Every time I realize that Cookie has been with us for four years, it's a funny feeling. On one hand, it seems like time goes by too fast and yet it feels as if Cookie has always been with us.
I don't know if she ever reflects on the first year and a half of her life, but if she does, I think it only helps her appreciate the life she has now.
I would have to have been pretty strange to be whisked away from everything she knew. But at no point, she looked distraught. She took to us and her new life immediately.
Pre-trained by Jasmine, mommy has always been thoughtful of Cookies needs and wants. Most of the work on mommy has already been done, and Cookie only has to fine tune her to have things to her own liking and teach her a few new tricks.
Daddy wakes up first with mommy to follow soon. Cookie usually likes to sleep in a little bit, knowing that the time when her fun starts is coming. Unless she has to potty, she waits until mom and dad have a sip of their coffee and putz around a bit.
When she does have to go, daddy takes her potty, and she returns to bed. She's always been great this way, never being the one to decide when the day should start.
Cookie gets all excited and has a lot to say about that. I still can't get over her "vocabulary."
Then mommy puts on whatever clothes and boots are best suited for the conditions, grabs the leash and off to the great outdoors.
While Jasmine loved hiking, Cookie is a hunter, and that's what she enjoys the most. Mommy has some rules about that, such as never chase anything that's bigger than yourself. In general, hunting mice and frogs are encouraged, trying to hunt squirrels is tolerated, with the rest mom keeps insisting on being ignored. Sometimes, though Cookie gets to do some fox or bunny tracking.
The above is a summation of mom's hunting rules. If you have to lift your nose up to smell something, it's either too big, too far, or both.
This year, almost the whole season consisted of frog hunting because it rained enough for the places they like to gather to stay filled with water. Only on rainy days the frogs don't come out and play, so it's back to mice hunting.
The first walk is about 45 minutes to one hour long. Then it's time to go back in the house for some breakfast. Cookie greets daddy because she hasn't seen him for the whole time, has her breakfast and goes to rest and wait for the next outing. Mommy starts up her computer and goes to work, and daddy usually goes to work outside.
Same amount of time, same activities unless something more interesting comes up. On the way back Cookie goes to check to see what daddy is doing and see if he needs any help such as pulling wood of a pile he's trying to make.
Mommy always makes sure she has something on the plate she can share when she's done. Meanwhile, much of the days, daddy gets ready to go to town, and Cookie has to come along to make sure daddy doesn't get lost. She's daddy's official navigator.
Cookie particularly likes trips to get gas because the guys at the gas station always come out to say hi to her and give her a cookie. Sometimes there are things to bark at, and sometimes there are not.
Upon return, she looks forward to getting a bone to chew on though sometimes she decides to save doing that for the middle of the night.
She does that while mommy does some more work.
That typically consists of more hunting activities and then going around looking for places that require marking.
By the time mommy "calls it a day," Cookie is well and tuckered out.
Sometimes daddy has some chips and sour cream, so Cookie gets to mooch some off him.
Cookie gets her dinner first, while mom and dad's is cooking. After mom and dad have their meal, they make sure they share a bit of something good. Then it's potty time. Cookie likes to be a good girl and go potty because after that she gets her dessert.
Then she really is tired and goes to rest while mom and dad do whatever moms and dads do at the end of the day.
Of course, there is a lot of love and smooches distributed throughout the day, for which Cookie repays by licking everybody's faces clean.
Daddy usually gets to buy some things for himself too. Cookie always thoroughly inspects every box and every bag to see whether she's going to allow it in the truck and whether there is something yummy for her in there. Which there always is, at least in some of the bags.
That's the minimum she needs to be happy and content. Other than on really hot or really cold days when it has to be a bit less.
Related articles:
From The End Of A Lead Line To Casa Jasmine: Meet Cookie, Our New Adoptee
And So It Begins Again(?) Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie
I Didn't Know I Could Fly: Why Cookie Wears A Harness Instead Of A Collar
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews For Dogs CAN Be A Choking Hazzard
Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie: The Knee Or The Foot?
