Happy Birthday Bailey

Happy 2nd Birthday Bailey!

Some thing I forgot to mention yesterday: the girls stand next to each other all the time… and lick each other.  Totally weird.  Delilah is particularly fond of licking Bailey… licking her ears, licking her face, licking her eyes, licking her back… but Bailey has started licking Delilah too.  We’ve got a pack of weirdos.

Accomplishment of the day: Today we took the girls to the bank (through the ATM), to Petsmart and we waited in the car for Mike to drop some drycleaning off.  At Petsmart, Bailey and Delilah did AWESOME (minus Delilah peeing on the floor AGAIN).  There were quite a few people around (the checkout worker, another worker walked up, 2 sets of people behind us and people walked in) and she didn’t growl once!  Now, her tail was totally tucked and you could tell she was terrified, but she took treats and really did well (I think).  It’s progress and I was proud of her.  Delilah did wonderful of course, the fella right behind is in line commented that she gets along pretty well for only 3 legs… we responded that he had no idea, it’s getting her to stay still that’s the problem!  Unless it’s snuggle time of course.

We didn’t do anything crazy special for Bailey’s birthday.  When it gets a little warmer, we’ll take her for an ice cream cone or something.  I know, I should have celebrated!

Girls hanging out with Mike after work, lots of sniffing, lots of kisses
Girls hanging out with Mike after work, lots of sniffing, lots of kisses
The pups looking expectantly up at Mike... "hey dad! do something crazy!"
The pups looking expectantly up at Mike… “hey dad! do something crazy!”
Delilah likes to nudge Bailey with her nose when she wants to play.  Bailey hasn't figured out what it means yet, but it sure is funny.
Delilah likes to nudge Bailey with her nose when she wants to play. Bailey hasn’t figured out what it means yet, but it sure is funny.
Delilah smiles so much when she gets to give Mike snuggles.  At least it looks like smiling to me anyway.
Delilah smiles so much when she gets to give Mike snuggles. At least it looks like smiling to me anyway.
Some wolfpack snuggling going on.  Bailey likes to use us as pillows.  Very happy with how comfortable the girls are getting with each other.
Some wolfpack snuggling going on. Bailey likes to use us as pillows. Very happy with how comfortable the girls are getting with each other.
I forgot to upload this picture yesterday!  Obviously it's not from today, the high was only like 10 degrees today and the ground is covered with snow.  Just wanted to share it anyway, because the girls are doing so much more together.
I forgot to upload this picture yesterday! Obviously it’s not from today, the high was only like 10 degrees today and the ground is covered with snow. Just wanted to share it anyway, because the girls are doing so much more together.
Another picture that clearly isn't from today.  That's my swampy backyard and why we've done so much paw wiping.
Another picture that clearly isn’t from today. That’s my swampy backyard and why we’ve done so much paw wiping.
The gals just love the Olympics.  Except Delilah keeps rooting Germany... we had to break it to her that although she's a German Shepherd, she's never set foot in Germany.
The gals just love the Olympics. Except Delilah keeps rooting Germany… we had to break it to her that although she’s a German Shepherd, she’s never set foot in Germany.
Birthday girl getting some gator snuggles.  She likes to go upstairs and climb on the bed to escape Delilah sometimes - and to have maniac time without worrying about her sister.
Birthday girl getting some gator snuggles. She likes to go upstairs and climb on the bed to escape Delilah sometimes – and to have maniac time without worrying about her sister.
D says "Watching the Olympics is exhausting, I think I'll make a snuggle on mom's pillow"
D says “Watching the Olympics is exhausting, I think I’ll make a snuggle on mom’s pillow”

Been too long!

So it has been far too long since my last blog post!  I’ll summarize the developments and bombard you with photos 🙂

– Delilah used to be very scared of the steps in our house… now she goes up AND DOWN them mostly without a hitch.  Mike still needs to get a nonslip runner for the steps.

– Bailey and Delilah are getting along much better!  Coexist very peacefully, no issues around each other, only get snippy when they’re being possessive over toys and beds.  Nylabones are a hot commodity in this house, even though there’s like 4.

