HAPPY TURKEY DAY EVERYONE!!

I just love Thanksgiving & really go all out. I took some pictures of as everything was just perfect.

Our Thanksgiving table...


My beautiful turkey with cornbread stuffing...


My favorite...green bean casserole with caramelized shallots...

Scott & I have lots to be thankful for...our families, our dogs, each other. Savor the day!

The Dogs...well, it was the perfect day to nap!

Sherman has never been big on sharing. That blue bed in the corner is HIS...that's where he lays every morning & hangs out with me while I get ready for work. He was not happy about Lola invading his turf.

"Um...excuse me...what is she doing in MY bed??? I demand you do something about this immediately".

Lola is all of a sudden into tennis balls...and plastic squeaky balls, & rubber Kong balls and giggle balls. I bought her some new jumbo tennis balls at Target & figured we'd roll with it.

(Get it...ROLL with it!! Man, am I funny!)

This morning while I was getting ready for work, I heared the familiar sound of Lola trying to dig up the carpet that has come loose on the landing of our stairs. Feeling lazy & being 1/2 undressed, I said "Lola...c'mere". She stopped digging but stayed put. About 10 seconds later, a light bulb went off in my head & I said "Lola, Come!" and she shot up the steps & into my room where she promptly planted her butt in a Sit.

It was a very good reminder to me that consistancy is key!

Lola spent the day catching up on ther reading. Then she took a nap.

Meanwhile, we watched the Steelers get their act together & beat Cleveland. What a game!!

"I'll stay in this crate ONLY if you don't shut the door"

"Back away from the bone!"

"Rub my belly!!"

Our good friend Opy has just informed us that we're in the running for Photo of the Month on Dogs With Blogs!! Yahoooo!!


Well, yes...the Dogs are very beautiful (or handsome, in Sherman's case).

The Nominated Photo...Damn they're a good lookin' bunch!

(And it was even suggested that I cheated & photoshopped this picture . Like I know how to use photo shop!! I ain't no cheater!)


Come on all of our Bloggin friends! Get online & vote for us!

Last night in class, we had a couple of people ask where Lola got her Pink EasyWalk Harness. Even though I had just bought a new purple one, pink is her color. So I was thrilled when I was shopping for clickers on PetExpertise.com, stumbled upon them. Jess also carries lots of other cool gear (she has the best bait bags & we also love the bungee leash). Her prices are great and shipping is a $5 flat rate.

Lola volunteered to model her new harness...

As she was in the modeling mood (there were lots of cookies involved, of course)...we decided to show of the winter coat we bought at the Pet Expo. I still haven't lengthened the bottom straps, so it's pretty snug, but she still looks pretty darn cute!

A Diva dog indeed!

Lola had her best Feisty Fido's class yet tonight. She did get pretty barky in the parking lot going into the shelter, but once inside she was able to focus on me.

We had the curtains opened on all of the "cubicles" and I really reinforced her for looking at all of the other dogs and not reacting. When I saw her start to tense, I asked for a Watch & 9 times out of 10, she did. We did a few dog to dog exercises and she was able to heel 1/2 way across the room towards another dog w/o freaking out. In fact, we didn't have one meltdown the whole class. We practiced Find It, Walk Away and Stuff a Dog all outside the cubicles. And while we were inside, we worked on attention & targeting.

There is a dog in class named Sherman & everytime someone said his name, her ears perked up. It was very cute.

After class, Lilian wanted to see how she'd play with her new foster, Luna. Luna & Lola...how cute! Anyway, they had a ball. Luna is a rough & tumble player and Lola loved having a playmate that could dish it out as well as she could.

They were not happy about having to smoosh in the doorway!

Princess Penny Wiggles had her Dynamic Dogs class tonight to prepare for our WPHS outing to the Joseph Booksellers in the Southside Works next week. There will be a lot of shelter dogs going & Marsha wanted to make sure we practiced a lot of different behaviors with LOTS of distractions.

