Cat dog!

Sadie thinks she's a cat.

1. She curls up in my lap. Literally curls up In. My. Lap.

2. She does daily yoga moves streeetching her back and hind legs.

3. In bed, she lays on my chest and puts her paws on my shoulders.

4. She sleeps on the dining table.



This newly developed habit (that I am discouraging, I promise!) has already cost me $127 thanks to a broken window. Sigh.

Photos from IOWA

I owe ya photos from IOWA!!!

Busy, busy, busy!

It's been a busy week!

I had finals last week so I was in an alternate universe. I honestly don't remember anything that happened from Tuesday morning until noon Friday - when Kevin decided we should go camping for the weekend.

We left Eddie with a sitter, but took Sadie and Chester with us. I have photos that I will add later, but I forgot my camera and had to use a disposable camera (Did you know they still make those?!?) and still need to get the film processed.

It was a great weekend and I am so proud of Sadie! She is getting much better at "no bark" and "go to your room." She slept in her crate all weekend and was very well behaved. I still let her get a bit excited when people would come by - I don't want to break her spirit or discourage her from barking if a stranger comes around our house!

It was a really nice, relaxing trip too. Kevin and Chester went hiking and Sadie and I stayed at the camp site enjoying the breeze in a shady spot near the campfire reading fashion magazines. We even took a little nap while the boys trekked through the nature.

The only bad part of the trip was when I noticed a tick on Chester's leg (after Kevin declared him tick free following their hike). And then, after a closer inspection by me, another 7 ticks was found on Chester and one on Sadie. Yep, we had to remove 9 ticks from the dogs that night. I can only imagine what our tent silhouette looked like. Me holding Chester while Kevin struck numerous matches, blew them out and touched the ticks (we didn't have any tweezers).

We looked up the ticks later and determined they were Lone Star Ticks.

After the trip, we dropped the dogs off at the house and ran out for dinner. We'd been gone 15-20 minutes when I got a call from the neighbor saying the police were at my house.

Other neighbors, hearing the sound of breaking glass coming from our front porch, called the police suspecting a possible intruder.

No intruder - Sadie got excited by something and in her jumping around she knocked a dining room chair into the window.

Ugh. There went the money for her shots! I'm going to have to sell plasma for this dog.

Water World

I missed the perfect video opportunity today and am so bummed my cell phone was dead.

I bought a little pool for the dogs since the temperatures are getting so high.

SADIE LOVED IT!

She is definitely a water dog. She jumped right in, splashing everyone. And laid down.

This dog is just so freaking cute!

Next time, I will have the cell phone ready and try to take some serious shots using my photojournalism skills and my DSLR. The photo op is just too awesome.

Also, coming as soon as I can get it off my phone: A video of Sadie EATING AT THE TABLE!

A new family Portrait

I had the brilliant idea to take a family portrait today. The last one we took only has four of the kids and we need one with everyone.

Next time, I should set up a video camera. It was just too funny! Kevin sat on the couch and I ran around grabbing animals and dropping them in his lap. He then arranged them so that he could hold on to them all while I got the next animal. Once, I made the mistake of dropping a cat on top of Chester - he was NOT a fan!

It was such a spur of the moment idea that I didn't take any care to fix the background and now I wish I had. I want to reshoot, but no one will come near me - Kevin included.

Need a good deed?

Meet Brighton and Berkley ... I don't know them, but I know their brother, Hank. A childhood friend adopted him last week - and then found out he has Parvovirus. It is deadly, but can be cured - with a lot of energy and money. Many owners wouldn't spend the resources to save a new dog, but Rachael isn't like many owners. Hank is lucky to have her!

Brighton and Berkley, however, aren't so lucky.

If you are still looking for this month's good deed, then check out this Web site. You will be helping someone who knows someone who knows someone who loves dogs and their big, beautiful, trusting eyes.

www.savetheboxers.com

Progress!

WOW!!!

Sadie just meandered into her crate - WITHOUT BEING TOLD!!!

I am so excited, I can't even begin to describe it.

We've been working with her off and on for three weeks now - when she seems to get fed up, we take a break for a couple of days. She does better with Kevin than with me (frustrating since she's MY dog).

I put her food either in the crate or right in front of it every day. And she promptly moves it onto the bed and enjoys her meal.

But this afternoon I decided to retire my comforter and put it in her crate. AND NOW SHE IS JUST LAYING IN THERE!

We worked with her a bit and she was doing great. Then, we started getting ready for bed and she just walked right in there and laid down!!!

YAY!!!

Right now she is banging around in there situating the comforter. The door is wide open so she can get out if she wants.

I'm scared to screw up this progress. Clearly, we want the crate to continue being a "safe" place for her. So, my thought is to keep the door open for a couple more weeks - not lock her up in there for awhile. Let it become a place she enjoys so that it doesn't feel like a prison to her.

I'm open to suggestions.