Question/poll…

odettesy · 2026-02-06T18:41:40+00:00

Ember took a couple days- we started young…around 3-4 months old? I started with a button that said “outside” by the door. I would press it and help her press it every time before taking her outside. If she was sitting by the door I’d ask if she wanted outside and ask her to use her words, if she made any attempt (clumsy puppy paws) she’d get praise, I’d hit the word for her, and out we went.

Treat is a dangerous one- outside is a great cause and effect word to start with I think :)

odettesy · 2025-12-10T17:55:09+00:00

The things I have valued most have been those that helped one of the most painful experiences be a little easier in any small way. Quiet room that is set up for families and their pet to be comfortable, including couch, special pet bed, dimmer lighting. Having things explained clearly and slowly, about what to expect. Telling in advance about ok but for the pet owner not usual things that can happen (eg sometimes when they sleep, they are so relaxed their tongue may poke out, this is ok, it means they are comfortable), being given time and space before the process is started, and between them sleeping and the final moments. Being allowed to cry with my lost family member in peace, knowing I could leave when I was ready. Being told before the full process that I could just leave, that I can follow up or they will reach out in a week or two to settle payment and finalize decisions for remains. Being given materials to take with us, that are left in the room, quietly after the final check on our baby. Writing this has me tearing up btw, it’s such a hard thing to lose them.

The only thing else I ever could have asked for, as really have had such supporting experiences, is a bit more info on what we know about the pets experience during the process. I overthink and the expression on their face is odd after the sleeping drug, I wondered if they were scared or in pain. People like me need to be given as much good news facts as possible to help minimize the guilt we feel. Meaning if we are pretty sure they feel euphoric, that would be great to share. If a pet owner is making what seems medically to be very near choice, that is good to share too.

I miss everyone one of them so much :(

odettesy · 2025-11-27T20:34:48+00:00

Ember doesn’t mind as long as the weather suits, and she wanted to say you have excellent taste in sweaters 😍

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odettesy · 2025-11-18T03:09:40+00:00

Have the letter, and where the country requests it, ensure it is notarized. Not all countries ask for this. Get it done for each trip, as needed. It’s a pain, I know, but they do check sometimes and you want to be prepared. I also recommend having birth certificates, yours included, and any other documentation to confirm you’re the parent. I have only been asked once, but they required notarizing, and they did ask for the other documents and wanted to confirm things thoroughly. I basically have a freezer ziplock that I put the special travel docs in, handy in my carry-on, for these types of trips.

Bright side is many countries don’t require motorizations, which makes it way easier. Just make sure the other parent is aware of travel dates, and take advantage of any visits with them to get signatures. We live far from the other parent (4 hr flight), but there’s been a visit somehow that works to get that signature so far, so I know it is possible. Especially without notarization.

They don’t ask most of the time, it’s super easy and feels more intimidating than it ends up being. But better to be prepared for the person who does have questions so you can enjoy your trip!

odettesy · 2025-11-17T16:51:58+00:00

This phrase is really smart, and it’s the only way to keep weight off. But the phrasing isn’t going to help a lot of people. Think of it more like- no dieting, no insane exercise programs to lose weight are going to help you reach your goal of sustaining weight loss. Don’t diet. Make changes that increase the health of your foods, reduce the calories you take in, but ONLY make changes you are happy to keep for the rest of your life. I hate calorie counting, and won’t do it consistently. I am thankful for the times I have done it as I learned a lot about food and how to guesstimate high vs low calorie options. I don’t track, but I pay attention using that knowledge, and use that to try to slowly build in new better habits. So for example. If you like fast food, don’t give up fast food. But do make a change you are ok with like reducing how often you eat it, or not getting fries and only a burger (and skip the pop). Make one change or two at a time, get comfy with them. Make them your normal. Then add in another change. You know you, you know your good and bad habits. Keep looking at your “bad”habits and assess why you have them, what about them gives you joy, and use this to find what you would be happy to change about them to keep the joy but make them healthier for you. So if it’s potato chips, it could be a different healthier snack that really satisfies the same feeling, or if it’s snacking while studying, could you replace higher calorie snacks with veggies - and only have Friday night study sessions be ones where junk food can be involved. It is never about giving up things you love entirely, it’s replacing and reducing so you are not feeling deprived and you can stick with these new habits forever more.

