Grover’s First Day Home. Photograph, 5 x 7 in. Copyright 2011, Tania Nault.
Grover is home! And we had a very good first day.
We picked Grover up from Lianne’s (Charmlee Goldens) and after we signed all the paperwork (CKC forms in triplicate!) she gave us a wonderful take-home bag filled with all kinds of good things like a sample of Grover’s food (Acana Puppy and Junior) and a blankie (Thank you, Lianne!). The drive home is about 30 minutes and he only fussed for the last five to 10.
Grover is very curious and confused by the cat, Pricess, I think he would like to play with her, but she merely turns her baleful gaze in his direction and he backs off. He is very excited about his meals and eats with gusto. After about the fourth time in and out of the house, he figured out the stairs, I think it helps that they’re carpeted and that there are only four of them.
We’ve set up an indoor emergency potty area a la Dr Ian Dunbar’s Before You Get Your Puppy and I also brought a urine soaked rag home with me from Lianne’s to stake outside in Grover’s outdoor potty area in the back yard, which I have been shovelling clear of snow ever since the first storm in October. Grover has used each successfully, although he also thinks the pee pad in the indoor potty also makes a great chew toy. Yeah, we’ll see how that goes, but no accidents for day one!
Bedtime last night was a bit of a challenge. I could tell that he was pretty tired by 10:30, but he didn’t want to let go of the day. After some backing and forthing out to the yard until about 1:00 am, I put a towel of mine into the crate (yes, even though his crate was right next to our bed) and he finally went to sleep. And slept until 7:30. I was so shocked when I woke up and looked at the clock I’ll admit to doing what every new “mom” does when her charge sleeps through the night, I checked to make sure he was still breathing.
So, yes, a very good first day indeed.
Grover Enjoys a Good Chew. Photograph, 5 x 7 in. Copyright 2011, Tania Nault.
