On- and off-topic: Anyone want a puppy?

Having the fabric will make your task a lot easier.

Georgia has Lea's original hard plastic crate. I guess it is one that can be used for airplane transport. I don't think there is really any way to get a grip on it and chew. It is really tough. I remember leaving the door off as Lea got older and then taking the top half off so she just had it as a bed that was familiar as she got older. Georgia has a soft crate too that folds flat and is great in the car. We needed both when she was recovering from her surgery and it was really good that she was already familiar. If at some point your pooch has to be kept still and crated for health reasons it sure is less traumatic if the crate is their own bed. I remember thinking how cruel the idea of a crate was but it was hands down the most important thing I did with my pups. The wire crates fold down real nice too. I sure wish I could travel with my own bed! I have photos of my son (about 6 yo) in the crate with a very tiny Lea pup. DS is now over 6' and 200 lbs. and Lea is gone but the photo sure reminds me of a fun time.

I hope whatever is ailing you goes away soon! Taria

Sandy Foster wrote:

OH NO!!!!! That dog would be gone if it were me.

OMG, Sandy! DJ is lucky to be alive. ;)

This may be a dumb question, but have you tried crating him when you are gone? If they are trained to the crate early, most dogs don't mind temporary confinement. I had one dog we had to do that with, and I always made sure that the door was open all the time we were home, and good cushioning inside (used one of my husband's T-shirts, too, for a friendly smell that would be comforting, and when Muggs was a baby I had a ticking alarm clock in the crate to make him more comfy). Muggs preferred his crate at night for sleeping all the time we had him, though we never had to shut him into it after he reached a certain age. Of course, he was a big dog so we had to get a huge crate in order to give him plenty of room to move around.

Just a thought.

I'll say!

That really is an attractive idea. Since we'll be going on a cruise in December, it will be nice for DJ to have his own "place" to take with him to DD's house. I'm sure she'll appreciate it, too.

Thanks! I do too. It's a sinus infection that has left me voiceless

-- a fairly common occurrence before I retired and somewhat less common now that I'm retired. :S

On top of everything else, I've just found out tonight that both DD's have decided to be away for Thanksgiving, so I'm going to have to get to the store and start cooking! Fortunately, DH will smoke the turkey (yum!), so I just have to do the side dishes and dessert. That means I can do things a bit ahead and not be so rushed on "the day". :)

Gotta go -- DJ needs some affection. :S

Thanks, Laurie. DJ really is rather adorable -- when he's not munching on furniture and quilts. ;) I'm hoping to be well enough tomorrow to go crate shopping. I've bookmarked some sites online to give me ideas, too.

I hate to admit it, but the "A" word may be the answer. I finished, after 5 years, my Confetti quilt--which consists of lots of one-inch squares, all colors set in black. Some of the black fabric was poor quality, and when the quilt was washed some of them shredded and tore away from the stitching. After a few tears, I went to visit Mom and whine a bit more. She suggested that instead of trying to piece in the bad spots, I should just appliqué the correct size piece. Sounds like a plan to me, but it may be another year or so before I can tackle it. That quilt should have been lovely, and instead it turned out to be a disaster.

Good luck, that quilt is much too beautiful to give up.

DJ is not too old for crate training. I'm sorry now that I gave away my dog books, or I could have given you some details on the method. But I'm sure if you as Leslie or some of the others here, they can give you some hints.

Thanks, Carolyn -- both for the pep talk and for the compliment about my quilt. I'm thinking the same thing about the A word. I may not get to it before Christmas, though, and that's a shame, since I'd planned to have the quilt on the guest bed when MIL came for the holidays. :S Oh well.

Carolyn, I was just tripping through the posts looking for a place to send sympathy to Sandy. No advice or suggestions from me, Yorkies much prefer to do their chewing and teething on people. And I see you saying " my Confetti quilt--which consists of lots of one-inch squares, all colors set in black. Some of the black fabric was poor quality, and when the quilt was washed some of them shredded and tore away from the stitching. " I think I'll faint. Then I'll go look for some oxygen. Gasping, I panic. My golly, how awful. I'm sure you've considered this tragedy long and hard. How do you think you could have prevented such a cruel wound? Polly

Marilyn, that's heartbreaking, too! How wonderful of you to understand the dog's problem and remake the quilt, I think I would have just sat in a corner and cried.

All this just reinforces my firm conviction that I should not get another dog until I am able to be with it 24/7 for the first few months. The best dog I ever had came into our lives when *someone* in the family was at home every hour of the day. He was the sweetest, best-behaved and best-natured dog I have ever known. He rarely chewed on anything except the shoes, gloves, rawhides and (uck) leg bones we gave him, though he did chew a hole in DS's quilt once. I've known labs who ate firewood, furniture, shoes, quilts and heaven knows what all.

I think DJ is a darned lucky dog to have chosen his family so well.

Those Kong toys sound like a great idea!