Amateur Parenting – Page 39 – Just Admit It: You Have No Idea What You're Doing Either

Too Much Too Soon?

Kristen King September 17, 2008 No Comments

(www.meowbarkblog.com) — I came home from my Bible study last night and Ty was holding up his nonsurgery leg. It looks like he may have done something to his paw or his ankle, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part because I can’t bear the thought that his original bad knee is messed up again. I am just beating myself for not making him stay in the crate no matter what for the whole six weeks…

We have a vet appointment today at 4:45, and I’m trying to keep him comfortable in the meantime. Last night when I took him out to go to the bathroom, he fell down the patio stairs on the way back in because he couldn’t hold himself up. I was home alone, so I had to carry him myself. We both barely made it up, but we got inside.

This morning, he wouldn’t come out of his crate until I got in there with him and picked up his back end, and then as soon as he got out he laid down again. We repeated the process several times until I got him outside to go potty, and then I lifted his back end so he could wheelbarrow-walk up the steps with his front paws. Hopefully he won’t need to go again until we leave for the vet. I don’t know if either of us can take it.

Today Was a Bad Day

Kristen King September 17, 2008 7 Comments

rocky skove king family dog childhood pet (www.meowbarkblog.com) — It’s been a long time since I had a genuinely bad day with the dogs, but today definitely falls into that category. All day long, it’s taken every ounce of my self control not to smack Murphy across the face when he bangs my arm while I’m typing, or to kick Pickles off of me when she paws at my legs. Do they do this stuff every day? Yes. And I generally have the patience to deal with it. But today, today was a stretch.

Last night, my mother called. “How’s Ty?” she asked. Her voice sounded funny.

“He’s fine,” I said, “What’s wrong?”

“Rocky…died,” she said, and started bawling. “I found him this morning. I didn’t want to call you earlier and ruin your day.”

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Mastiff Mayhem — Today’s Episode of “Things Murphy Destroyed or Ate”: My Glasses Case

Kristen King September 16, 2008 4 Comments

(www.meowbarkblog.com) — It’s been a while since we had an episode of “Things Murphy Destroyed or Ate,” so it was about time for him to ruin something. And ruin it he did.

This used to be my glasses case:

From what I can glean from the crime scene, one of the cats knocked the case to the floor from my nightstand while fleeing from Murphy. Thwarted in his attempts to eat the kitty, he ate the case instead. Fortunately, the glasses were on my face instead of in the case.

Earlier episodes:

He’s going to grow out of this soon, right?

Ty’s Surgery Was a Complete Success

Kristen King September 15, 2008 No Comments

ty bullmastiff furniture armchair living room jump climb (www.meowbarkblog.com) — Tomorrow marks three weeks since Ty’s cruciate ligament surgery. He got his stitches out six days ago, and the doctor proclaimed him “the healingest dog I ever saw,” saying he was doing better at 2 weeks than most dogs were at 6 weeks.

Of course I’m one proud mommy!

He is almost back to normal, which is great except that he has three more weeks of not being able to do anything but laze around the house and go outside only on leash and only to potty and come back in. He’s bored out of his giant, giant skull, but his attitude is positive (if mischievous).

Oh, and did I mention that we’ve completely given up on trying to keep him off the furniture?

Murphy’s Special Alone Time With Mommy and Daddy

Kristen King September 13, 2008 No Comments

hot rod car show woody murphy english mastiff (www.meowbarkblog.com) — Murphy is a jealous dog. He loves his bullmastiff brother and pug sister, but at the end of the day, he would cheerfully sell them to the highest bidder if it meant more time alone with us with no other dogs around.

This weekend, we decided to give Murphy some special alone time with just us. Ty stayed home in the crate, with no e-collar for the first time in weeks, and Pickles had the run of the house and yard. They were both quite dismayed to realize that Murphy was getting a ride in the car without them. It was like the end of Pickles’ world, I’m telling you. Almost as bad as this.

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