On thin ice

On the weekend Drew and I went for a walk in the conservation area with Penny. It was a lovely day, not quite as warm as it has been, but the snow was falling lightly and things were freezing over again. It had been at least a week since we'd been out there and we all needed some fresh air.

Once we got into the park a ways, we let Penny off the leash like we usually do. She sometimes bolts away after a duck but she comes back shortly for she never likes to be out of sight of me for very long. Anyway... she's a pretty perky thing and as soon as we had her off the leash she ran around like a crazy thing.... and yes, as you guessed she found a pond that she must have thought made a good skating rink.

With her usual frantic enthusiasm she was all over that pond ... and despite us calling her back, she kept on until she found a weak spot in the ice. The ice crumbled beneath her with a cracking pop and down she went into that ice cold water. Now Penny isn't a water dog at the best of times... actually the worst punishment we give her when she totally looses it is to spray her once or twice with the water bottle and that normally keeps her in line for the next half hour. So imagine the poor thing falling through the ice into the water.

I was pretty scared about loosing her, so Drew did some bush crashing to get to the edge of that pond. We couldn't even set a foot on it without it breaking through. Poor Penny wasn't having much luck either.... when she tried to get up on the ice, it often broke under her weight, so when she wasn't struggling she was hanging on to the edge and getting colder. The poor thing is not a large dog... maybe 17 lbs so despite me having put a coat on her, she can loose that body heat pretty fast.

Fortunately there were lots of broken branches... and long ones even, that Drew could break free, but they were still to short to reach the dog. He started sliding out long branches around the edge of the ice, so if Penny tried to lift herself out again, if she caught a branch with her paw it would spread her weight out more and not break, allowing her a chance to climb out. It wasn't long before he had the edge ringed, but she didn't immediately see the brilliance of his plan.

After about 5 minutes, I was getting worried, and had made my way to the edge of the pond as well. I was even starting to think about swimming for her. Actually Drew was thinking the same thing if this lasted much longer... he's taller and the better swimmer so if it really came to that, he'd go in.

Fortunately however, Penny did eventually manage to pull herself up on the ice.

BUT THEN REFUSED TO COME OFF THE ICE!

She hated being cold and wet and so she ran around rubbing her wet face on the snow trying to dry it off. It was only luck that saved her from going in again... but after 5 min. I managed to coax her off the ice finally. Even that was a bit of work for as when Penny got near the edge the ice would start to crack, and she would back off again.

But eventually we got her into the car, and quickly back home and into a warm bath.

Rally O

We started Rally O tonight. Boy was I not interested. Of course we went to Obedience Level 2 LAST night. I just didn't want to do anything tonight. My eyes got kinda of red. Mom's wondering if the gentle leader bothers my eyes. She joked that maybe I was allergic to the Bichon Frise at class tonight. Well everyone knows that can't be true, since Bichon's are mostly hypo allergenic! I finally got to sit out while mom ran through the signs. Maybe I'll be up to it next week.

Tired,

Penny

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Diary,

Wow what a weekend. I think I got to go to the conservation area everyday this weekend. I've had a great time chasing the ducks and geese (though I didn't go in the pond this time, but I did fall in the creek today!) running through the woods and getting lots of burrs in my fur. I hate that, especially getting them brushed out later.

We went to dad's parents this weekend for dinner and had a turkey of our own. I got some too!

Mum says we're going to start Obedience level 2 next week. Great I get to make new friends! And she mentioned something about Rally O as well. I don't know what that is but I'm sure it will be fun.

I'm pretty pooched from all the fresh air. Mum thinks that the bad weather will be here soon. I hate the rain sigh.

Love Penny

Will swim for ducks!

Dear Diary,

Mom took me to the local conservation area yesterday. We had a great time. She trusts me to go off leash now and come back when she calls. I was pretty insistent about a few trees that I was sure there were squirrels up there, but I came when she called, eventually. I always get a cookie when I do, yummm.
We usually do a loop through the park and before we get back to the car we walk by the pond where all the ducks and geese are. I LOVE to chase the ducks and geese. They make so much noise when I run up to them and they fly off. We had finished our walk and were heading towards the pond so I could bark at the ducks and geese. Usually mom puts my leash back on so I won't go in the pond. This time she didn't, thinking that I dislike the water so much that I would just run along the shore and bark at the geese. Boy did I surprise her! I was so excited to see the ducks and the geese. The big sand bar in the pond where the ducks and geese like to sun themselves wasn't really all that far from the shore. So in I went and I ran and ran and ran down the sand bar as fast as I could. And all the ducks and geese rose up into the air to fly away from me! They all landed in the water with a great big splash and honking and hollering about my chasing them. They were pretty ticked. Mom was laughing so hard on the shore she could barely call my name. But once that job was done I ran back to her and crossed back over. I was pretty wet! But it was worth it.

