At the dog park:
After the dog park, phase I:
Phase II:
Not that I was trying to read, mind you. Sometimes one makes sacrifices for one's companions.
Cassie, maintaining her dignity in public:
Cassie went to the vet this morning for the wellness check required by (and paid for) by the shelter I adopted her from. The vet took a look at the incision site for her spay surgery, which Cassie has been licking frequently. You can see what's coming:
She is not taking it well:
She looks so sad, I can't stand it. But if her spay incision gets infected, she'll need a cone a lot longer than 10 days.
Poor dog. I'll make sure she gets extra cuddle time tonight.
It's difficult to resist this face:
Difficult, but not impossible.
She's also learning how to lie down and stay on command. I keep reminding myself that she's making rapid progress, but this will take some time.
And yes, eagle-eyed readers: she has a FitBark on her collar.
Cassie and I walked to Horner Park in search of a dog-friendly area. She has a lot of energy, even after this:
Unfortunately, even though the Chicago Park District claims Horner Park has a dog-friendly area in its northwest corner, no such area exists. The city has begun constructing a new dog park on the southeast corner, but it hasn't opened yet.
Now that we're home, and I've opened all the windows (a process Cassie found intensely interesting), she began a solo vocal composition in rondo form: we have neighbors, the neighbors talk to each other, we have neighbors, we have birds, we have neighbors, we have squirrels, and finally, we have neighbors.
She has now passed out under my desk. And stopped commenting on the neighbors.
Between two hours of walks, a visit to the Empirical taproom, and playing with every dog in four neighborhoods, Cassie is tuckered out. I am also. I'll have video tomorrow morning. Right now she and I are on the couch watching Zak Snyder's Justice League, which so far has been worth every minute. As has the snoring puppy next to me.
Cassie has spent the last 15 minutes running back and forth in my house carrying this old stuffed duck:
Yep. Part retriever.
Update: 15 minutes later, I found stuffing all over the living room. This did not deter Cassie from her duck, though it was a bit limp.
With the likelihood that Cassie won't get into daycare for another four weeks, I decided a lunchtime trip to the nearest dog park might help. We encountered a bunch of dogs on the way to Challenger Park, but only one surly old Bichon Frise inside the park. Yet she did not seem disappointed:
She also avoided the puddles and the mud, for which I am grateful.
Cassie has had an adventurous and full day: several rides in the car, visits to three—count them—three pet stores, and lots of walks. At our first pet shop of the day I picked up a cord to secure her while in the car, which did not stop her from winding up in the driver's seat when I got back from running into the grocery.
Exhibit:
And just look at that punim!
She'll get another half-hour of walks today. I really would like her to learn how to heel, though. She wants to say hello to every dog in Chicago. This has to stop.
The only bad part of the day came when I talked to the guys at Urban Pooch, the doggy day care where Parker went for years. The earliest Cassie can get in to have her social evaluation is April 15th. That's sub-optimal. I'll have to get all my friends with dogs to come over and play with her in our parking lot before too long.
I seem to have a new addition to my family:
The jumping-into-the-front-seat thing will not happen again, however. We're getting a car harness tomorrow.
Updates as conditions warrant.