tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33974391119694533852024-03-12T22:04:48.125-06:00Gabe 'n' Arch: The Beagle BoysJackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-83640219201581272362011-07-19T23:45:00.000-06:002011-07-19T23:45:21.948-06:00Oh my Dog! My Poor Lawn!Gabe loves grass. He loves to lie in it; he loves to eat it; he loves to dig holes in it; to get at the succulent (I'm assuming?) grass roots. Archie doesn't have the same love affair with grass but he likes to play on it. If the ground is a little soft, when he and Gabe run around on it, the flip of little clods of sod. Not good. For the most part, the boys are not allowed on the lawn in the summer. The yard is plenty big without having to use that area.<br />
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However, occasionally, especially when it's hot and the ground is hard, I'll let the dogs on it for a bit. And then Gabe, for one, really goes to town.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8ugcL0pbJ8/TiJqtPQUHpI/AAAAAAAABQw/YjQS1b_6Cjo/s1600/DSCF5955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8ugcL0pbJ8/TiJqtPQUHpI/AAAAAAAABQw/YjQS1b_6Cjo/s320/DSCF5955.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-72537151656498302772011-07-16T22:57:00.000-06:002011-07-16T22:57:36.142-06:00Dog Days of Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCnBkG6Plz8/TiJrOV3Wv2I/AAAAAAAABQ0/mRUi0GdgPTQ/s1600/DSCF5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCnBkG6Plz8/TiJrOV3Wv2I/AAAAAAAABQ0/mRUi0GdgPTQ/s320/DSCF5950.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If Gabe were human, he wouldn't be one of those guys at the park, tossing a frisbee around, nor one of the guys at the beach, catching a wave. No, I firmly believe he would be one of those guys chilling in an Adirondack<strong> </strong>chair in his back yard, cold beer in hand.<br />
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Stay cool!Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-10172326653531978392011-07-02T13:29:00.000-06:002011-07-02T13:29:09.187-06:00Propagating an Archie TreeYes, that's my Boo, curled up in a hole he dug himself in one of my planter barrels. There was nothing planted in it, but there is now! Looking forward to my harvest of wee Archies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjfli84mnZg/Tg9w_BnARWI/AAAAAAAABN0/Kp_yZWmOcJM/s1600/dlAttach%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjfli84mnZg/Tg9w_BnARWI/AAAAAAAABN0/Kp_yZWmOcJM/s320/dlAttach%255B2%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-47776728791801688682011-06-15T22:40:00.000-06:002011-06-15T22:40:27.248-06:00It's a bird; it's a plane, it's ...a hot-air balloon! And pretty freaky to Gabe n Arch. When they notice a hot-air balloon in the sky, they always make a fuss. I'd like to know what goes on in their little beagle brains when they spot them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHMqQBdsh8A/TfmI_qrE26I/AAAAAAAABL4/VeuprTk5cYo/s1600/DSCF5665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHMqQBdsh8A/TfmI_qrE26I/AAAAAAAABL4/VeuprTk5cYo/s320/DSCF5665.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-38795165945751905162011-05-08T23:45:00.000-06:002011-05-08T23:45:15.232-06:00Mother's Day at the Dog Park<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkNpgde6h5A/Tcd9YGN3N8I/AAAAAAAABLI/7oAmEYupM6o/s1600/GabenArch_together+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkNpgde6h5A/Tcd9YGN3N8I/AAAAAAAABLI/7oAmEYupM6o/s320/GabenArch_together+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My children wear fur. If something makes them happy, I'll likely be happy too. I couldn't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day than a trip to the dog park - our first in months, since I broke my ankle.<br />
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Pre-broken-ankle, we would circle the park four times in about 50 minutes. Today, we managed two circles. It was lovely out there in the sunshine, though, and I think we were all happy to have the time together. Apologies for the hazy pictures - I didn't take my camera, so these are off my blackberry.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0dJ4gMumFM/Tcd8cqDhvII/AAAAAAAABK0/T_SG8DrqTQ4/s1600/Arch1+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0dJ4gMumFM/Tcd8cqDhvII/AAAAAAAABK0/T_SG8DrqTQ4/s320/Arch1+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ITnGzrCeOlw/Tcd86wkpogI/AAAAAAAABLA/m3wWob-jdpM/s1600/GabenArch_bums+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ITnGzrCeOlw/Tcd86wkpogI/AAAAAAAABLA/m3wWob-jdpM/s320/GabenArch_bums+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-7071570614274435942011-05-03T18:44:00.000-06:002011-05-03T18:44:29.173-06:00Lulu's family says ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZkIoVblOsg/Tb920F4FvlI/AAAAAAAABKY/BIDgmhfWKaI/s1600/Lulu6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZkIoVblOsg/Tb920F4FvlI/AAAAAAAABKY/BIDgmhfWKaI/s320/Lulu6.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><br />
