The Rumbly in His Tummy

We're finally done with antibiotics!

The days after Odie's graduation were pretty rough. It's only now that I'm slowly catching up on lost sleep, and the panic had already flown away.

My sick boy asking for belly rubs.

It all started on a Sunday night when he had really bad runs coming out on the other end. I thought it was a simple tummy bug so I gave him Yakult and let him rest for the night. On Monday morning he threw up his bile. Twice. So I contacted our veterinarian (pediatrician, according to my mom) to ask what it might be and what I could do about it, and was given advice right away.

By Tuesday morning, I woke up to the sound of Odie's Yaya April telling me that she saw blood in his poop. I rushed to Odie and saw the horrible (not to mention insanely stinky) mess, although it was still the same bouncy baby boy going all over me and humping my arm. This time I contacted the vet and we agreed to have her visit Odie at home in hopes of getting to the root of the problem. Doc Marose reached our place a little over an hour later. She was welcomed by a crazy dog who kept sniffing and jumping, who showed nothing wrong during the physical exam, making me look crazy paranoid for having called for help. We were prescribed some medicine and a bland diet and were told that the upset stomach was caused by something wrong that he ate, or a dewormer that failed to get rid of all the worms.

Since he was vomiting, doc put Odie on a super slow feeding program. I was tasked to give five teaspoons of food every three hours. IT. WAS. TORTURE. Odie looked very excited when I would appear with the food container in hand, and then shift to a forlorn face after the fifth teaspoon. For a while I also couldn't bear to look at him without shedding a tear.

That same night, Odie had another bloody run. Moments after getting in his travel crate (and while I was patiently cleaning bloody dog poop in his wire crate), my sister told me that Odie vomited his dinner! So that's two soiled crates and it's not like we have a third so we let him roam his play area while I cleaned. I also tried my luck in contacting doc at midnight. I couldn't be more thankful to have a vet respond that late, who agreed to do a follow-up house call first thing in the morning.

I put tequila in my coffee on Wednesday morning as alcohol is my coping mechanism for highly stressful events. Odie was given another check-up and doc found nothing wrong. She gave me a couple of antibiotics just in case the dog's excrements would take a turn for the worse, and while we were discussing, Odie showed doc that he did need the antibiotics so doc showed me how to make a dog swallow medicine. It wasn't so easy at first (perhaps because half a pill was too big) so I was shown a technique to activate his swallow reflex. I ended up not using that as Odie fell for the pill bombs that I made. I just divided the pill into quarters so that he would swallow it with the ball of food. Problem solved!

Doc's gloves, his meds, and
a prescription for MORE meds.

Everything went slow and steady since that Wednesday morning house call. Zero changes in energy, zero changes in appetite, but Odie kept blasting the wrath of his broken stomach. I kept him on the bland diet for the duration of his antibiotics sessions so that our house help wouldn't be confused with feeding kibble and cooked food. I had to work long hours during the weekend so even if I was unsure, I entrusted Odie's care in the hands of the house help and my siblings. But of course I did it in such a way that nobody would get it wrong. I left a couple of rules on paper which included my phone number as well as the vet's, measured and labeled Odie's food, and taped the medicine to his meals. Odie's yaya still got it wrong. OH WELL. He was able to shift to a different medicine schedule upon consultation with doc so that was easily fixed.

OC Attack! Labeled food and a sheet of instructions.

Fast forward to today, he's done with medicine and he's back to the crazy boy with a happy tummy! In a few days we will begin practicing for a sporting event so I hope he's ready for tons of action. Now I know how it feels to take care of a sick dog. Definitely not easy! I'm just grateful that I'm not alone in looking out for my weirdog. Doc Marose was quick to respond, has been very patient in answering all my questions, handled my panic well, and monitored Odie's situation throughout this tummy bug episode. Veterinarians must have such strong tummies to endure looking at poop! Thank you, Doc Marose!

Perhaps Odie never felt weak because we called for help at the first sign of discomfort. Some pet owners take their pets' concerns to Google or social media thinking they would save money by getting answers online. Times are hard, yes, but the Internet did not graduate from vet school! Besides, if you wait for worse symptoms to show, you'd end up spending way more.

I'm so glad it's over. I learned a lot from this tummy bug alone, and am more or less ready for the next one. I hope the next one happens in 10 years or so. It's also a good thing that this all happened after Odie graduated from Advanced Class, and before the event on the 29th. Thank you for the good timing, universe!

Odie Birthday Boy

My little boy is no longer a little boy. This puppy is now officially a dog.

Full-grown Odie at one year old

Odie turned one-year old on July 12 and it's just beyond belief! Time flies, really. He's been living in our home for ten months now and I've seen him grow from a wee little puppy to an adult dog. A few days prior to his big day, I can't help but look at photos and videos from months past. He sure looked like a rat and his howl sounded like a cat. Now his looks really tell he's a beagle, and his bay, bark, and howl all sound so rich and deep and beautiful (he's a baritone). Well, he's actually pretty small for his breed, but I have no problems with that. Honestly, I find it good because our front yard is just the right size for his play area. Plus his little trick that involves him jumping and me catching him? I don't think we can manage if he grows any bigger.

We had a simple celebration at home. I got back in Manila three days prior to his birthday so I sourced for ingredients the 10th, baked his cake on the 11th, and spent a happy, chill day on the 12th. I didn't make any adventurous going out plans because I figured that quality time with Odie would be most effective when nobody got stressed. We just did our usual walk around the village, had a candle-blowing ceremony, gave some cake to neighbor dogs, and fed Odie periodically which I think was enough for him to figure out that it was his special day.

Candle-blowing ceremony

ALL IN MY BELLY!

I asked my sister to take photos of him blowing the birthday candle. I was careful to not let him have full access to the whole cake for fear that he would finish it in one sitting because god knows his mouth and tummy know no limits. Just like the parent of any one-year old birthday celebrant (be it human or dog), I carried Odie to blow his birthday candle which of course, he was totally clueless about, so I blew it on his behalf. By the look on his face, he seemed weirded out by a gigantic treat with fire on top, so I brought the cake back to the kitchen to slice him a manageable piece. I also brought out some frozen yogurt treats to pair with the cake and arranged it on his dish. Right after giving him the signal to eat, the cake just VANISHED. And one by one, the yogurt treats also disappeared. He ended up having a goofy smile on his face, played for a bit, and happily took a long nap.

