Corey settles in (Week 4)

Monday Memorial Day: Raining on and off all day ... raining in early AM, so didnt run dogs til around 830 AM... and by then DB has had diarrhea (from gorging on wild plums so husband has to rake out her pen) managed a pretty good run, started raining again, fed and kenneled) Out again around 11, managed to get some branches trimmed, Corey enjoying playing tug with branches, then, starts raining again. Corey inside, others on porch, took brief nap, stomach bothering me, then go out again. Goes on like this all day. I'm getting wore slap out, Corey will NOT stay outside quietly with the other dogs if humans are inside unless all dogs are kenneled, the enclosed area of the porch is too small for me and all 4 dogs, husband geting on my nerves as he can't work on the building today because of the on again off again rain, every time I set off with the dogs to do yard work it starts raining after a half hour, let Corey in while the others are out and I have to lock up the Damcat (the expandable baby gate doesnt work, the one that screws into the wall my husband hasnt put up yet and the drill is in the garage ... Corey hasnt had enough exercise and wont settle down inside, Snoopy stands at glass door and stars at us and tries to get in when it rains ... arrgh.) On the bright side ... Corey,DB and Snoopy actually play together briefly while Banshee supervises ... am out cutting branches, Corey has one and DB gets the other end and Snoopy goes into her 'crouch and jump' routine, and then all 3 take off running in circles ... another bright point, we're sitting on the porch, Corey gets up and finds an old sock and brings it and drops it at Banshee's feet, she is flustered abd pleased, and trots off with it happily... Finally, the day ends, rather well, I manage to get Corey brushed (inside) then get the rest to the kennels, brush and feed them. And only get drenched one more time, coming back. I dont think I could take another day off ...

Tuesday:  Let all out, had a good brisk run, fed and kenneled. went to work ... dropped off food from church at food bank on the way, while i was unloading trunk i left it open and returned to find a little tabby cat curled up in the trunk ... nope, i resisted bringing her home, Corey doesnt need another cat to terrify ... return at lunchtime, picked up Banshee for pet therapy day ... had a nice time (the nurse who gives out pork rinds is a goddess in Banshee's eyes) ... then went to Pet Smart to get some freebie dog food, then met husband at chiropractor (my back is killing me from yesterday), chiro let Banshee come in to watch husband and i be adjusted, she watched intently, then when husband got off the tab;e turned and looked at me, saying as plain as day 'oh no, i dont have to get on THAT weird vet table do I???' Left chiro, husband went on to lowe's I went home; kenneled Banshee (there's wlways this intense barking from DB whenever I take one of the others anywhere, banshee then barks back, I've found it better to kennel everybody for a half hour with chewies to calm down. Went in and iced my back then out to let all out for a run. threatening to rain again, and, does start sprinkling in the back, up by the side fence DB, Banshee and snoopy go to the same spot on the fence line and excitedly circle and sniff, this time Corey joins in, and all stick their heads thru the fence. Uhoh. Don't want Corey stepping over the fence ... return to trailer, sit awhile. Then a bit more mowing, feed, brush and kennel at dark.

Wednesday: Nice morning run. Kennel all, brush Snoopy, put ear cleaner in Corey's ears with husbands help... I have to figure out what's causing this, his previous owner said wheat allergy but he's not on any wheat food now ... go to work. Return in evening, husband and all dogs are on slab, DB, Banshee and Snoopy meet me at gate and escort me in, Corey and husband totally oblivious. Change, come out and get on mower, meet husband and Corey, take all dogs for run while husband burns branch pile (which has expanded to huge proportion)... all dogs manage to get soaked with the hose,,, threatening to rain, but doesnt, get some mowing done in back, husband joins me on tractor; then go in, brush Corey, then feed and kennel all.

Thursday: another good day, Corey fitting in really well now, running with the rest, trotting along the fence line, running with abandon, watching me mow (going from shady place to shady place, sitting under trees, looking very regal. I looked up once and Corey and DB were standing perfectly still at the crest of the ridge, gazing into the air ... beautiful. (Never have a camera when you need one!)

Friday: Morning run, fed and kenneled, brush Snoopy and Banshee (still blowing undercoats). Then took DB for ride into town to bank, returned and went to work. Corey and DB followed me back down to gate, no, you cant go with me. Returned late (had to go to chiropractor and buy dog food ... am going to try Corey on grain free to see if this helps his ears). Lay down with ice pack for awhile, then got dressed to mow ... but a storm was brewing.Stayed on porch for awhile, storm blew over ... husband and I threw balls for Snoopy and corey (this is first intense ball playing since foot injury)... for about 10 minutes ... Snoopy then 'swam' in her wading pool, let them both calm down, then went for evening run (and a spot of mowing) til nightfall. Kenneled, cleaned Corey's ears, brushed Snoopy, fed, and, tonight they got dried tripe as the evening chewie (oh joy!)

Saturday: Husband gone to flea market... workers arrive, I've not even drank coffee yet ... finally get moving, let dogs out, have a good AM run, feed, brush Snoopy and banshee. Let out again in half hour then mow while it's still fairly cool ... take corey inside at lunchtime, give him new recipe ear drops (colloidal silver, tea tree oil, olive oil, boric acid) and brush him.Do wash and housework. Other dogs laying on shady side of porch. Husband inadvertently lets damcat out of bedroom, Corey spots him and hurtles down the hall, knocking chairs aside (husband has still not installed gate!) Da mcat hides under bed. put corey out. then decide to take dogs for van ride, Corey tries to jump in DB's crate .. snarl ... Corey backs off quickly and gets in front. return ariund 630, finally cool enough to mow again, so start on back ... tractor mower has slipped a bearing or something so husband joins me on small mower... Corey is so funny, he plants himself where he can observe us, head going back and forth, lord of the Manor watching the peasants .... then poor little Mattie next door comes over to play, corey spots her (I swear he thinks she's a cat not a dog0 and barrels down the hill after her, she runs and goes back through the fence ... at nightfall I quit moiwing, go back up hill to feed and kennel, husband continues to mow awhile.

sunday: Today marks the one month anniversary that Corey has been with us ... nice AM run (worker already here, I slept in and didn't get up til 8 AM) fed and kenneled, went to church ... returned at noon, met at the gate by DB, Snoopy and Banshee dozing on porch, Corey supervising husband and worker. Changed clothes, mowed for awhile, Corey decides I need more supervision than husband and settled down under carport to watch me. I get a kick out of him, Angel Ginger used to follow me right by my left side as I mowed .... Sir Corey just moves around the property, finds a shady spot, and watches me, his head going back and forth. Got pretty hot after awhile, so took Corey inside, gave her meds, and read for awhile (Damcat in bedroom) ... husband came inside mid afternoon, then we went out and husband played ball with corey and Snoopy while I brushed Banshee and DB ... followed by more mowing (after Corey and Snoopy had cooled down, Snoopy by bathing in her wading pool, took Corey inside for a Kong. Mowed til nightfall, fed and kenneled, with a dried tripe chewie again. (Corey really really is enraptured by dried tripe, don't think he'd ever had it before ... )

A great first month for Corey, he has settled in nicely, is still very deferential to the ladies, has stopped the incessant barking and chewing behaviors, loves to ride in the van, is very friendly (but not obnoxious) to visitors, follows the 'pack' around the property now, if only he could get along (or at least not chase0 the Damcat .....