Clawsies clipped!! And I'm getting a lot calmer.

Mom clipped ALL of my claws a few days ago. We didn't have to take a huge long walk first, or give me any of the dramamine (the vet said it would help me be a bit more relaxed about my paws). Dad didn't even have to gently hold me down! I did get up a few times and try to sneak off, but I was a good by and came back when she told me to, and laid on my side. I did grumble a bit but she said I'm making a lot of progress with my paws and will be a healthier and happier dog if my claws can be kept short.

Also, mom got this metal pinch collar for me. Hm. She says she wishes we didn't need it, but ...wll, it is making walks a lot easier. I know I don't rub my nose raw on the Halti while I "fish tail" because I'm so excited, and she seems happy I don't drag her around. We have to go where she wants, though. Bummer, but I guess I like making mom happy too. It looks scary but it doesn't really hurt. Also, we get to go on longer and more walks because it has made walking me a lot more fun for mom. I am even calmer in general now. I hardly ever bark at another dog while on walks (although if they walk by my back yard, I bark at them a bit...I'm still working on that bad habit). She says one day I'll be sooo good on the leash that we won't need it, and I'll walk with a loose lead. Mom's got a lot of confidence in me! She says I am already doing very well when it just me and her, or her and me and Kyle. For some reason if dad is walking with us too, I just get a lot more excited. But still, we're making progress!

Kyle and I went to the vet yesterday, and were on really good behavior. Very little barking, and not even a batted eye when we got stuck in the neck for the rabies and distemper vaccines.

Hope everyone else is happy and tick free!
Ralf

Snow and ripped claw

A few weeks ago, Mom and Dad and Kyle and me got home from a walk around the neighborhood in the snow.
Less than a minute after we got in the door, Dad noticed that I was leaving bloody paw prints, and he had to hold me down for Mom to look at it.
Turns out I somehow managed to snap the tip of my claw away from the quick. Mom had to use the evil green clipper on it, and then Dad helped her put a dressing on it. They wrapped it in snazzy purple sports wrap, and then made me wear my bootie on it (we call it a pawsie...).
It stopped bleeding fast, and I was allowed to take the bootie off for sleeping, and the dressing came off the next day.
Moral of the story is, I'd definitely reccomend having some 4x4 gauze pads, stretchy bandage wrap stuff, and sports wrap to go over it handy at all times! We have no clue how I managed to break my nail, nothing notable happened.
Oh, well, gotta go play with my ooey ball with Dad. Thanks for reading!

Got Tagged.

You've been tagged!! It's a getting-to-know-you-better sort of tag. First check out my 10 questions & answers about me:

1. What color is your collar? Blue.

2. What kind of food do you eat? Canidae kibble

3. What are your favorite treats? bones

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other? Our neighbor friend has a greyhound girl named Fenti, and I get really upset when she has to go home from a visit...

5. Do you get table scraps? When the big ear and big brown eye trick works...mom trys to resist and does a better job than dad!

6. What is your favorite toy? My jolly ball or green ooeychewy ball depending on my mood

7. When is your birthday? Unknown... we guess some time in '06 from what the humane society people said.

8. How many times a day do you eat? twice

9. Do you have a favorite color? hm. Black! my leash and halti face collar are black!!!

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary? I suppose, they can if they want, I'd rather they come over and play with me at our house though... wishful thinking!

Now it's your turn! Copy these questions and type your answers - then post it on your diary!!! Don't forget to tag 6 of your friends!

Mom is starting a dog park group, I'm excited!

Mom has been determined to start a dog park group in the area since she moved up here from Tennessee. My brother says they're one of the BEST places on the planet, but I've never been to one. She's done a bit of research and is starting a group. She's calling it "Friends of UP Dog Parks" (so far, anyway), and she's put it on Facebook to try to get more people interested.

A few neighbors and friends are interested already, so if you're in the Marquette, MI area and interested, check the group out on face book or let her know here.

I wanna run free in a dog park, Kyle says it's super fun to run around like maniacs with his buddies and new friends. I hope she gets lots of help and gets a dog park soon!

Thanks for reading, I'll try to remind mom to type more soon.

Oh, p.s. be careful of your pawsies on old tennis courts, they really scuffed up mine and Kyle's and our friends paws when we hung out on the old one near by, but it was fun to run...