Sunday, February 26, 2012

Cool Trick ~ Jump

I'm entering the contest at Of Pit Bulls & Patience.  My cool trick is:  Agility



Bella

Cool Trick ~ Ding Ding

I'm entering the contest at Of Pit Bulls & Patience.  My cool trick is: Ding Ding.


Hey that's what a Queen does.  You want your food, toys or anything else just ding ding the bell and the humans appear to honor your requests.

Emma

Cool Trick ~ Find It

I am entering the contest at Of Pit Bulls & Patience.  My cool trick is:  Find It.



I have such a good nose that Mom said she wants us to learn and participate in nose work just for fun.  If foods involved you can count me in.

Sweet Pea

Friday, February 24, 2012

Flash Back Friday ~ PuppySitting the Pea

Several years ago we used to puppysit Sweet Pea.  Mom and Dad had met her many times, but if memory serves me well I believe this was the first time Bella and I met her.  Or maybe we had met her one time before.  It was at this time she had her first sleepover.  We partied all night and slept all day ;)







 It was when I was going over to Pea's house one time puppysitting that I fell out of the EmmaMobile and scraped my foot.  Long story short that is how I have the cauliflower looking lump on top of my front foot still today.  Yep, you guessed it I wouldn't stop licking it.  You know it's really the Pea's fault because if we hadn't had to go over there to let her bouncy boing boing self out to potty and feed her and water her and play with her I would have been home all safe and sound on my soft comfy couch. 

Flash Forward:  A happy family :)



Emma

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sweet Pea's Spay & Emma's Owie Elbow

Almost 2 weeks ago Sweet Pea had her spay surgery.  All the hype says the Comfy Cone is more comfortable and tolerated better because it's soft.  Does this look comfy?

bat or dog? 

it's trying to contact the home planet

Funny thing is when the Dr.'s prescribe the use of a cone the instructions also come with "limited activity for 10 days" so I'm wondering why the cones literature says it's lined with a reflective material for night walks.  Hmmmmm.  I suppose some doggies may be using it for reasons other than surgery.  I think it should be made in a lighter color because black just makes it way too dark in there.  I suppose it was probably more comfortable and less traumatic than those stiff heavy plastic cones.  I'll support it's use so long as I'm not the one having to wear it ;)

I think Bella was the happiest of all when the cone came off.  She was scared of Sweet Pea in the cone.  It was big and clumsy and made noise when it awkwardly banged against the kennel.  

Mom and Dad are always worried about the risks of anesthesia.  That is why I haven't had my weird bumps (benign) removed or my teeth cleaned.  They were very worried about Sweet Pea and how she would do with the surgery and recovery.  They were also worried because we think she is a bit overweight for her size and hoped it would not cause any trouble.

Rest assured all went well.  The humans fretted and were filled with dread.  I guess Mom should have applied one of her favorite verses "There they were overwhelmed with dread where there was nothing to dread".  She keeps saying she really wants to learn all the things I have to teach her, but she just doesn't listen closely enough to me especially when I tried to tell her Sweet Pea would be fine.  I told her to relax Bella and I both did just fine with our surgeries. Always remember an Emma knows best :)

At least Sweet Pea came home with all her boobies.  I somehow lost one.  Yep, I'm missing a boobie.  It happened after the surgery where they removed a lump in my mammary gland that was benign.  Oh well, they have shrunken so tiny I can't even find them so I guess it's no big deal.  Did you know that Sweet Pea was born with an odd number  of boobies?  Hehehehehehe ;) 

Mom and Dad didn't take us along because they thought Sweet Pea would rather have a peaceful ride home and we would have been sniffing all over her trying to figure out why she smelled funny and who had been touching her.  Our Dr. is almost an hour away so Mom and Dad did a lot of driving that day.  They took Sweet Pea in around 8:00 a.m. had breakfast at IHOP and didn't even bring us back any bacon.  Then they went to the pet store, some bookstores, some other stores and then they came back home to let us out to potty before driving straight back up to pick up Sweet Pea.  She got to leave the Dr.'s at 3:00 p.m. Mom and Dad was back in time for another potty break and dinner.  Yes, we did sniff all over her when she arrived home.  She smelled all mediciney and stinky.  We were very careful not to bump her because we could tell something wasn't right and she needed to heal and get all better.

Sweet Pea has a temporary zipper kinda like we had except hers is metal.  Yeah, they used staples.  What!?  Ouch!!  The Vet Tech said the Dr. used staples because of her age.  I was about the same age or a year older and thankfully I just got stitches.  I secretly wonder if they didn't use staples because she's....well how do I say it nicely......a bit plump.  Mom asked it was because she was fat and the Vet Tech just smiled and said no.  I bet it was. 


Sweet Pea has done very well and tolerated all the weird stuff like having to use a ramp to go outside, wearing the cone, only going outside to potty, staying in her kennel most of the time.  She was able to be out longer and longer as the days went by as long as Mom or Dad was there to watch and make sure she didn't do anything silly like try to jump on the couch, play with us, lick her stitches.  I'm most positive that she can't even find them.  Seriously it's like they are hidden in a valley with mountains on each side. 