Lulu is usually a happy go lucky beagle. She doesn't have any health issues, she's up to date on her shots and she's very smart. She is a great dog ... She loves being outside, rolling in the grass and running around the yard. She loves to play fetch but sometimes gets so excited she forgets to return with the ball! Her favorite toy is a toy dolpin, she always has to have it with her when they relax on their couch. She might possibly roam in a new area since it would be unfamiliar, but has always been good walking off leash with us when we go for walks in the country. She is housetrained, crate trained and knows many commands and some signs. She is a calm eater, and has no allergies that we know of. She is easy to take for walks as she is great on her leash and is great around other dogs.<br />
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We have 3 young (under 2) nephews in town and she is great with them. They have pulled her tail and stuck their fingers in her nose and she has never reacted towards them. We also have a cat, who gets along great with both of the dogs and Lulu and her enjoy snuggling on the couch. Our cat had kittens this past fall and Lulu was great with the kittens, they would play with little balls together and lay together for naps. It was very cute.<br />
Now to find a foster family for this girl, on her way to her forever home ...Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-81863413994077862852011-05-02T21:33:00.002-06:002011-05-02T22:48:48.820-06:00Foster Home for Lulu<a href="http://www.beaglepaws.com/">Beagle Paws</a> is looking for a foster home in Saskatchewan for Lulu. Beagle Paws is a rescue based in Newfoundland that operates nationally. Archie is a Beagle Paws dog; and we shared our home with a Beagle Paws foster a few years ago (so glad you found your forever home, Annie girlie!).<br />
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To find out more about what's involved with being a foster family, please visit the <a href="http://www.beaglepaws.com/get-involved/foster-a-beagle/">Beagle Paws foster page</a>. (Bonus points for you if you know which of the beagles on that page is our very own Gabe-o!) If you have more questions about Lulu, ask away, and I'll do my best to answer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZkIoVblOsg/Tb920F4FvlI/AAAAAAAABKY/BIDgmhfWKaI/s1600/Lulu6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mZkIoVblOsg/Tb920F4FvlI/AAAAAAAABKY/BIDgmhfWKaI/s320/Lulu6.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgTLdZs4iKY/Tb927HdUkAI/AAAAAAAABKc/WHImo9sMDgg/s1600/Lulu1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgTLdZs4iKY/Tb927HdUkAI/AAAAAAAABKc/WHImo9sMDgg/s320/Lulu1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQj-_AOVgak/Tb93NHaWQnI/AAAAAAAABKo/ZSArfVe_vqA/s1600/Lulu4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQj-_AOVgak/Tb93NHaWQnI/AAAAAAAABKo/ZSArfVe_vqA/s320/Lulu4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK8dPqc4LQ8/Tb93RvhtNHI/AAAAAAAABKs/xLMZwqygwjI/s1600/Lulu5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK8dPqc4LQ8/Tb93RvhtNHI/AAAAAAAABKs/xLMZwqygwjI/s320/Lulu5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-64779657017313492172011-04-02T23:31:00.001-06:002011-04-02T23:40:28.757-06:00Takin' Care of Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvnbPr-qL54/TZgE5fcnhNI/AAAAAAAABJs/BnB1P8FDO1Y/s1600/Arch2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvnbPr-qL54/TZgE5fcnhNI/AAAAAAAABJs/BnB1P8FDO1Y/s320/Arch2-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I broke my ankle on March 5. I was carrying a basket of laundry down the basement stairs and slipped. I landed on my butt and slid the rest of the way down sitting up - with my right leg horked up in an inverted v-shape. Bouncing down, I was looking at it and thinking, "This can't be good." I fractured my fibula in two places, chipped a piece of bone off my tibia, and dislocated my ankle. The dislocation was popped back into place several hours later (while I was gratefully under sedation). A week later, I had surgery to afix a plate and 6 screws on one of the fractures; and to sort of meld the other fracture together with a 7th screw. For three weeks, I wore a "splint" - a partial plaster cast on the back and sides of my leg, wrapped over with cotton gauze. I now have a fiberglass cast (a lovely royal blue) for 5 weeks.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Archie has been particularly careful to give my poor leg a lot of extra love.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSukOJ5KkHA/TZgFNpi5rII/AAAAAAAABJw/4FV36mwd46E/s1600/DSCF5355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSukOJ5KkHA/TZgFNpi5rII/AAAAAAAABJw/4FV36mwd46E/s320/DSCF5355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-66987059348187624292011-01-20T14:31:00.002-06:002011-01-20T14:32:26.675-06:00The Path Less TakenIs this another reason why I should be called a "crazy dog parent"? Or do lots of people do this?<br />
