70 degrees & Sunny!

Yeah!!!! It's 70 degrees today!!! We spent a half hour playing in the yard.

Lola chased around her ball...

Sherman dug himself a new hole & "hunted" squirrels...

And there were lots of bugs to sniff out...

Then I walked the dogs. I took Penny & Lola together & it was a huge mistake!! It started out fine & but 1/2 way through, every dog in the neighborhood came out of their houses for their walk. Lola barked & carried on the entire time. Back to the drawing board.

A couple of dogs asked me about Chill Out...specifically, if it works. The answer to that is, I don't know. I'm not as into all the "new age", holistic stuff as some of my other "dog friends". A lot of them swear by DAP & Rescue Remedy & aromatherapy, etc. I can't help but be skeptical...I'm pretty much a cynic by nature. But I've noticed the most calming effects with Chill Out than the other stuff. I used it during the Feisy Fido class and did notice a difference. It's not a cure-all, by any means. But, I figure...can't hurt!

Here comes the SUN!!!

I just couldn't be any happier than I am today!!

1. I'm not sick anymore.
2. DSL started today.
3. It's not raining, snowing, windy or frigid.
4. The sun is shining & there is not a cloud in the sky.
5. My dogs are perfect!

I actually don't hate winter...I just wish it would snow hard for 3 weeks and then be summer. I LOVE mild sunny days with little wind & no humidity.

The Dogs were long overdue for a lengthy trek so I took Sherman & Penny out first and honestly, it was the nicest walk we've had in a year. We patrolled the neighborhood for an hour and just enjoyed being outside. They were both on their best behavior & I think we only had 3 or 4 major sniff stops (Sherman has to smell every inch of the neighborhood & it can be really annoying). We saw a bunch of dogs out walking too & had one teeny incident where Penny had a 4 second melt down that was quickly diffused.

Lola was almost a normal dog too. Don't know if it was her trip back to Camp after a 2 week hiatus, or the Rescue Remedy I gave her, or the Chill Out I rubbed all over her neck, or the fact I was in such a good mood. But we had a 45 minute walk with one minor freak out over 2 dogs walking across the street from us. I tried to do a Walk Away, but we haven't worked on that for a couple of months (Bad Jenny!) so I just told her to Leave It and she did...after getting the last word in.

Penny was in her glory all afternoon sunning herself on the deck. This is where she'll be every afternoon in the summer.

Celebrating Sherman

Probably my most least blogged about Dog, but the reason I am who I am ...today, I celebrate Sherman.

Shermie's TDI certification came in the mail this week. Included was his collar tag...




And his ID badge...

For those of you who don't know much about Sherman, he was our first dog. My first dog as an adult. We adopted him from the Butler Co. Humane Society in August of 2001. This is a picture of Sherman the day we brought him home...weighing in at a svelte 38 lbs (he's now a "big boned" 53 lbs).

We thought he was a year old...actually we thought he was a puppy, but the Vet said at his first check-up that he was at least a year old. Fast forward 3 years later when the Vet says he's between 8-10 years old during a thyroid test. Two other Vets confirmed at the time he was a "senior" dog...so we now say he's 10 and he's staying 10 forever.

I've done a lot of complaining about Sherman...he's grumpy, he's bossy, he's pushy and he's a bully. But what I don't say enough is how wonderful he is. He's sweet, unassuming, calm, loving and the greatest dog that I've ever known. I love him with everything I am. I am so proud of what we've become together. I owe him more than I could ever repay.

He has the sweetest face in the world.

And the greatest smile.

He's content to just hang out.

Or show me his belly.

He has the softest ears ever.

And the kindest big brown eyes (althougth the look a bit freakish in this shot).

He's tolerated Lola.

And loves Penny, though he'll never admit it.

He's happiest when it's just me & him at the park..."hunting in the forest".

And he's the Leader of our little canine family.

So today I celebrate Sherman...for all that he is, for all that he's not & for all he's given to me.

Good stuff from California

Because the pups have been soooo very good during the last week or so when I was sick and it's been super yucky outside, I ordered a bunch of goodies from the Godiva of Canine Chewables...K9RawDiet. The Dogs LOVE Aunt Mindy (even though none of us have ever met her!) because she sends the best of the bestest stuff. I love her because her prices are great, the customer service is outstanding and the quality of product is superb!

The Dogs love her b/c she send delicious stuff in a big box.

"Shermie...why are you just laying there??? Help me rip this thing open!"



"I got it..and there is GOOD stuff in here!"



"I'll just help myself...what's wrong with you guys???"

Just imagine...a giant box filled with dried beef trachea, dry roasted pig's ears, buffalo achilles, beef achilles, 6"bully sticks, buffalo scapulas and regular sized bully straps!! It's a doggies dream come true (and the contents of the Chew Treat Sampler from K9RawDiet!).

(note: this box contains 3+ Chew Treat Samplers...3 Dogs = 3 times the amount of chewies!)

Ta Da!!! (OK...I buy more than one of the sampler...but I've got 3 Dogs!)

