Ownership

I have begun therapy and am working things through. I am beginning with some basics.

I have 2 problems that affect daily life for me. The first is that I am completely disorganized, to the point where I am truly dysfunctional. This disorganization exacerbates the BiPolar symptoms. The other is that I am overweight, obese actually. My kitchen is rarely cooking friendly and when I say kitchen I mean the whole thing; pantry, refrigerator and then of course the kitchen itself. Food is bought and then never eaten. Money is wasted at the grocery store and then again at the fast food joint or restaurant. So this afternoon it is the pantry.

As an aside, there is a genuine flaw in the construction of our pantry. It is so deep that it is really easy to loose track of what's in there. My SIL has the perfect pantry in my opinion. It's large enough for a person to step into but the shelves are shallow enough to keep track of things. My shelves are 2 feet deep easy. That's just crazy making. I'm so jealous of her!

The next step will be the refrigerator and cleaning the kitchen!

Hulda and I went to training tonight and are preparing for our first practice match on Thursday night!

Cats and Dogs Living Together!!

If this were real...

...if this were real I'd be a really bad dog mom. She loves this new toy. It's a life like, life sized skunk toy. I didn't get the raccoon toy because we have them around here and I didn't want her getting any ideas. Skunks, as far as I know, live in the country. She is having a ball. I really love this little dog!

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Post Halloween Special

Please excuse the date stamp on this picture, I didn't realize my camera had reset. I love Halloween. I have a lot of Halloween 'paraphenalia' because I always take advantage of post halloween sales. Tom was at Wal-Mart and found this 6 foot tall witch. He's really sweet, he likes to help me build up my holiday arsenals. We set it up and set it against the wall. Hulda had her eye on it. She knew this wasn't a person but she sensed something similar. People get lots of wiggles and kisses. She simply went up to the witch and sat. I ran for my camera. Hulda is a talker, meaning she vocalizes. I missed her rising on two feet, while talking to get a sniff of a hand. I snapped this just as she decided this was pretty boring and sauntered off to find a toy. She was so cute. She's such a great dog!

Double Trouble

Aren't they adorable. They are from the same litter. One is a purebred bulldog from showlines and the other is a boxer bulldog cross. Weird huh? There was an accident at my friends kennel on the very day a bulldog stud was due for breeding. This litter's mother, Pebbles a bulldog, is best pals with the Angelo a boxer. Angelo is Hulda's daddy. Pebbles got away from my friends son. She ran straight over to Angelo. Pebbles was in heat and Angelo is an experienced stud dog. The stud and his owner arrived shortly after this mishap. The AKC does DNA testing to determine parentage if requested. They discussed the problem and decided to breed her to the bulldog and sort it out with the AKC later. They look like bulldog puppies to me but apparently one is not. If I had to take a guess I think I'd know which one I'd pick as the cross. What do you think?

Why I Love My Dog

Doggy Genius

My Tuesday night was going well. I made dinner in the ideal time frame. This is 2 days in a row which is nearly a miracle. I load up Hulda's cube with treats. She makes a huge racket rolling it around on the saltillo tiles. It's great! She really wants the goodies inside, they are a favorite (Bil-Jac's Liver Treats). The cube is designed to make her think. My girl must be a genious! She is a treat extracting dynamo! I've tried the cube on our foster dog Monkey. She is a treat hound herself. I put the cube filled with treats and I hope that Hulda will show her the ropes. Nothing doing. Monkey would rather get pats and love from us. Hulda looks and a little disappointed and then realizes more for me! Didn't I tell you she was smart? Tom and I watch a little TV. The alarm on my phone lets me know it is time to prepare for bed. Things are moving along well. I am so pleased with myself. With bedtime preparations done I realize I'm ahead of schedule. I put a few more treats into her cube and let her go to town. I really love this dog. I wonder just how smart she could get?

Silliest Dog Ever

This dog and I played and played and played in this pool. Earlier we had one of those big beach balls, it lasted about 30 minutes before *pop* her nails got it. She loves soccer, she doesn't care if her ball isn't regulation. I throw she brings it back. She has incredible control over the ball. It is wild watching her manipulate it, making it go where she wants. Back to me so I can throw it in the pool ~splash~, then here she comes >vv< She is so much fun. We had to replace the pool you see here. I drain and turn it over to dry. I don't want to breed mosquitos. I fogot to lock it up in the run we don't use anymore. So she chewed a hole it in, punishing it for it's lack of water! We bought an even bigger pool and I can get into my bathing suit and lounge with my doggie. Great fun! This is the genuine article water dog! I'm gonna need to get her a life jacket when for when we venture beyond the backyard!

