So, it's been a pretty good time around here lately. Especially with the newest member of the family : Val. She is officially registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) as Voyager Daystar Valley Girl. Mom also co-owns two other puppies from the litter: Marty (registered as Voyager Back To The Future) and Mercy (registered as Voyager Daystar Tender Mercies). The other four puppies went to wonderful homes. Gone to a show home are Star (Voyager A Star Is Born For Carla) and Stig (Voyagers Return Of The Jedi). Gone to loving pet homes were Bueller (Voyagers Ferris Buellers Day Off) and Louie (Voyagers The Terminator). And Mom gained a bunch of new friends!
So, since we are having such a good time, why did I name the blog the heartbreaks of breeding and dog ownership? Well, for a lot of reasons. Dog ownership, without a doubt, has a lot of good points to it. I mean, you own us right? We never talk back, we love you unconditionally, and we are always there for you. But sometimes, it's not so easy.
Although Gimme-Mom had 7 puppies, she actually gave birth to 8. She lost one sometime before giving birth. The reason she had the C-Section is because the third puppy got stuck and she tried and tried and tried to give birth, but he was already dead and she was just exhausted trying to give birth to him. In order to save the lives of Gimme-Mom and the rest of the puppies, Mom had the make the decision to do a C-Section. Thankfully, Gimme-Mom and the 7 puppies all survived and are doing well.
But plenty of things can still go wrong. The puppies are just four months old and growing, growing, growing! And Mom just worries, worries, worries about all the things that can go wrong. HOD, OCD, Pano, Parvo... It's so hard to be her best friend when she does nothing but worry about the puppies and how they are growing. But I'm there for her - all the time!
And then we hear about the really sad news. The breeders who lose the entire litter after birth. Or most of the litter. Or our friend who lost not only the litter, but the Mommy too. That made us cry. Breeding is not for the faint of heart. It can be maddening and saddening and expensive. And we really can't stress this enough!! BREEDING DOES NOT MAKE YOU MONEY! Sure, maybe a litter will or two. But in the long run - when done correctly - breeding does not make you money and can cause nothing but heartbreak!
And so why did I include dog ownership in the heartbreaks? Well, look at me. Mom and Dad love me, I know they do. But what a heartbreak it must be for them. I may never walk normal. I don't know. They don't know. They'll spend thousands of dollars fixing me up and hoping and keeping their fingers crossed. Or, one of Val's littermates. One of his testicles hasn't fully descended. It's there, it just won't stay down. So, they are spending money to fix that. But what if he doesn't turn out as a show dog like he was supposed to? Heartbreak.
Even just owning a dog like us can be heartbreak. Show dog or not doesn't matter. Take my doggy Mommy. Just out of the blue she got sick and never recovered. Gramma is heartbroken and there is no consoling her. Some other friends lost their beloved 9-year-old recently to bloat.
We love you, we'll always love you. But gosh we just can't stick around as long as you. And every time you humans lose one of us canines, it's heartbreak.
Kisses and hugs to all my internet buddies. Hug your humans tight. They need us.
Alf
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
HORMONES!!
Honestly, I don't know what is happening! Mom and Dad yell at me all the time because I hang around with Gimme Mom.... and Trekkie... and Val... and Mercy... and, well, ANY girl that comes across my path! I LOVE THEM ALL!! I can't help myself!! They are all so bee-a-u-tiful!! And so distracting. Oh my! One look at them and I can't think of anything else.
Trekkie, as you know, is my first love! She came with Mom & Dad to pick me up from Gramma. She's "older" as she is almost 6 years old. And she tells me that she has had that operation to make her not have babies. But I don't want babies, I just want loooooooooovvvveeee.
Gimme Mom, of course, is one of my housemates. She is a Great Dane and the mother of Val and Mercy. The puppies are only 12 weeks old but I love them too! They are girls aren't they?? And of course just stunning and lovely and girls and fun to be with and girls and ... wait, what was saying? Oh, right. How young they are <sigh>. I shouldn't be this excited to be with them, but they are GIRLS!! But they are so young. Dad just called me a child molester :-(. I think he was joking, I'm not sure.... I'm not even sure what he meant. But I think it's because I won't leave the puppies alone. But look! LOOK! Look how cute, adorable, snuggly, and kissable they are!!
Don't YOU just want to love all over them??
I can't believe how distracting all the girls are! I want to be with them all the time! And hold them down and lick them to death <Laugh Laugh>!