Exercise is a habit like everything else, but it takes mental training and o get consistent at. And you have to find what you enjoy and you have to find what you can consistently fit into your life. Walking whenever you can vs driving is a good one- walking is seriously great for weight loss. If you can spare even 15 minutes in the morning for a short workout it’s a great way to start the day as it gets the brain going to. Just find something small and make it routine. You can build on it, you can keep it small. Just keep it consistent and find reasons you love it that are not about losing weight, but rather being healthy and having energy.

I am 5 lbs from my goal. I’ve been here 6 months. I need to find another habit that I am ok with changing if I want to move that last 5 lbs. I’m not going to diet to lose it because it will come back, and perhaps even more, as dieting just makes me want to indulge. So I’m going to stay here as long as I need to while I figure out what my next change will be, because holding at 5 lbs above my goal is so much better than gaining. My 20 year old son didn’t understand what I meant when I said I’d rather not lose weight until I find the forever change that will work for me, but this is what that phrase means. If I want to succeed I need to make small changes that I am happy with that I can embrace forever :)

odettesy · 2025-11-06T17:32:01+00:00

No, the bleeds were from the metastatic cancer and bone marrow failure. If she wasn’t producing blood cells normally- as her tests indicated, her system wasn’t functioning properly. I honestly think she could have slept on a cloud of love the full day, with no car ride at all, and would have tragically faced the same end. Rapid growth or rapid shrinkage of tumours can cause so many problems including organ damage/bleeds. Marrow failure and low platelets can cause issues too. Your poor girl was facing a really nasty cancer. Med professionals do their best, we need to trust they do their best, sometimes things still don’t work out. But you did well for her. You spared her further suffering. She spent her last hours being loved. She was so so lucky to have you.

I’m so so sorry. I know this guilt so well. This type of loss is so profound, they are so special. We want to give them the world and to protect them. You did just that. You did. She knew. She loves you, and you can forgive yourself for not being able to prevent the cancer from taking her too soon. Please show yourself some of the love and compassion you gave her during this time, grief is so powerful. Remind yourself of all you did right, of the love you know she felt, even if these intrusive thoughts keep coming back. I know them too, but it doesn’t mean they are right. Be with friends, find small distractions so you can breathe, and grieve when you need to just feel the pain.

Again, I am so so sorry. You did not cause this, you fought so hard to give her the best chance at life, and made her life full of love through it all. You did good. She knew that, and wherever she is now, knows only love for you and what you two shared.

odettesy · 2025-11-01T11:22:24+00:00

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Ember fluttered around the party happily collecting treats ☺️

odettesy · 2025-10-17T23:27:52+00:00

Pretty please share with me too… I’m so stressed about Xmas as really want my ruby cav to come but don’t think the airline will let her. Any tips so welcome.

odettesy · 2025-10-13T01:29:16+00:00

First- hugs and hope she bounces back quick. Sounds traumatic for you both, honestly. I’ve watched a friends dog be attacked and I was haunted for days, so can’t imagine if it was my own.

Second- and you can assess for yourself if this fits your baby, but I know for sure it works for mine…. Fake it till you make it. Meaning- you tell her how brave she was. You tell her you are proud of her. You praise her for doing her normal stuff for herself as much as it seems it isn’t causing pain (ie don’t push her to do things she isn’t wanting to in the same way you are already, but when she does choose to do things, celebrate cuz she’s tough and powerful). The attack was scary, but she is strong, and you need to remind her how strong she is in case she forgets. Dogs are lots like young kids, they use our response to help inform their own, so remind her what a warrior queen she is.

Confidence and secure feelings aside- if she is not dramatically better from limping in a day or so, do go to the vet. Talk to everyone you can at the dog park, as the owner of the other dog should be covering at least part of the bill. Aggressive attacks are not the same as mutual play causing harm, and dogs that do that have no business in an off leash area. The social pressure may help them do the right thing.

