Patrick's Diary (through 26 August 2011

PATRICK’S DIARY

3/17/11	I was born into a litter of 10 puppies.
6/21/11	Joan &  Edward visited me and loved me
6/25/11	Edward came to Maine and took me home. The ride was very long and, by the end of it, I was not feeling well. My breakfast came up. We made it home and everyone tried to make me feel welcomed. I admit to being somewhat overwhelmed. And then, they kept trying to get me outside to do something I was not ready to do. It was so strange compared to my birth home. There, I had many siblings and we had the whole back yard to go in and then return to our “room” without someone on my case. I guess that they are trying to do the right thing. They could be really dumb!
6/26/11	They may not have wanted the pee & poop on the kitchen floor, but what can you do? I did pretty well, with two small cries during the night. Not bad for the first night. During the day, they keep bugging me by wanting me to pee & poop outside. The outside does not do anything for me. I can’t wait to get inside. So far, I am spending lots of time in my new Dad’s arms, but it’s my Mom that I want. Whenever I can, I go to her and get some real love!
6/27/11	The man of this new family is bound and determined that I have this foolish black cord on me. I see little benefit to it, but I will let think that it has a positive purpose. He made a nice little area for me to rest and relax outside, but so far, I have kept to the practice of not peeing outside!
6/28/11	I may be getting used to this new family. I admit that I love the lady and the children are fun to play with. They seem happy to play with me. They tried a different tack today by having Joan lead me. I can’t resist her!
6/29/11	Wow! I got all sorts of kudos today. I didn’t wake my man during the night and I actually pooped outside! It was a red-letter morning, according to the man! My new parents got some education on how to deal with the likes of me, a timid dog. Some how or other, they will be patient with me and I will eventually give them what they want.
6/30/11	They have finally got the message that I will make them happy if they give me food. It is so simple and yet, it took them several days to figure it out. Everyone sounds so much better. I am still looking for a toy that I will enjoy. So far, the stuff that they have been giving me is for the birds!
7/1/11	I did not respond well to all the “tricks” of the new man during the morning. No matter what he did, I would not pee for him. I did poop outside and he seemed happy. By the end of the day, I was playing with him outside for the first time! Wow! He was ecstatic!
7/2/11	I made people happy today with my peeing & pooping that the man saw and gave me something great! For the first time, I ran around as most puppies do with my man around. They took me to the beach today and I was freaked out when I saw two dogs. At other times, I was in his arms a couple of times today when he read and watched TV.
7/3/11	Morning started so well. I really gave the man lots of kisses when he was doing his yoga. I did my peeing and pooping outside and got so more stuff. My man took me to the beach again and even though no one was there, I was spooked again. During the day, I did very well but I am still unwilling to come with the man. But I do love the woman!
7/4/11	I am told that today will start to be busy with people.  The weekend was nice and peaceful. I did well again with peeing,  pooping and eating. But, I still do not let my man come close to me unless he tricks me or corners me. But the day took on a very positive turn. They put out a kiddy pool which I loved! I had such fun jumping in and out of the pool. It was great.
7/6/11	I had a good day and everyone was happy. Played with the kids and enjoyed the backyard. I had a big shock when my man’s son from New York brought into the house a bull dog! Wow! It was mind blowing. Of course, I growled. I was scared stiff! They say that the dog will be here for over a week! Enough to drive a puppy crazy!
7/7/11	Started the day well.  And, then, that bull dog came down from his long sleep! I did not do well. I barked, but people sort of were pleased that I did not go crazy. As the day went along, I sort of got used to these new people. They say that they live in New York. That does not make too much sense to me since I only know lovely Maine and the ocean community in Massachusetts. But, all is all, I am stayed within 6 feet of Gloria, the bull dog, and people are amazed!
