NOT a Water Dog... Oh, and Falling Trees!

Yesterday, Mommy thought that I should learn to swim. It has been really hot and muggy lately, and I'm the first to admit that I don't much care for the outside when I spend all my time panting. On walks, I get tried easily, find some shade, and then refuse to move no matter how much tugging on my leash comes from the other end. Hey, shade is shade - no matter if you find it in a nice park or in the middle of a parking lot. Anyway, when Mommy suggested we find a nice "watering-hole" to cool off, that sounded nice. So, we set off to explore Colyer Lake.

I was actually in favor of splashing in the water a little bit. However, if dogs were meant to travel through water, one would think we would have fins, or at least gills. Despite being what they call a large-breed dog (hey, that's what it says on my kibble!), I'm not very tall when I'm on four feet, and call me crazy, but I like having solid ground under my paws. But Mommy was insistent that I at least try it. I just don't see what all the fuss is about. I floated a bit, but then I started to sink. Kicking my legs seemed to keep my head above water. But each and every time I stopped kicking, I started sinking again! And then Mommy actually laughed at me because I tried to shake the water off while still fully immersed in water. Hey, I'm at a novice at this! Thankfully, it started to storm - rain and thunder galore - so we had to head back to town. And the upshot of that glorious outing was that I then had to have a bath. More water. Ugh.

We've been having a LOT of adventures lately. A couple of weeks ago, Mommy and I were spending the day with Cookie's family - I really like hanging out there as I get to be outside and play in the big backyard. Well, on this particular day, all of a sudden, the sky got really dark and the wind started blowing. And there was also thunder, which really made Cookie anxious. Mommy says that she's very grateful that I don't seem to mind thunderstorms at all - nothing much phases yours truly.

Anyway, Mommy and her friends were running around making sure things were closed and secure when - BOOM - this huge tree branch came crashing down. And when I say "huge", I mean it - it was almost the size of a whole other tree! Thankfully, it didn't hit the house or any of the cars, but it did fall down across the entire driveway and take down some powerlines with it. The short version of the rest of the evening is that this meant Mommy and I had a slumber party at Cookie's house. Also, Mommy didn't have any of my kibble with her, so I ate an evening meal of Milkbones (not a bad change of pace, I must say). Then, the next morning, I had a blast chasing Cookie around her yard with my squeaky toy. I am always very energetic in the mornings, and I think Mommy was glad I had some space to unwind as I usually just race around in circles and steal the living room pillows!

Life is good. Being a Golden is fun. Abby out.

Birthday Dog

It's my birthday today! Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to meeeeeee..... Not really sure what a "birthday" is, but it's apparently an excuse for a party with lots of treats and presents. Sounds like a good deal to me. Although today is my actual birthday, we're not having the party until Sunday. And guess what? It's going to be a joint birthday party with my friend Peanut, who is also turning one. Yay!! My Mommy and Peanut's Mommy, Christina, have invited a lot of people to come over and celebrate with us. I am really looking forward to it!

Oh, and before I forget... I want to wish my sister Ellie Mae a very happy birthday. Ellie and I are from the same litter, so we're both one year old today. She lives in Lancaster with her family, and is also one of my Pup Pals here on Dogster. Happy Birthday Ellie Mae!

In other news, Mommy just got back to town after being away for 10 whole days. This is the first time she's ever left me overnight by myself. Well, technically, I wasn't by myself as Mommy's friends Diane and Sarah came by several times a day to give my meals, walks, treats, and playtime. It was a lot of fun as I was slightly spoiled in terms of playtime and treats, and also had fun play dates with Cookie and Ani. I did miss having Mommy around though... so much so that I literally knocked her to the ground with puppy love when she came back. And then, by the time I woke up the next morning, I had actually forgotten that she was back... So, when I saw her again, I jumped all over her like mad once again. I actually did that a few times. I think that she liked it though!

Gotta run. Mommy is taking me for a nice walk and to the dog park for my birthday. And I think I also overheard something about a trip to Petco for a new toy. I'm a very happy girl! It's my birthday! Yay!

