Make the Ice Melt!

WOW! It has been months since I have been on dogster.

Mother Nature has been SO mean to my state (and not to mention so many others) here in the past few months. Right now, the temp is about 10 degrees (with windchills in the double-digit negatives), yet it is sunny. It is very confusing to me. When I see sun, isn't it supposed to be warm? But it isn't. It is so cold out, it makes my feet hurt when I step outside the door! But, I don't care. My pawrents have to practically drag me back in the house after I potty so that I do not get frostbite, 'cause I want to stay out there and play. It is that cold and that dangerous. I am learning to deal with not playing outside. Thankfully, we play hard in the house, I get to go to daycare a few times a week, and we go to pet stores and to visit family. So, I am not that cooped up, but it sure feels like it.

Last week, we had an ice storm, and we have about 3-4 inches of ice on the driveway and the yard! Other than the cold, that is why I cannot go out to play. The ice on the yard is too dangerous for me. We got about 5 inches of snow this past weekend, and I went outside for a few minutes while my pawrents were shoveling the ice driveway, and I sheared off some of a pad on my backfoot just walking around on the snow and ice.

The good news...we are having a heat wave this weekend! Mommy says the temps will be in the 40s and pushing 50 degrees and we can spend a lot of time outside! We can take lots of walks/run, though with the melting snow and ice, it will be sloppy. I hope that maybe by the middle of next week, I can play in the yard again as the ice will have melted. Paws are crossed!!!

Where is the Rain?

Wow. It is so dry here in Indiana! We received some rain yesterday, but the grass didn't get all green and pretty. Why is that? I miss the green grass. It is much softer on my footsies than the brown dry stuff. My front yard is pretty green, but I play ball in our large backyard, and there isn't much green back there. My hoomans got tired of trying to water the backyard because it is sooooo big.

Well, I was supposed to go and try out my paws at dock diving, but it was cancelled. Can you guess why? NO RAIN! The water levels in the lake are too low to be safe for us doggies. My luck, I would have bonked my head on the bottom. That is just the way I roll. Maybe another time.

Despite the lack of rain, the temperatures have finally dropped a bit out of the 90s and 80s, and the sun always seems to shine. I have been getting a lot of playtime outside, and lots of walks. Mommy gets up early and takes me on a walk every morning before she goes to work. Daddy sometimes gets to go, but mostly not because he has to be to work early. Oh well. Good quality time with mommy. In the evenings, after much ball playing, we try to fit in a family walk together. I like walking with my hoomans.

Mommy mentioned the other day that my gotcha day is coming up on the 7th of November. My hoomans talk of a party, but I doubt it. Not enough time to make sure people will be around. Plus, who would come to a party for a dog? I would like to think a lot of people would! I am special...right????

Fall is Here!

WOW! It has been such a LONG time since I wrote in my diary. I have to be better than this.

This has been a whirlwind summer, and today is the first day of fall. Fall is my pawrents favorite time of year. I like it too because the weather is cooler and we can spend more time outside. But...that is not the case right now. For the first day of fall, it is going to be 86 degrees outside. Yesterday, we hit a record 96 degrees! It was so miserable. Tomorrow brings the middle 90s back. Isn't fall about falling leaves, cool weather, and bonfires? We are under an open fire ban, and my parents can get fined $500 if they are caught having a fire. So, no fires. This was a really hot summer, with temps in the 90s a lot.

Leaves are falling in my neighborhood, but that is only because the weather has been so hot and dry, that leaves are dropping early. We have hardly had any rain. Yards are all brown and crunchy. Hurts my feet sometimes when I play, but I take it all in stride.

Let's see...what has happened to me since spring? Nothing much. I was out of commission for some time, as I hurt my left front leg. Once that healed, I split my left front dew claw and took some more time off. I am all back to one piece, and getting to play all the time (when it isn't too hot, that is). My pawrents keep me inside when it is really hot out, as I overheat too quickly. I spend a few days during the week at daycare just to keep me from getting bored when I cannot play outside.

I recently graduated from my 4th obedience class! I was a star student! I received a diploma and a blue ribbon. They are hanging up on the fridge. In two weeks, I start a new class called "K9 Games". I get to learn about agility, and play K9 games. Mommy and daddy are excited to have me in another class. They like having me in classes, as I always learn at least one new thing, and it keeps me on my toes. They want me to be the best that I can be. I think I am succeeding. I am a very obedient dog, but that doesn't matter. Classes are still good for me.

I am also going to try out my paws at dock diving. A few days before my new class, we are traveling south to a dock diving meet. I will have to wear a life vest!

Spring is Here!!!

Phew...it has been awhile since I have been here to write in my diary. Mommy isn't able to be on Dogster as much at work like she used to, so time is limited. By the time she gets home from work, she doesn't want to be on the computer and would rather spend time with Daddy and me. I am grateful for that.

