Thursday, May 21st.
9 pm
I started clean up early. Both dinner dishes were empty. Bubba was resting in the bedroom, and Buddy was going to sleep on the back of the couch. It’s not surprising; they’re usually worn out on groomer day.
5:30 pm
We went for a walk across at the park. We walked the length of the park and back. Bubba had to be carried part of the way, because he got scared on the walkway next to where they have build a contained space while the lay new sod. We walked about 40 minutes. Bubba pooped, Buddy didn’t.
4 pm
Everyone is being lazy today. I haven’t gotten any work done, and the guys have just been flopping. It started off as a highly-energetic morning, but the trip to the groomers seems to have sapped everything out of all three of us. I went to pick up Subway for dinner so I could eat before I feed the dudes.
2:45 pm
I took a shot at getting Buddy out. He was languishing by the front door. He loves the fresh air from the front door space, for some reason. But he very very rarely ever goes out to relax on the deck, which is the opposite of Bubba. I asked Buddy a couple of times if he wanted to walk, and when I would start talking his ears would rise up and his eyes would shift towards me, but he didn’t react to the word ‘walk’.
I got up and grabbed both leashes, and I got my answer, as Buddy got up and ran to the fireplace bed. Message received.
12:15 pm
We’re home! We’re nice and clean, and Bubba is much less clickity. He slipped a little going down the steps to the groomer, but the nails are trimmed and now he can walk without sliding all over.
9:20 am
We headed out. I got the harnesses out of the basket, knelt down and held out Bubba’s, and he came trotting over to get dressed. No resistance, no games, Bubba simply got ready to go out. Buddy ran to get a drink then ran over to me to also get dressed. We have a perfect record of cooperation on groomer day, still. I really don’t get it.
We had plenty of time, so we took the path instead of going out the gate. We had a good walk exploring in the bushes along the way – the best time to get all dirty is on the way to the groomer. A bit past half way up the path, we were starting to get behind schedule, so I picked up Bubba to help our pace. Today he wanted to be on the ground. We only walked about 10 yards when he demanded to be put down so he could walk.
After being put back down, he wanted to walk faster, and we made good time the rest of the way, and still managed to be about 15 minutes ahead of the appointment.
Buddy pooped twice on the way.
9:05 am
I showed up earlier than I had planned. I don’t like arriving early on groomer day, or the guys will want to walk, which then might make it harder to get them out a second time to go to the groomer. That’s just theoretical, because to date we’ve never had an issue getting them out to head to the groomer – something that still seems mathematically impossible, given the complicated personalities of the guys.
Buddy was awake, and met me at the door. When I came in he dashed towards the bedroom. That signals to me that he wants to go out, and wants to wake up Bubba so we can. I called to him to stop. He stopped at the door to the master suite and looked back at me, waiting. I walked over to peek in and see that Bubba was alive and well. Bubba was fine. He was awake and sitting up in one of the beds, looking at Buddy, bored and disinterested. Then his eyes shifted to me, and his face lit up. He jumped up, and he came out to instigate a game of chase. Buddy ate up this energy and wanted to play too. He ran to get a bunny from the basket, and the three of us played games while I did my pre-Bobbie clean up routine.
There were no accidents inside or out.
There wasn’t time to put out breakfast, but I set up the bowl and broth, and put them in the fridge so it will be ready when we get back. In lieu of a proper breakfast, we had some liver treats before we left, so they aren’t starving while at the groomer.