Beautiful Fall Weather

For the second day of fall, it's another beautiful day!  Mocha & I now go for our walk when it's still a little dark out.  This morning we just missed seeing the new puppy of the neighborhood, Kentucky.  He is about 4 months old.  Mocha got to see him from across the street one evening during her walk with Dave, and she didn't get agitated at all.  I think she is used to puppies, and doesn't find them threatening.

Last evening while we were having some deck time, a deer friend came to visit.  Mocha is very interested in deer, and she will sit and observe them while they are feasting on our plants out back.   I will try to get some pictures of deer!  All my pictures are from last winter.

Running was great yesterday.  Another cool morning, just a little more humid than Monday, I think.  Saw a deer on the run too!  It was at the side of the road, and since it was still dark out, Ann & I didn't see it until we were very close.  It ran away when we got too close for comfort.

Mocha J's Last Day of Summer

Mocha seemed fine this morning - until we started on our walk.  Then after just a short distance, she started walking slowly, and I could tell she was in pain.  We went quite slowly, and after a little while, she seemed to feel better, but still not normal.

After we got home, she got right in her bed in the kitchen:

She didn't want to eat her breakfast yet.  I gave her a pain pill with some peanut butter and that made her feel better (was it the peanut butter or the pill?)   When I went upstairs she ate her breakfast!  and felt better the rest of the day.

It was cloudy and a little cool today for the last day of summer.  Mocha had a little bit of deck time, and got upset with a neighbor's dog who was barking.  Usually she ignores that dog.  

Anyway, the highlight of  Mocha's day was definitely the peanut butter!  Hope she feels okay tomorrow...

Good Run!

The cooler weather made for a good run today!  I felt energetic, even though I had done some yard work yesterday and I thought my legs might be tired from that.  But I felt good!  No walk breaks.  Long sleeves and shorts weather.  Love it.

Mocha felt better on the walk today - she didn't seem sore until we got home, and I noticed she walked up the steps slowly as if she was sore again.  I hope she can relax and take lots of naps today so she feels even better this evening.

Here is a cute new picture of her:

Cooper & Mocha

Today Mocha saw her "friend" Cooper on the family walk.  He is a nice boy, about 3 years old.  Mocha was mean to him once, and he has never forgotten it, so here is Cooper looking nervous with Mocha nearby:

Mocha is now calm around him, since she knows him, but I don't think he will trust her any time soon. 

By the time we were almost finished the walk, Mocha seemed to be sore again.  She had a pain pill when we got home, and is now lying on her kitchen bed.  I hope she feels better soon!

Sore Joints

Mocha started seeming a little sore yesterday (in her joints), and by this morning, she was even worse.  She had trouble going up the 2 steps from the garage into the house after her walk (short one), and she was obviously in pain.  I called the vet to see if I could give her aspirin - I forgot how much.  The vet said up to 2 baby aspirins 2 times a day.  But I was on my way to the trail to run, and I didn't give her anything right then.

When I got back from running, Ann came in with me, and Mocha was on her bed in the family room.  She wagged her little stubber tail vigorously, but didn't get up.  Ann & I went over to her and gave her lots of belly rubs and attention.  When she did get up, she seemed to feel a lot better!  I am so glad.  I will wait to give her any meds until she seems sore again.

She wanted to go out in the yard, and even had enough energy to pull me.  That's definitely a sign of a dog that's feeling better!













On the run today, it was a little more humid than it had been this past week, and I was noticeably slower (3 walk breaks).  But it was good to get out to the trail again instead of running in the neighborhood.

Trail Walk

Today, since it was so nice out, Mocha and I went to the trail for a walk.  This means a car ride.  She is good about getting into the car - I have a crate in the back for her - but she never really settles down during the drive.  She likes to stand up and sniff out the windows the whole time. 

Once we got to the trail, a little dog was just leaving, and we didn't see any other dogs while we were walking.  We saw a Great Blue Heron flying - a little girl was running, and I think she startled it, so it flew a little ways, and then it came back in the same direction in had come from.  Then it flew away again, and I saw it heading away from the marshy area.  I love to see them - I only wish I had taken my camera.

Mocha was ready to go home after a short walk.  It seems like she doesn't relax and enjoy herself.  I hope that can change over time.

Something Scary

Today we had a family walk - Dave came with us.  One of our neighbors down the street has inflatable football players that he sets up on his lawn - and now it's football season!   Mocha had never seen these before, and she hesitated when she saw them.  She walked by them very carefully, slightly crouching, checking to see if they were going to move.   This neighbor also has flamingos lining the lawn.  I think it was the football players that got to Mocha, though.

What a brave girl!  She got by the scary football players!  I gave her treats for being so brave.