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I shovel paths throughout the yard for the dogs in the winter. The dogs are so short, it's easy for them to end up belly deep in snow. When it's "warmer" (-12C/10F or warmer), they're not too picky about having to wallow in the snow; and they often have fun frollicking in it. But when it's cold, (-20C/-4F or colder), it's hard for them to be out there, and I imagine having your legs totally immersed in snow just makes it that much colder. So, I shovel for them. They can make it to a pee spot, sniff around, or even chase each other through the "maze" for a few minutes. They tend to stick pretty close to the paths when it's cold. I do think they appreciate it.Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-42897718319508248462011-01-19T12:32:00.003-06:002011-01-20T14:33:49.559-06:00Beagles and Boots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTOUGQry7RI/AAAAAAAABFw/TFEo3skxpnk/s1600/DSCF4616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTOUGQry7RI/AAAAAAAABFw/TFEo3skxpnk/s320/DSCF4616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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It has been cold here for the past 10 days or so. In Saskatoon, it's not unusual for our temperatures to dip below -30C (-22F) in January. Our daily lows haven't been quite that cold, but it's just not warming up much during the day. Our daily highs have been hovering around -25C (-13). Not freezing by Saskatchewan standards, but still pretty darn cold.<br />
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Gabe's arthritis seems to be bothering him more than usual lately. I suspect it's because his glucosamine supplements haven't been particularly regular. He's been on antibiotics for the past 3 weeks to deal with a bleeding peptic ulcer. One pill at 7:30am; one at 8:00am; three at 8:00pm. Because of this, I haven't been mixing glucosamine into his breakfast, as it's just too many meds.<br />
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So, out came the boots! I ordered them a few years ago, actually, but I gave up on trying to get Gabe (or Arch, for that matter) to wear them. The first time, I struggled to get all four boots on Gabe and then let him go outside. He went raving bananas. There are lots of funny videos on youtube of dogs trying out boots for the first time. Gabe didn't just walk funny. He was tearing around like his feet were on fire. He eventually managed to work all 4 boots free, lost in the snow drifts. Yay.<br />
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This time, I was smarter. One boot at a time. Still, as you can see, the boys weren't crazy about having to actually stand in them.<br />
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Gabe's been wearing his one boot outside each time we go, for the past 5 days or so. He's doing pretty good with it, but still isn't confident about getting back up the 2 steps to the door. I wish they had better traction on the bottom, but I don't know what to do about that. It's made a noticeable difference in how long he can tolerate the cold, so we're going to keep trucking on with this. <br />
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Both boys have <a href="http://muttluks.com/home.php">Muttluks</a> - Gabe's have a smooth leather sole; Archie's have a suede sole. Other than the traction issue, I really like these. I like how the shaft is fitted - I've seen some that make a sort of upside down open umbrella shape at the ankle; snow can pool in around the ankle that way. I also appreciate how long the shaft is - extra warmth right up to their knees!Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-83665299121809639672011-01-16T18:55:00.002-06:002011-01-20T14:32:03.190-06:00Sunday SleepiesIs there anything cuter than a sleeping puppy?<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTOQ-b3gGaI/AAAAAAAABFc/g4yOBS82PM8/s1600/DSCF4637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTOQ-b3gGaI/AAAAAAAABFc/g4yOBS82PM8/s320/DSCF4637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTOR8q3pC0I/AAAAAAAABFs/Em3Hqhr3I_8/s1600/DSCF4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTOR8q3pC0I/AAAAAAAABFs/Em3Hqhr3I_8/s320/DSCF4653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTORmqkWcrI/AAAAAAAABFk/8Jl-iPYUG8U/s1600/DSCF4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TTORmqkWcrI/AAAAAAAABFk/8Jl-iPYUG8U/s320/DSCF4647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you know, I "fell in love" with Archie watching him sleep. Both my boys are rescues and although they were cute little beagles from the get go, I didn't tumble for either on day one. I don't remember the moment with Gabe. It took awhile with him, as he was a little aggressive as a pup. I do remember the moment with Archie, though. He was such a Mexican jumping bean, but when he finally settles down to sleep, he's so small and soft and vulnerable. Looking at those little lashes, who can blame me?</div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-4824824272735359782010-11-24T23:59:00.003-06:002011-01-20T14:33:17.899-06:00Puppies, it's Cold Outside!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TO365VosGJI/AAAAAAAABEs/9YP1DkRsdP8/s1600/DSCF4403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TO365VosGJI/AAAAAAAABEs/9YP1DkRsdP8/s320/DSCF4403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Winter arrived earlier than usual and temperatures dropped fairly quickly in a short span of time. Gabe n Arch did not have a chance to acclimatize to the new weather, so for the past week or so, they've had to bundle up when going outdoors. Archie just freezes up when he's cold ... he sort of winds down like a mechanical toy and eventually becomes completely immobile. Gabe is a little tougher, but I've had to swoop in and hoist both boys up a few times, to get them back into the house.<br />
