Megan read my blog from her and Stevie's visit yesterday. She said she knew I was disappointed in my dogs' behavior, but that she thought it went really well. I guess I shouldn't have expected too much from Darlin' and Newt -- after all, that little dynamo even makes me crazy just from watching her after a while! :) I explained it to somebody else like being a 13 year old with a little brother or sister who is about 6 years old and pestering you all the time...

Megan told me that she has been putting Stevie in bed with her after they get up in the night. So Stevie's a great little snuggler. Megan really loves having her there. I know there's nothing a wonderful as dog snuggles -- especially from an experienced Min Pin (not that I'm biased, of course). I'm delighted that Megan is appreciative of the breed's propensity for proximity to their human pack leaders. A good afternoon nap is only made better by the right companion!

She said to check back on http://foreverwidget.photosite.com tomorrow; she will likely have uploaded a few more pictures from their visit by then. I posted a couple on my Gallery here... but she's got the good ones from Newt and Stevie helping me "cheat" at Scrabble...

Min Pin hugs to all,
G

Today was "the big day". Megan bundled Stevie into her travel crate with her Pooh Bear blankie and her little bed, but not before Stevie chose two or three toys and dragged them into it to go with her all on her own. They made the hour drive with no incident and Stevie was very good in the car.

When they arrived, we carried her, crate and all, into our side yard where she and my two could sniff and say hello. She knew just what to do when she got out of her crate... even though she's paper trained, she knows what a good patch of grass is for!

I wish I could say that Newton and Li'l Darlin' were gracious hosts and were very welcoming to Stevie... However, Stevie's rambunctious puppy energy was way more than they were ready for, I guess. Newt was pretty much his grouchy self... he growled every time Stevie got anywhere near him. He even "put her down" once, and I immediately forced him onto his side until he calmed down. He was a bit better after that. She really wanted to play, and neither Newt nor Darlin' were willing to accommodate her. But that didn't deter her from trying. Mid-afternoon, Newt snarled at her, and darned if she didn't turn around and give him what for! Feisty little dickens, blind or not! Even Darlin' grew weary of Stevie's advances and growled at her later in the afternoon. But it should be noted that Darlin' is 9 years old and Stevie was actually walking on her. I believe if Stevie were a regular part of our household, Newt and Darlin' would eventually get used to her, just as so many older dogs get used to new puppies.

All in all, the day went well, not as well as I would have liked, perhaps, but certainly not as bad as it could have.

Stevie probably had more fun than anybody (okay, well, except for me watching her), with tons of new territory to sniff, lots of outside excursions, presents to unwrap, two dogs to mess with, and three adult humans to dote on her and play with her. She even "helped" Megan and me play a game of Scrabble.

I think everybody had a wonderful day. My two are sacked out so completely right now, Newt didn't even budge when I rattled candy papers. Megan phoned to say that Stevie slept soundly on the drive home.

Check the Gallery for photos from today, and be sure to stop by http://foreverwidget.photosite.com later to see photos Megan took.

Merry Christmas to all...

...and to all, a good night!

Min pin wishes from Texas,
Ginger

Happy Christmas Eve!

Megan is making a list and checking it twice for all the stuff she wants/needs to bring on her and Stevie's visit to our house tomorrow. I told her not to forget the dog...

To put the trip in a little bit of perspective for you, my house in Horseshoe Bay is about an hour's drive from Megan's apartment in South Austin. Now, I know an hour of driving doesn't seem like much to most folks, but Megan's not too keen on driving already -- she says they will give a driver's license to just anybody these days. :) At least it's supposed to dry up overnight, so road conditions will be better. It will still be cold, but not bitter, with temps in the low 50s. Stevie's bringing a sweater and some blankies, of course.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, uh, apartment, Stevie's penchant for chewing on paper has not abated. She has merely become more stealthy about doing it. She will trot off to the bathroom, where her potty papers are, ostensibly to "do her business". But her real intent is to chew paper, very quietly so mom can't hear her. It didn't take long for Megan to catch on, though, so when Stevie goes into the bathroom, Megan has taken to following her and standing just outside the doorway to watch her. When Stevie realizes mom is watching, she will quick squat and act like she had to tinkle, even though there might be just a pinpoint of piddle.

"You don't fool me," Megan scolds her. "Curses, foiled again!", thinks Stevie. She'll try again later when mom is pre-occupied... So much paper and so little time! :)

G

Stevie's Min Pin-edness is more and more evident every day. Recently, and most notably today, she has learned to try to do things differently once she has been told "no" to see if she can get away with them that way. Or maybe mom won't see. Or maybe mom won't notice. (Of course, she does.) Puppy child that she is, she still tries to find ways to get around mom saying, "no". For example, if Megan tells her no about biting or chewing her (Megan's) hair when she's holding her, Stevie will crawl over to the other shoulder and try biting/chewing from that side. Who knows? It might work...

We're all looking forward to their visit on Christmas Day. It should be interesting if nothing else!

G

Megan has been busy putting up more photos and comments about Stevie on her Photosite (see http://foreverwidget.photosite.com). She's got new photos that even I hadn't seen before. Gotta love 'em.

Today Stevie worked very hard putting all of her toys -- and there are MANY -- in the bathroom. When she ran out of toys, she decided to start on other stuff... t-shirts, pillows and anything else within puppy range. Pretty funny.

Megan and Stevie are planning to come visit me and my two Min Pins, 9 year old choc/rust female, Li'l Darlin', and soon-to-be 6 year old IMPS rescue stag red male, Newton, on Christmas Day. Darlin' is curious and polite and I am not worried about her. She will likely actually be a little wary of a puppy. Newton, I don't know. He doesn't like dogs that are too rambunctious, so I'm not sure how he'll react to bouncy Stevie. I plan to talk to them about it before Megan and Stevie get here, but it will be interesting to witness. Extra camera batteries are being charged in anticipation of the visit.

Don't touch that dial...
G