– The weather has been too gross to walk… (or run, which is driving me and Bailey BONKERS).  Either it’s super cold where the girls start nursing their paws after minutes or the sidewalks are too snow-covered and sloppy for walking.  It’s a bummer because the girls need it.  And me!  Who knew St. Louis weather could be this wintery!?

– Bailey and Delilah do not seem too interested in the Olympics, but the Puppy Bowl… that’s a different story.

– The majority of the pictures we take seem to be on the couch… I promise we do more than that, but that’s when my hands are free.

– We’ve taken the pups into the world a couple times, but not quite enough probably.

Bailey LOVES water bottles... Great when you want to give her a cheap toy to play with, unfortunate when you want to drink it.
Bailey LOVES water bottles… Great when you want to give her a cheap toy to play with, unfortunate when you want to drink it.
Me and Delilah kicking it on the couch.  It's a little unusual for me to get Delilah snuggles, usually she's snuggling Mike!
Me and Delilah kicking it on the couch. It’s a little unusual for me to get Delilah snuggles, usually she’s snuggling Mike!
Delilah finding space inbetween Mike and the couch to wiggle into.
Delilah finding space inbetween Mike and the couch to wiggle into.
Delilah looking super cute.  What a good looking dog :-)
Delilah looking super cute. What a good looking dog 🙂
Me and Bailey snuggling.  Don't judge me for the sweat pants, I was sick and it was Sunday morning snuggletime!
Me and Bailey snuggling. Don’t judge me for the sweat pants, I was sick and it was Sunday morning snuggletime!
Bailey taught Delilah how to try to climb trees to find squirrels.  It's very possible Delilah knew before she moved in, but Bailey also has a knack for teaching bad habits.
Bailey taught Delilah how to try to climb trees to find squirrels. It’s very possible Delilah knew before she moved in, but Bailey also has a knack for teaching bad habits.
The girls looking outside waiting for Mike to come inside.
The girls looking outside waiting for Mike to come inside.
Delilah just gets SO happy whenever Mike comes home.  That's pure love there :-)
Delilah just gets SO happy whenever Mike comes home. That’s pure love there 🙂
D may be sleepy, but she's watching you!
D may be sleepy, but she’s watching you!
Delilah trying to find the puppies when we watched the puppy bowl
Delilah trying to find the puppies when we watched the puppy bowl
She's always so happy!
She’s always so happy!
Yet again waiting at the door.  I just think it's cute, so I always take pictures.  It's cheesy but so heartwarming to see how excited your dog(s) is(are) each and every time you come home.  Even when you only went outside to scrape off the car.
Yet again waiting at the door. I just think it’s cute, so I always take pictures. It’s cheesy but so heartwarming to see how excited your dog(s) is(are) each and every time you come home. Even when you only went outside to scrape off the car.
Enjoying some head scratches so much her lil tongue lolls out
Enjoying some head scratches so much her lil tongue lolls out
Caught a pic of Bailey running in snow
Caught a pic of Bailey running in snow
Girls chasing each other in the snow
Girls chasing each other in the snow
D says: "oh hello! come get me!"
D says: “oh hello! come get me!”
Sleepy girls!  Getting closer to each other!
Sleepy girls! Getting closer to each other!
My name is Bailey and I love being upside down!
My name is Bailey and I love being upside down!

A few steps forward and a couple steps back

It’s been too long!  Saturday was busy, Sunday was beautiful and today was a Monday (need I say more?).  Nonetheless, time to document some memories!

Things have been pretty good on the pup front, they are getting used to each other and getting along very well.  We have a few bouts of possessiveness – it can be almost funny though.  Bailey will be playing with a toy, then drop it because she gets distracted.  Delilah, who has never shown an interest in the toy will run over to get it and shake it around.  She leaves the toy for some reason (if I had to guess, to get Mike snuggles) and Bailey (who has been creeper staring from around the corner will slouch out ever so sneakily to steal the toy back).  I don’t get it.  It’s like kids.

We’ve been letting them be around each other without leashes on… and I have to say, the tension and snippyness has actually decreased.  Bailey and Delilah both kick it on the couch with us now… I mean, they’re not snuggling or anything, but tolerant of each other.