Moo Tubes Rock!!! They're Sherman's favorite!


We even got some Chatter Boxes (we didn't know those were in the treat sampler....but we love 'em & are super glad we get to eat 'em!)



"Our absolute favorite are the Bully Straps. No...they don't last as long as a bully stick. But they are super delicious & take us at least 20 minutes to chew up. And they're little!!!"

"Yum, yum, yum, yum, yummmmm......."

"Yeah...what Penny said!"

"Thank you Mommy! We love our chewies from Aunt Mindy! Can we go live in California with her?????"

We're bored!!!!!!

So I'm slowly getting better & hope that with a day or two more of taking it easy...I'll be good as new. The Dogs have been really pretty good during my illness, but it's obvious they are in some serious need of some exercise. Between the weather & me being sick, they've been pretty much cooped up in the house for a week.

And on Monday night, Lola & Sherman got into their first tiff. I was snuggled in bed drifting off into a nice NyQuil coma with Lola at the foot of the bed, Sherman on the floor & Penny in her usual spot on Scotty's pillow. I heard a low growl, then a louder growl and mustered up the strength to say "Knock it off" but the growling got louder & I popped my head up to see snarling teeth & raised hackles. Lola had a bone & Sherman decided he wanted it. So he told her he wanted it & she basically said No. Amazing my reflexes were so quick but I caught him mid lunge by the collar and then shoved her out of the way. Lots & Lots of snarling & snarking & by the time Scott made it upstairs, the worst was over. I put Lola in her crate & made Sherman lay down on the floor. I removed all offending chewies. During the whole ordeal, Penny had jumped up & was just staring at them. "What should I do???" And afterwards she laid back down in her spot & shook. Poor baby. Once everyone had calmed down, they all jumped back up in bed & snuggled me to sleep.

We are all looking forward to me getting better!

"So that's what it looks like outside..."

"Sorry you're sick Mom but this sucks."

"Are you better YET???????"

Sick AGAIN!

OK...I've had about enough of this stupid winter cold. I've been sick off & on for 3 weeks & this weekend started the worst bout of it. I actually drug myself to the doctor and got some good drugs this time so I should be on the mend in the next day or so.


Sherman & Penny & Lola have been giving me fantastic therapy in the meantime. Nothing like snuggling with your pups to make you feel better.


Be back in a couple of days!

We can't wait till Spring!

Only 9 days until Daylight Savings Time starts!! And that means spring is right around the corner!




And only 15 days till St. Patrick's Day! Lola the Leprechaun is counting down the days!

Advanced Puppy Graduation Night

Lola had her last night of Advanced Puppy tonight. She was a little keyed up going inside the building. We ran into puppy class on their way out and she got kinda snarky with a Golden puppy. It was dark, raining and he bounded around the corner & startled us. She got in his face and did her best tough dog impression.

But once inside, she was fine. We met a Great Pry puppy on the stairs & she was very nice to him (nice to Lola means smacking him in the head...it's an invitation to play).

Graduation involved a longer play session before we started.

"It's a Wooly Mammoth!!!" (actually it was a NewfieDoodle)

"My new boyfriend Brody"

"We have lots of fun romping...till he humps me."

"Aaaahhhhh....cool water."

"Ok guys...I gotta take a breather!"

"Come on Lola...get up!"

"You call yourself a Boxer. I thought you guys were supposed to be high energy!"

They make a very cute couple.


Once they got their zoomies out, we went over the basics. Heeling with about turns and automatic Sits, Downs, Stays w/ distractions, Leave It and approach from a friendly stranger. Lola did really great with everything and had three friendly strangers approach her w/o nailing them in the head. She actually didn't break her Sit or Attention on me once.

Get her over this reactive phase & she's gonna be pretty damn near perfect!

Our graduation gifts were more bling and a big rawhide.

"MARSHA!!!!! Tell Penny to give me back my Graduation Gift!!"

Next stop...Advanced Basic with Ruth. Should be very interesting!

The Girl's Great Glutes!

Bella is not the only Boxer with great glutes...Penny & Lola have been working on their form too!

And Bella, if you're ever in Pittsburgh, we be sure to send you & your People tickets to the Jackman Avenue Gun Show!

Fuzzy White Explosion!

We've been conducting a little experiment with Lola. She's proven to be fine out of the crate for a couple hours by herself so we've decided to try leaving her uncrated for the morning. Monday was great. Nothing was out of place, nothing was destroyed, nothing was peed on. I almost left her out for the afternoon, but figured I'd better not press my luck.


So Tuesday when I come home at lunch, I greet the pups & look down the main hallway. There is a piece of white fluffy stuffing laying at the end of the hall. Hmmmm...

I turn walk down the hall & turn the corner & what do I see? A white fuzzy explosion!

I was expecting it to be from one of my new throw pillows...but fortunately, Lola had just destroyed one of her big stuffed toys (that purple thing used to be a bunny). And one of Scott's slippers.

I have no problem with her destroying toys...isn't that what they're there for??? We'll see how the rest of the week goes. She touches Scotty's $100 remote control...she's toast!