....Heellllooooooooo!

I know what you're thinking, and you're right. Its been way.to.long.
In my defense life has changed a LOT since August, so much so I even thought about taking this blog down completely even though I know I can't. The good news is Bubbles, Texas and David are still alive and well. Bubbles celebrated her 13th birthday by ... well sleeping all day, and eating dinner when I came home from work. David is officially a year old, and quite the obnoxious teenager, and Texas is growing and becoming more mellow at the old age of four.

I started working full time as a vet receptionist in October and haven't seemed to have a moment to spare. The dachshunds have got to feel neglected sometimes, but I haven't felt uber motivated to $300 worth of shots and tests done just yet in order for them to come with me; Not to mention I doubt they'd particularly enjoy being kenneled all day...

I also had to give up my computer when I moved to my new position, as my old job was only loaning it to me. And I'm only typing this right now on the good graces of a friend being out of town, and loaning me her laptop.

I am hopeful that I will once again be a computer owner, well as soon as I hear back from this guy on Craigslist that is. :) The problem is I haven't been able to bring myself to switch from being a Mac Owner to a PC. Yes my work laptop was a PC but it was free. [Beggers can't be choosers] and I've decided that I'd rather save and get what I want, then settle for less.

So its been a couple of months since I've been a computer owner, and believe it or not I've survived.

Thank God for my iPhone.

But I'm digressing from the doggy ness of this post.

At this moment I currently have six dogs in my house.

"What are you nuts?"

Yeah, pretty much. And a really good friend. This should earn me major brownie points. :)

For the most part things have gone smoothly, everyone pretty much is separate except when I'm present, and even then David is still on the outs. For some reason I was thinking Collies were meek and mild dogs, but Dave has worked to prove me very wrong by being the biggest, loudest, obnoxious dog around.  It doesn't earn him friends or influence other dogs.

Which is funny because that is usually Texas's distinction, but TEXAS has accepted all three of these guys with NO PROBLEMS. Like, no growling, no constant watching their every movements, no constant corrections of their nervous behavior.

Who IS this dog?

What?!

Texas checking out 12week old, black lab Rudolph puppy.
(who is visiting our house for the week)

What?

IS

THe MEANING OF

THIS!? 

Wordless Wednesday

Man. Is it hot in here or is that just me?

Texas - Four months old - Perched in the back seat of my car

BOL! 
So Rob is away on a "Puppy Camp" which means that he's with another puppy raiser while mom takes a break. Hehe. So now me and Bubbles have mom all to ourselves, and we really don't know what to do about that. But he did get a new "coat" afore he left, cause the other one mom had to squish his sides in to get it on him. 

Mom is still real busy with her new job. She already has four dogs she cares for on a weekly basis and is getting more as the summer gets busier! Whew! Right now she is getting me an Bubbles up at SIX IN THE MORNING!?!? Really? I mean I was having a great dream this morning and then all the sudden mom jumps outta bed, starts throwing clothes and stuff around the room, then starts poking me! Seriously. A dog can't sleep in peace around here no more! 


Oh yeah and she got a bunch of pics of Pompei on Facebook and she posted them on Rob's blog so you can go see them....-->Here<---

Well that's all I gots for now Paw Pals...gotta go give Mom a work out since Rob isn't here. 

BAYL!

P.S. (Did you know my birthday is in like a week or two!?! OMD!OMD!OMD!OMD!)

We're still here

I'm thinkin mom needs to fired from runnin this blog.

As soon as I learn how to type better anyways.

Um...we said good bye to Lacy last Saturday.

She was fun.

Mom has been real busy STILL!

There is NO excuse for NOT takin PHOTOS of ME i say!

Remember Lacy?

