As you know if you've been keeping up with this blog, Megan and Stevie have been working on "the big stairs" that go to and from the second floor where her apartment is. The going down part is pretty easy and Stevie has pretty well mastered that. Going up is a different story. The "big stairs" have about 17 steps, and to a blind not-quite-6-pound puppy, they must seem never-ending. So a few stairs up, she will quit. Every time, they try again, every time, Stevie gets scared or tired and stops. Until today. With much prodding (literally), Stevie made it all the way up those "big stairs", quite an accomplishment! Just one in a long line of continuing incredible feats for that tiny blind dog who still -- 8 months later -- amazes me no end.
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Megan decided that the best way to get Stevie to stop tearing up potty papers during the day is to wear her out as much as possible before she leaves for work. So today, she got up a little earlier, they played "Fetch Lucy" for 30 to 40 minutes. Then they leashed up and walked around the apartment complex in search of a soda machine that actually worked (Megan's daily caffeine intake comes from diet Dr. Pepper rather than coffee). They got back to the apartment a little before 7 a.m. and when Megan returned from work today, nary a paper was out of place. They played "Lucy" again for a bit and then it was off to Math class for Megan. Evidently, there was o-n-e really baaaad piece of newspaper that had to be seriously reprimanded because when she came home, Megan found one sheet out in the hallway with a few shreds taken out of it. But I'll bet they'll both sleep GREAT tonight.
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Seems Stevie is still getting into tearing up the "potty papers" sometimes during the day. Megan says she's going to take pictures next time -- says nobody will believe the mess. I said, "HUH! Anybody with a Min Pin puppy will believe you even without pictures!" I also let her know she should consider herself lucky because of some of the other horror stories I've heard about pups chewing things up.

I told Megan I was pretty sure it was boredom and not separation anxiety since she doesn't do it every day when Megan leaves. I recommended she invest in a Kong to keep Stevie engaged while she's leaving and help keep her that way for a bit even after she's out the door.

Megan picked one up at Petsmart this afternoon and gave it to Stevie when she left for Math Class tonight. She said Stevie didn't even bother to pay any attention to her when she left, with the exception of a puppy grunt which, loosely translated, meant, "I can't believe you've been holding out on me all this time..."

We hope the Kong will help Stevie remain appropriately occupied during Megan's periodic absences. Maybe even avoid having to force Megan to clean up shreds and spit wads of newspaper on her return.

Time will tell.
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Whew, what a day Stevie had today! [New photos are posted in Gallery]

First, she got to help the furniture guy adjust the legs on one side of the new couch. Then she got to go meet the 3 month old Yorkie across the hall (I went to talk to the mom about dog food; she was beside herself when her puppy suddenly stopped eating). Stevie growled at the Yorkie, so Megan took her back to help the furniture guy some more.

After Megan and I made a couple of shopping excursions (including Walgreens to buy Zebra #3 and a Tiger toy), we ordered pizza and watched "Happy Feet" on the new couch. [Note To Self: 7 1/2 month old puppies do not have the attention span for watching a movie and behaving the entire time...]

Then it was time for a walk to The Stevie Tree. Stevie does GREAT on her leash. We played and ran around sans leash in the safety of The Stevie Tree's stone bench circle, when what should appear but a 14 year old Maltese named Sparky and his human. Stevie was friendly and curious and the two sniffed and ran around in circles. Next, another human with an Australian Shepherd named Joey came over. Both were fascinated by the large attitude of the tiny 6-ish pound Min Pin. Stevie was not intimidated in the least -- in fact, she was far more interested in the Shepherd than the Maltese and kept trying to find where she went. Because the Maltese was pure white and the shepherd was nearly black, Stevie could evidently see them both well enough to know where they were (that plus her super sense of smell).

Then it was time to head back and trim nails. Stevie's not too fond of that, like most dogs, but she did just fine. I suspect by now she's likely taking a nice long nap, much to Megan's delight. It was tons of fun, as the pictures attest.

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At last check, Stevie was still enjoying her new, larger "den", without over-compensating by tearing up or chewing up paper or carpet. Also still going potty where she knows she's supposed to.

Tomorrow I go for a visit, field trip to The Stevie Tree, then curl up on the new couch with everybody to watch "Happy Feet" on DVD.

I promise new photos -- camera batteries are charging now.

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