Tuesday, April 30, 2019

I'm a hero!




I'm a hero!!!!!!  Well I guess "hero" is a BIT of a stretch considering I caused the problem in the first place - BUT - I DID get a response from Mountain Equipment Co-op!  It started it off as follows:

Hi Linda and Viktor,
 
Thank you for your fun e-mail. I almost thought it was Spam ;) But I’m glad I kept reading.

I’m afraid we no longer sell the olive green and you’re right, we’re pretty much out of stock on the clearance colours, BUT I managed to find an indigo blue one for you in the Montreal store....


So my human was able to get another fleece.  Not the same color I altered, but still, at least she will have the same model.   There goes my biscuit money that I earned by doing chores.  I should have thought of that while I was eating through the pocket.

So big thanks to Mountain Equipment Co-op for responding and for helping me out!  The name of the person who responded was Sanne - so if you ever run into Sanne -  thank her again.  My human also sent her a big thanks.  On my behalf.   I think I will send her this blog too.

As an aside....I understand through this experience (and my previous experiences) that I am NOT the ONLY dog who has ever chewed through pockets. Someone suggested a site for sharing tips and suggestions on how to repair chewed pockets.  My human suggested a support group.  Chewers Anonymous.  There is probably a market for chewed pocket patches.  Hey - my next money making scheme!!  I can certainly design the holes for the patches.  I can also be the poster dog...

My human is back at work this week.  We decided to count down the number of 4:45 AM walks.   19 to go.  

Have a good one!   Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days: 27





Monday, April 29, 2019

Dear Mountain Equipment Co-op...




Dear Mountain Equipment Co-op,

My name is Viktor and I am a 7 year old Polish Lowland Sheepdog who lives in Nova Scotia.  I am writing regarding a “product replacement issue “ - and I hope that you might help me.

Last night I somehow got into the bathroom while my human was asleep.  In addition to finding a new roll of toilet paper which I promptly unwound and shredded, I discovered a pile of clothing ready for the laundry.  In that pile was a MEC green Cordova fleece jacket (size L) which my human received as a Christmas gift from her sister.  She has pretty much worn that fleece ALL the time.  Except of course when she is sleeping or it is in the laundry.  Anyway, I discovered that she had not yet cleaned out the pockets- and much to much late night craving surprise, found some dog biscuits in the pocket. Now unfortunately we canines do not have opposable thumbs, so we rely on our teeth to open things... I think you see where this is going...

My human awoke and found a bathroom in a mess, and her favorite fleece with a hole in the front. She was shattered.  She immediately checked your website to see if she could find a replacement.  She saw it in two “clearance colors” and would have even bought one of those (although she LOVES the green), but you didn’t have her size. She has a sinking feeling that this style is gone, but I am writing on the odd chance that you still have one.

I have her VISA card - and will gladly purchase one if you find it.  PLEASE let me know if you do.  PLEASE help to get me out of the “proverbial “ doghouse.  I should add that I have two canine brothers.  And I COULD blame it on one of them.  But who am I kidding? I decided to step up and take the blame.   Besides, if I CAN find a replacement, I’ll be a hero.

Thanks for taking time to read my letter.  I look forward to hearing from you.  

Deja vu.   Last year it was the down coat.  Never did hear back from that company, but then my human wrote that letter.  Maybe I’ll have better luck.  I’ll keep you posted....

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 26

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Curiocery






For us canines, there is nothing much better than when you humans return from being away.  Now I’m not just talking about you being gone for a long time - like when you’ve been away on a trip.  I’m talking anytime you are out of our sight.  Heck - you can go to the bathroom and we’ll be happy when you come out.  And if you have been away for a few hours, there is nothing that will make us happier than when you walk in that door.  Except one thing.  When you come back, and you have been grocery shopping.

My human wonders if all canines demonstrate the “curiocery” that we three do.  That’s my term for that curious behavior we exhibit when you come back with arms loaded with grocery bags.  We MUST examine what is inside.

My human dare not put the bags on the floor.  It would be total chaos.  She puts them on the counter, and even then she must fend off each of us who balance precariously on two paws - leaning against the counter to get a sniff of the contents. “ Hmmmm.  She bought fresh bread.  Did she get more bananas?  Is that chicken? Low salt potato chips - hey what happened to her diet?  That’s OK - it just means more walks for us. Peanut granola?  What’s with that?  Cheese!  She got cheese!  And some sandwich stuff.  Looks like she’ll be making her lunch next week to take to work.  Wonder how long that will last?  Let’s take bets.  Not to mention the fact she will likely forget it anyway...”

She also bought our favorite snack.  Those little mini carrots.  Einstein and I practically take off her fingers when she gives us one.  Meanwhile, the FG is hurling his around the room.  Einstein eats his quickly and then runs to see if he can find the FG’s before the FG does.  While my human tries to help the FG by scooping it up from the floor where it has landed close to her feet, I get on two paws and try desperately to grab the entire bag of carrots.  Busted.

Putting things in the fridge involves pushing and shoving three canines who are also trying to get in the fridge.  We must inspect all the contacts going in.  Consider us the quality control inspectors.  We’re just checking the “Best by” dates.   Sure we are.

After my human finishes the defensive unpacking, she needs a nap.  No wonder.

Yesterday we had crazy rain again - but the weather today looks great!  Do I foresee extra walks I our immediate future?  You bet I do!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 25

Saturday, April 27, 2019

World Veterinary Day





Well according to the crazy calendar, today is World Veterinary Day.  A day to honor those whose lives revolve around us animals - helping to keep us well.

Almost everybody knows us at the veterinary practice where we go.  And the veterinarians probably draw straws to see who will get stuck with my human.  Just kidding.  Sort of.  Since the dawn of the internet, she has become every veterinarian's nightmare.  Armed with the results of her latest internet search, she arrives ready with questions and "ideas."  After she attended the last webinar, she visited the vet (when Einstein got his stitches out) and arrived with a printed handout about the session.   She reviewed the notes with the vet - just in CASE the vet didn't have time to look at it at home.

The vet techs who work at our clinic are also awesome.  They are so good at taking our blood - we usually don't even know it is happening!  We haven't been to the groomer there - but we know her as well.  Everyone who works there understands the critical bond that we animals have with our humans - and they work to make sure that our lives are long and healthy.

But getting back to the internet....while you should take the advice of your veterinarian, it is also important that you understand the health issues of your pet.  The internet CAN be a good source of information - but you do so with caution.  When looking at the internet, you need to consider the source.  Anybody can post a video - or put up a website, but not all information out there is accurate or well researched.  You need to look at the credentials of the person posting - AND the evidence about what that person is presenting.  I hate to say this - but just as there are GREAT vets - there are probably some vets who may promote things that are not well founded in solid research and science.  So credentials alone do not mean the advice is perfect.  My human was reading a site by a fairly well-known veterinarian.  And while SOME of the info was good - some of it was.....airy fairy.   And to check this, one can Google the name of the person.  If you see that the person is viewed as a bit of a quack in the veterinary field - well take that into consideration.  You need to do your homework.

When looking for the "best" veterinary sites, my human found a couple of lists.  You will see that some sites appear on both lists:

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/10-websites-your-vet-wishes-you-knew-about

https://www.thesprucepets.com/top-websites-for-veterinary-advice-1118659

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/resources/animal-owners

In addition to web sites, we also have YouTube sources.  Now I have NOT looked at many of these - and some of them could be sketchy....but there may be some good info in some of these:

https://blog.feedspot.com/vet_youtube_channels/

I want to emphasize that you should follow your veterinarian's advice about your health care.  BUT - it is also important for humans to be proactive about our care.  You spend all your time with us - and the veterinarian only sees us for a few minutes during the appointment.  Humans need to be thorough in describing our problem - because it may not be evident when we are in the office.  You humans KNOW us - and you KNOW when something is not right.  You have to be our spokesperson - because we can't do that ourselves.  Although Einstein tries....