7/8/11	The morning started off great. I do love these kids. People try to keep me from biting; they tell me that it is for my own good. Plans are in place for my going to puppy school tomorrow. Day went along pretty well except I did bark a few times when Gloria was near by. No  body made a big deal of it! What really impressed everyone is that I was able to rest and relax in the kitchen when all hell was breaking out with children crying and adults trying to get food to the table. I just let it ride over my back!
7/9/11	This puppy class business was for the birds! I just found it a waste of time.  I had no interest in the other dogs and no food by my man would make me move! I rested while these other dogs did what was asked of them, more or less. I was clearly an outlier! I was happy to get home and play with the kids.
7/10/11	Today was somewhat discombobulated.  The New York people left but left their famous bull dog with us. Admittedly, it has not been all that bad.
7/11/11	What a day!  My man finally figured out that chicken is my thing! I will do a lot more for him if he feeds me chicken! If he asked, I would have told him!  The other big thing today is that I am developing a friendship with Gloria, that different looking dog. She does seem to like me and I am getting attracted to her.
7/12/11	I had a pretty good day. My man did some of learning how to get me to behave as requested. I did pretty well, given the chicken treats. It was so hot that they put out the kiddy pool for me so that I could get wet. Cool!
7/13/11	That chicken treat business works so well that I walked for a while on the leash. My man was ecstatic. You would have thought that I did something unique.  I really made the man impressed when I walked on the leash twice!! Believe it or not, I barked and the man took me out and I peed. Could I already be almost trained?
7/14	My man is a happy camper! I walked more with the leash and I had a great Vet visit. Everyone likes me; they say such incredible words about how great I look! It does make my ego stronger. I got a bunch of needles, but I did not mind that too much at all. In fact, people said that I did great! I wound up the day with a far out love feast. My man took me to the stylist who tries to cut a virtually non-existing amount of hair and the folks went crazy when they saw me. Everyone wanted to hold me. It was fantastic! Another milestone: Believe it or not, I barked and the man took me out and I peed. Could I already be almost trained?
7/15/11	By 9 am, I had two walks with a leash (wow!), ate, done my chores, played, and then I needed a rest! I heard my man tell my woman that I was doing so well after just three weeks.
7/16/11	The man does not quit! He wants to walk with me nearly ever hour. I do get a chance to rest in between, but give me a break. He could be a bit more flexible. Take a day off, man!! Between the man’s persistence and his chicken treats,  I am a changed dog! Apparently, not enough for him; he won’t quit! At the end of the day, he took me for another walk, the longest yet. He wanted me to meet some neighbors who liked dogs. Brother, they were all over me! You would think that they never saw a dog before!
7/17/11	The man does not quit! We walk and walk and people say that I prance! Prancing must be for master dogs or some such thing! At any rate, this walking business  seems to be preparation for walking all the way back to where I came from! Portland, Maine, here I come!
7/18/11	Hey, the system is working automatically. He gets up early, takes me out very quickly, returns to check the computer, does some Yoga, feeds me, does some exercises, takes me for a walk, ending up with a poop. I could practically do it in my sleep. Same old, same old.
7/19/11	My man returned from some errands with great treats to bite on. He may be getting the idea of what makes me real happy! Since it is so hot, they are not walking me as much. Thanks for the little favors of life!  They come back from celebrating their wedding anniversary very happy. But, then, the man takes me again for a long, long walk. What a way to celebrate!
720/11	My man woke him with problems: (1) I got out of the kitchen, (2) I peed in the kitchen, and (3) I pooped near the door. This set of happenings did not make a great start to the day. But, give the man credit, his book is telling him that he cannot punish me and there is no need to “address” actions that happened without your noticing them. It is a predicament that the man has to figure out what to do. I can understand his point of view. He surely takes me out frequently, but no matter, I may not be ready! Let’s watch and see how this problem is ultimately resolved. The man did something totally unexpected tonight by sticking a tool in my mouth with some stuff on it. He claims that he wants me to get used to having my teeth brushed. He claims that it will be make me live longer (someone told me that it did not work that well with his last dog, Franklin).