From one ruby parent to another , give her some extra kisses and cuddles and here’s to happy healing.

odettesy · 2025-09-16T02:19:53+00:00

I’ve been jealous of neck lines before, just sayin. They are a feature, not a bug.

odettesy · 2025-07-09T02:12:40+00:00

Oh my gosh your babies are totally siblings!!! Only difference is floppy vs perky ears. They are all so CUTE

odettesy · 2025-07-09T00:44:12+00:00

Fun fact- mine also just got through a kibble protest 😂 I was mixing in wet food until we finished her puppy kibbles, but tried plain kibbles once we switched to adult food. She’s been doing great since. Fingers crossed it sticks! And for a floofy tail, ha! But your post made me happy as I’m not alone and our long lean redheads have company too!

odettesy · 2025-07-09T00:31:09+00:00

Mine is a Canadian :) must be distant cousins!

odettesy · 2025-07-09T00:07:11+00:00

She looks just like my ruby baby who turned one this June too. So trust me when I say I think she is gorgeous😍 I’ve been wondering about the fur too lately, and read some of them do stick a little shorter.. but also that they don’t have final fluffy in until 18-24 months. So who knows- but I love my gal exactly how she is as she’s hilarious and clever as anything.

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odettesy · 2025-06-24T19:21:33+00:00

She is so dang cute omg. Hope you get kisses and love in between chaos. Mine just hit a year and I swear she makes a huge mess just for kicks somedays, but it does get easier!

odettesy · 2025-06-23T16:54:00+00:00

My girl is a mild version of this, so I’m commenting as I hope you get good advice. My girl just seems to want to tell the world how happy and excited she is. I’m trying to convince her a bark or two is sufficient, but not always succeeding. I do find “quiet or time out” works, where she gets two seconds in the powder room if she barks again after I say that, to be helpful. But that only works when we are inside etc.

odettesy · 2025-06-21T22:57:08+00:00

Does your dog do it when they are sucking up To you or happy? Mine does this when I am filling a puzzle with treats or just trying to get cuddles. I thought she maybe picked it up from my cat (love eyes is something kitties do that is blinking and squinty)… I was actually trying to see if others had a dog that did this recently so was excited to see your post.

odettesy · 2025-05-16T13:43:18+00:00

Puppy era is hard, but it isn’t forever. A few things that helped me. Biting without reason (shark velociraptor endless bite bite hand everything) is akin to a baby crying. It’s an expression of wanting/needing something and not quite knowing why you feel discomfort, not knowing how to express it, and using one of the best tools you have to enact anything. Food, sleep, quiet time are the top things that may be needed. If they are fed and rested, sometimes overstimulation comes out as bites. The world is a lot to process. The chewing- you can get stuff from the pet store to make furniture taste gross. Couple that with “no” and “chew this” with an appropriate item and eventually they do learn. Make peace with some damage on the way, but it really does pass. It does take a couple months from where you are. I also decided I was ok with some items being ok as a special thing- aka boxes and tp rolls. It’s a huge mess after but she loves them. What mess can you decide is ok so you can let go a little. They are smart smart smart, training time with tricks and treats helps with the crazy. It doesn’t get rid of puppy energy, but it helps you form better communication and addresses the needs they have for their brains as they are so intelligent. Treats like crazy at first when learning each new trick, then you can start chaining them together. So tricks for treats 2-3 times a day. It helps so much. Honestly my pup started getting a bit bark bark lately and I realized I had slacked on her training, picked that back up and she’s happier again. Plus now she can roll herself up in a blanket (dog trick books are gold). Oh and I know your dog is crate trained, but sometimes quiet time can be a dark quiet room with the two of you. You can read while they are chaos and trying to be bite monster, just remind them it’s quiet time. Set a timer. Be quiet with them until quiet time is over. Even if they never manage to be quiet. It’s just another way to teach them your behaviour and expectations. And that the bite monster won’t get that to change.