So cheers today to all in the veterinary field.  Thanks so much for all you do!!!!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days: 24

Friday, April 26, 2019

Hairballs






April 26.  And such an important holiday.  It's National Hairball Awareness Day.  I'm surprised my human didn't have the day off.

While cats are kind of the poster animals for hairballs, we dogs CAN get them too.   If we tend to lick ourselves a lot - either because of allergies, or even because we are bored - we CAN get the dreaded trichobezoars.  Add that to your Jeopardy terms.  It's basically a glob of hair that accumulates in a mass in our stomachs.  Usually we will pass the offending matter in our poo - or we could actually vomit a hairball.   In unusual cases, a hairball COULD get large and cause an obstruction - probably necessitating surgery.

If we stay well groomed, we are less likely to swallow lots of hair.  Great.  More grooming.  As well, we are less likely to lick ourselves if we are active and not bored.  Bring on the toys and more walks!

I read that early human cultures believed that hairballs possessed magical or medicinal properties.   Really.   Picture THAT on your mantle....Anyway, no licking today and take time to think about Hairballs today.  For just a minute.

And the good news - It's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so glad that my human will have TWO DAYS OFF!!!!  Daylight walks.   Lots of them.  Let the weekend begin!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 23




Thursday, April 25, 2019

Simple miracles





Sometimes we take for granted the little things in life.  We wish for the big lottery win.  Or we count down the days to the weekend - not appreciating the day that is unfolding before us.  I must confess, we HAVE been doing the countdown since my human went back to work this week.  And we will all be glad that tomorrow is Friday.  But sometimes you do need to look at little things that happen - and although the events are not earth shattering, they are wonderful and even a little bit miraculous just the same... and we need to appreciate them!

Like yesterday morning.  We have had a VERY rainy week.  So getting up at 4:30 AM and going out into the dark for our morning constitutional has been a BIT of a drag.   But despite the rainy weather, we have somehow managed to escape the torrential downpours.  We have walked in light rain - but have managed to miss the heavy stuff.  Yesterday morning, we awoke to damp conditions - but instead of rain, we faced fog.  Heavy damp fog.  My human's headlamp was of little use.  If you have ever turned on your car headlights in fog, you know how the light bounces back.  Ditto for headlamps.  On top of that, she is in need of batteries.  We haven't had to use the headlamp much since she "retired" because we can actually walk during daylight.  But here we are again,  since she has been working, using the old head torch.

Einstein and I went out first.  The FG didn't even bother to get up.  We have decided that without any doubt - he is NOT a morning dog.  In fact, my human has never seen a dog quite like him.  He is curled up on my human's bed - or in the pony crate - and he opens one eye to watch us - but doesn't move a muscle.  We went out the door - and he hadn't even come out of the bedroom.

Number one good news item - we both went out and "did our thing."  Although I DO like to raise my human's blood pressure by waiting until we have almost returned home before making my deposit.  But still - the first walk was a success.

We came in the house and no sign of Mr Sleepy Head.  My human called to him.  No FG.  She called again.  No FG.  She took off her wet boots, walked down the hall to the bedroom - to find him slowly getting off the bed and stretching.  He is REALLY not a morning dog.

They went on their soggy way.  

Here is where I do need to apologize to neighbors on the road.  When we make a deposit, my human picks up.  It's just what you do.  However, yesterday was a bit of a challenge.  The FG has his habit of leaving a trail.   Like Easter eggs.  But theses are not chocolate.  The only problem - he went in the grass at the side of the road.  So you combine fog, in the dark, with a dim headlamp, and the Easter egg hunt was NOT easy.  My human was bent over searching for "eggs."  She found two - but there MAY be another one out there.  So apologies to neighbors - we will try to find it on our daylight walk.

So three dogs out.  Three deposits.  No pouring rain.  What more could one ask for?!  That's plenty to be grateful for.  But wait - there was one more thing. 

My human was ready to leave after breakfast and her shower - and went to take us out for one final pee.  She didn't put Einstein on a leash - but she did put me on.  And here is where the last lucky bit came in.  Picture this in slow motion.  She goes to open the door and as the door opens and she raises her head - what does she see sitting right on the front lawn?  The Easter rabbit.  At the same moment she sees him - so do we.   Einstein takes off and I run like mad - to the end of the leash.  Now you can hear that slow motion bellow of "FRO-DOOOOOOO."   He bolts into the woods.  Her mind is racing - we are on a TIGHT schedule here - and a runaway was NOT in the plan.  BUT - miracle of miracles - thank you Saint Roch - Einstein STOPPED.  And he came back!  Meanwhile I was strangling myself. Trust me - if I had been off leash this story would not have ended so pleasantly.

So there you have it - three simple miracles.  Three poops, no torrential rain AND a dog who came back.  My human thought about buying a lotto ticket - but really - what for?  She already had three good wins.

Hope your day is equally miraculous.

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 22

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Guide Dogs






It's April 24 - and it also happens to be International Guide Dog Day.  It's a day to honor those hard working canines who provide independence for so many visually impaired humans.   Did you know that there are references to Guide Dogs dating back to the mid-16th century!

The first schools to train Guide Dogs were started in Germany during World War I.  The first Seeing Eye School in the US was established in 1929 in Nashville, Tennesseee, and it moved in 1931 to New Jersey.

In the earliest days, German Shepherds were commonly used for this important job.  Today, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed used globally.

Besides the obvious benefits to mobility, Guide Dogs also provide support and companionship to individuals with visual impairments.  I read a line that said " The animal isn't seen as a working animal, but more as a loyal friend."

 There are a number of organizations that train Guide Dogs.  Here's a nice little video that shows you how a dog is trained - and the tremendous impact that having a Guide Dog can have on an individual's life.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tmKy2awfxE

And if that one didn't make you cry - try this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07d2dXHYb94

It takes a special dog to make the cut for this important job.  And we also can't forget those wonderful foster homes that train puppies in their early months. The foundations that they provide are so critical - and it takes a special person or family to pass on that puppy when he is ready for more training. 

So cheers today to Guide Dogs!  You make us canines look very good!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up:
Seizure free days: 21


Tuesday, April 23, 2019

YouTube





April 23. On this day in 2005, the very first YouTube video was uploaded.  So here’s a trivia question - what animal did it feature: a cat, a dog, an elephant, or a monkey? If you guessed dog....you were....unfortunately wrong.  It was an elephant. The video was called “Me at the zoo,” and it featured Jawed Karin, one of the site’s co-founders.  Here is that quick video, if you have never seen it:

Not exactly a profound piece of cinematography- but who knew that after only 18 months, this fun little site would be sold to Google for $1.65 billion.   I read that over 300 hours of video are uploaded every minute. People in 89 countries view YouTube which is available in 76 languages.  800 million people visit YouTube monthly.  

Apparently the most searched for video topic on YouTube is “How to kiss,” followed by “How to tie a tie.” Today people are more likely to turn to a YouTube video that they are to the instruction manual for a product.   Ask my human - we have all watched the YouTube video on how to start the Weed Wacker probably a dozen times.  

