Wally's new stuff ...

I have to really update this ... I've been so busy. More details soon.

A new picture ...

R.I.P. MONTY.

James told me that Monty, Wally's father, got ran over by a car today/tonight ... my condolences to my new friend, Christina and the rest of her family.

Just remember ... all dogs go to heaven. <3

A late night posting and a sad story ...

So - the last couple of days have been alright --- but, I noticed that Wally was peeing a lot and not to mention I was nervous for his eye tacking yesterday morning.


I need to rewind though - Wally has been peeing a lot more frequently over the last couple of days, but I thought nothing of it until last night after I picked up him after his eye tacking. His surgery went perfectly - I dropped him off at 7:30AM at the LVAH (Lake Villa Animal Hospital) and I went to Starbucks and taught two morning classes. Afterwards, I went to the music store to get sheet music for my new students. I was hungry and I went to my parent's house for lunch and Target to get some half 'n' half for coffee but, the Target that I went to didn't have any.

I picked up Wally from the LVAH around 3PM and I got him a new bone from Petland and took him home. I gave him lunch and water and I had to crate him to go teach. James got home 5PM and I got a call at 5:30 saying that Wally wasn't acting right. I finish my last lesson of the night at 6:30 and I went to the local grocery store to pick up some food for dinner and left. On my way home - around 7PM, James called me saying that I should get home ASAP. James was already out the door to go to the AETC (Animal Emergency Treatment Center) in a neighboring city near us and he got checked out. To make a long story short, he got an UTI (urinary tract infection). We don't know how this happened, however; it's extremely common in puppies. James and I thought we did something wrong. My mind was racing backtracking the last week since we've got Wally. The VET said - it could have been anything. So, I'm thinking - was it going to Petsmart or Petland? Was leaving his food out and just putting extra food in his dish without emptying the contents of his last meal? Was it the puddle of water he lapped up while we walked him? Was is the poop that he sniffed outside? I mean - IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING.

Nevertheless, after James shelling out the dough to pay for treatment and antibiotics we took Wally home. I gave him his dinner with the cheese and antibiotic that the VET gave. I didn't fish him his "tuna casserole." Now, here I am at almost 3AM and I'm on pee/poop watch. He already peed on the carpet 3 1/2 times - I caught him in the act and I carried him to a puppy pad 1/2 though one of them. I took him outside and he did go poo.

I'm exhausted and I want to get some sleep, but I feel that I did something wrong to hurt Wally ...

Am I being TOO MATRONLY?

Alone with my dog.

As breeders and humans - it's hard to lock someone up in a cage. That is my goal - to get Wally comfortable in his crate. I know it's a slow process, but I'm determined to get him to do it.

Other than that - I got him a dog tag and a blue and gray hoodie. LOL

Out and about..

James and I needed a break from our house, so we took Wally up to WI to see my BFF's wife, Suzanne and their dog that started it all, Moki - a 9-year-old Chinese Shar Pei and English Bulldog mix.

Moki and Wally were good together, but we learned that Moki get defensive around his own toys and food. Moki nipped me on my finger when I was giving him a piece of cheese, but lessoned learned.

When we got home Wally peed and pooped on the carpet - but, James learned that when Wally runs for the stairs that he needs to poop and to check if he's "buttflaring." As for the pee situation - we should have let him do his "business" before he came in the house.

I gave Wally his "casserole" of cheese and fish oil and both James and I played with him for a good 45 minutes before we crated him for the night. Wally didn't only whined for 2 minutes and he passed out.

Housetraining.

Crating Wally for the night was easy, but in the morning he woke James and I up promptly at 6AM. I let him "outside" which he went with no problem, but I'm working on "potty" now for the actual act of doing #1 and #2. Breakfast and playtime followed. He was down for the morning nap around 6:45AM.

NOTES:

- I also found that he did #1 on his black IKEA towel in the crate. I washed it and his orange blanket as well.

- I noticed when we wants to go #2 he wants to run up the stairs. Luckily, we have the baby grate so he doesn't I brought the black and orange blankets up and carried him with me upstairs just in case he would do his business downstairs. I took him "outside" and he went "potty" - WIN!

Training Day I.

2/16/11

I rushed downstairs at 6:30 to check on Wally. I was super scared that his teeth were all messed up or bloody. I opened Wally's mouth and saw that his right side back molar was red. I started freaking out. I was frantic and I screamed at James to get him a plastic crate. So, after feeding and letting Wally outside, I was determined to get him a plastic crate. Thankfully, Fran gave us her plastic crate. James and I crated him and after 15 minutes of training him and 15 minutes of him whining and crying he settled down. Wally tried to gnaw at the front grill of the plastic crate, but he didn't clamp down on it. I was so happy that he didn't. PRAISE THE LORD! James and I cleaned up a little and had lunch at home. Wally was down for an hour and gave Wally lunch. We took him outside and Wally peed. We let Wally explore hoping that he would poo, but no success.

I had to go teach my Wednesday afternoon piano lessons and James went to go Jazzercise. James left around 5:30PM. I got home around 6:45PM. When I did get home and opened the door, Wally was fast asleep until I walked past his crate. He didn't start whining and crying until I turned on the TV and the lights. I think the metronome and classical music are really helping him out.