Creative Solutions And An Incidental Product Review
Too Young For Pot: Cookie's Snack With A Side Of Hydrogen Peroxide
Taming Of The Wild Beast: Cookie's Transition To Civilization
Staying On Top Of The Ears: Cookie Is Not Impressed
Putting The Easy Back Into Walking
Cookie's Ears Are Still Not Happy
The Threat Of The Bulge Is Always Lurking
Today Is Cookie's Three-Months Adoptoversary
Cookie Meets The Electric Horse Fence And Her First Chiropractic Adjustment
Why Examine Your Dog's Vomit?
Why Is That Leg Still Not Happy? Cookie's Leg Keeps Getting Sore
Cookie Too Is Insured With Trupanion
Does Being Insured Mean Being Covered? Our First Claim With Trupanion
Is Cookie's Leg Finally Getting Better?
Is Cookie Going To Be Another Medical Challenge Or Are We Looking Too Closely?
The Project That Is Cookie: Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal
Pancreatitis: Cookie’s Blood Work
Another Belly Upset: Pancreatitis Again Or Not?
Happy Birthday, Cookie
Incontinence? Cookie's Mysterious Leaks
Who's Training Whom? Stick And Treat
Don't Just Stand There, Do Something? Cookie's Mysterious Bumps
Cookie's Mysterious Bumps Update
One Vomit, No Vomit
Happy One-Year Adoptoversary, Cookie!
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence Or Not?
Cookie's Leaks Update
Don't Panic, Don't Panic: Know What Your Job Is
The Continuing Saga Of Cookie's Leeks: Trying Chiropractic Approach
Cookie's Minor Eye Irritation
Regular Wellness Exam: Cookie's ALT Was Elevated
Cookie's Plantar Paw Pad Injury
How Far To Take It When The Dog Isn't Sick?
Cookie Has Tapeworm Infection
Cookie's Elevated ALT: The Ultrasound and Cytology
Cookie's ALT Update
The Importance of Observation: Cookie's Chiropractic Adjustment
Sometimes You Don't Even Know What You're Looking at: Cookie's Scary "We Have No Idea What that Was"
Living with an Incontinent Dog
Summer Dangers: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet
To Breathe or Not To Breathe: Cookie's Hind Legs Transiently Fail to Work (Again)
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Process
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Diagnosis
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Trazodone
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Other Medications
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Laser, Hydrotherapy, and Chiropractic
Cookie's Recovery from Iliopsoas Injury: ToeGrips
It Never Rains ... Cookie's New Injury
Mixed Emotions: When What You Should Do Might Not Be What You Should Do for Your Dog
Cookie's New Injury Update
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury: The Symptoms
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury: Battling the Zoomies
Cookie's Muscle Injuries: What Else Is Going On?
Theory and Actual Decisions for an Actual Dog Aren't the Same Thing: Cookie's Knee Injury
Does Your Vet Listen to You? Cookie's Post-Sedation Complications
Would I Ever Treat a Symptom Directly?
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Cookie's Bad Knee(s)
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Cookie's Bad Cruciate Update
Injury or Surgery Recovery: Mishaps versus Setbacks
See Something, Do Something: Cookie's Lumpectomy
Cookie's Lumpectomy Update
Using Pressure Pads to Evaluate Lameness in Dogs: My Observations
Cookie's Musculoskeletal Challenges: What Supplements Am I Using?
Cookie's Musculoskeletal Challenges: Restricted Activity and Weight Management
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate Tear: Update
Has Your Dog's Physical Therapist Taken Dog Training Classes?
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate Tear Update and Considering the Future
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate (CCL/ACL) Tear and Leg Circumference
Cookie's Wellness Exam
Ticked Off at the Tick Situation: What Do You Use for Tick Prevention?
Ticked Off at the Tick Situation: The Verdict Is In (for Now)
Cookie's Annual Heartworm and Tick-Borne Diseases Test
One Yelp, No Yelp. But Two?
One Yelp, No Yelp - Update
Cookie's Rabies Booster
I don't know if she ever reflects on the first year and a half of her life, but if she does, I think it only helps her appreciate the life she has now.
Cookie never really looked back from day one.
I would have to have been pretty strange to be whisked away from everything she knew. But at no point, she looked distraught. She took to us and her new life immediately.
It is always easy to upgrade.
Pre-trained by Jasmine, mommy has always been thoughtful of Cookies needs and wants. Most of the work on mommy has already been done, and Cookie only has to fine tune her to have things to her own liking and teach her a few new tricks.