Appendum from May 27th: Peanut and I had our joint birthday party earlier today (a picture of the two of us in our party hats is currently the last one in the series on this page). It was a lot of FUN! Peanut's parents, Christina and John, were the hosts... and a lot of people and dogs came by to wish us well. Any gathering where I am one of the guests of honors works for me, and being given lots of attention, biscuits, and presents was also fabulous!

I'll be 10 months old tomorrow!

Yep, I will be 10 months old in just a few hours. If they had the monthly equivalent of birthdays, I would get extra biscuits and cake tomorrow! I've yet to have an actual birthday, but I overheard Mommy making plans for when I turn one year old. Hey, why don't they celebrate monthly? Or, if this doggy-year logic I've been hearing about applies, shouldn't I at least have 7 celebrations per year? Math isn't my best subject, but this is simple - it's the equivalent of knowing that seven biscuits are better than one biscuit. One month, two months, ten months, twelve months... I don't really understand the difference, but apparently, at twelve months, you get extra treats and presents. More arbitrary human logic. Go figure.

And, of course, any diary entry of mine would not be complete without a health report... So, let's get that out of the way. More than a month or so ago, I had a really, really bad day. 4 seizures in 24 hours. The most that I've ever had in a single day. By the end of the day, Mommy and I were both exhausted. So, the vet upped my medication. Well, actually, she brought it back to two pills a day. For a couple of months, I had been sucessfully taking only one pill a day. Now, it's back to two. Oh well. Canine epilepsy is a bit of a guessing game. The good news is that I've been happy, healthy, and seizure-free ever since. The vet also gave Mommy some Valium pills in case I ever have such a bay day again. I overheard Grandma and Grandpa semi-seriously ask whether those would then be for me or for Mommy!

I've had a busy social calendar lately... For instance, in February, Mommy took me to Petco for a Valentine's Day Pet Party. It was wonderful. Lots of dogs came, and they all brought their humans as well. There were even a few cats and a pig (never saw one of those before, but mom whispered in my ear that it wasn't just a particularly strange new breed of dog). We got our pictures taken and there were lots of lovely treats. I also discovered the joys of peanut butter when it's spread on a large heart-shaped cookie. Yumm... Mommy entered us in the Kissing Contest, but I'm a bit stingy with my kisses, especially in public, so we didn't win. It was still fun to watch everyone else kiss their owners though - even the pig!

Then, in March, we went back to Petco for their Fashion Show. Mommy had a heck of a time finding something for me to wear as I had outgrown most of my hand-me-downs from Chelsy. And when Mommy went looking for a new outfit, she couldn't find anything in my size. I'm only 10 months old, but already wear an Extra Large in most things. Again, go figure. That doesn't seem right as there surely are dogs larger than me. What do they wear? Finally, Mommy found a sweater of Chelsy's that I could wear on the catwalk (since only one cat attended this event, they really should have called it a "dogwalk", but I digress). The sweater was a bit of a tight fit, but it worked. It was another fun event. More pictures, adoring fans, and lots and lots of yummy treats!

The weather has been kind of crazy lately... First really cold, then really warm, then really wet, then back to cold, then warm. Yeesh. My body knows that it should already be consistently warming up. After all, why else would I be losing this much fur on a daily basis? I think it's kind of fun to see little pieces of me floating around, but Mommy doesn't seem thrilled for some reason.

Anyway, my point was that, with the crazy weather, we haven't been to the dog park as often because it was often very, very muddy. While mud may be fun in the moment, it always turns into a hassle as a visit to the dog park is then immediately followed by a bath. And that defeats the purpose of a fun afternoon! Thankfully, Mommy has been finding alternatives... We've explored a few new parks recently, and even went on a trek in the woods. Less people and other dogs, but nature is still lots of fun all on its own. So many new sights and sounds and smells and tastes! Life is good.

Holiday Dog

It has been an exciting week! First, Mommy and I drove a long way to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. I got to sit in the back this time, and every time I got up to look out the window, there was a different view! When we stopped at rest areas, I wanted to explore, but Mommy seemed intent on business and getting back on the road. That's probably why we arrived in very good time.

