One Year of Maverick

Mav actually turned ONE on May 18th, but we got him on July 13th. 

(I will remember this, always, because it was the day of the assassination attempt on President Trump. And if you want to liken that event to the kind of anarchical chaos Maverick has brought to us, go ahead.) 

So, the downside is that we can never ever get rid of him because of the way Sutton says "Oh Maverick!" and hugs him 12 times a day. The upside is that he is unflinchingly loyal and loves us so much so he's becoming a very good dog. 

He still chews on things. He still will maul and annihilate a Little Person and eat the foot off a doll. His actual favorite past-time has been seeking out Sutton's sippy cups, running out the doggy door with them, and chewing the lid off to get the remnants of milk on the inside. It's not been uncommon for me to find piles of take-and-toss cups laying in the yard. (We went through a lot of take-and-toss cups in the last 6 months.) He would actually open her bedroom door in the middle of the night (her door in MO didn't latch properly so he just needed to ram it a bit), grab the cup, and I'd find it in the yard in the morning.)

And he really doesn't like being in trouble because he will run away and pee at the same time. The only time this happens is usually when he tries to steal food from the kitchen counter (he ate half a mushroom pizza once and has lived for me to tell that tale).

The good news is that with a third dog, you kind of just assume they'll survive things and he's proven to be resilient. 

He was completely crate-trained and then something happened when school was over and he realized that I wasn't leaving for work anymore and he started to rebel and now he doesn't go in the crate and we just let him loose in the basement while we're gone. We've determined that as long as he has plenty to chew on, he's fine.  

Sutton's handiwork

Since we've been in Kansas, we've leash-trained him and Scott will take him out for his first hunting season this fall. 

He's definitely the biggest dog we've had at about 46 pounds at one year old and he's solid muscle. He was the only boy in a litter of 3 pups and it shows. He's determined and in charge but Scout puts him in his place. 

Maverick is a very good dog and we've been on a learning curve, having not just a puppy but training a teenage dog again. The puppy part goes fast; the teenage part is the hard part. 

Give him an antler, he's happy

Scout and Mav had birthdays the same week. Mav was too overwhelmed and insane over a plate of salmon in front of him, so no cute pictures. 

He's such a good dog and too smart that he's almost dumb, if that makes sense. 

He always looks slightly like he's been caught doing something he shouldn't. He loves to curl up on our feet and be petted and see what's going on. He's exactly like Jett in this way. Scout does not possess these traits (Scott always said that "Scout is his own dog", while Jett always needed our approval and now Mav wants our approval too.)

He always looks like this spaniel.

We've also figured out that Mav is a terrible swimmer. Like, he'll do it, but he looks like he's drowning. Jett was the same way. At least Mav will run and and jump into the water. Jett would just stand on the shore. 

Scout is graceful and quiet and paddles with ease. .

..and honestly, Scout and Mav have the same markings, come from the same breeder, and they HAVE to be related, yet they are so different. 

Puppy flashback from last year

Puppies Make Life Significantly Better

They are a comfort, a joy, a hassle, a best friend, and a lovebug to cuddle up with at night. Dogs in general make life more enjoyable and I'll rarely not stop to pet a dog, but puppies are a whole different story.  There's something about taking a teeny baby dog and teaching it what you want it to know. The cuteness doesn't hurt either.

True story: There's a series on Netflix called Dogs with Jobs and we've watched a few episodes in my classroom because the theme fits in when a reading story in the curriculum. I CRY at these episodes. In fact, after this happening to me two years in a row, I banned Dogs with Jobs this past year. I cry thinking about how capable and worthwhile and helpful and life-saving dogs can be. It breaks my heart to think of their value.

Moving on from that...

Puppies are curious. I did some digging to find pictures I haven't posted before (you're welcome).

Scout in 2013.

Tucking his paws

And Jett in 2014. Jett moved like lightning as a puppy so most pictures I have of him are blurry.

Ear deep.

He had the sharpest puppy teeth ever.

Remember the awful flooring that was in this house when we moved in?

And let's not forget the puppy party our friends threw for their weimaraner. 

What do you think? Do dogs make your life better? I can't say where we'd be without these little guys.

via puppyspot.com

Easy Pumpkin Pupcakes

Preface:
I need like a week to take a step away from the internet.  Just a week or so to get my thoughts together.  I have too much going on right now.  Too much stress.  Too much stuff.  I actually have so much to do right now that I'm starting to feel the anxiety I felt 3 years ago (me stuck in Alaska for a year while he was deployed) starting to cycle back again.  This life that we have in Colorado (this house, the dogs, my job, etc) was not designed for one person to do. There was nothing I even missed writing about over the last several days and that's probably a sign I need to slow down with everything.  I'm so tired of doing 18 things at once all the time.  I'm exhausted. I'm stressing myself out in many ways. Stuff and Things will be running on Thursday, of course, but really...I need like a week.  

Recipe challenge, week twenty-one.

