October / November Happenings

Wow - where has the time gone!!  Can you believe it's been 2 months since I last visited with you?
Well where to begin...  I am still going on outings with mom and dad, (the farmer's market, grocery stores, restaurants, malls, etc.).  I graduated from the Dog Good Citizenship Class, (of course - I told mom I would ACE it).  But most importantly something BIG has happened in my life!!!   Mom and dad had a vacation scheduled for the last 2 weeks of October.  I was going to stay with my puppy sitters Charlene and Alan - they live way up in the east foothills in the large luxury mansion and have 2 Canine Companion for Independence dogs that have been released from the program, (Stacy and Belize).  I love visiting and playing with Stacy and Belize, (we run, jump and have all kinds of fun).  I was so looking forward to my 12 days living with them.  BUT, on the 2nd day I starting changing and came "in heat".  Yup, I am now a "woman".  And I couldn't stay with Stacy and Belize anymore.  Instead I had to go to Amor Animal Hospital and be kenneled for the next 21 days.  I was so lonely  I was there exactly 1 week and mom and dad showed up to visit me and exercise me and every week mom came to see me with treats and to exercise me, brush my teeth, clean my ears, brush my fur and give me lots of hugs.  She always told me that she loved me and it would soon be over and I could come home and that everyone, (even the cat), missed me.

 I didn't get released until November 12th.  Mom said that I was a lot more calmer.  Dad said that 3 weeks of solitary confinement will do that to any woman.    I was so glad to come home, even though I couldn't remember some of my commands every well.  On November 15th, mom and dad, Rowdy and I drove down to Kanab, Utah so that mom and dad could volunteer on Saturday and Sunday at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.  I was so hoping to get to go with them, so I could play with the puppies and kittens.  But NO!!  They made me and Rowdy stay back at the condo in the crate.  But they took us for nice long walks every morning and evening and it sure was beautiful in the red rock country.  On Thanksgiving Day, Rowdy and I went with mom and dad down to Springville to celebrate turkey day with their friends, (Neil and Karen).  We like Neil and Karen - they have 2 dogs, (Sofie and Max - but sometimes Max growls at us, cause he's old.)  We all got to out out back in their big fenced back yard and run and play, and their dogs have lots of stuffed animals that I can shake and run with.  It is great.

 But one thing that still hasn't changed, no matter how big I get - I still like to climb into mom's lap and snuggle just like I did when I was a little puppy.  Only now I'm a big dog, (who weighs 56 pounds).

Sometimes I like to just sit beside mom and she hugs me and tells me that she loves me.  When she's not expecting it, I give her a quick kiss on the ear.  She just laughs and says, "thank you for the kiss".  I know it makes her happy when I kiss her.  She told me the other day that next August it's going to be hard to tell me good-bye when I go back to CCI and she's going to miss me a lot.

Hope your turkey was delicious and your getting your Christmas shopping done, it's coming up fast.

So - until next time remember, don't lick and keep those tails waggin'

Latest Happenings

I know I haven't written for a while, so I thought I'd bring everyone up to speed on what's been happening with me....

 Well, about 6 weeks ago, (the middle of August), I got pretty sick.  I got a bad case of diarrhea starting on Monday afternoon, (August 11th).  At first mom thought it was because I was eating some of the green beans that she was canning, (without them being washed - boy were they yummy).  But then she remembered that Rowdy also ate them and she was OK.  On Tuesday, I was getting worse, and mom thought well maybe I got into the stream in the backyard and drank some of the secondary water from Utah Lake, (that's pretty nasty stuff!!).  By Wednesday I was in pretty bad shape.  I was going to the bathroom every couple of hours and it was just water.  But, I was still eating and drinking good.  So mom call the vet and made an appointment for me early Thursday morning.  The vet checked me over from front to back, top to bottom.  He said that most likely I had a case of girardia, (he said he sees it regularly in this area, since everyone waters their landscape with secondary water and puppies always eat grass and things they find in the yard).  He said "NO FOOD" for 12 hours and then only 1/2 cup of food for the next 12 hours, so my digestion tract could rest.  He put me on an antibiotic for 10 days, and said if I didn't improve in 2 days to come back in, (or if I started throwing up and had blood in my stool).  But by Saturday, everything was back to normal - YEA !!  Mom was pretty scared - and I was pretty hungry.  Imagine only 1/2 cup of food for 24 hours.  What was the guy trying to do - starve me !!!

