Our lively crazy vivacious sweet precious Gigi is going to have surgery this Friday. She has a luxating patella, which just means her knee cap doesn't stay in place and causes bone to rub together. OUCH! This apparently is a very common dog problem, not specific to bulldogs.
Gigi four weeks old, love that little face!
We drop her off on Friday and don't get to pick her up until Monday. Besides our trip to Colorado, we have never been apart that long. The recovery takes eight weeks, so we figured it might be better to do it before the human baby gets here so that we can continue giving Gigi 100% of our attention while she recovers.
Gigi and the "baby," maybe they love each other already?!
On that note, we are trying to think of ways to prepare her for the baby. I know that you are supposed to bring a blanket from the hospital and let the dog smell it, and then when they meet the first time try and do it outside. But any other advice?? I have also heard of people buying baby dolls and once the nursery is set up, use the baby doll to help train the dog about proper behavior and reward constantly for that proper behavior. I don't know if that is crazy or if I should give it a shot! Gigi is VERY important to us, I mean honestly, she sleeps in our bed, under the covers and tries to share our pillows. I want her and her human brother to get along and that they live together in harmony.
I am getting back from a much needed four day weekend. Thursday I left Athens to go to DC to surprise my parents. Let's just say the looks on their faces were hilarious when I rang the doorbell. It took both of them a little while to process that I was in fact in DC.
1. I got to spend QT with my dog nephew Shadow
2. I made Mom break her "No wine on weekdays" rule. It's a stupid rule anyway.
3. I got presents from my parents! New arm pretties from Alex + Ani.
Friday I headed down to Richmond for a reunion with some sorority sisters! There was a St. Patty's Day block party and Briana hosted brunch before we all headed downtown.
1. Yummy cupcakes, Irish soda break and a Rolo pot of gold.
2. Shamrock straws and Bud Light. Keepin it classy.
3. I miss these girls every day.
4. Making new friends!
Some highlights:
1. Yes this lady wore a green bikini with a cut up t-shirt on top. Out in public.
2. Meet Tess. The garden gnome, and new addition to Briana's apt.
3. Bud Light out of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shot glasses.
Super fun weekend with super fun people. Now back to reality.
Ok let's talk teething. Gigi lost her two front bottom teeth a week ago. And I noticed last night she lost her front top teeth. She is teething like woah!
Someone suggested I wet a washcloth and then freeze it and let her chew on it frozen. I don't remember who suggested it, but it has been a lifesaver! Gigi loves her frozen washcloth. Last Friday she chewed a solid 20 minutes.
Tail Wagging Tuesday time! Wow that's a mouthful! I wanted to recap travel with your pet in this post. We had our first road trip with Gigi this weekend. Three hours in the car there and then three back. This was good practice for our big trip in December (13 hours from PA back to GA). We invested in a seat belt harness for her, which has been great at keeping her out of the passenger and driver's side and definitely makes it safer and easier to drive. She struggles for the first 20 minutes of the ride, but then eventually gives up and goes to sleep. We brought along some of her favorite toys too in case she got antsy.
As for seat belt harnesses actually keeping pets safe, there are debates about that. The Today Show did a segment and I found it here.
What a wonderful weekend! We started off Friday night by cleaning out the kitchen (I know, super exciting). We needed to distract Gigi for like an hour, enter the famous 2 liter bottle toy! I honestly don't know why we spend any money on toys when she LOVE chewing up empty 2 liter bottles.
Saturday morning we woke up and Gigi and I had a mini photo shoot. Check out those armpit rolls! Ha!
Kyle made me pumpkin pancakes! I LOVE this mix from Trader Joe's! So good!
Then I decided to bake. Tis' the season for all things pumpkin.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
Saturday night, Kyle's friend Rich came to Athens to visit! We of course took him to Pauleys.
Then to All Good.
I was smart and put a Pumpkin French Toast Bake in the fridge the night before, so all I had to do Sunday morning when we woke up was throw it in the oven. It came out GREAT!
Delicious!
Gigi loved spending time with Rich.
Gigi had her first obedience class Sunday. She is the second youngest and the second smallest. I really like the class. I think she has sit down, but we are working on laying down now. She did pretty good in the play group before class, but in the play group after class she was much more outgoing.
I'm a bad blogger and didn't post for Tail Wagging Tuesday last week. But I'm back now! I am actually on my way to get Gigi her third round of puppy shots. I am curious how much she weighs now, she is getting so BIG. She is starting obedience classes this coming Sunday, thank goodness. I am really excited because they have a play group before and after class. I really want her to start interacting with other dogs. When we travel to visit family over the holidays there are going to be tons of dogs she will have to live under a new roof with. She had a play date with a co-workers dog this past week and she did really well. You could tell she really wanted to play!
Any tips or tricks to socializing your dog with other dogs?
Look at that face! Don't you just want to kiss it?! Anyway, welcome back to Tail Wagging Tuesday, a link up hosted by me and my bestie Brianna, about anything and everything canine related!!
Today I wanted to talk about Halloween costumes for your dog; do or don't? My quick Google searching found a myriad of options for you and your pooch! Check out some of my favs below!
So one of my best friends and fellow blogger Brianna (peace love & brianna) and I have been talking about doing a link up. Since we both are dog owners/lovers we thought it would be great to do a dog themed link up. You can talk about anything dog related in this link up, from sharing dog treat recipes to helpful tips on training to just photos/videos of your dog.
Since Gigi is still a puppy I wanted to spend this week talking about biting. I feel like my life right now is consumed by saying "NO!" and "Drop it!" I am going crazy. I have been doing a lot of reading up on how to stop your dog from this nasty habit and everyone always says, redirect their biting to an appropriate toy. We have a vast assortment of Nylabones for Gigi and most recently got her a Kong Tire toy. She loves her tire. We put a treat in it and she goes crazy, and it gives me a break from her trying to bite me.
See she loves it!
We also recently got some Fooey spray. It is a basic bitter spray, all natural. We have used it on the rim of the couch because she likes to jump up and bite it, also on the rug in the kitchen because she chews a corner piece. Let me tell you this stuff has worked well! And both Kyle and I have accidentally got some in our mouths (don't ask), this stuff is foul tasting.
Any more tips on curbing biting? I know she will "grow out of it" and she is teething, but I need a reprieve! Join the link up and come back next Tuesday for another, Tail Wagging Tuesday!!!
Ok, soooo this is a little off topic of football but I am just too excited to contain myself! 3 days until this little one comes home!
Georgia will be home this Sunday, and I feel like a proud momma and want everything to be ready for her arrival. I think I am driving Kyle crazy because I won't shut up about her. Don;t worry, the blog and all my other social media outlets will EXPLODE with GiGi pictures/video. You have been warned in advance.
