After months of worrying symptoms and doctor visits and medication, Ellie’s heart failure has stabilized enough so that we finally felt safe taking her to the groomer to deal with her very overgrown mop of hair. It was also Ellie’s first visit to the groomer alone since she’s been with us (four years!), because Cricket doesn’t need much grooming and I didn’t think she would be up to the stress of it anyway.
As we were leaving the apartment, I made sure to give Cricket a Greenie (a green dog treat, shaped like a toothbrush, with questionable teeth cleaning capabilities) to keep her occupied while Ellie had her leash put on, and immediately, Ellie snapped her teeth on the Greenie, already in Cricket’s mouth! They stood there fighting silently over that Greenie with all of their might, and somehow Cricket managed to hold on to it until I could convince Ellie to let go and follow me to the front door.
And I was sort of in shock.
Ellie, my calm, loving, usually submissive sweetie pie, had actually tried to steal food from her grumpy, stubborn, aged sister’s mouth?!
I was laughing out loud as I led Ellie outside, thrilled both that Ellie’s appetite was back in full force, and that Cricket still had the strength to fight for what was hers.
Once outside, Ellie ran gleefully to the car, seemingly forgetting that she’d missed out on a treat, possibly because she’d finally remembered that she’d had a full breakfast just moments earlier.
On the drive to the groomer, Mom sat in the backseat with Ellie to keep her company and defuse her car anxiety and the weirdness of not having Cricket there with her. When we dropped Ellie off at the groomer, I started to feel more anxious about leaving her there, out of my sight, for hours. She still coughs every once in a while, even though her medications seem to be managing most of her heart failure symptoms. But I tried to be positive and focused on driving Mom to her Neurologist’s office, where she would hopefully find some relief for the pain in her legs and feet, if not a cure for the numbness that has prevented her from driving lately. And then, while sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, I was preoccupied with worrying about Mom, and worrying about leaving Cricket alone at home for so long, and then worrying about fifteen or twenty other things swirling in my mind, and there wasn’t much room to worry about Ellie, who, at the very least, was not alone.
After the doctor’s appointment we had to stop off at CVS to pick up prescriptions, and to drop off one for Ellie (because one of her medications is only available at the human pharmacy), and then we went to the market that always has chicken livers, unlike our regular supermarket, because when Cricket is refusing to eat anything else she will still eat chicken livers. She’s often not hungry in the morning, but that’s when we need to give her the doggy Xanax to help her calm down enough to receive her subcutaneous fluids to manage her kidney disease. Chicken livers, and cinnamon buns, oddly, seem to be our most reliable treats when the wet dog food isn’t tempting enough.
And then we were back at the groomer to pick up Ellie, who was now less than half the dog she’d been a few hours earlier, and thrilled to be going home.
Cricket was standing at the door waiting for us when we returned home, and she thoroughly examined her shorn sister, to see what fresh hell she’d been through, but more importantly, to find out if she’d had any secret treats (she had, her groomer loves to give her treats!).
And then the dogs banded together to beg Grandma for even more treats, eventually running out of steam and deciding to start their favorite afternoon activity, sleep tourism, wherein they proceed to take naps in as many different places throughout the apartment as possible. And then I was able to relax too, knowing we’d all made it through another challenging day. Together.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my Young Adult novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
I’m glad the girls are feeling stronger. Your story is very engaging.
Thank you!
Oh my! I can understand your concerns for both of your pups. I woudl be the same . We give our little schnauzer Greenies. They are her favorite treat and she loves them.
Ellie sits in front of the bookcase where we keep the greenies and just stares, then she looks back at me, and the greenies, and me again. She’s not subtle.
haha!
You did great! Time to break out those cinnamon buns!
Thank you!
Sounds like all the girls in the apartment are doing well.
Yes! Thank you!
I hope you gave yourself a treat as well. You certainly earned one!
Oh there are always treats for me! Thank you!
You are a rockstar puppy parent. All the anxiety associated with leaving her at the groomer would have had me biting my nails. Glad everything went well. 💕💕💕
Thank you! It helps that the groomer is the one her rescued Ellie in the first place, so she knows and cares about her. But Ellie gets worried that we’re going to leave her there. She does a joy run to celebrate when we get back home!
I’m not sure what I laughed at more — cinnamon bun dog treats or “sleep tourism.” I am happy to hear everyone seems to be feeling well and happy!
The girls like to keep us entertained!
Hurrah for sleep tourism!!!! I think it’s not just for puppies. Sounds like a great way for you to get some rest, as well!
It looks like fun to me!