I'm posting this on Tuesday because yesterday was Memorial Day and:
A. Pupcakes have nothing to do with Memorial Day
B. I figured no one would be around to read on Memorial Day

Scout had his 2nd birthday this weekend and while I can never *quite* remember what day it is (May 23rd or 24th), it was this past weekend.  I could dig out his registration I suppose but I'm not *quite* sure where that is.  Regardless, I made pupcakes last weekend and froze them because I knew this past week would be hellaciously busy.

Jett and Scout love these pumpkin dog treats that I found on Pinterest.  The problem with them is that they are labor intensive and the recipe makes so many that they last forever.  While having a 3-week-supply of dog treats isn't a bad thing, I could always halve the recipe. But I figure if I'm going to the trouble, I might as well make a lot of them.  I usually keep the bagful of them in the fridge because one time I didn't, and they got kind of moldy.  Also, we generally like to give our dogs non-flour-based treats, so I wasn't sure how I felt about giving them several of these a day when they had no health benefits.  For example, the Milkbones they get once a day help clean their teeth, the pupperonis are protein-based, etc.

I took the pumpkin/peanut butter flavor combination the dogs love and put it into the easiest pupcake I've ever whipped up.  Then I topped them with a dollop of peanut butter before "serving".

These are Scout-and-Jett-approved. As is this salmon that I may have made them for dinner on Saturday night.

Pumpkin Pupcakes
makes 1 dozen mini-muffins

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup natural peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1 T. honey
1 egg
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 cup flour
1/2 t. baking soda
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Mix everything together in a large bowl.  I used an electric mixer just to get all of the lumps out.
Spoon the batter into a greased mini-muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Store extras in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Why my dogs are treated (too) well

Disclaimer: I typed this up in March and never got around to sharing it.  

Jett turned one year old on March 10th.

Happy first birthday to the dog who steals my pillow and worms his way onto my lap whenever he feels like it.  We're convinced you are the alpha-male and first-born of your litter and, while you insist on being recognized by jumping and scratching and clawing, you never leave our sides.  We appreciate that.

I don't know why people get so up in arms about pet owners who treat their animals well.  I know our dogs are spoiled.  They get grain-free dog food.  They get homemade treats.  They get to sleep in a bed.

The dogs were the reason I finally had to give in to Scott's request for "land" in Colorado. They need the space. We researched these dogs and picked them out pretty carefully, so we figure we might as well give them the best we can if we're willing to invest in hunting dogs.  I remember saying something to Scott, when we first got Scout, along the lines of "Eh, we probably don't need that whatever-it-was".  He said, "How much did we pay for him? What was the point of that if we can't spend $8 on whatever-it-was?"  (I clearly don't remember what it was.)

That made perfect sense and that's the route I've taken ever since.

Scout wasn't all that interested in participating.

Anyway, they are much loved and well-cared for because we think they're worth it.  We don't have kids.  We put our energies into these animals.  And I think that's okay.  And to the people who put the dog or cat (or any animal) at the v.e.r.y. bottom of the list when a baby comes along, shame on you. I would have no qualms telling you what I think.  I understand perfectly well that circumstances can be extenuating.  I've accommodated to a lot of lifestyle changes myself in the last few years.  I get it.

But I do know that I would never, ever, ever be able to forget the unconditional love these guys give when I have nothing else around to love.

Jett will wake me up at 3am, most nights, and pretend he has to go outside.  As soon as I get out of bed, he will hop up onto my spot and get comfortable with his head on my pillow.  Even though I've figured this system out, sometimes he really does want to go outside and he won't stop making making noises until he sees that I'm out of bed and then I suppose he decides which route he's going to take: trot to the door or hop up onto the bed.

So, even though he had that run-in with the four-wheeler, this dog does not lack for comfort, so let's not feel too bad for him.

Jett's Day Out

Sometimes taking two puppies hunting is more trouble than it's worth.  I'm often reminded that what we have are, indeed, puppies.  When I see someone with a 5+ year old dog, I'm amazed at how reserved, quiet, and seemingly respectful the animal is.  Scout is getting there (he's only 1 1/2) and Jett can be a handful.

Scott took Scout with him hunting the other day.  Jett stayed behind.  I went to the gym and the store in the morning and then came back to find Jett all anxious.  You see, he's never really been left alone.  He's always had Scout.  Scout hates being alone for reasons of his own, but he spent the first year of his life "brother-less".  Jett doesn't understand what that means.  

So I took him with me to Lowe's to buy paint for the kitchen.  Everyone just loved him.  Even the dog he decided to bark at in the middle of the store.  He is such a puppy still.  We practiced some sitting and staying while we waited for the paint.  Scott often takes Scout to Lowe's and will just drop the leash and say "stay" and Scout will sit there and watch Scott shop.  Jett is…not quite there yet.  I don't trust him not to run off.  

I had a hankering for a caramel brûlée latte, something I got hooked on my first winter in Alaska.  Though I've been staying away from sugary drinks lately, I felt the need to just live a little. We went to the drive-thru and the barista asked if he wanted a puppy latte.  I had to ask what that was because the last thing Jett needs is caffeine.  It was just a cup of whipped cream and Jett definitely enjoyed it.  I think it's the sweetest thing that Starbucks offers these to dogs.  