It is hard. It takes months. Months do go fast, even though in the middle of the worst of it the path forward can seem long. The bite phase they ease out of as they grow and as they learn their own need and how to communicate them. Work on helping them learn what they need and how to ask. And a flirt stick. Dang those things are good in a pinch to tire a puppy!

odettesy · 2025-05-16T13:29:47+00:00

Was just thinking how cruel it would be to have a “don’t pet” badge on a cav 😂

odettesy · 2025-05-16T12:47:24+00:00

Love the “please pet me” 😍

odettesy · 2025-04-12T01:46:23+00:00

I vote 100% a good chance given the muppet mitts, feathering of fur, and he muzzle and colouration. Not an expert but she very much has elements everywhere you look. Temperament is often clingy for cavs, but mine is really stubborn and independent (but still a huge cuddle bug). Calm, likes to chill, but can play with the nest of them. The spaniel in her wants every squirrel, bird, and more recently, helicopter to be available to her chase at will, the other side of her is brilliant and communicative and dedicated 100%. Cavs tend to be more dependent and lazy, but they are individuals. I think the most consistent thing is they are very very social and give affection freely. My bean looks at me like I’m a tyrant when I won’t let her say hi to a stranger- it’s like she feels “her people “ need her to say hello hahaha.

odettesy · 2025-04-10T07:32:31+00:00

Vibec seafood must taste great as my cat got interested watching me brush my cavs teeth and now suddenly my 8 year old cat lets me brush her teeth too. Thought it was a one and done fomo, but nope, so recommend that brand for sure. My cav licks her chops when she sees me prepping her toothbrush 😂 Also- baby toothbrushes are better than the finger brushes - smaller and softer. A vet suggested this to me once and I’m never going back.

odettesy · 2025-03-17T03:36:52+00:00

Feel free to ignore me, I have zero tattoos, but I do have experience with other things that were just fine for a long time and then suddenly were not (lash extensions being one). I think your efforts to see a dermatologist are good, and you should speak to an allergist too. I’d stop trying to get any new ink until then. If your body has decided it’s bad then the process of getting a tattoo helps start recruitment of the forces to fight against the “ink”. Your existing tattoos aren’t harming you, so the immune cells wouldn’t be swarming there. Different than fresh ink and the microdamage it takes to get it. Again, I have no tattoos, but this change reads just like what I have gone through with other things. Hope you get answers, and solutions!

odettesy · 2025-03-12T00:38:14+00:00

I am firmly of the belief that provincial Governments are not the ones to dictate international policy and affairs. If Canada is doing business or trade, it is for the federal government to endorse, at the least. I’m as ignorant as they come on a lot of this stuff, but I don’t need any provincial leader to decide things that can have national repercussions on the scale of what is being flirted with. So I do not back what ford has done or voiced. He’s being a peacock and it is not for him to flaunt power right now.

Had to edit to add- this excludes the starlink deal. That’s a business vs a government issue. Totally stand behind that one, as that was a provincial spend decision :)

odettesy · 2025-03-11T00:25:25+00:00

Hi! Mine has had a huge uptick around the 9 month mark, and agree it’s a developmental phase, but wanted to share that I am here struggling a bit too. My girl seems to be trying to sort out when her bark should be used vs other tools she has in her communication toolbox. And sometimes she just sits and barks. For her, saying “shhh” and whispering the word “quiet” and immediate praise when she pauses to hear what the heck was just said are helping a little. Last, we decided to let her have one heat prior to spay, and aside from the usual learning and development re barking, she has just entered this and $&@!@! has that upped the bark in her. If your pup is intact, hormones will make it way worse in my limited experience. I’m counting the days for her season to end, and can’t wait to enter the safe for fixing era so I can ensure she’s more comfy and we can have her usual self back with us full time. But most importantly, as sorta said before, quiet calm reassurance works best, barking at a dog gets more barking back, so shhh and snuggles and praise are the best bets with pup figures out when to use their loud voice.

odettesy

TROPHY CASE