Monday, April 27th.
9 pm
The liver treats are like crack for Bubba. He got up and followed me into the kitchen when I went to do some cleaning up. He circled around, coming into the kitchen and stopping to stare at me. Then he’d pace a bit, and then stop to stare. Buddy came into the kitchen, and stood, staring, wondering if Bubba knew treats were coming.
I crushed up one of the treats for Bubba, and handed Buddy a full one. Buddy took his over to the front door to chew on. Bubba followed and tried to catch Buddy dropping bits. I bought out pieces for Bubba, and he gobbled up each one I handed him. After he had his treats, his energy level picked way up. He ran around a bit, and got me to chase him, then he went to finally have his dinner and woofed down a bowl of food.
Not long after, he went back to bed. Buddy sat next to me on the couch and helped me work for a while, before he jumped up to the back of the couch and went to sleep, too. That was it for the night. I went home at 11:30.
6:16 pm
We’re not walking. Buddy wants to play. Bubba wants to lie in bed and watch.
Bubba looks fine – he doesn’t seem overly-tired, or sick. He just doesn’t want to get up and do anything.
5 pm
Bubba finally got out of bed, but not to eat. Dinner was put out, and Buddy went right to work on filling his belly. Bubba wanted to play chase, and watch me clean up the kitchen. He paced a little. But he didn’t eat (yet)
3:50 pm
Buddy and I went for a nice walk. I had to use dog psychology to get him out, to start. When I grabbed the leashes, he started to hide in a bed, but then changed his mind and got some food instead. But he didn’t want to walk alone with me. He glanced at Bubba a couple of times, to see if the Alpha would get out of bed and go out – but Bubba was having none of that business.
I pretended to go alone. I walked outside. I started closing the door. Buddy ran over to investigate. I opened the door enough for him to come out, and he did. He was almost too-quick and got away from me, since he was not wearing his tether. But I grabbed the harness before he got across the landing.
He found a new love in Sami. She came outside to stretch in the sun a minute – she works from home, frequently – and she wanted to say hi to Buddy. Sami found his tickle spot. I was 100% certain that Buddy did not have one. Bubba has two pairs, on his hip and at the peak of his rib cage. Buddy’s is on the underside of his chest, right where the front leg meets. The paw curls up and shakes. I couldn’t find it. Sami has magic fingers, as far as Buddy is concerned.
From Sami’s place, we left the neighborhood on the north side, and walked across the street. It was very quiet but he got to visit with a couple of new friends. We came out of the south side of the park, and started as if we’d go up the hill, but he stopped before we got to the entrance to The Strand community, and he stood to think a while. Home won out on his internal debate.
We walked 40 minutes, and we jogged some. He did not poop.
Noon-ish
Ran to Costco to pick up two chickens.
8:45 am
Bubba was in the front door bed when I showed up. Buddy was up and moving around. I put out breakfast to marinade, then went to sit with Bubba. Buddy wanted to play, so I held onto a bunny ear while he tried to pull it away, while petting Bubba and trying to keep the amount of activity with Buddy down so it wouldn’t be disturbing. Bubba got up, and he wanted to play, too. Bubba kept running away, then returning to sit by the front door. That seemed like a signal to walk, so I got the leashes.
As soon as I picked up the leashes, Bubba went back to bed. Buddy ran to the front door, though, ready to go. We walked over to the path for a quick poop, then headed right back.