Happy Birthday, Ellie!

Ellie Stats: 1 year old – Happy Birthday, Ellie!

• Ellie’s a year old, and while she hasn’t chewed up anything in the past couple of weeks, she did destroy our tree skirt the first night that we had it under the christmas tree; she’s also continued to chew up a few other things including our comforter (for a second time). Hopefully she’s almost done with that behavior.
• She’s still fearful about some things, but getting a little braver.
• Samson seems to have finally noticed her and is starting to play with her every night. He’s also trying to “dominate” her. Been trying to teach him better manners…
• Ellie is about as tall as Samson, but is still a skinny puppy. I guess she’ll fill out over the next year like Samson did.

Growing Pains

Ellie Stats: 7 months old, 80-ish lbs.

• Ellie’s been limping a lot. We think it’s growing pains and have been giving her half an aspirin to help with the pain.
• Probably related to the aspirin (and because Travis didn’t give her some food to go with it), Ellie threw up several times yesterday and overnight. She seems to be better today (haven’t given her any aspirin today) and so we gave her just a little bit of food to see how she keeps it down. So far so good…

LESSON LEARNED: Always give FOOD with aspirin!

Starting to Grow Up

Ellie Stats: 7 months old

• Ellie’s personality seems to be transitioning from puppy to adult. She’s been a little less playful all the time and a little calmer. Sleeping more; eating less.
• Ellie chewed up the kitchen rug. Apparently she still hasn’t learned that those are off limits…

Bladder Infection

Ellie Stats: 7 months old, 77 lbs.

• Ellie has a bladder infection that doesn’t seem to want to go away. After taking her to the vet twice in one month, the doctor gave us some stronger antibiotics. Hopefully they’ll get rid of the infection this time.
• Since the 4th of July fireworks, Ellie seems to be afraid of everything outside. I hope it’s something she’ll grow out of…

Still Chewing Stuff Up

Ellie Stats: 6 months old
Ellie chewed up our comforter. Can’t trust this puppy for nuthin’. >:(

Spayed Ellie

Ellie Stats: 5 months old, 60 lbs.

Had Ellie spayed on Tuesday. The anesthesia didn’t agree with Ellie and she vomited a lot that night and once the next morning. She started feeling better by lunch, though, and ate some food. By Thursday she is acting almost like her usual self.

Five Months Old

Ellie Stats: 5 months old

• She's still chasing her tail.
• Spent the night outside her crate for the first time. She did great and didn’t tear up anything!

Home Alone

Ellie Stats: 19 weeks old, 12 weeks with us

Travis and I went out of town on vacation to Washington D.C. Virgil and Janice (my parents) are babysitting the dogs and cat. Ellie got under the deck and wouldn’t come out. She growled at Virgil when he tried to reach her to pull her out. They dug out a little area hoping she would come out on her own, but still no luck. After a while they decide to get Travis’ bath robe and use it to coax her out thinking the familiar smell will make her feel better. It worked! She sniffed it a lot and soon came out from under the deck very easily on her own. For the rest of our vacation, Virgil keeps Travis’ robe next to Ellie’s crate.

Oscar Decides She's Okay

Ellie Stats: 18 weeks old, 11 weeks with us, 50 lbs.

• Ellie hasn’t peed on the carpet in weeks. :D
• She barked and snapped at Samson last night when he got too close to a bone that she had snatched from him earlier after he left it alone.
• Oscar has decided he likes Ellie. They play all the time now.

Ugh.

Ellie keeps peeing on the carpet today…

Easter 2009

Ellie Stats: 14 weeks old, 7 weeks with us, 37 lbs.

• Ellie plays great with Maggie (a Boston terrier) and the kids (our nephews are visiting).
• We took Ellie and Sam to the Grove yesterday for an Easter egg hunt. She did really well with all the kids wanting to pet and play with her.
• Oscar is finally really playing with Ellie.

Ellie Loves Her Crate

Ellie Stats: 13 weeks old, 6 weeks with us

• Ellie runs to her crate now, particularly when food is involved.

Shake

Ellie knows “Shake”!

Trouble with a New Trick

Ellie Stats: 12 weeks old, 5 weeks with us, 32 lbs.

• Trying to teach Ellie “Shake”. Not yet showing much success…

Ellie Goes to the Square

We took Ellie and Samson to the Square (it's the middle of town where there are a lot of shops, bars, and restaurants). Ellie pulled a good bit on the leash, but she stayed consistently on my right side. She wasn’t afraid of noise or people.