This is a day in life of Cookie.
Daddy wakes up first with mommy to follow soon. Cookie usually likes to sleep in a little bit, knowing that the time when her fun starts is coming. Unless she has to potty, she waits until mom and dad have a sip of their coffee and putz around a bit.
When she does have to go, daddy takes her potty, and she returns to bed. She's always been great this way, never being the one to decide when the day should start.
When mommy starts putting on her socks, that's the official start of the day.
Cookie gets all excited and has a lot to say about that. I still can't get over her "vocabulary."
Then mommy puts on whatever clothes and boots are best suited for the conditions, grabs the leash and off to the great outdoors.
While Jasmine loved hiking, Cookie is a hunter, and that's what she enjoys the most. Mommy has some rules about that, such as never chase anything that's bigger than yourself. In general, hunting mice and frogs are encouraged, trying to hunt squirrels is tolerated, with the rest mom keeps insisting on being ignored. Sometimes, though Cookie gets to do some fox or bunny tracking.
If you have to lift your nose up to sniff it, don't chase it.
The above is a summation of mom's hunting rules. If you have to lift your nose up to smell something, it's either too big, too far, or both.
This year, almost the whole season consisted of frog hunting because it rained enough for the places they like to gather to stay filled with water. Only on rainy days the frogs don't come out and play, so it's back to mice hunting.
The first walk is about 45 minutes to one hour long. Then it's time to go back in the house for some breakfast. Cookie greets daddy because she hasn't seen him for the whole time, has her breakfast and goes to rest and wait for the next outing. Mommy starts up her computer and goes to work, and daddy usually goes to work outside.
About an hour later it's time to go out again.
Same amount of time, same activities unless something more interesting comes up. On the way back Cookie goes to check to see what daddy is doing and see if he needs any help such as pulling wood of a pile he's trying to make.
Then back inside and it's mommy's lunch time.
Mommy always makes sure she has something on the plate she can share when she's done. Meanwhile, much of the days, daddy gets ready to go to town, and Cookie has to come along to make sure daddy doesn't get lost. She's daddy's official navigator.
Cookie particularly likes trips to get gas because the guys at the gas station always come out to say hi to her and give her a cookie. Sometimes there are things to bark at, and sometimes there are not.
When Cookie returns from the trip, she gets a short rest, and it's time for her third outing of the day.
Upon return, she looks forward to getting a bone to chew on though sometimes she decides to save doing that for the middle of the night.
She does that while mommy does some more work.
Towards the end of the day, it's time for a closing walk.
That typically consists of more hunting activities and then going around looking for places that require marking.
By the time mommy "calls it a day," Cookie is well and tuckered out.
Sometimes daddy has some chips and sour cream, so Cookie gets to mooch some off him.
When mommy is done working, it's dinner time.
Cookie gets her dinner first, while mom and dad's is cooking. After mom and dad have their meal, they make sure they share a bit of something good. Then it's potty time. Cookie likes to be a good girl and go potty because after that she gets her dessert.
Then she really is tired and goes to rest while mom and dad do whatever moms and dads do at the end of the day.
Of course, there is a lot of love and smooches distributed throughout the day, for which Cookie repays by licking everybody's faces clean.
Sometimes there are longer rides to go and buy more goodies for Cookie's food and treats.
Daddy usually gets to buy some things for himself too. Cookie always thoroughly inspects every box and every bag to see whether she's going to allow it in the truck and whether there is something yummy for her in there. Which there always is, at least in some of the bags.
Cookie gets an average total of 3 hours of exercise daily, not counting any rides.
That's the minimum she needs to be happy and content. Other than on really hot or really cold days when it has to be a bit less.
She seems pretty satisfied with her daily routine. What do you think?
Related articles:
From The End Of A Lead Line To Casa Jasmine: Meet Cookie, Our New Adoptee
And So It Begins Again(?) Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie
I Didn't Know I Could Fly: Why Cookie Wears A Harness Instead Of A Collar
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews For Dogs CAN Be A Choking Hazzard
Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie: The Knee Or The Foot?
