The new pet store...

Her highness subjected herself to a high blood pressure inducing event the other day.  Just because she loves us.  She went to check out a new pet store that recently opened  in our area. This company has always had an on-line business and we have bought lots from them in the past.  But they recently opened two local stores.  Their grand opening has been going on for a week or two.

So she decided to pop in there on Saturday.  The Saturday of the holiday long weekend. She COULD have taken us or at least ONE of us - but she wanted to check out the lay of the land first. Probably just as well.

While the store is nice and they reportedly have no lack of toys or treats, it was apparently a bit of a doggie madhouse.  Humans and pets could have a free photo taken in front of a fake scenic background.  That apparently was a bit of a gong show - as most pet photo shoots are.  At least in our house. 

As someone is trying to get their photo taken,  those waiting are not exactly helping - with their dogs barking and pulling toward the photo models.  And of course, this scenic background is set up RIGHT by the entrance.  Just TRY and get Fido’s attention for that photo. Humans are wrestling with dogs, and dogs are not cooperating .  (Just watching this made my human’s blood pressure go up. )

Then we have the dogs who freak out as you come around the corner of the aisle and run into them.  Barking and pulling at their leashes. (Blood pressure again rises. )

We have the extremely pleasant but obviously novice staff who spend the odd spare moment studying food cans and bags so they can answer questions.  I am NOT making this up.

Oh and of course we also have the overweight Bernese who comes in and is not in the store 3 minutes before he has a giant poop. Giant.  Clean up aisle four.  (Blood pressure is creeping up again. )

My human overheard one child say to his mother - “Where’s the pets? I thought this was a pet store.  I want a kitten.”  The mother said - “I don’t know - it doesn’t look like they have any.” (Blood pressure is now at danger level. Doesn’t EVERYBODY know that you don’t buy pets at a pet store.  OK.  Maybe some sell fish.  I guess the name is a bit of of false advertising.)

My human breathes a sigh of relief that she didn’t bring us.  But of course, she DID make a purchase.  While checking out she chatted with the cashier who asked what kind of dogs my human had.  So you know she HAD to show our Canada Day photo.  The girl said -  “oh cute - you should bring them in and we can take their photo!!!”  My human said she could only bring all three of us if the store was closed.  The cashier said -“bring them any time - we can help.”  Her highness just smiled and said thanks.

But here’s the best part of this story. So she goes into a store FILLED with treats, food and toys.  Doggie Disney World.  And what does she come home with?!  Are you ready?  A COMB.  Yes - you read that correctly.  A COMB. I love her - but seriously- isn’t that just cruel? 

Excuse me while I go and order some stuff on-line.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 24

Canada Day

July 1.  And it’s Canada Day! A day to celebrate the true north strong and free.  From far and wide. 

As you can see, we had the obligatory holiday photo shoot.   Her highness spared us the flag head gear this year and bought more subtle bandanas for us. We had a small flag too. And the only one who would POSSIBLY hold it was Einstein- and he wasn’t cooperating. We would have stuck the flag in the ground outside and taken our photos there - but it was raining.  And heaven forbid,  when she tried to stand it up and gather us around it inside, all heck broke loose.  The FG wanted to rub against it, I wanted to pull it, while Einstein just sat smiling.  My human didn’t get any photos of the melee because she feared being arrested for desecration of a flag.

So do you know the five breeds of dog that originated in Canada?  If you’ve been a long time blog reader, you may recall this answer.  First off, we have a northern dog that was bred for sledding. Not riding in a sled.  Pulling a sled.  They are actually called by two names - the Canadian Eskimo Dog (the original name) and the more recent name - the Canadian Inuit Dog. Here is a short video about the breed.  I’m not sure all of these dogs like to live in a home.  And ... well I would be a bit more careful with ANY dog and a baby... But it does show you the breed.

https://youtu.be/HSU32f0OqUA

There is also a movie about the Canadian Inuit dogs living in the North - with Polar Bears as neighbors. I haven’t seen the whole movie, but I warn you that these dogs live in pretty harsh conditions.  Still - if you want to see these dogs in their natural environment- the film is available on-line and is called The Last Dogs of Winter.

