Back in February when Ellie got spayed, the vet found a spot on her tummy when he shaved her. It looked like a really angry bug bite. They told me to use Benadryl and Neosporin and keep an eye on it. Over the last couple months, the spot got better slowly. It turned the color of her skin and got smaller. Then this week it quadrupled in size (dime-sized to quarter-sized), turned angry red again, and started swelling.

I took Ellie in today to have the vet take a look. She diagnosed it…

Ellie is just about 8.5 months now and so well-behaved that I've started giving her free run of the apartment when I go to work.  She's been a marvelous little angel, but she always has been. 

The first week she was home, she tried to chew on the entertainment center and desk, but a firm "no" put a stop to that right away and she hasn't touched the furniture since.  Then she tried to chew on cords, but again a "no" nipped it in the bud.  She was housebroken in a week (at four months)…

I noticed Ellie herding for the first time last week. Usually, it’s just me and Ellie alone in my apartment, and she knows better than to try and herd her “alpha” so it’s never been an issue. We stayed with my mom last week, and it’s unbelievable how quickly that herding instinct appeared when there were two people in the house with Ellie.

Every time my mom would move off the couch, Ellie chased after her, lunging and barking and nipping at her heels. My mom said it felt like a lick,…

I dropped Ellie off at the vet this morning to get spayed.  I'm not sure which one of us is the bigger wreck.  Ellie hates new people/places.  I hate putting her through something painful and scary.  I tried not to show it because the Alpha dog is supposed to be strong, but I might have failed there.  The vet tech could definitely tell I didn't want to leave her.

I know it's healthier for Ellie.  I know this is routine.  I know dogs bounce back quickly.  But I'm worried for my girl,…