When it comes to us canines, there are NO shortage of dog videos on everything from training tips, to dog history videos, to veterinary information to grooming tips...you name it, you can find it.

And of course, there are the classic funny dog videos.  Here are some of the best:


And we have videos for us dogs to watch, like this one - with hours of entertainment. Yawn. 

I found out that the oldest cat video on YouTube is footage that dates from 1894.  With some boxing cats.

Now I couldn’t find anything that was specified as being the oldest dog video on YouTube, but I did find this footage by Birt Acres, an American/British film pioneeer from 1895.  Don’t ask me what kind of dog it is...it made me dizzy to watch it!

Anyway, if you are stranded on a desert island and you happen to have WiFi, and no new videos are added, it would take 60,000 years to watch all the YouTube videos that are there. It will take me a bit less, because I’ll be skipping all the dog training and grooming videos. 

Before I close on this topic, let’s take one last look at two of my favorite videos - which you have seen before.  They highlight the eating differences between Picards and PONs...


Now excuse me while I go and watch that squirrel video....

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 20

Monday, April 22, 2019

Dyngus Day. And sad news....well. Not THAT sad.





It’s Dyngus Day!  The day after Easter - and I just read that it is also called Wet Easter Monday.  It’s that famous Polish holiday where boys douse girls with water and hit them with pussy willows.  In a romantic gesture.  No.  I didn’t make this up. What Marci Gras is to the beginning of Lent, Dyngus Day is to the end.  When you think St. Patrick’s Day you think Irish.  On Dyngus Day, everybody is Polish.  You can read my previous Dyngus Day posts or Google it - and you will see it’s true.  It’s also a BIG holiday in my human’s hometown of Buffalo, NY. 

The only problem....I have scrolled through LOTS of Dyngus Day websites and videos from the festivities in Buffalo.  I saw lots of perogies, kielbasa, and golumpki, and heard lots of polka music.  I saw traditional polish costumes.  And I saw the odd glass of vodka.  BUT - come on Buffalo - I did not see ONE PON!  If anyone has seen one in a Buffalo parade, let me know.   Otherwise, I’m going next year.

The only reason I didn’t go THIS year is because...sad news.   My human is going back to work today.  OK.  It’s not forever.  Just until the end of May.  She PROMISES that she will be officially DONE with work at the end of May.   Completely, entirely DONE.  It seems there were some people who needed some help - and she just could not say no.  Funny - she can say no to me.  Like when I beg for more treats.   Anyway, she will have a week off mid May, then work the last week of May, and May 31 will be OUR Dyngus Day celebration!

Crank up the accordion!  And warm up the kielbasa! Happy Dyngus Day!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 19

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Easter tidings





I told you how she could only find two pairs of rabbit ears.   One pair went mysteriously missing....So I THOUGHT we would not have to go through the dreaded trio photo.  But no.  She had to go shopping for groceries the other day - and just so happened to be passing by the Dollar Store.  I kid you not.  Which reminds me - I forgot to tell you that when my human retired - one of her old friends and colleagues got her, as part of her retirement gift - a gift card to the Dollar Store.  Clearly that woman is NOT a friend of ours.

Instead of the GIANT ears, which are problematic because they do bear a resemblance to those old fashioned TV antennas, and they tend to fall down -  she bought ears that are much more proportional. Oh goody.

After 769 shots - she got the one you see above.  But not before the following...

To get our attention, she throws a ball.  Instead of landing behind her - it goes to our left...




She tries again.  Remember, she is NOT what you would call coordinated. It goes to our right...




Now the FG starts sliding down.  He doesn't feel like sitting through this.  At the same time, Einstein is showing his opinion.  I, on the other hand, look adorable...





Now the FG and I are starting to look sad.  But Einstein is looking good.



She throws the ball again.  To our left.  Einstein ignores it. 




You need to keep in mind that we are getting treats in between shots.  But DO NOT drop a treat.   Because even if you pick it up, I STILL need to check to make sure there are no more on the floor. 




Now Einstein starts barking "For the love of heaven can we PLEASE get this over with!!!!"  Meanwhile, the FG looks like a rabbit in headlights.  But that's the best expression we can get from him.





Anyway, we survived and she finally got a photo she liked.   Oh - and there is one more....





Have a Happy Easter!   And all canines - stay out of the chocloate!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days: 18

Saturday, April 20, 2019

It rained. I poured.





Well I’m afraid I took the word “good” out of Good Friday.  

Yesterday my human got up early. Her old friend Joanie was in town and they had arranged to meet for breakfast.  We canines were a bit slow to get up because it was pouring rain.  And we know that sound.

First the FG was taken out. Then it was our turn.  We know when my human says “we are going quick, quick, quick” that it means we are not going for a walk up the road, but rather in the back yard instead to make our deposits.

She took me on a leash and Einstein was free.  She figured she would need to keep me out there to go - I would just want to head back in the house.  

Much to her surprise, I actually made a beautiful deposit.  Quickly.  Happy dance in the rain.  She let me off my leash and I ran around to the front door to stay dry.  Meanwhile, Einstein was standing there looking forlorn and like a drowned rat.  She instructed him to “hurry up” which he slowly did. 

We came back in the house and had our breakfasts.  My human then went into the bathroom to take her shower. 

When she came out, she took us through the garage to the side yard to let us have a quick pee before she left us. While we were outside, she went in the house to hide some kibble for us, so we would be entertained for 3.2 seconds when she left.  We find the kibble pretty quickly.  And that’s when she discovered a huge pee spot on the dining room carpet.  She froze. We know that if she is out and finds a pee spot on her return- it is a sign I have had a seizure. She began to panic.  Did I have a seizure when she was in the shower?! But I didn’t have my post-seizure crazy starved look.  I appeared FINE.

As she rushed to clean up the pee, she began to quickly watch a rerun on Big Brother to see if I had indeed had a seizure.  She scanned through and didn’t think anything looked strange, but had to go because she was already late to meet Joanie.

She looked at me, and I looked completely fine. Completely.  So who peed?

She arrived late at the restaurant- explaining to Joanie about the last minute unexpected clean up.  And being the great friend that she is, she didn’t mind reviewing the footage on Big Brother - before they even ate.  I mean who wants to watch film footage of dogs not doing much.  Like waiting for a giraffe to give birth.  Weeks before the due date.

They scrolled through to the part where my human would have left us alone while she showered.  They saw me chewing on a bone, and then rolling on the carpet.  NOT because I was having a seizure- but because I was damp from the rain - and post-rain rolls are fun.  Then they watched me as I stood up, shook myself off, walked around the table, stretched and then STOOD THERE and had a big pee.  Busted.  

You see, when I went out in the rain and I pooped, I was SO anxious to get back in the house, that I never bothered to pee.  And let’s face it, when a guy has gotta go, a guy has gotta go.  I’m blaming it on my medication.

The good news - my human was SO relieved I didn’t have a seizure, she wasn’t angry that I peed.   I mean she wasn’t HAPPY, but at least she knew we didn’t have to reset my counter.  Yup - always gotta look at the bright side of things!  

More rain in the forecast for today....I’m thinking though, that I had better not push my luck- so I had better pee outside.  Not to mention the fact that she will be WATCHING me...

Of course....some COULD surmise that this whole incident was payback for the Easter attire.... I’ll just continue to blame it on my medication...

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 17


Friday, April 19, 2019

Dog news





So time for some dog news.

