"All three of us were watching Julia check out a goose nest. There were FOUR eggs in it!!! Mom wouldn't let us dogs near it, which the mother goose appreciated!!"
Gotcha Date: April 15th 2007 Birthday: February 21st 2007 Likes: Going to work with me at my boarding Kennel Pet-Peeves: people who don't train their dogs, people who let their dogs get way too fat. Favorite Toy: Soda bottle caps Favorite Food: String cheese Favorite Walk: Anywhere I take him Best Tricks: Turning on his sad eyes Arrival Story: Beanie was a tiny pup in a rescue of 15 poodles I undertook in Spring '07. He was so tiny I didn't dare place him, and now it's too late... he's MINE, ALL mine. Bio: Beanster has recently started his obedience career and won 2nd place at the Poodle Club of Massachusetts Speciality show. He also completed his Rally Title and earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen title. He also passed testing and is now certified as a Therapy Dog.
UPDATE: Beanie FINALLY earned his third and final leg for his Companion Dog title on July 18, 2010!!! He is now Beanster, CD, RN, CGC, and, according to him, his obedience show days are finished. Forums Motto: We don't doodle!!! The Groups I'm In: Dogster and Catster All Paws Bulletin!, Dyson Dogster/Catster, Febreze® Pet Odor Eliminator™, The doggy paddlers, [Precious Poochies][Our lil Angels] The Last Forum I Posted In: Luxating Patellas In Dachshunds
"In the wetter parts of the northern latitudes of North America, including parts of Canada, New England, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, black fly populations swell from late April to July, becoming a nuisance to humans engaging in common outdoor activities, such as gardening, boating, camping, and backpacking." from Wikipedia.
They forgot to mention becoming a nuisance to any and all DOGS who must venture outside to do their duty!!! Trust me, these little blood suckers ARE more than a nuisance!!! I swear, each time Mom puts me outside I am in need of a blood transfusion when I get back into the house!!
To those of you who have never experienced these little beasts, I hope you never have to!!! They go for the soft, hairless parts of your body...the parts that REALLY hurt when bitten. After the immediate burning pain the itching begins and the bitten area swells and takes on a bulls eye appearance. This, as well as the itching, lasts for several days. If the pain and itching don't get you their incessant flying around your face and getting into your eyes and mouth will. There are literally thousands of them forming packs and flying into your face...I can't tell you how many I have swallowed. Good news, they DON'T bite the inside of your mouth OR the inside of your stomach, BOL!
A few positive facts about black flies. They bite mostly in the daytime so it IS safe to venture outside after dark, assuming you don't mind the mosquito bites that is! Better yet, as soon as it gets hotter and dryer, usually after few days in the upper 89's, they all die off and the outdoors is safe once more. If you are kayaking or canoeing it IS safe on the water as long as you don't get within ten or fifteen feet of shore. Of course, getting the kayaks on and off the car and into the water is a bear!!!
Black and dark colored dogs suffer the most bites due to their being warmer as their dark color absorbs the heat of the sun more than us lighter colored dogs, unlike ticks, who go for the white and light colors first. We all feel sorriest for the brindle Frenchies around here... those BLACK, erect ears are like magnets to the little buggers.
Right now we are enjoying the comforts of the INSIDE of the house. Poor Mom went down to the fishie pond to feed the fish after work and she ended up feeding the black flies as well! Now she has to stop helping me type this so she can scratch the many bites she has!!
I forgot to mention, ONLY the females bite...figures, huh????
Yesterday morning it was HOT and very, very humid. Mom had to dig out all the AC's cuz our whole house was wet and yucky. But, if you don't like the weather in NH, just wait a minute and it will change.
Sure enough, as the day wore on the wind picked up and pretty soon it was down right cold outside.
Mom was mowing the lawn and she started with shorts and a sleeveless shirt and ended up with long pants, wool socks and a fleece jacket over a turtleneck! But, the sun was out and it was pretty, at least.
After supper last night Mom took us down into the lab pen. It was now CRISP and dry, and we all had a great time down there in the cool, Fall air. The lawn was freshly mowed, and Mom noted those chickies are really doing a GREAT job of fertilizing that lawn...it is really DARK green and lush!
This morning I was reluctant to hop out from under the covers... it was 56 INSIDE our house...first I thought Momsie had left the AC's on, but then I glanced outside and noticed how Fall like it was.
OMD, I must have slept thru the entire SUMMER!!!!!!!!!
Well, we didn't go camping because Mom pointed out that it is STILL only the first week of May and the nights get VERY cold. Instead, Julia stayed overnight so we could go out canoeing early today.
Yesterday we took the kayaks out again...Toto had to stay home cuz he was hurt, but I got to go and Julia took Barney. She wanted to take Quincy in the canoe but Mom convinced her it was better to wait until the water warms up a bit because he is likely to dump everyone into the water, BOL!! Julia seems to think he will remember how to be good from his trips last Fall. I wouldn't count on it, hehehe!
Today we did take the canoe. I like that better I think cuz we sit straighter up and I can see right into the water and even count the fishies we go by. Better yet, the canoe is so big that I can lie down anywhere and take a comfy nap if the spirit moves me. Mom has some nice kennel matts that she takes along for us to lie on.
We saw lots and lots of turtles today... not much else cuz it was too early in the day, but the turtles were nice. I want it to hurry up and stay light later at night so I can see some of the beavers!!! I like those guys!
Now I am resting in my bed, waiting for it to get dark enough to go to sleep. It was a LONG weekend!
Dogster Obsessions: The Starter Kit for Dogs by Wildebeest
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