AWW, SHE SUCKS :)

Having looked up the internet I am pretty sure Julie-girl's intermittent wheezing is a display of kennel cough (since she is otherwise normal all-round and it appears that the combination canine distemper shot she had would be useless against a bug caught before the injection).

If it stays like that in another couple of days, its an early vet visit for her (since her desexing op doesn't happen till next month). That said, her cough has already shown obvious improvement from yesterday.

A bit to share:  The first day I returned from work after a couple of days working at home, I was greeted by Julie-girl wagging enthusiastically with a predictable object of desire - Mashimaro II - in her mouth (how my worries were confirmed!  See last blog entry).  Strangely though, Mashimaro II did not appear to suffer any external injuries like its kin.

The amusing part was, after I'd settled at my desk to check my emails, I heard this weird noise and looked down to find Julie-girl on the floor behind my chair pawing and ever sooooo intently SUCKING away on Mashimaro II's head like nourishment could be had from it. 

According to McMacho, the gentle, tender sucking ("Like a baby!")  had been going on for the better part of the day. 

I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to object (from Alpha-Dog-Disciplinarian POV), but after having reasoned that:- 

1) Julie-girl had apparently found more comfort in the old slipper than I did;

2) She did not seem interested in causing havoc to my other footwear (or other chattels/fixtures, for that matter); AND

3) The sucking has distracted her enough her from scratching her baldy left ear...

I thought alright, who am I to begrudge her - and proceeded to relieve the now eww(!!) soggy, smelly bunny slipper of its stitched eyes and plastic nose before re-surrendering it to Julie-girl (who was ever so patient and understanding during the entire surgical procedure).  She accepted the faceless bunny with a nod of thanks and took it to bed with her.   

I can just imagine the headlines, "Captive and Captor locked in unlikely intimacy"....

and here's some footage for proof.

The music's "Hooked on a Feeling" by Vonda Shepherd, from the Ally McBeal soundtrack.

Stockholm Syndrome anyone?? 

Otherwise, I am glad to report that toilet-training has been progressing with remarkable success - ZERO accidents whilst I was at home yesterday...and according to McMacho, none today either despite the fact that McMacho had to leave her alone on the newspapered kitchen floor for the afternoon to run an errand.  If this record holds till I come home, she deserves a small treat, don't you think??  Perhaps some cottage cheese in her supper!  Yummy!!!

P.S. Evening update: Bladder did not hold, but not her fault at all.  At least she did it in the kitchen...I've advised McMacho that if we're late next time, she was to eat (just pretend to) from Julie's bowl o'chow first so as to assert "Alpha Dog" status.  With the whole apartment smelling faintly of wee wee from end to end, I reckon every theory's worth a shot.