January 7th. Launch day.
10:15 pm
The snoring is strong, so going home. Planning to teach basic cleaning procedures, and the dinner prep routine to my trainee tomorrow.
9:35 pm
The guys decided they were finished with bedtime, and both got up. I thought we were shutting down early, which would be good so they could be rested for the day at the groomer.
I had cleaned up, changed the pee pads and taken out the trash, and then the dudes wanted to play. But it didn’t last. Something outside set off Buddy, and he paced between the bedroom and living room, barking in his throat and growling. Bubba picked up on the energy and started pacing, but only in the living room. He went to the front door and sniffed at the world outside, seemed to decide there was nothing worth the aggro, and then went back to bed. A few moments later, Buddy climbed back up on the couch and went to work trying to lick off his paw.
8:30 pm
It’s so quiet in here it’s scary. Bubba is asleep in the piano bed, and Buddy has already passed out on the couch. But then, naturally, as soon as I start reporting that Bubba has gone to bed, he got up and started wandering around, examining toys and other interesting things that were out of place. None of them – luckily – were important enough to take ownership of, so he didn’t pee on anything. After surveying the entire condo, he returned to park himself in the fireplace bed.
Early in the afternoon it seemed that The Bunnies had gone out of style. I had picked them both up to play a little, walked into the hall and threw one into the bed. Buddy sat up, his ears up, and watched, but did not chase it. I thought it must be the wrong bunny – they seem identical to me, but what do I know? I threw the second bunny, and he didn’t chase that one either. Both bunnies lay, abandoned, near the new thrones in the bedroom. The Fox was the toy of the day, used in several games of fetch and tug, and chewed on until 8-ish. I went home to grab a coffee, and when I got back, both bunnies had been moved onto the rug by the front door.
5:15 pm
Buddy seems better. I have no doubt the pro-biotics had nothing to do with it. That would be way too fast. But he hovered the entire time I was making the dinner, and hungrily took handouts while he waited. He ran to the living room when I picked up the bowls. The lost appetite of yesterday was gone. Bubba kicked him off the first bowl he chose. No matter which bowl Buddy picks to eat from first, that’s the one that’s Bubba’s.
12:50 pm
I returned from the UPS Store, where I picked up two packages of pro-biotics for Buddy. One of each, powder form and chewable pills. Buddy does not like the taste of the pills, so I had to dice it together with a diced Milk Bone to get him to take it.
After the pill was given, we went out for a walk. Buddy pooped, but it was very little that came out. Bubba did not poop. We walked for about an hour.
10 am
Buddy and I went for a short walk. He pooped, and it was still the runs, but it looked like “normal” diarrhea, and not the disturbing-looking snot-like substance. I took that as a move in the right direction.
8:15 am
Training my backup started this morning. I planned to let them sleep until 9 – they always go back to sleep and sleep pretty deeply after the morning excitement on launch days.
Buddy expected me to come through the door. He was on the back of the couch, and probably would have stayed there while watching me do the morning routine, but when my mom walked through the door he started barking and jumped off the couch quickly. The activity woke up Bubba, who was under cover in the piano bed. The trainee laughed as he worked he way out from under the blanket and his little face peeked out. When he saw the reason Buddy was barking, he got excited and joined in.
I showed her how we do breakfast, and the procedure. I told her the breakfast training was “stupidly simple” but she brought a pen and pad of paper to take notes, then took none. The only potential issue for her is the bone broth in the soft packages. Those child-proof tops can be hard to open, and her hands won’t be able to handle it, so if there aren’t any open already, she will need to use the boxed broth.
After that, she went home, and the guys and I went to walk. We made it half way to the mailboxes, and they both froze up and refused to move. I expected Buddy to be in a hurry, but apparently his stomach has resolved whatever issues he was having. So our walk was less than 5 minutes. I think the extra intruder may have short-circuited their pattern, with the break in the expected routine. I will let them sleep until 10 before I bother them again – it was a double-excitement morning with two changes to their routines.