As a result of our NM trip, Heineken is now the proud wearer of the halti. Heineken is really good in the halti. I don’t think she really likes it, but when she has it on, she walks right next to me during our walks. There’s actually slack on the leash! She hasn’t tried to wiggle out of it either. Stella by contrast spends 97.5% of the walk trying to get hers off. I think Stella is getting more used to the halti just for the mere reason that she’s back to pulling a lot during the walks. It doesn’t help that I spend a lot of the walk holding the leash up to try to keep Stella’s head off the cement – her preferred method to removing the halti is to rub her nose on the cement – ouch. Once she tried to use Heineken as an accomplice in the halti removal scheme. Stella (as we are walking) puts her head under Heineken, so Stella is trying to rub against Heineken’s belly. Well Heineken perseveres and keeps walking. Stella stays the course though and eventually Heineken’s back legs aren’t even touching the ground, she’s just riding on Stella’s head. So at least Stella is still providing me with some laughs.
Stella has been demoted to the smaller crate again. And Heineken has pooped her way into the box as well. Last Monday Stella had an accident in her box (the large one at the time). I’m pretty sure this was a direct result of Stella eating Heineken’s food Sunday night (they’re on different foods, plus twice as much food equals twice as much poop!). So after Monday, Stella went to the small crate. (The small crate is less comfy because there’s no bed in there, and she’s probably a little cramped). Well in a true tag team effort, Heineken pooped on Tuesday. So now Heineken is inhabiting the larger crate when we leave. Stella definitely knows what she is missing though. The other night I was crating her for bed, but both crates were open. Stella decided she would go in the larger crate. Since Heineken is still a free dog during the night, I just let Stella sleep in there. Stella sleeps better in the larger crate which means that we sleep better.
Stella turns 1 year old on Saturday! This also happens to be Little Jerry Seinfeld’s birthday. AND MINE! Stella’s birthday present will be a trip to the vet to get boarded while Brian and I head to Florida. Definitely not a great present for Stella, but a terrific one for me. I’m looking forward to a week without dealing with the dogs. I’m sure by day #2 I’ll miss them miserably and be ready for their craziness again though.