Mom and Dad say it's because of my age - I am 10 months old now and maturing. They say I am getting hormones. I don't know if I like this part of maturing! But then again, I do <Laugh Laugh>. I don't like it a lot because I get yelled at all the time to "Leave Them Alone!!!" and "NO!!!!". But I'm happy I'm getting older and leaving puppyhood behind. I want to be an adult!
And did you know, that Great Dane puppies have their ears cropped? This is a surgery that the puppies go through so their ears stand erect. That is why they are wearing tape on their ears in the picture here. I love licking their ears. And of course when I do, I get even more "Leave Them Alone!!!" and "NO!!!!". Something about if the ears get wet then they won't heal correctly because the tape will have to come off and be started all over again... But I love the girls and then the tape gets all gooey and Mom and Dad have to redo them (again).
And don't forget Trekkie! Trekkie loves me back! I know she does! Who could not love a handsome, young, stud like me? I don't care if she can't have babies! She's a girl and my heart and I can't live without her. Unless Gimme-Mom is in the room. Then, and only then, will I probably give myself over to another other than Trekkie. But maybe not.... If I could have them both.... And believe me, I have tried and tried!! Laugh Laugh!!
I know Mom worries about what will happen when Gimme Mom comes into season again. She hasn't come into season since the puppies were born and this next one will be the first since I "matured" and got hormones. I'll try to behave, I promise! But just let me near Gimme Mom just once... that's all I need <Laugh Laugh>.
See? You see the dilemma I have? So many girls, so little time, so many hormones!!
Happy Dreams internet pups! I'll be dreaming of GIRLS!!
Alf
(Rest In Peace to my Mommy - BISS GCH Copper Mtn's Windstorm HOF)
Trekkie, as you know, is my first love! She came with Mom & Dad to pick me up from Gramma. She's "older" as she is almost 6 years old. And she tells me that she has had that operation to make her not have babies. But I don't want babies, I just want loooooooooovvvveeee.
Gimme Mom, of course, is one of my housemates. She is a Great Dane and the mother of Val and Mercy. The puppies are only 12 weeks old but I love them too! They are girls aren't they?? And of course just stunning and lovely and girls and fun to be with and girls and ... wait, what was saying? Oh, right. How young they are <sigh>. I shouldn't be this excited to be with them, but they are GIRLS!! But they are so young. Dad just called me a child molester :-(. I think he was joking, I'm not sure.... I'm not even sure what he meant. But I think it's because I won't leave the puppies alone. But look! LOOK! Look how cute, adorable, snuggly, and kissable they are!!
Don't YOU just want to love all over them??
I can't believe how distracting all the girls are! I want to be with them all the time! And hold them down and lick them to death <Laugh Laugh>!
Mom and Dad say it's because of my age - I am 10 months old now and maturing. They say I am getting hormones. I don't know if I like this part of maturing! But then again, I do <Laugh Laugh>. I don't like it a lot because I get yelled at all the time to "Leave Them Alone!!!" and "NO!!!!". But I'm happy I'm getting older and leaving puppyhood behind. I want to be an adult!
And did you know, that Great Dane puppies have their ears cropped? This is a surgery that the puppies go through so their ears stand erect. That is why they are wearing tape on their ears in the picture here. I love licking their ears. And of course when I do, I get even more "Leave Them Alone!!!" and "NO!!!!". Something about if the ears get wet then they won't heal correctly because the tape will have to come off and be started all over again... But I love the girls and then the tape gets all gooey and Mom and Dad have to redo them (again).
And don't forget Trekkie! Trekkie loves me back! I know she does! Who could not love a handsome, young, stud like me? I don't care if she can't have babies! She's a girl and my heart and I can't live without her. Unless Gimme-Mom is in the room. Then, and only then, will I probably give myself over to another other than Trekkie. But maybe not.... If I could have them both.... And believe me, I have tried and tried!! Laugh Laugh!!
I know Mom worries about what will happen when Gimme Mom comes into season again. She hasn't come into season since the puppies were born and this next one will be the first since I "matured" and got hormones. I'll try to behave, I promise! But just let me near Gimme Mom just once... that's all I need <Laugh Laugh>.
See? You see the dilemma I have? So many girls, so little time, so many hormones!!
Happy Dreams internet pups! I'll be dreaming of GIRLS!!
Alf
(Rest In Peace to my Mommy - BISS GCH Copper Mtn's Windstorm HOF)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
OH! Those Puppies!!
