Savannah Grace

I've decided that Savannah needs a middle name. There are just times when I need more than one name when I speak to this puppy and I am good and tired of saying Savannah Savannah when I get frustrated with her. This morning, Savannah Grace just popped out, and it sounds good... and the Grace name reminds me of our other dog Gracie..... so Savannah Grace it will be.

Ah... this morning. Consider me chastened.

After two nights of very little sleep because Savannah was barking at the after-midnight wildlife, I was totally exhausted last night and the night before.  I went to bed earlier than usual last night, which means that Savannah's last walk up the road was earlier than usual also. And, stupid me.... because I went upstairs earlier, I left Savannah extra treats and extra water.

Well. Savannah's water bowl was totally empty this morning, and that bowl isn't exactly small or even medium-sized.

Sometime after midnight, I heard one bark from Savannah. The bark woke me up and I sat up in bed, then Savannah barked again, just once. That second bark sounded as if she were sitting right at the bottom of the back stairs in the kitchen. I called out 'Savannah!' and then put my head back down on the pillow, with the thought in my mind that when Savannah has to go outside, she will give me just one bark.

However... I fell asleep. Next thing I knew, it was 6:30 and I got out of bed, got dressed, and went downstairs. Savannah was on the opposite side of the kitchen and she wouldn't come near me. She lifted her head and gave me the saddest look, keeping her ears down and her mouth closed. No puppy smile this morning.

I took her outside so she could pee, but then brought her back inside so we could wait till it got lighter for our 'real' walk. I didn't notice the puddle in a corner of the kitchen till an hour later, however, when friend Cindy came to help me clean the house. Thursday is cleaning day... Savannah wagged her tail at Cindy... but then quietly walked out of the kitchen and into the breakfast room when Cindy discovered the puddle.

Oh my. That's why Savannah barked for me in the middle of the night. And except for saying 'Savannah!' and putting my head back on my pillow, I ignored this poor puppy who was walked extra early last night because I was so tired that all I wanted was one good night's sleep.

Two lessons learned here: When going to bed earlier than usual, do not leave a full water bowl for Savannah. And, most important, when Savannah Grace barks just one time in the middle of the night, she's telling me that she has to go out. And I knew that signal of hers already, but I was just so exhausted that I ignored it.

Poor Savannah. I felt so badly for her this morning. We cleaned up the puddle, sprayed and scrubbed and sprayed and washed... and Savannah sat quietly in the breakfast room.

As I type, Savannah is sleeping in her bed. I think she has forgiven me because after the rug and the kitchen floor had been cleaned, I took Savannah out on the porch and brushed every inch of her and as she sat there being groomed she licked my arm, and then my neck. And then she put her Great Pyrenees nose on my cheek and exhaled the biggest sigh which resulted in a giant puff of hot air blowing on my face.

Savannah is probably thinking that sooner or later she will teach me all the puppy lessons I need to know in order to raise a proper dog.