Heart worm scare!

Just letting all my dog buddies out there know that sometimes mistakes can happen in laboratories. Mom and dad have us on heart worm medication for prevention purposes. I had got sick about 5 months ago and during some blood test they said I had heart worms. My mom and dad didn't believe it and the morning that I was scheduled to start my heart worm treatment, which I heard them talking about it being dangerous to me and I would have to be confined to a carrier for weeks at a time during treatment, they requested that I get tested again. The vet said they would call to let them know the results before starting the treatment. Well, thank god mom and dad requested that retest, I tested totally negative for heartworms. The lab had made a mistake, a mistake that could have killed me or made me very, very sick. So I want to let everyone out there know, if you test positive make sure they do a retest, just to be on the safe side. I was just tested again at my well physical and I am still healthy. The originial illness, that I was having blood work for, never showed anything wrong with me, mom and dad seem to think I got over heated and couldn't cool off fast enough. Another thing, be careful of FIRE ANTS, Remi sat down on an ant mound and got bit, he had a bad reaction to them and almost died. Mom and dad carry a first aid kit for us and thank god they had benadryl in there, the vet said that is what saved him from dying. Well doggie buddies, be careful and safe, there are lots of things out there that aren't doggie friendly.

Remi

Well, here is the newest pic of Remi. He is 1 year old now. We started dove hunting again, not been too good of a season so far, but Remi did get two birds so far, one was ours, one was some other guys, they man couldn't find his bird and Remi found it for him, not too bad for a kid on his first real hunting year. He is doing really good with everything, you would never know he was ever shy about getting in the water, now he lives for it. He has developed into a pretty good little hunting partner, must be from all my good training talks we have during the day, yeah I will take credit for some of his training, after all, that seems to be what we talk about the most during the day when we are alone. The little brat watches everything I do, so I know he has learned alot from me, the expert. We went looking for ducks in a swamp this past weekend, getting ready for duck season to open next month. He really has a ball out in the woods, ponds and mud holes. He can still be a pesty brat, but I don't think I would be happy if he wasn't here with me all day and night. Thats about it for the news on the kid. So have a wonderful hunting season!

He did it!

Well, the little brat finallydid it , he got in the water and swam and actually retrieved the rubber duck dad bought me three years ago. I have to say, he sure looks cute swimming in the lake, and it was really cold water, I am surprized he got in it. He was also able to jump into the back of the pick-up truck all by himself without any help from dad or mom. I'm kind of sad now that he is growing up and is almost as big as I am, actually he is a little taller than me, but I am short legged and he isn't. I was kind of enjoying his obnoxious puppy behavior, just don't let dad and mom know that, I still have to play it like he gets on my nerves. Well, I will fill you in on his next acheivements as he does them. I'm just looking forward to spring and warmer weather so we can go to the lake and swim more often.

Licks!
Casey

Puppy Update

Well, here it is after Christmas already and the newest addition to our family is growing up fast. Thank heaven he finally started losing those needle sharp puppy teeth, I have more scars from those things than I can count. Unfortunetly he started chewing on everything including our dog house and my new collars. Dad had to buy us both some of those chain collars, so now he has no interest in bitting the hard metal, the other ones were too expensive to keep replacing according to dad.
We have been taking him hunting with us, and he seems to have a good time, but..... he is always wanting to get in my way when I am trying to retrieve birds, I know he has to learn like I did, but he needs to learn to wait and get his own birds, the ones that mom shoots, not dads. I guess like everything else it just takes time to learn these things. He does a pretty good job of retrieving the "woobie" and he is doing real good on his "obedience" like sit, down, stay, place and come. He still has a lot of learing to do but for a 5 month old he is doing pretty good.
Since winter is here, we have been sharing the dog house. I really hated that he wanted to get in there with me, but now it's kind of nice since we can cuddle up with each other and it's so much warmer in the house with him in there. He has also learned not to eat out of my food bowl since his puppy food is different than mine, but I wouldn't mind sharing mine with him, it's just that dad says he needs his puppy food instead of what I eat. I will be so happy when he gets potty trained, he won't go potty inside anymore, but he still goes in our kennel and I don't like that since I can hold it till mom and dad get home to let us out to play. I guess that's something that comes later as he gets older, I just hope it's soon, I hate the smell of puppy poop!
Well, dad hasn't been around for a few days now, I was really worried as to where he has went, but I heard mom say he had to go to the hospital to have some surgery, something about some rocks inside his belly, not sure what that is but it sounds bad and I hope he gets better and comes home soon, we miss him terribly and want to go hunting again this weekend. Well, it's late and the brat is wanting to go to bed after our play time and after eating, so I guess I will go in the house and let him get warm cuddling next to me.
Casey

