Heidi – Page 3 – The Dackel Princess

The Weekend Wrap ~ January 31st

This was the weekend that was. By this I mean we had one of those fierce, legendary, New England Nor’Easters!

I’ve been through them before. Usually, I make a big pot of soup and hunker down for the duration. I watch TV, old movies, etc until it is done. Then it’s time for the cleanup!

However, with a 14-week old puppy, who is this/close to being house trained, I found myself bundling up, and bringing her out.

As I stood there with the snow whipping about me, holding a leash for a little dog, who thought the world had gone mad, I realized I was doing something that will teach Heidi about housebreaking long after the storm had passed.

Over the course of the storm, Heidi went out every few hours and she did not have one accident that day!

We escaped at my house with 4-5 inches of very light snow. It was so cold that the snow squeaked when you walk across it.

The snow was also exhausting for the wee Miss Heidi. She would battle the elements and then come in and sleep. This led to some crazy behaviors during her wakeful hours. But in the end, she is settling, I simply need to work more with her to stop the biting, and Lili is finally accepting her, bites and all.

I am tired. These winters are getting to me a bit. So cold, so snowy, and so long. It’s my hope that Spring comes early this year.

So, that’s my weekend. I hope your weekend was a good one and that you were not buried in icy snow.

A Dog’s World

I have been working to get Lili to accept that the puppy is here to stay. Lili didn’t seem to mind the puppy, but she was like a new fiancee going to meet her future inlaws. Lili has been on her best behavior. Afraid to do anything wrong.

I knew the day would have to come when Lili got sick enough of Heidi to let her know, that she wasn’t going to accept ankle-biting, ear-biting, and other obnoxious treatment from this young whipper-snapper.

That day was yesterday. The pups were up early and then Heidi was like a whirling-dervish. Go, go, go!

She ended up biting at Lili’s ankles and this time, dear, sweet, Lili turned around, and growled and snapped at her. I was monitoring, so I could see that this was doggy-puppy instruction, because immediately Heidi backed off and stared at Lili. She tried again. Again Lili growled and snapped her mouth in the air. This went on for a moment or two and I called Heidi and told her to stop. She left poor Lili in peace and then played with her bones and toys.

Later in the day, Heidi was playing tug of war with me, and Lili came over to see what we were doing. I got Lili to take the rope and for several moments they played with the rope together before Lili walked away. But this is a start!

Aside from this, Heidi is still in puppy learning mode and doing well. It’s now two weeks since her last accident, which is encouraging. She never used the pee pads I bought. In fact, I don’t even put them down. So I have 48 pee pads that will go unused.

Is Heidi completely toilet trained? No. But she does know where to go and has started to go right to the door when she needs to go out. Since I decided early on to devote myself to doing this and training her to the leash, coming when called, etc while she was still young, I have been very busy. Even during the Flu. Even during snowstorms. But the progress is amazing.

So the girl is not just beautiful, she is also smart! How did I get so lucky?

Life Is Good

Like many new mothers of active puppies, my days are filled with periods of manic activity and then an hour or two of cuddling with my little piranha-toothed baby.

I can actually tell you that the only problem I have with this sweet girl is her teething. Oh my goodness, will I be glad when that is over, I am sure Lili will agree!

But Heidi has brought such joy to us and once again our home is alive with new life.

Heidi isn’t like any of my previous dackels. I guess none of them have been like each other. All were individuals who stole my heart. But it’s this marvelous breed that I love so much.

The wire-haired dackels are funny and feisty and fearless. They are loving and devoted, and once they claim you, it is for life. Those innocent eyes can change to devilish merriment in an instant and then a little body moves into your lap and you look down to see closed eyes and a sleeping, snoring little puppy.

Yes, I’m smiling more these days. My days are full, and when I sit down for the evening around 9:00 PM, I am almost instantly asleep. Hiedi is wonderful. She is everything I’d hoped she’d be and so much more!

The Weekend Wrap ~ January 24th

The weekend was a busy one. Despite the frigidly cold temperatures and my continued flu/cold, I managed to make meals and bring Heidi to commune with nature. And even with all the ice around my house, I have managed to slide and not fall. All positives!
Me and my girl. (Please don’t look too closely at me. I know I look terrible. I call this Flu Face!)

