Fireworks went on sale in North Platte yesterday and it sounds as if the town is being bombed. None of our dogs like the noise, but poor little Annie is ultra-sensitive to it. Since Annie came from a puppy mill in the country I'm sure this is her first experience with the noise of fireworks. We started Annie on a mild sedative this morning (vet's suggestion) and hopefully that will make the time to July 4th more tolerable.
Some days are better than others when it comes to Annie's house training. A couple days ago, as Annie started toward the doggy door I thought she had this go-outside-to-potty-thing figured out. Instead, right in front of the door Annie paused, squatted, peed and then out she went!
It was one year ago this week that Corgi Pennie delivered five beautiful puppies at our house. Two weeks earlier she had been turned into the shelter by owners who had been reported for improper care of animals complaints. Pennie was a good mom and the puppies thrived. They had their momma's stubby legs but shorter hair and longer noses. This evening at the Bark Park I got to see one year old Puppy Chipper. He was happy to be at the park and enjoyed running with the other dogs. Looking at Chipper, there's no doubt the father of Pennie's litter was a dachsund. Chipper lives in North Platte with his people Levi and Jenny.
I hear good things about North Platte's second dog park that's opened. There are plans to plant trees and put up gazebos for shade. Our pack hasn't been to the new dog park but we'll plan to visit soon. Dog person Frank said his dogs go to both dog parks and act differently at each. At one, Charlie and Max stroll and sniff and at the other they run around the five acres at break-neck speed. What could be better than being a dog?!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Funny Father's Day
Yesterday Husband Bob and I spent most of the day at the the bark park mowing. The grass, wild flowers and trees look so nice. A couple arrived for their first bark park visit and had just adopted a lab from the animal shelter last week. The Little Miss is just four months old and she ran non-stop with the other dogs and her new family.
I tease that it's quite a spectacle to take the dogs shopping. This year they out did themselves picking out a Father's Day card. I have to quote the card Husband Bob received from Jaz, Maggie, Brandy, Pennie and Annie: "For Father's Day The Top Ten Ways You and I Are Alike: 10. We both like to stick our heads out the car window and bark at other drivers, 9. There's nothing more comforting than napping in front of the TV, 8. Others get impatient waiting for us to finish going potty, 7. We've both been in the doghouse at one time or another, 6. We make furry bed partners, 5. Sometimes we beg for extra scraps, 4. You fix things - I'm a fixed thing, 3. We both like to sit around and scratch ourselves, 2. We whine if we're not let out of the house to play once in awhile, 1. Given the choice, we'd rather just lie around and do nothing but eat and sleep all day!"
Happy belated Father's Day to all the dad's of fur children!
Happy Summer.
I tease that it's quite a spectacle to take the dogs shopping. This year they out did themselves picking out a Father's Day card. I have to quote the card Husband Bob received from Jaz, Maggie, Brandy, Pennie and Annie: "For Father's Day The Top Ten Ways You and I Are Alike: 10. We both like to stick our heads out the car window and bark at other drivers, 9. There's nothing more comforting than napping in front of the TV, 8. Others get impatient waiting for us to finish going potty, 7. We've both been in the doghouse at one time or another, 6. We make furry bed partners, 5. Sometimes we beg for extra scraps, 4. You fix things - I'm a fixed thing, 3. We both like to sit around and scratch ourselves, 2. We whine if we're not let out of the house to play once in awhile, 1. Given the choice, we'd rather just lie around and do nothing but eat and sleep all day!"
Happy belated Father's Day to all the dad's of fur children!
Happy Summer.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Annie Update
Annie's been with us 5 1/2 months now. She's making good progress coming out of her corners in the family room and sun room. As I'm typing this Annie's at my feet sleeping. So are the four other fur babies. When Husbabd Bob and I are home we close the door to the family room so Annie's been forced to be out with us more. I think that's helped her gain confidence that being with us is good.