We also sent some cupcakes to Ollie and Tramp who live 10 minutes away. I know they're also always hungry, but I wasn't sure if they appreciated fruit-based treats (because Doc always brings chicken liver or liver bits to share with students). I received a photo response from them that same day.

Ollie and Tramp's birthday greeting! Photo by Doc Marose

The feedback I received from Odie, Ollie, Tramp, and our neighbors' dogs were more than enough to make my heart swell. As you can see, the cupcakes and the cake both look rustic (aka messy) because like I said in the previous entry, I'm a first-time baker and I had no idea what I was doing. Whatever. The dogs love it and that's what matters.

For dinner, Odie had chunks of beef alternating with a beef leg bone that I bought from the supermarket. I consulted our vet before prepping the bone after reading horror stories about dogs swallowing shattered bones and damaging their bodies. I didn't want to serve it raw either because I've never fed Odie raw food out of fear (e-coli, salmonella, whatever else he could get). Doc instructed me to dunk the bone in boiling water for 20 seconds to get rid of surface bacteria without making the bone brittle.

Give a dog a bone!

Odie zoomed in excitement when he saw his first ever bone! I took advantage by letting him do a run-down of his tricks and finally gave my go signal to dig in. Dig in, he did! He chewed on the bone for a little over an hour, although I did have him trade the bone for beef on certain occasions, because the bone is a very high value treat which he might guard if not taught to release early. He growled a couple of times when he saw me getting near the bone. He even growled then barked which bothered me a bit. Thankfully, he figured a slice of beef was a good thing and tolerated having me take the bone away from him. I let him work in peace after a while. I just watched him have the best day ever.

Celebrating Odie's birthday made me feel very grateful that I'm not raising him alone. Sure, I do provide for most of his needs (ie. food, medical expenses, toys, cleaning supplies), but I'm very thankful for the help that other people are giving me. It's very rewarding for Arkei, the breeder from whom I got Odie, to tell me that I'm raising Odie well. I'm also thankful that although she was away for around a month, April takes Odie on walks when I can't, and gives his meals when I'm still asleep, and bathes him when he stinks or is dirty. She even reads the handouts from classes and shares with me what she's gathered from said handouts. She also told our nearby neighbors to keep their dogs on a leash when letting them out so that everyone can walk in our street peacefully. It's such a big help, especially for me, and for those who have been bitten (I once saw a woman walking fast, covering a wound on her arm).

I'm very grateful for getting to know such good classmates and humans in Pet Centrics. The PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) of the PCAA (Pet Centrics Alumni Association) are the pioneers of tiger parenting and healthy competition for dogs. Funny how I saw the recent handouts for Basic Obedience class and the guidelines say there's no need for fancy editing of homework videos. That may have been my fault because my sister and I are maarte like that. We also still share recipes, videos, and behavior matters with one another and I'm thankful that I'm really learning a lot from them, seeing that I'm pretty new at being a hands-on human.

I'm also so happy to have found Pendragon Animal Health Group for microchipping Odie, and for giving me assistance when Odie needed medical attention past midnight. They're also a good source for Frontline (!!!), and they have all these promos and product auctions from time to time. I hear they're now a legit animal hospital, renovations and expansion and all.

Of course, Odie and I are thankful for the gem that is Doc Marose, for giving Odie the best care and training, for answering all my questions, for alleviating my fears, and for going the extra mile. From teaching us tricks not found in the handouts, to letting Odie meet Ollie and Tramp, to letting us sit in and enjoy her training classes, among other things. Although Odie is crazy enough to show off all his tricks and make all these noises when you're discussing, thank you for not banishing us to the park :D

Although my sister no longer makes Odie's videos and no longer goes to training with us, I really appreciate how she is also trying to raise Odie by trying her hand at the new things we're learning, and by going to the drama prince beagle when she gets home (and before he starts crying). I couldn't imagine life if I were the lone absorber of the dog's craziness because it's just too much!

And to you, who visit our little corner in the world wide web, thank you for taking the time to read our entries. I sure hope people are learning from our experiences and are giving their own dogs the best possible lives they can provide. I've learned so many things and have gone through so much since we had Odie. I'm totally looking forward to more play dates, more adventures, and more good times with this baby beagle who is no longer a baby.

The Birthday Cake!

I mentioned in earlier posts that I'm determined to bake a cake for Odie. At the back of my mind though, I was already allotting budget for the cake I would be ordering because I was so sure my cake wouldn't turn out well. I was sooooo thankful things worked out!

I chose a banana-carob-oat doggie cake recipe and was looking for carob which isn't available in grocery stores! I sent a message to Healthy Options to ask if they sold it and they do carry both carob chips and carob powder. I just wasn't told how much it was, but was also informed that it wasn't available in their SM North and Trinoma stores at the time.

Fortunately for me, our family went to Singapore for the weekend and I read somewhere that there was carob powder being sold at Jason's Market Place in Raffles City. Lo and behold, Raffles City was right across our hotel! The entire basement was food heaven. It also houses the best macaron place. Ugh, I miss it already. The actual market wasn't very big, probably the same size as Rustan's in Katipunan, but they had lots of organic stuff.

Bob's Red Mill Toasted Carob Powder
(S$7.70, Jason's Market Place)

I found carob powder and looked for other things I could get for Odie. Unfortunately, there weren't a lot of products for pets, and the few that were there were pricey and are being sold here. I ditched the idea of getting him treats and settled for the bag of carob powder. I got back in Manila by afternoon on the 9th, spent the rest of that day resting, and went to the supermarket the following day.

Ingredients haul (sweet potatoes not in photo)

I went to Shopwise the following day to look for whatever else I was missing. I got a dozen eggs at P65, a small packet of baking powder at P11, cream cheese at P109, rolled oats at P70, a banana at P15, and sweet potatoes at P60. My mom was lucky enough to have spotted a baking supplies store in the Don Antonio area so she got a kilogram of whole wheat flour for P68. I spent roughly P650 on cake ingredients, the same price as a cake from a barkery. BUT I still have loads of raw ingredients left so the actual cost of the cake is... much less (don't trust me with Math, really).

Cake batter ready to be baked

I just measured and mixed all the ingredients as instructed in the recipe. Still no KitchenAid mixer, but our stand mixer did the job pretty well. I don't know where we got the aluminum pan but I'm just happy it exists at home (in three different sizes!). I planned to make more cupcakes for neighbors and friends but the cake pan already used much of the batter so I managed to make just 6 cupcakes. The silicon muffin cups are the only ones we have at home, my sister bought them at Ikea in Hong Kong for roughly HK$40 for 6 pieces. I only filled the pan and cups halfway because I thought the batter would rise. It did, but not as much as I expected it to. Oh and I lined the pan and cups with virgin coconut oil instead of butter. For serious, Odie is a much healthier eater than humans!