Love and kisses
Penny

Weekend

Dear Diary,

I had a great weekend! I got to play with a new friend. Well not that new, but I hadn't seen Klaylee for awhile. And mum let me run off leash too! I guess she knows I'm not going anywhere, I like to be where she is!

We went to the country for the weekend and stayed overnight. There were lots of woods and grass and leaves to sniff. And lots of running to do to. Boy was I tuckered out last night. But I got so dirty playing with Klaylee I had to have a bath (yuck).

Mum also bought me a new sweatshirt at the store the other day. I don't mind it too much. It fits me better than my other sweater. Mum says that I've grown. Which surpirses her, but not me. It's all this good food and love around here.

It's a nice day today. The sun is out. I hope I get to go to the park.

Love and kisses,
Penny

Surfin' Dogs

Dear Diary,

My mum and sis and I went to Bingemans Park today. It was the day they let the dogs play in the wave pool (yuck)! There were lots of Labs and Golden's in the water. My mum dumped me in but I panicked and couldn't remember how to swim. So she had to fish me out. I got her back though, by rolling in the cedar flower boxes. Boy was I dirty!

After a quick stop in Guelph we went to a big off leash doggie park. Before we went for a run I got some chicken McNuggets from my mum. Boy were they good! Then we went for a long walk. I met lots of great dog friends, and I especially played with two. The one guy was just four months old and he was bigger than me! He liked to pull on my tail. I didn't like that too much.

I've just had a bath, so I guess I smell all pretty now. So much for my dust bath earlier today. Though the water in the bath tub was pretty dirty once mum was finished with me. I'm pretty pooched out now.

We met my pup pal Maxx's mum. She bakes and sells doggy cookies. They sure are good. She says I look a lot like her Maxx and maybe next time we can get together to play. Sure would be fun to have another Pap to zoom around with. Well I'm going to crash now. I'm not even interested in chasing the cats tonight!

Love and kisses,
Penny

Water Park Fun

Dear Diary,

So my mum says that we are going to K/W on Sunday to Bingemans Waterpark. I was hoping to meet my pup pal Maxx but although his mom will be there, he won't be. Maybe another time. Mum says the doggies are allowed to go into the pools that day. I hope she doesn't make me go swimming! I hate getting wet. But it sure will be fun to see all the other dogs swimming. This is to raise money for the K/W Humane Society. I like to help out the other doggies if I can.

I'll let you know if I get all wet.

Penny

Sleep Over

Dear Diary,

I had a sleep over at Igors on Saturday night. My mum, sis and dad went to the big city again. This time it was to celebrate an early birthday present for my sis. There was a big convention on all about Science Fiction and stuff (what ever that is) and she really wanted to go. Her birthday isn't until November, but she liked the idea of this trip being her birthday present. Hmmmm, I guess I'll have to think about what to get her when her real birthday comes around. I wonder if she'd like a bone?

Anyway I got to sleep over with Igor and his family. We played and played and played. I got to sleep with Igor's mum and Dad. He's too big to sleep on their bed, but I fit really good! My mum's glad that they like to have me over to play. She's gonna invite them over for dinner soon!

I wonder if we'll get to go to the zoomie park today.

Licks and kisses
Penny

My Tail of Devotion for Penny

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My Birthday

Dear Diary,

I had my birthday on Friday. It turned out to be a nice day. I thought it might rain, but it held out. Carolyn wasn't able to make it with Justin and Leslie Anne must have forgot because she didn't come with Molly. But Genevieve and Igor came! Carolyn's mum was kind enough to drop off a gift for me from Justin. Some yummy treats and a new collar (she knows I keep breaking them!)

We had lots of food to eat. Mum made a special cake for the dogs to eat (no sugar) It was banana and ginger YUMMM! I love bananas. Igor wasn't too thrilled with the cake so I ate his piece. But he did like the doggy ice cream and he ate mine. So it all worked out. Genevieve bought homemade liver and garlic treats. Boy those are good. I learned to catch them out of the air.

Igor and I raced and raced around the yard. I was pretty tired the next day.

On Saturday, we took sis to visit her grandparents, she is staying there for a few days. Then mum and dad and I went to find some Zoomie parks. We found one that was kinda small, but there was a big English Bull dog there named Otis. He drueled all over me, yuck. Then we went to another Zoomie park that was much bigger. I had great fun running around there.

Then we went home the long way. It was a long time in the car. But then dad burnt the ribs on the BBQ and I got to have some!

Love and Licks,
Penny