I know haircuts cam be so traumatic. I remember my little brother screaming when he was about to get his first haircut. I guess he didn’t know those scissors wouldn’t hurt him. It must be like that for dogs. Fear of the unknown. Anyway, I’m glad it all turned out good for Ellie.
She was so relieved, either to be going home or to get rid of all that hair. Probably both.
Yes, I would say both.
Sleep tourism, that’s a new to me term and I love it! I remember my previous dog when he was an old man and I was home for summer vacation from teaching would do that. He would wake up suddenly and I thought he would want to do something with me but instead he would walk with intention, as if he had an appointment, to a different spot in the house and go back to sleep. I hope the pups and your mom are all doing okay.
The seriousness with which they choose their next sleeping spot is so inspiring!
It’s like watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace
Ha!
Going to the vet is often more painful for the humans. We are worried about the cost , and I swear we have PTSD from other visits that ended badly. I’m glad it was all good for Ellie!
Cricket knows we’re going to the vet when we’re still five minutes away. I swear she can smell it through the window!
I just had a thought, Rachel. ‘Course you’ve probably thought of it too so I’m sorry if I’m repeating something. But I’m just thinking that your posts are so entertaining, and you always have the doggies saying just the perfect things that they Would say, that I wonder if you’ve thought of putting all these posts together in one book? You’ve already done the work! Anyway, just a thought.
Thank you so much for thinking my posts would be worthy of a book!
❤️🐶
Both your girls are looking really cute! I’m glad they are doing well, now. I know how stressful an ailing pet can be, especially since they tend to hide pain till they are really ill. Greenies and a nice ear “scritch” from my kitty boy Andy and me! (Andy is addicted to kitty Greenies.)
You’ll be glad to know that Cricket never hides her feelings, about anything.
That’s good for you and Cricket! It could well save her life some day.
That went much better than you anticipated
It really did!
Ha, I like that term, “sleep tourism”. I’m going to start using that 😃
Yay!!!!!
Glad everyone is doing better! Your dogs are so cute!
Thank you!
Ah, dogs and treats. Maya is the same and knows which till (and cashier) in the shops where she is allowed has the treat box. She promptly presents herself and sits expectantly. Treats for Ellie and Cricket Rachel. Lovely post.
Thank you!
🙂
Rachel, I’m so glad Ellie’s grooming session went well. As I’ve only ever owned dogs with double coats. As Adi and Summer befriend more dogs with coats not fur, I’m beginning to gain a better understanding of the need for a good grooming session. One of their favorite canine friends is pair of brother/sister Bichon’s. I love watching them “grow” with time only to shrink overnight. Fortunately, they don’t take offense when my Labs sprinkle fur all over them when they meet and greet. I love your phrase “sleep tourism.” It describes the nap and move, nap and move cycle perfectly.
Cricket was my first ever dog who needed grooming and I tried to do it myself for a while, but it’s hard! And she’s reluctant, to say the least. I have learned to have great respect for good groomers over the years.
Zoe is the first dog we have ever had that needs a grooming. She is half cocker and half poodle, weighing about 13 pounds. I was nervous about taking her but she immediately fell in love with the girl who grooms her. In fact she runs into the place and into the girl’s arms. So much for my anxiety! Glad to know you were able to get her cleaned up.
Some dogs love being groomed and getting the special attention, Cricket and Ellie just(barely) tolerate it.
Zoe is a total narcissist. All humans exist for her enjoyment.
Sounds like a good life!
I’m sure Ellie feels better after being groomed, as well as looking much better! And getting through a trial day is always a victory.
She’s feeling much better!
She is looking cute!
Glad all went well at the groomer’s, Rachel. I understand your worry about leaving Ellie there (I always feel the same way). And glad to hear that Cricket is managing well, too! Happy Labor Day!
Thank you!
You fit about a weeks worth of stuff into one day. Impressive! 🙂
I’d much rather fit a days worth of stuff into a week. Much more my speed.
Lol
Loved your comment about sleep tourism 🙂
Thank you!
I’m glad everything went well. It sounds like Ellie is doing a lot better than she was before.
She’s doing really well! It’s such a relief.
Hopefully they will be OK with the vet. Anita
You are so funny. I love it. I love the phrase “sleep tourism”. I am going to tell everyone that is what their pet does – because they all do it, because what else are they doing but sleeping all day. Our cats have schedules so that may need a different name. Glad Ellie is doing better.
Thank you! It’s such a relief to see her smiling again.
I bet. It is so difficult to have ill pets!
Rachel, you are such a great writer! xox
Your story is evocative and engaging. A great read! 👍🙏🙏
Thank you so much!