She's back for the week while her peoples are gone on a vacation. Her has a boy named Fisher who loves, loves, loves, loves, her so he was really, really, really, really, sad to leave her wit us. So mom has to send him pictures of her on her cell phone,so he is not too sad about her stayin behind. He told his mom that he wanted to stay at mom's house with Lacy too. But mom had to say no cause he couldn't stay in a crate while she was gone. BOL! 
Lacy is only two years older then me, but she doesn't like to play much. I tried to get her too, but we just bounced around each other than laid down and went to sleeps. 


Even Rob is bein a good boy around her, mom was afraid he's harrass her to death like he does me an Bubbles, but he hasn't so yay for that. 


Ummm yep I think that its. OH! Yeah mom did FINALLY let me ride wit her and Rob when they went to give something to a lady so that was cool. How was your weekend?

Lacy's first night here. Making herself at home

Lacy really likes moms bed. But she isn't allowed there any longer

Rob and Lacy checking out the yard

Me given her the "grand tour"

Me and Rob

Her and Bubbles on the couch

Hello Lacy

Meet Lacy, yeah for some reason my house has a been a dog magnet lately. Something I can't quite figure out. I mean do I just scream "Dog" when people see me?

Actually its more people screaming "DOG" at me, verses the other way around.

But anyway some friends at our church asked me to baby sit Lacy for the weekend. She is about 5 years old, and is a retired breeder. After Zipper my dogs were a little unsure of this new intruder, but she's soon proven herself to be extremely different. She much prefers to rest on top of the couch and survey the other dogs from that position.

She'd much prefer to sit your lap then run around the yard. So she's been a good little house guest thus far. But I'll still be glad when I can go back to my three dog household. Who knew caring for three dogs was so much easier. :))

PS: Does anyone know of any type of solution to help neutralize those dark patches on her eyes? Her owners have been wondering what will work!?

{Checking out the yard}

{No he's not about to hit her with the stick, he just didn't expect her to jump in his lap.]

{Lap or Play....Lap wins! No matter how small :)}

{I KNOWED dare was treats up dare.}

Summer Adventure Part II

"I'm Doing Something Right After all!"

I don't know about you all, but there are times where I wonder if I'm really working with my dogs too the full extent they need and more so since I gained a roommate. She's been great with the dogs and despite not being a dog "lover" she's tolerated them pretty well and has never complained about helping out with them. But there are times I wonder, after I've watched her move from sitting to standing about ten times, since sitting down on the couch, if she's just holding it in and being nice.Christina is learning the commands and they are learning that she means what she says, but she's still very much the novelty item in their little minds.

But that has all changed and I'm thanking my lucky stars for my sweet, mostly obedient, well exercised, semi socialized gang of dogs. This (stray from last night) dog is Crazy! I'll admit to having said earlier in the day these words: "Boy I wish i had a challenging dog, Pompeii is not challenging".  Boy You get what you wish for.

If she doesn't find a new home quickly (pleaseGodpleaseGodpleaseGodpleaseGodpleaseGod) we're going to be working on:

• Sit/Staying at ALL Doorways/openings
• Walking calmly on leash
• Staying quietly in the crate
• staying off the furniture 
• Sitting for Food
• pshst. Eating her food period 
• Being loose without Running 

This morning I got up around six am to try and get some exercise in before I left for work. My dogs were all giving me the "are you crazy" looks from around their various positions around my room. However Zipper (as I've taken to calling her) was raring to go. For me training starts immediately, let it go now, and it will be ten times worse later. So I waited until she wasn't rushing the door, before letting her into my bedroom. (She stayed the night in the laundry room)

Mistake #1: I put the dogs out on the porch, while went to the bathroom, and grabs some clothes. Now my porch is different that most, as it, for some reason, it doesn't have slates, its like a wooden wall, with space about five inches high at the bottom. Despite valiant efforts from Texas, none of the dogs have been able to fit through that space and it didn't occur to me that she would be any different. 

Five minutes later I come out, too only my three sleepy dogs standing forlornly on the porch. And no crazy white thing bouncing around. Um...............THERE in my neighbors yard..(other neighbor not the neighbor that brought her over..) I walk towards her, slooowly. She stops and looks at me, I freeze. 

