More on rediscovering

I have gone back to things, I loved long ago, in a big way. See my last post.

DOGS

Dogs is probably the biggest one. I loved pets as a child. 

When the kids were quite young I was diagnosed with asthma. The asthma was not new, I have likely had it since birth. It had never been diagnosed or treated. I had really suffered. Untreated asthma impacted my life in a big negative way. 

I then developed what I now think of as asthma PTSD. I was terrified of something triggering an asthma flare, which, for me, can last for weeks/months. I avoided animals. I was nearly hysterical about perfumes, cigarette smoke, incense, etc. 

The neighbor’s dogs changed this for me. As I interacted with them, and my respiratory system did not crash, I grew less afraid.  I loved spending my days with them. Eventually I realized the dogs could be in my house and not crash me. 

With my neighbor’s dogs full time 2017 - 2020, intermittently 2022 - 2023, and now middle’s dogs (turning 4) full time, I have gone back to dogs in a big way. 

Middle’s dogs are here, with me, a lot. She drops them off each morning on her way to work. They stay here when she is out of town or has an event.

Middle and I are now (very) active with our local dog club. I am in the dog club building, surrounded by dogs, with no fear and no respiratory problems. 

Why is this? I went through two rounds of allergy shots. I am on daily allergy and asthma meds. We have huge filters at our house. I have my sleep machine which has improved my respiratory system. 

Dogs is a big, positive back in my life.

BOOK GROUPS

I loved book groups starting in 2011 and continuing for several years. I am not sure why I stopped. I have gone back to book groups in a big way too, I participate in four locally, my husband I both read Youngest’s book group selections also. Reading her book selection each month and giving her feedback for her group, is good for all three of us. It gives us positive/energetic talking points. It expands everyone’s reading lists. 

CROSSWORD PUZZLES

During my four high school years, maybe my two junior high years too, I did cross word puzzles out of a printed Chicago newspaper. 

I loved cross word puzzles at that time. When I went to college, I think I got the Chicago paper for a bit. 

Then things got busy, it was expensive to get the paper long distance, and I fell off the crossword habit. I forgot all about my love of crosswords.

I started doing online Wordle a year or two ago. This is via the Wordle app.

Two weeks ago I started doing all the other NYTimes online games too, except for Sudoku which I do not like. 

The kids and DIL all play some of the New York Times Games, including Wordle and Connections. 

Youngest and I are the only two who do the full Crossword puzzle each day. We both pay the premium so we have access to the full NYT crossword. 

On the harder days, primarily Sunday, youngest and I do the puzzle together, talking on the phone. 

QUILTING 

I have to limit/pace myself carefully, but I am able to quilt now. I have rejoined the local quilt guild. Middle attends the monthly meetings with me.  I went to a guild weekend retreat in March. I have started going to a once a month Saturday guild quilt bee.

Pet gift ideas

These first two are presents I am taking when I see youngest this weekend. 

Then these next ones are for youngest’s kittens for Xmas - 

Oldest/DIL/granddaughter’s two cats (chewy), I asked, this is what they wanted/needed -

Middle’s two dogs (chewy) -

Another gift that middle’s dogs love. These are hard chew bones, we get the large.

Desensitizing the vet building and Trick AKC skills

I have a new entry on my phone each Monday - desensitize pup to vet parking lot and building. 

One of the pups starts visibly shaking the minute we pull into the vet’s parking lot. 

By going each week, with NO appointment/procedures/shots, I am hoping to stop this negative reaction. 

We sit in the waiting room and chat with other pet owners, awaiting their appointment. We walk up and down the hall. We stop and chat at the desk. 

This was suggested by the vet staff. 

It wasn’t until I actually put it on the calendar that it started happening regularly. 

I try for Monday. If Monday is busy, we go Tuesday. 

Is it helping? Yes. Each week the shaking subsides a little quicker and she is less frantic. 

The other pup is just along for the ride, does not care.

We took the Tricks class at our local dog club last session and all really loved it. 

The dogs both passed the first three levels (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced) of the AKC tricks category during the six weeks of class. 

https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/

There are two additional/advanced levels of the AKC Tricks program - Performer and Elite Performer. 

This session we are working independently. We use an empty ring at the dog club and bring our own props. 

We are working, on our own, on the Performer level.

This is the tricks list we are working on so far -

Jump up and down with excitement - who’s excited?

Pull or drag bag of toys 5 body lengths

Run 3x around handler 

Sit pretty and cross paws 

Heels backwards

Heels sideways 

Retrieves ball from 10’ runs back and places ball in cone

Rides on cart

Five black stands - walk and turn 

Jump thru tissue hoop

Carry stuffed animal on back for 15’

Hide games for dogs

This set went to Youngest’s old roommate’s dog - 

This set was under the tree for middle’s puppies to play with at our house. It replaces a previous set they dismantled as small pups. Now, they can play without destroying.  

This set was used as white elephant gift for Youngest’s Christmas party -

We wrapped it in this paper 

We wrapped it and put a note so people at the party would realize it was a dog owner gift. After this photo was taken, I wrote “hint” on the dog cutout.