Life at Grandma and Grandpa's house is fun. It's a larger space than I am used to, and there's more people to play with. However, it does take some getting used to. I have to remember that Grandma has a bunch more rules than Mommy, and that Grandpa doesn't like to play rough. Also, I miss all of my furry friends from the dog park, so I thought that Caramel would be fun to play with. Wrong. All she wants to do is sit on the couch... and heaven forbid I come closer than 2 feet! I am persistant though, so I'll keep trying to win everyone over to my way of thinking.

Bad news. Early in the morning on Christmas Eve, I had a seizure. The previous afternoon, I drooled a LOT while napping. Mommy says that I definitely didn't have a seizure, but the sheer amount of drool was suspicious. Then, on Christmas Eve, Mommy comforted me through the actual seizure, but we were both very disappointed. Now that I'm all done with shots, we thought that it was safe to wean me off the medication again. My regular dose is two pills a day. So, for a week, I had been taking one pill a day, and then a pill every second day. Now, since the seizure, it's back to two pills a day for awhile. Then, Mommy plans to try one pill a day and stick to that, hoping that it's enough of a dose to suffice. These are quite low levels of phenobarbital, but apparently enough for my system. I don't mind taking the pills so much, but it does make me thirstier and, in turn, I have to pee more. And it also means that we'll have to take regular tests to check my liver functioning. Oh well. Other than that, I'm a healthy and very happy dog, so I suppose that it could be worse.

Christmas was FUN! Grandma cooked all afternoon on Christmas Eve, so the house was full of very interesting smells. And then, on Christmas Day, we opened all those packages under the tree. I got a lot of nice new things... A new portable bowl for the dog park, a new harness (as I have almost outgrown my old one), and a few new toys. It was also fun to watch my family open their presents. I didn't get them anything tangible, so I made sure to shower them with lots of puppy love.

Oh, and guess what? When Mommy and I went for a walk this morning, there was a bunch of fluffy white stuff on the ground. Mommy called it "snow". It was very interesting as it seemed to keep falling from the sky. I'll definitely have to figure that one out some day!

Training Classes & Seizures

I had my very first training class this afternoon. Although I like any new experience, especially one that involves new places and faces, this was unlike any social interaction I have ever had! First of all, I had to wear something called a "training collar". It was made of metal and felt odd on my neck; very unlike my usual harness. And it certainly made it much harder to pull Mommy over to all the interesting things in the room. Not too sure why that particular fact appeared to make Mommy so darn happy...

Today, we worked on the "sit" and "heel" command. I've known how to sit on command since I was less than 2 months old, so I thought this part would be easy. However, the expectations were obviously very different than what I have become accustomed to. Can you imagine that I had to sit and remain seated? That's a new twist. I'm a very active little girl, so that was hard. And I'll admit it: I tested the boundaries quite well. So, it'll definitely take some practice, but I think that I'll get it eventually.

However, don't even get me started on the "Heel" command! What on earth is all that about? Why do I have to walk by Mommy's side rather than in front of her as I usually do? And why am I not allowed to sniff the ground or pick up anything in my mouth while we stroll? And what is this business with having me always sit down when Mommy stops? That's a very odd way to conduct one's self on a walk, don't you think? I'm definitely not a fan. Something tells me that Mommy and the trainer will have more of a challenge on their hands with this one!

On a different front, what would a diary entry from yours truly be without a medical saga of some form? Bad news. The seizures are back. I have been seizure-free for over 3 months, so Mommy and my vet had began to wean me off the phenobarbital. However, as Mommy says "with perfect 20/20 hindsight", we should have waited till I was all done with my shots. I've had multiple vaccines while on the medication, and no seizures. However, since everything had been going so well, I was completely weaned off the meds last week. And then, I had my second booster shot for Lyme disease on Monday. And, on Tuesday, I had not one... not two... but THREE seizures. About 4-5 hours apart. These seizures were a little different from the ones I had as a very young puppy. Not as messy, for one. However, they were still quite tramatic as I didn't really understand what was happened, and then was disoriented and agitated for a little while afterwards. Not to mention that it was also quite exhausting. However, Mommy was always right there to hold and comfort me. As she says: we got each other through the experience. Needless to say, I am back on the meds again.