Anyway...spring has arrived here in Indiana. It wasn't just gradual, like spring should be. One day it was cold, and the next it was in the 70s. This week has been sunny, clear, and in the upper 70's to low 80's. Today it is going to be in the middle 80's. This weekend ushers in the 60's, which is a bit of a let down, but back to the 70's next week. Paws are crossed!

I have been spending a lot of time outside and have enjoyed it oh so much. But, with the warmer temps and higher dew point levels, I get less hard playtime because I get hot so quickly. It takes me a long time to cool down, and that worries my pawrents. Mom talked to the vet, and the vet isn't worried, but they are to modify my exercise in warmer temps. I play a little bit, then I lay down in the shade and cool off. We spend a lot of time just hanging out in the yard doing nothing. That is ok. We need a break every now and then.

I learned how to drink from the hose, and Daddy bought me my own tiny sprinkler yesterday. I am not too sure what to think about it yet, but I was pretty soaked playing fetch with Daddy yesterday. He made me run through the sprinkler to get my ball. That isn't fair! My pawrents tell me that I am going to get my own pool too. Not sure what to think about that either.

My pawrents have recently been questioning my age. They think that I may be older than origianlly thought. I have white/gray fur on my bottom jaw. That was just thought to be just that...white fur. But...they have recently noticed that I have gray/silver fur on my upper "lip" when the light hits it right. After I play outside and relax for awhile, I seem to struggle a little bit getting around, especially up the front steps onto the front porch. Since I was a stray, no one knows anything about me. Who knows. Maybe all of this is just coincidental. Regardless, they don't care. They love me for who I am no matter what.

Happy Spring!

Where is Spring???

It has been awhile since I last wrote in my diary. Nothing exciting has happened, so it is pointless to write. Wait! Something exciting DID happen! I graduated from my obedience class with flying colors! How could I forget about that? My hoomans are so proud of me! I start another class next week, so I hope I do just as good. That want to keep me in classes because I am not always a princess on the leash as they want me to be. So, the more dogs I am exposed to on a leash, the happier they will be. I am getting better, and they are working with me as much as they can (weather permitting) out on walks. When dogs in those invisible fence thingies charge at me, that really sets me off, but other than that, I am doing much better. I am a work in progress.

I still go to doggy daycare a few times a week at various places, and I have been so good there. I am still unsure about it, as I am afraid that my hoomans will leave me and not come back and get me ever again. So, I always try to leave with mommy when she drops me off. But, once I am put with my doggy friends, I am ok. Well, that is until daddy comes to pick me up. Then I go CRAZY!!

The weather has gotten better here in the Hoosier state, but only temporarily. As I type this, there are snow flakes falling once again. The snow has been melting thanks to warmer temps and rain, but here comes snow again. It isn't supposed to pile up, but I am ready for warmer weather and more daylight! Mommy and daddy are sad because the weather just isn't cooperative.

Gotta go play with some stuffies! More later!

I am Ready for Spring!

Nothing much going on in my world. I am ready for the warmer weather so that I can play outside much longer. This stuff that they call winter is for the birds (or polar bears). Don't get me wrong, I like to play in the snow. It is SO much fun, but I cannot stay out long because I get too cold.

This weekend was pretty nice. We had a heat wave, and the temps got up to about 50 degrees. Unfortunately, it was rainy off and on. Mommy and daddy took me on a good walk on Sunday in between bouts of rain. We got to play by ourselves in an area at a park where they have concerts at. They were working with me and the "come" command. I do great if there aren't any distractions. It started to sprinkle as we were playing, and then the sky opened up! We had to run back to the car, which wasn't too far away, but it wasn't close when there is a downpour of rain. But, I got a good workout anyway. Lucky me. I don't mind the rain too much. I just don't like spending too much time in it.

The temps dropped yesterday, and we got about an inch of snow last night. I played out in it for short while, but the wind was so bad, it made it even colder.

I hope other pups are having better weather than I am.

Winter Time is Officially Here in Indiana

Long time no write. Nothing exciting has been going on. I have been cooped up inside a lot because I do NOT like the cold temps and wind.(windchills in the double digits sometimes). Since I do not have much hair, I get cold fast. I have sweaters, coats, and boots, but it doesn't help. I cannot play ball outside because I have boo-boos near my dew claws that bleed A LOT. Mommy and Daddy took me to the vet to see what could be done, and we were told that they are ulcerations. Not sure what they are caused by. It may be because I hadn't used my feet so hard due to being cooped up in the shelter for almost 9 months. Maybe it is the cold weather. No one can figure it out. Leave it to me to be so odd. Vet said they could remove my dew claws, but isn't sure that would help. I don't like that idea, and neither do my pawrents. But, I think they would do it if my boo-boos continue whenever the weather gets warm. Right now we are waiting it out.

