Life with Riley

Today, Riley achieved self-awareness – wanting to play with his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the walls of the dry cleaners. How zen… NOT!

Small sticks? Leaves blown by the wind? Seed pods?

ALL DELICIOUS!!! What an afternoon delight!

Who said cats and dogs don’t mix?  For Riley, this couldn’t be further from the truth – he wanted nothing more than to play and jump after meeting his first cat today – a big golden tabby at Canine Styles on Broadway btw 79/80. BTW, the cat could not have been less impressed… but he did come up and touch noses with the wiggly pup. Riley tried everything to entice him to frolic, but kitty could not be persuaded. Ah well!

But we did have the chance to try on a winter sweater – which he took to like a champ! Didn’t even try to eat it! And we also took a look at their grooming facility; I think it’s a keeper!

Today, Riley reveals that he’s a true New Yorker:  he likes nothing more than to sit on the front steps and people-watch after a walk in the park!

Mommy isn’t feeling well this weekend, so Daddy spends a lot more time with Riley… taking him for walks and letting him run as fast as he can! It means a little more leash work when I’m back on my feet – but it’s totally worth it and I’m really happy to see how smitten Paul is getting with Riley.

Yay! Daddy's home!

Daddy's little helper

Riley has full run of the house… but hasn’t yet braved the stairs to the man cave (who can blame him??) I’ve been struggling to figure out a good AKC name – and while I watch him trot and leap around the living room – and then leap, joyously and at full speed, into his kennel when it’s time for lunch… it comes to me: he’s a romper!  So the name is born: Soaring Riley Romper. (Watch for future competition news!)

After receiving a random recommendation from a neighborhood woman in the street, we head to the Westside Veterinary Clinic on 83rd between Broadway and Amsterdam… and, as endorsed, they could not be nicer!  (Full disclosure: I was considering going to another vet on 79th Street because it was closer – but the receptionists hardly acknowledge you when you come in. After previously stopping in more than a half dozen times to look at kittens, and not seeing any change in behavior to me, I decide it’s better to go where the staff really wants to see us!)

Weighing in at 16.2 pounds, Riley is very well-behaved in the office… even after getting a round of shots!!  Everything checks out so we head home to sleep it off and get some lunch… Yum!!

First day on the promenade in Riverside Park… making it as far as the dog walk. But it’s empty!

Mommy is chatting to another dog owner, who offers to bring her older French bulldog into the small dog run so that Riley can run around. At first, he wasn’t sure what to do about being off of the leash… or with the dog who refused to run around… but after 5-10 minutes, he gets the hang of it and runs around by himself!

First visit to the edge of the Park! In the morning, we met fellow building resident Ann Winton and her two dogs, along with a few other small breeds. A little shy and hesitant, Riley likes to sit on mommy’s foot or between her legs for safety and reassurance.

Riley comes home! Born July 10, 2010 at Soaring Springer Kennels near Saratoga, Riley is 10 weeks old – and ready to ride! He rode in the crate in the back of the car for 4.5 hours in a horrendous thunderstorm. Then went for a walk around his new neighborhood… followed by a quiet evening at home. Whew!