Our next Canadian breed is the web-footed, water-loving affectionate gentle giant- the Newfoundland.  Here’s a good description of these big guys: 

https://youtu.be/6Bg9XTPsz4Y

Next we have what is probably the most popular dog on the planet.  The all around happy-go-lucky Labrador Retriever.  They really don’t need a video - everybody knows about Labs - but just in case you have been living on a dog free planet - here they are:

https://youtu.be/0cj81wHmfXc

Next we have a breed that comes from our very own province - the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.  Every second household here has one. OK.  That’s not true. But they DID originate here. Check them out:

https://youtu.be/zRWfwa3Ivhs

So there you have our Canadian breeds.  But wait - I said there were FIVE breeds that originated in Canada.  And there were - the last one being the Tahltan Bear Dog - a breed that originated in the northwest.  Unfortunately- in the 70’s the breed was removed from the Canadian registration records - because no dogs had been registered for more than 20 years.  There’s a bit of a controversy about the breed - as some people are claiming to still own this ancient breed.  There is even a Facebook page for the breed - with  people claiming they have them.  But several sources refute that this is a scam. They say the dogs have become extinct. It’s a mystery...Here’s a video with some old photos:

https://youtu.be/MnfxtIfkZqQ

Now you have your Canadian dog history.   You’re all set. So you can go grab a bag of ketchup potato chips or some poutine or a butter tart or a Nanaimo bar and have a Molson Canadian or a Caesar - and wrap yourself in your Hudson Bay blanket - and celebrate a little bit of Canada today!  Have a good one, eh?!

Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 23. A big shout out to Jennifer, who we met yesterday- and who gave me some of my needed medication.  She was so nice - as was her Boston terrier, Sophia who I got to meet too!!!  Paws crossed - so far so good!!!! Thanks Jennifer!!!

Social Media.

Well.  How appropriate that today, according to the crazy calendar is Social Media Day.   Because I have a Social Media story for you...

To begin, we all know some of the arguments against Social Media.  Here are a few examples: 

1. Not everything you read is TRUE on Social Media and yet people sometimes believe things they read, without truly investigating the source.  For example - those sites that tell you the “best dog... for people who like to swim; for people who bungee jump; for people who like to read; for people with blonde hair... or the sites that tell you the quietest dog breed;  the smartest dog breed ; the breed that is easiest to housetrain.... or the dog breed you should have for your Zodiac sign.  You know the sites I mean. They are not always based on solid evidence.  And some are just plain nonsense.  And yet some people believe them.  Tsk. Tsk. 

2.  People can be bullied in Social Media.  We have all heard the horror stories of some teens being bullied publicly.  We canines would never do such a thing...

3. People can view  others on Social Media and think that their own lives are not NEARLY as exciting as others.  Like when I saw that story about the dog who gets to go for rides in helicopters.  I never get to do that.  Mind you, I don’t really WANT to - but you get my point.

So Social Media does have its downside.  BUT - there is a upside too. 

I’ve talked before about how Social Media can also bring people together- around the world.  My human has had the opportunity to meet some amazing PON and Picard owners - and really, dog owners in general, that she would likely never have met without Social Media.  

And today we are connecting with a new friend we also found through Social Media.

As you know, there is no shortage of Facebook pages for every topic, business. club, hobby, medical condition, or profession imaginable.  For example, one site that my human follows is a Canine Epilepsy site.  She actually follows several Epilepsy sites .  And yesterday, she needed their help...

Those who follow my blog know that I take a cocktail of medications for my epilepsy.  Four different drugs that have been prescribed by my vet. Three of the meds we get through our local drug store. When my human calls for a refill, they say “For Viktor?”  They know my name well.

The other medication, Zonisamide must be ordered through my vet.  I get 180 pills at a time and use two each day...

Each weekend my human fills up my weekly pill box, with all my meds for each day.  Last weekend, she noted that the med we get from the vet was running low.  She was going to call and order it- but it was early in the morning and the vet wasn’t open yet... you see where this is going...

She forgot all about my med until yesterday morning- when she went to restock my weekly box.  Uh oh. We had  only enough Zonisamide to last until Tuesday afternoon.  No big deal - it was only Saturday, right?  Wrong.  Monday is a holiday.  Everything is closed.  The medication can’t even be ordered until Tuesday- and it won’t be here until Wednesday or Thursday at the earliest.  Trouble.  Big trouble.

