Days 23 thru 29 Monday May 24 thru May 30, 2010
Beach week although Ellie cannot go to the beach because she has not completed her puppy shots we have fun never the less. Leash training is continued and gets the real test here. There are foxes around and our veterinarian warns against the chance that fox feces can carry parvo.
She loves to go out and learns the stairs quickly and with ease. Going back in is a different matter. Most of the time she does not want to go in. First it is a tug of war then she starts pulling. I do not want to pull back too hard, she is just a puppy. Most of the time I have to pick her up, being bitten quite hard, and take her back up the first flight of stairs then I can get her up the main flight with little issues. The house is spacious and she has plenty to get into trouble without being allowed out.
In addition to the parvo there is a fresh water pond between us and the beach. A couple of alligators reside here along with snakes, turtles fish, heron’s, egrets, etc. Most wary of the gators as we heard one in the rushes on the house side of the pond, pup would be a tempting snack for any gator so we walk the street side of the house mostly. Ellie soon gains the nickname ‘gator bait’, in jest of course, as the week continues. She even does this gator roll when she refuses to obey leash commands. In general she does real well and we have a great time.
The crate, of course, comes in handy for sleep and safety. We tried to let her sleep with us a couple of nights but she can not seem to get settled and after two nights it’s back to the crate for the rest of the week. She stays in the crate when everyone is at the beach. Heck I wouldn’t let her roam around the house when no supervision is there.
She rides real well and sleeps most of the time on the trip up and back. We travel on the weekend and stop off at large schools on the trip for bathroom breaks. I figure there are less chance of dogs being walked around these areas.
Back home she goes nuts. She relishes her freedom in her back yard for about an hour while we unpack. She is SOOOOO glad to be back and running loose. We unpack and have a great night being home. After vacation is very depressing but Ellie is in the moment and now is Good.