It's official: The incredible expanding dog!

Murphy visited the vet this morning for the latest round of shots (a big plug here to Edgewood Animal Hospital of Gorham for donating their services to GEB), and the weigh-in confirmed what I expected:

28.4 pounds.

When he arrived here on Nov. 16, a mere six weeks ago, the pup weighed around 12 pounds, meaning that he has officially more than doubled in size.

Sometimes I swear that he's visibly grown overnight.

Think like the dog, outsmart the dog....

I find myself somewhat bemused at how some of these "duh" solutions can crop up with the pup.
Case in point -- the long line for play/exercise. We are having serious "issues" with Murphy's love of leash grabbing and gnawing (and his leads have the fraying to prove it. Perhaps I'd better buy a new one before the eval on Jan. 6.)
Anyway, the long line was a particular favorite. He'd grab, I'd tug, he'd tug back and a grand tussle would ensue. Fun for the pup, definitely not what you want a guide dog doing.
Then yesterday, the light bulb went off:
Grab his tennis ball, and cram that in his mouth before I even snap the long lead on him. Happy, distracted puppy who doesn't even think about grabbing the lead instead.
Of course, before I get too self congratulatory, let's remember we're dealing with a beast who more than once has tried to eat a rock.

Apologies to the squeamish

I just noticed that two posts in a row reference poop.
Apologies to the squeamish among us, but I'm afraid that this is just reality for us.

Wheeeeeewwww!

I know, I know, I know. I haven't posted in forever.
Murphy, as sweet as he is, has been hitting puppy equivalent of terrible twos. And he's been work. (I'm not complaining, just emphasizing.)
However, nothing compared to poor Bob's past five days. As soon as Andrew and I left for Olney, Murphy got the poops, and bad. So my poor hubby has been being awakened every couple hours by a puppy who's got to go, and has been reduced to cooking rice for said pup, to calm his overactive intestines.
I really love my husband for not divorcing me over this adventure.

Murphy's Law

The best way to make a puppy poop is to be in a public place without a plastic bag.
It's like learning to pack a baby's diaper bag all over again.