Mommy talked to the vet multiple times earlier in the week, and the new consensus is to keep me on the medication for another few weeks. I have my last puppy shot at the beginning of December. So, about a week or two after that, I'll be weaned off the medication once again. Then, we'll see how I'll do without the meds, but also without any furthur shots. And, any time I'll need a shot in the future, I'll be put back on the meds for a little while before and after. It's a tough situation because so little is known about canine epilepsy, especially a case like mine, that a lot of my treatment is still guesswork. However, unfortunately through some trial and error, we now know more than we did when I first began seizing. My vet now says that it's not any specific vaccination that causes the reaction, but that I am prone to seizures, and ANY such stress on my system is too much for me to handle without help.

I am willing to try almost anything. Seizures are no fun at all. Not to mention that I really scared Mommy on Tuesday. So much so that she went out and got this high-tech baby monitor with a camera so she can keep a closer eye on me, especially at night. Right now though, I am most definitely back to my usual rambuncious energetic self. So, life is back to normal, and all is good in my world.

Basic Obedience, Here I Come!

Guess what? Today, Mommy signed me up for something called "Basic Obedience". Initially, she had planned to sign us up for group puppy classes. However, after talking with some fellow pet owners and trainers, she became convinced that a mix of individual and group classes was the way to go. And since Mommy never does anything half-way once she sets her mind on something, she did her research. She made a lot of calls and talked to a lot of folks. Today, we went to meet the trainer she had selected for an initial consultation. We have our first class on Tuesday!

Even if I do say so myself, I am basically a very good dog. I don't bark at all, and I love everyone on both four and two feet (perhaps too much?). However, I am a pretty large 5-month old puppy who is growing by the minute, and so Mommy wants to make sure I learn some basic manners while I'm still young. I'm generally a quick study, and I love any form of attention. So, despite the fact that they'll probably be teaching Mommy how best to forbid certain pleasures (e.g., jumping up, counter surfing, pulling on my leash), I am actually expecting this to be fun!

On another front, what would a week in my life be without some form of medical drama? Don't worry. This time, it wasn't anything major. On Monday evening, Mommy noticed that my left eye was looking a little inflammed. Mommy is very vigilant when it comes to anything at all out of the ordinary on the medical front, so she took me to the vet the next day. As it turns out, Mommy was right. I had pink eye! However, it was caught very early on, so it's easily treatable and won't get worse. Mommy was a little worried about applying medication to my eyes three times a day, but she says that I am taking it like a trooper and hardly putting up a fuss at all. After all, there isn't much that I haven't seen on the medical front!

And, if that wasn't enough, not long after we came back from the vet that same evening, I began throwing up. Incredibly, the two aren't related. Mommy says that I bit off too large chunks of my supposedly Edible Chew Nylabone and swallowed them. I think it really scared her that a piece would get lodged somewhere and cause a major problem, but they thankfully appear to have come out - one way or the other, if you know what I mean! Mommy says that we got incredibly lucky, and banned all forms of treats with the exception of biscuits. Still, I did throw up all that evening and into the night. And just when Mommy thought it was over and safe to give me breakfast, I threw that up as well. So, the vet said to take away all food and water for 24 hours, and then put me on a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice for a few days. Going without water for an entire day was tough, but it did allow my upset tummy to settle down. And I can't say that I'm really complaining about the chicken and rice. Mommy is pureeing the chicken pieces as she says that I am no longer trusted to chew my food! It's still pretty yummy! This so-called convalescence does have its perks!

My First Trip to the Dog Park

Today was an absolutely PAWSOME day! Mommy got a phone call from the vet this morning. Apparently, the results of my most recent blood test are back. Something about the "titers" being at the perfect levels. I don't really understand all of that, but it means that I am now free to go anywhere Mommy wishes to take me. No more restrictions on walks!

That in itself sounded wonderful, but then Mommy decided to really celebrate. I think that she's been having a hard time having me cooped up in the house all day, expect for our regular strolls. So, we set off to explore the town!