BAKED (HEAVY) CAKE!

Frosting

The peanut butter I give Odie isn't like the American peanut butter that holds up well. Plus, those things have so many complex ingredients that scare me, so I opted to mix sweet potatoes and cream cheese to make a faux fondant (fauxndant?) and may have gone overboard with the ratio, but I'm not so sure. It was very easy to mould though so I didn't have problems frosting the cake and cupcakes.

Newly-frosted cake and cupcakes. Ready for icing!

I originally wanted at least two colors for the icing but I didn't know what else to color the potato with. Later on I found out we have moringa in the empty lot across the street where our driver plants veggies. Oh well. So I got the leftover frosting and mixed some carob powder to give it color and a faux chocolate (fauxcolate?) flavor. The carob powder I used was roughly 2 tablespoons and believe me, a little carob goes a long way. I don't have a piping bag so I went on YouTube and learned that a resealable bag can be a good piping bag substitute. I used around 3 bags because they kept breaking (the icing was too dense, apparently) and wrote the dedication.

There are brown smears because I could no longer erase my failed letters without leaving a brown mark. I thought of them as the dirt and soil that Odie loves to eat from the front yard. Lame excuse, I know.

The pupcakes were easier to ice because I watered it down a bit for easier icing flow and to keep the bags from breaking. This was supposed to be a pack of 6 but the container couldn't handle so I settled for five. It kind of looks like a bone so it makes sense somehow. I gave one cupcake to Toby and Max who live next door.

All in all, the cake turned out pretty okay in terms of taste. Took me around 6 hours to get it done because it was my first time ever to bake a cake, my first time ever to frost a cake, and my first time ever to draw on a cake using icing. The icing looks so bad though! Gotta work on that. For now, we have to live with ugly icing. Let's call it "rustic" so it doesn't sound as bad. The cake itself turned out really heavy. I took a bite and it was DENSE! It tasted like a really dense but really bland banana bread.

But we all know that Odie is forever hungry. Maybe that's why I love cooking and baking for him - he just excitedly eats everything he's given and doesn't tell me what tastes right or wrong!

Odie Bubble Boy

A puppy's overall health could easily be seen through his coat. I know that I'm doing my job well and feeding Odie good food because when I get the chance to stroke his fur, it feels soft and smooth even without professional grooming. I used to supplement this by using Bearing shampoo which smelled like typical shampoo, but then my sister brought home a different bottle last month and told me to try it out. When I saw that it's by Human Nature, I was sold, and I'm never going back.

Human Nature has been our go-to source for natural products. It's a relatively new company by the same family behind Gawad Kalinga, a nation-building movement that has given homes and jobs to the less fortunate (which was brought up in almost every Christmas Homily by Fr. Ben when I was in college, haha). Their products are all-natural which is pretty evident in the mild scents of their products such as soaps, shampoos, deodorants, dishwashing liquid, bug sprays, etc.

Furry Kind Natural Cocomutt Shampoo is their first ever product dedicated to pet care. It was launched just this March as a collaborative effort between Human Nature and their global ambassador, Rachel Grant (yes, the Bond girl). The shampoo comes in a 500ml pump bottle, is 96.4% natural, and 100% safe.

Pre-bath happiness.
Furry Kind Natural Cocomutt Shampoo (P349.75, Human Nature)

We opened the bottle that night to take a whiff of the tangerine scent and the moment we did so, a sleepy Odie suddenly stood up, looking so excited and alert. He must have loved the smell as much as we did! I thought he was going to actually want to take a bath!

I gave the shampoo a test run at a time when Odie's nanny was on vacation. It was a hot summer day and I didn't get to buy a kiddie pool. I wanted him to try taking a swim though so I brought out the biggest basin I could find at home. I filled it up, took Odie out, then tried applying the shaping exercise we learned from our classes at Pet Centrics. He managed to get all four paws in the basin, but would exit right after receiving his treat. Darn! Gotta work on durations in water. Remind me to buy a kiddie pool!

Mid-bath. This puppy doesn't look too pleased.

When I started pumping the shampoo onto my palm, he kept jumping to reach for my hand. Maybe the orangey smell made him think it was a treat? Although he does eat everything so I couldn't be too sure. It was a bit hard for me to see the shampoo lathering up. This is usually the case with natural/organic products - lather means chemicals, I guess. It did work its way through Odie's coat after some scrubbing. While he likes to run around and away when it's rinsing time, he absolutely LOVES being scrubbed and would stay still for a good massage.

It was rinsing time so I encouraged him to get back to the basin for another swimming attempt. He went in and soaked himself in the water for a few seconds. Upon getting out, he started drinking the water which already contained a good amount of shampoo! I ditched the swimming idea and just started rinsing so we could finish the bath.

I left a message on Furry Kind's Facebook Page and got a reply later on, from none other than Rachel Grant herself! I asked if there are any signs of discomfort I should watch out for because Odie liked licking his coat and the shampoo-filled bath water. Fortunately, since it's 100% safe, I had nothing to worry about. Although of course, that doesn't give Odie the license to keep drinking the shampoo!

Post-bath exhaustion. He went in his crate and
slept like a baby right after this photo.

More than a month later, there's still quite a good amount of shampoo left. His skin now hardly has any pink spots (he had contact dermatitis when we were still using his old shampoo), his coat is very soft and even has a bit of a shine to it. Hugging Odie after a bath is something he hates but something I love. He smells so good and orangey! I want to bite him!

I hope that Furry Kind would release more products within the year. I'm a freak for natural pet products. I bake most of Odie's treats and I could go as far as making dog shampoo from scratch, but Furry Kind already does the job. Plus points for being a lot cheaper than most dog shampoos as well. Maybe they can make a soap version for those who'd prefer it. Maybe they can make treats! Or maybe other herbal treatments like in dog spas. Or other shampoo scents like lavender to calm down a very active puppy like Odie. Well, whatever they come up with, I'm sure we're going to try it out!

This post is not sponsored by Human Nature! I just really support their products and their cause. Check out their site for a list of stores and dealers that carry their brand. I know their products are also available in Rustan's, Shopwise, Robinsons, and Landmark supermarkets. We're just so lucky their flagship store is quite near our village :D

Catch Up!

