A day in the Life of a Poodle

For another week or so we will be pet-sitting a 16-year old poodle. We've been here two weeks. So far so good, I suppose. She's still alive! 

Let me back up a little. We have never had pets as long as we've been married. Nothing against those who do and nothing against the pets themselves. 

So, why did they choose us to watch their 16-year old oh did I fail to mention incontinent nearly deaf and blind poodle?

What they told us:
She sleeps all day.

What they failed to tell us:
She doesn't sleep all night.
{And if you don't take her out, sometime in the middle of the night she'll pee some where, some place, some time while we're sleeping. 2nd night happened to be on our bed. A couple of other nights on the floor conveniently on my side of the bed.}

What they told us:
She likes to sleep with them, but she will use her carrier.

What they failed to tell us:
Forget the carrier.
{She likes to snuggle as close to one's face as possible licking herself into la-la land. Ever smell the breath of a 16-year old dog? Her yawn alone covers a 6-ft. radius of odor.}

What they told us:
She doesn't eat much in the morning, so leave it out for an hour then put it away for evening.

What they failed to tell us:
She does eat much in the morning.
{She also like to take her chunks of slimy, wet food and scatter them on the kitchen floor casually dining at her leisure. Only took one second to learn that cold, slimy dog food is squishy between the toes.}

What they told us:
(Motioning in a general direction to the red bag on the counter.) She likes one snack at 9:00 pm.

What I failed to notice, and I take full responsibility for this one):
That red bag on the counter with the delicious-smelling brown sticks that we've been feeding her promptly at 9 every night is beef jerky. BEEF JERKY, PEOPLE! Made from 100% premium beef. No wonder it smelled so good! I've been sacrificing yummy, teriyaki beef jerky meant for us humans and giving it to a dog.
{Hmmm...in retrospect the salt content of the jerky would be why she was gulping tons of water before bed.}
 

I think I may have this dog stuff figured out.

All in all, it has been a fun time. She really is a good dog--bad breath and all--and we've become accustomed to her little rituals and routines. Grace loves animals and it's been fun watching her interact with the dog. This dog may even have managed to wiggle her way into our petless hearts. Who knows?


It's All Poodley Good!

Brenda