Well! Gimme's puppies are almost 8 weeks old now and boy do they get into trouble! They run around and act like madmen (and women)! Little escapees too! The girls were getting out of the whelping box weeks ago; it took the boys a little longer. So Mommy and Daddy took the whelping box down and created a puppy room instead. It did not take them long to figure that out and so that had to be adjusted too. Sheesh! Now you can't walk into the puppy room without moving aside a 4-ft high xpen and the door to the crate. HA! You little buggers! Get out of that! Oh, wait. I don't want to issue them a challenge.... Hmmmmm....
So, although I'm older now I certainly don't remember being that bad as a puppy! These guys poop and pee all over the place. When they get into the living room they go behind the couch and start chewing on wires and cords and whatever they can get their little teeth into. I think the curtains are next!! Not me though! I remember being Mr. Perfect Puppy! Laugh Laugh! That may just be my memory though! Laugh Laugh!!
Right now as I write this, they are in the kitchen sounding like a herd of buffalo as they run through the kitchen into the puppy area and back (again and again and again). NOTHING is safe from these puppies! Not even poor lil' ol' me!! Laugh Laugh! I love the little goobers though and will miss them when they are gone. Even if they did start deciding that I could substitute for Mom. But OW! Those are not nipples!! This is what I do when they get too out of control by me:
Gotcha you little goober-face! Laugh Laugh!!
Mommy and Daddy keep saying how nice it is that it is sunny and warm so the puppies can spend a lot of time outside. They've been wishing too hard for that I think as it's been really super hot around here lately. I know I already blogged about that but I just want to say that we've had rain for the last couple of days here and cooler temperatures. Most (if not all) of the fires burning in Colorado are 100% contained! Those firefighters working the lines deserve everyone's eternal gratitude!! They saved Colorado Springs - our second largest city!! - from burning down!! From Boulder & Ft. Collins to Durango, the western slope by Grand Junction, and the eastern plains by Limon. There have been terrible fires this year. And those firefighters got them contained before the rains showed up!! THANK YOU from all of us Coloradans!!
Of course, now that we have rains we have flood warnings in all the areas affected by the wildfires <sigh>. Please take care all my friends who are in these areas!!
Now, getting back to the serious stuff (ME!!). I know a lot of you are wondering how my leg is doing. It still bothers me and I still limp. Mommy and Daddy say that no surgery can be done until my growth plates close and that will be when I'm at least a year old - maybe older. I continue to see Jennie the Physical Therapist weekly and work on the underwater treadmill. And Mommy and Daddy are making plans for me to see Dr. Lewis for xrays when I turn a year old and then we'll go from there. Right now I'm 9 months old so .... 1 year is 12 months... 12 minus 9 is .... Dang It! Math has never been my best subject ... 3 months! There. Got it. Laugh Laugh!! And let me clarify that when I say "bothers" me, I don't mean it hurts. I just don't walk on it properly and so my movement is funny and I worry about stepping on puppies and slipping on the floors. And I find it hard to get up. And that bothers me!
Wishing everyone safety and quietness and loving arms to hold you when its not!
Alf
So, although I'm older now I certainly don't remember being that bad as a puppy! These guys poop and pee all over the place. When they get into the living room they go behind the couch and start chewing on wires and cords and whatever they can get their little teeth into. I think the curtains are next!! Not me though! I remember being Mr. Perfect Puppy! Laugh Laugh! That may just be my memory though! Laugh Laugh!!
Right now as I write this, they are in the kitchen sounding like a herd of buffalo as they run through the kitchen into the puppy area and back (again and again and again). NOTHING is safe from these puppies! Not even poor lil' ol' me!! Laugh Laugh! I love the little goobers though and will miss them when they are gone. Even if they did start deciding that I could substitute for Mom. But OW! Those are not nipples!! This is what I do when they get too out of control by me:
Gotcha you little goober-face! Laugh Laugh!!
Mommy and Daddy keep saying how nice it is that it is sunny and warm so the puppies can spend a lot of time outside. They've been wishing too hard for that I think as it's been really super hot around here lately. I know I already blogged about that but I just want to say that we've had rain for the last couple of days here and cooler temperatures. Most (if not all) of the fires burning in Colorado are 100% contained! Those firefighters working the lines deserve everyone's eternal gratitude!! They saved Colorado Springs - our second largest city!! - from burning down!! From Boulder & Ft. Collins to Durango, the western slope by Grand Junction, and the eastern plains by Limon. There have been terrible fires this year. And those firefighters got them contained before the rains showed up!! THANK YOU from all of us Coloradans!!