Dog bed covers using boxed corners

At my house, my 9’ window seat, the cushion covered with marine vinyl, is basically a very large doggy bed. Bonus - they love to look out the window. 

We bought two new dog beds for middle’s house. They are orthopedic beds with a very good/firm cushion. We bought one sleeping bag pad/mat and cut two pieces out of it. These are in the bed/under the cushion for added support and warmth. We made two covers using no pill premium fleece from JoAnn’s. 

Then we made a new no pill premium fleece cover for a dog bed we already had - 

We boxed the corners, on this one/above, and it turned out great.  (Instructions - https://youtu.be/B6NNi0wZJvc ). 

The cover fits snuggly. 

There is a zipper in the back seam on all the fleece covers.

I have one more dog bed, under the counter in the computer room at my house, that needs a cover. That is the next project. 

We switched dog hammocks for the car

 We had two dog hammocks from Pet Smart. These are covers which protect the backseat of your car from wear/tear/nails/dirt from dogs. 

We wore them out, washing them in the washing machine. 

We bought a different kind (below)  from Amazon which is waterproof. 

After a trial run in middle’s car, we bought one for mine too -

These, we are not putting in washing machine, instead we are using wipes or removing from the car and washing on the driveway with the hose. 

By the way, our dogs are in harnesses and buckled into the attachments for seatbelts ALWAYS. A harness must be used (not a collar). 

Our dogs do not unbuckle on purpose, but unbuckling was happening accidently as two sets of four feet each stepped all over the backseat. These are great for toddlers/preschoolers and dogs.

 

All this would make a good gift idea. 

Dog bandana pattern and instructions and a picture of our tree this year

 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 🐕 

We put bandanas on the pups regularly from the beginning. They leave them alone 99.9% of the time. They seem to like wearing them. 

We remove harnesses, collars and bandanas when they go in their crate, for safety. 

That is a piece of sweet potato, she is learning “wait”. On command she tosses it up and then catches it. 

I am very attached to this dog bandana pattern, it has the casual look of a tied traditional (square) bandana without all the bulk. We prefer a dog bandana that ties (vs snap or button). 

I use one yard of fabric per bandana. That allows ample cutting room for both sides. 

The directions are simple -

Cut two, each on the fold, paying attention to the fabric if there is an up and a down to the print. The point is the bottom of the bandana, the long side is the top, if the dog wears it like the above picture. 

I double fold the fabric, opposite of how it comes off the bolt, and cut both pieces at the same time to save as much of the extra fabric as possible and to get identical pieces. If you click on the photo/enlarge, can see the edges and folds. The fabric is four layers thick under the pattern piece (only).

Here is the extra fabric, I can use for other projects -

Right sides together, sew with a 2/8” seam allowance, leaving a 3” gap to turn it right side out. 

I back stitch at the beginning and end of my stitching, at the point, and at the end of the ties. I use a zigzag foot for this 2/8” seam allowance -

Flip right side out and press carefully. 

Top stitch using (blending thread color) a very skinny (1/8”) presser foot, so the top stitching catches the inside seam allowance for added strength and sews up the 3” gap. 

I back stitch intermittently, for added strength, just a stitch or two, at the point and all along the ends which will be tied.

The pattern (below) is on a 1” grid. Drawing on graph paper, or blowing the picture up on a copy machine, or a combination of both, should work to duplicate this pattern at home. 

This pattern works for our pups at 30-35lbs. It is easy to enlarge or reduce this pattern size. 

Here are the bandanas under our tree for the puppies this year. The valentines and st pat are woven cotton, the plaids are cotton flannel.  

This is a 6’ skinny tree tucked on the window seat. It takes up no floor space, it fills the window, it takes a small amount of ornaments to fill this tree fully, I can do it myself. This year the tree was decorated with my gold set of ornaments. I also have a red/green, and white/aqua set, and matching “skirts”. I use one print/type of wrapping paper for everything. Two rolls gets me through a year, I switch every year. My leftover paper goes to my neighbor. 

We have a lot of dog experience

I grew up with dogs. We have been watching neighbor’s two Goldens for years. She has been working from home for a couple years now, but we still keep them when she is on vacation or has a very busy day. 

We have two seven month golden doodles now too, sisters from the same litter, my middle’s dogs. I watch them during the day when she is at work. 

Looking through our Amazon orders from this year, I realized I had a good range of dog information. I added things from our PetSmart account also. These are not toys, they are what we consider necessities for dogs at our house. 

Birthday present to middle last March, this bin stores dog food.  It has a great twist on lid, keeps the food fresh, while securing it from mice, bugs and puppies. We keep it in a hallway. It could be used in garage easily. We only have one, it holds 60 lbs, one large bag. If we had two, we would not stack them. (I got this idea from Kim and Scott/Yellow Brick Home)

Dog food bowls. Between middle and I, we have purchased five of these. Two are here for the puppies, two are here for the neighbor’s dogs. One is at the neighbors for her 3.5 pup. It slows down eating process for dogs who snarf. 