Did you see the story about the dog that was rescued by oil rig workers who were working 135 miles off the shore of Thailand?!  They spotted him in the water, swimming toward the rig.   They speculate that he must have fallen off a fishing boat. They took the dog to shore and left him with a rescue shelter.  One of the workers who helped to save him said that if no one claims him, the worker will adopt the dog himself.  The dog has aptly been named “Survivor.”  I’d be staying off boats in the future if I were him.

 Then I found another interesting piece of research.  Turns out that men’s beards have more bacteria than dog fur!!  Ewwwwww.  Remind me never to lick any humans with beards.  Said the dog who licks all KINDS of disgusting things... Anyway, I thought this research was a bit odd.  I mean, seriously, who thought up the comparison.  Turns out it was done as part of research looking at the use of MRI machines by dogs.  In many places, dogs need to use human MRI machines in a hospital - because most vet clinics are not equipped with them. So they wanted to see if we canines were basically “clean” enough to use them.  They decided we are not a safety hazard.  But I don’t want to use one if a guy with a beard uses it before me.

Today is Good Friday. When I heard that, I started to panic as I thought it meant that everybody HAD to be good.  That’s a tall order in this house.  Instead, I found out it is a solemn holiday for Christians.  Thank goodness.  Although I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to be good for a day.  I’ll try. But no promises.

Have a GOOD one.  Peace and paws up 
Seizure free days: 16


Thursday, April 18, 2019

Bloopers...






 Well we know what is coming on Sunday.  Easter. And we know what that means...

But guess what?  A set of bunny ears has gone missing!   My human searched through the big bin of Dollar Strore props and attire - and she could only find two pairs of ears. Now I wonder what could have happened to the third set (insert mysterious music.). Perhaps a burglar came in during the night while we were all sound asleep....(spooky music gets louder.  Add howling of coyotes.  Make that a howling PON).  It would be pretty tough to get past all three canines, but could it have happened?  Did someone PAY off the burglar to steal the ears...

Or ...Did someone happen to see an odd shape in the garbage bag going out to the street? (Stop the music). 

Or...(start music again), did anyone happen to notice a strange blue piece of fabric in the poop that has emerged in the yard since the snow melted?  (Really loud music - with lots of cellos).  Whose poop was it? (Camera pans all three innocent faces)...

This could seriously make a great movie in cinemas. Or at least a Hallmark TV movie. 

So since we didn’t find that extra set, oh darn, we still haven’t taken the trio shot.  We did though, do all of our individual photos.   

And since I KNOW that you love these things- I am happy to share a few of our favorite bloopers.  I KNOW you have been waiting for these...





















Now before anybody calls PETA to protest abuse, given our sad expressions and my insistence on sticking out my tongue- you need to know that my human had a hard time actually selecting bloopers!  You will see in the final selection- that we are happy and smiling!   We are given LOTS of treats. And the FG gets to play fetch between every second shot, because he doesn’t care about the treats!   Getting him to smile, whether he is wearing attire or not is a whole other issue.  He’s a pouty, temperamental model!

Anyway, part one Easter photos is done.  And if those ears don’t materialize (trust me - they won’t) , I’m not so sure that there will be a trio photo.  Mind you, she still has time to go to the Dollar Store.  Yikes.  Don’t tell her I said that...

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 15

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Haiku





April 17. And according to the crazy calendar it is International Haiku Poetry Day.  

Haiku is a Japanese poetry form, made up of three lines.  The first and third lines have 5 syllables and the second has 7 syllables.  And they don’t need to rhyme.

OK.  I’m not great at this poetry thing, but here we go...


PONs
Polish Lowland pup
So stubborn, funny, brilliant 
A shaggy angel.

Picards
The Berger Picard
Oh so happy go lucky
Yet ever alert.

Bunnies 
 I smelled the rabbit 
And off I went to find him.
In trouble again.

Eating 
He stares at his food
And we stare at him and groan
Meal time every day.

Grooming 
We must quickly hide
She is coming for us now.
It is torture time.

The constitutional
Inconspicuous 
As a parade of bagpipes
Walking us three dogs.

Poop
Three dogs had good poops,
There was rejoicing today
Humans are so weird.

OK that is it.
Enough of this feeble try
To be poetic.

Time to WALK!

Have a good one! Peace and paws up 
Seizure free days: 14

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Birds. And ticks.






Spring has definitely arrived - especially with regard to the birds. The FG is in his glory because he is the ultimate bird watching dog.   I mentioned the geese the other day.  He takes his role in scaring geese off the golf course very seriously.   My human has to keep him on leash - she’s not sure how far he might chase them. 

We also heard the loons on the weekend - the real sign of spring for us.

We hear lots of birds around home - woodpeckers (who have been known to make quite the racket when they peck on the metal chimney cap), ducks, chickadees, owls, mourning doves, crows - and all kinds of song birds.  And within the past year,  we started hearing a bird call that was kind of new in our area.   Pheasants.   

The other morning when we were coming back from our walk, my human let Einstein and I off leash as we came down the driveway.   We ran into a bed of plants at the side of the driveway, and immediately flushed two pheasants.   Honestly, I don’t think we meant to do it.  We’re not bird dogs.  We scared my human, but we just kept running around.  My human was glad it wasn’t the FG.  His brain would have exploded.

My human was telling a friend on the weekend about the pheasants who have taken up residency in the neighborhood.  And my friend mentioned an advantage to the birds (besides being a dinner item).  They apparently like to eat ticks.   My human tried to confirm this through her good friend Google.   She could find lots of info about guinea fowl and turkeys and some anecdotal info about pheasants.   Some sources say that the birds carry the ticks. Other sources say they eat them. So their benefit is probably good - kind of 50-50.

We’ve talked about guinea fowl before.  They are tick aficionados.   But - I understand that they are not without challenges - they are LOUD, they tend to roam, and they are not particularly bright.  Given our disinterest in herding (well my disinterest and Einstein’s) we would have to leave the work to the FG to round them up. And then my human would have to round HIM up.

We know that just as the birds have arrived - so have the ticks. A friend of my human has already picked numerous ticks off her dogs - and the snow JUST melted.   Time to start doing regular tick checks... I have this fear that my human might make us start wearing our Lycra suits.  All the time.....

Before I close, if you have a bird loving dog, here’s the perfect video for you.  Check it out - hours of entertainment!


Well, I hear the mourning doves calling - time to get my human moving!  



Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 13



Monday, April 15, 2019

McDonald’s




April 15.  And it’s McDonald’s Day.  On this day in 1955, Ray Kroc opened the first restaurant in his franchise. Not his first restaurant- but the first of what would become a world wide chain.

Now whether or not you have ever had a McDonald’s hamburger (and my guess is that most people have crossed beneath the Golden Arches at least once), you are probably familiar with the McDonald’s spokesperson.  Or is he a mascot.... Anyway, most people probably recognize Ronald McDonald - the clown who appears in ads and in commercials.  (If you ever see my human, ask her about the time Ronald McDonald approached her sister).  Let’s just say, not all kids are happy to see a clown.  

Over the years - McDonald’s had a series of “characters” in McDonaldland - like the Hamburglar - a villain who appeared in commercials in 1971.  

But here is a REALLY TOUGH trivia question.... what was the name of Ronald’s dog?   He hated ticks (who doesn’t!) and spoke in a monotone voice.  Give up?  If you know the answer - you have eaten too much junk food.  His name was Sundae.   Here is a very short clip of him - and I’m sorry it gets cut off - but it’s the best I could find:


I also found this commercial- with a different dog and Ronald....

Hokey.  But cute.

