Update on Cooper - Paw Talk

CoopersMom · #1 07-01-2004, 12:38 PM

Hi everyone, remember me? I was the person adopting the weimeraner and kind of freakin out about everything.

Well all of my worries were for naught.

Cooper is doing fine, never tries to jump into the water, he does chase the kitties, but since they come out when he's out, I think it's a game. He never barks at them or acts aggressive, so I don't think he would hurt them. He sees my husband and I on the porch picking them up and loving them, so I think he knows they are part of the family.

His favorite activities are fetching the ball and going to the beach. We go walking on the beach often and he absolutely loves it. We go when there is no one on the beach and we let him run. He never runs too far, he frolicks through the water and when he does get a bit ahead of us he stops and waits until we catch up. The only thing, he loves rolling in dead fish... yuck. Since I'm afraid of bathing him too much, when we get back I clean him with baby wipes. They work, since he doesn't have an odor.

I have lots of great pictures, but since I still haven't figured out how to turn them into thumbnails, I can't post them. If someone could help me out with that I'd appreciate it, because I have some great photos to share with you all.

If I have a complaint about Cooper, it is his constant need for attention. The way I deal with that is take him out first thing in the morning and play fetch for about 30 minutes to kind of release all that energy. I do it again in mid morning and then we try to go nightly to the beach, unless it is raining, which it has been doing for weeks now.

He is also very co-dependent and I mean very. He follows me everywhere, he is always underfoot. I can't tell you how many times I've almost killed myself tripping over him.lol. My neighbor says she couldn't stand having a dog like that, but it really doesn't bother me. I'm co-dependent myself, I'm happiest when I'm with someone, I have always hated being alone. Cooper is the same way. I guess what I'm saying is, I can relate to him. He is my buddy, I'm never alone. I can't say that I don't like that. However, it would be nice to have a few minutes out of my day that he isn't with me, just haven't figured out how to do that yet. We only have one vehicle right now and my husband needs it for work, so I can't leave the house or anything.

My husband loves Cooper, but I think he's a little jealous of him. If my husband and I are hugging, Cooper jumps up on my back. I have to repeatedly tell him to quit jumping, something he is getting better at, but still has a problem with. If my husband and I sit by each other on the sofa and steal a little kiss, Cooper has to jump up between us, licking my face. I think it's cute, hubby doesn't think it's so cute.

My husband says that Cooper is ruling our life. This worries me because I don't want my husband to resent Cooper. What he means by that is, when Cooper wakes up, we have to wake up. When we go anywhere, Cooper has to come with us, because I hate caging him (unless we have to). So my husband says that I want to go less places because I would have to cage Cooper. He's probably right, but I don't know how to change that. I can't stand caging him unless it's to go to bed.

I absolutely love and adore Cooper, he's my buddy, but I don't want my husband to feel like he's more important to me than him. However, I asked him over and over about adopting this dog. I told him it would be a huge change in our life and that it would be a really big committment. He still said yes. Well I feel like it is a like adopting a child. I know some people say animals are not human, but I love Cooper like I would a child and I treat him the way I would a child. Am I over the top here? I hope I'm making sense. I mean I know he isn't human, but I swear, he is so intelligent that it feels like he is sometimes.

I do have a question. I bathe Cooper once a week. We bought the Advantage flea stuff from the vet. He doesn't have fleas, so I'm thinking his skin might be dry because he scratches. Am I bathing him too much. I bought a natural oatmeal soap for him and I add virgin coconut oil, mixed with water to condition his skin and coat. Is once a week too much? Because he lives inside, it's important to me that he is clean, he gets in the bed with me when hubby leaves for work. Shhhhhhhh, don't tell hubby.

Anyway, I would post pictures, if someone could tell me how to turn them into thumbnails. He's soooo beautiful.

I hope all is well with all of you and your babies. Sorry it's been a while, but I am trying to get this business off the ground and I have a show coming up July 18th, so I've been real busy making products.

Thanks, Cheri

jmb9101 · #2 07-01-2004, 12:46 PM

Im so glad to hear that everything is going great with Cooper. He sounds like he found the perfect mommy! And dont worry, we all treat our babies like children. I think most people on this board have the same view! We dont think you are over the top!

Im sure someone will be on soon enough to answer the bathing questions...I know I try to wash Har and Bub at least once every two weeks because they can get the doggy smell. And like you, since they sleep with me, they cant be too stinky!

It could bug his skin though...With Har and Bub, I use the baby shampoo with conditioners in it...just to be extra gentle...it seems to work ok on them. Glad everything is going so good!

~Melissa

PaBabyBlue · #3 07-01-2004, 03:13 PM

Hi Cheri,
I'm so glad to hear it is working out real well with Cooper, you are doing a great job

About the pictures and the thumbnails. When you are replying to a thread or posting a new thread.....scroll all the way to the bottom of the thread, pass the smiley icons, in the Additional Options section. You will see something that says " Manage Attachments". Click on it, and a window will open up which will enable you to browse your folders for your pictures to add them to your thread. Don't forget to click on upload so the will be added to the thread

then click on submit. That's how your photos become thumbnails

CoopersMom · #4 07-01-2004, 05:12 PM

Trying to post pictures.

CoopersMom · #5 07-01-2004, 05:13 PM

I'm hopeless....isn't it sad? lol.

Sorry, I did what you said and still no pictures.

Thanks, Cheri

CoopersMom · #6 07-01-2004, 05:19 PM

Trying again.

CoopersMom · #7 07-01-2004, 05:20 PM

Ok....I give up...lol

pihlaja · #8 07-02-2004, 01:56 AM

CoopersMom--I'll follow Mary's advice and if it works, take screen shots of it so you know exactly what to do, in case that might help (some people are visual--I know I am!)

pihlaja · #9 07-02-2004, 02:00 AM

This is testing Mary's advice.

--------------------------------

Learned Information:

1. File must be 60.0kb or LOWER (that could be your problem right there)

If that's your problem, CoopersMom, you can e-mail me the files you want posted and I can resize them.

Also, you can go to Photo Bucket and upload your pictures there, and then use the [IMG] tag to post them into your thread.

Formula86 · #10 07-02-2004, 06:29 AM

hola. yes, your pics might just be too big. any photo program can resize them. you can add them as attachments (easiest) as said above. or you can host them on the web and link them here (that's how you see some pics full size inside a post).

i'm sooo happy everything's going well with cooper! i know how worried you were at first. things should keep getting better.

ps. let me know if you want me to resize your pics for you. you can email them to me at Formula86@aol.com. i'll resize em and send them back to you so you can attach them.

piggiemommy · #11 07-03-2004, 03:37 AM

When we go anywhere, Cooper has to come with us, because I hate caging him (unless we have to). So my husband says that I want to go less places because I would have to cage Cooper. He's probably right, but I don't know how to change that. I can't stand caging him unless it's to go to bed.

This might sound a little strange, especially to your hubby, but have you considered asking someone close (neighbor, family member) to come over and keep Cooper company while you and your hubby have a nice evening out?

By the way, I loved the pics you posted in the other thread, especially the broken chair (along with the story of course)! LOL Cooper is gorgeous!