After 10 days which was last Thursday she had her staples removed and her ears checked because one has been really bothering her and she has a small infection.  She gets her ears cleaned now twice a day and an ointment called Panalog.  Mom said while she was cleaning Sweet Pea's ears she might as well clean ours too.  Why?  We didn't get diagnosed with an ear infection.  So not fair!!

Sweet Pea was so excited to be able to get her staples out so she could finally get up on her favorite spot....MY couch.



I have to say Mom has been a bit too busy making sure we are all doctored up and stuff.  She thinks she has to brush our teeth every night, clean our ears, squirt meds in Pea's ears, put salve on my elbow, give me antibiotics, give me vitamins, give Sweet Pea Pepcid.  She really needs to slow it down and take a break I can do without all those things.  Then she could stop complaining it takes an hour every night to get things done before we go to bed.

About my elbow.........it was healing up very nicely because Mom was home for a week and then Dad was home for a few days after that so I was never able to find anytime to sneak in any licks :(  Then finally they left for a couple  hours and I licked nonstop the entire time and licked a crater in my elbow.  Mom said it was too gross to show pictures here.  In my previous post about my elbow my dear friend Honey's human recommended a long sleeve shirt.   Mom couldn't believe they had never thought of that.  I am very embarrassed to say Mom's sewing skills are not so good when trying to alter a human shirt to fit me.  She had to buy a 3XL woman's size so it would fit my chest then the rest was way, way, way, too big.  She worked on trying to alter it for 2 days and this is how it turned out.................Please save me from the embarrassment I can't be seen like this.


What's wrong with this picture?  Where do I begin.  The sleeves are two different lengths and I keep tripping over the right one.  What is up with that pointy thing in the chest area?  I'm not Madonna.  It's a bit too long.  As if this wasn't bad enough she went and bought me another shirt to wear for when this one is in the wash and she plans on trying to alter that one too.  Does anyone out there sew?  Can someone PLEASE make me a shirt that fits properly in the all the right areas.  Mom is going to call around to some local businesses that alter human garments and see if anyone has the ability or desire to help me out.  We have bought doggie clothes for me, but even when they say it's supposed to fit my measurements it never does.  Usually too tight in the chest and I can't move properly and we have a difficult time getting my legs in the sleeves.

I guess long story short we have been spending a lot of time driving back and forth to the vet for one of us.  I think we've been there at least once if not twice a month for the past few months.  Mom and Dad half joke we should move closer.

Paws crossed I can keep my tongue off my elbow long enough for it to heal up so I don't have to have surgery done to remove the infected gland.  I've been on antibiotics for a month and Mom and Dad are worried about the long term use of them.  I just have to tell myself  I can do it, I can do it, I can do it. 

Emma

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Silly Sunday ~ Pea Pillow

This is my cushion.  Move over.


Three dogs and three cushions.  Someone can't do the math.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Puppy Mills

I felt compelled to speak my mind about Puppy Mills.  I try to leave the blog for cute and fun things with the dogs but I just felt the need to express my thoughts on this subject matter.

I just read a magazine article and was a bit confused and disappointed.  There was a multiple page article about this company claiming they are concerned for the environment and want humane and environmentally friendly products because it's at the core of their personal philosophy and they wanted that for their business too......then they say "We sell leather leashes that come from Amish craftsmen"  Whoa! back up the buggy.  What????

How can you even use the words Amish and humane together?  In the U.S. the Amish are the leaders in the puppy mill industry.  If you even like dogs a little bit how can you even consider supporting such a cruel industry?  

There was a time when I was intrigued by the Amish and their lifestyle, but then I realized how cruel they are to the animals in their care.  If they are that cruel to the ones you see them with regularly how much worse is it for the ones that are hidden out of sight in barns and shacks?  Once I became aware of the puppy mill industry and how the Amish are leading this extremely cruel trade I realized this was not something I wanted to support in any way.

We have made a commitment as a family not to support the Amish craftsmen. They may not all participate in this extreme act of cruelty, but it's impossible as a consumer to know which ones are participating either actively or by association. It's much easier for us to avoid all Amish made products. When we go shopping we ask at gift shops, specialty shops, and stores if a product we are interested in is Amish made. If so we walk away. 

What happens at puppy mills is as cruel as dog fighting.  I can not support Amish craftsmen or any business that does.  My list of places to shop may dwindle but at least I will have a clear conscience knowing that I did all I could to avoid prospering the industry.

What are your thoughts?  Would you take your business elsewhere?

Mom

P.S. Emma is telling me she hopes I have not offended anyone with my thoughts and she hopes you please continue to visit her as she will be back in charge of the blog beginning immediately.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Happy Birthday Bella ~ 8 yrs

We celebrated all weekend long one of the most marvelous of days ~ Bella's birthday.  I thought I would give the blogging honor to my baby sister for today.  Bella my birthday gift to you a blog post of your very own.  Enjoy.

