I rarely write here anymore and I was actually going to see if I could wait until the middle of May for an update because that will have been Poppy and my 6th month anniversary together! But the last few weeks have been kind of up and down and I feel like updating today. I actually can't believe it's been so long since my last update!

To start off good, things have been going pretty well. Hardly any barked and whining when I leave. Even when I have to go out at night or run errands on the weekends that I can't bring her to, I wait out in the hall for a moment and she is quiet, so that has been going really well! I leave her pen open when I am home because that is were I feed and water her and sometimes she just goes in and curls up on her bed while I am sitting on the couch. Doesn't happen often or for long, but when she goes in voluntarily, it's great! Daycare has also been going okay. The place I like near my apartment is great. I take her to another place that is slightly farther away, but has dirt cheap deals on Tuesdays and the past few weeks have been kind of meh.

About 3 weeks ago, everything was fine, but I came home from work at lunch on Wednesday (she goes on Tuesday) and she had done some major #2 damage in the pen. It was really bad. She hadn't had a #2 accident since last year and even #1, it's only been in the morning after the overnight and always in the hall (not great, but whatevs, I clean it up always) and very rarely. When we went walking at lunch, it was still really bad and when I came home at night she was just very subdued, more then usual. We went on our normal walks and she was fine but then in the middle of night I woke up to whining and at first I waved it off but then she looked like she was about to jump off the bed, so I got up and took her out the first thing she did was #2, which had never happened before. I made her pee too and when we got back to bed, I know she felt bad about getting me up because she slept at the foot of my bed for the rest of the night, which rarely happens. But I was very glad she got me up rather then having an accident. The next day, she went to a different daycare and was totally fine and totally fine on Friday, so I just assumed she had a little bug. Then last week on Wednesday, thankfully there was nothing in the pen when I came home from work, but she didn't make it outside in time and during our walk, it was not great. But the rest of the night and week was fine.

And then today, I came home at lunch to #2 in the pen. I have no idea what brought it on or what. I am going to ask the daycare tomorrow if they feed the dog treats during the day but other then that, any ideas? I wonder if she is stressed out from that place. I am going to ask about treats and if that isn't the issue, then either I am going to try another daycare nearby (just to mix it up a little bit) or just do 2 days a week at the place really close to my house. She seems to really like it there and I haven't had any issues. Or maybe do you think 2 days a week at daycare is too much? I know I need it, but maybe she doesn't. I don't know. I am open to any and all ideas.

I hate to write here only when I have issues, but that's the life of humans:-). Otherwise, everything else is going okay. She still barks at most men but is getting a lot better about barking in general. Not the best player of toys, but has her favorites that she drags around with her. Not the biggest fan of the dog park and mostly hangs around with me but not aggressive to dogs, just not interested. Likes hiking and we try to do that every weekend. I don't know, just life. It's always getting better and will always be a work in progress.