Tip #1: Never run after a dog that is loose/you don't know. Will cause said dog to run further away. 

She looks away and walks off, I dash as far as I could without her seeing hearing. She spots me again, I squat down and make kissing noises...no such luck, something catches her attention and she's off and moving again.
I follow her, stopping and coaxing everytime she does. OH! She stops too poop, I make a dash for it, knowing it was a stupid idea, but all I can think about is the neighbors checking on her and me having to tell them, that she ran away.

I wasn't fast enough, but did get her to run towards me, and missed. Snap. Then she was off, and I was left with a choice. Do I risk getting shot and trespass on these people's property, or do I wait it and hope and pray she runs back this way. At this point, my life was more important than this dog, so I decided to wait it out, eventually she moved too another yard, and I felt a little bit safer about approaching that house; she stopped to sniff a flower, I squat down and low and behold she comes racing towards, and this time I grab her.

First thing she needs to learn is how to act when off leash. I know the common adage is  leashes,leashes,leashes, but more and more I find myself thinking that a dog on the "lam..lamb?" who takes off because he/she's been on leash its entire life..  is more unsafe than I do that knows how to behave off leash. Just my opinion. Anyway we walked around for a little bit, before going back and getting my dogs out of the porch and letting them potty, before heading back inside.

Pompeii is in love, I believe. My Roommate is not. Neither am I for now.

Oh you want pictures you say? All in good time, people, all in good time.

Visitors

So we're going to go out on a limb here,and say that Hope probably won't be coming back to our house,before she graduates. We'll miss her, but are excited to see her with her new family...in only five short days!
In the mean time, since we like to keep ourselves, exceptionally busy...our friend Bishop is here for the weekend. Bishop is a 14wo Bouvier (BooVeeAir) Des Flandres. Texas did NOT know what on earth he was, and it took all evening to calm him down. But they are fine now. :))

Bubbles however is not, physically anyhow, those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook, know that I came home to a dog in LOTS of pain. It seems that her back problem has flared up again, and she was could barely move yesterday; so I spent a lot of time, loving on her, and carrying her out of the way of the puppies.

I left her for about three hours for church, and when I got back, it seem with rest, she was better.

Thursday - 
Wow what a day this has been! It started bright and early around 7:00AM, waking myself up, and then getting Bishop out to potty; (which thankfully he is very quick about doing) then the procession of carrying Bubbles outside, then letting Texas and Victoria out. Feeding them, dressing me, and straightening my house (as the heating guy was supposed to drop by while I was gone) get Bubbles a heating pad set up in the crate, and load puppies in the car.

Wilderwood was one of three organization's chosen by a local radio station, to raise money for, and they wanted a dog to be there. My co-workers chose to take Victoria with them, so I dropped her off, and then Bishop and I went to Wal-Mart.

Those of you who have been following my blog since Midnight was around, you'll now that Wal-Mart + Me + Small Puppies = A Mess. I knew Bishop hadn't pooped before we left home, so I loaded myself up with cleaning supplies, and attempted to get him to potty before went inside. No. Such. Luck. 

Well, the only comfort I could find, was that the store is basically empty at 8:00AM.

Sure enough we made it to (HAH) the cleaning aisle, before he couldn't hold it.(Despite me sitting him at every stop). I was able to "catch" most of it on a paper towel positioned strategically. Cleaned up, thrown away, and we move on.

We check out, and I speed home, so I could burn some photo CD's for a co-worker, before we headed out to the kennels for a staff meeting.

Staff Meeting.....prep for Graduation......Met with another foster family, watched Bishop Play, reschedule a meeting, and fill out paperwork...

Began to head home, and realize, I forgot to leave the CD's!?

Turn Around

Drive Back, jump out, place items in a obvious place.

Get back in car and drive different way home.

The Loooong way.

But that gave me time, to call my co-worker and arrange to pick up Victoria on my way home. They gave her more rave reviews, said she did great, she was so excited to see me, when I opened the door to come inside, she dashed out the door, and refused to come back in!