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Today was about -20C/-4F. We were able to play outside for about 5 minutes at a time, twice. Finally! Cabin fever is reigning. Fights are breaking out. Mittens are getting eaten. I think we're all looking forward to the predicted milder temps this weekend.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TO37JNtHBLI/AAAAAAAABE0/sjYxp0eXjA0/s1600/DSCF4413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TO37JNtHBLI/AAAAAAAABE0/sjYxp0eXjA0/s320/DSCF4413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-6430739258314700012010-11-09T18:51:00.002-06:002011-01-20T14:34:12.456-06:00Snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TO35ayKSodI/AAAAAAAABEo/O6Yl16V6S-U/s1600/DSCF4397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TO35ayKSodI/AAAAAAAABEo/O6Yl16V6S-U/s320/DSCF4397.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-19224338448788694022010-11-02T18:52:00.001-06:002011-01-20T14:34:38.342-06:00Gabe n Arch in Modern Dog Magazine!I've been a fan and subscriber of Modern Dog magazine for a few years. I also "like" them on facebook. On facebook, they recently asked fans to submit photos of their dogs in Hallowe'en costumes. I submitted the one of Gabe as Michael Phelps and Archie as the hot dog. They selected our picture and it was featured on the <a href="http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/gallery/halloween-howlers?gp=7">Modern Dog website</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TNnuwKkVi1I/AAAAAAAABEk/sqJyw3-DP_c/s1600/Modern+Dog+Halloween+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TNnuwKkVi1I/AAAAAAAABEk/sqJyw3-DP_c/s320/Modern+Dog+Halloween+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-65625631705722225432010-09-21T14:43:00.001-06:002011-01-20T14:34:56.709-06:00Aggie's Doggie Diner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last month or so has been fairly hectic with end-of-summer yardwork, a new class I'm taking online from the University of Hawaii, and of course all of Gabe and Arch's regular activities. I also chose this time to launch Aggie's Doggie Diner. I'm very excited about this, but probably could have chosen a better time to launch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aggie's is all about home cooked dog food. Right now I have five different recipes/dishes that I cook in huge batches and then portion out into 500g or 1kg sizes, which I freeze into blocks and vacuum pack. The plan is for people to purchase the food online at <a href="http://www.aggiesdoggiediner.com/">http://www.aggiesdoggiediner.com/</a>, and then I deliver all orders once a week. Given the logistics, it's very much a local business, with delivery to Saskatoon residents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>I got the idea for Aggie's last Christmas. I always make dog cookies for Gabe and Arch, so I made a bunch for all the doggies in my life. The guardian of one recipient suggested I open a dog bakery; the guardian of another suggested I open a coffee bar for dogs. It was the coffee bar idea that really got the old gears spinning. It seems like every week there are more and more options for allergen-free dog cookies, but it's still a hassle to find allergen-free food. And so on those long 60- or 75-minute walks with my pups every evening I started thinking things through. And, voila, Aggie's Doggie Diner was born.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The logo is by the incredibly talented Tina Kugler of <a href="http://handmadelogodesign.blogspot.com/">Handmade Logo Design</a>. I told Tina I was looking for a Betty Rubble/Judy Jetson-type retro woman, but with a more substantial figure. I envisioned "Aggie" holding up a platter (a la "here I come with a burger on a bun!") and two pups looking up at the platter. Tina pretty much "got it" in one go (unlike a few other graphic artists I approached before her). So, yes, the woman is essentially me, and the dogs are Gabe and Arch. "Aggie's," by the way, came about by combining the "G" from "Gabe" and the "A" from Arch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thus far business has been a little slow, but I already have one regular customer on board. I'm hoping more advertising will help a bit. And, the wonderful vet who provided free accupuncture for Archie for one year has offered to refer suitable clients to Aggie's. Realistically, 5-10 regular clients would be about my max, given my day job and other activities. So, things are looking good. Knock wood.</div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-3060784209499057182010-08-21T22:37:00.004-06:002011-01-20T14:35:13.006-06:00Gabe does Stairs!When Gabe joined our family, our household was a little different. My mom and dad were still with us. They lived on the main floor of the house; I lived upstairs, in an apartment my parents fashioned out of the four bedrooms that were originally up there.<br />
