Dog and School ...

Maybe not necessarily in that order!

Yesterday marked the first day of school for the kids, and Pepper's first full day with us.

Emma was pretty ready and raring to go, though she was a bit sad Monday night that Timmy would get to spend more time with Pepper than she did. I think it helped that Pepper went with to drop her off and pick her up.*

*It's great having a small, no (or very, very little) shedding dog. We can pop him in the car with no problem at all!

She had a great day of school ... totally like last year when she loved it. There's one new girl in her glass (replacing two who transferred out). She said they spent much of the day on art projects (probably decorating their room).

Timmy had a few more reservations. When Cyndie and I went to get him ready for school (he goes in around 12:30), he was very resistant. We got him moving along, and he was pretty clingy, wanting us to go with him to hang up his backpack and sit down, etc. However, a couple of friends from his pre-school and the neighborhood arrived and he was much more comfortable. We snuck out when he was absorbed in drawing. When we picked him up, it was a total reversal. "That was great!" (or something to that effect) were his words. So he really enjoyed it. The next step will be getting him to take the bus to school (I think Cyndie was going to try that today). The good thing about that is it is just his classmates on the bus, and Owen, the little boy from the neighborhood who is in his class, will be riding the bus too.

On the Pepper front. He's doing very well. He's everything we hoped for and all we could ask for. He hasn't shed any hair. He's active enough to have taken several fairly long walks. He's perfectly happy sitting on the couch with you being petted. His potty training is going well.* He's very people oriented (following you around from room to room if you're the only one there). He doesn't bark much ... just the occasional bark to get your attention. Good stuff!

*He DID have a poop accident this morning. We took him out, and he peed, but I don't think we let him walk around enough to get the bowels moving! About 15 minutes later he started walking around in circles and sniffing. I was thinking, "man, could he still be smelling Albert?" when he crouched down to poop! Oh well, at least it was not at all messy. Two lessons learned there ... he needs more than to just go outside, he needs a little walk first thing in the morning ... and if he starts circling, get him outside! We'll chalk that episode up to owner error!

Yesterday evening we spent touring some of the local hot spots ... Auntie Karen's and Gowans. At my aunt's, Pepper was introduced to her dog, Daisy. Pepper was all ready to play and run around, but Daisy would have none of that and wanted to get away! Oh well, I guess we'll have to find a different playmate for Pepper!

We introduced Pepper to Sally at my sister's. She was interested in him, but equally as interested in playing with the people. By that time, I think Pepper was feeling his big first day and was pretty subdued!

Ah well. So that was Pepper's day number two.