What a Dinner...

Life has been pretty full, as anyone could imagine, with MUGGS in it. He's growing like I can't believe and amazes me with each new day and situation. We switched vets, to Dr. Steven Salk, and had an initial visit this past week - and I'm thrilled. His staff, his facility, and the way he got along with MUGGS was just perfect.

Last night I had one of those rare evenings: someone cooked for me!!!! Not just me, actually. A new friend, Jim, who I met though David Madison, had been promising that I'd get an invite when his LA friend, Peter, came to town to cook one of his extraordinary Chinese dinners. Jim is one of these rare individuals - very kind, caring, thoughtful, and so true to his words and promises. He's been a constant source of help and encouragement with MUGGS....having been the proud dad of a few dogs, in his day. I say dogs, but his tasted in puppies lands in the nearly human size end of the dog spectrum. He's the proud papa of two beautiful, loving and, of course, enormous Newfoundlands: GUS and LILLY.

David came by with Gryffin, last night, to pick MUGGS and me up for the much anticipated dinner, over at Jims. Peter was finally in town and we were heading over to his house, not far from my place, to have an evening of friends, fun, wine and incredible food; dogs invited!!! How great is that? It was my first visit to Jim's house, which is beautiful. Like an overly nervous parent, as soon as we arrived, I immediately walked around to every open bedroom door and shut them. Puppy piddling, was not how I wanted to be remembered after my first invite to Jim's.

MUGGS was in heaven - all this new territory to explore and new people and dog friends. Everyone had a great time. Nibbly bits and some drinks to start with.....then the cooking of the savory courses started. Jim had already been busy with desserts - this guy knows how to bake. I wish that I'd gotten a photo of his fig tart with citrus mascarpone all set in an incredible crust: perfectly flaky, and flavored with rosemary (yup - what a combination!!!!) and a kiss of cornmeal. There were madeleines, orange custard ice cream, and molten chocolate cakes - all coming up, for dessert.

The main event started with home made BBQ pork in buns with cognac hoisin and scallions - yum!!!! A nice crisp white wine was the perfect foil to the salty sweet of the buns.

Next was rice with an incredible stir fry beef, followed by the MOST AMAZING fresh Chinese noodle stir fry with duck and chicken and the most incredible array of perfectly cut and cooked vegetables and spices.

I could have started with dessert and stopped there - but the savory courses were really amazing.....So, I had plenty of both. I was stuffed - and MUGGS was tuckered out. We both slept a full 8 hours last night - a gift to both MUGGS and ME.

Here are some pictures of the evening:

• Jim and Peter with the noodles
• Muggs taking a break with Lilly - talk about the odd couple!!!
• The dinner table - before we attacked!!!
• The first course

Life is good....especially with a little MUGGS in it!!!!

Been a while....been busy. Had an great-full 8 hours of sleep, last night. MUGGS is way ahead of where typical expectations place his age for how long he can sleep in his crate without whimpering "I need to go outside". I know that it's still an uphill struggle - and am well aware that there will be slips and slides backwards. But, his temperament is so good - - I know, already, that we're headed for a great life together.

Just some things I wanted to share, along with a few new photos:

• I am amazed at how much MUGGS has grown. Here is one picture at 9 weeks, taken by Sally Rosenthal, MUGGS' true "MOM". The other "pose" is my attempt - 4 weeks later (this past Tuesday at 13 weeks) of trying the "pose" on my coffee table. Look at how his body and legs seem to "fit" more....
  

• What a great attitude MUGGS has. He's still a puppy and can go "psycho" on me, at times. When those rare moments occur OR when I just want to have my morning coffee alone, I gate him in the kitchen (with doggie door access to the yard) and he never ever whines. He's so happy to be able to go in and out the door, play with his toys, take a slurp or two or water, do his "business" in the yard....He's always happiest when we are together (so am I). That's the barometer of a true English Cocker. But, his ability to be content to hang out alone with his toys - in the kitchen....without the typical puppy whimper and yapping....LUCKY US!!!

• As a member of the "hunting" breeds, swimming is something that's part of his genetics. Today, I went over to David Madison's house and got in the pool with him, Gryffin, and MUGGS. Although it was his first time in that pool - so he had no sense of where the steps were....he paddled like a pro. A picture of David with Gryffin and MUGGS, plus one of me, after we all got out and were letting the 110 degree Palm Springs heat, dry us off!!!!

Setting boundaries...

Sleep deprivation, starting to impact me. Each night is better --- that's a fact. Encouraged by most experienced friends, I opted for the crating method, at night. Even though Muggs slept with me the first night, I wasn't set up...plus, it just felt like the right thing to do the first time Muggs would be away from his 7 brothers and sisters.

Bought the crate, the next day, and I can confirm that he now seems to like it, at night. Granted, it's only been four night's here at the house; three of them in the crate. My friend Jacqueline Leppla uses crating for her grown German short-hair, Sage, and the one puppy they kept from Sage's first litter, Storm. When I was in Reno I was often the first one up, in the morning, so learning the process and technique that the Leppla dogs were used to was pure luck, for me.......not even thinking, for a minute, that I'd be using the same technique and tool in just a matter of weeks.

Setting boundaries is the single most important step, right now. That's been the universal message from friends, family and everything I've read, on line. This morning, it's a tough one.....Keeping Muggs penned in to the kitchen, while I'm doing other things, around the house. I've already left the house, several times, leaving him "gated" in the kitchen. Mostly, that has gone okay....only one big and one small accident.

We made it through three hours last night, before whining in the crate signaled time for peeing. After that it was another 5 hours of sleep before we finally got up for the day. The cumulative lack of solid sleep is just the way it goes, for this first week. But, we've gone from three hours, the first night, to 5 hours last night. Fingers crossed for tonight.....I need a solid 6-7 hours to start feeling better.

As for today's goals. I'm having my coffee in the TV room and MUGGS is gated in the kitchen. I left the flap for the doggy door open, so he could go in and out. This was fine for the first 20 minutes - all the while ignoring his whimpering (setting those boundaries and sticking with it----do not cave to the whines). After hearing him successfully navigate the doggy door 3 times in a row I looked out the TV room window (overlooking the yard) and saw he was scrambling towards the front fence. It's secure, but with a bit of digging, I didn't want to take a chance. In the next couple of days I'll be laying down cement pavers, at the gate threshold, and cinder blocks sunk into the ground along the length of the fence to prevent escape if he decides to dig.

So, for now, I've closed the doggy door flap, because with him being emotional right now.....getting OUT is probably big on his mind. With that motivation, I didn't want to risk the chance that his little puppy digging could net him an escape route. Muggs is safely gated, in the kitchen and wining....I'm just ignoring his wines. Hopefully, this will work, this morning.....Back to coffee and the news....

Here are two pictures from this morning - romping in the yard...very happy.....just before the next picture - which was taken just as I was leaving Muggs in the kitchen for our setting the boundaries session.....Hoping the whining doesn't go on and on....