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Gabe had no problem coming up the stairs to visit me, but he absolutely refused to come down on his own. I tried it all. I left him up there for hours by himself. I left him up there and fried bacon on my mom and dad's stove and then sat at the bottom of the stairs eating the bacon while Gabe looked down at me. I put a piggy puff on each riser, hoping he would follow them down. Another day, I did the same with caramel corn. (Neither were foods I would normally share with him.) I put his leash on and tried to walk him down, hoping it would give him a sense of added security. When Gabe was two, I took a vacation; while I was away, my dad tried to train Gabe too. Nada.<br />
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At the time my dad passed away, Gabe weighed over 60 pounds. I carried 60 pounds of dog down the stairs several times a day. Worse, for some reason Gabe feels the need to kick off once we hit the bottom riser, as if he's diving to safety. I had numerous bruises and even more scratches.<br />
When Gabe was 3, we finally moved downstairs for good. I rented out my old apartment and became a (much!) younger version of Mrs. Roper. Gabe rarely had a reason to go upstairs over the next few years. Whew!<br />
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About a month ago, I was installing a window air conditioner upstairs. My current tenant is pretty awesome. The dogs love him and he loves them back. Gabe and Arch came with me for the install. When I was finished, I gathered up my tools and told the tenant I would come back for Gabe, since he couldn't go down on his own. The tenant said, "No, I'm sure he went down already."<br />
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I peered down the stairwell and sure enough, there was my big galoofus, at the bottom of the stairs! Sadly, though, I missed him in action.<br />
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This week, a new fridge was delivered for the apartment. The tenant was at work, and asked me to oversee the delivery. After the delivery guys left, I let Gabe and Arch upstairs so that they could sniff all the new smells the delivery guys brought in. And before I knew it, I actually saw Gaberushka hoofing it down the stairs. Ahhh! I ran and grabbed my camera, and made him come back up, so I could capture this Kodak moment.<br />
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Honestly, I think it's the dogpark. I think Gabe's gotten so much confidence from the new dogpark experiences that it's carried over. You'll notice though, that he hugs the wall pretty tightly on his way down. He's pretty smart, my boy.<br />
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Yay Gabe-o!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/THCmZiO8X2I/AAAAAAAAA-E/ZWSwCDaq52g/s1600/DSCF4214%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/THCmZiO8X2I/AAAAAAAAA-E/ZWSwCDaq52g/s320/DSCF4214%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/THCmeYVyYiI/AAAAAAAAA-M/qke2uLQPE4s/s1600/DSCF4215%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/THCmeYVyYiI/AAAAAAAAA-M/qke2uLQPE4s/s320/DSCF4215%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-22606800038637561152010-08-15T22:02:00.002-06:002011-01-20T14:35:41.014-06:00Happy Birthdayversary Archie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyHD981sI/AAAAAAAAA7s/is3WZ-G9Q50/s1600/gna0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyHD981sI/AAAAAAAAA7s/is3WZ-G9Q50/s320/gna0086.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Boo celebrated 4 years as a member of our pack today. He was found as a stray, and is one of the rescues rehomed by <a href="http://www.beaglepaws.com/">Beagle Paws</a>. No one is sure of his exact birthday. He was about a year old when he came to live with us; so we designated his arrival date as his birthday. It's a special day for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So special in fact, that we wear party hats. I was thrilled to find these Snoopy party hats on eBay. Gabe was not so thrilled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyK3etICI/AAAAAAAAA70/_2ee6ODUdMA/s1600/gna0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyK3etICI/AAAAAAAAA70/_2ee6ODUdMA/s320/gna0088.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But hey, he knows resistance is futile, so he went along with the ride for a little while. I got a couple of decent party hat shots:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiySGEy5iI/AAAAAAAAA78/9OG29hWW8VM/s1600/gna0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiySGEy5iI/AAAAAAAAA78/9OG29hWW8VM/s320/gna0090.