When Audrey and I First Met

The story of how Audrey and I first met begins with a break up. It was shortly after my fiance and I broke up. Yup that's right the one and only time I was engaged to be married ended on a bad note. Not worth reflecting too much on this detail really. It seems like an insignificant and what I consider a silly time in my life. Thankfully we did not have children BUT we did have two cats - Anchovie and Gordon. To summarize a stupid story my ex got custody of the cats. It really wasn't worth the fight in the end and I knew they would be well taken care of.

Up until I met Audrey, I always considered myself a cat person. A didn't really "get" the dog/human relationship. However, one day I visited a bird store that sold . . . well birds. Birds have always fascinated me and this store was always a crack up because it was mass chaos all the time .. random birds screaming & squawking, flying around... if you were afraid of birds not the place to go. On this day in the back of the store in a small cage was this skinny & goofy looking puppy. She was so crazy hyper I couldn't exactly hold her like I would a cat. She was all legs and all she wanted to do was run around and jump and twist and fold (typical Boxer behavior I've learned!). The tile floor was slippery so she looked like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time...she was the cutest thing I had ever seen. I was in love. I left that day thinking about her a lot. I even had a name for her when I returned the following week to buy her.

Taking Audrey home was surreal experience because I didn't yet understand the dog/human relationship. She has taught me the joy of canine companionship. I believe we were meant to be together at a time in my life when I needed it. Over the years we have been through many many experiences and her loyalty and love has never wavered.. . well except for when grandma has treats.

Audrey's Current Status

Audrey is currently in stable condition. I felt that I saw a few more bumps on her head about a week ago but this week I don't see them.

Drug Trial Program: We on waiting to begin. She was the last dog to be accepted into the trial. However, supposedly the drug is running low so they are delayed a bit. (I'm not sure how I feel about all this or if I believe half of what they are telling me at this point.)

Another Second Opinion: I am feeling as though I would like to take Audrey back to her vet she went to for years and was treated by during her previous mast cell tumor removal. She'd get on the ground with Audrey like she really cared for her and Audrey always seemed comfortable with her.

Holistic: I'm looking into some options here right now.

Odd Coincidence: My next door neighbor learned yesterday her dog has cancer. Because I'm paranoid I'm not drinking nor am I having the dogs drink the water from the faucet.

Interesting News: It appears as though a new drug has been approved as a cancer treatment for dogs. This is something I want to discuss with the vet. http://tinyurl.com/qo8d32

LEARNING LESSONS #2

Cage training during puppy years is necessary!
I was resistant to cage training in the beginning. I even resisted when most of my furniture was destroyed and potty training was a complete failure. It always seemed cruel and unfair but we eventually learned it could be used as a training tool. Not only for my sanity but for her safety.

It started to become clear when I came home to my couch in the beginning stages of being destroyed by baby girl. I just broke down and cried. I loved her so so much but I just didn't know what to do.

The day I realized we couldn't go on any more was the day she started chewing through power cords . . . yes cage training is very necessary.

Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Once upon a time, I trained my baby girl Audrey to NOT potty in the backyard.

Why would any sane person do this?
It was meant to be temporary because the backyard was being sodded and as you know dog urine causes dead patches. Instead we would we'd open the front door and she would "do her business" in the front yard and just return when she was done.

After it was okay for her to go back in the backyard she refused to do so. As a matter of fact if she felt we were trying to encourage her with treats to "do her business" in the backyard she would run back in the house!

The place we've recently moved to has a very small front yard and she will not use it nor will she use the backyard. So it is now a normal routine for me to have to walk her around the corner to a field where she will go potty . . . we do this at least five times a day (if she asks to or not).

In the past few months, and more so in the recent two months, I wake up (well kind of awake) to Audrey wanting to go outside. I FINALLY have the puppy sleeping through the night (who goes potty in the backyard thank goodness) but now I have senior citizen who has to go . . . when she has to go out. Some mornings I wake up and think "was I out walking a dog last night in my pajamas or was that a dream?"

Last night was particularly bad however, she woke me up twice!! Ugh. I really couldn't figure out why she was whining at me the second time but I just assumed it was to go outside. Which she did go potty but I don't know if it was necessary. I just really really hope and pray this does not become routine. She did have urinary track infection but we recently just finished our meds to take care of that. IM SO TIRED

So you may wonder if I'm so tired why am I up so early. Well, that is another thing I'm awoken at 5:00 in the morning every day because we have to go "outside". It's easier to just get up at this point.

It's so had not to be completely frustrated with this. I'm just wondering what it feels like to be well rested at this point because it's been months for me.