My human called the vet who suggested stretching out what I have left by only giving me one pill a day.  And to increase one of my other meds.  And to keep my paws crossed.

Well.  You KNOW how crazy her highness gets with worry.  So she starts calling vet clinics to see if anyone had three pills. Nobody had any.   She also posted our dilemma on a Facebook Dog Epilepsy page to which she belongs.  She was desperate to get those pills for me.  And here’s where Social Media worked.  A local woman, who is a “friend” - but who my human had never actually met- saw our dilemma and reached out.  While her dog does not take Zonisamide in pill form like I do, her dog does take Zonisamide in liquid form.  She offered some to my human for me.  My human again talked to my vet - who thought this was a good solution. We will keep our paws crossed that the difference in medication form doesn’t affect things - but the vet thought this would be unlikely.

We will be meeting our Epilepsy angel this morning.  I’m going along for the drive - to say thanks.

Oh - and yes - my human totally beat herself up about this snafu.  Trust me - it won’t happen again. She will be putting a date on the calendar to refill my prescription earlier.  She will also put a stash of 10 pills away- in case of an emergency.  I cannot tell you how badly she felt...

So to finally wrap up this story - cheers to Social Media - it really CAN be a good thing.  And paws crossed for my continued seizure-free run!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 22

Busted

OK.  He is one very interesting dog...

We know the FG would NOT go through the self designed screen dog door.  He could be outside and would stand and squeak to be let in.  And vice versa if he wanted to go out. But just as I suspected,  he was doing it to train her highness.  How do I know?  Well, Thursday night, in between rain showers, her highness went to take me and Einstein for a quick walk. There were puddles after the rain, and we know what we PONs think of puddles. Therefore, the walk was not too long.

We came back in the house, and her highness was going to take the FG for a walk.  But he wasn’t at the door to greet us. My human glanced around the kitchen and dining room.  No FG.  And then she looked out on the deck. There, all relaxed and lying down looking right at her highness was the FG.  Busted. He went out there all by himself.  Guess she will no longer be opening the door for him.

We know the FG is a “watcher” too.  He watches birds, bunnies and butterflies.   So I guess it should come as no surprise when my human caught him “watching” something yesterday morning.  She had just gotten dressed to take us out for our morning walks.  She came into the kitchen, and noticed the FG lying in a contorted position under the rail of a dining room chair.  He was lying on his side.  Watching something.  On closer inspection, she saw that he was watching a large June Bug crawling under the table. He was inches from the dopey, slow moving walnut with legs. My human gathered up the intruder with a large wad of paper towel and took the wad outside.  I’m not sure what happened to the FG’s new friend after that....

So our clever “pointy-earred PON” continues to amaze.  If you see my human, ask her about that designation...

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 21

I’m Henry the 8th I am....

June 28.  Wow.  How did June go by so quickly? Two more days and the June Bugs disappear.  Somebody better tell them. And they can take their black fly friends along with them.

So today is the birthday of King Henry XIII.  That guy who got married 6 times. That’s what I know about him. Oh - and  I know a band named Herman’s Hermits wrote a song about Henry the XIIIth. You’ll be singing it all day now, if you’re as ancient as my human and you can remember it.

So I checked out old Hank - and found out that besides collecting wives, he also collected animals. He is said to have had a monkey, ferrets, a marmoset, birds, and over 200 horses. But one source said that his favorite animals were dogs.  He had spaniels, beagles and greyhounds. They wore collars - made with velvet and leather and they had fancy gold and silver decorations- including the King’s crest.  Which I understand was a good thing - because two of his dogs, named Cut and Ball were known to stray off the palace grounds.  Just like some PONs and a Picard that you all know. Old Hank paid huge sums to get his dogs back. Wonder how much my human would pay...

Several sources said that when old Hank died, he had 65 dog leashes.  Like that was a big deal.  Ummm... her highness probably has that many.  And we won’t even COUNT collars.  Mind you, none have decorations of gold and silver.  Kind of a pity you can’t SEE our collars.  Not that it stops her from adding to our wardrobe.

We had a weird day yesterday.  Rain on and off.  We managed to get our walks in during “off” periods.  We have been wearing our bug repellent- but her highness is taking no chances.  Her NEW regime after long walks, is what I am calling the TBC.  The tick blow check.  She plops us (one at a time) on the grooming table, gets out the jet engine dog dryer (which only blows cool air) and blows our hair all over.  When blowing, she can inspect our skin and look for vampires. It’s a pretty quick check. That along with the TMC - tick manual check keeps her happy.  Anything to keep her highness smiling. 

