Weekly Training Update (Jan 15)

I’m not sure this counts as a real training update since the ONLY thing Lilly and Ginko are learning these days is to handle us being busy, gone, worried all the time. I really wish I could write about the terrible things going on right now, but there are many reasons I cannot. So, please just know that we continue to need a constant flood of good wishes and mojo for pretty much everyone in our family. Those of us, under this roof, are mostly fine, if you don’t count bouts of crying, winter cold germs, unending/unimaginable stress and exposure to frustration from others’ despicable acts and incompetence. So, I offer just this brief glimpse into our world this week.

This post could alternately be entitled … Is this seat taken?

Last week, after many marathon eldercare days that meant being away for 10+ hours several days in a row, Tom climbed onto the sofa to relax. Lilly immediately jumped up to get her empty tank of loving filled. Ginko decided to join the snugglefest and actually SAT RIGHT ON LILLY. She wouldn’t budge. Neither would he … since both were desperate for some attention.

They stayed this way for about 30 minutes, until Lilly squirmed her way toward Tom’s head and out from underneath Ginko’s big butt.

You can see that Ginko is wearing one of the little fleece “coats” I dug out of our dog box. I made them ages ago for our late Dalmatian. It isn’t perfect, but it works to keep my old boy warm.

I’m happy to report that despite this drastic (and I can only hope short-lived) change in their schedule isn’t causing too much trouble behaviorally.

One of them did piddle in the house when we were gone one day last week. But, it happened on the painted concrete floors downstairs, and we were gone WAY longer than expected, so I didn’t sweat it.

I’m so glad that most of the time I can be home with the pups a lot. One of the downsides of that set-up, though, is that it can be hard for them when we are gone for extended hours.

Yet, I’m beyond grateful that both dogs handle it well. No separation anxiety. No destructive habits.

I’ve taken to stuffing frozen sweet potato fries into their toys in the morning, and that keeps them happy … I hope.