First, the dog park! It is pretty chilly today, and there were even some flurries, but nothing was going to keep us away! I didn't know that such places existed... It was simply wonderful. All those dogs... all those people... and everyone wanted to play with me! I had a blast! I chased and was chased. And when I got a little tired, I just went from person to person asking to be petted. Everyone loved me and fussed all over me; I got a lot of compliments. Mommy also had a good time as she met a lot of nice people and their dogs. It was marvelous and Mommy says that we'll definitely do it again.

Then, after the dog park, we went to Petco. Again, I didn't know such places existed. A whole store FULL of dog food, treats, and toys? And other dogs just strolling the aisles with their humans. Simply amazing! Mommy said that I could get a new toy to commemorate the occasion. So, I tried talking Mommy into getting this neat looking ball/tug-of-war toy. However, she called it a "really obnoxious and gaudy-looking Christmas-themed thing". Not sure what all that meant, but she talked me out of my first choice. That's alright. I mainly grabbed that one because it was on the lower shelf! Mommy and I eventually settled on a very nice leopard stuffed toy that makes a distinctive squeak. And I also got a new set of Nylabones. Come to think of it, I haven't seen my old Nylabone around lately. I think that might be because I almost chewed right through it, and so Mommy confiscated it. I really like Nylabones! And I think that Mommy added those to our cart because she had talked me out of the "gaudy" toy. I think that I got the better end of that deal, but sshhhh....

When we got home, I was so pleasantly tired that I've been conked out in the living room for most of the evening. I didn't even have the energy to bug Mommy when she talked on the phone to Grandpa earlier... Now, that's tired! I think that Mommy is enjoying the peace and quiet this evening... Perhaps even to the point of making regular daily trips to the dog park? A dog can hope.

My Travels Among the Little People

So many new and exciting things have happened to me in the past couple of weeks. Good thing I'm such a curious pup!

For instance, I never knew that people came in so many different sizes, but lately, Mommy has been introducing me to a lot of little people. They are LOTS of fun to play with as they seem to have as much energy as I do! They also don't seem to mind when I chase them, and even get very excited when I finally catch them! And, if there are a few of them around, they usually compete with one another for my attention. It's really quite wonderful!

We put my travel crate to very good use recently when Mommy took me on a road trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Montreal, Canada. It was such a very looooong drive... I thought that we had permanently moved into the car! Since I was in the travel crate and couldn't see much, I slept most of the way there. So, I was well rested to play when we arrived. Not sure why Mommy was so tired... After all, she was sitting the whole way there!

On our way, we stopped to visit some of Mommy's friends. They had three little people in the house, and LOTS of toys, so it was great fun. It was also there that I had my first experience with more water than I had ever seen before. It was larger than the sink... larger than the bathtub... much, much larger than even the kiddie pool! Mommy called it a "lake". I was a little scared at first, but only a little. I tried to bite the water when it rippled, but the wrinkles just wouldn't keep still!

Montreal was great fun too. I got to explore a new house and play with Grandma and Mommy's friends. I tried to play with Caramel and Grandpa too, but... Caramel hissed at me and swatted me on the nose with her paw. And Grandpa didn't seem to know what to do with me when I nipped at his hands or brought him toys, and he called for help when I jumped up on him to say hello.

I think that I got myself in a bit of trouble with Grandma, what with jumping up on Grandpa and that business about chewing through the telephone cable. Apparently, my constant chewing made the little box stop ringing. Not sure why that was such a big deal, but Grandma was very upset with me.

I can't really help the chewing. Something odd is happening to my teeth... They're all wiggly and keep falling out! Thankfully, new ones are appearing in their place. But it's definitely not a pleasant process!

Oh, and I also learned to climb the stairs recently. Mommy said that she had to teach me as I'm becoming too heavy to carry up and downstairs for much longer. So, so many new experiences. It's been a wonderful couple of weeks!

My Own Little Pharmacy

Yesterday was a very busy day! First thing in the morning, Mommy took me to the vet. I got a check-up and a rabies shot, and then I spent most of the day at the vet's so they could give me medication and observe me. Mommy had been very worried about the shot, but I felt great. No seizures yesterday or today!