Of course, now that we have rains we have flood warnings in all the areas affected by the wildfires <sigh>. Please take care all my friends who are in these areas!!
Now, getting back to the serious stuff (ME!!). I know a lot of you are wondering how my leg is doing. It still bothers me and I still limp. Mommy and Daddy say that no surgery can be done until my growth plates close and that will be when I'm at least a year old - maybe older. I continue to see Jennie the Physical Therapist weekly and work on the underwater treadmill. And Mommy and Daddy are making plans for me to see Dr. Lewis for xrays when I turn a year old and then we'll go from there. Right now I'm 9 months old so .... 1 year is 12 months... 12 minus 9 is .... Dang It! Math has never been my best subject ... 3 months! There. Got it. Laugh Laugh!! And let me clarify that when I say "bothers" me, I don't mean it hurts. I just don't walk on it properly and so my movement is funny and I worry about stepping on puppies and slipping on the floors. And I find it hard to get up. And that bothers me!
Wishing everyone safety and quietness and loving arms to hold you when its not!
Alf
Thursday, June 14, 2012
OH! This Weather!
So, when I left Grammy's house, the weather was nice. Sure, there were some warm days but nothing - absolutely NOTHING - like it is here at Mommy & Daddy's house! Wow! We have already been seeing temperatures in the 90's and it's only mid-June! We had temperatures in the 90's in April and May. Now, Mr. Fox and Gimme Mom may not care too much. But believe you me, Trekkie and I care!
Sure, Mommy and Daddy have air conditioning but they didn't want to turn it on too early in the year. Daddy does nothing but complain about the cost of it. So, the months of April and May were tough months to get through. Now that we are in June and the temperatures are staying above 80 most days, the A/C is on. When it works <sigh>. Boy, has that been a project for everyone! First, we had to get someone out here to do some preventative maintenance on it. Then, we had it running for just a tiny bit of time and the fan motor started dying! O.M.G.! Will I never get comfortable again??!! It's hot hot hot around here!
OK, it's getting more comfortable. The A/C is on now again and Daddy soon won't have a reason to complain about it. I hear we are getting solar panels from Solar City to help us. The solar panels mean that we won't be paying Excel Energy bunches of money. YEAH! Maybe that will mean I will get more toys or treats! Yeah! Yeah! That's the ticket! I bet I'll get more toys! Or treats! Yummmm!! Laugh Laugh!! But until then, I guess I (we) suffer through the hot temperatures. Yuck! I'll be sure to give an update when the solar panels get installed.
Thankfully, Mommy & Daddy sometimes leave the back door open at night for Trekkie and I. It's cooler at night but we have to worry about Gimme Mom's puppies. We don't want them to get too cold and they are close by the back doorI, so it's kind of a Catch-22. For now, I guess we (Trekkie and I) will just continue to wake Mommy up at 4:30 in the morning (give or take a half hour) so she can let us out then! Trekkie does a good job of waking up Mommy. She walks over to the bed and starts panting in Mommy's face. Works like a charm!! Laugh Laugh! I suggest all my internet buddies give it a try one night! Laugh Laugh!!
The weather has also wreaked havoc along the entire state. Many, many forest fires have started already this year - and it's not even forest fire season yet! That's usually later in the year. It's not only been hot, it's been really dry. Awful, awful! The biggest fire of the year is burning right now near Ft. Collins. More than 50,000 acres are already burned and the fire is only about 15% contained. It's been burning for 7 days. So many people and their animals need help. The Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/), The Salvation Army (http://www.imsalvationarmy.org/), and Larimar Humane Society (http://larimerhumane.org/) are all accepting donations for evacuees and victims of the High Park Fire.
Speaking of the puppies, I suppose I can give a quick update on them too. Because they are just adorable! I love them soooooo much! And I can tell they love me Laugh Laugh! They all play with me!
The puppies are 4-1/2 weeks old now and range from 8 pounds to 11 pounds!! They are growing so fast! It will be a long time before they are as awesome as I am even if they are cute now! Just a couple of weeks and they will be gone. I will be so sad! Hopefully we can babysit them occasionally or see them at the dog shows! They will be my buddies forever!
Well, I'd better get back to shedding my heavy puppy fur! Laugh Laugh! I realize I've lost a lot of it already in the underwater treadmill (which I still do at least once a week) but this hot hot hot weather is making me lose and fast!
I hope every one of my internet buddies has a cool house to stay in and a warm human embrace to love in!