 

That makes it sound like it has all been sunshine and roses, which isn’t the case either.  They still have their snippy moments, usually because Bailey is being possessive of something irrational or one of them is a little too much in the other’s face wanting to play.

One funny thing is that in the backyard when Delilah goes to chase Bailey, they are real excited and D chases her and Bailey keeps running until D barks.  Then Bailey stops, I think because she thinks she did something wrong, but Delilah just makes a lot of noise…

We’re back to super cold weather again, so unfortunately there was no playing outside today, but I’ve saved some pictures for you!

Bailey making snuggles on Saturday.  What a cutie.
Bailey making snuggles on Saturday. What a cutie.
Delilah finally decided it was time to join the wolfpack on the couch on Sunday.  She seems pretty happy about it, if you ask me.
Delilah finally decided it was time to join the wolfpack on the couch on Sunday. She seems pretty happy about it, if you ask me.  Funny that she finally decides to join us on the couch and she picks a spot right on top of Mike.
D says "Human! I'm waiting for you to do something awesome"
D says “Human! I’m waiting for you to do something awesome”
"Maybe I'll just rest my head.  It seems like it may be a minute or two before you do anything awesome"
“Maybe I’ll just rest my head. It seems like it may be a minute or two before you do anything awesome”
Always looking happy. :-)
Always looking happy. 🙂
"Maybe I'm a little sleepy.  I love snuggling with my human"
“Maybe I’m a little sleepy. I love snuggling with my human”
75% of the wolfpack, kicking it on the couch.  Mike couldn't ask for a better way to spend a hungover Sunday.
75% of the wolfpack, kicking it on the couch. Mike couldn’t ask for a better way to spend a hungover Sunday.
Bailey trying to help the melting process along by trying to eat the ice.  She loves ice.  Since it was 50* outside, we were trying to leave it open so the ice could melt (everything had gotten frozen into a block in there)
Bailey trying to help the melting process along by trying to eat the ice. She loves ice. Since it was 50* outside, we were trying to leave it open so the ice could melt (everything had gotten frozen into a block in there)
Bailey and Delilah sitting in a tree...
Bailey and Delilah sitting in a tree… S-N-I-FF-I-N-G
Bailey and Delilah waiting at the door for Mike to come back outside.
Bailey and Delilah waiting at the door for Mike to come back outside.
Bailey showed Delilah how cool ice is.  Then when we closed the cooler to keep them out of it, they kept trying to open it with their noses.
Bailey showed Delilah how cool ice is. Then when we closed the cooler to keep them out of it, they kept trying to open it with their noses.
Just pointing out how muddy it was!  this is a Delilah print.  Or a wolf print, I'm just not sure.
Just pointing out how muddy it was! this is a Delilah print. Or a wolf print, I’m just not sure.
Bailey Buggles enjoying some sunshine.
Bailey Buggles enjoying some sunshine.
Bailey and Mike playing in the yard.  the game was "escape the muddy paws!"  Bailey won.
Bailey and Mike playing in the yard. the game was “escape the muddy paws!” Bailey won.
Bailey sniffing out the spot where Delilah's scar is.  I don't know if it smells different or if Bailey even notices.
Bailey sniffing out the spot where Delilah’s scar is. I don’t know if it smells different or if Bailey even notices.
It almost looks like Delilah is singing loud and Bailey is like "oh for real, tone it down!"
It almost looks like Delilah is singing loud and Bailey is like “oh for real, tone it down!”
Again, happy Delilah, just being her delightful self.
Again, happy Delilah, just being her delightful self.
She loves the snow AND the sunshine :-)
She loves the snow AND the sunshine 🙂
Keeping a lookout for bees.  Yep, you heard me, bees.  She at two on Sunday.  We freaked out, naturally, so we googled it.  Evidently other dogs do this too, we watched to see if she had a reaction (she didn't).  MAN her chompers move really quick when she's getting one.  We didn't think to stop her from trying because it seems like a bee would fly away before a dog could chase it down AND sink their chompers in. Not the case, in case you were curious.
Keeping a lookout for bees. Yep, you heard me, bees. She ate two on Sunday. We freaked out, naturally, so we googled it. Evidently other dogs do this too, we watched to see if she had a reaction (she didn’t). MAN her chompers move really quick when she’s getting one. We didn’t think to stop her from trying because it seems like a bee would fly away before a dog could chase it down AND sink their chompers in. Not the case, in case you were curious.
Delilah decided she likes Bailey's crate.  So she randomly hopped in their and laid down.  Bailey likes Delilah's crate too.  What a bunch of weirdos.
Delilah decided she likes Bailey’s crate. So she randomly hopped in their and laid down. Bailey likes Delilah’s crate too. What a bunch of weirdos.