The vet also gave Mommy some more medication for me. I am already taking medication for the worms, the ear mites, and of course the seizures. Oh, and something called an "antihistamine" for a few days before and after the shot, and heartworm pills once a month. The latest addition was some new pills for something called a "urinary tract infection". Mommy said that it's like my own little "pharmacy" and has arranged a special place in the kitchen just for all of my pills and medicines. I'm not sure exactly what a pharmacy is, but I know exactly where it is as it's right next to my treats!

Oh, and guess how much I now weigh? 30.5 pounds. Even the vet was surprised! They had to adjust the dosage of all of my numerous medications. Hey, I'm a growing girl.

After Mommy picked me up from the vet, she took me to work with her. She had to attend something called a "meeting", but I also had to be observed for the rest of the day. So, I went with her. It was fun as I got to see and be fussed over by all of Mommy's friends and co-workers again. Then, when everyone else went home, Mommy stayed to get some more work done, and I took a nice long nap in my travel crate.

Oh, I forgot to tell you all about my new travel crate! Mommy just got this new soft-sided carrier for the car that fits in the front passenger seat. It's really light, so she can carry it inside when needed. Actually, I don't understand why I can't just explore the car while Mommy drives; there seems to be so much to chew on. But, nooooo... I always have to be confined. I eventually gave in and now just curl up and nap while Mommy drives. It usually turns out to be worth it to get to explore new places and meet new people once we arrive at our destination.

Today was the perfect example of that... Mommy found this little remote place that nobody goes to on the weekend, and there was even some grass where we could play. I had so much fun! We played fetch, and I even got to chase Mommy around. I'm very fast, so I always managed to catch her! We played and played... and played some more. When we got home, I took a nice long nap, and then ate dinner with quite the appetite. I hope that we get to go back again soon.

And speaking of travelling... Mommy says that we're going on a very looooong car ride in a few days. We're going to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Montreal, Canada! That's why I had to get my rabies shot yesterday as they apparently require everyone to have one before they open the gates to the country. I've never been to Canada, but I am looking forward to seeing Grandma and Grandpa again. And now that I'm a bit older, I definitely plan on playing with Caramel. Not too sure what she will think of that idea as you can never tell with cats. But hey, we're like sisters... or cousins... or, well, I suppose that she's like my... aunt? Too confusing!

Life According to Abby

Let me begin with a quick health update. I've been taking the medication for almost a week now. Thus far, no adverse side effects. And no seizures either. However, it's only been a few days, so Mommy says that it's too soon to tell if the meds are working.

The vet had also warned Mommy that the medication could temporarily make me a bit lethargic (a big word for "tired") at first, as well making me want to drink and eat more. Well, I am drinking more these days. However, Mommy is still chuckling about the "lethargic" part! I suppose that I am pretty active and energetic... but, in my defense, there's always so much to see and do and explore!

As for my appetite, well, it's the oddest thing... Unlike my siblings, I've never been all that interested in food. I tend to get easily distracted during mealtimes, and will wander off to play with my toys or try jumping up on the couch or coffee table when Mommy isn't looking. However, I am very motivated by treats. And it doesn't even have to be anything special - a piece of the exact same dry kibble that lingers in my food bowl becomes instantaneously appealing when I have to earn it. So, Mommy has been using that to her advantage and teaching me all sorts of new tricks. She says that I'm a very smart girl as it usually only takes me one lesson to learn a new command. Thus far, I can sit, come, lay down, and shake with both paws (one at a time, of course). And I'm only 14 weeks old. So, I can't wait to see what comes next!

It's been raining pretty much all day. Rain is pretty interesting, and makes this really neat pitter-patter dripping sound on the roof... I wish that Mommy would let me go exploring, but it was a bit brisk out today and she didn't want me to get a chill. I think that she also wanted to avoid my getting really, really dirty by splashing about in every mud puddle I could find!

Let me finish with a family update! We've stayed in touch with two of my sisters and one of my brothers. They're all doing really well and are very happy with their new families. My sister Ellie Mae also has her own web page on Dogster -- in fact, she's the one who first told me about this site (she's one of my Pup Pals, in case you wanna check out her page). Well, today, Mommy put up a picture composite of my siblings! It's currently the last picture in the series, so check it out if you get the chance. We're a pretty cute bunch, if I do say so myself!