Alf
Sure, Mommy and Daddy have air conditioning but they didn't want to turn it on too early in the year. Daddy does nothing but complain about the cost of it. So, the months of April and May were tough months to get through. Now that we are in June and the temperatures are staying above 80 most days, the A/C is on. When it works <sigh>. Boy, has that been a project for everyone! First, we had to get someone out here to do some preventative maintenance on it. Then, we had it running for just a tiny bit of time and the fan motor started dying! O.M.G.! Will I never get comfortable again??!! It's hot hot hot around here!
OK, it's getting more comfortable. The A/C is on now again and Daddy soon won't have a reason to complain about it. I hear we are getting solar panels from Solar City to help us. The solar panels mean that we won't be paying Excel Energy bunches of money. YEAH! Maybe that will mean I will get more toys or treats! Yeah! Yeah! That's the ticket! I bet I'll get more toys! Or treats! Yummmm!! Laugh Laugh!! But until then, I guess I (we) suffer through the hot temperatures. Yuck! I'll be sure to give an update when the solar panels get installed.
Thankfully, Mommy & Daddy sometimes leave the back door open at night for Trekkie and I. It's cooler at night but we have to worry about Gimme Mom's puppies. We don't want them to get too cold and they are close by the back doorI, so it's kind of a Catch-22. For now, I guess we (Trekkie and I) will just continue to wake Mommy up at 4:30 in the morning (give or take a half hour) so she can let us out then! Trekkie does a good job of waking up Mommy. She walks over to the bed and starts panting in Mommy's face. Works like a charm!! Laugh Laugh! I suggest all my internet buddies give it a try one night! Laugh Laugh!!
The weather has also wreaked havoc along the entire state. Many, many forest fires have started already this year - and it's not even forest fire season yet! That's usually later in the year. It's not only been hot, it's been really dry. Awful, awful! The biggest fire of the year is burning right now near Ft. Collins. More than 50,000 acres are already burned and the fire is only about 15% contained. It's been burning for 7 days. So many people and their animals need help. The Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/), The Salvation Army (http://www.imsalvationarmy.org/), and Larimar Humane Society (http://larimerhumane.org/) are all accepting donations for evacuees and victims of the High Park Fire.
Speaking of the puppies, I suppose I can give a quick update on them too. Because they are just adorable! I love them soooooo much! And I can tell they love me Laugh Laugh! They all play with me!
The puppies are 4-1/2 weeks old now and range from 8 pounds to 11 pounds!! They are growing so fast! It will be a long time before they are as awesome as I am even if they are cute now! Just a couple of weeks and they will be gone. I will be so sad! Hopefully we can babysit them occasionally or see them at the dog shows! They will be my buddies forever!
Well, I'd better get back to shedding my heavy puppy fur! Laugh Laugh! I realize I've lost a lot of it already in the underwater treadmill (which I still do at least once a week) but this hot hot hot weather is making me lose and fast!
I hope every one of my internet buddies has a cool house to stay in and a warm human embrace to love in!
Alf
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Quick Update
There has been so much going on!! For a while, it was so busy around here! I went and saw my favorite vet Dr. Beth Lewis again. She watched me walk around and around (and around and around) and said that no, she didn't think I had a neurological/spine issue. And she cleared me for more physical therapy! I loooooooove my physical therapy!! And Jenni loves me! But of course, who could resist me?? No one I tell you. No one. Laugh Laugh!!
Daddy has taken me to work a couple of more times which always makes me happy! Sooooo many people to see and stop and pet me and love on me!! And of course, we go to Home Depot all the time during Daddy's lunch hour. And so many MORE people to see and stop and pet me and love on me!! But Daddy tells me that I am no longer welcome at his job because it's not "professional". Oh whatever. I might not be professional but I sure am super-cute and what else really matters???
And there have been so many people around the house! Yeah yeah. They come over to see the puppies but they stop to see me first! They have to because they can't resist ME!! Laugh Laugh!
But the puppies! Oh how cute and adorable they are! I love the puppies! I love watching them and sniffing them and watching them some more! The puppies are just 2-1/2 weeks old but they are starting to walk around. Earlier today, they walked around and checked me out! They were SO CUTE! At least, they were until they started trying to nurse on me. And they've got teeth already! Poor Gimme!!
So there has been so much going on! It's hard to say what all has happened! Wowzer. I guess I'd better update more often so I don't forget what's what!
Thanks for listening and have a GREAT time!