Heartwarmth

This post is for yesterday and will not have quite as many pictures as normal, but there was something that I want to remember.

Yesterday was a normal work day and since it was in the 30’s, we took Bailey & Delilah for a walk when we got home.  We’re trotting along and when we get a couple blocks away, there’s a mom putting her two toddlers into the van.  She got the second one loaded as neared and she stopped what she was doing to ask us if we could stay here for a minute.  Then she proceeded to tell us that her niece was inside and had been upset because her dog was actually in the hospital that day, getting a leg removed.  She wanted to know if her niece could see Delilah and watch her walk around so that she would know that it was going to be okay.  Obviously, we said yes.  She jogged to the door and yelled inside for her niece to come out, there was something she wanted her to see.  The girl came out, she was 11-13ish (if I were to guess… and my guesses on children’s ages are usually wildly inaccurate, so she was probably either 9 or 16).  Mike paraded Delilah around for the girl to see and then the girl got to give Delilah some pets.

It was one of those times when you find yourself in the right place at the right time, even though it was something small.  I’m glad we could hopefully give her some peace of mind.

 

When we got back from the walk, I had to get going to one of my nieces 1st birthday parties and then to hang out with my mom for a bit because I didn’t see her on her birthday.  Only my family has first birthday parties that last til after 10!  Late night!  Mike kicked it with his canine homies and all of the reports I received were positively glowing.  From the sounds of it, they watched tv.

Delilah kicking it on the floor while I was out.  Mike was sending me picture updates while I was gone.  I was so glad our girls were behaving.
Delilah kicking it on the floor while I was out. Mike was sending me picture updates while I was gone. I was so glad our girls were behaving.
Mike caved and let Bailey resume her snugglespot on the couch while I was gone.
Mike caved and let Bailey resume her snugglespot on the couch while I was gone.

 

Turns out all Bailey needed to totally relax around Delilah was a nap. on the couch.  Maybe it wasn't so bad that Mike bent the new rules.
Turns out all Bailey needed to totally relax around Delilah was a nap. on the couch. Maybe it wasn’t so bad that Mike bent the new rules.

 

This is what I was doing while Mike was at home.  She's a human, but I thought it was cute.
This is what I was doing while Mike was at home. She’s a human, but I thought it was cute.

Today I expect some playing in the forecast.  It’s 40*, just warm enough for the snow in the backyard to start melting and turn my backyard into a mudpit, so obviously today is the day that Bailey wants to play… which brings me to a question to the tripawd community!  How do you wipe her paws when she comes inside?  Bailey comes in and sits and gives me her front right paw, I wipe, front left, I wipe, she stands, back paw, wipe, other back paw, wipe, free!  Delilah is proving to be a little more difficult.  It may not have anything to do with the tripod thing and just with the fact that she doesn’t seem very comfortable with us wiping her paws OR she interprets it as an invitation to play and she jumps up on Mike and tries to get his face.  It did take us a lot of treats to get Bailey to the paw routine we have now, but Delilah doesn’t seem to care for treats!  She usually spits them out and Bailey eats them off the floor.  Any suggestions?  We thought about getting a BIG foot wipe-y mat and putting it in the kitchen so maybe she could just walk on it?