I dragged out my food scales, planned my menus for each meal, and currently have two days under my belt.

Heidi is growing and changing each day. I know her schedule pretty well, and I make sure to walk her then, as well as watch for signs that she needs to go out.

She is pretty smart and thanks to her breeder, who kept the puppies meticulously clean, Heidi came to me wanting this. I used just two of the puppy pads that I had, and then after a few days of her totally ignoring them and actually sitting by the door, I chucked them.

Heidi loves the sunshine and will sit anywhere there is the warmth of the sun. She also loves her toys and her chew bones. In fact, the little devil will beg for her chew toys, and then when I give one to her and to Lili, she will run off with her bone, and then rush back and steal Lili’s bone!

I love how the winter sunshine dances on her coat, making it appear almost reddish/gold.

I am buying her only things made in the USA, and sourced here as well. Her food does cost a bit more, but it is made here. The chew bones I get are also made here. It’s all about reading the fine print.

So that wraps up the weekend. Slow and steady as Heidi adjusts and I work to feel better.

The Friday Five ~ January 21st

Here we are another week gone by. It’s been so cold here in New Hampshire that Jack and I live in long underwear with layers over them, and for me, a blanket too. Besides freezing up here, this week, this is what’s going on in my world.

On Monday we called to order oil for the tank. We were down to just below a quarter of a tank, and with single-digit- below zero temperatures we knew that wouldn’t last long. On Thursday we were very nervous about running out, then the Oilman cometh! 219 gallons later, we are no longer worried about that and having to deal with freezing pipes.
It’s been fun to watch Lili and Heidi become friends. Although Heidi can still bug Lili when they play.
Mostly, they play together nicely. Lili allows Heidi to lick at her and snuggle her.

Heidi will roll on her back telling Lili that she means no harm. And Lili starts playing once again.
Heidi went to the Vet on Thursday for her shots. She weighed in at 11 pounds. I guess this means she’s eating well here and likes her new home. Our Veterinarians love her and joke that they would take her in a heartbeat!
I am slowly starting to feel better from the Flu. This has been a tough one to kick. I am sure glad I went and was tested for Covid, Strep, and the Flu, or I would have mistakenly thought I had Covid.
I’ve been home for a few weeks now, but aside from the dirty clothes that I removed from my suitcase, the case is not unpacked. I plan to set aside time tomorrow to unpack it and put the case away. I don’t see myself traveling now for a while.

So there we go. This week’s Friday Five. All good and positive things as we head into the weekend.

I hope you all are well and enjoying your days. And most of all, I hope that Covid departs very soon!

Heidi Almost 13 Weeks

I am sitting here thinking that Heidi is a prodigy. Here she is 13 weeks old and she is nearly housebroken. I say this because she shows a desire to go outside for all of her business.

Why over the weekend, she started barking at the door. However, I know that at this young age, I still have to stay on top of things with her and take her out every few hours.

Heidi is a sweet thing, but still has episodes of puppy nibbling. I have given her things to chew on as she teethes, and that has helped. I will be so happy when those pesky baby teeth are gone and she loses the desire to gnaw on everything. (Including her Mama!)

She goes in tomorrow for some shots and another Vet check. I can hardly wait to see how much she weighs and how she is doing.

We’re still sleeping in the recliner and I expect it will be like this for a few more weeks. She does very well curled up with me in the recliner. I want to make sure she is completely housebroken before I attempt sleeping in my bed.

I feel so lucky to have this little girl in my life. In many ways, I think all my previous Dackels told God to send her to me. She is truly a gem!

The Weekend Wrap ~ January 17th

The weekend proved to be a fairly quiet one for me. Aside from taking Heidi out to potty every hour or two, I was able to get some much-needed rest.

Do any of you recall the blanket I crocheted that was so bad, and pilled? I had to get a fabric shaver to make it look presentable?

Well, I pulled it off the back of the sofa, and since it is so heavy and warm, it has become my sick blanket. Oh, it is still pilling, and when I am well I will need to de-fuzz and de-pill it once again.