I haven't blogged in more than a week! I've been doing quite a lot of work for sustenance, and I've been a lot more hands-on (yes, it's possible) with Odie because our house help is on vacation for the election period and we're left with house help that I don't trust. I'm lucky to have made time tonight because Odie has already gone potty for the night so he went to bed early and I have time to write. Finally!

For more than a week now, I've managed to wake up before 7AM everyday to give Odie his breakfast, make him go potty, clean his area and sneak in some play time. It's pretty tiring! So far I've also given him some baths, cleaned his ears, and did the cooking/baking days. It's fun to bathe Odie because in spite of his VERY crazy disposition during baths, there's a sense of accomplishment in finally finishing after what seems like a lifetime of soaping and scrubbing and having him try to swim.

I still bring him to Pet Centrics on weekends in spite of having graduated more than a month ago. Doc allowed us to sit in, do a couple of demos, and help the current students in her Basic Obedience (Beginners) class. We're not required to attend every Saturday, but we've done so for the most part because I really want to tire him out like that at least once a week. It also gives Odie and I something to look forward to every weekend. It's just a bit sad that the current class isn't as competitive as our class was in terms of video submissions. I guess they have the funds to spend on Kong toys. HAHAHA! Their homework is also really easy! If I didn't put the tripod back in the attic, we'd be doing their homework on top of going to their classes! But seriously, I hope they take the time to train everyday even without the videos. I also hope that the Puppy Class this June happens!

The other night, Odie swallowed another foreign object and gave my sister and I the best time to panic! We saw him approach one of the plants in the front yard and he suddenly started coughing and had a hard time swallowing! It must have been a big twig. He was gagging and there was a weird sound whenever he swallowed, so we tried giving him cotton balls cut into little pieces for him to ingest. I read online that cotton helps envelope a swallowed foreign object so that it would easily pass through the digestive system. We were shocked when he regurgitated the cotton and a piece of peanut butter treat, so we decided it was time to call for help. I thought he was choking! It was midnight then so I was a bit hesitant to call Doc Marose. I would usually just SMS her when something comes up but it looked like Odie needed immediate help so I called her and didn't get an answer. Turns out, it was one of the rare occasions when people drift from routine and turn in early. Next, I called Pendragon Veterinary Clinic as I know they're open 24/7. Doc Thea was the one who answered which gave me a bit of relief as she's the one who microchipped Odie. She gave me the option to observe Odie myself or to rush to their clinic for an x-ray. I discussed the matter with my sister and while we were doing so, Odie ate the cotton, drank lots of water, and even stole and swallowed a treat! We then called it a night as he seemed fine. 30 hours later, a big twig wrapped in cotton made a graceful exit when Odie went potty. Huge sigh of relief.

Gotta admit, I'm pretty exhausted doing all the puppy duties, but Odie seems to be very appreciative of everything I do so it's worth it. It's just unsettling that the house help isn't reliable so it's really hard for me to leave the house while April is on vacation. Last week, I had work from noon til midnight and the whole family also had their own thing. I was so worried that Odie would be fed strange things so I asked Doc if there's any boarding service where I can leave Odie and pick him up at midnight. Most boarding services tell you to pick up the puppy the following day so it was a bit of an absurd need, but I don't think Odie is ready for a sleepover at some dog hotel. I hope someone provides that service soon enough for moms who have work til late.

Oh, and as promised (I think), the TV feature on positive dog training aired on TV5 some weeks ago. I'm embedding the video from Doc Marose because it looks better. Just look at Odie, Buzz, and Doc doing their thing, being awesome and all.

MisadventureS.

It's 2:30 in the morning and I'm still up and about, vigilant until the household wakes up in the morning so someone else could watch over Odie.

A few hours ago, I let Odie out of his crate and he zoomed past me, past the front yard/garage gate, and basically went around the perimeter of the house. While doing so, he stole a sponge that was about to be thrown. It used to be the dishwashing sponge, a small, round one, about 3 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. Our house help was the one running after him as I dug through Odie's things to search for a squeaky toy to lure him back. Recall didn't do us good. Upon finding his Kong Wubba, I squeaked it multiple times and told him to get it. He ran very excitedly past the tile steps and made the huge leap to launch the game of tug! I saw his neck touch the floor on the way and was surprised to see that while tugging, his collar was around a foot away from us. Darn it! His only collar finally gave up.

I made Odie wear his harness while waiting for the temporary collar to arrive.
I was telling him that he's a very naughty boy and that I'm worried about how the
sponge incident would end. He responded by giving me this face. ARRRRRGH!

Of course, I was more concerned about the sponge than the collar so I didn't think twice about contacting Doc Marose right away. I asked if there's anything I should watch out for because I've read lots of things about intestinal blockage. Doc willingly gave me advice and told me to monitor Odie's trips to the bathroom, and to watch out for signs of pain.

So here I am doing exactly that. It's been nine hours since the incident and Odie is happy as a clam, showing zero signs of discomfort which is hopefully a good thing. I'm really just waiting for a sponge to come out of the other end. Yuck! Odie has eaten two cigarette butts and two Christmas bulbs and survived all four separate hullabaloos without having me bring him to an emergency vet. It's the first time he's eaten something pretty big though so I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the sponge gets out of his system within the day. Funny how having a dog makes you do things you never imagined, like watching for objects in dog poop.

It's pretty interesting, though. I was telling Doc that I wasn't so sure how clean/dirty the sponge was (it's definitely gonna be dirty now!) and she told me that the soap and dirt doesn't matter as much, what's important is that Odie passes it. Weird how a dog's stomach is strong enough to handle dirt, but it can't tolerate food like grapes and chocolate. Sad how we can't share a jar of Nutella. Doc also told me that the contents of a dog's stomach go out on the other end every 10-12 hours. Gotta admit, it's quite fun to learn about how a dog's system works and how they behave and how we play a part in their health and behavior. Who knew I'd actually be interested in Science, right?! Good job, Doc and Odie!

