Scariest day ever

My greatest fear was realized this weekend. Sadie got into a fight.

There was snarling, growling and blood. It was awful.

We took Sadie to Kevin's so she could run around in the back yard. I also thought we should try to socialize her with Hershey, Kevin's roommate's dog.

You see, Hershey and Sadie haven't gotten along well. They growl - either over Hershey's territory, Chester, or both. But I thought if we were careful we could help.

Big mistake.

It all happened so fast that I couldn't keep up. One minute I was letting her into the backyard and the next she was lunging at Hershey and Kevin was yelling and I was screaming and hitting Sadie to try and distract her. There was blood dripping from someone. We managed to pull Sadie off, but Kevin couldn't get Hershey inside in time and I lost hold of Sadie and the carnage started all over again.

Both dogs are fine, but I am wounded - in spirit. I thought we were making such progress with Sadie! Both dogs have several of bite marks and Hershey was limping for a bit (then began faking it - kinda funny). Kevin's roommate handled it well. He called yesterday and said she was fine. Sadie is too, but I am so scared to take her around other dogs!

What if it happens again?

A ruff life indeed

Marley's sister?

Marley and Me.

I bought the book before the movie came out, but when I saw where it was headed I refused to finish reading it. I hate subjecting myself to sadness if I can help it.

Anyway, Kevin loved the movie - so much that he bought the book (he doesn't read many books). So, for his birthday yesterday, I bought him the movie - and watched it with him and our dogs.

It was ok.

I didn't feel the attachment to the dog that I think they should have given. Hello, Old Yeller! They showed him to us - in most scenes - but I never really felt him. Of course I bawled at the sad part, but who wouldn't? Mostly I was Sadie because it made me think of Sadie.

I have always joked with people about Sadie, saying she is pretty much Marley's sister. Which is dead on. Most of the antics in that movie she has done - including the pool and table scenes. But she has also eaten light bulbs, caulking, flooring ... entire blocks of cheese, half a dozen hard-boiled eggs (shell included). She can open the front and back screen doors (different types of handles) and thinks running in front of cars is the greatest thing ever.

The best part of the movie was Sadie, in fact. Every time a dog barked she looked up and around. So cute! Her reaction made it worthwhile. No matter what anyone says, she is a great dog.

Biology is icky

Sadie is in heat.

Ew.

Gross.

She will immediately chew off the diapers. YUCK!

Sadie is my first female pet and I am not liking it. I know the solution is to get her fixed, but in my currently unemployed state it isn't quite the priority. I understand now, however, why there were those flair-ups at the dog park.

Looks like no play dates with Tucker (he's not fixed) anytime soon. And definitely no dog park.

Poor Sadie. I know how bad it can be for 6 days - I can't imagine 20 days of it!

Adding to the routine

Recently, we have been trying to work with Sadie regarding her social skills.

When we first took her to the dog park, I chickened out before we even stepped away from the car. She was already growling at a dog! I was in tears on the drive home. She is so sweet with me, why is she like that around others?

Well, luckily we decided to try again. First we took her to a really big dog park with a lake. I wouldn't let Kevin take her off the leash so she struggled and pulled and almost killed him. She was sweet, just frustrated I think.

When we got down to the lake, I decided there were few enough dogs around to risk letting her swim (she LOVES the water!). That dog swam around the fence and got out of the park! Luckily, Kevin got her back, but only so she could find another hole in the fence - and lead another dog out with her!

But she didn't attack any dogs, so I call it a victory.

The next week, we took the dogs to Liberty Memorial dog park near down town.

I was very nervous. There wasn't as many distractions (like the lake) and I was expecting to pull her away from a bloody fight.

She was awesome!

As soon as she was off the leash she just started running - everywhere. She was jumping over dogs, like hurdles.

She made quite a few people laugh, that's for sure. Her feet must have gotten hot because there was a bowl of water for the dogs and she just jumped into it with her front feet and started digging. She wasted all of the water for the dogs - oops. But it was hilarious.

We took her back another time and there was almost a fight with a rottweiler, but Kevin intervened and we left. Definitely the scary dog's fault, right?

Since Sadie has been doing so well at the dog park with Kevin and Chester, I decided to take her and Eddie by myself this afternoon.

That's right, I am a stay-at-home dog mom. I arrange play dates and take my dogs to the park. All-in-all, it's a pretty nice life. Not ruff at all.

Sadie did pretty well at the park today. There was a slightly tense moment with a Golden name Charlie, but I blame him.

I was able to park really close to the gate so she didn't get the chance to pull my arm out of the socket.

We'll definitely do this again soon. She needs the exercise and has so much fun!

Scary!

It was a pretty nice day today, I put Sadie on the leash and decided to go for a run.

NEVER. AGAIN.

She pull so hard that I almost lost my arm about 20 times. Plus, she tries to lunge at any dog in the vicinity.

Then, there was the time she darted out in front of a car! Luckily their brakes worked well - I was inches away from dying!

There has to be a solution to this.

I need to soak in a hot bath.

Routine

We've settled ourselves into a nice little routine.

We wake up around 9 a.m. and I take Sadie straight out to her chain. She gets herself tangled around the tree, but is really good about untangling herself, too. Such a smarty.

Then we come back in and have our breakfast.

Sadie then sleeps until I get moving to make lunch. She follows me around and settles next to me wherever.

I leave most afternoons to get out of the house - hit the library to continue the job search.

When I return, I check the house for damage. It seems the second I walk out the door she is attacking the trash. I am getting better about it hiding it, but not always. Then it is straight outside for her.

I keep her outside as much as possible, but it's cold up here!

Then, she eats dinner while I watch sitcoms and get dinner ready for myself. Sometimes Kevin and Chester come over - she likes that. Otherwise, the rest of the night is spent with Sadie staring out the front door barking at every dog that passes.

It's quite a nice life.