7/21/11	The man got up very early and the kitchen was in perfect shape. He quickly took me outside and I peed like a good dog should do. What a great start to the day! While my man wants to make sure everyone gets to meet me, I am trying to stay cool. Hard today with the heat so high. So I jumped into my water bowl for  a swim. My man and my woman were taken back by attack on the water, but it surely helped me to stay cool!
7/22/11	Wow! It is really hot. They are doing as well as can be expected. They are trying to  keep me cool, including giving me a  bath and shampoo so that I will really impress the Puppy Class tomorrow (although there is some doubt about my behavior in the voices).
7/23/11	What a day! My man did not appreciate coming into the kitchen to see my pee and poop, but he did not make a big deal of it. We just went and made believe that I had not done anything. I rewarded him by going on the longest walk yet. He told everyone! Then, we went to Puppy School. The teacher was impressed by my man’s report.  Granted that he was biased, but I do think that I am doing better than the other puppies even if I don’t demonstrate it publically at the Puppy School.  My man shares the news that I am doing better than the other puppies, although I only do the great things only with my Man. The rest of the day was resting on my laurels!
7/24/11	Everything started off just great! No pee or poop in the kitchen. Did my thing outside like a good dog should! Went for our walk as usual and then ran around while the man did some watering. Friends came during the day and I did well. I ended up with some more rest time on my Man’s lap. He really needs my love!
7/25/11	Another perfect morning, i.e., no pee/poop in the kitchen. Another “great” walk. I got the course down pat. I cannot wait to get back into the yard. I feel so good when I am in the yard, away from other people, dogs, cars, etc. My Man says that I am doing much better with these terrifying demons. He expects me to one day be a dog who enjoys walking! That will be a big day!  I have been having a great time chasing a colored ball that is spiked with grid lines so I can grab it with my teeth and, to everyone’s surprise, I bring it back! Wow! They think that I am brilliant!
7/26/11	The day started great, but my Man was frustrated because I would not poop!  My man loves the dump! He takes me there every week, sometimes even twice. It is amazing that he is so attracted to the place! When we stop anywhere, he feels great hearing everyone comment about how beautiful I look. You would think that he thinks that my beauty is somehow attributed to him! Shows how hard up he is!
7/27/11	I really impressed my Man by signaling my need to poop! You would have thought that he won Mega Millions. This is not rocket science, I tried to indicate, but I still took the chicken treat. As long as he wants to give me the treats, who am I refuse? I did so well with the Man and Woman’s friends. I did not bug them and rested under the table without an issue. Everyone was impressed.
7/28/11	Morning started with a beautiful sun rise. I did my pee/poop outside, as proscribed by the rules! At another time,  I gave the alert bark, signaling my need to get out. It worked. My man took me for another ride. I sort of enjoy the car, no major hassles.
7/29/11	We had a communication problem this morning. Somehow, I went to the door, but no one saw me. So what can you do? I played nicely in the back yard, but still had a hard time with those “terrorists” that walk by me when I am walking with my Man. They do look evil! And those dogs, they are so ugly; they must be evil too!
7/30/11	Last night was interesting! After my Woman took me out before she went to bed (my Man often goes before her since he gets up early for me), she placed me in the kitchen as usual. However, I later barked and barked. My Man thought that I wanted to go out again so he came down stairs. I went out but did nothing. I was placed in the kitchen again and, then barked some more. My Woman then took me up to their bed. Ahh! What a great night’s sleep! Then, I had to go to Puppy School and watch those other canines try to be as smart as I. I did not want to show them up, so I kept mostly to myself until they left the room and then my Man and I played nicely.
7/31/11	I did a little barking in the kitchen last night, but I was too tired to pursue the strategy for sleeping in the big bed upstairs. I was worn out with all the walking, school, and playing in the backyard. I had a great day playing with the kids. I was pooped but not pooped enough to poop when I was supposed to.
