Doggy Dental Month

Since February is doggy dental month at our vets and they give a BIG discount for all dentals Mom decided I needed to go get one. I am going to be 8 years old next week and everyone complains that I have bad breath so she figured it was time, even though she does scale my teeth and she thought they looked pretty gosh darn good.
After leaving me off and going back to work, the clinic called Mom. It was my NICE vet who deals with my pee pee issues. She told Mom my teeth actually looked pretty good (Mom is a GOOD scaler!),and since I was soooo well behaved she was just going to scale them a bit more. Mom said that was fine.
Of course, Mom suggested they might want to do a urine check on me since I was a captive audience, so to speak. She had noted I was hitting the water a bit heavy again, and there were a few puddles showing up in the bedroom again.
So, the vet decided to check that out, too. Of course, she forgot I am rather tiny and she grabbed a HUGE catheter and, rather than find a smaller one, she pushed that one on in!!! It HURT, I gotta tell you!!!
Sure enough, my urine was full of bacteria and casts AGAIN/STILL. She called Mom to see what she wanted to do about it. Her idea was to put me on different antibiotics (for my TEETH???) and hope they worked, but she also suggested another Ultrasound with a specialist, more blood work AND maybe even some exploratory surgery.
Mom said she was feeling poor so how about the antibiotics and some prayers??? Vet agreed, and also suggested I take some NSAIDS since word is, they also help problem bladders. Mom told her I WAS taking Cosequin, but Dr. Balch wanted me to use something heavier, like Metacam since the Cosequin was obviously NOT helping me at all. Since Mom just so happened to have a bottle of that already, she agreed to try it.
So, I am now home and not so happy. The new antibiotic has to be given TWICE a day! Bad enough once a day, ugh! Mom better well find something new and exciting to get me to take those!!
Meanwhile, Quincy wiped out our lovely Drinkwell Fountain TWICE in 12 hours and it is now broken and leaks all over the kitchen floor. Mom decided to go back to a "normal" water dish so now I even have to drink stale water. Will it NEVER end????

OMD... the OCEAN!!!

Wow, Mom surprised me and Beanie today and took us to the ocean!!! We met my first (and only, hehehe) WIFE, Jenny there, and also our grandson, Piper. Their owner now has a new rescue dog, Zeb, a 10 year old Shih Tzu. He was pretty good, too, although he certainly doesn't listen as well as us poodles, BOL!
Mom said the best things are not planned, and today was NO EXCEPTION! After driving thru a fresh snowstorm to get there, the sun burst out and it was warm and perfect! Not even a cold sea breeze, just amazing.
Us five dogs headed for the beach and discovered Mom did really, really great cuz it was even LOW TIDE!!! Best of all, I hadn't gone three yards and there was a nice, new tennis ball floating in the ocean. MINE!!!
Mom brought her walking stick and was surprised to find it did the trick... her back and knees didn't hurt at all so we walked and walked and walked. Well, the people walked, us dogs RAN FULL OUT! Julia was there, too, and I had so much fun with her. It was the greatest day ever!
Could it get better?? Yup... it did! Mom let us stop at Petsmart on the way home! We don't have any of those anywhere near us, so we enjoyed visiting there and checking out all the wares. Guess what? We didn't even BUY anything but we were still happy!!!!
When we got home we found out it was COLD, CLOUDY and WINDY here all day! Sure glad we weren't here!!!!
Sadly, Dogster won't let me add any of my new photos tonight!!! Beanie got a few of his on his page, but NOT ONE SINGLE ONE OF MINE WOULD LOAD! Maybe tomorrow????