About the collar, my sister was on the way home and stopped to do a bit of groceries. She also thought of getting a temporary collar because it's hard to put the harness on and take it off when Odie goes in and out of the crate. In the supermarket, she saw just two kinds of dog collars and zero leashes so she thought of just getting a collar to last until I go out and get a legit collar, or a Lupine (whichever comes first). The collar she got had no price tag so she proceeded to checkout without asking. To her surprise, the collar cost her Php400 and she didn't want to go through the fuss of returning so she paid for it and took it home. When she got home, she put the collar on Odie and told me the story. I got upset when I found out how much it was because oh my god, just a bit more and we could have gotten a Lupine! So yeah, I checked it out and ended up laughing so hard because NO SHIT, THE COLLAR HAS BLING BLING! I couldn't photograph the buckle but it's the most studded part of the entire thing! Can't wait til Odie gets to school on Saturday. The boys might tease him, but I've resolved to think of it as his way of promoting gender equality. NO H8, right?

Odie's new collar, in detail. So gay, just like mommy!

I'm hoping to find a Wet Paint Lupine leash when I go out because that's the only leash that would match this collar :D

Because yes, he broke his leash in class on Saturday. He was tethered to one of the posts in the court while Doc was telling me and May what to do as humans sitting in at the Basic Obedience (Beginners) class. A Belgian Malinois went in and Odie wanted to greet him, he made a huge leap forward, causing the leash to break! That was the only day I didn't bring any of his backup leashes. Good thing Doc had an extra leash or I would have been forced to just crate him for the rest of the class or just go home. It got us through the class, and his backup leashes at home are getting worn out so yes, it's time to get a legit leash.

That Saturday was also the class where Odie did a demo of tugging with teacher, and he got really excited (they were using his Kong Squiggles which is STILL his favorite toy) and he ended up biting teacher's hand. When Doc returned Odie to me, she told me that he bit her hand and I only processed the information after 30 seconds or so. I apologized and offered baby wipes to at least cleanse the wound but Doc declined and told me it's okay because she's had much worse. Still, I felt bad because Odie would usually cut and bruise no one else but me. This one happened to his teacher, in front of the class, while doing a demo. I made a mental note to always bring alcohol and a pack of band aids from now on. I hope Doc's hand is okay.

We've had a couple of misadventures in the span of less than a week! I don't know what's happening, if this is adolescence, or if I'm raising Odie the wrong way (I hope not). It's pretty stressful for me as a human, because while I am very good at handling nerves and showing a calm disposition amidst emotionally charged situations, I do have a tipping point, too. Besides, expenses like a new leash, new collar, and (again, I hope not) a trip to the vet are something I am prepared for, but I try my best to avoid them so that we could just happily go shopping for new toys and treats. But if all these things are necessary, ah well, we have no choice but to put one foot (and paw) in front of the other.

After all, Odie might be YOLO-ing, but I still love him too much.

Squiggle-Dee-Doo-Dah!

Odie finally has a Kong Squiggles! SQUEEEEEE!!!

Kong Squiggles (large) in elephant design from Pet Centrics

Doc Marose went to the park after last Friday's shoot with a big box in tow. When she opened it, I could swear, Odie and I just got transported to Kong heaven! See, during graduation, we were given gift certificates with different amounts instead of material prizes. The last two graduations, Odie placed third in class and got two of the same toy, the Kong Classic. That proved to be quite helpful though because Odie's Kong Classic was left in teacher's stuff last Friday so at least we have another one while waiting for Saturday's class to come around.

Odie saw the toys laid out on the table but couldn't reach for them. I guess he got really overwhelmed and just wanted to get one already because he focused on the items on the table and started crying, seemingly confused. I settled for the elephant Squiggles and am still deciding on one other item to consume the amount on my GC.

Odie already grabbed the toy when I got it, but I didn't let him have it because he might get hurt playing with it with the label still on, and so that I could take a proper photo first. We formally tried it out when we got home and Odie just went CRAZY! It's very soft so he likes biting into it, both ends have squeakers which he could sometimes squeak, and it's pretty durable for a plush toy. It's been four days but we rarely play with the Squiggles to keep him interested in the toy. He now goes into a frenzy when he hears a squeak, jumps to try getting the toy (of course, he never wins that one!), and behaves to get the toy. He loves it so much, he latches on to it every time it's within reach. I could very well use it as his leash! The toy is also very friendly to humans because since it's elastic, it's easy to relinquish when I end a game of tug. When I use other tug toys, I always make an effort to keep most of the toy close to me to end the game. Point being, it's a really good toy!

Now the only thing I have to do is to decide between a large Wubba or a small Wobbler. Welp!

NEEDS and wants.

I finished the trick videos tonight and I have a bit of time to spare. It's late and we can't do homework right now so I went to my favorite online stores and looked at all the things I cannot buy.

I mean, not yet. But if I did have a balikbayan box to fill with whatever I want from the US, I think half of it's gonna be filled with things for Odie. I'm posting a few of them, just so that when I finally decide to whip out that credit card, I already know what purchases to make. Two of Odie's self-proclaimed godmothers are actually based in LA and are asking what pasalubong they can bring Odie when they go for vacation in Manila. Here's an idea! Haha, but talk to me first to avoid duplicates in case I can't wait for you guys.

Disclaimer: Allow me to be a total ditz because my brain cells are tired.

Pet waste bags from Downtown Pet Supply ($49.99, Amazon). I keep buying waste bags from Ace Hardware at around P80 for a pack of three rolls, so that's P26 for each roll. This is a box of 110 rolls and it's gonna last us a couple of years! I might also want to give some to irresponsible humans who don't know how to pick up after their spoiled dogs. Oh and yes, I want it in many colors because it looks so happy!

Martha Stewart Pets waste bag dispenser ($7.99, PetSmart). I know, I already have a dispenser and the item before this one also comes with a dispenser, but just LOOK at it! It's made of leather and it attaches to the leash, and most of all, it looks absolutely pretty. It's like dog poop sophistication! It also comes in brown but this color is close to Tiffany & Co's blue, and I love Tiffany & Co.

Lupine 3/4" medium adjustable collar ($10.99) and 4 foot padded handle lead ($13.99) in Wet Paint design. The lead is available at Hobbes and Landes at High Street for Php1049.75. Although Lupine products are sold in Manila, my needs are very specific and they don't have this set here all the time. What I like about Lupine is that they have a lifetime guarantee so they're gonna keep replacing your lead and collar if your dog chews it up! How amazing is that? Their prints are really pretty and the material is strong. And the gate snap looks real secure.

Lupine 30-foot training lead in blue ($29.99). Since our training lead problem has already been solved, I definitely want something better than our current training lead which I just cut off of a retractable leash. This can also come in Wet Paint to match the lead and collar I want, but maybe going for a solid color would lessen the risk of it being a potential distraction. Like Doc Marose said, getting a training lead is more of for my own peace of mind. Having a Lupine training lead would give me peace of mind because I know that Odie won't get lost, and because I know that having him run (almost) freely with a Lupine lead is a pretty sight.