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyYG1bIuI/AAAAAAAAA8E/Y7YZsdS_CRk/s1600/gna0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyYG1bIuI/AAAAAAAAA8E/Y7YZsdS_CRk/s320/gna0095.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides wearing hats, on special days like this we do things that doggies love best. And just by chance, napping and eating are high on my list of likes too. We had a nice leisurely morning (avec nap). Stew fresh from the oven for lunch. In the afternoon, we went to the dog park, but I sadly didn't think of taking my camera. This dog park visit was memorable because we were out there <u>in the rain</u>. Archie is scared of thunder, so when the first rain drop hits, he usually seeks shelter. We did take refuge in the van for the heaviest part of the storm, but were back out in the park while it was still sprinkling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had our usual special day entree - bbq steak. Just to try to keep things healthful, I followed the home cooked idea of 40% protein; 30% carbs; 30% vegetables.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The steak went over well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyl32CTSI/AAAAAAAAA8c/oxon4INQkvw/s1600/gna0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyl32CTSI/AAAAAAAAA8c/oxon4INQkvw/s320/gna0015.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The peas, not so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, after Gabe licked his bowl clean, he came along and graciously helped Archie out. I still regret not naming Gabe "Hoover."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After supper, we partook in some ball playing. In general, I think Gabe is more expressive than Arch. However, get the ball out, and Arch goes to town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyt6arcQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/y1A0a_U8DBM/s1600/gna0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyt6arcQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/y1A0a_U8DBM/s320/gna0036.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Just try to get it away from me! Just try! I dare you!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyyOC7wlI/AAAAAAAAA80/JdexSNCTv8w/s1600/gna0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiyyOC7wlI/AAAAAAAAA80/JdexSNCTv8w/s320/gna0039.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"But if you insist on waving that camera around, sure, I'll pose for a picture or two."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiy2NwVPzI/AAAAAAAAA88/XFwAckwZJKk/s1600/gna0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiy2NwVPzI/AAAAAAAAA88/XFwAckwZJKk/s320/gna0079.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Okay, enough with the camera. Please play, now. Pleasssssse!!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crowning "event" of the night was to be the presentation of two very special bones. The boys get a lot of chewies (Texas Toothpicks, beef pizzles), but rarely an actual bone. Gabe got down to business lickedty split.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiy-d4JVwI/AAAAAAAAA9M/WMaEOHggniw/s1600/gna0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiy-d4JVwI/AAAAAAAAA9M/WMaEOHggniw/s320/gna0103.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arch, well Arch was not as interested in chewing on his bone as he was in burying it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all, a lovely birthdayversary! But, please pass the cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiydZ1GMPI/AAAAAAAAA8M/YwrUoUFlzTc/s1600/gna0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TGiydZ1GMPI/AAAAAAAAA8M/YwrUoUFlzTc/s320/gna0117.JPG" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-46880373393359635192010-07-29T23:30:00.001-06:002011-01-20T14:35:58.440-06:00Dogs on Thursdays: Play Please!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TE0lnMPssrI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/4wWqQGNqiiI/s1600/gna0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TE0lnMPssrI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/4wWqQGNqiiI/s320/gna0125.JPG" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-85977717851900949032010-07-26T00:04:00.000-06:002010-07-26T00:04:07.796-06:00Sultry Summer Sundays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TE0kmtYtmvI/AAAAAAAAA1g/y76KnMCRm7g/s1600/gna0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TE0kmtYtmvI/AAAAAAAAA1g/y76KnMCRm7g/s320/gna0067.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TE0lTjejRVI/AAAAAAAAA2I/BySqJYgr1Ks/s1600/gna0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TE0lTjejRVI/AAAAAAAAA2I/BySqJYgr1Ks/s320/gna0109.JPG" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-91377857652910893182010-07-13T11:06:00.000-06:002010-07-13T11:06:35.133-06:00Napping works, rain or shine<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We've been having </span><a href="http://yardknocks.blogspot.com/2010/07/rainy-saskatoon-summer.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">crazy weather this summer</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, with a phenomenal amount of rain. Archie is scared of thunder, so while Gabe is lounging on the sofa, looking bored, Arch is huddled in his tent, shivering and panting. But, when the sun does break out, Arch is more than happy to work on his tan.