A DOG'S PLEA

A DOG'S PLEA

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for
no heart in all the world is more grateful
for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for
though I should lick your hand between
blows, your patience and understanding
will more quickly teach me the things you
would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the
world’s sweetest music, as you must know
by the fierce wagging of my tail when
your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold
and wet, for I am a domesticated animal,
no longer accustomed to bitter elements.
I ask no greater glory than the privilege
of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water,
for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well,
to romp and play and do your bidding, to
walk by your side, and stand ready, willing
and able to protect you with my life, should
your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and
I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and
sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep
me going. I am not having any fun. Please
see that my trusting life is taken gently.
I shall leave this earth knowing with the
last breath I draw that my fate was always
safest in your hands.

Anonymous

Teeth!

Yesterday afternoon was Freddie’s first vet visit as my fur baby. We got the customary “Oh! How cute!” He was too little to get on the big dog scale, well, he could have gotten onto it, but it wouldn’t have done any good! When we got back to our room he was put on a baby scale and weighed in at a whopping 6.3 pounds! I know, he is absolutely humongous. I dropped him off at home and went grocery shopping.
When we got back, I put Kiddo #1 on doggy duty and he stayed out back with the boys. Freddie kept trying to sneak in the house; I was making dinner and didn’t want to trip over him, so I kept telling him to go back out. Amazingly enough he came in for dinner and was quiet in his kennel for a while, I vote he was napping. My boys went to sleep and Freddie was ready to go out for his night time business, so out we went.
That little sucker has officially started his teething… OUCH! Up until last night he wasn’t really biting, he was somewhere between nibbling and chewing. After we finished outside and I conned Charlie to come in the three of us were playing with some toys on my bed. We bought a chewy ball for Freddie, but Charlie claimed it. We also purchased a few chewing things, Charlie also tried to claim those, but has relented to sharing. I am trying to encourage Freddie to chew on those and not on us. I noticed Freddie headed towards Charlie’s tail and didn’t think much of it until I saw Charlie up, teeth bared and growling. Freddie gave him the look of ‘what?’ Charlie looked at me with the “I sorry mommy, but it hurt’ look. It took about an hour to reassure Charlie that he did nothing wrong (after telling Freddie that was not nice).
This morning they were fine, playing with each other as if nothing at all happened last night! Freddie needs to learn that Charlie, though very understanding, has his limits. Kiddo #1 was on puppy duty again this morning and successfully tuckered him out!

What a weekend!

Friday evening, we wondered over to my parents’ house to pick up the mower, then went on to dinner. As we were leaving the restaurant I get a text message! Trying not to get overly excited (as far as my boys knew Freddie wasn’t coming until Saturday). We slowly drove to the meeting location and there they were! The boys still did not know what was going on. I got out, walked over and she put Freddie in my arms. He was so tiny! We got him home at around 8pm, brought him straight out to the back yard and then brought Charlie out. The introductions seemed to go pretty well, Charlie didn’t growl or bark, Freddie wasn’t too sure of what was going on. He kept walking back to me wanting up!
Friday night (1st night home) didn’t go as smooth. I let Kiddo #1 sleep down stairs in my sister’s area (he needed uninterrupted sleep) Kiddo #2 slept in front of Freddie kennel. By midnight, I had Freddie in my arms, wrapped up in a blanket hoping that would make him sleep. It worked until 1 am, I got him back to sleep… 3 am we were up again, and again at 4 and 5 and 7 and AHHHHHHHH! Kiddo #1 was nice and refreshed and come to think of it, Kiddo #2 was too! I knew right then I needed to figure out something!
Saturday afternoon I got the privileged of mowing the back yard, which meant both Freddie and Charlie were stuck inside. Once I was down mowing they were both permitted to come outside and the loved what I did. Freddie was bouncing after Charlie and Charlie was running away.
Saturday night (2nd night home) I set up a little den on the side of my bed and talked my boys into sleeping there! Charlie was able to sleep on my bed and Freddie didn’t make a peep all night, so all was happy!
Sunday I felt horrible (physically) so I ended up taking a nap and Freddie was content playing with my boys in the den! Sunday night went pretty much as well!
On the potty training front, he amazingly is doing really well. He has had a few accidents, but that is to be expected. He has only pooped inside once (on the first night) and he has peed a few times, but nothing major. He eats – he goes outside, he wakes from sleep – he goes outside. Every time he does his duties outside he gets cheered. I cheered Charlie at one point and got the look of “I have been doing this for a long time and I don’t need cheering’.
Here is to the misadventures of having a new puppy in the house! Tomorrow he turns 7 weeks!