First Trip to the Vet

Ellie Stats: 11 weeks old, 30lbs.

• Ellie has “puppy worms” and we have to take her to the vet. Otherwise very healthy. Get’s her final round of shots.
• Vet gives the go-ahead to start Ellie on HeartGuard next month.

Down

• Ellie learns “Down”

Sit

Ellie Stats: 11 weeks old, 4 weeks with us, 28 lbs.

• Ellie learns “Sit”

Ellie Has Learned How to Dig

• Ellie digs her first hole in the yard today.
• Ellie is starting to get vocal during play with Samson. Barking and growling a little.

(Heather and the girls left this morning.)

A Spat with Sam

• Ellie and Rebel are playing well. No more toy-related arguments.
• Samson gets really annoyed with Ellie playing and not letting up with him. One time he growled and started to go after her, so Ellie runs away. Travis stopped Samson, and Ellie sulked in the kitchen. Other than that one incident, Ellie and Sam have played very well together. He gets annoyed with her, but he hasn’t seemed to want to really attack her except for today.

Itchy Puppy

• Ellie has gotten really good about going in her crate. Barely using the leash to guide her in any more.
• Started giving Ellie allergy pills for all the itching. Seems to help during the night.

Ellie Meets a New Dog

Ellie meets Rebel (a french bulldog) and Heather’s girls (our nieces). The dogs play pretty well together, but Rebel growls and jumped on Ellie twice because of a toy he wanted. Ellie loves the kids, and the kids love Ellie. :)

Week Three with Ellie

Ellie Stats: 10 weeks old, 3 weeks with us, 25 lbs.

• Ellie hasn’t messed up in the house at all in the past two days! Yay!
• Ellie gets in her crate (while leashed) with hardly any prodding! Yay again!

Still Week Two

• Ellie is still scratching at the door. I think she’s getting better with it. Still messing up at times but not any today.
• We bought her a name tag for her collar today.
• Still playing rough with Samson.

Play! Play! Play!

Playing a lot with Samson. Biting lots!

Ellie's 2nd Week

Ellie Stats: 9 weeks old, 25 lbs.

• Ellie and Samson officially play tonight for the first time.
• Oscar is warming up to her as well. He jumped at her in his box, but she didn’t know what to think of it.
• Ellie is also beginning to scratch at the door when she needs to go out; she’s inconsistent at best.
• Ellie is getting much better with the crate. She does not usually whine while she’s in it, and waits quietly (though not always patiently) to be let out.
• Barked back at Samson before backing down from his food.

Day Seven with Ellie

Ellie Stats: 9 weeks old, 2nd week with us, 22 lbs
Oscar is beginning to accept Ellie. No mistakes in the crate. Ellie is showing signs that she is holding poop and pee for the outside. Biting pretty often during play.

Day Six with Ellie

Ellie slept all night and all Saturday morning while we slept in. A few mistakes on the carpet.

Day Five with Ellie

Ellie ate well, and slept well. Samson's not letting her eat until he is finished. We took her to walk around the square for the first time and she did great. She loved the attention and walked really well.

Day Four with Ellie

Ellie isn't crying as much when people walk in the house while she’s in the crate. She's playing more with Samson. Oscar the cat still hates her. Ellie is peeing on the floor sporadically. She sleep through the night again.

Day Three with Ellie

Ellie is doing better in the crate. She is now both eating and drinking in the crate. Samson started playing with her outside. She's eating well, and slept through the whole night. :D

Day Two with Ellie

Ellie stayed in her crate from 8am to 12pm and from 1pm to 5pm. She cried when she was in the crate and heard us in the house. We stopped feeding and watering after 9:30pm and kept her up until 11:30pm. She cried much less that night. ;)

Day One with Ellie

I (Lauren) decided to stay home and babysat. She's still a little hesitant in her new home. She cried all throughout the night again. Would. Not. Stop.

She's scared of the crate.

Ellie's First Night

Our first dog's name is Samson, and he is a Great Pyrenees (that is to say mostly Great Pyrenees - we think he has some Labrador in him too). He is a great joy to us, but after a couple of years with him alone, we decided he would do well with a friend.

And so we brought Ellie into our lives.


Ellie Stats: 8 weeks old, 18 lbs., born December 28, 2008
Brought home at 10:30 pm by Anna. Feels skinny. Very standoffish and scared. Cried throughout the night.

Peanut Butter = Happiness

We bought this toy for Samson that we can put peanut butter inside. Fun times ensue.