We finally got home, got everyone pottied, lunch fed etc....Victoria has discovered that she can reach the kitchen table....and finished my lunch for me. *sigh* Just another thing for me to work on.


The spent the rest of the afternoon, alternating between sleeping and tearing around the yard. Victoria would find a stick, and taking off zooming around, with Bishop far behind, but doing his best to catch up!

BTW- If I ever agree to watch a small puppy, or decide to foster a puppy in the winter, please feel free to hit me over the head with a 2x4. Victoria has decided, since Bishop gets to go outside, every 30 minutes (Current Temp: 26) she should too, and has been going to the door, and sitting or standing and looking at me. *ssigggh* 

Times like these makes me really appreciate my dachshunds. Who are curled by the heater, and haven't moved for the majority of the evening. Speaking of dachshunds, Bubbles was up and walking around outside today, does that mean she's better? Not necessarily since she came back in, and hasn't moved from her spot on the couch since.  Prayers, Good Thoughts or whatever would be greatly appreciated for her!!!

Mensa!

Mensa is a 5-month-old standard poodle, she's a guide dog puppy with the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. She's come to spend the week with me and my gang!

She was a little nervous at first, but quickely came out of her shell. She, Gideon and Victoria spent the day playing with other Wilderwood Pups out at the kennels while i worked.

One would think after a day of play they would sleep the evening away.....noooo they feel they must take every oppurutnity to play-play-play!!

Well Gideons' tired anyways :-) 

She's been a good girl for the most part, loves to exercise her lungs while crated, but really great in the house. Granted she's too busy playing/antagoizing my dogs to think about chewing or etc.
She's very obedient and a really great house guest :)

{Besties :)}

Victoria

From October -31

Victoria is wanting to do some better but her body is not cooperating, in the meant time she's been hanging out with the toys, and barking at Texas and Ira as they play.

I was really about to congratulate myself about going two days accident free, when I looked over to see a puddle. *sigh*

But that's 1 in 2 days so I think I'm doing pretty good!!!

Weekend Visitor

From October -31

From 0EDIT

This is Victoria, 4-month-old Wilderwood puppy, her foster family had to go out of town suddenly so she was boarding at the kennels. Well until I brought her home.

She's not feeling well, don't know exactly why she's sick just yet, but I wanted to keep an eye on her.

Texas has tried his best to get her to play tonight but she's not really feeling up to it. It hurts me to see puppies sick, hopefully the vet can figure out whats going on, and get her back to a normal puppy bounce :)) 

Sad News

Jordan is a puppy I've watched several times for puppy raiser, who volunteer with the Guide Dog Foundation. I don't know if I mentioned how she'd had a bad limp, because she'd fallen from her raisers deck.

Although she'd been checked twice, the vets proclaimed nothing wrong with her until now. Apparently one of the bones in her leg is healing wrong, thus causing the limp. She's in surgery now, and will be in a brace for 10-weeks.

I told her family, I don't know how they will be able to do that!! But she is being released from the guide dog program because of it. She won't ever be able to handle the rigors of guide work.In someways medical CC's are hard because its not like the dog got to make the decision that guide work wasn't the right path for them. Oh well.
She's going to make someone an awesome pet.

...If you can't tell I really get attached to these dogs!

She's BaaccckkK!

Remember Jordan from about a month ago??

Wellll she's back for another visit!!! She may have sprained her leg before arriving her, so she's limping around here. But she's not letting her stop her one bit!!! And is bee-bopping around here like the rest of them!!

I took her out to eat with me, this evening, and I'd forgotten how easy it is to take a puppy out. She just came and slept under my chair no questions asked!

I miss this :(( But am glad I get to baby-sit her.

Random News Fact of the Day: Texas tried to eat a dried up frog, then spit it out on my CARPET. Course I had to get it up before everyone else decided it was a new toy. Makes me want to puke just thinking about it.