You want me to do what with MY dog?

I have a bit of (apparently) *earth shattering* news. Dogs are predators. They belong to entire group of mammals called carnivores that eat other beasties for a living. The biggest clue to this stunning new information would be their canines (usually large often pointy teeth). Let me give you a moment to catch your breath, I know that bit of information can be overwhelming.

I have shared my living space with a lot of dogs. I love dogs. I have been called on to do temperament evaluation and training for Boxer rescue. I have volunteered as a trainer at Town Lake Animal. There are dogs that should and need to be destroyed because they have unprovoked seriously injured or killed a person. Seen 'em up close. It's always sad and usually the fault of a cruel or stupid human. The point I'm getting to is that if I lived with a dog for say a year or so I'd probably catch on (quickly) if they were a danger and act accordingly. That means I would take them to my vet and have the animal humanely destroyed before anyone else could get hurt. I say anyone else because in all likelyhood I would be the first someone to get hurt. To date I have never had a dog in my home that I felt was a genuine human threat.

I have a dog for adoption that will be the only dog in the home where ever she is placed mostly because she would be happiest that way. I have had her around children, cats, other dogs and adults. She is perfectly safe. She is in no way to be trusted around poultry which brings me to my bitch. I go on a lot of home visits, I met people and invariably learn things about *my dog* I would not otherwise know. I stress that she is my dog because until I relinquish ownership that is exactly what she is. I have not raised her from a puppy, there are unknowns. I took my dog on a home visit to the country. She got along with his very large farm dog. Everything went fine for 2 hours we decided to give a weeks trial. As we were leaving both dogs chased and played with the man's turkey and it died.

I sent the man a check for $50.00 to cover the expense of the lost turkey.

2 weeks later I received a very cordial letter that contained an earnest plea that I destroy my dog as a dangerous animal.

Lets review the facts:

1. Monkey is a dog.
2. Dogs are by nature predatory animals
3. This is her only act of predatory behavior that I know of
4. I've had her over a year
5. Whatever she did, she didn't do it alone
6. Turkeys are prey animals

I am not destroying my dog. I don't quite understand his thinking but the whole experience has been a bit surreal.

{crazy} pile of dogs?

Four dogs were crazy. Three were at least mental. Two? What is two? Safe and Sane Pile of Dogs?

Tizzy Goes Home!

A dog of a friend has been boarding with us. She came with a few health issues, I believe my friend got bad advice from her New Mexico vet. She has been with us 2 months but I really think she goes home a healthier dog and that her mom now knows she has hip dysplasia and not some foreign body in her foot. She can begin treatment now that will extend the usefulness of her hips for many years. She will live many years pain free with the real diagnosis. Hip dysplasia is horrible but it isn't a death sentence. I sent her links and advice. I am glad she came here, Tom and I are good at spotting problems when they're early. I'm also glad she is going home. We addressed her bronchitis, she is eating better and feeling friskier. I am also glad because I was ready for her to go home. She has a good home and it was time for her to go there.

Angel Found Her Heaven

Meet Angel. Angel is one of two dogs that has been in foster care in our home. When she came to us she had an ugly and cruel injury probably caused by wire that was used as a collar from the time she was a puppy. As she grew this wire collar cut into her neck until I guess she broke free. I will never know what really happened to her. During her recovery we were assisted by Spindletop Pitbull Refuge to whom I will be eternally grateful. Angel's personality is that of a super happy, always ready to play or love, incredibly affectionate and incredibly stable. The only sign of abuse we noted was her tendancy to shy away at sudden movements over her head. I have no doubt that she had been hit, possibly beaten. With every right to hate people she has shown only love and sweetness. Well, I have great news! After reviewing countless applications, going on a number of home visits we finally found a home with an amazing man. He is a very visible member of the Austin community who has been the publisher/CEO of a progressive activist newspaper. Everyone we interviewed spoke of his impeccable character and integrity. When she met him it was as if she had been there her whole life. While we expect some normal transition behavior it was on the whole a natural almost seamless fit. Angel has truly found her heaven. Our adoption website can be found at www.freewebs.com/teuton_kennel

Love at First Sight