I am now 8 months old and I weigh 51 pounds.   I am in the middle of the pack with my litter mates.  The largest is 52 pounds and the smallest is 50 pounds.  All of our moms are in contact with each other in a face book group, so they share information about us.

I graduated from my Adult Dog II class - OF COURSE!!  I was the best of the class.  Mom was so proud of me.  The first week of September I was enrolled in the Adult Dog Good Citizenship class.  Doesn't mom know that  #1: I was born in the USA, so I am already a citizen, and #2: I am always Good???

On the first day of class, was we were walking, the instructor noticed that I was favoring my right rear leg, below the knee.  She pointed it out to mom, and had mom look at the spot.  It hurt every time they touched it.  The next morning I had another trip to the vet.  The vet gave me another good going over, and luckily I hadn't broken any bone, but I had a good sprain.  It appears that I play too hard, running and jumping.  The vet put me on anti-inflammatory medication for 10 days and said to take it easy for a couple of days.  So mom and I weren't able to enjoy our long 30 minute early morning walks for 2 days, but I sure did enjoy laying around on my bed.  By the time training class rolled around I was back on my feet again.  Mom said I am just one vet bill after another!!!

One thing I do enjoy now that I am older is that I get to go out on more trips with mom and dad.  I have been to Fashion Place Mall, quite a few restaurants, several grocery stores, farmer's markets, banks, and shopping at stores with mom.  The world is opening up more and more for me.  Dad said that I am old enough to to go the movies with them, I can't wait!!

Hope your summer has been as exciting as mine, and your fur coat is coming in thick before the winter storms hit.  In the meantime, enjoy the cool evenings and the warm breezes of the autumn days.  And keep your tails wagging.  Until next post.....

WE ARE FAMILY

Here is the latest photo of me and all my brothers and sisters.  I just couldn't wait to share this with everyone.   I am hoping that every 6 months we get a new photo to share so everyone can see how much we all have grown.

So - what do you think of us?

Going Out to a Restaurant

Mom and Dad have been teaching me a new command - UNDER.  I've been doing a pretty good job, so on Friday they decided to put me to a little test.  They had some errands to do, so I got to go along.  First stop, the post office, then we headed to Carl's Jr. for a quick lunch.  Here's a photo where I am "Under", (which means I wait patiently under the table, not eating anything off the floor, until mom and dad finish they are ready to leave).  It was a hot day and the cool tiles felt so good.  Lots of people told mom and dad that I was such a good dog.  Next we stopped at Peterson's Fresh Market for a couple of groceries.  The cashiers there are so friendly, they are real dog people!!  They all ask to pet me and dad always says yes, and tells them all about Canine Companions for Independence. Now that I'm 6 months old I'm going more places and seeing more things.  Life is becoming more exciting and the world is so much bigger.

Until next post, try to find a nice cool spot to curl up and take a nap.  And as always keep your tails wagging high.

Look what Mom and Dad got me !!

This week I turned 6 months old, and as a birthday present mom and dad got me a new ball and a new bed.  Life is sooo SWWEEET, (and comfy)!!!

Hope your staying cool during the dog days of summer.    Until next posting, keep wagging those tails high in the air.

HAPPY 4th of JULY

Hope you all have a HAPPY 4th of July.   Stay cool, and remember to protect your ears from the fireworks, (too much noise).   Don't eat too many hot dogs.  But most of all -  have fun, fun, and more fun.

Keep wagging those tails proudly !!

Puppy Class Graduation

Well I graduated from Puppy Class I.  My mom was so proud of me.  The instructor said I was so smart and so advanced on my commands, compared to the other puppies in our class.  Here is a photo of me receiving my diploma from the instructor.   Next week I start the Adult Dog 2 Training class.  Mom said that it will involve a lot more work on my distraction.  Don't worry mom - I am plenty distracted when I am walking and working....  oh, I'm supposed to ignore those distractions!! 

Well stayed tuned and see if I make it through this next set of classes.

In the meantime, keep your nose up and keep wagging those tails.