OH NO, I HAVE A NEW BROTHER

Well, just as I thought my life was all settled and I was the king of the house, in marches a new family member, ugh! It all started on a nice early fall day, dad and mom loaded me up for what I thought was going to be a trip to the lake, or a nice walk in the woods, but....... when my crate opened up we were in a strange place where I suddenly got the feeling of de-ja-vu. I was suddenly surrounded by all these strange furry creatures, barking and making me afraid to get out of my crate, and two faces that looked familiar ,but I couldn't quite remember where I had seen them before. Then it hit me, I was at my birth home and it all seem to make more sense to me now. I remember the woman, her name was Ana and I remember her rocking me and singing songs to me when I was a baby. Ron was the man, I also remember him, he was the one that was trying to teach me things like running and bringing toys to him. Then suddenly I heard a familiar sound, it was the sound of my birth mom barking. It had been 3 years since I had heard her, but I never forgot her. I was getting less nervous as things started to come back to me, I felt safe knowing I had lived here when I was just a small puppy.
Then in a single second, my life was about to change. I saw my adopted mom walking over to a wire pen, she seemed all excited about all these little brown furry things running around inside the pen. Then it struck me, those brown furry things were just smaller versions of me. Oh no, so many of them all jumping up and down, making lots of noise, and I saw her pick one up, it was licking her face, something that no one but me is allowed to do, and she isn't stopping it. I suddenly feel like I am going to cry, what is happening here..... she isn't suppose to be letting it kiss her like that, she is my mom, not his. At least dad isn't over there, he is still here with me, talking to me and petting me, telling me to not be afraid. Afraid? afraid of what? Please don't tell me what I think is about to happen, dad is taking me out of the truck and making me walk over to where my mom and that thing she is holding are. No.... tell me he isn't going to make me get close to it. No..... I refuse to let it near me, what does he think he is doing, trying to win them over with that little baby face and cute little nubby tail wagging so hard it might fall off. No..... please tell me you didn't say you are taking it home with us. No, No, No.......it's not fair.
Then just as quick as we got there, we were loading back up, me in my crate and IT in the front of the truck in moms lap. I see it happening now, I am no longer their one and only, their baby, their pride and joy, I now have competition and I don't like IT.
We got home and I got out of my secure crate and waiting for me on the ground was IT. Oh no....... he is already trying to make me like him, acting all cute and making mom and dad laugh. UGH, I can't even take a step and he is already running up to me yapping and wagging his tail. Go away kid..... your bugging me, this is my home, not yours, no matter what you do I won't like you.
OK, so dad wants to go out in the yard and play with my woobie, it's mine all mine and I won't share it. Dad throws it, I start to run as fast as I can to get it but IT is fast on my heels, trying to beat me to it. Oh no, your not going to have it, the faster I run the faster he runs, I'm inches from it, it's almost in my mouth, then wham, IT pushes his way in front of me and as fast as I can say scram, he grabs my woobie and takes off with it, looking back to see what I am doing, just like he is saying come get me, I dare you, I have your woobie and you can't have it. That's OK, dad will get it back for me.....but wait.... NO... he isn't, he is laughing and making a big deal out of IT getting my woobie and running with it. How can that be, he knows that's my woobie but he isn't making IT give it back, he just throws it again and IT goes and gets it again, running right in front of me, showing off. OK, I need to have a plan of attack here, I can't let this thing get the best of me, I was here first, this is my house, my family, and I am going to show him who is king of the house. Dad throws the woobie one more time, ha, I see IT starting to take off toward my woobie, I run as fast as my short legs will carry me and in one swift second, I run up and knock him out of my way, he tumbles and rolls losing all control, and I won the race this time, the woobie is all mine, ha ha kid, I'll show you who rules the roost around here. I take the woobie to dad like I always do and IT is still trying to figure out what hit him. He isn't quite as gung ho as he was, now he knows who's boss....ME. He sits there, just looking at me, trying to get his head straight after being knocked around a little, yeah kid, come on just try to get it away from me again and see what happens. Hum, wonder if he can read minds, cause here he comes again, running, picking up speed, he isn't slowing down and he is coming right at me. Oh no......he just jumped up and now he has hold of my right ear, growling, shaking his head, what does he think he is doing, let go of me kid......... dad, mom, HELP! he won't let my ear go. HELPPPPPPPPPPP! OK, OK, I give up, mom and dad are laughing so hard, they actually think it is cute, that he is cute trying to rip my ear off. Well, I guess I need a new strategy, maybe if I don't act like it bothers me he will give up and go away. Yeah sure, he is a brat, he isn't going to give up, he has something to play with now....my ears.
Well, IT has a name now, it's Remington, like the gun, but they call him Remi, how sickening . I found out he is really my cousin, his grandpa is my birth daddy. His birthday is the day after mine, July 16, 2008, I'm 3 years older than he is. OK, I have to admit he is a little cute, and 2 months later he is still a pest and still hangs from my ears, but mom and dad are teaching him to behave so maybe it will get better soon. We took him hunting for doves the last weekend before it closed for 6 weeks, I got a bird for dad and Remi grabbed it and tried to run with it, just like my woobie, but this time dad set him straight and let him know that wasn't his bird it was mine....all mine. We have went looking for places to duck hunt Thanksgiving weekend and he seemed to have a good time, running in the woods and to the water with me, he still doesn't like the cold water, but I jump in and have a ball, cold or not. I'm sure he will take to the water when he gets a little older, but so far he has only got in it one time even though he gets his feet wet all the time. Dove season opens again this weekend and maybe the brat will get his own bird this time, I might even be nice and show him the ins and outs of dove hunting........NOT!
I am really trying hard to not like Remi, but I find it's not easy, he kind of grows on me. He is getting cuter and I can tolerate his obnoxious behavor, especially when he wants to cuddle up to me in the big dog house that we share. I guess I can help keep the little brat warm and he is soft to cuddle up next to, even if he still likes to chew on my ears and has destroyed my collar that dad bought me. I guess I will resign myself to the fact that he is here to stay and I will make the best of it, after all, he does keep me company during the day when mom and dad are at work. OK, I admit it, I like him more than I am willing to let on, I just try to look aloof and make them think I still don't care too much for the little fellow, but as long as he keeps quiet about me cleaning him, sharing my water and house and letting him cuddle up with me, then I guess he is an OK pup.