And to top it off...

Piper got hurt on Monday. He was at the farm and we're not really sure what happened, but Piper has a huge gash in the pad of his paw. The cut is about a half inch long and you could see all the stuff inside that you're not suppose to ever see.

We called the vet and they said they can't do anything since a dog's paw pad won't hold stitches. So we were on our own. He wouldn't let us touch it for a bit, so I had to follow him around with a wet cloth and clean up his blood trail. I was really proud of myself for staying strong and not throwing up when I saw the cut (or the blood).

The first night was the worst and it took Patrick laying on him and me holding his leg and applying nepsporin and a bandage and a sock. We taped the sock on so he wouldn't lick his foot or try to eat the bandage. Therefore, he ate the tape. Dogs.

The next morning I was on my own and it was so frustrating and so hard to put a sock on this dog! You can't rationalize with a dog. You can't console a dog. You can't encourage a dog with your words. That's so difficult, especially in a situation where apply a (stupid!) sock is necessary. I think he was a little traumatized and he laid around most of the day with little to say or do (which was a pretty nice break).

Fast forward to that night. He did great, I think he was feeling better. With some apple slices for enticing and his head in Patrick's lap (he much prefers Patrick, so I get the shaft and the dirty work with the dog), we were done in a snap. Whew. All that to say that now, four days later, Piper is on the mend and isn't in need of sock replacement every four hours! He still has a limp, but is getting more adventurous and is starting to chase rabbits again.

This is the first sock. He wanted to be in the kitchen with us as we were destroying it. He is so patient with my picture taking. How sad. You can barely see the blue sock. He was laying his head on it.

Injured, but still able to protect. He would limp to the front door and then bark and limp back to his bed. A few times he was feeling brave and just laid down in front of the door.Oh, what a rough life. While we were moving the kitchen into the dining room, this is what Piper did...in the dining room. Conveniently, right in the way.