Alf
Daddy has taken me to work a couple of more times which always makes me happy! Sooooo many people to see and stop and pet me and love on me!! And of course, we go to Home Depot all the time during Daddy's lunch hour. And so many MORE people to see and stop and pet me and love on me!! But Daddy tells me that I am no longer welcome at his job because it's not "professional". Oh whatever. I might not be professional but I sure am super-cute and what else really matters???
And there have been so many people around the house! Yeah yeah. They come over to see the puppies but they stop to see me first! They have to because they can't resist ME!! Laugh Laugh!
But the puppies! Oh how cute and adorable they are! I love the puppies! I love watching them and sniffing them and watching them some more! The puppies are just 2-1/2 weeks old but they are starting to walk around. Earlier today, they walked around and checked me out! They were SO CUTE! At least, they were until they started trying to nurse on me. And they've got teeth already! Poor Gimme!!
So there has been so much going on! It's hard to say what all has happened! Wowzer. I guess I'd better update more often so I don't forget what's what!
Thanks for listening and have a GREAT time!
Alf
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Howya Doin'?
Boy, say one little thing about being bored and next thing you know... it's busy busy busy!
I've been going every week to see the physical therapist. Having a good time and last week I was on the underwater treadmill for 15 minutes!! FIFTEEN WHOLE MINUTES!! Boy was I tired when I was done! But it was a good tired! Daddy says Jenni has to clean up all my hair when I get out though. I guess it's springtime in the Rockies!! Laugh Laugh!! I am blowing coat and Mommy just can't keep up.
I've been for slow walks around the block to help exercise my leg, and of course my exercises. Although Mommy and Daddy have been slacking a bit on the exercises. Bad Mommy and Daddy! I guess they have an excuse since there is a lot of other stuff going on around the house!! Good thing Daddy has taken me to work again recently!! And to Home Depot and PetsMart!! I love both those places! And everyone there loves me; Me; ME!!! But of course. Because how could you not love all this??
Daddy has been working on his favorite project - remodeling the downstairs. The bathroom is almost complete! The tiling is almost done and then Daddy can attach all the fixtures and it will be useable!! Mommy is SO HAPPY! She can't wait until there are two full bathrooms in the house! I don't see what all the excitement is about. My bathroom is the entire outdoors! I suppose the neighbors would be shocked if Mommy started to use the outdoors as her bathroom... that's too bad. But oh well. Laugh Laugh!
Mommy has been busy because Gimme Mom finally had her babies!! She has 7 suckling kids - 3 girls and 4 boys. I've peeked into the room where they are and she looks so content with them. But they are so tiny! I am quite sure I was not that tiny when I was little. And where is all their hair? I know that Gimme Mom has no hair but I figured that it just all fell off. I don't get it? But it's made Mommy very tired lately. And of course Gimme Ma'am has not had any time to spend with me and that makes me sad.
Good thing that Trekkie also has no one to play with. Hmmm, that sounds wrong. See, Trekkie normally plays with Gimme Ma'am too! But now that Gimme Ma'am is Gimme Mom she isn't playing with us. All she does is spend time with the little squeakers. So Trekkie <heart> has to play with ME!! And she is so fun to play with!! Play, play, play. OK. Maybe we don't play all day long. But we do play and it's so fun! It makes me so happy that Trekkie finally knows I'm alive! Laugh Laugh! It's great to be busy again!!
That's about it for now! I'll leave you with a picture of Gimme Mom and her babies and wish you all someone to play with!
Alf
I've been going every week to see the physical therapist. Having a good time and last week I was on the underwater treadmill for 15 minutes!! FIFTEEN WHOLE MINUTES!! Boy was I tired when I was done! But it was a good tired! Daddy says Jenni has to clean up all my hair when I get out though. I guess it's springtime in the Rockies!! Laugh Laugh!! I am blowing coat and Mommy just can't keep up.
I've been for slow walks around the block to help exercise my leg, and of course my exercises. Although Mommy and Daddy have been slacking a bit on the exercises. Bad Mommy and Daddy! I guess they have an excuse since there is a lot of other stuff going on around the house!! Good thing Daddy has taken me to work again recently!! And to Home Depot and PetsMart!! I love both those places! And everyone there loves me; Me; ME!!! But of course. Because how could you not love all this??
Daddy has been working on his favorite project - remodeling the downstairs. The bathroom is almost complete! The tiling is almost done and then Daddy can attach all the fixtures and it will be useable!! Mommy is SO HAPPY! She can't wait until there are two full bathrooms in the house! I don't see what all the excitement is about. My bathroom is the entire outdoors! I suppose the neighbors would be shocked if Mommy started to use the outdoors as her bathroom... that's too bad. But oh well. Laugh Laugh!