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TDx2C4TP7bI/AAAAAAAAAyY/h1K9nAE889Y/s1600/gna0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/TDx2C4TP7bI/AAAAAAAAAyY/h1K9nAE889Y/s320/gna0162.JPG" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-86501949729989802932010-06-06T23:14:00.001-06:002010-07-13T08:18:55.623-06:00Happy Birthday Gabe!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He's 6 today! My big galoofus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm painting my kitchen and in the mess I lost the cable to download pictures from my camera. I'll post some from today as soon as I am able.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gabe started the day in a frisky mood, stealing my shoe and daring me to chase him around the yard. He got in some good naps - both indoors and out - before suppertime. I cooked us all bbq steak and baked potatoes for the birthday feast. Afterwards, we went to the dogpark. Gabe's new friend Luca was there, so I'm sure that was a high point of the day, as was his wallow in a mud puddle. And I do mean wallow, even dipping his nose in and tossing mud in the air. Ay-yi-yi. Yes, I had to drive him home like that. When we got home, I presented him with his gifts - a big bone and a toy (a stuffie with a squeaker inside, from the dollar store; it should last about 2 minutes once he decides he needs to get the squeaker out). Luckily for Archie, everything comes in "twos" on birthdays here, so Arch shared equally in all the loot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We topped the day off with a much needed bath. The birthday boy is now snoring beside me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy birthday Gabe!</span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-3491628182502054062010-05-24T23:52:00.002-06:002010-05-25T00:01:17.603-06:00Dog Park Bliss<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After reading </span><a href="http://gabenarch.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-brad-pattison-unleashed.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Brad Pattison Unleashed,</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> I felt it was time to take my boys to the dog park. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gabe has not been well socialized and i</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">t became a Catch-22. He wasn't socialized because I was scared to take him to the dog park, but because I was scared to take him, he wasn't socialized. I had hoped that obedience classes would help (we went when he was 3), but the instructor didn't really care about socializing his class (meanwhile, in the puppy class next door, all the little ones were chasing each other and tumbling around, making friends).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gabe was my main concern, but I also worried about Archie. He spooks easily and doesn't listen to me when he's in that scary place in his mind. He was also a fence-jumper when he first joined our family, determined to see the world, and I'm not convinced that wanderlust is totally eradicated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">However, Brad Pattison makes strong arguments for taking your dogs to the dog park. His arguments make sense, and it was something I've always wanted to do .... I just didn't have the confidence - in myself, or in my dogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My worries were largely for naught. Gabe barks a bit when we get there. I think it's mostly excitement, "Whoo hoo! I'm here! I'm really here!" His fur stands up sometimes when dogs sniff him up, but he pretty much puts up with it. He even put up with a very rude pit bull that was absolutely determined to hump him. (Gabe was extremely embarassed by this, sitting down and hunching up, looking sheepish - his body language was clear, even to me!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Archie was not impressed the first few times we went. He kept running back to the gate, wanting to go home. He doesn't do that anymore, but he certainly sticks close by. And, both of them give me no attitude when it's home time - in fact, they usually head to the gate before I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm proud of my boys - and you know what? I'm proud of me too. I regret that it took us this long to do it, but now that we're there, we're not turning back.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy puppies!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We went again this weekend, and met up with Annie and her family. Annie was a foster beagle who lived with us from November 2008 to April 2009. It was lovely to see her and her people, and her brother Zeus too :-)</span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-89987562066597302592010-05-19T20:53:00.000-06:002010-05-19T20:53:53.125-06:00Dogs on Thursday ~ Brothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/S_SkKq1qTOI/AAAAAAAAAog/ZpkNCyx3P2A/s1600/gna0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/S_SkKq1qTOI/AAAAAAAAAog/ZpkNCyx3P2A/s320/gna0001.