EzyDog Vario 6 Lite in blue ($25). This is also available in Pet Express for around Php2000. A dog can never have too many leashes and collars. What I like about the Vario 6 is that although it lacks a fancy schmancy design unlike the Lupine, it can function as a long/short leash, long/short tether, a hands-free leash, and a double dog leash. I want the lite one because the regular one looks too thick. I also only want this because I want a good harness.

EzyDog Chest Plate Harness in blue ($25). It's also available in Pet Express for Php1250. This is the only reason why I want an EzyDog leash. I know we've learned loose-leash walking and heeling in class, but I still kind of feel bad whenever Odie pulls. Lupine also has harnesses, but this looks friendlier to a dog's body.

Outward Hound Quick Access Treat N' Training Bag in pink ($10.58). It looks like it can hold a lot of stuff, which is great because I don't want to keep lugging around a bag bigger than mine whenever I take Odie out. It's also a legit treat bag (I don't bring my makeshift treat bag in class because Odie shoves his face into it) so it should do the job. Although hmm I'm not too sure. Odie does shove his face into teacher's treat container as well. Oh, and it's pink because I'm the one who's going to wear it!

Ollydog Sipper in blue loops ($12). We have a resealable travel bowl but it gets pretty hard to use because it's narrow and it's too light. This one looks nice, is foldable, and it can hold food and water. Oh my god, I can only imagine having all these things in Odie's bag. Speaking of which, I've yet to find a pretty bag that could carry a long leash, this bowl, wet tissue, toilet paper, and some toys.

Kong AirDog Squeakair Balls ($6.30). I mentioned that Odie lost his tennis ball and yup, I still haven't bought a new one because I haven't had some "me" time and with hell week in our midst, it looks like I can only go shopping after Odie graduates. In class last Saturday, the dogs had some playtime with teacher's tennis balls. When Odie got the ball, he started running REAL FAST that the bigger dogs had a hard time catching up. He kept the ball in his mouth the entire time! He must have felt so ball-deprived! I saw some Squeakair balls in Trinoma but they're too small, he might choke on them. Ew that sounded dirty. So for now I'm gonna have to go with legit tennis balls first. But this Squeakair is gonna be perfect for fetch games which Odie loves!

Kong Flyer, large ($10.10). We haven't worked with a flying disc before. I do have two Ultimate Ultra-Stars because I used to play ultimate frisbee, but it might be too heavy for Odie, plus the material might not be too friendly to his teeth. At least if it's a product intended for dog use, I'm sure it's safe.

Pet's Double Laser Chase Toy ($48.83). Well we don't really need this, but it looks like a fun contraption. Odie's gonna go even crazier and I think it's gonna tire him out. Heeheehee! And look! It's a beagle and a cat! Maybe Odie can finally play with the cat that always comes to our house!

Intex Metal Frame Pool Set ($147). I'm sick of the endless search for a swimming pool in Manila that allows dogs. I've always wanted to know if Odie could swim! I don't know where my brother's kiddie pool from x years ago went. This is the ultimate goal, but if not, I'm good with any kiddie pool that isn't inflatable!

Pet Dreams Plush Cratewear Set in Wedgewood Blue ($67.44). I had a crate cover made for Odie a few months back. It was made out of fleece. Sadly, he kept on pulling it in so now it's all tattered. Sigh. I just want to prettify Odie's crate so that he doesn't get too cold in the Christmas months. I really like how this comes with beddings, and even the sides are also lined! Amazing.

The Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain ($59) looks awesome! I put water on Odie's dish when we finish playing, but I still let him keep his water feeder in his crate just in case he wants water at night. I'm scared that the water there might not be fresh come morning so I think a fountain would be cool. Literally. HAHA. My only problem here is that he might not stop drinking water!

And last but not least, a Kuranda Standard Dog Bed in almond frame with a smoke-colored Cordura surface, small size ($56.95). This bed was one of the examples of dog beds that Doc Marose showed us during orientation. It's a really good orthopedic dog bed, and this is the most sensible combination I could find because their colors are quite limited. Based on what I saw, it has a really nice bounce which means great back support! And it's elevated so Odie would be kept cool and comfy.

If I actually bought these things, my grand total would be... a lot. That would mean no more food, treats, schooling and health care for him, and maybe, just maybe, no more house for me.

The Calm Before the Storm

We didn't reach this week's homework quota. Insert sad face. We did, however, manage to do some rounds of all the homework on the list. I guess that counts for something!

This is just an idea of how my homework tracker looks like. GAH! So much red, so little time! That's not even all of the things we have to accomplish this week! We're gonna have to do a daily marathon to get this done. Not to mention, I'm gonna have to edit as if I really know how to edit.

I'm pretty thankful that this week's submission was moved to today instead of last night. I finished editing last night and finished uploading them by 3AM so all I have to do now is embed. Procrastination reduced exponentially! The next deadline is on Friday night though so GOOD LUCK TO US. Well, lucky for Odie, he gets to rest and play with other people after we shoot. The human has to export, edit, upload, and write a blog after shooting. So yeah. I am my own producer, director, talent (I appear in some videos, after all), video editor, and writer. Do I love Odie? Do I?

Here's our submission for Session 4:

Sit with Distance: at Home from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Down with Distance: at Home from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Stand with Distance: at Home from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

So thankful that I didn't have much trouble getting these done. I didn't know I've been doing distance exercises with Odie so this didn't need rehearsals. Yes, sometimes I do rehearsals before shooting because it's a waste of camera battery and memory if I just leave it on the whole time and hope for the best. When we do outdoor shoots, I even bring my laptop with me just so I can export when the memory card is almost full. I'm really that my equipment's intact and I don't want to speak too soon!

I think the only problem I had was keeping Odie in a "down" position. Sometimes, he would do a down and when I walk away, he would roll over. I don't know why he thinks rolling over is so fun. I swear, from the moment we learned it in class, he hasn't stopped rolling.