Lick mats the puppies use. Puppy safe peanut butter, baby food (squash, sweet potato). We have these in the freezer, ready all the time. We use occasionally with the puppies. 

Lick mats we keep for the neighbor’s dog. I have ordered five of these. Two at our house. Two gifted to neighbor. One in the Christmas box for one of my husband’s brother’s dog. Neighbor’s two dogs get one of these every day for lunch when they are here. 

Car harness, it attaches to dog safety belt (below). The puppies had to get big enough for these. They are currently in a size small. There is a metal loop on back for car and one on front for leash. So can safely transfer dog from leash to car in parking lots. 

This seat belt is from PetSmart. One end hooks to dog harness, the other end plugs into regular safety belt piece in car. We have five of these. Two in middle’s backseat, two in my back seat, one in my glove compartment for when I have an extra dog. We always buckle all dogs.

This device fits over the safety belt plug in the car so no one accidentally unbuckles themselves by stepping on button. That happened twice before we got these for middle’s car and mine. These also work great for toddlers and special needs kids.

This is from PetSmart also. We have two, one in middle’s  backseat and one in mine. Yes, they keep things cleaner, but mostly they are safety. They keep the pups from slipping to the floor. They also make the backseat very comfortable, much like a hammock, for the pups. There is a zipper, so we can squish the pups on one side and someone can sit on the other half when needed, with all three riders buckled. It also comes with a supply case. I keep a collapsible water bowl, two servings of emergency dog food, two leashes, a roll of poop bags in mine. 

New leashes from PetSmart, very easy on my hands. We have four, two in my car, two in middle’s. All black, 4’.

Harnesses the pups wear in the house, but not in their crate (naked) and not in the car (car harness listed above).

We have two Kong crates from PetSmart with a black ortho crate mat pad (36”x24”) now in the bottom of each. 

We used just one of these large crates for a long time, with a washable pad (gray) in the bottom, and a divider to make the crate smaller. We used it to keep the puppies together in a smaller area until they were fully potty trained. As the puppies grew and got more dependable, we moved the divider to give them more space. We used a small pad and then a medium pad (gray).

Now the pups are each in their own full crate with the doors open so they can get to each other if they want at night and during nap time. If they are home alone, which very rarely happens, we lock each in their own crate. 

Ortho crate mat pad we use now (36”x24”), one in each crate, black. 

Crate Pads (gray) we used in various sizes while the pups were tiny and potty training. The medium one is still in use as a mat/bed in the living room. 

I think this is the right crate. We have two, size large. I think the Kong crates are only carried by PetSmart. (Our neighbor has this same type, she has one each size for puppies, did not use the divider.)

Current crate set up at our house. Yes, puppy condos. This is how the puppies are tucked in at night and morning nap time. Could they get out, yes, but they do not. If we are all gone, they are home alone, which hardly ever happens, they are each locked in their own crate. 

We have three sets of these. One is still out in the gravel puppy pee pit. One lived in the kitchen for a couple months. Lengths of 2-3 sections are still used to block doorways at our house and my mother’s. 

We also have two of these gates, one on pantry, the other at bottom of stairs. I think Target or Walmart. Those are old gates. Youngest had one at college to keep her former roommates dog out of her room. I had one on my sewing room to keep neighbor’s dogs out. 

We have a piece of wood just low enough to step over, to keep puppies out of kitchen. Could they jump it, yes, but they do not. 

These worked so great for puppies after spay surgery. They wore them for two weeks straight. One puppy ended up back in hers, so I recommend three weeks. We washed them a few times, but had to do it during nap time so they did not bother their incision areas. The puppies were in size large. 

Poop bags. Biodegradable. We use a stone (#8 river rock) potty area on the side of the house. We pick up after every trip, we use the bags for all pick ups and then the full bags go straight in an outside garbage can. This keeps things sanitary and prevents bugs and odor. We have used these for years, with neighbor’s dogs too. Each box comes with a carrying case that attaches to leash, we use those on all walking leashes. We have given a box of these as gift, for new pet owners. 

They are still on their puppy formula food -

Things we have/use that are not mentioned above -

Tooth brushes and toothpaste. Middle brushes their teeth each night. 

Ear cleaner. They get their ears cleaned once a week. The cleaner solution is from the vet. 

Brushes. They are brushed every day. 

Shampoo. They get a bath once a month. 

Vitamins. They were on one a day tiny puppy vitamins for the first month or so. 

Flee and tick meds. We buy these from the vet, specific to their current weight. They take meds once a month. 

They have lifetime city tags, very inexpensive ($30) after spay. 

ID tags. There is a set of ID tags zipped in a special compartment inside their car harnesses for an emergency. 

Chipped. Both puppies are chipped and all our phone numbers are on their online account/registration. 

They have collars with ID tags for safety/identification. These are not used very often. The last time was at the vet for their spay so the vet could tell them apart. Ditto at groomers. The pups look nearly identical.