Changes??? Good, Bad, Ugly

Well, it's February. February is a month of change, I hear. Winter is pretty much still in the middle, BUT, that sun IS warmer and feels good on my black body when I am outside in the cold, blowing February wind, unlike in December when it is dark much earlier!
First of all, GOOD news...for some reason, after almost 8 years, (my birthday is the first week in March, BOL!), I am suddenly eating everything I can find that is edible. Mom always feeds us in our crates and normally, the first thing I do is dump my dish of food to sort thru and find anything good she may have put in there. OR, find any pills or other nasty stuff that might be hidden in the good stuff! Then, I stare at it until she lets us out. If I am really starving the next morning I may eat a bite or two, but never all of it, even though she only gives me a small amount.
As for treats and the like, after about four years I decided I might eat a bit of string cheese while Mom is training me, but NOTHING else passes my lips. I will take a piece of whatever Mom is handing out, but I only take it to be polite. Mom NEVER lets me have anything in the bedroom anymore after she found all those pieces of soggy popcorn hidden under her blankie, hehehe!
Well, about three weeks ago Mom realized she no longer had to vacuum all that stale dog food out of my crate everyday. First she assumed the others were eating it, then she noticed I was getting pretty heavy, in fact, for the first time in my life my spine bones are not jabbing her when she pats me.
Then, she noticed I was racing into my crate at dinner time... and, eating every single piece of my dog food without even dumping it!! And, those biscuits she hands out... I am gobbling mine right up. Tonight she even caught me stealing some bread off the table. I WAS hungry!
Tonight she weighed me. I am now 23 lbs, up from the 17 I have been for the last 6 years.
Mom has no idea why I am suddenly eating... neither do I, BOL!
In other GOOD news... I have been invited to the Annual Pigskin 5K this year. It is on Sunday and I will be accompanying Julia as Crystal, who went with her last year, will be going along with Scott this year. The only problem is that the only t-shirts Momsie found with the Patriots on them are pink... I do not think so!!!! Mom's gonna look for some tomorrow when she goes shopping in the nearby bigger town with Gemma and Lolas Mom. Yes, Gemma and Lola are coming for another visit... two weeks this time, I guess. I LOVE Lola and she loves me so I am looking forward to our visit!
Finally, the BAD... One of the chickies died last night. It was the old lady that we got first so Mom wasn't too surprised. The problem was, I saw her out there with my perfect night vision when Mom put us out for last outs last night. It was obvious she was dead, and it was obvious I should have been allowed to dispose of her body, at least obvious to ME! I ran and ran and ran along the fence, trying and trying to find a way to get in there and get her but I couldn't! I dreamed about her all night long and first thing this morning I raced out to see if I could get her with better light to see by. NOPE, I ran and ran and ran along that fence but couldn't find any way in. Finally, Mom dragged me back inside.
The next time I went out that chickie was gone. I can't believe she is gone and I keep telling Mom I need to go out to make sure!!! I would certainly have helped dispose of her if Mom had let me!!
And, now, the UGLY... Mom, for some reason, shaved off Beanie's mousietache yesterday. OMD, is he ever ugly now. His nose is way, way too short. Must be why he had a mousietache in the first place, huh? I hope she doesn't take any photos of him until it grows back, hehehe!

My overnight!

Finally, Julia convinced her Mom I could/should come spend the night with her. I was really proud of Julia...she used some reverse psychology on her mother. First, she asked if Quincy could come stay over. Let's face it, Quincy is a 6 month old LABRADOR puppy...he isn't even invited to spend the night in Mom's bedroom yet, BOL!
Julia's family has Quincy's Aunt, so her Mom was fully aware of how bad it would be having him stay over so, when Julie said she would take ME instead her mom readily agreed!! Worked great!
Since Julia spent Saturday night at our house, Mom took us home on Sunday, after we did a bit of shopping. Julia and Mom went to Wally's world, and they bought ME a new squeaky chicken to take with me to Julia's house. After Wally's, we went to MY favorite, Tractor Supply. I LOVE that store! Usually I get to ride in the cart but this time Mom filled it with food for the Chickies so Julia had to carry me. Mom told her I could walk, but I guess she didn't hear her, probably cuz I was groaning so loudly, hehehe!
After browsing the whole store we headed off to Julia's house. Mom dropped us off and headed home. No sooner did we get in the house when Julia realized MY new pressie was still in the bag in Mom's car. Julia called her, but she was being mean and wouldn't drive all the way back upstreet to Julia's house!!!!
Oh well, I had a good time, anyway. Everyone was lovin' on me, it seemed pretty nice after being ignored at home. This morning Julia's mother brought me along to work and I had breakfast with the girls. I used to get lots of lovin' from the girls at work but now they only have eyes for Jethro. I gave him a few kisses which I admit, did earn me a few points, but NO FOOD!
Mom didn't have all the grooming dogs show up cuz we had a blizzard today, so she shaved my face and my feet and trimmed my topknot. I didn't need a bath cuz Julia bathed me on Monday when she came to work with her mother.
Then, she took me home and I had to walk thru all that snow with my bare feet!!! Not very nice! Julia would have carried me!!!