Today is the day!

Today is the big day! Freddie is supposed to move in tonight. The breeder is about three hours away, she has to make a stop on the way here. Hopefully I will have Freddie home by 8:00 tonight!
Charlie spent yesterday at Doggy Daycare and seemed to love it! Before we left we took a lap around Petsmart to see if there was anything there he might like. I am guess nothing smelt right because he didn’t pick anything until we were on our way out the door. We were walked by an aisle and he HAD to go down it. I look to see what was going on and there was an English Bulldog, turns out Charlie just HAD to meet her. They were so funny together! She was on her belly inching around Charlie and Charlie was more than happy to say hi to her. Charlie also had no issue with my boys paying attention to this big pile of wrinkles. I still think getting another Boxer would be better for Charlie, but I don’t think he would have complained about a bulldog. Actually I don’t think he would have complained about anything as long as it was willing to play with him!Oh! My mom has already set up a visitation at her house! My dad does not know about Freddie so but my mom does, she has decided we need to come over on Sunday to do some stuff, I made sure she knew it would be a group! Sadly, Charlie won’t be coming, but I think I will get him a big raw hide to keep him distracted on Sunday.
Hopefully I will be posting a ton of pictures shortly!

Coming home early!

I think without Charlie and the knowledge that Freddie is coming soon is the only way I have been able to keep myself from being an emotional wreck. Last night I was in the kitchen making Charlie’s dinner and I looked down to where Carin’s bowl used to be, I got a little emotional.
I received a message yesterday that the puppies will be sent home on Friday instead of Saturday because the person has to work on Saturday. Both my boys know about Freddie. Zander has known for a while but Tyler didn’t officially find out until Monday. While we were in the vet’s office, Zander started yelling at Carin telling her she can’t go yet, she has to meet the new puppy and approve of him. It was very sad to watch. I don’t know if I feel bad for Freddie or not, I have a very strong feeling that Zander will claim Freddie and there ain’t notin no one can do about it!
So far we have…
Lupine Collar (http://www.lupinepet.com/)
Lupine Leash
Bowls x2 (they have stood up to Charlie, they should last at least a week with Freddie)
Puppy bed set
Puppy chow (that is what the breeder is feeding him and that is what I have always fed my puppies)
Puppy chew sticks
Baby blankets (we hit up Goodwill and spent no more than $2 for any one blanket!)
Tonight I will be picking up:
his “bed” (kennel)
Tooth brush and tooth paste
When we get him we will take him shopping for anything else we think he might need.
I have to say that I am a huge fan of Wag-n-Wash for a few reasons. #1 They have always been very helpful and they show their love of animals every time I have been in there; #2) They stand behind the products they sell… The list goes on! With that said; Charlie is a chewer! When he joined the family we bought him a collar and harness from Petsmart, they lasted maybe two days. We bought another set again, he chewed them right up! I was in Wag-n-Wash and I saw these collars, harness and leashes that were “Guaranteed (even if chewed)”, yea right! I bought a collar and harness anyway. Charlie has kept these for a while now. After Carin’s last day of IV treatment we took her shopping, she just so happened to be wearing Charlie harness which had some chew damage. The people at Wag-n-Wash told me to go over and get a new harness, we did a one-for-one exchange right then and there! Freddie has his collar and leash already for him, he chews it, I am not too worried about it! Also Wag-n-Wash sells Tuffy pet toys. Again, this can withstand my fur children? Yea right! We bought “Pentipus” for Carin a while ago and now it is Charlie’s favorite toy, the only wear and tare on the poor thing is the little loop on its head to hang it up by.
Tomorrow is the big day and right now I feel like a child on Christmas Eve!

Carin~ 22 March 2004 - 9 August 2010

This week I had to say good bye to my dear friend Carin. She has been my loyal friend and companion for the past six years.

Carin's first time meeting my boys

Carin decided she wanted to ride in a car seat just like her brothers!

That blanket was going to go to a baby shower, but Carin got to it first.

Carin the guard dog

Carin playing with her new friend, Charlie.

Carin and Charlie on the way to the doggy hotel (somehow they both squeezed into the front seat of a VW Bug!!!!!)

Just a Dog

As I scurry around preparing for my new puppy, it is with a saddened heart that a dear friend’s baby (rottie) lost her battle with cancer last night.

Just a Dog
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand."

Authored by Richard A. Biby