So...mommy and daddy went right out and bought me MuttLuks. I don't mind them much at all. But, they put toddler socks on me and THEN the MuttLuks. My hoomans hope that it would protect my front feet, but it doesn't help much. It must be the way I run and play. We will keep trying to figure out what works best. But for now, I am stuck inside again while my boo-boos heal. They take good care of cleaning and putting ointment on my boo-boos. It is ok, really. I so love to snuggle with my hoomans on the couch, in bed, in a chair, or on the floor in front of the fire. Plus, they play with me A LOT in the house.

Last week, we got about 5 inches of snow. I know that isn't much compared to many other places where my pup pals live, but it is a lot for me. Mommy came home early the day that it snowed, and she played with me out in the backyard for a long time. My feet weren't too bad that day, but she didn't allow me to run real hard. Plus it was hard to run through the fresh, fallen snow. Ohhhhh, it was SO fun!

Going to go take a quick nap before daddy comes home.

Licks to all.

-K

Merry Christmas!

Today is the big day. It is Christmas. I got some gifts on Christmas Eve from my mommy's family, and I got MORE gifts today from mommy and daddy! I have so many new toys, I don't know what to do with myself. But...I so want to go outside and play ball, but I can't. It is pouring down rain. It has been raining for 2 days. I am bummed. I just sit at the front door watching the rain come down.

Daddy left a bit ago to go spend some time with grandparents and one side of his family. Mommy stayed home because she has a fever of 101. She didn't want to spread germs to everyone. She may end up going to one of those MedCheck places today to get better. We are both stuck in the house on Christmas. At least we have each other to keep company. The Christmas tree is lit and we are watching "Christmas Vacation". It still isn't playing ball, but it will have to do for now. Mommy said that it is supposed to get cold this afternoon and possibly snow. If it does, then I can go outside and play ball with daddy. Mommy will stay inside and just cough and sneeze.

Happy Holidays to all!

-K

Santie Paws IS Real!

It has been some time since I wrote in my diary. I do not have a lot to say that is worth writing, and I am afraid to bore those who want to read about me. So...I sit back, lick my tail, chew on a bone, and wait for something exciting to happen before I write in my doggie diary.

This past weekend, my hoomans took me back to the humane society were they adopted me from. I was scared once again, thinking that I was going back there. But, NO! I got to meet the man in the red and white clothes! SANTIE PAWS! Or, I guess the hoomans call him Santa Claus. He was SO jolly and nice to me! I got up on the bench next to him and just kissed and kissed his jolly red face! He laughed and laughed at me. I was so excited that I jumped right off the bench, right as the flash of the camera went off. Everyone laughed at me. I guess I am pretty silly. Daddy put me back up in the bench, since I was done kissing Santie Paws and wouldn't go back up on my own. I sat down, and began to lick Santie Paws again! Of course, I got laughed at, but they got my attention and I stopped kissing long enough for them to take my picture. Santie Paws said I am going to get some really nice things under my Christmas tree in a couple of days. I am very excited.

When I was at the humane society, I got to see a lot of the hoomans who took good care of me while I was there for the 8 1/2 months. They were all so happy to see me and to hear how good I am doing. Santie Paws was in another building near the humane society, and one of my former hooman helpers ran to the humane society to tell everyone that I was getting my picture taken. Not too long later, more hooman helpers came to see me, one by one. When they left, a few more came over. They had to take shifts so that the other doggies and hoomans at the humane society wouldn't feel left out. I gave each and every one of the helpers lots of kisses, and by the time that I saw everyone, my tongue was worn out. Ha ha!

Everyone have Happy Holidays!

-K

5 Week Anniversary!

Tomorrow (Saturday 12/12/09) will be my 5th week with my new family. We are all doing really good together. We seem to make a good family. Now if they would just get rid of the other critters in the house (rats), we would make the BESTEST family!

Since it will be our anniversary tomorrow, I wonder if my hoomans will get me anything? Isn't that what is supposed to happen on anniversaries? Mommy DID order me a bunch of stuff from Best Bully Sticks on the web, so maybe those are my gifts. I better not be a begger, or my hoomans will not buy me anything anymore. They told me that I am already spoiled. Spoiled. Doesn't that mean something has "gone bad" or is "rotten"? They say it like it is a good thing. Am I rotten? I sure hope not.

Still pretty cold here, but much warmer than the past 2 days. Mommy said that when Daddy gets home from work, he will play ball with me! I cannot wait to play ball. I want to run in the yard SOOOOO bad. The snow has melted away because it is a bit warmer and very sunny, so that makes me sad. I will keep wishing that more snow will come so I can play in it!

Gotta go potty!

-K