OMD, it's cold outside!

This weekend it got really HOT outside and melted most of the snow. Must have been our January thaw??? Anyway, Sunday night it got really, really COLD and all the snow that was left turned to glare ice. We have the biggest skating rink in our dog yard I have ever had the pleasure of skating on.
Problem is, I take off from the porch to chase a crowing rooster or a clucking hen, the second my feet hit that yard I am sliding and I end up smashing right into their fence!! It is really hard to look mean and intimidating when you are sliding along on your back with your feet sticking up in the air.
Suffice it to say, those roosters have been crowing a lot more ALL DAY LONG today and the hens never, ever stopped clucking. To make matters worse, Mom was home cuz the kennel was closed (so she could watch the inauguration, although she said it was because today is a holiday???) so we were outside way more than usual.
Tonight I am totally exhausted. It is really painful to keep sliding along on that ice, not to mention it is really cold. Coupled with the fact that our furnace was dead when we woke up this morning it has not been a good day for the Toto.
Worse, Julia stopped by to get me to go stay at her house. At the last minute, Harvey was acting all cute and coy and she actually took HIM instead of me!
She texted Mom as she was leaving and told her I watched her drive away with tears in my eyes. Nice Julia to rub it in that she drove away with Harvey... but, silly girl, those were tears of JOY, not sadness. JOY that I would have a whole evening and night without Harvey bugging me, BOL!

More eggs!!!!

Remember last Summer when Julia and Mom won all those eggs at that Chicken Swap they went to? Well, remember the ones Mom tried to hatch didn't make it, but the others hatched out fine and dandy at the expert's house. You may even recall some photos of the babies I placed on my page?
Well, this week they started laying their first eggs. We have five pullets and four (well, we HAD four) roosters from them cuz Mom gave the rest of them to Quincy's mothers people. Anyway, most of them are Marans, which lay dark, dark chocolate brown eggs. Three of them were supposed to be Easter Eggers, which lay GREEN eggs.
Turns out, TWO of our roosters are Easter Eggers, and Mom was pretty sure she must NOT have an Easter Egger pullet cuz hers are all exactly the same, basic black with rust feathers on their heads and necks. One of the pullets she gave away was black with some white feathers so we assumed that was the Easter Egger.
Monday when Mom got the eggs there was one little DARK, DARK brown one with the rest. Tuesday, another little dark, dark brown one. Wednesday, just the regular ones, but as Mom was leaving the chicken house she spied something way over in the corner under the roost. Turns out it was a green egg. Mom was sure it must be rotten because it was a gross shade of green, but, once she rinsed it off, she suddenly remembered that Easter Eggers lay green eggs!!!!
Today we got TWO Dark, Dark brown ones and ONE little green one along with the regulars. Amazing!
Soo, now we get white ones, (from the Leghorns),HUGE cream ones,(from the Plymouth Rocks),regular brown ones, (from the Comets), darker brown ones, (from the Rhode Island Reds) and DARK, DARK Semi sweet Chocolate ones, (from the Marans) and now, a GREEN one from the Easter Egger.
Mom wants to get some Americanas this Spring so we can get some blue ones, too!

Momsie saved from shame, BOL!

It seems that I was selected as a diary pick yesterday. It seems that Mom KNEW I was selected, yet she chose to ignore that fact and not even tell me about it!
Well, this morning I checked out Dogster on the computer. We had NO email from Dogster so I assumed I was a nothing once more. However, when I clicked on the Diaries, low and behold, there I was, exactly where I had been yesterday, according to Mom.
Of course, Momsie tried to tell me that I was wrong and it was still yesterday, not today, and I had missed a whole day and my photo right there with the Diaries of the day was proof that she was right and I was wrong, since the email was from YESTERDAY.
Now I ask, how in the world can anyone, much less me, a DOG, argue with that kind of logic, if there even is any logic to that????
I know you believe you understood what I just said but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what I wrote!