Mommy has been busy because Gimme Mom finally had her babies!! She has 7 suckling kids - 3 girls and 4 boys. I've peeked into the room where they are and she looks so content with them. But they are so tiny! I am quite sure I was not that tiny when I was little. And where is all their hair? I know that Gimme Mom has no hair but I figured that it just all fell off. I don't get it? But it's made Mommy very tired lately. And of course Gimme Ma'am has not had any time to spend with me and that makes me sad.
Good thing that Trekkie also has no one to play with. Hmmm, that sounds wrong. See, Trekkie normally plays with Gimme Ma'am too! But now that Gimme Ma'am is Gimme Mom she isn't playing with us. All she does is spend time with the little squeakers. So Trekkie <heart> has to play with ME!! And she is so fun to play with!! Play, play, play. OK. Maybe we don't play all day long. But we do play and it's so fun! It makes me so happy that Trekkie finally knows I'm alive! Laugh Laugh! It's great to be busy again!!
That's about it for now! I'll leave you with a picture of Gimme Mom and her babies and wish you all someone to play with!
Alf
Thursday, May 3, 2012
They Listened!!
I have the best - the absolutely very BEST - Mommy & Daddy in the whole wide world!! As you know, I was recently whining because I was so bored. Mommy and Daddy listened and now I'm not so bored anymore!!
First, they took me to a new, special vet. She is a doggie orthopedic specialist. She made me feel funny and took some x-rays of my knee and leg. She confirmed that nothing was broken but she thought I had had a bout with HOD (hypertrophic osteodystrophy). Mommy couldn't believe it at first because HOD normally affects two legs at the same time; and usually starts in the front legs first. I am the right age and I am a large, fast growing puppy though... So Dr. Lewis had their radiologist take a look at the x-rays as well. And they said the same thing. I had had HOD. Hmmmmm. I guess that explains the unexplained swelling I had in my leg that we all thought was an infection. And why I didn't really play the last time I was at day care. Scary. It kind of explained a lot of things! I guess I'm just an unusual puppy for getting it in only one leg (and a rear leg at that!). But then, I knew I was totally special from the day I was born! But we were still looking at the possibility of a torn cruciate ligament too.
So Dr. Lewis recommended I see a physical therapist and start underwater treadmill work. Mommy immediately made an appointment for me and boy was THAT interesting!! And fun! Don't get me wrong! It was actually kind of fun! Jenni is really cool. And before we started the treadmill, she showed Mommy some exercises that I should be doing to help me strengthen my leg. And then she put a harness on me and walked me into this box. When the door was closed, it started filling up with water. Mommy was right there with me so I didn't panic at all! She kept saying what a good dog I was <blush>. It was when the floor of the box started moving that I got confused. Notice, I didn't say panicked! Not once did I panic! I just wasn't sure what to do. So I started walking. Mommy was at the front of the box calling my name and encouraging me too. That helped. It seemed like forever, but Mommy says it was only 8 minutes when the walking finally stopped. And then the water drained out and they opened the box and smothered me in kisses! And Jenni dried me off a little too. Jenni used a towel for this trip, but they even have a blow dryer for those that prefer it. Especially in the winter when it's snowy that is probably a good idea!!
Here I am on the treadmill.
My goodness, aren't I studly? Wow. Sometimes I just amaze myself!! Laugh Laugh!! Ladies, please! I am still too young!! Laugh Laugh!
But no. That wasn't enough! Dr. Lewis called Mommy back and said she would like to "tap" my knee to verify that the fluid she saw on the x-ray wasn't bacterial and causing me to still be sick. So Mommy went back and Dr. Lewis made me feel funny again. And then I started snoring. Or so I'm told. I am quite sure that I don't snore! The results were that it was not bacterial so that is good! However, Dr. Lewis said since I was knocked out a little more than the first time she did notice a lot more play in my knee as compared to the first time. This means the cruciate ligament might be totally torn after all. This bummed out Mommy & Daddy a lot. But no surgery or anything will be scheduled for my knee at this time. I am still too young and growing. So hopefully the treadmill and exercises will help build up my muscles and we won't need surgery at all.
In the meantime, Daddy took me to work with him again! Yeah! I do love going with Daddy to work! Everyone there loves me and pets me and hugs on me!! But boy am I tired at the end of the day!