8/1/11	I started the day off with a perfect bark that got my Man up from bed and me out to pee! Perfect! Then, before getting too involved with Yoga, my Man noticed me sitting by the door and he let me out to poop! Whoa! Does a day start any better? And then, my Man and Woman with the grandkids went to buy me another bed and some toys. I loved them!
8/2/11	We had a great beginning to the day, measured by pee & poop. You would think that they could become more creative in devising measures of performance! The evening did not end well; I pooped in the kitchen without even trying to alert my Man or Woman!
8/3/11	Today was a rather “normal” day. I did what I supposed to do and my Man played with me. He also taught me a few things. I am not sure that I will remember how to go “down”, but as long as gives me a treat, I will do almost anything!
8/4/11	Wherever I go, people smile at me. My Man takes great pleasure in this, thinking that he made such a great choice of a new pet. I do give him many kisses to show my appreciation. My Man is getting bewildered by my rather bold maneuvers to look on the sidewalk (by myself which he quickly brings me to toe). And, now instead of running away from dogs that dare to walk by the house, I am now showing them my boldness by barking at them to teach a lesson or two.
8/5/11	Everyone is talking about big drop in the Dow, whatever that is. All I know is this is the first morning that my Man did not put me in the kitchen after our walk. He thinks that I am doing better in the basics of pee/poop/biting things (he goes out of his way to remind me that I need careful monitoring).  I was given free reign of the house most of the day (I know that I was being watched, but at least I spent little time by myself in the kitchen). And, I barked when I needed to poop.
8/6/11	I blew everyone’s mind today at Puppy School. Not only did I do a little interacting with the other puppies, I also demonstrated that I can more than take care of myself.  When a couple of puppies came into my space, I growled big time and wow! they knew that I was not joking. Everyone was taken back by my alpha show! My Man and Woman had “friends” over this afternoon. While I was in no way going to be friends with them,  my Man was surely impressed that I stayed on my new bed all the time, even though I could have roamed around.
8/7/11	Today was a somewhat boring day. I did my “tricks” outside, sometimes even with no treats. I kept to myself most of the day, laying either on one of my beds or the floor.
8/8/11	What an event! I was groomed, as though I was not the most attractive dog in the world! The reviews are good and the groomers reported that my behavior was very good. My Man was happy! And later in the day, I blew his mind when I barked at passing dogs and, in fact, chased one! Whoa! A big deal, so he said!
8/9/11	This supposed to be a big day. My Woman’s sisters are coming to visit for several days.  Everyone wants to see how I do. But, the great event of the day was going with my Man and Mika on the Merry-Go-Round at Nantasket Beach. It is famous since it is so old that my Man went on it as a youngster. And the people just loved me! My Man allowed young people to touch me and I just sat there and took it all in. My Woman’s sisters came and I will take me a while to get used to them. Everyone seems to love them, so I should be able to in time.
8/10/11	I really gave my Man a huge thrill today. For whatever reason, I have not dared to go upstairs. No one could understand it. But, today, I followed my friend, Mika, upstairs so that I could take my nap with her. My Man was super impressed and took a picture, but took me downstairs again so Mika could sleep. He did not know how smart I was. I snuck back up again (but, I guess that he is not altogether stupid himself. He figured it out and got me back downstairs.
8/11/11	My visit to the Vet to get the second Lyme Shot went well. No dog would dare get close to me since I growled and barked when someone looked even cross-eyed at me.
8/12/11	There were a lot of people here today and everyone felt that I did o.k. I was still hesitant with the new people, but I was getting less so and people say good words about me. My day was rewarded by my Man and Woman’s allowing me to sleep in their bed at night. I was not a  problem at all!
8/13/11	My Man was blown away when I “insisted” on going to the beach. I ran around crazy but did not go into the water. The big disappointment is that I ran home by myself and would not come to my Man. Bad!  But, the big news is my graduation of Puppy School. People were amazed by his progress during the past five weeks. From the first day when he would not participate at all, he did everything today and even played with one of the other puppies. Onward to Puppy School II!!!!!