A couple nights ago Bob and I were getting ready to take the dogs to the dog park. Annie went to the door too and Bob commented that Annie wanted to go with us. I doubted it and said I was sure when we opened the door Annie would run back inside. Wrong!! All the dogs ran to to the Jeep and jumped in. Including Annie! I was speechless except to repeatedly say I couldn't believe what happened. By the time we arrived at the park, a 4-minute drive, Annie had lost all her new-found courage. We carried her into the gate and she did pretty well walking around sniffing and exploring. She was very glad to get back in the Jeep to come home and hasn't wanted to go again but at least she did it once.
Annie's relapsed completely in house training. The past two weeks she's had accidents (they aren't accidents) every day. If anyone has suggestions how to retrain an adult dog I'm very open to suggestions because I've run out of ideas. Bless Bob's heart, he's shampooing the family room, sun room and hallway this afternoon.
May was a busy month for Paws-itive Partners Humane Society's spay/neuter program. We sent out authorization forms for 32 cats and dogs. Our spay/neuter program focuses on helping low to moderate income pet owners pay to have their pets altered. Most of the people we help are referred by veterinary clinics and word-of-mouth but in times past, Paws-itive Partners members have gone door-to-door. We've located lower income neighborhoods with high animal population and have gone to offer help. It's fun to see people's reactions when we say we're giving something away rather than selling it.
Have a good week. :)
A couple nights ago Bob and I were getting ready to take the dogs to the dog park. Annie went to the door too and Bob commented that Annie wanted to go with us. I doubted it and said I was sure when we opened the door Annie would run back inside. Wrong!! All the dogs ran to to the Jeep and jumped in. Including Annie! I was speechless except to repeatedly say I couldn't believe what happened. By the time we arrived at the park, a 4-minute drive, Annie had lost all her new-found courage. We carried her into the gate and she did pretty well walking around sniffing and exploring. She was very glad to get back in the Jeep to come home and hasn't wanted to go again but at least she did it once.
Annie's relapsed completely in house training. The past two weeks she's had accidents (they aren't accidents) every day. If anyone has suggestions how to retrain an adult dog I'm very open to suggestions because I've run out of ideas. Bless Bob's heart, he's shampooing the family room, sun room and hallway this afternoon.
May was a busy month for Paws-itive Partners Humane Society's spay/neuter program. We sent out authorization forms for 32 cats and dogs. Our spay/neuter program focuses on helping low to moderate income pet owners pay to have their pets altered. Most of the people we help are referred by veterinary clinics and word-of-mouth but in times past, Paws-itive Partners members have gone door-to-door. We've located lower income neighborhoods with high animal population and have gone to offer help. It's fun to see people's reactions when we say we're giving something away rather than selling it.
Have a good week. :)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Kirby
Granddog Kirby has taken up residency this week while Daughter Molly is away. It's always nice to have Kirby at the Dog Farm. She's a very gentle, affectionate, laid back yellow lab. Sweet Kirby came from humble beginnings nine years ago. A sheriff deputy found a cardboard box in the middle of a county road. Inside the box were four helpless puppies. The deputy saved Kirby and her 3 little brothers and Molly got to adopt Kirby. Molly and Kirby have been the perfect match ever since.
Aspen-the-husky and Jessie-the-mixed-breed have been a nice addition to the Bark Park family. Their person (forgive me, I don't know his name) will be dog sitting Aspen and Jessie the next three years. He also has an older beagle named Annie. I commented what a committment three years of dog sitting is and the man replied "If my son's serving army-duty the least I can serve is dog-duty." How fortunate we are to have men and women making sacrifices to serve the USA.
Here's a bit of good advice: "Bark Less. Wag More!"
Aspen-the-husky and Jessie-the-mixed-breed have been a nice addition to the Bark Park family. Their person (forgive me, I don't know his name) will be dog sitting Aspen and Jessie the next three years. He also has an older beagle named Annie. I commented what a committment three years of dog sitting is and the man replied "If my son's serving army-duty the least I can serve is dog-duty." How fortunate we are to have men and women making sacrifices to serve the USA.
Here's a bit of good advice: "Bark Less. Wag More!"
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