Tonight Katie is going on day 8 of wearing the cone that keeps her from licking the stiches she received after being fixed last week.  She’s OK with the cone.  I’m really tired of it.  She wants so badly to play, and we’re supposed to keep her “quiet.”  No jumping or running or leaping or licking or chasing.  No insane games of fetch.  No leaping on owners heads while they are sleeping.  No fun at all.  She is so antsy she is biting hands, nipping at legs and feet, crying, bringing her toys and dropping them at our feet, watching us constantly with big eyes.  Can’t we just PLAY?  Please?

So this evening I took her on her first grownup dog walk in the neighborhood.  She has forgotten what little she learned in puppy school about heeling and behaving on a leash.  We got about two houses away and she noticed the big brick mailbox they have.  She’s never seen such a thing before and she sat down, refusing to advance any further.  At all.  Period.  I picked her up and carried her past the menacing mailbox.  Next came the empty trash cans left by the side of the road after garbage day today.  Another first for her. She sat.  Again I picked her up and we advanced up the road together.  We went four houses up and four houses back.  By the time we were in our own yard she was dragging.  She is now asleep on her princess pillow.  This may be a much better way of wearing her out then allowing her to just sit on her pillow and watch the world go by.  Better for me too!