8/14/11	Today was somewhat unusual. He started off with my first really wild day on the beach. I ran and ran and ran! And I even played with a dog, even for a brief time. I did great! By the time my Woman’s sisters left, I had really matured even more. Every one noticed it. However, as the day went along, I had a major case of diarrhea. It was my first time with such an experience. It was not pretty! But, everyone took it in stride. They gave me some medicine and they hope that I will be better by tomorrow. But, I will not be in the Man’s and Woman’s bed tonight.
8/15/11	I am getting better with my diarrhea and enjoyed two car trips today. All went well. A normal day for a puppy is a huge day for everyone. My Woman’s sisters are all gone and everyone noticed my maturing over the past week!
8/16/11	Since my Man feared more diarrhea, I was put in the kitchen for the night, or, so he thought. During the night, I made my way beyond the constraints of the kitchen and pawed my way up to the second floor to have some real peace in the big bed. It worked like a charm and, no diarrhea (they gave me some white rice to help matters). My Man loves to have me with him in the car even though I do nothing more than sleep usually. The Man is rather simple!
8/17/11	Today was a rather straightforward day. No hassles, a little playing, a run on the beach, and my food. I had one mishap in the house (a little poop), but my Man is coming up with a new plan to eat earlier in the morning and take me out immediately. This may well do the trick.
8/18/11	After a great night’s sleep in the big bed, a good breakfast, pee and poop, I decided that the chair upstairs in the big  bedroom is so good that I will spend more time there. It is a little bit of a surprise to my Man but he is smiling so it must be o.k.
8/19/11	My Man is buying an Invisible Fence. I really did not understand what they were talking about, but I get the jest of it. I could feel something bad if I don’t stay in the yard!
8/20/11	My Man tells me that we are having a lot of people coming today. From the quiet of just us two (since my Woman is still with the other grandchildren in New Orleans), we are having his daughter and family and their friends. It ought to be interesting. I was the focus of today’s  Skype with our grandchildren in New Orleans where my  Woman is doing some child care.  It was quite the experience. I looked into the computer and saw myself as our New Orleans family saw me. I was elegant and they really loved me. Eve said that she missed me and wanted to get back to Scituate before the scheduled Christmas vacation. Oh, it is such a problem to be in such demand!
8/21/11	Due to the number of people last night, my Man decided that he and I would sleep downstairs. No big deal, but what was good is that I barked during the night since I had to pee! I did great with the new people, especially the children. I loved them and they, in turn, loved me. Finally, for the first time, I jumped on to my Man’s lap and then during the day repeated this three more times! A real milestone.
8/22/11	Last night, I beat my Man up to the big bed! I just waited for him. I barked during the night to pee, but he always considers that a good thing even if I kind of wrecked his sleep. My Man took me again to the famous “transfer station”. He is infatuated with the place. Another milestone was reached tonight when I chased a tennis ball rather than the bigger ball I was chasing. My Man thinks that I will be able to start chasing the ball on the beach.
8/23/11	I am having a routine day and a routine day is a huge success!
8/24/11	Today was my first visit to urban America. I visited my friend, Mika’s, house in Cambridge. The visit went well. I had a great view of Cambridge and the tall buildings of Boston from their top deck. But, I still love my new home in Scituate. We went to the airport to pick up my Woman. What a wonderful experience!
8/25/11	I did a lot of playing in the yard with my Man and Mika. Everything was excellent. No big day which becomes a Big Day in my life.
8/26/11	I woke up my Man during the night to go out to pee. He wished he could have slept but he is so proud of my alerting him about my needs that he does not complain. My Man took me again to his favorite Transfer Station (really is a dump!) and then we had a nice walk along the North River and around town. He says that it is socializing me! (I think that I am really sociable with those I want to be and the rest of them bear some sensitivity!)