Creative Solutions And An Incidental Product Review
Too Young For Pot: Cookie's Snack With A Side Of Hydrogen Peroxide
Taming Of The Wild Beast: Cookie's Transition To Civilization
Staying On Top Of The Ears: Cookie Is Not Impressed
Putting The Easy Back Into Walking
Cookie's Ears Are Still Not Happy
The Threat Of The Bulge Is Always Lurking
Today Is Cookie's Three-Months Adoptoversary
Cookie Meets The Electric Horse Fence And Her First Chiropractic Adjustment
Why Examine Your Dog's Vomit?
Why Is That Leg Still Not Happy? Cookie's Leg Keeps Getting Sore
Cookie Too Is Insured With Trupanion
Does Being Insured Mean Being Covered? Our First Claim With Trupanion
Is Cookie's Leg Finally Getting Better?
Is Cookie Going To Be Another Medical Challenge Or Are We Looking Too Closely?
The Project That Is Cookie: Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal
Pancreatitis: Cookie’s Blood Work
Another Belly Upset: Pancreatitis Again Or Not?
Happy Birthday, Cookie
Incontinence? Cookie's Mysterious Leaks
Who's Training Whom? Stick And Treat
Don't Just Stand There, Do Something? Cookie's Mysterious Bumps
Cookie's Mysterious Bumps Update
One Vomit, No Vomit
Happy One-Year Adoptoversary, Cookie!
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence Or Not?
Cookie's Leaks Update
Don't Panic, Don't Panic: Know What Your Job Is
The Continuing Saga Of Cookie's Leeks: Trying Chiropractic Approach
Cookie's Minor Eye Irritation
Regular Wellness Exam: Cookie's ALT Was Elevated
Cookie's Plantar Paw Pad Injury
How Far To Take It When The Dog Isn't Sick?
Cookie Has Tapeworm Infection
Cookie's Elevated ALT: The Ultrasound and Cytology
Cookie's ALT Update
The Importance of Observation: Cookie's Chiropractic Adjustment
Sometimes You Don't Even Know What You're Looking at: Cookie's Scary "We Have No Idea What that Was"
Living with an Incontinent Dog
Summer Dangers: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet
To Breathe or Not To Breathe: Cookie's Hind Legs Transiently Fail to Work (Again)
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Process
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Diagnosis
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Trazodone
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Other Medications
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Laser, Hydrotherapy, and Chiropractic
Cookie's Recovery from Iliopsoas Injury: ToeGrips
It Never Rains ... Cookie's New Injury
Mixed Emotions: When What You Should Do Might Not Be What You Should Do for Your Dog
Cookie's New Injury Update
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury: The Symptoms
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury: Battling the Zoomies
Cookie's Muscle Injuries: What Else Is Going On?
Theory and Actual Decisions for an Actual Dog Aren't the Same Thing: Cookie's Knee Injury
Does Your Vet Listen to You? Cookie's Post-Sedation Complications
Would I Ever Treat a Symptom Directly?
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Cookie's Bad Knee(s)
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Cookie's Bad Cruciate Update
Injury or Surgery Recovery: Mishaps versus Setbacks
See Something, Do Something: Cookie's Lumpectomy
Cookie's Lumpectomy Update
Using Pressure Pads to Evaluate Lameness in Dogs: My Observations
Cookie's Musculoskeletal Challenges: What Supplements Am I Using?
Cookie's Musculoskeletal Challenges: Restricted Activity and Weight Management
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate Tear: Update
Has Your Dog's Physical Therapist Taken Dog Training Classes?
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate Tear Update and Considering the Future
Cookie's PRP Treatment for Partial Cruciate (CCL/ACL) Tear and Leg Circumference
Cookie's Wellness Exam
Ticked Off at the Tick Situation: What Do You Use for Tick Prevention?
Ticked Off at the Tick Situation: The Verdict Is In (for Now)
Cookie's Annual Heartworm and Tick-Borne Diseases Test
One Yelp, No Yelp. But Two?
One Yelp, No Yelp - Update
Cookie's Rabies Booster
Do you have a story to share?
Your story can help others, maybe even save a life!
What were the first signs you noticed? How did your dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?
Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you.
Do you know what your dog is telling you about their health?
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An award-winning guide to better understanding what your dog is telling you about their health, Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, is available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.
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