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Pico had a great time at the beach and is just pooped out from all the activity and poor eating. I can feel that he's lost some weight because he was so distracted by all the activity around him last week. I tried to give him frequent snacks to compensate but that just unbalanced his diet I'm afraid.
He did jump into the surf one time when we went to the Intracoastal waterway where it was shallow and gentle. He actually started swimming when he got in deep enough but then seemed to realize what was happening and turned around a ran out. After that, whenever I tried to coax him back in with me, he'd spin in a circle and take off running back to the umbrellas where everyone else was sitting in beach chairs and just tear around like crazy, making everyone laugh.
He also had a tough time going potty in the sand because he is grass trained. He'd walk and walk and walk looking for a tuft of grass and finally, when he just couldn't hold it anymore, he'd go. I always picked up the poop in a plastic bag and just kicked sand over the pee.
I used a oil-free spray on sunscreen that I just spritzed all over him after covering his eyes. I made sure to get his tummy thoroughly covered, which made him wiggle. He loved visiting other beach goers who had set up nearby and they were unconditionally delighted to have him come over. I met numerous people who said "My mother-in-law has a Maltese" or "my neighbor has a Maltese". Everyone was enchanted with him.
He had his own bottle of water and drinks out of the cap or out of my hand so keeping him hydrated was not a problem. I learned to bathe him in the shower before I showered by holding him in my arms and bathing one side then switching him to the other arm and bathing his other side. I held him up Lion King style to rinse his tummy and put the conditioner on the same way I shampood him. That was the only way to get the sand and salt off of him. Plain water rinsing didn't do it so he got 3 showers that week.
Because my family was spread out in three houses, we did a LOT of walking plus each house is built one story off the ground and are two story houses so there were LOTS of stairs and ups and downs. I mostly carried him because that would have been way too much walking for him. As it was he was up and down the stairs in our house because he learned the 3 teenage girls left lots of tissues in their bathroom wastebasket!
I met several people in the Airport terminal who lurk on Spoiled Maltese and I encouraged them to post. One lady recognized "Pico's Parent" when I told her about it. Cool.
I was even able to take him out of his carrier on the plane for most of the trip. He stayed sprawled out in my lap asleep most of the time and on one leg the attendant didn't even notice him until her fourth trip by when she did a double-take to look at him closer but didn't say a word. Many people told me he was very well behaved and wished they could take their dog with them but that they didn't dare. I was so proud of him.
All in all it was a great trip even though it was like having a small child on vacation where you had to be aware of them at all times and make sure someone was watching him, make sure he got sunscreened and was kept hydrated. But we are already planning Reunion 2006 and since Pico is part of the family, he'll be going too!
He did jump into the surf one time when we went to the Intracoastal waterway where it was shallow and gentle. He actually started swimming when he got in deep enough but then seemed to realize what was happening and turned around a ran out. After that, whenever I tried to coax him back in with me, he'd spin in a circle and take off running back to the umbrellas where everyone else was sitting in beach chairs and just tear around like crazy, making everyone laugh.
He also had a tough time going potty in the sand because he is grass trained. He'd walk and walk and walk looking for a tuft of grass and finally, when he just couldn't hold it anymore, he'd go. I always picked up the poop in a plastic bag and just kicked sand over the pee.
I used a oil-free spray on sunscreen that I just spritzed all over him after covering his eyes. I made sure to get his tummy thoroughly covered, which made him wiggle. He loved visiting other beach goers who had set up nearby and they were unconditionally delighted to have him come over. I met numerous people who said "My mother-in-law has a Maltese" or "my neighbor has a Maltese". Everyone was enchanted with him.
He had his own bottle of water and drinks out of the cap or out of my hand so keeping him hydrated was not a problem. I learned to bathe him in the shower before I showered by holding him in my arms and bathing one side then switching him to the other arm and bathing his other side. I held him up Lion King style to rinse his tummy and put the conditioner on the same way I shampood him. That was the only way to get the sand and salt off of him. Plain water rinsing didn't do it so he got 3 showers that week.
Because my family was spread out in three houses, we did a LOT of walking plus each house is built one story off the ground and are two story houses so there were LOTS of stairs and ups and downs. I mostly carried him because that would have been way too much walking for him. As it was he was up and down the stairs in our house because he learned the 3 teenage girls left lots of tissues in their bathroom wastebasket!
I met several people in the Airport terminal who lurk on Spoiled Maltese and I encouraged them to post. One lady recognized "Pico's Parent" when I told her about it. Cool.
I was even able to take him out of his carrier on the plane for most of the trip. He stayed sprawled out in my lap asleep most of the time and on one leg the attendant didn't even notice him until her fourth trip by when she did a double-take to look at him closer but didn't say a word. Many people told me he was very well behaved and wished they could take their dog with them but that they didn't dare. I was so proud of him.
All in all it was a great trip even though it was like having a small child on vacation where you had to be aware of them at all times and make sure someone was watching him, make sure he got sunscreened and was kept hydrated. But we are already planning Reunion 2006 and since Pico is part of the family, he'll be going too!
