Great morning

After a week of miserable, wet weather, this morning was absolutely beautiful.

I’ve already blogged about having to walk Tobey and Elliot early in the morning…like at 5-ish.  Well just because it’s raining outside, that doesn’t mean the pups still don’t get walked.  I’ll tell you, rainjackets and wet tennis shoes in the cold rain is not a fun way to come to your senses in the morning.

But this morning, there was not a cloud in the sky…nothing but a beautiful, bright full moon.  Aside from it being a tad cold, it was a wonderful walk. The boys didn’t even bark too much. Even for being a night owl, there’s something great about waking up in time to see a clear full moon before people start getting out, and walking around in the quiet.

Good times.  Good times.

Tobey & Elliot update

4:30 am.  That’s what time the dogs have been waking me and wife up with their barking.  Yes, we have them in a cage in our bedroom.  Why not put them in the laundry room on the other side of the house?  I’m thinking about it.

I used to stay up past midnight every night and be in at work by 8am with no problem. Not any more.

At 4:30am, the whole house wakes up.  The routine: take the dogs outside so they can do their business.  Immediately after that, feed them.  Then, back outside for a second bathroom break.  After that…hook up the leashes and harnesses.  Me, wife, Phoebe the alpha Yorkie, Tobey and Elliot take a mile and a half walk through the empty, dark Madison neighborhood streets in hopes of tiring out the pups. We only delude ourselves in this because these dogs NEVER GET TIRED! 

By the time we get home, it’s too late to go back to bed, but it’s too early to go into work.  We end up watching morning news…which usually sucks. Wife sips her Coke and plays solitaire on the computer. I sip my coffee. The dogs continue to bounce around the house chewing on anything and everything.  Finally, off to work.

Ah, work…a respite from the dogs. But like a man returning to Dracula’s castle at sundown, I know they’re waiting on me, ready to pounce when I return. Usually, wife already has them out of their playpen and is letting them fight with each other in the kitchen.  Dinner is one eye on my food, another eye on the dogs to make sure they don’t chew through an electrical cord.  After dinner…it’s another mile and a half walk. This time, as if we weren’t masochistic enough, we add the lab/retriever dog to the walk. So picture this image: me walking Phoebe the alpha Yorkie who’s leading the way, wife in the middle walking Tobey and Elliot trying to alternately bite each other or bite Phoebe, and then me with Callie the lab bringing up the rear because at age 12, she doesn’t have the stamina to keep up.

I start the day and end the day in the vain hope that I can outlast a house of dogs.

Not that I’m complaining, mind you.  One look at Elliot rolling on his back to let you rub his stomach, and I’m wrapped around his little paw.  I’m such a sucker. And at least I’m getting into shape.

Here’s Elliot

As promised, I told you about picking up Tobey’s brother Elliot.  Wife and I took some pictures, and here is Elliot

He’s from the same litter as Tobey, so they are indeed brothers.  Since Tobey had a full week’s head start on being a dog, Elliot has been playing catch-up.  However, after four days of being with us, Elliot has fit right in to roughhousing with Tobey, laying in the grass, getting the hang of walking, and having his tummy rubbed.

So, now you know our “kids.”  You know it’s an exciting life when we look forward to the evenings when both dogs poop in the back yard.

One’s cute but two…

is better!  Now that you all know Lord Tobey, get ready to meet his brother Elliot.  Over the weekend, my wife and I decided that Tobey needed a playmate his own age.  So, we got one of his brothers from the same litter. 

It’s scary how two dogs from the same litter can have such different personalities.  Tobey is the playful, nonstop one.  Elliot is much more reserved.  Tobey wants to jump on Elliot and wrestle him to the ground.  Elliot puts up with it.  The good news for me and my wife is that now someone else can tire Tobey out enough for him to go to sleep.  We’ll see if Elliot becomes more playful after he’s been with us a little longer.

Of course, I’ll post a picture of Elliot soon.  I might even post a shot of them together.  See if y’all can figure out which one is which.

You might be asking, where did the name Elliot come from?  We just like the way it sounded as another English name.  OK, it may have something to do with the fact that wife’s favorite show is Law and Order SVU and the main character’s name is Elliot.

Tobey’s Home

As promised, here’s a look at Lord Tobey. 

 

The family has survived the first full week with Tobey.  He’s actually very well mannered for a puppy.  He sleeps through the night and is dutifully going to the bathroom outside.  The old labrador in the house isn’t too thrilled with him. Phoebe, the alpha Yorkie of the house, is finally warming up to him.  BTW, that is a cat collar on him, since we couldn’t find any dog collars large enough.

 Tobey is expected to grow to a full size of between 2 to 5 pounds. 

New family member

I’m pretty pumped. 

This Friday, we’re getting a new addition to the family…a Yorkie puppy.  We’ve named him Tobey (for the English heritage, not for the Spiderman actor) and he is too freakin’ cute!  He’ll be under 5 pounds when he’s fully grown. The wife has already bought out Petsmart so Tobey will have everything…including a spot in our bed.  Between Tobey and the Yorkie we already have in the bed, I may end up sleeping on the couch for a while. Yes, I know my place. But the odds are getting better in the house for me: it will now be 4 girls against 2 guys.

I’ll post a picture once we get him home.  You’re going to be jealous and want one of your own.