And our last McDonald dog connection.  This is a recent news story about a dog in Oklahoma.   It seems the clever dog would somehow escape her home at night, go to the local McDonald’s, and pretend she was a stray.  So that people would feed her.

I’m not 100% sure I believe this story. I mean how did the dog get out of the house?!  Now if it was a PON, I would believe it.  I’m surprised Einstein aka Houdini hasn’t tried this yet.  Mind you,  it would be a pretty long walk to a McDonald’s from our house.

So there you have the canine connection to the fast food chain.  I knew you would be wondering as you had your Big Mac today.  Or your Keep Calm Caesar salad. 

Today my human is getting the snow tires off Ludwig. Blizzard in the forecast tomorrow!!! Just kidding.  I hope!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 12

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Uncle Steven

  


Uncle Steven has passed away.  No - he wasn’t my human’s uncle, nor was he mine.  Although we are definitely distantly related.  Uncle Steven was a Basset Hound, who spent the first 7 years of his life in a a puppy mill- as a stud dog.  He was finally surrendered to an animal shelter and then fostered  by a young woman. She had to do a lot of socializing with him - he was reportedly very fearful.  He received the name Uncle Steven because of a resemblance to a family member.  When the woman’s home situation changed, she had to find a permanent home for the dog  - and he was adopted by a man and his wife. They worked with him and within a year, he became a certified therapy dog. 

Uncle Steven became the first therapy dog at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada to regularly visit the library.  Here’s a short clip, made by a student:

Uncle Steven shared his calm, happy demeanor with students at Carleton for two years.  Sadly his work was done this week - and more than just the humans in his family, mourned the loss of this canine ambassador.

The positive effects of using therapy dogs with university students has actually been researched.  Results have shown that stress levels are reduced.  In many places, dogs are used exclusively during exam time to help reduce stress and worry.  

In addition, some universities see the positive effects of having pets all the time  - so some allow pets even in residence!   Here’s an article about the most pet friendly colleges and universities: 


Many restrict things like type of pet or the size of your dog.  But it’s wonderful to see that these institutions of higher learning are recognizing and supporting the positive role that we canines play.

But I don’t need to tell YOU that!

Uncle Steven- thanks for being so kind to humans - even though the humans were not so kind to you in your early days.   May you find peace and lots of massaging at the Rainbow Bridge.  Well done...

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 11

Saturday, April 13, 2019

A spring walk.






Thursday night, Einstein got his stitches out.  Everything looked good, but the vet said he still needs to wear his shirt for another week.  And no rolling on the ground outside...

At the same time Einstein was getting his stitches out, Pig Pen was at his vet getting his stitches out on his ear.  His vet was happy that they were able to remove all traces of his tumor.  Good news.

We haven’t seen Pig Pen since the two surgical patients went under the knife. So when Pig Pen’s human texted in the morning to go for a walk, we thought it was a splendid idea. The FG had just completed his 45 minute constitutional, so it was our turn. 

The snow was still on the golf course, but large patches of grass were also visible. It was a perfect morning.  No wind.  Temperature just at feeezing, so the ground was hard and not yet muddy. The sun was shining .  The sky was a brilliant blue.The robins were singing and the ducks were on the pond.  Perfect. And we were all off leash.

But slowly, one by one we had to be put in bondage.  First it was the good dog, Pig Pen.  The ponds are all ice free.  So you know what that means to him.  Water is like a magnet and he is like a paper clip. Fwump.  It draws him in.  He eyed the pond from the edge- and his human shouted “no!!!!” His incision healed but he did have to have some fluid taken off - so he shouldn’t get it wet. Busted. Back on leash.

Einstein and I ran along, taunting poor Pig Pen a bit.  Then, as my human should have expected, Einstein hit the snow rolling.  He was wearing his stylish shirt - but my human raced over to stop him.  Ever try to stop a rolling PON?  It’s not easy.  At all.  She had to offer treats so he stopped.  We continued on and not 10 feet later, he was back at it.  Dog #2 leashed.

I was all proud that I was the last dog standing.  Free. And then I discovered something.  Spring has definitely returned.  And so have the geese.  And you know what THAT means.  Free appetizers!!!  Goose poop.  I had a few good sausage shaped treats before my human grabbed me.  I of course looked at her and smacked my lips.  Dog #3 on leash.

All in all though, a perfect Spring morning.  But don’t put those shovels away just yet. My human is getting the snow tires off Ludwig on Monday.  So you can expect we’ll be getting a blizzard on Tuesday....

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 10


Friday, April 12, 2019

Mount Washington





April 12.  And according to my sources, on this day in 1934, the strongest surface wind  gust in the world (231 miles per hour) was recorded on the summit of Mount Washington.  Mount Washington is the highest peak in the northeastern US at 6288 feet above sea level.  Now for my friends who live in the alps or the Rockies, that may not seem big.  But the thing about Mount Washington is that it experiences some of the craziest weather in the world.  There are even Danger signs as you get part way up- warning that the weather can change at any moment.  

My human climbed Mount Washington in her much younger days.  She had no idea what she was doing.  She went with a friend- and they were NOT prepared. They just thought it was a simple day hike.  Clearly they didn’t read about it beforehand.  It’s a 6 mile trip - with some rock climbing as you get closer to the top.  But somehow they made it.  With a lot of huffing, puffing, moaning and groaning.  And dancing when they got to the top.  Then they realized they had to get back down.  And they had no money to take the tram. They decided there was no way they would take the same route down that they had taken on the way up.  So they took the auto road back down - which is 7.6 miles.  You will often see bumper stickers saying “ This car climbed Mountain Washington.”  My human said she wanted pants that said “ This butt climbed Mount Washington.”  Somebody should make those.

Anyway - in case you are wondering, I have not climbed Mount Washington.  BUT - dogs CAN do the trek. When I was looking into this, I found the story of Lucy.

 Lucy was a multi-breed dog who was living on the streets of Puerto Rico.  Sadly, she was in an automobile accident and was paralyzed.  But luckily for Lucy, she was rescued by a woman named Courtney.  Courtney saw to it that Lucy was outfitted with a wheelchair- because she was a high energy dog.  And then they set a goal.  To climb Mount Washington.  They trained for weeks for the journey.  And on August 18, 2010, after six hours and two minutes - Lucy became the first dog to climb Mount Washington in a wheelchair.  Here is her video:


As you see, they had lots of rest breaks.  And when Lucy got to the top, she didn’t look worse for the wear!  I think you call that heart.  

And we heart Lucy.  She set an example that disabled dogs can lead happy, exciting and adventurous lives.  And she also showed us that, just like in life, “every mountain top is within reach , if you just keep climbing!” (Barry Finlay) 

I hope your mountains today are climbable and your journey lots of fun. Now excuse me while I get my leash!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 9

I

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Company!





So Tuesday was an interesting day.  My human was on a super clean-a-thon, so we knew something was up.  Super cleaning generally means company. That’s different than the usual dusting and vacuuming that happens at least once a week - when the dust bunnies begin to become chase-able.  Super cleaning includes floor scrubbing, and the fastidious removal of canine olfactory art.  From windows, doors, cupboards, walls, ceilings.  OK.  Not ceilings.  Mind you there probably IS some dog slobber on some ceiling from us shaking our heads after drinking. Especially from the FG.  Because he is taller.  His DNA is EVERYWHERE.  After he eats, as well, it is critical that he rub his face on any and all vertical surfaces.  And on carpets. 

