Hubby is away for two weeks on business, so I am in charge of the zoo - good and bad, it’s all me.

The first day was rough. Normally I really look forward to that time of day when Den comes home and I can pass responsibility of Zeeke off to him and get him out of my hair. Right now I get two options during the day: he can either bark and chase the cat around, driving me crazy, or I can put him in his crate and I spend the day feeling guilty about it. And no matter what, he can’t stay in his crate all day.

First of all I’ll mention that since our labor day weekend vacation - we were both gone for 4 days and I had my boss come over to feed Jo once a day - Jo has been somewhat like sticky tape. He has definitely overcome his distaste for - and distrust of - Zeeke in order to be where we are, all the time. We are very happy to see Jo reach this point, we’ve been working on it for a year and a half, but unfortunately, Zeeke’s attitude has not evolved quite as much as Jo’s. He is still obsessed - and very, very obnoxious about it. So basically we spend all day with Zeeke following the cat around, growling and barking when Jo is in a spot he can’t get to. Plus they tend to knock a lot of things over, pull things off shelves, etc etc. I’m trying to keep this place clean and organized, and they’re like a little whirlwind of destruction.

So I’m trying to find some balance between me having some peaceful quiet hours, and Zeeke getting out to play and have fun. I think it’s going well - I am getting lots of things done and feeling sane, but Zeeke isn’t suffering too much. But with Jo out all the time, it’s time to face this problem head-on - or Zeeke will never spend any time out here. So we’re practicing down-stays - a lot. When he starts getting rough and pushy with the cat, I put him in a down. It usually takes 3 or 4 times of me getting up and putting him back before he “gets it” and gives up trying, but once he reaches that conclusion he’s doing really well. 15+ minutes I leave him there, with the cat walking around. The true measure, to me, is that Zeeke actually relaxes and puts his head down - still watches the cat - but isn’t on a hair-trigger. Currently I have released him from his stay, but he decided he was happy where he was and is asleep on his side. lol

Zoe has stopped blowing her coat, it’s back to normal with her - though she feels a lot thinner (no wonder, right?). And she has a lot of slobber on her from Zeeke. I used the rake to give her a light brushing today in the house (barely got out a handful of undercoat), but I’m going to have to use more tools tomorrow to get the sheen back in her coat and the slobber out of it. Yuck.

I took her to one of my meetings this week. The temperture has dropped to Fall levels, so it was nice and cool in the truck, where I left her - I didn’t want to waltz into the building with her. The ladies did come out with me afterwards to meet her. Zoe was far from impressed. She barely sniffed a hand or two, but she just wanted back in the truck, please and thank you - where she then hid. But I expected that. I hate seeing her like that, but if I don’t take her out to be around people, she’s never going to get over this. I was invited by the person who owns the building (my boss) that I could bring her in the room for the meeting - I’m debating whether that’s a good idea or not. I could easily set up a blanket in the corner or at my feet for her to lay on, and there’s only four of us in the meetings. But on the other hand I’m worried that it would be too much for her and that she might lose control of her bowels if she was freaked out enough. So I’m on the fence. There’s really no way to take her in before the other people. It might just be too much for her at this time. But I think I am going to continue bringing her with me and leaving her in the truck - quiet time in the truck is good for her to get used to being in a strange surrounding with nothing *active* happening, she can just chill and take it all in. (And she’s fine in the truck, she just lays down and/or naps. No chewing on things like Zeeke did/does.)

One thing I am thankful for: Zeeke and Zoe are both past the shoe-eating stage. Yay! I have left my shoes in the living room by the front door for I’d say over 6 months now, with only one or two small incidents (Zoe carrying one off, and looking puzzled when I take it away from her and give her her own toy - but no chewing has occurred). Zoe does have issues with my bedroom items - just earlier today I found she had gotten ahold of one of my small post-it note pads and chewn it. She also likes things like pens, ack (a few of mine have some dents in them from teeth). But honestly, unless she finds something on the tv tray or nighstand that she wouldn’t normally have access to (like post-it notes!) she’s very good. And Zeeke, at 3, is thankfully past that stage… though he will eat anything and everything food-like. Unfortunately the combination of Zeeke’s previous seperation anxiety issues and his propensity for pushing his way through barriers to get to things he really shouldn’t have, leaving him loose in the house when we’re gone is still something that makes hubby and I very nervous. Zoe, on the other hand… I’m considering that she might be at a stage that I can do that for short periods. Although I wonder if it’s even worth bothering - if given the choice, she would much rather be with Zeeke, wherever he is. So if he’s in his crate, she wants to be in her crate. I guess it doesn’t really matter one way or the other. It’s really too bad that the bedroom is her worst room, in terms of trustworthiness, or I’d start some trial runs.

In any case, our crew is doing well. All are currently sleeping, as I should be. Mom’s surviving. Let’s home I get through one and a half more weeks by myself.