Sit with Distance: Outdoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Down with Distance: Outdoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Stand with Distance: Outdoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

These outdoor distance exercises were shot after class on Saturday. All week, I was getting really frustrated with using the long line for our outdoor shoots (by long line, I now mean a retractable leash that I cut off that huge plastic contraption and no longer a string of connected leashes). Odie has a fascination for moving objects, so having him see the long line in motion is enough to send him into a frenzy. It's like giving a yarn ball to a cat on Red Bull! To keep him from biting it, I thought of putting vinegar, hot sauce, or lemon juice, as I read that these are alternatives to bitter sprays. I had him try a few drops of each in hopes that he would show an aversion to at least one. He liked them all. Boo! Even the hot sauce, he licked vigorously. He scrambled for water after a while so I thought he didn't like it. I put another drop on the floor and he happily licked it again. We're doomed.

I was close to giving up and just ditching the outdoor exercises, but Doc Marose is too nice, she gave me a tutorial after our class. Guess she felt how frustrated I was so she decided to help me out. There was also some time to spare while waiting for her student to come in for individual lessons. Success in the training venue! Success in the park across the street! I had a quick nap upon getting home and tried laying the long line outside before taking him outdoors. Success in the outdoor locations, I just had to tear up when I exported the videos to my laptop. So grateful that Odie has gotten the hang of that distraction, and even more grateful for being reminded that help comes to those who ask. Now that's what light at the end of the tunnel looks like!

Place with Duration: Indoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Place with Duration: at Home from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Place with Duration: Outdoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

I divided the Place with Duration exercises into three because durations usually call for one extremely long video. That's gonna be so boring and I don't have the patience for such things. I also just wanted a way to use the very cute song which I ended up using for the outdoor video. It's called "We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3, and it pretty much encapsulates my relationship with Odie. It can get real tough but it's all really just a matter of knowing how to approach it. When he does something wrong and gets to my nerves, I always remind myself that he just might not understand what I'm trying to say. After all, he is still very young. And for an eight-month old puppy to have already gone through three classes, I'm guessing that's a huge deal for him! Needless to say, I'm proud of what Odie has learned so far.

We were given our class standing this morning, as of the homework submission prior to this one. I'm quite happy with what we have so far. I don't know how the coming submissions will change things, and I don't want to know so I'm gonna have to keep working. The last stretch is always the hardest. Gotta get through and finish strong!

It's also great to know that although the videos I make are not as good as my sister's videos (she did the editing for Puppy Class homework), they are still fun to watch. I do have the option to just record and publish so it's not as stressful, but these exercises are sort of milestones in Odie's life and I would want to keep watching them over and over, and maybe share them with friends who might want to enroll their dog/s in a course at Pet Centrics. That said, the videos should at least be watchable.

We graduate for a third time on Saturday! After this course, I might give it a few months before enrolling in a next class. I really love going to training (and I'm sure Odie does too), but I can't handle the pressure of homework again just yet. It's also really difficult to do homework because of the summer heat. Even at 7AM, the sun already burns the skin and I feel bad for having Odie bathe in the sun. He starts panting after just a few minutes. I do hope though that the PCAA (Pet Centrics Alumni Association, coined by me and May, HAHA!) can do weekly training in a more relaxed setting. Even just at the park across the street would be good! I want Odie to constantly have playmates with humans who understand dog and leash etiquette. And yup, we both have gotten used to waking up early on Saturdays, a feat for someone who's not a morning person!

Separation anxiety!

Record Breaker

I'm so gonna make up for us in the coming submissions.

Personally, this is unacceptable. I have no one to blame but myself. I didn't train Odie on Monday and Tuesday so that his injured leg could fully recover. One of the exercises required a ball which we lost (I haven't gone to the mall to look for a replacement yet!), so that's an entire activity I'm gonna have to make up for this week even without a video. I was planning to shoot this morning just like I did last week, only to find out that my sister was going to use the car and I'm too scared to drive the alternative car. I settled for shooting at the nearby houses then. Odie and I went out at 7:15 to find a way through covering outdoor locations. Unfortunately, our neighbors are really very consistent about letting their dogs roam freely so we weren't able to accomplish much. I decided to just halt all shooting and begin the editing.

It's the least homework we're turning in for this entire course and I'm gonna have to complete the succeeding ones if I intend to "run for honors" HAHA. Putting it that way sounds less shallow than saying "if I want to win a toy". I've been a bad human this week. Gotta be tiger mom ASAP!

Odie seems really easily distracted lately. In class yesterday, he was able to do all the exercises, but not without having me feel like I'm Dora the Explorer in terms of getting his attention and convincing him to follow the verbal cues. He kept sniffing the floor, perhaps hoping to steal a treat (he has this nasty habit of eating loose treats when his classmates' humans spill some). He kept sniffing the floor especially when we were heeling. The first time was really bad, I sort of cheated in the second round. I got one piece of the Tasty T-Bonz treat and held on to it through the course. I kept giving him the peanut butter treats and only gave the special one at the end. Sorry, Doc! We're not worthy of your "much better" remark after that!

Here's our record-breaking submission for this week:

Vimeo is taking quite a while uploading the rest of my videos, so I'm using YouTube for now, and will edit as soon as the Vimeo uploads are available.
-Edit: as of March 25, 10:30 PM, all videos are now in Vimeo!-

Sit/Down Step Run: At Home from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Step Run Outdoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

I refrain from using a long line (aka connected leashes. What is wrong with me?) because I'm scared of   Odie being too far from me in a place where cars pass by all the time. I just run a bit slower and hope he's running with me.

I was a bit annoyed yesterday afternoon because when I decided to shoot, a bunch of little boys suddenly went outside and played running games. I feared for my camera!!! They kept asking me what Odie and I were doing, if the camera was working (WHY WOULD I SET UP A TRIPOD AND CAMERA IF IT'S FAKE?), among other things. I just did a quick set and went back home. I mean, good job, kids, for actually playing outside instead of playing with your iPads or something, but please do not disturb us.

Durations: At Home from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

I felt so bad for Odie when I started editing this durations video! When we were shooting, I remember slowly counting to 30 (30 seconds was the longest duration indicated in the handout), so I was so shocked to see that there were some that lasted for almost a minute, and one past the one minute mark! I didn't know I counted way too slow! We weren't able to do durations outside because every time we tried going out, there was so much going on outside. Very high distractions didn't allow us to pass five seconds. Nyarrr...

Sit/Down/Stand with Distraction: Front Yard from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Sit/Down/Stand with Distraction: Garage from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Sit/Down/Stand with Distraction: Patio from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Sit/Down with Distraction: Outdoors from Pauline Gaerlan on Vimeo.