Anyway, we watched my human as she cleaned.  She would pick up our assorted toys and bones, put them in the big copper boiler to store them, turn around to get the vacuum, only to turn and see that we were already removing the toys and bones she had just put away. 

Then we would want to go out, after she finished vacuuming,  and we would bring in an assortment of leaves.  And snow.  Yes - we would bring both.  Vacuuming with dogs is futile.  Kind of like trying to drain the ocean with a paper cup.

The cleaning day wore on.  She fed us our supper and then in a cheery voice, told us to come in the bedroom.  Fellow dogs- always beware the cheery voice. We went in, and before we could turn around, she was putting a rickety gate across the doorway.  She said we had to stay there and behave - not everyone appreciates jumpy canines.  Who the heck is this “everyone?”

Well it turns out it was a date.  A big, tall dark- haired  man.  

Just kidding.  No point in fabricating that story - everybody knows April Fools Day is over.  No - it was her “Book Club.”  She just joined this group a few months ago - and it was her turn to host.  Wonder if all the other women spent as much time cleaning when they hosted.

When the first group of ladies arrived, one asked if she could say hello to us.  “Sure” my human said - while her mind was racing about who was going to knock down the gate and race into the DFZ to steal the cheese log.  My human held the gate, but that’s when I realized the mesh was loose. I immediately tried to burrow my way through.  So my human is holding my head and the gate, Einstein is barking and the FG is leaping up and down.  The first woman walked away after the raucous introduction - and now another one came to say hello.  Over the blasting of Einstein’s barking my human answered the usual “what are they” question.  Again I tired to squirm through the mesh- while my human pushed me back. The second woman went to the living room. My human gave us the stink eye and said “sit.”  She ran to the kitchen, grabbed some treats and flung them on the floor.  While we were gobbling them up she turned the gate so the loosened mesh would no longer be at floor level.  Secure again.

She joined the ladies for the discussion that was just about to begin.  That’s when the usually quiet Picard began squeaking.  Loudly.  Constantly.  She excused herself- went to the bedroom, said “settle down” and went back to the group.  Five minutes later, Einstein starts barking.  She excuses herself again and again (with the stink eye) says “settle down.”  The discussion continues.

Ten minutes later, she can hear the gate being rattled.  She knows all it will take is one good punch - and it will be PONdemonium.  She sneaks out AGAIN.  She “pretends” to throw treats - (which was pretty sneaky) and as we all turn around, she CLOSES THE BEDROOM DOOR. 

Initially we were all in shock.  We lay down and were stunned.  My human listened and breathed a sigh of relief.  Peace.  At last.

About a half hour went by, and that’s when Einstein decided he had had enough. Remember- this is the dog who does not like to be “contained.” He basically slammed against the door- so loudly that it literally caused the book discussion to stop - and everyone looked at my human.  “Is everything OK?” someone asked. My human nervously smiled and said “oh he’s just trying to get out.  He’ll be fine.”  She was secretly saying a prayer of thanks that he couldn’t open the door.  Unlike another PON she knows.  Zan can open doors that have a lever handle. Luckily we don’t have those.  

Einstein resorted to throwing himself at the door again - like a cop breaking into a felon’s hideout.  He stopped when he realized it wouldn’t work.

As the evening wore on, we eventually did settle down.  Although every twenty minutes or so, Einstein would let out a bark or two - just to remind my human that we were in there.  And alive.

When everyone left, my human cleaned up the dishes and put away leftover food.  And then she FINALLY released us from our bondage.

Now despite the unwanted sequestering- there WAS an upside to the evening.  Which actually extended into the next day.  One word that made it all worthwhile:  leftovers.  Veggies.  Cheese.  Fruit.  While the FG proceeded to toss his carrot sticks around the dining room, Einstein and I gobbled down our fill.  And the FG’s if his toss went the wrong way.

For some reason, my human doesn’t remember much about the discussion from that night.  Her  next turn to host won’t be for months.   Einstein is already planning his escape.  

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 8


Wednesday, April 10, 2019

The good breeder





Yesterday, after my human shoveled snow, and we had had our snowy walks and breakfast, she had a good chat with an old friend.  Her friend is a dog breeder.  I won’t say what breed - because it could be ANY breed - and we’ll keep this a “generic” story.  

Her friend was commiserating about a bunch of recent calls that she has had from people who own her breed.  But they did not get their dogs from my human’s friend. These people are having problems with health, and behavior issues in their dogs.  My human’s friend is a very nice person.  AND a good breeder.  So she asks the people why they don’t talk to their breeder.  Which brings me to my discussion today.   What makes a good breeder?

When people are getting a puppy, they are often familiar with the typical questions to ask the breeder:  “Ask to see the parents of the puppies.  Ask about health clearances.  Ask if the breeder’s dogs have had health issues.”   Those are the standard questions that a good breeder will easily answer. 

But that’s just scratching the surface of what makes a good breeder.  And trust me - you WANT a good breeder.  My human remembers when she got her first purebred Bernese....

Before the Bernese,  my human had two purebred dogs (“with papers”) growing up.  In retrospect, these dogs who became amazing family members, were bred by well-intentioned people who were not regular dog breeders.  They had a litter.  They sold the puppies.  And that was that.  I’m not even certain they had any health clearances, and frankly, back then, my human wouldn’t have even thought to ASK. Back then, you saw an add in the paper, you called, and you went to get your puppy.  Simple. 

So when my human went to get her first Bernese, imagine her surprise when the breeder wanted her to complete a questionnaire!  A questionnaire?   Seriously?  My human’s immediate thought was - I’m the one who is paying for this puppy - shouldn’t I be the one asking the questions?!  It was at that point that she found out what a really GOOD breeder is all about.

The breeder, who asks what might seem like rather intrusive questions about your training methods, your home environment and where the dog will sleep (!) - is asking those questions because he or she CARES about those puppies that they have just produced.  That is a GOOD breeder. That breeder has made THE best effort to breed healthy puppies who will have good longevity and good temperaments.  That breeder loves those puppies - and after all the work involved in breeding and raising a litter - he or she is truly sad to see those puppies leave for their new homes.  That breeder also wants to be sure that he or she has matched you to the best puppy for your lifestyle.  Some puppies may be more of a handful (can you imagine?!) so the breeder will want to be sure that’s the right puppy for you.   And IF you have a good breeder, that is NOT the end of your relationship.  It’s just the beginning! IF you have a good breeder, that should be the person you are able to contact with ANY issues related to your canine companion.  For the LIFE of your dog.  Now I’m not suggesting that you have to talk to the breeder every week - and as dogs get older, contact may not be as frequent.  But any GOOD breeder WANTS to know about their puppies - because that breeder learns about his or her breeding program from YOU!   That GOOD breeder wants to know it all - even when that dog’s job on this earth is done.
  
If you go to get a dog - and there are no questions asked of you - it’s a red flag that the person isn’t really “in this” for the betterment of the breed.  Let’s face it, if you make the decision to share your life with a purebred dog, you want to start off at the right place. Just as you want the right puppy - you want the right breeder!  The breeder should be someone you TRUST - and someone you can call on at any time.  

My human has been lucky.  After she realized WHY all the questions were being asked with that first Bernese, she happily answered them.  She admits she has had very good breeders breeders over the years.  And ALL of them were more than willing to answer ANY questions or concerns - no matter how old her dog was. 

