dogs

Post Attack Update

It has now been over a week since Mavis and I were attacked by our neighbor’s dog, so I figured it was time for an update on how everything is going. First, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented, texted, and emailed me about the attack. That meant so much to me!

Black lab and cocker spaniel cuddling

Mavis no longer seems to be bruised and sore, which is such a relief. I hated knowing she was in pain. For the most part, she is back to her normal self. Jimmy and I took her to her puppy training class on Monday (Which my parents came to! They wanted to see their granddog in action :)), and she was a bit fearful around the other dogs, but warmed up a little by the end of the class. We are going to keep working diligently on socializing her!

The only issue is that she is now growling when we pick her up or even approach her to pick her up when she doesn’t want to be held. I’m not sure if she associates being handled and touched in certain places with pain, but we are definitely going to be addressing this issue.

Brown and white cocker spaniel puppy sleeping

Mentally and physically, I am also doing much better. As I mentioned, I found out the dog that attacked us isn’t up to date on its shots. The police came to our house to let us know, and I made a visit to MedExpress afterwards. The doctor at MedExpress advised me to go straight to the emergency room to get the rabies shot series, a tetanus shot, and a round of antibiotics.

Not wanting to spend the day in the emergency room, I talked with Jimmy and we decided I’m not going to seek any medical care unless my bite wound gets worse. It’s honestly not bad at all and healing really well. We’re also 99.9% sure the neighbor’s dog doesn’t have rabies. My sister has me sending her pictures of the wound each day so she can do nurse things, like check for inflammation and signs of infection. Thanks, Hannah 🙂

So, we have some work to do with Mavis, but she is doing much better than she was a week ago! Thank you again to everyone who has shown so much love and support through this tough time. I really appreciate it!

Mavis at 10.5 Weeks

Mavis is now 10.5 weeks old! She turns 11 weeks on Friday, and we’ve now had her for almost three weeks. In some ways, it feels like she’s been a part of our family forever, and in other ways it feels like we’re still getting to know this little fluff ball.

Brown and white cocker spaniel puppy

She is wild and cuddly and happy and sassy. She brings so much laughter and life to our house, and also keeps us on our toes 24/7. She is quick to learn, and will do anything Lola is doing. Malcolm and her play until they drop and it’s hilarious to see them run through the house at full speed. She lets me hold her like a baby and sprawls out in the most adorable ways when she naps.

Likes

  • Playing with Lola and Malcolm
  • Snuggling with Lola
  • Drinking water and chewing on her water dish
  • Chewing on Lola’s collar, lips, and neck
  • Walking around the garden with me
  • Taking walks
  • Meeting new people
  • Chewing on my flip flops
  • Belly rubs
  • Squeaky toys, rubber bones, and any of Malcolm’s toys
  • Going underneath our neighbor’s fence to see her and get attention

Brown and white cocker spaniel puppy outside

Dislikes

  • Not being in the same room as me.
  • Being put in her crate when she’s not tired.
  • Being forced to go to the bathroom outside when she wants to play inside.
  • Being picked up when she doesn’t want to be picked up.

Firsts

  • She went to the vet and did great! She is healthy and up to date on shots.
  • She has had numerous baths and has done well thanks to lots of treats.
  • We took her to the pet store the first week we had her and she fell asleep in the middle of an aisle.
  • She went to her first puppy training class and rocked it.
  • She slept through the night for the first time around nine weeks, but sometimes wakes up once or twice a night.
  • Mavis visited Jimmy and my dad at their respective workplaces.
  • She’s had a few days with no accidents in the house!
  • She learned “sit” and we’re working on recall.
  • She has met all of Jimmy’s family.

Brown and white cocker spaniel puppy in car

Other thoughts and notes

  • We’re pretty sure she came home with fleas, so we are treating all the pets. Whew is flea medication expensive!
  • She does well in the car and likes to sit on my lap or just rest in the passenger seat.
  • I hate leaving her. I’m the one with separation anxiety, ha.
  • She is beginning to catch on to house training, and having potty bells on the door handle has helped a lot.
  • Her ears touch everything her nose touches since they’re so long.
  • Lola sometimes acts up (digs in the trash, eats cat litter, etc.) so I’m trying to give her extra attention.
  • Mavis walked on top of a sewer grate and her legs went through. She looked like a little hot dog and just got up and kept walking.
  • I love when her little nub of a tail wags. Sometimes it looks like a helicopter and I think she’s going to lift off the ground 😉
  • She isn’t afraid of much of anything. She’s very curious about the world around her.
  • Having three pets is hard work and crazy most of the time, but so much fun.

Brown and white cocker spaniel puppy sleeping on her back

I think that’s everything! Sorry I’m the crazy dog lady who writes a post about her puppy like she’s a baby 🙂

Overall, Mavis has been so much fun and is adjusting well to our little zoo!