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Friday, March 26, 2010

Mud puddle trouble = BUSTED


If pictures did justice, you would see how exceptionally filthy and reeky these dogs were after running and lying and sipping up the disgusting mud puddle at the dog park. Busted. Bathtime. Both of you. Big time.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

1 Year With Keller!


Today is the 1 year anniversary of us getting Keller and the start of this blog! I remember that day so vividly...Dave going to the Humane Society in Coon Rapids after work...we had loaded up the Vibe the night before with the kennel just incase...and when I hadn't heard anything by 6pm I figured it was good news....and then the phone call on his way home...and the little bark in the background...and I realized that our lives were about to become extremely fuzzy and and stinky and fun too. And they have. I remember my excited text to Randy about Duncan having a playmate, going to PetCo and buying a little collar and some chew toys and wanting to get home soooo quick to beat them...and they beat me home...and I pull into the driveway and here's this little yellow furball with Dave on my front lawn wearing a little collar and the homemade orange leash...and she sat and stared at me, all alert, trying to figure me out, and then her butt starting wiggling and the rest of the night she ran around sniffing everything and ran on us and over us and whined when one of us left the room and wouldn't go upstairs and was afraid of SO many things! And that night I didn't sleep because she cried all night long in her kennel. I spent so many nights sleeping in front of that kennel. You've taught us so much Keller - outsmarted me, made me laugh, made me cry, made me giggle, made me proud, made me nearly have a heart attack a few times, made me want to tear my hair out, and made me love you more and more everyday. Here's to one year!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Revenge


Keller is on a revenge streak. I think.

She decided to go after my face yesterday. Not on purpose, but she likes to paw at things (furniture, her toys, other dogs, people...you get it). Her nails are pretty sharp too. Wouldn't you know it, the stinker was lying next to me in bed and decided she'd had enough impromptu nap time (sorry pup - I was tired) so up came the paws and right across the face.

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeowwwwwwwwwwww

Luckily one of the scratches disappeared today, the other one remains. I'm sure to the people at the dog park, it looked as if I had gotten in a mad cat fight or was being my typical sloppy self and left the house with ketchup strewn across face (been there, done that!).

On a different note - this dog was SO muddy today after coming back from our walk to the dog park that I took one look at her and laughed. She reeked and there was no way a towel was going to get her clean, so I knew a bath would unfortunately be the best solution.

Since getting her upstairs is half the battle in the Bathtime Battle, I left her downstairs and went upstairs to pull a sliver out of my finger. Eventually, she trotted upstairs and went into the bedroom. Luckily, with quick thinking, I caught her as she was eyeing up the bed and was about to assume "jump up" position. So - I threw her in the tub and washed her. All by myself. Anyone who owns a dog that hates bathtime knows the achievement this is. She sat and sulked the whole bath.

But just because revenge is sweet, when she was all suds-ed up, she decided to give me the whole shake-a-roo, and dirty, soapy scud went flying all over.

Afterwards, she assumed her curled up position on the bed, in my spot, head on my pillow, and scowled.

For further revenge, even after over an hour and a half of outdoor exercise today, I came home for supper to find five shoes in the living room: Dave's slippers, my old running shoes, and my previously chewed up winter boot. I have no idea how she got into the downstairs bathroom since that door is always closed when we leave. Magically, she had left the slippers and one of my running shoes alone, but had started to go to town on the others. It could have been worse - my hiking boots and bookbag were in the bathroom too. Then I really would have been ticked!

Seriously? I think she misses Dave.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Energizer Puppy


It took me a 7 mile run to wear out Keller tonight. What gives, dog? Are you too that happy that it was 60 degrees today? :)

Monday, March 1, 2010

Lessons in Parenting

I consider it a mock run at parenting - we've had Keller pup for almost a year now (a year on March 24th!) and while I've been tried and tested MANY times in the course of the past 12 months, the past two days have got me.

The poor dog - barfed four more times yesterday, two in the evening while I was home for work and twice in the middle of the night. I was already having a hard enough time falling asleep, so when I woke up to the sounds of her retching, I should have realized I was in for a night of no sleep.

After she threw up we crawled back into bed and then all I could hear was (what I can only assume was painful - you know how it is) stomach juices churning. They were so loud and she couldn't get comfy. Eventually I let her outside to try to use the .... ladies room? (heh). She didn't want to go back upstairs, and frankly, I didn't want to either, so we made our bed in the living room and tried to sleep. Then I had dreams of having to take her to the emergency vet and the vet in general and all the things that could be wrong with her.

I skipped going to the gym this am - plus, I was way too tired - plus, I didn't want to leave Keller alone - so we went for a gentle walk around our old loop. The air felt different this morning, and it was nice, and soon it will be spring, and soon Keller will feel better, and my lessons in parenting will continue.