We did heeling while she walked around like a crazy person w/ loud shopping bags. We did long down stays with the dogs inches from each other while Marsha threw out every possible distraction. Penny broke twice, but fortunately she ran right to me. I haven't done more than a 2-3 minute down stay with her, so I guess we have to practice longer duration.

The biggest accomplishment of the night came when we had the dogs in sit stays right beside us & Marsha did everything she could to get them to break...rattle keys ("wanna go bye-byes?"), throw a ball around, squeak a toy, say "Puppy, Puppy, Puppy! Here Puppy!!" and the one that always got us...that blasted Knock on the Door. Well...my perfect angel, Princess Penny, didn't move an inch. Marsha gave a loud Knock & said "Hello??" and Penny noticed, but I reminded her to stay & she looked at me and kept her little butt planted!! WooHooooo!! That's my girl!

We're gonna have fun next week.

I've come up with some really great treat recipes in the last few months. Most of them are versions of ones I've made in the past. The first 2 require a food processor or blender.

Lola's Liver Brownies

1 lb chicken livers
4 eggs
1 medium apple
1-2 carrots
1/2 cup parm cheese
2 cloves garlic
rolled oats

(This is best done in batches)
1. pulverize carrot, apple & eggs (shells included) & garlic...empty into large mixing bowl.
2. pulverize liver & cheese...add to veggie mix in bowl
3. Dump a bunch of rolled oats (3-4 cups...I never measure) & grind to a fine texture. This helps to get all of the liver off the sides of the food processor, making clean-up much easier.

Combine all ingredients and spread over a well greased cookie sheet (I put foil over mine & spray with Pam...even easier clean-up!). Bake at 425 for 30 minutes & turn off oven & let sit for an hour. Cut with pizza cutter into small brownies.

Sherman's Cheesy Chewies

1 apple
1-2 carrots
4 eggs
2 cloves garlic
2 cups shredded cheese (I used sharp cheddar, reduced fat is also fine)
rolled oats

1. pulverize carrots, apple, garlic & eggs (shells included...don't include shells if you intend to eat some...they're actually kinda tasty!). Dump to large mixing bowl.
2. Add cheese & oats (3-4 cups...you can put them in the food processor to grind into a fine powder if desired). Add a little milk if mix is to thick.
3 Spread on well greased cookie sheet & bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Cut into desired shapes & baggie up!

Penny's Peanut Butter Treats

1 3/4 C whole wheat flour
1 1/4 C oatmeal
2 T Olive oil
1 C warm water
1/2 C peanut butter

Preheat oven to 300°F.
Mix the dry ingredients together. Mix water and peanut butter together then blend into dry ingredients until you get a firm dough.
Blend both mixtures until a firm dough is achieved. Shape dough into an oblong roll, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for an hour.
Lightly grease two baking sheet. Slice roll into 1/2 inch slices, place on cookie sheet and bake for about 50 minutes or until lightly browned.

*These are a pain to make so I only make them for special occasions. I use bone shaped cookie cutters & they turn out really cute. Penny loves them!

Sherman? A therapy dog???

Yep, you betcha! And no, I'm not kidding. I am so unbelievably proud of this dog...I can't even stand it. I actually cried on our way home from testing this morning.

Not only did he pass...but the comments from the evaluator on his TDI forms were"What a sweet dog! Very Obedient!'. Very Obedient? Sherman? OK...yes, he is very sweet. But Sherman is not a big fan of other dogs (Huskies, Rottis andLabs in particular), is insanely food obsessed and would prefer that all of the children of the world be kept a safe distance. My big, grumpy boy did the meet& greet w/ a (male) Chocolate Lab and didn't even make eye contact with the dog. He did the Leave It like the big peanut butter cookie was made of poison. And...(and this is huge) he allowed himself to be brushed and fawned over by two5 year old girls who designated themselves as the doggie welcoming committee forall dogs being tested. One of them even whispered to me, "Sherman is my favorite dog here". It helped that I was feeding him Liver while she brushedhim LOL!!

We had the evaluator that failed Penny the first time. She is all business, which made me even prouder. He didn't get to skate through anything. I remember telling Scotty two years ago that Sherman would *never, ever* pass theCGC, let alone the TDI. And I really haven't worked with him that much.