In this day and age when purebreds get a bad rap (I’ve ranted on about this before), and when we are seeing the possible extinction of some breeds, it is critical that people understand what constitutes a good breeder.  Frankly, registration papers are not proof that you have purchased a healthy, happy, dog with a good temperament.  Papers are just papers.  What really counts is who produced those papers. And even though, good breeders can not guarantee a perfect puppy because they don’t control nature - they will have done everything possible to make sure that you have a healthy companion for a long time.  And they want to know about your dog - for that long time.  THAT is the definition of a GOOD breeder.  In my opinion.  Just sayin.  

So those are my random thoughts for today.  Now excuse me while I get my human moving - I think she has more shoveling to do....

 Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 7


Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Churchill






April 9.  Yesterday, according to the crazy calendar, was Dog Farting Awareness Day.  And I missed it.   Not that you REALLY need to be AWARE of dog farts.  Let’s face it- some of us can clear a room.  No one needs a promotional day.  Anyone in the room is WELL aware.  It just reminds me of Bucket Head - who could have won a prize.  If there was such a thing as a fart meter.  I miss Bucket Head and his farts....

Anyway we missed that auspicious holiday talking about rat enthusiasm instead.  Oh well. 

Today, according to the crazy calendar, it’s National Winston Churchill Day.  I can’t believe I haven’t talked about the “Bulldog” before.   He is the famed British Prime Minister who led Britain to victory in the Second World War.  Not only was he a wartime leader, but he was also an artist and an author, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.  And do you know what ELSE he was?  An animal lover.

Lots of people think he was a Bulldog guy- because of his tenacity and hmmmmm.... his physical appearance which kind of matched the breed.  He actually is reported to have owned a Bulldog when he was young, trading his bicycle for one.  But do you know what breed he owned as an adult?   Poodles.  Miniature chocolate poodles.   When his first one died, who was named Rufus, he quickly got a second one - Rufus II.  Churchill was quoted as saying “the II is silent.”

The Rufuses reportedly had a pretty sweet lifestyle.  One source said that the dog would have his meal served on a cloth on the carpet in the dining room - next to the head of the table.  No one could eat until the Butler first served the dog. JUST like in our house. Minus the fancy cloth. And the Butler.

Besides dogs, Churchill had cats, pigs, butterflies, horses and swans.  A real menagerie.  And although he was quoted as saying he was “fond of pigs” I doubt the pigs ate in the dining room.  Just sayin’.

So that’s the day.  Cheers to Churchill.

Today We have no snow in the forecast  - although we DID have snow late yesterday and overnight.  We woke up to sounds of the plow guy.  Today the forecast is good.  Tomorrow we are ignoring the forecast other than to say there is a contract out on the Groundhog. Given the FG’s new interest in rodents, maybe we will send him to visit the springtime prognosticator...

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days: 6





Monday, April 8, 2019

Find a rat. Maybe.






As predicted, it was an entertaining afternoon....

My human, Marg and the FG arrived early for the Barn Hunt lesson. My human figured she would have time for the FG’s calming drugs to start working.  JUST KIDDING!!! But she did know that even though he had pooped twice before they left home, he would need to go when they got there.  He’s so poop-dictable.  He did.  Not 10 minutes after they arrived. 

The goal for the session was to introduce dogs to the sport of Barn Hunts and Brush Hunts.  My human learned that in Barn Hunts, there are three tubes.  One holds a rat.  One is  empty.  And one contains dirt and rat droppings.  The dog has to indicate which tube holds the rat.  In a brush hunt, the tube with the rat  is hidden in bales of hay and the dog needs to find it.

To start the session, dogs were introduced to rats in cages.  The instructor sat by the cage and showed the dog the rat.

 First try.  The FG had NO interest whatsoever in the rat in the cage.  None.   Nada.  My human pointed to the rat.  She tapped on the cage.  She told him “find it.”  The instructor pointed to the rat.  He was 1000% more interested in giving kisses to the instructor.  He would have stepped on the rat cage to get to her. My human walked out of the enclosure with flashbacks to me sitting like a stuffed dog in a pen with sheep during a herding instinct test.  Deja vu.

Other dogs had their turns with the rat.  Everyone was interested.  One terrier would have crawled in the cage with the rat.  A Karelian Bear dog went CRAZY.  

Second try.  They put the cage behind a hay bale.  My human walked hin up to the cage and AGAIN- he totally ignored the rat in the cage.  The other dogs would have jumped over the hay bale to see the rat in the cage.  At this point, my human started thinking about the hike that she and Marg had planned after the workshop.  Maybe they should just leave - and give the other dogs more time.

Third try.  Well.  Isn’t there a saying “three times a charm?”  This time, the rat was introduced in the tube- so it couldn’t be seen.   The tube had holes in it, but was opaque. NOW the FG took an interest.  It was like he now had to THINK because he couldn’t SEE the rat.  So he started intently sniffing at the tube.  BINGO.  The targeted behavior.  

After that, he got the idea.  He would actually stick his head in between the hay bales where the tube was located.

In this video, there are two tubes.  One with the rat and the other is empty.  You see him as the video opens and he has stopped and is smelling at the first tube, where the rat is, but he then is not interested in the second tube.  When he goes back to the first tube, he is again interested.

The instructor was VERY kind and encouraging.  You see her happiness that he found it.  And my human’s!


I’m not sure he’s quite ready for a test. Who are we kidding - he’s far from ready.  At one point my human managed to circumvent a possible hay bale pee.  She learned that peeing on hay bales is not a “fail” on a test- but it results in a time fault.  Which is not good.  She figured her distraction during training was probably a good thing.  No point in starting a behavior that would be hard to break! Like peeing on tires....or the deck....

He may not have been the best ratter there, but he certainly made lots of friends.  He thought he was supposed to do his “Meet the breeed” gig.  Kisses all around.

So by the end, my human figured it was worth it.  As I mentioned, the instructors were very helpful and supportive- and never made my human feel like they were the remedial students.   The FG did provide comic relief.

Given his “success” with this endeavor, she has signed him up for ANOTHER sport at the end of the month.  In this one, his wicked fast running ability will be tested.  If he doesn’t actually run away.... Stay tuned...

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days: 5


Sunday, April 7, 2019

Wordsworth




I am a creature of habit. But I do adapt quickly - especially if a change means that I will be fed earlier.  So when my human changed her schedule last week because she was working, and we were getting up at 4:30, that was fine with me.  Early up means early breakfast.   So, when yesterday arrived, I promptly woke my human up at 4:30.   Even though it was Saturday.  And despite the fact that she said “Viktor - it is Saturday,” I still felt it was my duty to lie down on top of her - because I thought she might be faking.   FINALLY, when she could no longer stand my breathing in her face, and licking her pillow, she got up at 5:30.  You know my motto - Carpe Diem - and breakfast.

Today is the birthday of William Wordsworth - the famous English poet.  He wrote that well known poem - “ I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” - which is all about daffodils.  And signs of daffodils here were covered in snow yesterday.  Yup.  It snowed.   Springtime in Nova Scotia.   We were not impressed on our morning walk.  Anyway, it seems that Wordsworth liked dogs.  He wrote a couple of poems that talk about dogs.  Here is one, but it’s kinda sad.   So read with tissues.

Here’s a painting of Wordsworths’s dog. He reportedly got his dog from the novelist, Sir Walter Scott.   Scott bred “Pepper and Mustard” Terriers - or what became known as the Dandie Dinmont terrier (which is the name of a fictional character in a Scott novel.)  It doesn’t LOOK like a Dandie Dinmont to me - but maybe that’s what they looked like back then. 

So happy birthday to Willlie.   Hopefully those daffodils will soon be blooming here.

