.::. Training Chikey .::.

Chikey has been such a joy to have around the home these days.  The initial few weeks was bad - I forgot how stubborn dachshunds were and how difficult it can be to toilet train a puppy.  For many days, he broke out of the confined area and none of the fences worked.

And when we finally had to confine him in a room, he barked incessantly and was simply dirtying the whole room by eliminating outside the tray then pacing everywhere!  It was a nightmare to come home and having to mop the room several times and monitor him yet end up having to clean up as he has accidents.

Because both of us were working, I rushed home by 6pm everyday just so I can quickly feed him and hopefully toilet-train him.  But when we caught him peeing and brought him to his tray, he simply refused to pee till we happen to go to the toilet.  It drove us crazy really and we ended up trying to confine him in a playpen, so that he can be praised and let out after he pees in the right place.  It may sound like a good idea, but he simply refused to pee nor poo.  This 4-month old puppy outwits us and out-waits us.  He can hold from 6pm to 12am till both of us wanted to sleep and brought him into the room - he then find somewhere to pee.  It doesn't help when he's so small and simply pee by bending his butt slightly downwards.





He simply slept when we confine him!

We bought a few pee trays, pee pads, 2 toilet-training aids, read so many books and forums to try to toilet-train and stop his incessant barking.  Initially, he refused to even walk on his leash nor go out.

We came a long way.  I realized that he likes to pee and poo outside our MBR toilet, near the door.  I bought pee pads and lined the whole area with them so that he naturally would get it right.  It worked for awhile till he started sleeping and biting the pee pads.  Then I decided to simply leave his pee tray there and pray that he would get it right.  And then he did.  From then on, his hit rate is probably 90%.  At times he pee right beside or pee inside the tray but poo outside.  The joy I experienced when I finally did not need to clear pee and poo early in the morning!

We eventually leave him in our huge common toilet now, after getting a baby gate.  I also got him a radio to accompany him while we were out.  Surprisingly, he pees at the pee tray and poo around that area too.  Even when we let him out, he goes back to his tray to eliminate.  *yay*  His hit rate is at least 90% these days and it gives us more time to enjoy him instead of feeling frustrated and watching him like a hawk.

Chikey is a lot more settled over the past month.  He enjoys his walks now and dash towards us whenever we say 'gai gai'.  He also no longer sticks to us like glue and plays with his toys on the carpet while I cook.  He's a little darling although he's still teething and likes to bite many things.  He likes to gather all of his milk bones and rope on our floor mat and start nibbling on all of them.  He always runs around with his milk bones, even when you carry him up.  He rushes to my side every morning and turns his tummy up for a tummy rub with a shaking tail.

And here's the cute baby in the house now:

































This is his good friend, Rugby.

Chikey is still the very playful puppy now, and still a long way from being 'trained'.  Thankfully, he's trained enough to be a joy now.  Dogs, they bring so much joy into your life and teach you things that you can never learn from humans.  =)

.::. Life's Amazing .::.

So much has been happening these weeks.  And I've got to say life's amazing.  I'm so blessed, so thankful.  The wedding shoot went pretty well and the friends got quite a few good shots although we've not seen the photographer's photos.  We are settling down in our new home and feeling really comfortable and enjoying every moment.



This is how the home looks like now.  I think we've both built a beautiful home together.  He did that photo wall.  It's precision planning and hard work.

Nothing much I can ask for now really.  Simply savor every moment.  =)

.::. The Little Things .::.

I’m scrambling around after recovering from the long bout of horrible flu that put me down for 5 full days!  That was really a wasted long weekend, but perhaps I needed the rest to be recharged.

Since last week, it has been a mad rush to get things in order for the pre-wed photoshoot and to kickstart wedding preparations.  My girls can’t stop reminding me again and again how little time I have left while the husband kept asking me to take things slow.  It’s just like him, he always under-estimates time needed for things.  But anyway, he’s sitting back while I’m supposed to prepare most of the things.

I was feeling emo and complaining about how the pre-wed shoot is in a week’s time and I do not have a veil, do not have a make-up artist, do not have shoes nor accessories nor planned what to wear for the casual shoot, have not got the photowall up nor chose pictures, have not finished unpacking nor decorating the home, have not arranged details with the photographer nor briefed him on my expectations, have not done my hair nor nails and brows, have not prepared prop.  And this is in addition to all the household chores, washing, ironing and work.

Then that day, he stayed up later to accompany me while I finalized photos for our photowall.  He even suggested that I go shopping the girls on Friday while he went home to look after Chikey.

It’s the first time he ever asked me to go shopping.

And just yesterday, Chikey munched on his spectacles and scratched the lens yet again.  He had to make instant spectacles and got me down to NEX to choose frames for him.  He liked an Armani frame but we ended up choosing this YSL frame and saved him some money.  The husband has this huge presentation with all the big shots today, and I think he’s going to look good in them.

So yes, I’m enjoying all these little moments and getting settled into our love nest.  =)

I think everything will work out just fine.

.::. The Great Chef .::.

I honestly didn't know that the husband was a good cook till recently.  Let's say it's a well-kept secret and I never expected him to actually cook much for me, except perhaps occasionally.  But it's been happening pretty often, and I wonder if it will last.

Wednesday night I told him that I wasn't feeling well and I'm going straight back to bed.  I didn't even want dinner.

Yet, I woke up at almost 9pm to this.  He cooked steak.  Steak is our common favorite food (he influenced me).  I didn't know to laugh or to cry.  I was sick and really didn't have appetite for steak, it was hard to swallow for a sore throat!  He even made some sauce with cheese and butter and chopped mushrooms.  It wasn't fantastic, but full marks for the effort nevertheless.

I asked him, why did he cook steak for a sick person?  And he said that he thought that it would make me happy.  *aww*  

After being down on Thursday and Friday too, I woke up to porridge after a nap.  Or perhaps I have been sleeping most of the day.

While I was eating, he said sheepishly "I tell you a secret.  I've never cooked porridge before."

Saturday morning, I was fed with cheese sandwiches in bed while I went straight right back to bed.

And then came Sunday, he said he's going to make me a special breakfast.

And I had constant wadsapp progress pictures which I didn't even see till I was awoken to eat.  'Breakfast is almost ready!' he said.

I've no clue how he made this, it had cheese and mushroom inside.  It's a dog-shaped mould.

I can't really recall what happened in between those meals.  The weekend past by in a blur and I was sedated or asleep most of the time.

I've mostly recovered now although cough still persist.  At least my mind is now clear.

I'm so loved.  So thankful.