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397439111969453385.post-55386850891984858992010-05-04T23:16:00.004-06:002010-05-04T23:31:00.068-06:00Book Review ~ Brad Pattison Unleashed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/S-Dw9pGyjiI/AAAAAAAAAoY/tnq9b_7moQc/s1600/bpunleashed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zAVur3JYvFQ/S-Dw9pGyjiI/AAAAAAAAAoY/tnq9b_7moQc/s320/bpunleashed.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With <a href="http://gabenarch.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-stanley-picture-books.html">my last review</a>, I met my goal of reading and reviewing 13 books in one year for John Mutford's <a href="http://bookmineset.blogspot.com/2009/07/canadian-book-challenge-3-on-your-marks.html">Great Canadian Book Challenge</a>. When you've got another great Canadian dog book just waiting to be reviewed there's nothing for it but to plow ahead and make it to number 14.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I had been planning on buying <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brad-Pattison-Unleashed-Dogs-Eye-Humans/dp/0307357740?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Brad Pattison Unleashed</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0307357740" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> anyway, and when Brad posted on his facebook page that he would be autographing copies of the book that were ordered directly from him, I jumped at the chance for a very small brush with fame. My book arrived inscribed, "Enjoy the book Jacki ~ Have a great day. Cheers, Brad Pattison." Coolness!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Autograph aside, the book is awesome. Here at Gabe n Arch, we're giving it 8 paws up and some tail wags too. It's a nice little physical specimen, without the <a href="http://gabenarch.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review-brad-pattisons-synergy.html">quality issues</a> that I noted in Pattison's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Synergy-Brad-Pattison/dp/0981318509?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Synergy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0981318509" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />. The book is really well written and very forcefully projects Brad's voice, clearly recognizable from the way he speaks on his television program, <a href="http://www.bradpattison.com/page/end-my-leash">At the End of my Leash</a>. Brad the Author once again seems much more approachable and less abrasive than Brad the TV Guy. He is someone I would love to sit down and chat with. Brad is funny and insightful, and most of all he is passionate about doing it right. Some people might argue that his methods are not the best, but the book is persuasive. I think by the time you're finished reading it, you'll be nodding your head and thinking, "by golly, this guy is onto something!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The book goes over the same lessons we've seen in the tv show and in <em>Synergy</em> - replace treat training with umbilical training, get the dogs off the furniture, no talking, and lots of physical and mental activity; gradually working up to the ultimate doggie reward, off-leash freedom. Common issues like how to choose a puppy, house training, and how to introduce a second dog to your household are addressed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Something I've never seen addressed in the tv show (though, granted, I've not seen every episode) is Brad's take on shelter dogs. Brad says, "I have mixed thoughts about shelters," and goes on to say that about 40% of his workload involves shelter dogs. I know from experience that shelter dogs are not baggage-free. They are a lot of work. But they're there, and they need someone to love. Earlier in the book, Brad points out that only 16% of dogs sent to shelters are actually adopted out. That's about the saddest thing I've ever heard. I'd love to learn how we can improve those numbers. Nowhere in the book does it talk about fixing your dog, and that seems like a big first step to me. What else can I do - beyond committing to my two rescues - to stop 5 million dogs and cats from being euthanized annually? (US figure) Someone that loves dogs as much as Brad clearly does must have thoughts on this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Part of the answer is to commit to your own dog. Don't get a dog without giving it a lot of thought, and once you have a canine member in your household, give him the love and training that he needs. So people, buy the book, read it, love it. And most of all, embrace it. I'm still slacking off on umbilical, but we did try the hide-and-seek game tonight. We all had a blast. We're working up the courage to try the dog park next ....</span></div>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601691032325961639noreply@blogger.com2