As I sat watching movies and contemplating life, I was reminded about the values instilled in me by my parents and grandparents. Doing what is the right thing to do in a calm and respectable way. (Not that I have always achieved this, but in later years, I certainly have tried.)

Then I watched the movie “Some Kind of Wonderful“, which is probably my favorite of the John Hughes films about growing up. There is so much in it about the right and wrong choices in life, and I wish people could watch and learn from it. If you have never seen it, find it on a streaming service and watch it.

Heidi is doing very well. She and Lili are becoming friends and she is also taking over the house.

Gone is that little bit of puppy fear of new places, without her Mom and Dad and littermates, and now she has accepted Jack, Lili, and me, as her family.

I’m not really using the crate. I mean it is in the room, with no door on it, and she actually uses it as a child would use a blanket fort. She races inside carrying a toy, rolls around, and then races out. It’s fun to watch.

So really, that was pretty much my weekend. Quiet, resting, and being a doggy Mama when needed. I hope your weekend was a good one!

The Friday Five ~ January 14th

The week sped by, and as I am a new Mom to baby dackel, Heidi there are not enough hours in the day. Here are the top five things on my mind this week.

1. Tuesday was a big day. I had to drive all over New Hampshire, as Jack had appointments. The roads were fine, but we left here at 8:30 AM and didn’t get home until 4:45 PM. It was also a big day for Heidi as she came with us!

Heidi on the go!

2. On Tuesday night I started to feel crappy. Tired, congested, coughing, and sneezing. I fell asleep in my chair and Jack claims I was snoring loudly. (Who, me?)

3. Wednesday I felt like I had a cold. All stuffy, tired, and with a giant frog in my throat.

4. The symptoms have stayed about the same and so I have not gone and been tested. I really think I have a simple cold. Jack is fine.

5. Heidi is teething, and she is chewing on everything. Bones, toys, me, and poor Lili. We are correcting her and look forward to the time when she is done with teething. For now, we keep providing chew toys and then when we must correction. Which is so frigging hard to do because she has the most innocent face ever!

So that’s my week. I hope you are all well!

12 Weeks

Our new baby, Heidi is now 12 weeks old.

She loves:

to run around the family room in circles until she collapses.
chewing, anything she can get her mouth on.
meals times. I have never met a dackel that didn’t love to eat.
snow. I know, go figure. She has these short little legs and is often dragging her belly through the snow, but she hops and jumps and plays!
going for a car ride. Currently, she is in her little carrier bag, but I am looking at car seats with restraints for her.
cuddling. After her rigorous play times, she either collapses on me or next to me.
thwarting all my attempts at dackel-proofing our kitchen and family room. Last night she had broken through all my well-thought-out blockades and escaped under the sofa, in the back of my chair, where she scurried about and barked. Let’s just say I was at my wit’s end. I finally took it all apart and rebuilt it. For the moment she is puzzled!
her new Daddy. It’s been a slow start, but yesterday after Mommy was undone about the blockade, she was kissing up to him like you would not believe!
Lili. Lili is still uncertain about this maniacal little creature, but at this point, Heidi isn’t biting her and pulling out her hair (progress) so they are starting to have a relationship.
all the doggy toys and chews! Like all toddlers, every toy and bone belongs to her. Poor Lili. I keep working to make sure Lili gets her own bones.

Well, that’s my shortlist of Heidi’s loves at 12 weeks old. She is doing well with her house training, and her sleeping is better too. Baby-steps!

Settling In

I think that Heidi is starting to settle in. She seems more relaxed and enjoys her days, eating, sleeping, and playing! Heck, I think perhaps I would like that schedule!

Everything was icy on Sunday and I nearly fell on our patio. Luckily, I did not fall, and during my 100+ times (an exaggeration I am sure!) I took walks with Heidi, I managed to stay on my feet!

There was a funny incident with Heidi on Sunday. She was climbing the doggy steps and Lili was sitting on the sofa, and Heidi raced over and jumped full force onto Lili!

Lili was so surprised, but she never growled or snapped. She just stared at the young whipper-snapper and then got down!

Yes, life is good and the pups are doing okay with their relationship.