I'm very giddy & very proud today. Sherman & I are a good team. He trusts me and I trusted him and we succeeded. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Penny & I then went to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum to do a bite prevention workshop with Marsha & some folks from the WPHS. Penny was fine with all the dogs & loved the kids. She was a bit nervous when we were on stage, but give little kisses to those who came over to visit. Marsha is amazing with these kids. And she asked Penny & I to visit some preschools to do bite prevention sometime in 2007. I would actually get paid!

I just love my dogs!

The girls spent the evening "sharing" a chewie....

While Sherman chilled...

A lot of people ask about Penny's scar. Well, let me tell ya a little story. Penny & Sherman & I used to go to this great dog place, Misty Pines. For the entire summer after we got Penny, we'd go every Saturday, pay $10 and watch the dogs run & have a ball. I liked the place b/c it was very rare that an aggressive dog was present. And if it were, it was swiftly escorted (along w/ it's clueless owner) out of the dog park.

One gorgeous late September morning, we got to Misty Pines to find a packed house...probably 50 dogs were there. I thought it was great...lots of dogs for them to play with! (I was really, really dumb back then). Everyone moved their dogs away from the gate, I walked in & let both dogs off leash. Sherman ran to the first tree to start his patroling & Penny took off at 100 miles an hour in hopes of finding someone to play her favorite game...Chase Me! Well...Chase Me, they did. About 15 dogs took off after her, knocked her into the fence & when I turned around to see where she was (I had been watching Grumpapotomus, Sherman), a 6" x 6" flap of skin was ripped from her body. It was just hanging there. I could see her muscle and some rib bones. And it was bleeding, a lot.

I screamed, but no one seemed to notice. Penny was surrounded by all of these dogs, still trying to play with her and she was petrified. I started yelling "Everyone get your dogs!!" and started pushing away all of the dogs out of my way until I got to her and started to lead her to the gate. The owners were all still clueless, talking and laughing and thinking their dogs were playing. I turned to the guy next to me, in tears & shaking, and said "YOU'VE GOT TO HELP ME!!" He took one look at Penny and said "What do you want me to do???". Truly, I wanted to punch him. "Get these dogs away from us so we can get out of here!!!!!". He half-assed moved tried to move the dogs out of the way. Fortunately, our dog park friend Nicole, realized what was happening & totally took control of the situation. She cleared a path for us & we got outside of the fence.

To make a long story short, Penny was rushed to the Vet (by me, who was having a partial heart attack on the way). They put her under to clean her, remove all of the metal shavings & then they stitched her up. She came home the same day with the instructions of wearing a T-shirt every day to prevent licking the wound for the next 6 weeks. We spent a sleepless night on the floor in the bedroom...me right next to her just trying to help her get comfortable. By the end of 6 weeks when the stitches came out, we realized her modeling career was over. She was permantly flawed.

Unfortunately, in more ways than one. She became exceptionally dog aggressive when on leash...lashing out at any dog within 1/2 a mile of her. I tried to take her back to Misty Pines after she healed and she almost pulled me down in the parking lot trying to get at another dog. We left and I cried the whole way home & immediately called my friend Debby to help us get over the aggression. She started us out on the right path & 3 years later, Penny is a Canine Good Citizen & a Certified Therapy Dog. But it took a LOT of work...a whole LOT!

My point being...Dog Parks are great. They are a wonderful outlet for dogs to be dogs...to play , run around...to just be dogs. BUT, please, please observe the environment before you enter the dog park. Know your dog's stress level. Watch the other dogs in the park. How do they play? Is it compatable with your dog? Are the owners watching their dogs or are they chatting on their cell phone? Are the owners attentive to their dogs? Are they watching their dogs & stopping any inappropriate behavior? Do they even know what behavior is inappropriate?

There is nothing wrong with taking your dog home if a bunch of asshole owners & their out of control dogs are ruining a good time for your dog. Now is not the time to take a stand & say "Well my dog is the well behaved dog & we're staying!" . Put your dog first.