Delilah won't put her back paws on the couch, but do you know what she will do?  Put her front paw up on Mike (on the couch) and give him so many kisses and snuggles!
Delilah won’t put her back paws on the couch, but do you know what she will do? Put her front paw up on Mike (on the couch) and give him so many kisses and snuggles!
This was funny because you can see Mike leaning his head back.  Delilah is over the top with kisses!  She also likes to make chomping sounds.
This was funny because you can see Mike leaning his head back. Delilah is over the top with kisses! She also likes to make chomping sounds.

What’s better than one good day? Two!

I didn’t get a chance to write yesterday, but it went pretty well!  The thing I’ve learned about both dogs is that they can each be a little possessive.  Mostly over bones and kongs.  So weird, Bailey doesn’t want to chomp on a bone, but she doesn’t want Delilah to either.  Bailey’s kong is readily available, but she wants Delilah’s.  Delilah sees Bailey chomping, she waits for her chance to sneak the bone away so she can chomp on it and then guard it.

Yesterday was a little hectic and I had the dogs by myself for awhile, but I think it went okay.  Bailey and Delilah played for a few seconds and then Delilah tried to mount Bailey and Bailey did not like that.  Overall it went okay.

 

Oh!  Another thing… Delilah gets RILED UP when we get home from work.  Tail wagging like mad, barking, whining… she’s very vocal and very excitable.  Bailey used to wait calmly in her crate until we let her out.  Now she’s picking up on Delilah’s behavior.  Not the worst thing, it’s pretty funny, definitely makes for a loud welcome when you get home!

 

Today we went to PetSmart so the girls could walk around and to get them out and experiencing the world.  Plus, it was 8 degrees by the time we got home from work and Bailey’s paws don’t like the ground when it’s that cold.  Delilah seems to do much better actually.

Enough chatter, let’s get to some pictures!  Oh and Happy Birthday to my momma!  Best momma in the world 🙂

 

While I was getting ready for work yesterday, I let Bailey get on the bed.  This is Bailey's "Is this okay mommy?  I just want my snuggles again" face
While I was getting ready for work yesterday, I let Bailey get on the bed. This is Bailey’s “Is this okay mommy? I’m so sleepy, I just want my snuggles again” face
Bailey lounging in bed while I got dressed and stuff.  Mike and Delilah were hanging out downstairs.
Bailey lounging in bed while I got dressed and stuff. Mike and Delilah were hanging out downstairs.
Delilah analyzing Mike in the kitchen.  I'm pretty sure she's thinking "That's an interesting story, how did that make you feel?"
Delilah analyzing Mike in the kitchen. I’m pretty sure she’s thinking “That’s an interesting story, how did that make you feel?”
Bailey and Delilah kicking it in the kitchen!  Delilah always looks so happy.  Bailey is getting there... And yes, I leave a lot of shoes in the kitchen!
Bailey and Delilah kicking it in the kitchen! Delilah always looks so happy. It was pretty funny because Delilah has embraced being a tripawd so fully that she likes to spend A LOT of her time with just two paws on the ground.  So, she was up on Mike trying to give him kisses and he said “get down” and a couple feet away Bailey lays down (“Down” is her command to lay).  I was impressed with her following directions, even though she looks so serious!  And yes, I leave a lot of shoes in the kitchen!

 

We used the box from Delilah's crate to block the kitchen from the house so that one dog could be on each side so Mike and I could clean up without having to put the gals in their crates.  This is how it worked.
We used the box from Delilah’s crate to block the kitchen from the house so that one dog could be on each side so Mike and I could clean up without having to put the gals in their crates. This is how it worked.
Another kitchen block pic
Another kitchen block pic
Sorry for the numerous pictures, but I was really tickled.
Sorry for the numerous pictures, but I was really tickled.

While we were making dinner, we put the girls in their crates (because we were advised not to let them roam around unsupervised).  Cute part is that they were laying in the exact same position only mirrored from each other.  Well, I thought it was cute anyway.
While we were making dinner, we put the girls in their crates (because we were advised not to let them roam around unsupervised). Cute part is that they were laying in the exact same position only mirrored from each other. Well, I thought it was cute anyway.
The girls are getting more comfortable with each other!
The girls are getting more comfortable with each other!
Getting some living room sniffs!
Getting some living room sniffs!