Well time to get her moving.  I must say, we are STARTING to get into this retirement mode.  We didn’t wake her up until 6:15 yesterday!!!  Aren’t we thoughtful?!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!

Seizure free days: 20

In trouble. Again.

Busted.  Big time...

On Tuesday, two of my human’s best friends, Stephen and Kendrick, came over to help her highness with a few home projects.  There were some boards on the deck that needed some work- including the gate on the deck that leads down the stairs to the lawn.  Those guys have all the power tools that her highness should never be allowed to own - things like power saws. We know how “handy” she is.  Power saws would not be a good idea.

They worked on the deck while we were sequestered in the side yard.  Einstein kept shouting out instructions on how to make the repairs. When they were done, my human helped them load up their truck and off they went.  Thank goodness- I was STARVING because it was supper time. Funny- when my human was working, we would usually not eat until 5:30 or 6:00.  Now I want my supper at 4:00.  Or at least I start asking for it at 4:00.  

We had our meal and her highness had hers. After supper, she retired for a few minutes to read something in the DFZ. We were lounging around - and could go out onto the deck through our self designed dog door.  At least Einstein and I could.  And it’s actually a good thing the FG couldn’t...

My human was reading when she suddenly got a text.  It was one of the neighbors- the ones who were owned by Hudson.  My human glanced at the message:

One of your dogs is here.

She picked up her phone and was about to text, “can’t be mine”- as we had, just minutes earlier, all been lounging. But she decided to look.  She did the count.  1. 2....And that’s when she raced to the deck and looked out.  Sure enough- the gate had been left open after their repair work earlier. So yours truly saw it as an opportunity to go on a walk about.

She quickly texted the neighbor:  Coming.

Text back:  In the garage.

My human’s text:  Viktor.  Coming.

She grabbed a leash, shut the deck door and raced over to the neighbor’s. 

 Mike, the neighbor, explained that he was working on his vehicle and was bent over and when he put his head up- there I was.  I was inspecting his work.  I wasn’t shy or pushy either - just happy to hang out.

My human quickly put me on a leash and apologized for the intrusion.  Mike didn’t mind ONE bit - she didn’t need to worry about it.  What’s the big deal - it’s not like I’m Cujo or something.  

She marched me home and took Einstein and the FG for a walk together.  I didn’t mind - I had already been on my walk.

It was at that point that my human was SO relieved that the FG had not yet figured out how to use the dog door. Einstein COULD have joined me - but he’s the “good dog.”  It’s surprising that he didn’t alert her highness that I was gone. I owe him a biscuit.

For those who felt sorry for the FG yesterday with his inability to use the dog door -we (including my human) have demonstrated how to walk through the screen.  And he CAN do it.  He just prefers that my human do it for him.  It’s much more interesting. Like I always say, who’s training who...

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 19

Tease a Picard

We have a new game. Tease-a-Picard.  It’s our way of getting back at him for Poke-a-PON. 

I mentioned this briefly yesterday.  It has to do with the screen door to the deck.  Einstein and I have basically removed the screen from the corner of the frame.  So we created our own dog door.  We think we are pretty smart in doing this.

 My human has given up on this door.  Every time she repairs it, we simply alter it to accommodate our needs.  She COULD put a gate in front of the door- but what’s the point?  This way we, and potentially an assortment of insects, can make our way in and out. It’s perfect.  However, the FG has not figured out how to independently push his way in and out.

Here’s some photos to illustrate this issue.

We are all outside:

Einstein and I come in:

The FG isn’t close enough, so the screen appears closed.  He can’t come in.  Or he thinks he can’t.

Her highness opens the door and lets him in.  She closes the screen.  We go back out through our opening.

He can’t figure out how we did it. Note I am just watching him.

He sits and squeaks at the door.  We come back in as he observes the process.

If he is close enough, he WILL follow us through.  At least he did once.  But he has yet to figure it out on his own.

I must confess, this game is a bit of payback for him taking my human to Quebec last week.  I’m still just a little bit jealous.

He’s a smart guy.  We do know he will figure this out. Maybe by October...

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 18