Living the puppy dream...

We're having our Halloween party tonight so everything here has been running on a schedule for the last few days. The reason for that is so every little detail for the party can be finished way before the start of the party so I can get myself dressed up and ready at least an hour before six o'clock tonight.

That schedule included Savannah's feeding and walking times, because I needed to walk her (which I did just now) and have her 'do everything' (which she did) so she won't need a major walk during the party. Anyone who has a dog (and who's paying attention to that dog) quickly learns how much time is necessary between food in and food out.  Every dog is different, and unless you drastically change their food or their schedule, or the dog isn't feeling well, you can just about bet the farm on the inner workings of your dog.

I've got the gate up between the breakfast room and the kitchen, and I think Savannah believes she's being punished because she can't get into the kitchen or the TV room. Sweet Pea can easily jump over this gate, so I've kept him in the TV room all day, which is the rule for that cat anyway once I start setting up for a party.  I polished my nails earlier this afternoon, with the intention of having Savannah eat her food while I was doing my nails, then by the time my nails were dry, she would be ready to go out, and then I could start doing my hair and getting dressed for tonight. I had taken Savannah into the TV room with me, thinking that we could keep Sweet Pea company while I did my nails, and Savannah would have a different room to be in for a little while after being kept in the breakfast room since early this morning.

There's always a puppy-fly in the planning, though. When I put Savannah's food bowl down for her on the floor of the TV room, all she did was look at it, give a loud exhausted sigh, and jump up on the sofa. Telling her that I needed her to eat a little earlier (and in a different room) than usual wouldn't have helped.... and when she jumped up on that sofa, she seemed to be watching "The Cake Boss," which I had turned on to give me something to look at while I was polishing my nails.

Well.... what if I put Savannah's food bowl up on that sofa with her? It could work.... and that's what I did... and there was my Princess Puppy, munching on her Flint River Ranch Kibble and watching Buddy and his family decorate cakes.  I polished my nails... Savannah ate her food... Buddy made some beautiful cakes (one of which was a replica of a wedding cake with spun sugar for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary).

I just thought it was the funniest thing.... Savannah was doing what people do--- mindlessly munching on food while watching TV. And funnier still was that when Buddy raised his voice in the bakery, Savannah stopped chewing and stared at that television as if Buddy was right in that room with her. And in her puppy mind, I guess he was.

I was telling my husband about Savannah watching TV and eating her food and he said "This puppy is a Prima Donna!" and I know he's absolutely right. A southern belle-ish Prima Donna. Our other dog Gracie was a guy's dog... perfectly fearless and ready for anything, and Gracie would have followed my husband off a cliff had he jumped first. Savannah is the exact opposite... she has to study a situation first, think about it, and then decide if she wants to join you... and I know darn well that this puppy wouldn't be jumping off a cliff, no matter who jumped first.

My nails are done.... Savannah has been (successfully) walked, and now she's in the breakfast room putting all of her stuffed animals into her dog-bed. I'm hoping that she will be extra-good tonight during the party, and not bark (or roar!) at anyone in costume. And as I type these words, Savannah is sound asleep in the midst of her monkeys and her toys... and it's the perfect time for me to get ready for tonight.  Savannah may be a Prima Donna, but I'm thanking my lucky puppy stars that she is so well behaved, and very predictable. My old soul of a puppy.