Honestly, I trust the dogs Waaayyy more than the people.

Last night was another good night. Sherman enjoyed his solo walk, Penny has finally let it sink in that we will go further, faster if she works with me and not against me and Lola had another non-freak out walk.

I gave Lola melatonin again & we may have just found the key to calming her down. That & I talk to her the entire walk. This walk we went treatless and I just talked and sang to her the whole time (she's very fond of the theme from Laverne & Shirley). We heard several dogs barking & when she tensed up, I walked backwards and got her to sit & focus on me. She did Woof at a strange looking guy walking across the street but I calmly said "Oh knock it off. Come on Lola!!" and we ran up the hill together away from the guy (she loves to run). My neighbors are REALLY gonna think I'm nuts, but I don't care. Better me singing than her barking, right?

Who's got funny teeth????

Before I took Penny to class, I walked Sherman & Lola, individually. Sherman is supposed to take the TDI test on Saturday & we haven't practiced much in the last couple of weeks. He's a good boy though. He shouldn't have much of a problem.

I gave Lola melatonin as soon as I got home & was anxious to see how it would affect the walk. I put her on the GL, despite the objection I've gotten from some. She seems to focus so much better and it almost seems to relax her. I'm learning to trust myself & listen to my dog. The GL made Penny way more reactive and she never really took to it. Lola seems to be a little different so we're going with it for now. We walked the whole block w/o a single flip out. It's much different for her now walking in the dark so I made sure to stop every couple of minutes & have her work. And anytime we saw a person, we'd move to the side & she'd sit & I'd feed her. She's been reactive to sound as well recently and a barking dog 2 towns away sets her off. Not tonight. I'd hear a dog bark & jump around like a moron chirpping "Lola, what do I have? and Who's a good girl??" and stuff her with liver brownies. She's getting better!

Penny & I had class at the Univ. of Pitt student union tonight. We had to park about 3 blocks away and she was more than willing to heel the whole way to the SU. Oakland is way more hustle & bustle than she's used to. She took it all in stride and was very calm as long as she was working. Any time she was allowed to stop & sniff & explore, she got a bit anxious. We met up with 5 other dogs...all of which she wanted desperately to play with. Nice change from my normally snarky Penny. We met lots & lots of students and she was in hog heaven...all those people there to pet & fawn over her! Towards the end of class she was over it, though & she'd had enough petting. The last exercise was walking through the Catherdral of Learning up & down step, through a quiet study area and moving through revolving doors. She did not like the last part. Those spinning doors freaked her out and I was grateful she did not have a tail. She moved through them 5 or 6 times and then was happy to head home.

Who doesn't love a Pittsburgh Autumn day???

Tonight was lazy & quiet at home. I ordered some really bad Chinese food (that I ended up throwing away) and watched the Dog Whisperer (Paul Owens, not Cesar)

Lola enjoyed watching too...let's hope she learned something.

Lola had her first Feisty Fido's class tonight. Walking into the building, we were surrounded by volunteers walking dogs...which of course, sent her into a full-out barking & lunging frenzy. Hmmm...not a good way to start out.

But class eneded up being great! There are 6 dogs per class and each dog is separated by an ex-pen covered with a sheet. Lola found this very annoying as there definately other dogs in the room for her to play with. But it did give us a chance to practice attention & focus. We were given several good things to practice. Some I knew & was doing (Watch, Hand-Targeting, U-turns) and a new exercise (Walk Away) that Lola picked up on quickly.

They had each dog view a giant stuffed Dalmation (that was pretty dog like) and practice Stuff a Dog...Lola loved this! Dog comes into view...Yahoo! Peanut Butter!!! Dog goes away...so does Peanut Butter :o(. I've tried this at home outside, but she is usually too worked up to eat. I have done something similar on the front deck & it worked very well. I'm gonna just keep moving in baby steps till she can relax outside.

I love to take random pics of the dogs in the sun. Some of them turn out kinda cool.

