Tuesday the 18th. August.
10:55 pm
The afternoon walk was the last of the day. The guys were pretty chilled out the rest of the day. The downstairs neighbor(s) are back, so I’ve nixed playing chase. I can throw the bunny for Buddy to fetch, and then play tug-o-war with him when he brings it to me, but I’m too heavy to be running above the people below.
Bubba put too much into both walks, I think. He was wiped out tonight. I sat with him a while, while he was resting in the fireplace bed. I stroked his head while he rested.
Neither guy got up while I cleaned, tonight. Bubba woke up and watched, but didn’t move, and didn’t pay his respects to the new pee pads. It must be because of the combination of me staying later last night, with them getting up and being so active early today. Now I’m not sure if they’ll want an early start tomorrow, or not. Every day is like a chess match with these two – I’m always trying to figure out what unexpected twist they will bring to the game, and trying to plan my next move ahead of them.
They are Grand Masters at this game.
3:40 pm
We went out for a walk. There was a good breeze blowing in off the ocean, cooling things off. We went across the street for a short walk, through the memorial over to Bubba’s spot. Both guys pooped, and then Bubba wanted to head back. He cut straight across the parking lot, then he started heading back into the memorial, like he forgot that we already did that on this walk and that he had wanted to go home. But he’s the boss. He didn’t make it as far as the first curve in the path before he seemed to realize we’d already been there, and he turned around back to Selva. He sniffed around the planter area on the street, then seemed like he was going to take us up the hill. But there was another pause, a long think-out, and then headed across the street back home.
We were only out about 20 minutes. Both guys pooped.
2:50 pm
Bubba was dreaming. Usually the dreams are noticeable because of muffled mini barking or whimpers. This time, it was motion. He was completely silent, but all four paws were twitching like he was dreaming about running.
Unfortunately, I woke him up, because Buddy pretended to want to walk, causing me to get up to take him out. We didn’t end up walking, but we interrupted the dream.
1:10 pm
I went home at 12:30pm to put dinner into my slow cooker. Bubba was sleeping in the front door bed. Buddy was resting under the piano.
I got back at 1, and Buddy had relocated to the couch, sitting on the center cushion where I’d need to be to work/study. He wasn’t sleeping. He stared at me, as if challenging me to try to take back my spot. I thought I’d just coax him up to his perch on the back of the sofa. But before that I noticed I had forgotten to bring a bottle of water, and also that I was missing my phone. So I ran home to get both of those, and when I got back Buddy was sitting by the front door. I crouched down to do some face and ear scratching, then started to move to get back to work. But Buddy rolled onto his back to show me that I had some belly rubbing to do before I was dismissed. What a life!
8:31 am
I was late. One minute late, and Bubba let me know it. His howling bark seems much louder when you didn’t get to sleep until 2am and you haven’t had your first coffee. But I think the message would have been understood even if fully-caffeinated and after a good night’s sleep. Nobody told me there was a new schedule. I’ll make sure I’m earlier in the coming days.
They were up and playing. They continued to play after I came in. I was informed that I had duties to attend to, and I got the leashes. Buddy stepped right up to get dressed. The Alpha wanted to turn getting dressed into a game. Buddy was in a hurry to get out, so I trapped Bubba against the coffee table so we could get the harness on and get out.
We went across the street. The walk was short in distance, and took much longer in time than it seemed. We stopped so the guys could visit with Marlee, and with Boise. Deni, Boise’s owner, tried to get the guys to take some treats. Most of the regulars at the park start going nutso when they see Deni coming. She carries a bag of the freeze dried treats, liver and chicken, and the dogs run to her to get some dog candy. Bubba, of course, had no interest. Buddy sniffed each offering for a long time, but wouldn’t take anything. Deni dropped one of the treats and Boise jumped on it.
We walked half-way past the first set of steps towards the center of the park. Bubba stopped to poop. When he was done, Buddy turned around to head back, and Bubba followed. I spent the rest of the walk back pondering this. Bubba pooping then wanting to go home was common. Buddy stopped at a point to turn around, or heading up the steps to go home, common. Buddy deciding that it was time to go home, because Bubba finished his business, seemed a very personable and considerate thing to do for his pack leader.
We were out about 45 minutes and I think it was definitely the right time to head home. It was getting hot, very fast. It was beautiful when we left, and already getting uncomfortable. All the fans that were lowered in speed yesterday got notched back up today.
Bubba pooped, Bubba did not.