And then the next day Daddy took me to Jenni and I stayed on the treadmill for 10 whole minutes! I am getting good at that!! I don't like my exercises much though. I make it really difficult for Mommy or Daddy to help me with them. I've been getting around good on three legs. I know I should use all four, especially if I'm going to be a TOP DOG like Mommy wants me to be. But I have to get my kicks in somehow, you know?? Laugh Laugh!
And lately, bunches of people have been over at the house too! Gimme Ma'am Soon-To-Be-Mom has been hogging all the attention, but they've had time to pet me too! It has been busy! Whew!
So that's it for now internet friends! If it stays like this I'll have plenty to blog about over the upcoming weeks! So keep an eye on this space!! Here's hoping you have a place to be warm, comfortable, and loved too!
Alf
First, they took me to a new, special vet. She is a doggie orthopedic specialist. She made me feel funny and took some x-rays of my knee and leg. She confirmed that nothing was broken but she thought I had had a bout with HOD (hypertrophic osteodystrophy). Mommy couldn't believe it at first because HOD normally affects two legs at the same time; and usually starts in the front legs first. I am the right age and I am a large, fast growing puppy though... So Dr. Lewis had their radiologist take a look at the x-rays as well. And they said the same thing. I had had HOD. Hmmmmm. I guess that explains the unexplained swelling I had in my leg that we all thought was an infection. And why I didn't really play the last time I was at day care. Scary. It kind of explained a lot of things! I guess I'm just an unusual puppy for getting it in only one leg (and a rear leg at that!). But then, I knew I was totally special from the day I was born! But we were still looking at the possibility of a torn cruciate ligament too.
So Dr. Lewis recommended I see a physical therapist and start underwater treadmill work. Mommy immediately made an appointment for me and boy was THAT interesting!! And fun! Don't get me wrong! It was actually kind of fun! Jenni is really cool. And before we started the treadmill, she showed Mommy some exercises that I should be doing to help me strengthen my leg. And then she put a harness on me and walked me into this box. When the door was closed, it started filling up with water. Mommy was right there with me so I didn't panic at all! She kept saying what a good dog I was <blush>. It was when the floor of the box started moving that I got confused. Notice, I didn't say panicked! Not once did I panic! I just wasn't sure what to do. So I started walking. Mommy was at the front of the box calling my name and encouraging me too. That helped. It seemed like forever, but Mommy says it was only 8 minutes when the walking finally stopped. And then the water drained out and they opened the box and smothered me in kisses! And Jenni dried me off a little too. Jenni used a towel for this trip, but they even have a blow dryer for those that prefer it. Especially in the winter when it's snowy that is probably a good idea!!
Here I am on the treadmill.
My goodness, aren't I studly? Wow. Sometimes I just amaze myself!! Laugh Laugh!! Ladies, please! I am still too young!! Laugh Laugh!
But no. That wasn't enough! Dr. Lewis called Mommy back and said she would like to "tap" my knee to verify that the fluid she saw on the x-ray wasn't bacterial and causing me to still be sick. So Mommy went back and Dr. Lewis made me feel funny again. And then I started snoring. Or so I'm told. I am quite sure that I don't snore! The results were that it was not bacterial so that is good! However, Dr. Lewis said since I was knocked out a little more than the first time she did notice a lot more play in my knee as compared to the first time. This means the cruciate ligament might be totally torn after all. This bummed out Mommy & Daddy a lot. But no surgery or anything will be scheduled for my knee at this time. I am still too young and growing. So hopefully the treadmill and exercises will help build up my muscles and we won't need surgery at all.
In the meantime, Daddy took me to work with him again! Yeah! I do love going with Daddy to work! Everyone there loves me and pets me and hugs on me!! But boy am I tired at the end of the day!
And then the next day Daddy took me to Jenni and I stayed on the treadmill for 10 whole minutes! I am getting good at that!! I don't like my exercises much though. I make it really difficult for Mommy or Daddy to help me with them. I've been getting around good on three legs. I know I should use all four, especially if I'm going to be a TOP DOG like Mommy wants me to be. But I have to get my kicks in somehow, you know?? Laugh Laugh!
And lately, bunches of people have been over at the house too! Gimme Ma'am Soon-To-Be-Mom has been hogging all the attention, but they've had time to pet me too! It has been busy! Whew!
So that's it for now internet friends! If it stays like this I'll have plenty to blog about over the upcoming weeks! So keep an eye on this space!! Here's hoping you have a place to be warm, comfortable, and loved too!
Alf
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