puppy101

I’m working on layering some detail into the grass this morning, down in the furnace workshop. I’ve got towels going in the laundry room outside the saloon doors, and upstairs I hear the rattle of the puppy’s stuffed worm, a hand-me-down from the cat, and the telltale thump of a jump down from the bed, where she knows she is not allowed.

I knew puppies were like babies, but like nothing can prepare you for the reality of a baby, human or otherwise.

We’re on day 7, and I finally kind-of slept last night. It’s trash day, and I’ve already been out with her on the leash three times, watching the trucks, getting treats, bristling, getting treats, mostly not barking, getting treats. She’s beginning to deescalate.

She’s fascinating. I’ve loved training the cat, and so even though the puppy is unfamiliar, in some ways she’s easier. Many of the same concepts apply. They’re both food motivated, but the puppy is biddable, the puppy wants to please me.

The cat does not want to please me and this week that is truer than ever.

Before I forget — I mentioned last week that I had gotten some POSCA markers to try out for adding highlights. I did get some better pictures, so you can see how the silver especially catches the light. I also got gold and white and I think I’ll use all three. The effect is better than white gel pen or gouache, neither of which really had the precision I wanted.

I’ve still been drawing photos I take throughout the day on my Light III, which has been really fun, and a good way to practice. I’ve always enjoyed photography, and it solves my problem of never knowing what I want to draw. I started a new page yesterday if you missed it, and I’ll come back to it next week.

It’s been interesting learning to draw and then integrating those ink drawing techniques into my watercolor landscapes of No Man’s Sky. My anticipation, watching each new panel of the little adventure comic appear one layer at a time, is immense. I can’t wait to share the page I’m painting next.

Although the puppy has been extremely disruptive, I am trying to keep my routine as close to normal as possible. For myself and the cat as much as for the puppy. She needs to learn the rhythm and sounds of the days, and I need to learn where she fits. I’ve been doing “enforced nap times” so that I can get away to the furnace workshop. The new family member isn’t the only commitment I made for the New Year.

Three blog posts a week. I thought it would be hard before the puppy arrived. Now it is extremely hard, but I’m committed. The posts are not getting done early in the day so far, or even early in the week, but they are getting done. I’ll take that as a win.

Showering and putting on the same clothes again every couple of days is a win at this juncture, honestly.

But the blog is coming along nicely (hopefully) and so too is the dog . . . hopefully. I am, at least, doing my best with both.

Actually, I’m enjoying the challenge; wresting the life I want into existence.

I spent the waning year thinking about what I wanted this blog to be, how I might approach it. Now in the first week of the new year I’ve been giving quite a lot of thought, as we’ve gotten to know each other, to what the puppy’s job is. I can see that she very much would like to know.

Walking the paths in the yard with her at 2 am, breathing the sharp winter air, staring up at the moon, at the stars, it all came into focus.

I whistled and turned to watch her snap to attention and trot along behind me. Companion. I’ve envied Triangle Head that.

Not anymore.