It's so hard to believe I've been with my family for 8 years already.  Where does the time go?  It sure has been a lot of fun, love, laughs, and adventure.  I've done so many things most dogs never get to do.  One day I will have to share my adoption story with you.  That will be another day.  Today it's a celebration of 8 wonderful years.

It all began on Saturday Mom decided I was having a Princess Party.  What could be better since I am Princess Bella next in line to the Queen Emma.  I was so excited when Mom came home with all the bags I just had to check them out.  I didn't really see anything interesting, but Dad grabbed most of them from her and I wasn't able to investigate all of them.  I am hopeful.

Mom headed to the kitchen and started using noisy kitchen gadgets while Dad disappeared to the bedroom and wouldn't let me in.  What's going on in there?  Can I help?  Hmmmm.

I smell something yummy coming from the oven.  I think it might be for me. 

While I waited to see what the parents were up to Mom took me to Arby's to get my birthday dinner.  We all got roast beast sandwiches.  They are so yummy.  I would share some pictures of us eating our roast beast, but the Mom was too busy stuffing food in her mouth and passing around our share she didn't get any pictures.  That's ok I wouldn't want you to drool all over your computers.  After our dinner it was time for dessert.  Oh, oh, oh, I love food.  It was a pretty peanut butter heart shaped cake with peanut butter and honey cream cheese frosting.  Doesn't this look yumm-e-licious?


I sat very pretty for my picture with the birthday cake to show Mom and Dad I still know sit, stay and leave it.  I do have to say Mom takes forever with the flashy.  I'm not sure why she has to take so many of the same exact pose.  I'm starting to drool (not really but it was close) and that's just not proper for a Princess.  Finally Dad says I can have a taste.  Yeah!!!  Thanks Dad.


Mmmmm!  That's good frosting.  I should probably share some.


It's a 12 paws up for peanut butter cake.  Mom interrupted our delightful cake fest to tell us she has pretty princess plates for us to eat our cake from.  Are they pink?  I don't need any special plate just hand over the cake and the one it's on will do just fine ;)





All was going wonderfully and I was having a magnificent time eating lots of yummy food and then...... Mom felt compelled to torture me on my birthday.  Why??



I wish I wasn't such a weeney and I would ask Mom to please stop it with the hats, headbands, and things on my head.  I do not like to wear things on my head, but I learned at a young age that a Princess does as requested so again I performed stay and leave it.  It took all my courage to endure that thing on my head.  The game of dress up did not end there.  Mom thought since we were having a Princess party we should have pretty necklaces to wear.  Now this I can do.  I like pretties.  I love to look like a pretty Princess.  I can do jewelery and fashionable clothes.



 

Mom, what the heck?????  I can't be seen like this.  I need a new stylist...help.  Why does Pea Dog look better.  Her necklace is on correctly.  So is Emma's.  Dad can you please help me with these beads?




My next favorite things about birthdays besides all the yummy food is the presents.  I love presents.  Mom and Dad said I've got to go through my baskets of toys and donate some of the gently used ones I don't play with very much to a dog rescue.  Hey, that sounds great....toys are the gift that keeps on giving :)
What something else to wear?  Are you serious?

Oooh Ahhh this is pink with polka dots.  This is actually pretty nice and I think it works much better than the beads.  This will be very nice for our cold weather walks.  Plus it also doubles as a tug toy.  Yep, tried it.


Now that I have entertained Mom it's on to the real presents.







These are great toys.  I just love them.  Thank you so very much.  I got a Kong Hear Doggy Pink Penguin and a Paw Doodles Pink Pig.  The Kong stuffie has a squeaker in it that only dogs can hear.  I must say I don't really notice it so much.  But, when you squeak it that Pea Dog turns and twists her head all funny and crinkles her brow.  I guess she's hearing something I don't.  Actually I just wanna play, play, play I don't so much care what kinda squeak it makes.  The Pink Pig is a stuffie that's a squeaky ball.  How cool is that.  It just doesn't get any better.  Some genius combined the best of both toys.

In our house we are always fair to each other so Emma and Sweet Pea were not left out to just watch me get new toys.  They were allowed a new toy from the $1 toy box we keep in the closet.  We have a stash for special occasions, just because, or gifts for other dogs.  I don't think they liked their new toys as much.  Sorry girls.  Don't worry because Emma has a birthday next month and she will  be 14.  Sweet Pea has a birthday coming up this summer.  Then there is our Gotcha Days to celebrate too.  We have lots of partying coming up.

this is it?

I want a Kong Hear Doggy

not funny

fine I'll try it

The Mom and Dad joined in the celebration too.  They got their very own birthday cake.  I guess they were just too generous to take any of ours.  I wonder why mine didn't have that kinda pretty writing.  Come on Mom I know you can do it.


I have to say it was another wonderful birthday.  That's why we blog to celebrate each and every moment we share together and ensure we never forget all the special things we have shared as a family.  I am excited to embark upon a new year and see what fun things are awaiting us. 

Thank you, Emma for letting me share my birthday on our blog.

Bella

PeeS:  My little treat to everyone.....I will share a baby picture with you.  Promise you won't laugh.