Odie was pretty okay with having me go around him. I'm just a bit iffy about some of his "down" videos because he kept shifting his weight to one side in an attempt to keep an eye on me. In the garage, he even took it a step further and did a roll over! I was so surprised when yesterday, he did the same thing in class! I'm happy that he's rolling over again (he stopped for a while when he got injured), but he's back to rolling way too much!

I haven't received session 4 homework yet so I can't plot my shot list and plan my week. Are we resting tomorrow? I'm not so sure. I just know that we're gonna have to do a lot more than this week's submission. Also gotta work on getting his attention, which means I have to be interesting enough for a dog to not wander off. This is definitely harder than dealing with children.

Injury!

After getting frustrated with erratic weather patterns (really hot early mornings and lots of afternoon rain), I declared stress and began searching for alcohol. It's been very difficult to manage time when I feel the need to keep shooting and keep ticking each box in our homework tracker. I think it's really just my kaartehan that makes me want to finish everything and have a complete submission tomorrow night. I'm not after the toy we could get from teacher on graduation day. I just want to fill the x's, really. It's like coloring a page on a coloring book where you don't leave any area uncolored. Oh my god, am I mentally ill?!

Our other classmates have also expressed frustration over not completing the homework, some admitting defeat after exhausting all possible outdoor locations. Doc Marose eventually had to step in and reminded us that the homework videos are not what the course is all about. What matters is making time to train our dogs and that we all have fun while we're at it. I just had to tear up upon reading that. I've been forgetting to have fun, and the exercises (especially tugging) were becoming more of a chore for me. I thought of giving Odie and I a few days off so I could refocus and be a funner, more productive human.

I didn't know that the universe would conspire and force us to have a break.

Last night, April, our household helper, was playing with Odie while feeding him dinner. She put his dish on the window sill so they could do more games. Perhaps out of so much excitement and hunger, Odie jumped pretty high to try reaching for his food bowl, and hit his right hind leg against the brick wall. One of his nails got chipped, he yelped and fell pretty bad, and started limping. I was inside the house having dinner with my brother when it happened and I didn't hear Odie cry because the TV was on. I had one bite of my spaghetti when April rushed in and said, "Pauline, napilay yata si Odie." I froze in my seat for a while. It's the first time I'm gonna have to attend to a lame puppy. There's a first time for everything, I guess, but it felt really weird to even just imagine Odie not in tip top shape at such an early age.

Odie was happily running when my brother and I went out to check on him. Happily running, but doing so with only three legs. He kept his right hind leg raised and I wanted to just hug him and carry him and put him in a bubble to be protected from all kinds of danger. April narrated to me what happened and kept telling me that he might have just overstretched a muscle, that it's gonna go back to normal eventually, etc. I refused any more talk because neither of us is a vet. We both do not have the right to declare anything. I'm really not a fan of believing what other people say unless they hold a certain degree of credibility. Just the other day, I saw an ad for a basic obedience class and wanted to find out the rate and the credentials of the instructor just to feel even better that Odie is in Pet Centrics. I got a response saying the course rate is more than twice the rate of Odie's class, and the instructor rambled on about how he doesn't have a Behavioral Science diploma but has years of experience in training dogs. That rate and a trainer with no diploma? You cannot be serious. Wait, I digressed in a major way.

I immediately sent a text message to Doc Marose to ask what I could and should do about Odie's leg. Waiting for her reply was one of the longest, most agonizing waits I had to endure. I've been reading Veterinarians Behaving Badly and tried my best to be a good human so I only allowed myself two text messages and zero calls. Although it was a long shot, I hoped that she could do a house call because there were no cars at home. I could swear I heard angels when I finally received a response. I was told that it may just be a sore muscle, and was instructed to apply a cold compress on the area (unsuccessful, he kept eating the ice) and to go to class early the next day so she could check. She also said that we might have to sit out some of the exercises at school. That last part saddened me because what about homework? I was planning to shoot homework before/after the class in an attempt to complete our outdoor locations! What's even sadder was how I was thinking of giving us a break, but I never wanted it at the expense of Odie's well-being. Doc seemed one step ahead of me by reminding me to get some sleep and to stop worrying about what happened to my baby boy. I cried it out, turned to alcohol to calm me down, and fell asleep by midnight.

Odie was still limping this morning and avoided the use of the affected hind leg. We reached the training venue at 8:30 (we were told to come at 8:45 but it's been a practice of mine to always arrive way earlier than the scheduled time). Doc checked on Odie who improved exponentially, walking on all fours and even jumping and running. She told me that it's just a bruise and it would completely heal in a couple of days. He's still being careful with his leg when he does sits and downs. Other than that, he seemed pretty okay. Doc even said she wouldn't have noticed that something was wrong had I not asked for her help. I was so shocked that he was up and running and doing all the exercises! I was told to just walk him through the recall exercise, but he seemed willing to run so we walked only during the first round and did the succeeding rounds just like the rest of his classmates. Odie did all the other exercises successfully, and even did very good demos of the place exercise! Not once did he lift his right hind leg while we were training. Oh, Odie. All in the name of being the demo dog.

I felt embarrassed to have appeared so paranoid based on my correspondence with Doc the night before. More than that, however, I felt really thankful that Odie is showing amazing signs of improvement! I'm also thankful for friends who comforted me last night, for telling me that Odie is a strong boy, a lot stronger than I think. I guess a bruise is nothing to a boy who just wants to play and train. I'm most thankful, of course, to Doc Marose for taking really good care of Odie, for understanding my immense panic, and for giving me peace of mind. Odie and I are so lucky to have the greatest friends (his titos and titas) and the most amazing vet.

I was loading the car with our stuff so I had to leave Odie inside the court for a bit. Whenever I came back inside, he just kept looking at me with a smile on his goofy face. Teacher was impressed that Odie didn't cry whenever I left him, a bonus point of happiness for me because I didn't even notice that he handles separation pretty well.

It was the best car ride home after class, especially because I was so relieved that Odie's injury didn't turn out to be as bad as I thought. I seriously considered getting him x-rayed and thought that we'd have to medicate him or put a cast on his leg. Upon reaching the house, I let Odie out of his crate and led him to his wire crate to rest.

On the way there, however, I felt a pull on the leash and when I looked at him, he had approached the stray cat that's been frequenting our house! He's been wanting to play with that cat and he finally had the chance to touch her, which the cat didn't take so well. I totally saw the cat give a harsh meow and a death stare! I pulled Odie away and took a while to recover from the shock.

I mean, ODIE, I CAN ONLY AFFORD ONE MISADVENTURE AT A TIME!