I also took him outside and he peed. I praised him ... (should I praise louder!??) ... anyway, I came back with him and prepped his dinner. I put down his food and water bowls and he mauled it. I stepped away to make his cheese and fish oil "casserole" and he went up the stairs and pooped in the same place again on top of the stairs. I immediately cleaned it up and went back down to grab his food and water. I brought it the "spot" and he continued to have his dinner - all 3 courses. After putting his food and his water away, Fran came was at the door and told me that Wally was fast asleep when she got home - around 5:30PM.

I don't know if I should let him have his water all the time ... I mean - it's not really hot outside???? HELP, PLOX?!

UTD (up-to-date) ... PART 2

2/15:

Same morning routine. 6:30AM wake up and took Wally out of the master bathroom and attempted to take him outside. FAIL. I carried Wally down the stairs and fed him and gave him water while I tuned in to FOX News in the Morning and checked if WoW (World of Warcraft) servers were down - which they were. James had to get going to go see his mom to a dentist appointment. So, it was my golden opportunity to train him. I got him to go up and down stairs with minimal drama and successfully got Wally to do his "business" outside. THANK, GOD!

James got back around 3PM and while I got ready to teach. James tended to Wally while I was gone. James put Wally in his metal cage before he went to go meet me at Jazzercise. We both got home all smelly and nasty around 8:30 and checked in on Wally. He didn't start crying or whining until I got closer to his cage, but it was all good. We ordered Dominos for dinner and we both watched TV until very late around 11PM and attempted to crate (metal) him. I read up on crating techniques prior and followed them. James was passed out the couch, so this was another opportunity to train him. I led him to his cage while saying "CRATE" and giving him treats for doing such a good job. On the 5th attempt I shut the door and all Hell broke loose. He started whining and crying while I was playing WoW. I noticed that we was gnawing at the crate and let him be. After 45 minutes, I went upstairs to leave him whining and crying and James went to sleep next to the crate on the floor.

UTD (up-to-date) ... PART 1

So, the last couple of days have been good.

2/13/11:

We got home from the breeder's home in Oak Forest around 7:30PM. James and I were exhausted from driving almost 3 hours round trip back and forth.

The good thing is that we got some of the basics from the breeder. We got a Ziploc(R) bag of dog food, puppy training pads, and a blanket with Shelby's (his mother) scent.

It took Wally about 30 minutes to get accustomed to first floor our house. Within the first 5 minutes being inside, he peed and pooped on the carpet - which we knew was going to happen. James went out and got some chew toys, treats, and a bed while I cooked dinner.

After James got back, we had dinner. It was late and James and I were anticipating for a long night.

We put Wally in the master bathroom with his newly bought stuff. I played classical music hoping to calm him down, but immediately after we closed the door - he started whining. James and I rushed to his rescue. After calming him down and also putting on a night light - he finally went down. All was good and James and Jon got some sleep.


2/14/11:

Valentine's Day - our 6 year anniversary. I woke up at 6:30 hoping to go workout at 8AM, but when I was going down the stairs at 6:45, I realized that we got a puppy. FAIL. I rushed back up the stairs and open the door slowly to find Wally waiting for someone to tend to him. I praised him and carried him downstairs and placed him on the carpet. I went to the fridge to nibble on some leftovers and when I got back to him a few moments later, he did his "business" again on the floor. I cleaned it up and sat with him on the couch and petted him while watching Fox First Thing in the Morning. Around 8AM, James came down and tended to his needs while I had to get ready to teach my Monday morning piano lessons. Right before I left, I hugged and kissed James and Wally goodbye and did my thing.

I got back from teaching and acquiring a new piano student at 12:30 and my GBF (girl best friend) was over with her 5-month-old daughter, Lily. James, Suzanne, and Lily got better acquainted and got the "seal of approval" from Suzanne. James, Suzanne, Lily and I went to lunch and took Wally to the veterinarian for the first time for his first check up and shots. The vet(erinarian) gave Wally a clean bill of health with the exception that he needs a eye tacking on both of his eyes. Wally's eyelids are partially folded which if not treated can lead to eye infections and blindness.
After the vet, Suzanne took us home and James stayed with Wally while I went to go teach.

I got back around 6PM and all was good. James and I went to dinner at Park Street Cafe in Mundelein to celebrate our anniversary. James left Wally in the master bathroom with the same scenario: classical music, night light, bed, 2 puppy pads, and some toys. Dinner was fantastic at Park Street - as always.

We got back and went to bed after calming Wally down when we got back.

Prologue

Well, this is the story of Jon, James, & Wally.

Here's a little prologue...

Jon and James are 30. Jon born on 6/16/80 and James born on 1/2/81. Wally was born on 12/25/10 - Christmas Morning 2010.

Jon was born and raised in Waukegan, IL. James was born and raised in Racine, WI. Jon and James met via Y! Personals (when the website was up) back in February 2005.

The story of Jon and James is another blog ...

Wally came into the picture on 2/13/11 - the day before Valentine's Day. Wally was our solution of us having a child, because we don't want to deal with the drama of gay adoption.