It’s the big day here.  All the media outlets have been alerted.   The FG is going to learn about BARN HUNTING .   Stay tuned tomorrow for the review.    My human has coerced her friend Marg, to come to watch the entertainment.  Remember Marg?  The one who slipped on the ice and could have been trampled by the FG in his attempt to “help” her?  Hope she brings her barn boots.  And a helmet.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 4

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Raphael. And tartans.





April 6.  And it’s the birthday of the famous Italian Renaissance painter, Raphael.  Raphie to his friends. OK.  I made that up.  But not the birthday part.

Anyway, I couldn’t find any Raphael dog paintings.  He was more into religious art.  I DID find a painting he did of Saint Francis of Assisi- and we know he is the patron Saint of Animals.  Of course we know that - who could forget the scene we created during the blessing of the pets on Saint Francis’ Feast Day?  Bet they don’t schedule that again this year. Anyway, that’s the closest connection between dog painting and Raphie that I could find. 

Since I wasn't having a lot of luck finding paintings OF dogs, I decided to look for some paintings BY dogs.  Check out these Pupcassos.

https://www.womansworld.com/posts/dogs-who-can-paint-111444

I watched the video links for Jumpy. There was a video of him doing 20 stunts in a minute.  That dog is crazy.  Serious crazy.  And then I watched him painting a sunset.  He gets lots of instruction on how to do the painting.  So it's not REALLY his own impression. OK - who am I kidding.  It's not like I would ever want to hold a brush that long.  The guy is amazing.  He can even sign his name.  Good thing they didn't call him Bartholomew.  He would need a REALLY big canvas.

Most of the other dogs listed in this article are into abstract art.  I did like the painting that Chloe did.  Well - she participated in painting.  Her human did a stencil, and then Chloe added the paint.  That finished work is very cool.

I think my human really has to let us try painting. We already leave lovely olfactory art on windows and doors.  This is just the next step.

April 6 is ALSO Tartan Day.  I’ve written about this holiday before, but if you’re new to my blog, you may want to go back and take the Scottish dog quiz:


Even though I decided not to write about it again - you KNOW my human HAD to get a photo of all three of us wearing our tartan scarves that she bought us last summer.  When she went away.  Sure - we appreciate the handiwork.  But frankly, biscuits would have been a BIT more exciting.  Mind you we did get lots while taking the photo... Happy Tartan Day!!!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 3 

Friday, April 5, 2019

Tires



Some days when we dogs behave, or nothing wild has happened at our home, which I realize is not all that often, I rely on the crazy calendar or historical facts that somehow tie into dogs to write in my blog.  Well, today was a bit of a stretch- but I did it!

According to the crazy calendar, on this day in 1923, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started producing inflatable tires.  So what do tires and dogs have in common?  

A lot!  First off- we like to pee on them.  Yes, there are actual websites that discuss why we canines like to pee on car tires.  I’m surprised no one has obtained grant funding to do the research on it.  Some theorize that once one dog pees on a tire, the scent stays a long time on the rubber.  And you know us boys - if someone has been there,we need to overmark him!  

Some theorize that because tires travel through all kinds of great scents - like roadkill, they are particularly interesting and pee-able.

Well here’s the real reason.  They are there. They are a vertical surface.  Tree, fire hydrant, wall, fence, tire, newly planted shrub - it’s all the same to us boys.  Heck, we’ll pee on a human leg.  It’s kind of like asking why the chicken crossed the road...

But back to tires.  I found several websites that show how to make dog beds from old tires!!! You basically take an old tire, clean it well, paint it with a paint that will adhere to rubber, stuff the center with a pillow and voila - a dog bed.  It would obviously work well for smaller dogs.  To make one for the FG, my human would need one of those tires off a huge truck.  Then, knowing this household, after she went through all the work, including 14 cans of spray paint, none of us would want to use it.  It would make such a nice addition to our home which has a Kuranda Dog bed (best money ever spent according to my human) in the dining room and the FG pony-sized crate in the bedroom.  Perfect. A truck tire bed....

The dog toy maker Kong, does make some rubber chew tires for dogs.  I must confess, we are not really into Kong stuff. And don’t worry- it’s not because we don’t have probably every Kong toy ever produced.  We even had a Kong bed.  Remember that one?  It lasted less than an hour.  And the toys?  Not interested.  But the tire is nice to look at. 

A crazy story came out of Australia several years ago about a stray dog that attacked the tire on a police car.  The dog punctured the tire.  The officer left to fix the tire, returned, and Fido again punctured a tire.  This time the officer called for another police vehicle.  Fido also punctured a tire on that vehicle.  They called for more back up.  They called animal control.  Guess what Fido did to a tire on the van of the animal control officer - before Fido ran away? Yup.  Tire number four!  The story went on to say that they finally found and captured the dog, at his home, and he couldn’t be returned until his owners constructed a safe enclosure for him.  I want to see that dog’s teeth!!

So that’s the story on tires and dogs.  Hope you didn’t get tired reading it. Sorry.  It’s Friday.  I couldn’t resist.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days: 2

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Rats




It is April 4th and according to the crazy calendar, it is something called World Rat Day. A day to celebrate rats.  

Now rats do have their redeeming qualities.  Some people keep them as pets.  I read that they can be therapy animals.  And they can even be trained to sniff out explosives.  But wild rats often have a bad reputation- especially in urban areas.  Tell someone you have a mouse in your house, and it’s no big deal.  But a rat- and it IS a big deal.  Not only because of the size difference - but also because of the amount of damage they can cause and because they are known to carry a number of diseases.  Here in the city of Halifax,Nova Scotia, we had an outbreak of leptospirosis a few years ago- and there was said to be a direct link to the rat population.   My human knows someone whose dog died because of the outbreak.  So rats can be a BIG problem.  

I read that in New York City, multi family dwellings and commercial businesses must use specially licensed rat catchers. I also found this video- where dogs come into the story. Most terriers were initially bred for catching rats. And in New York, there is a “vigilante “ group of citizens who goes out with their dogs to catch rats.  WARNING:  If you do not want to see rats being caught, and/or you are offended by strong language, skip the video.  But if you want to see dogs with a job, check it out.  

I’m not so sure about picking up those rats without gloves.  Einstein said he would want gloves too.

And given that we are talking rats... I must tell you about something that the FG will be doing on Sunday.  He is going to a Barn Hunt Workshop.  No - he is not hunting FOR barns.  Barn Hunts are an opportunity to see if your dog has the instinct to hunt out rats.  And ANY breed can participate- not just terriers.

Now before you picture a scene like you saw if you watched the video, rest assured that Barn Hunts are NOT for actually catching rats.  NO RATS ARE INJURED IN BARN HUNTS.  The rats used are raised in homes and are essentially pets.  The rats are placed in secure plastic tubes.  And the tubes are hidden in bales of hay.  Dogs never physically come in contact with the rats.  But they DO indicate where the tubes with the rats are located.  

Dogs can actually compete and get a Barn Hunt title.  There are even different levels of titles.  But in none of the levels are the rats ever injured.  There are strict regulations and rules to ensure the safety of the rats.

My human does know of Picards who have Barn Hunt titles.  And given the FG’s attention to sounds and smells, maybe he will find his passion.  Nah.  My bet is that he pees on the first hay bale and is dismissed.  I hope someone can video him.  He is in the “beginner” class, of course.  

So Sunday is sure to be an entertaining day.  Good thing my human doesn’t work next week - she’ll need the time to recuperate.  This is going to be SO interesting.....

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 1