Groomer day. Friday, the 11th.
11 pm
What a difference between days.
Buddy was braver at dinner. Both guys were really hungry for some reason – maybe appetites built up from the groomer trip. Both guys were watching me while I prepared dinner. Both followed me out to the living room when I carried a pair of empty plates, and looked curiously at the plates, then up at me. “What’s this???” was the expression they both shared. I told them, “it’s dishes for the moats to keep ants out of your food.” Neither understood. One couldn’t hear. Both went straight to eating when I put out the dinner. Buddy drank the moat around his dinner.
It was good seeing Buddy just eating and not giving deference to The Alpha, and waiting for Bubba to finish before he would eat.
Buddy was fine around the house all evening. We played with the bunny a LOT all day.
There were no signs of ants all day. Usually there are stragglers for a day or two, the random ant that didn’t get the memo about the rest of the colony getting wiped out. But we’ll be using the food safety moats for the duration of the trip, anyway.
Buddy spent most of his evening on various parts of the couch. He reclaimed it from the ghosts that were haunting it the day before. He quickly jumped up to sit next to me when I beckoned him while showing the brush. There was virtually no hair being shed into the brush. The groomers really do a good job. It felt good brushing a dog with a coat that wasn’t sticky.
Bubba went to bed in the bedroom. Buddy parked himself on the south end of the couch, and soothed himself to sleep by saturating a paw in dog spit, to help get rid of that nice clean smell.
1:35 pm
We’re home, and we’re clean!
11:45 am
The guys checked in for their spa treatments. This time, both guys were afraid to go in. After going inside, both guys turned to the front door and wanted to be let out.
I handed over the leashes, and with a little coaxing Bubba followed the guy in. Buddy ran for the corner, though. No matter how much tugging, he refused to head towards the back. The man came out and picked up Buddy and carried him in.
I don’t know where this is coming from. Buddy used to have fun visiting. Bubba still does – or did. He was having fun the last visit. The girl said that Buddy hides in the corner, but Bubba engages in non-stop play the whole time, never taking a break. But both were scared this time, Bubba’s being new, Buddy’s being worse.
Buddy pooped on the way there. Bubba pooped in the bathroom and on the deck when I went to get a coffee refill earlier.
The unbroken streak of it being easy to get the guys out to head to the groomers is intact. I really do not understand it. I put on Bubba’s harness when it was time to leave, then ran next door to use the bathroom before we left. When I got back, both guys were at the door waiting to go. It makes no sense, but it’s great.
9:10 am
Buddy and I went for a short walk for him to relieve himself. Bubba did not want to join us. I think that was the best scenario for being able to get the guys out when it’s time to leave for the groomer.
Buddy wanted to go over to the path, where he pooped and then wanted to go back home.
7:50 am
Buddy was delayed, but greeted me at the door. He had to jump down off the couch. I didn’t like it when I opened the door and the familiar nose didn’t peek out, but he showed up a few second later. I thought he might still be carrying the issue from last night, and maybe moved into the bedroom to sleep, causing a delay in getting to the front door. But he was just asleep.
I felt the divot on the back of the couch and it was very warm. He had moved off the floor during the night and slept on the back of the couch. And whatever was bugging him the night before was over. He was immediately ready to play, and went to grab a bunny. I endulged, and played until he was done. We were running around in the living room, and he was enjoying it, and I wanted to reinforce that for him.
Bubba looked at us young folks goofing off. We were disturbing his sleep. It was too early to be roughhousing in the living room.
It’s gray and lightly foggy this morning. There’s a breeze that’s almost chilly. If the AC is turned on today, it will be for the dehumidifying, not temperature.
I went around with the flashlight, checking the floors and kitchen surfaces for signs of ants and found none. So far, it’s a very good day, after how it ended last night.