camera without disturbing the dogs –I bought a box of special dog cookies and folded the box up pending to put it out with the recycling – turned around and Sassy was walking around the kitchen with the box on her head.

The next day, Sassy was proudly walking around the house with a silk poinsettia plant in her mouth, shaking it.

This morning, Zen was sleeping on his back with his legs splayed open and right next to him was Sassy on her back just like Zen. Both of them were asleep but unfortunately woke up when I was sneaking by to get my camera.

We got a very light dusting of snow and Sassy was so happy to go out and eat it. I can’t wait until we have a real snow accumulation, the dogs go nuts. I have videos of my dogs in the first snow of every year.

Zen and Sassy and I go for a car ride every day. Sassy is restrained in the back seat and Zen just sits next to her. If I don’t restrain Sassy, she jumps into the front street. We are making steady progress on signs; she seems quite a bit stronger (she can jump up on way more things, oh joy).

Ttfn
Fritzi Zen and Sassy