Leo Cockroach Killa Strange

I found out something new about Leo last night, I have my own in-house exterminator.

I was fast asleep after a long day in the sun and at around 5:30 am, I was awoken by some sort of commotion. I used my phone's light to see what was going on. Leo was pouncing on something on the floor. It was too dark to see what was going on, but he pounced and then went to the other side of my room and started rolling on the floor. Here's a little back story on this. I moved into my new apartment about 2 weeks ago and have unfortunately already killed 4 gigantic cockroaches, GIGANTIC. The first one was traumatic, and I've steadily become more comfortable with them....I guess :/ Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find Leo pouncing at the first roach, I stood by cheering him on, "Yes Leo!!! get him GET HIM!!!!" well unfortunately he didn't and it took me another hour to get it to come out from under my bed and eventually squash as it attempted to climb up my wall.....

So the commotion died down and Leo laid back down to sleep and I was so exhausted I just fell asleep again, but this morning while I was sweepng my room I came upon half of a cockroach's body (some of the legs were still moving, ewwwww) So that is why I have decided that Leo's middle name will now be 'Cockroach Killa.'

Leo, tired yet satisfied from the roach attack last night

Today was a good day! I think we are starting to hit our groove, because after finding out from the vet Leo had s a little stomach issue and I put him on the right meds, the accidents have been far in between, I had no idea that he was sick :(

I noticed he started to act better as soon as he started the meds. It all became clear when I left on Sunday to go float on the San Marcos river. I left at 9:00 am and did not get back until 9 pm!! I did not plan to get back so late, but since we did not get to the lake until 3 pm I guess thats to be expected (had to stop at Target, needed Whataburger for some various hangovers, needed to give someone's dog a flea bath as there were fleas having a party on this malitpoo's dreadlocks, had to go downtown to get someones car blah blah blah) Anyway the entire time I was stressed out thinking about Leo and how many accidents he must have had by now, I was prepared to be cleaning my apartment for at least an hour. I entered cautiously, afraid to step on a dog pie.....but guess what....

NOTHING!!! 

Its amazing how having a dog makes you appreciate the small things in life, like having an apartment that doesnt smell like a toilet, or watching your dog have a lovely bowel movement (dogs are gross). It really is remarkable how your dog's poop can make or break your day.

Number of times I have almost had myself killed since I adopted Leo: 3
Number of times I have wanted to kill Leo since I adopted him: 3

The first time Leo almost caused me to be killed was when I was casually driving home from eating a nice dinner at Bouldin Creek Cafe. I had brought him thinking he would be a nice companion while I ate with my friend Shelby.....well....
instead of laying there quietly and peacefully like he had once before, he decided he would yank at his leash while I tried to eat with one hand and also whimper incessantly. I remember mentioning "oh maybe he has to go poo" but since we were outside and he never tried to and we walked through grass to the car without him indicating anything I just figured he was being a jerk....well....
we were driving and all of a sudden the most horrific thing you could think of happened, the smell you never wish to smell, let alone in your car, spread throughout it and I turned around to see what it could be only to be met with my worst fear....Leo wasn't waiting until I stopped the car, oh no, he was squatting and didn't care who saw! I screamed "nooooo!!!!" but it was too late, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was my instinct to stop so I swerved to the side of the road luckily plowing into a gas station parking lot (without looking to right to see if there was anyone there due to the sheer shock and panic of the situation). I yanked him out of the car as soon as I stopped, but like I said, it was too late :( And that is the first time that Leo almost had me killed. I'll you know about the others soon.....

Leo looking innocent

3 weeks ago I never thought that I would be thinking about when my dog was pooping, where my dog was pooping, and how my dog's poop looked, but it seems that my days are now filled up with worrying about poop.

It all started when I moved out of my last house where my roommate had a dog, but not just a dog, the perfect dog. I decided when I moved to my new apartment I would get a dog of my own. Also my job allows you to bring a dog to work....so it was settled. As soon as I moved to my new apartment I ran straight to the pound.

http://adopt.dogtime.com/manny-pointer-dog-austin-tx-78703

Without much consideration I fell in love with a cute 8 month pup named Manny (who I later renamed Leo). Within an hour of being at the shelter I was walking out with an animal that I would be responsible for the next 13-15 years. The realization hit me like a rock as soon as I got to my car and he refused to get in
I pushed him from behind, I pulled him from the front and that was probably the first moment that I realized 'hmmm this is not going to be so easy.' It wasnt until I was scrubbing shit out of the fabric in the car that I pay over $200 dollars a month for in car payments that I reeeeally realized that this is not exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted a dog of my own.

These past weeks have been filled with excitement, agony, and sheer exhaustion. I have laughed, I have fallen down in the middle of my floor sobbing out of frustration and I have mopped, picked up poop, and have woken up at the crack of dawn to release some puppy energy in early morning runs (at 6:00 am). It has been interesting to say the least.

DISCLAIMER: I love Leo and he is the sweetest dog, in many ways he is awesome. This blog will highlight the issues that I was not prepared for and how Leo has changed my life. This is about the ajustment period. I know one day he will be the perfect dog. Today is not that day. :p

Leo on his way home from the shelter 

These are the expenses of adopting a dog that I did not think of. The most important items are in bold:

1. bed
2. food bowls
3. leash times 3 (he's dragged two of them through poop)
4. collar

5. toys (rawhides, balls, toy where you put treats in it and he goes insane trying to figure out how to get it out, etc.)
6. poop bags (15 years worth....btw thats 3/4 poop bags a day times 7 days in a week times 52 weeks a year times 15 years <<getting calculator out>> 21,840 poop bags.
7. cleaning supplies....lots of cleaning supplies-paper towels, spray to get poop and pee out of carpet, bucket and mop and cleanser and Clorox wipes and more paper towels
8. vet checkup and booster shots
9. flea and heartworm prevention
10. dog kibble
11. canned food that upset his stomach

12. treats for training