The Lull of the Shore...

So, while nothing is set in stone yet, my family has recently made an offer on a beach property in New Jersey. While the rest of Jersey I essentially detest, the beach is...well..it's the beach! The seller has accepted their offer, but due to various other complications, we're still waiting to hear back with the final word.

They've been looking for years, but not until recently have I really grasped the awesomeness that it would be to have free access to a beach home year round. If you remember, Ferguson, Eric and I were lucky enough to visit Dewey Beach for Greyhounds Reach the Beach:



It was a lot of fun, but both of us felt like it'd be more fun if we were there for a few days as opposed to one afternoon. So, perhaps this year will be filled with fun beach fun with the puppies!

Unfortunately, I've spent a lot of today finding fun beach ideas, toys, and accessories, as well as doing things like looking up local dog daycares for day trips. Some of my favorites:

^Hey, they'll need new collars to wear the beach house's address and licenses on it!




I'm also loving the extent of dog-friendly activities there are. One of my favorite things to do is go whale and dolphin watching, and there's a boat that allows friendly dogs aboard for no extra charge. Did I mention they also have season passes available? Not to mention the large number of outdoor eating areas...

Man. I'm already excited for this summer, and it's not even March...

A problem I've had with Ferguson for a while is his lack of appetite in the morning. While Winry happily eats anything put in a dish in front of her, Ferguson sulks in front of his soaked bowl. If I mix it with wet food, he will pick out each little chunk and leave the rest. To get him to eat, he must be confined to the pen with his food, and even then, it takes him around 45 minutes of picking.

Unfortunately, I think much of it is Ferguson associating eating with me leaving in the morning. Because of the way our schedule tends to work, it's a little inevitable. While he can now tolerate me leaving with not crying or harming himself, he still loses his appetite at the thought of me being gone -_-. Yet, if he's offered wet food, raw food, or something other than kibble, he gobbles it right up. Figures...

Anyway, because as his foster once told me, "Food=Love in the dog world," I've decided to give some reasonably priced dehydrated food a try. I like the benefits of raw, but it is admittedly rather time consuming to find and prepare beyond the occasional turkey neck. Apparently food companies have thought of this and have freeze dried raw food so your pet can have many of the benefits of raw with ease. I found some after much searching on amazon that is comparable to one of the dry brands I use right now, so we'll give it a go and see what happens.

In the evening, I still plan on feeding him kibble as he eats fairly well at night. But, if feeding something tastier makes him eat more and feel happier, than so be it.

While things are still looking decent on the potential job-change front, we'll be in even better shape if I do get this position, and perhaps he and Winry can eat raw every day ^_^. We can dream....

Success, and hopefully more...

Winry: "Who, me?"

The benefit of Winry has become quite apparent now with Ferguson.

Winry: "I like my brother! He has a comfy butt for a pillow!"

Now, after a year of many ups and downs, we are at a point of having a good grasp on Ferguson's separation anxiety. We have learned quite a lot and even learn new things every day about him and how it works. Most recently: a) his anxiety is directed at ME, so other people can leave him and it's no big deal as long as he has Winry (good news for Eric though!) b) he must physically see me leave the house to be satisfied that I am gone. c) a schedule is important...it's not cool when you up and leave off schedule.

But with all these things understood, it makes managing it a lot easier. I go to work every day, and because he expects it, he's able to suck it up and take it. We were even able to go out for dinner the other night with friends and our roommate said he only whined once and then settled (which was pretty darn awesome, since I was expecting the worst!).

Ferguson continues to be on fluoxetine, but because I feel that it is still helping him, I'd like to go a few more months with it, especially when I am potentially going to undergo some transitions in the near future on the job front. Nothing is set in stone, but if things work out the way I hope, Ferguson may need to adjust to a new work schedule. We'll keep our fingers (and paws) crossed and hope things work out. For now though, he is reliably left a few hours every day when Eric goes to class, and doesn't make a peep or do anything except stare when I leave for work every day.

Finally!

Otherwise, besides me working all the time, things have been very good. Winry continues to be awesome and adorable. Everyone she meets loves her, and she seems to love everyone too. Ferguson still likes her too; several times I've caught him corn-cobbing her with his teeth, and she regularly gives him kisses, especially after he gets peanut butter or his teeth brushed. They are quite a pair, and oh so cute. I think we're all better off with Winry around.