Happy 1st birthday to Lola!!! Her "technical" DOB is 10/30/05, but she was the 8th puppy to be born at 1:34 am on the 31st. She's a Halloween baby!

As a teeny sprout...

At 5 weeks...

Kissing her brother good-bye...

Hanging out with her bestest friend in the whole wide world, Penny...

Little thing could barely keep her eyes open after the first 36 hours at her new home...

Sherman would only (partially) tolerate her when they were both sleeping (I can almost hear him growling in this shot)

All grown up!

Having a puppy was fun, stressful, joyous & tiresome. I wouldn't trade our first year for the world but can't say that I'd ever get another puppy.

Well...we'll see.

Penny & I started the Dynamic Dogs class at the WPHS on Monday. This class is to give TDI dogs & their owners some experience doing therapy work before they venture out on their own. I was thrilled that they started this class b/c I was a little unsure about how to get started. It's taught by Marsha Robbins, who is exceptionally gifted with people and dogs. Lola & I took her puppy class and it was stellar.

The first 2 classes are at the shelter and then she takes us into the community for the last 5. And the class is incredible. We started out with basic obedience stuff to get the dogs comfortable with each other. Penny did very well with the other two dogs in class. One was Cowboy, who she's been in 3 classes with & knows well. The other was Tasha, one of the puppies in Lola puppy class last February (who is now huge!).

Marsha really put us through our paces. This class is tough! She really tests the dogs skills to get an idea of how they will be in different situations. (brag on Penny…she held her sit stay when Tasha broke and ran around her play bowing! I was very proud!). We discussed what our dogs are comfortable with & what they are not & she is tailoring the visits to the class.

We loaded all 3 dogs into the elevator & they all did great. Penny glued herself to my leg, but managed not to panic (she hates the elevator).

Next week we go to Pitt to visit with homesick college freshman (how cool is that??!!). We're also going to the Joseph something-or-other bookstore on the Southside and to a group home.

Marsha also invited Penny & I to do a bite prevention workshop at the Children's Museum. She's gonna LOVE that! All those little kiddies to give kisses to...what could be better than that?

Penny had her last Rally class today. Man, could she be great at this! I'm the problem. I don't know my left from my right & can't remember if I do the exercises before or after the stations. I also have 2 left feet and can't walk in a straight line. Very frustrating. But Penny is great. She's so attentive and willing to work with me. We did 2 courses about 3 times each. I

The only thing we still struggle with are the finishes. Other than blatently luring her, she freezes. She's great at hand targeting & that doesn't even work. I looked up some traditional methods and tried lightly popping the leash in the direction I wanted her to go and it did work. I'd like to get away from that as well so we'll just keep practicing.

Graduation Day for Lola at Animal Friends! Lola did surprisingly well and only barked at one dog going into the shelter. There were a couple of contests...one was a LLW relay race where we had to carry a glass of water. That went OK. We did timed Sits where Debby starts the clock and each person has to cue the dog to sit. Then we do it again w/o cueing, using only body language. Lola is stellar at this.

The best part was a contest between 2 dogs where they both have to sit while we put Leis over their head. They have to be sitting to get a lei. The one with the most leis wins. Lola ran away with this contest. The first one I put on her she kind of balked at and tried to eat. But then I slipped a treat in and she just sat their while I put 15 Leis on her. It was too cute.

We finished up w/ some agility stuff & she has no fear what-so-ever.

Sherman had CGC class today & I'm so proud of my grumpy boy. He's doing so very well & I don't have any fear about him passing. He did 2 great recalls, held his stays, heeled OK and didn't make a peep during a 2 1/2 minute supervised separation. We even did 2 dog to dog intros & he just sat by my side, wagged his tail & looked up at me with his famous Shermie grin. He's too darn cute!

It was a long day for Lola at Camp Bow Wow...

And a quiet peaceful evening for us....

The top picture, BTW, is on their home page. They really like Lola!

Lola will be a year old next week. She was just a pipsqueak at 3 months...


Now she's keeping up with the big dogs...


My goodness...could the be any cuter?! Yes...I'm totally biased!

I call this Penny's Princess Leia impression