Harness No More

This morning I put the harness on Keller to go for our run, and I turned to put my shoes on, turned back around, and here to find out she had chewed the harness ON HER into two pieces. I could only stare and gape at her.

For some bizarre reason, she ran like the wind without that thing on. I haven't seen her run like that on a leash with me in a loooooooooong time.

So, either time to bust out the sewing machine or buy a new one. Probably a new one, considering she was getting close to out growing it. :)

Play Dates

After Keller spent a few days with Santi when we were up north, Santi came over for Saturday and Sunday while Seth and Sarah when up to a ball game in the Cities.

Needless to say, the two (the dogs that is) picked up riiiiight were they left off and proceeded to wear each other out, eat each other's food, chew apart each other's toys. By far, the Toy Of The Weekend was the stuffed pheasant, which I hear is SO popular with Santi that it's been stitched up and even temporarily replaced (with a duck). Well, there's no stitching left to the thing after the weekend...no stuffing or honky-honk thing either (see above right). I'll put a video up on YouTube, too.

Dave and I took them to Leads and Leashes on Saturday before we went to the McNally wedding (left picture in the Vibe). It was fun, but I won't go back really for much except to buy Keller treats or something. Kind of pricey.

Time to get outside for a run. Keller's feeling a bit lonely today, I think. We are headed to Neenah on Wednesday, and that will be her longest car ride yet!

A Few Days Apart

So I totally felt like a mom dropping her kid off at a baby-sitter's and it was the weirdest feeling ever....hahah!!! Keller stayed with some friends (one of my coworkers and his wife) while we went up to the Northshore. Usually we would take her along, but we didn't know what we'd be doing in Duluth and we would have had to leave her alone when going out and Rob and Charly's place don't allow dogs. Anyway, Keller stayed with Santiago (10 month old lab) for nearly 3 days!!! Apparently on Wednesday night they ran around soooo much that they tired themselves out for the next 2 days. Keller at night slept on the bed with Seth and Sarah and didn't chew anything up, unlike the front hall carpet and padding here the other day, which I am grateful for.

Keller turned 6 months on the 25th - she's certainly got one thing down pat - the whole making herself right at home on our bed (picture to come).

I think we're trying to rig something up with Randy and Julie for doggy daycare. Duncan needs a playmate during the day and it would keep Keller occupied, especially the days when neither Dave or me are home for long periods of time. It's an all-around good thing, just need to fine-tune the details!

The Skunk

I have successfully tired out Keller (I am standing in the kitchen typing this and I can hear her snoring from the living room). This comes only after an hour long walk this morning, afternoon play outside, an afternoon trip to the dog park (south one, with the creek), and an evening walk for an hour.

During the evening walk, Keller managed to find the skunk that I knew very well had been on the trail. It's a tall grassy trail with big wildflowers and big weeds in a big field that no one mows, except for the same path generated by countless traversing feet and bikes. Anyway, she's conveniently missed it before, but her nose zeroed riiiiiiiiiiiiight in on it tonight, and I felt the leash tug behind me, and I just knew it. I knew it. And there she was, the entire thing, all dead squished 10 inches of it, in her mouth. And she did not drop it, she kindly carried it before I freaked out enough where she dropped it. Or maybe she realized just how bad it tasted or smelled.

She also managed to find an eighth of a bird, but after the whole skunk thing, I could really care less about the stinkin' bird. Gross.

Anyway, if Keller could type, she would say, "Yes, I pick up skunks, and then I go lay right on your bed, right in your spot, and breathe skunk breath, just the way you like it."

Carpet Monster

Keller chewed up a corner section of the carpet on the stairs...and padding...upstairs today. All these toys, and you go chew up the stairs, Keller? That's what happens when she doesn't get morning exercise and is then inside all day...she could have gone out with me this morning...but nooooo....Dave slept in = Keller slept in. Then we both left for work. Le. Sigh.

Puppy Gets A Haircut

So as I mentioned, we gave Keller a haircut before we left on our camping trip. It turned out pretty good (see the before...left, and the after....ok, not as good of a shot, but come on, could that picture BE any cuter???). She did a good job during the trim and after getting used to the clippers started to yawn. Like it was boring her or something. Teehee. She didn't like when it went by her ears, though, at least on the back of her neck.

I'll tell you one thing though...it certainly helps us see the ticks more! Coincidentally, she didn't get ANY over our camping trip...Dave's the one that got one (no bite though).

Keller Goes Rustic

Keller survived - and did extremely well - during her first MacPhail camping trip. She was SUCH a good puppy - she listened off leash (90% of the time), learned to swim, slept with Dave in the hammock, and had such a blast running around the woods - that she passed out on the way home with her head against her water dish (see left). So cute and funny.

Perhaps the funniest occurance was when we were hiking on the Nordic Trail and she saw a squirrel - the squirrel bolted up the tree - the branch at the top broke - squirrels crashes allllll the way to the ground - Keller says "victory!" - squirrel bolts to next tree and up it - Keller tries to go follow - then she figured it out and started looking up every tree she saw. Just hilarious.

We didn't find any ticks on her the whole time; gave her a haircut before we left. She has an eye infection and has been on some meds but her eyes have been so much better now. I'm so proud of her. More later.