Emma's Routine

The past couple of days have been pure joy watching Emma and her housemates work through their differences and establish the new group ranking. Emma still has that wonderful puppy smell that just makes me swoon every time I smell it, and seems to cause the others to excuse some of her behavior. The cats even excuse her cold nose and Emma walking behind them with their tail hanging out of her mouth.

The cats are both ten year old Abyssinians, brother and sister. The brother loves our dogs, and parades proudly when one of the dogs licks him to the point of being sticky coated. The sister is less patient than her brother. So, it was a head turner when I saw the sister walk across the living room floor, Emma slowly advance behind her, take the cat’s tail in her mouth, and carry it as the cat walked away. All the cat did was twist her ears backward.

Emma has been sleeping eight hours through the night. She plays for about two hours, running, bouncing, climbing and generally pestering everyone after breakfast. She becomes so tired, she either drops in place or glides into a laying position on the floor. When she sleeps, she really sleeps. The loud sounds of our small coffee grinder doesn’t even rouse her. She sleeps until lunch-time, when she awakens enough to go outside for chores, then inside for lunch. She plays small games with us, tug of war, catch or just petting, then she returns to sleep. Mid afternoon Emma awakens again, drinks water and does outside chores again. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. is the beginning of her evening energy burst. She plays and runs for two or more hours and by 9:30 p.m. she is ready for deep sleep. When I am ready to retire, I take Emma outside one last time, give her a chicken strip, and put her into her kennel.

Emma’s kennel is next to a reclining chair on my side of the master bed. If she whimpers in the night, I move to the recliner and dangle my fingers into the kennel. She sniffs my fingers, collapses next to my side of the kennel and returns to sleep for a few more hours. I treat her the way I did my children when they were infants. I really don’t want her to learn to fuss, I want her to feel like her needs will be met with small gestures on her part.

It is time to play with Emma. …

Happy Easter Morning with Emma

Emma and Buster played much of the morning in the living room, at least the times when they were not in the kitchen hoping for a treat.

The following e-mail was sent to Emma's breeder, Lin, this morning. Look for her response at the end.

Happy Easter Lin,

Emma has had a busy Easter morning. She slept until 5:15 a.m. when she needed out and her stomach was growling. She played and ate a hearty breakfast, then was outside with me doing yard work and watering until nearly 10 a.m. She learned about water hoses and water from the hose. What fun! She helped me sweep the front porch and dead head flowering plants. She stayed with me most of the time, except when Pippin chased the birds, or Buster ran and played. All the dogs are tired and sleeping. Emma is with LeiAnna in the office on a bed LeiAnna made just for Emma. Emma has a stuffed elephant that she particularly enjoys next to her, and the bed is next to LeiAnna's feet. Classical music is filling the house, and life is wonderful.

Emma barked for the first time. The neighbor lady was in her yard last evening, saw me and came over to her side of the fence to talk. Emma was a happy little puppy greeting her at first, then moved away, cautiously, and barked one time. I tried to coax her over toward the neighbor again, but Emma wanted nothing to do with the stranger. She seemed relieved when I moved away from the fence, circling my legs, and glancing back at the neighbor. Earlier yesterday the neighbors across the street came over to meet Emma, including their almost 2 year old son. Emma was puppy clumsy, but ever so gentle with the little boy. She has made quite an impression among the neighbors, not just for her beauty, but for her character.

Every member of our household appreciates Emma. The emptiness we have all felt has been filled by her precious being. Thank you.

Lin's reply:
I am delighted to get your updates. Kiss The Divine Miss Em for me ......

Happy Easter to you all!

Hugs,
lin