I'm a snow doggy!!!

Wow, it's been ages since Mom helped me write a diary. To catch up, man, that Rooster was GREAT! Mom gave us some pieces of it to test. I love them in the flesh, but cooking does bring out something special, I must admit!
Speaking of chickens, the other day when Mom took us all down to the lab pen to play she forgot to shut in the Chickies. Being of sound mind and quick thinking, I marched myself right into their pen to say hello to them. Would you believe those roosters are getting pretty tough, and I don't mean chewy! They are way too willing to chase me. Imagine that, chasing ME, the famous chickie dog of all time.
As soon as that old guy started after me I heard Momsie calling me so I reluctantly left their pen and raced over to Mom. She quickly locked their pen, hehehe!
Anyway, us dogs have been enjoying that fresh snowfall. Well, most of us have, that is. Harvey and Barney are not totally convinced it is fun. Mom actually took us twice today cuz the first time she had the camera set wrong and all the photos were ruined. It was much nicer the second time because the sun was out and it was warmer.
I am all tired out now and sleeping under Mom's desk, waiting for it to be dark enough to go to bed, BOL! Catch ya later!!!

Chicken farming....

I hope my pals Puff and Coco Rose come over and read this, the continuing chicken farming saga. Since we now have five roosters and really do not need five roosters, Mom decided a nice roasted rooster might make a great Christmas dinner. Just in case, she also bought a small ham, BOL.
Well today was THE DAY. Julia came along to help, er, watch. After work Mom put us all in our crates and she and Julia headed out, armed with some utensils and a pot of boiling water.
Shortly thereafter, they returned and let me and Cryssie outside and, would you believe, Mom gave us EACH a chicken foot!!!! Can you imagine, our very own chicken foot??? OMD, I thought Santa must have already visited!! It was sooooo good.
Later I noticed a roasting chicken all wrapped up in the refrigerator. I couldn't believe it!! After all that yelling and hollering Mom did at me when I tested those chickies earlier this Summer, I now realize she was just keeping them all for herself!!!! What a mean Mom she is! I wonder if she is going to give us dogs the Christmas ham???

Problems with my Mom!!!

Last night Mom was very tired so she made us all go to bed really early. Then, she remembered she drank some soda too late in the afternoon so she couldn't go to sleep so she watched TV forever.
Well, usually, she wakes up and we run outside to pee during the night but, because she went to sleep so late, she woke up late, too. I had to pee REALLY badly, but in her infinite wisdom, Mom decided since there was only ONE more hour until we had to get up anyway, she wouldn't let us out.
She goes to the bathroom herself, comes back and hops right back into bed, RIGHT into a HUGE puddle that I was forced to leave in the bed. We have a waterbed so it didn't even sink in, hehehe, and she was splashed!
Needless to say, we ALL got up early, Mom took a shower and made us go outside in the rain and dark. Not very nice!
Anyhow, I was going somewhere with this...oh yeah, Mom decided since I took my last antibiotics on Friday, I MUST have another UTI. Soo, off to work I went with her this morning. I immediately spied Hilda, dressed in a Beautiful holiday dress and remembered I must be there for the work Christmas party instead of a visit to the vet.
Sure enough, I got in an expen with Hilda and we had a nice time visiting and taking breaks. Soon enough, everyone showed up for the party and Hilda and I headed out for some well earned lunch and Christmas cookies.
Suddenly, the phone rang... next thing I knew, Laurie was headed up the hill to the vets with me and left me there!!!! Meanwhile, Hilda was back at work, eating Pizza and Christmas cookies. Is this fair????????
Finally, well after all the food was gone, in fact, Mom had even gone home from work already, the vet decided I could go home and called Mom to come get me. GREAT TIMING, Dr. Balch!!!!
The good news, (I think???) I do not have a bladder infection again AND more x-rays and ultrasounds of my bladder looked fine and dandy. Dr. Balch had the nerve to tell Mom I was probably just getting lazy!!! The NERVE!