Can we just say yay for dog-friendly businesses?  I never realized before how much it means for places to be dog-friendly.  I suppose it's a good thing we live in Colorado because it's a very dog-friendly state.  

How I really feel about getting a 2nd puppy

Yesterday, I showed you the pup party our friends put on a couple of weeks ago.
Today, more puppy thoughts.  Just because I'm home for the summer and I have most of my conversations with dogs….

I never was completely sold on the idea of a second dog. But it did make sense because I hated the thought of Scout spending his days alone while we're at work.  Jett is super cute, quite fluffy, and doesn't object when I carry him around.  He's just now getting to the point where he loves to be loved by us;  he tries to climb up my legs when he's scared, for example. But he is not passive.  He is quite vocal and will let you know when he doesn't like something.  One time, I picked him up and moved him off the bed.  "Rawr! Rawr! Rawr!…Rawrrrrr!" and then he went back to sleep.

I never thought of dogs as having different personalities.  However, our two dogs could not be more different.  Scout is very reserved.  He's very sensitive.  Intuitive to our feelings.  If Scott or I are feeling anxious, Scout paces and frets with us.  If Scott tries to leave the house without him, Scout will block the doorway.  He'll also stand by the truck.  He knows how things work.

Jett?  Well, Jett is in his own little world.  He is not intuitive to our feelings.  He tromps around caring only about his next meal.  Sometimes I think Jett only gets excited when we come home because he sees Scout get all worked up.  He cares not what we think about discipline.  Only recently has he become afraid of us because, honestly, the whacks had to get more severe.  He chooses to make bad decisions time after time.  The house training isn't going spectacularly well with this one.  We're trying to put the fear of God into him now.  All puppies need the fear of God in order to become good dogs (I'll put that in my forthcoming dog-training manual).

Then I tell myself that he's only 3 months old.  Then I think that Scout was much better at 3 months…but maybe I'm deluding myself on that one.  Maybe I've forgotten.  Puppy training is not for the weak-hearted.  In fact, I should really give this little guy more credit.  He spent the first month of his life with us being shuttled between our house in Missouri, Scott's apartment on the college campus, and our house in Colorado.  Consistency has not been his friend.  We're probably lucky that he's as good as he is!

Scout has become the model dog.  Jett gets treats for telling us when he needs to go outside.  Scout gets treats just for being Scout.  I figure if we can "raise" one good dog, we can do it again, right?

But then they both are really into digging holes.  So maybe I won't be writing that manual after all.

Any dog training secrets?  And the digging thing…is there a way to prevent that?  Such a hassle.

Pup Party

Stuff and Things 5/8

+Few complaints out of me this week.

+Scout's friend Ruby sent him a toy.  He totally knew it was for him and he knew it was a gift because he was very excited.  My friend Rachel and a puppy are photo bombing the background.

As Rachel said, "Ruby has very nice handwriting".

Ruby is a goldendoodle.  Kayla has very nice handwriting.  

+Is it weird that I've now known that we're going to Colorado for like 2 months and I still haven't said anything to Facebook?  Also, we got the new puppy and all and I haven't posted anything about him either.  I have this weird thing where I want people to read here and find this stuff out, but I don't want to advertise my blog on Facebook because I don't want anyone to know about it.

+I've been on the hunt for a water bottle for a few weeks now.  I can't find one I like.  (Isn't this ridiculous?)  I've actually been drinking an insane amount of water lately (and feeling much better for it!), so it makes sense that I want to like what I'm drinking out of.  I bit the bullet and ordered from Tervis yesterday.  My co-worker insists it's the best bottle ever.  I guess we'll see.  My cousin actually persuaded me to buy my first water bottle 4 years ago.  I got it at Target in Anchorage and its place was on my desk at school ever since. The lid broke just a few months ago, and that was kind of traumatic for me.

(We won't talk about how much this cost.)

+Last week, we had to go to a cocktail party at one of Scott's professor's house.  It was interesting to listen to "intellectuals" who have no idea what it's like in the trenches of education… talk to each other about education.  It was exhausting.  Because we all know how I feel about MS&T in the first place, right?

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Five Friday Facts

1.  Fact: I went to the doctor the other day and they weighed me in kilograms.  Kilograms!  Talk about taking the pressure off!  That number literally meant nothing to me.  (Do kilograms mean anything? Or are they like Canadian money?)

2.  Fact: We put a deposit down on a puppy.  Yep! I'm just excited to have something/someone around to play with. This will certainly take some getting used to on my part because I've never had a pet. Let's call it a lesson in, "Can Kristin keep another living thing alive and well?"  It's a good thing Scott remembers to feed himself. Most of the time.

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He'll look something like this!

3.  Fact: Bermuda shorts are hard to wear.  They take inches off your height (if I was actually going out, I'd probably wear wedges), and make you look...stumpy.

Shirt: American Eagle // Shorts/sandals: Target // Purse: Lucky Brand // Watch: Fossil

4.  Fact: The Debra Morgan purse has returned.^ The Longchamp seemed too large for summer.  I don't need to carry around hats and gloves anymore either, so...no need for a suitcase o'preparedness.

5.  Fact.

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