Meeko's Cousin & The Polar Bear

                                                If you have not seen this, it's really quite amazing.

Polar Bear: I come in Peace

Norbert Rosing ' s striking images of a wild polar bear coming upon tethered sled dogs in the wilds of Canada ' s Hudson Bay.

The photographer was sure that he was going to see the end of his dogs when the polar bear wandered in.

It 's hard to believe that this polar bear only needed to hug someone!

The Polar Bear returned every night that week to play with the dogs.

AMAZING!!!!!!

The sniffles & a blood test!

So why I've not been on here for about a week or two isd that I have been busy, once again, nursing our puppy back to health!

Poor Meeko has yet another issue wrong with him. He was put on antibiotics last week for a canince cold. The sneezes and sniffles. Even with the medicine however he continued to go downhill. He sneezes 20 some times a day!!

So back to the vet he went yesterday. After a nasal passage inspection, a thorough exam of chest & lungs, a temperature check, and a howling (literally) struggle during a blood draw.....he seems to just have a very stubborn cold virus and possible sinus infection. The infection seems to be unilateral; meaning just in one nostril. They ruled out a blockage or an obstruction. Sometimes dogs sniff in all sorts of things while playing outdoors or inspecting things and those darn things can get lodged up there. Palpation of the sinus cavity showed no response and was negative.

So the treatment now is a much stronger form of antibiotic. We'll see! I am crossing my fingers!
We have had less than an ideal start with this poor pup!

He continues to plow through his discomfort still being a wonderful canine citizen. He reminds me to plow through in the face of adversity! Life is short....run with the dogs!

Just a Quote today.....but I LOVE it and wanted to share!

“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err.
"For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear.
"They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth."
                                                                                                                    Henry Beston

Meeko Graduated!

Yep! Meeko was moved up from small puppy playgroup to big puppy playgroup at Barkz in Kirkland.
 Even though he's still the very youngest in both classes!
He thought he was WAY too sophisticated to play with those immature rambunctious 3 mo. olds. They were jusy plain silly, wild, and had a bad case of the puppy crazies! Meeko would just look up and sniff at 'em, put his head up high and trot along; couldn't be bothered. Other times he'd simply hip check them! Yup! You read it right. He's perfected the canadian hockey hip check! Quite hilarious to observe actually!

So his "teacher/trainer" thought he might do better with the older puppies. They are all about 4-6 mos. old. (Meeko is only 11 weeks tomorrow) So quite a bit larger in size than his last peers. But he plays so much better with the big dogs! Go figure!
Although he still tries hard to hip-check them (he misses because he is so much shorter than them right now), he actually "ran with the big dogs" so to speak, today!

AND...the best PART...playtime was from 5-5:30...and he's been down for the count ever since, with a brief interlude for a quick bite of dinner!

I am also happy to report that Meeko's puppy sniffles are all gone!!

Meeko "The RockStar" in Leavenworth

                                                                        

Meeko had his first puppy travel trip this past week during our kids' mid-winter break. Our plan was to take him to play in the snow (seeing that he is a "snow" dog after all!). However when we arrived in Leavenworth, much to everyone's dismay (although Meeko was quite oblivious!), there was VERY little white stuff left. In town it was all but gone, and the little that was left was all grime covered and dirty! Meeko sniffed a huge black sooted pile and looked up at us with a very quizzical look that said..."This is it?.......What's all the fuss about?"

The day was quite gorgeous! 50+degrees, sunny, and beautiful with snow capped mountains all around us.
We toured the town shops, however VERY s-l-o-w-l-y!! WHY do you ask? Because Meeko is such a ROCKSTAR.... that we got stopped about every 10 feet for petting requests, "OH MY GOSH!" exclamations, "What kinda dog is that?" questions, (one guy even said...hey, that's a pomeranian huh?"; Darrell wanted to slap him silly), and picture takings! YEP! Pictures! Of our DOG!!!!!!! Like 7 or 8 times! I swear .......not a lie!! Ask our kids!! If the dog could sign autographs I swear people would have been asking! We could have been chargingfor these exchanges this whole entire time! We may even make enough to pay for his puppy chow for the next year!! CRAZY!!
And then......there are the people that stop us and ask, "What kind of dog is that?", and we politely answer, (as if it's not so entirely obvious!) a Siberian Husky. And guess what they do then? They actually have the gall to argue with us! "No it's not", they say. "That's a Malamute!"    SERIOUSLY?????????????
Like we don't know what kind of dog we purchased to spend the next 15 years sharing our lives with us????????  So I just politely and patiently reply, "Nope...it's a Siberian Husky; but more of a "wooly" coat variety which is why he looks so unique". And they say, "Well...he can't be a purebred!" And I just smile, "YUP...he is!" and say, "C'mon Meeko...let's go", all the while thinking........dumb @$$, I know what kind of dog I got!! Anyway.....it was fun for the most part! It definitely allows for meeting some, (how should I put this nicely?), unique people.  He definitely is quite the traffic stopper! Literally! One guy was even all buckled up in the passenger seat of his car, and his wife was backing out of a spot, when he noticed us. Well...he noticed Meeko. He lowered his window; almost freakishly frantic-like, and said.....in a really loud obnoxious and annoying voice not suited for a 50 some year old man, "Can I pet your dog?"  OK....so take a moment to picture this....... this guy's wife was pulling their car out of the lot, he was still buckled and he was trying so hard to unbuckle himself so quickly...it was a little......????  WEIRDO!!!!!   So he finally gets himself all unbuckled (his big puffy coat was somehow stuck on his seatbelt) and he opens his car door and his wife is trying to get the car pulled back into the spot, but he is already flying out of the car, so she was stopping; starting; stopping; going, the car lurching forward & then braking....the whole scenario was very awkard. I'm now thinkin' to myself......REALLY?? A DOG is doing this? OUR dog?? So he finally manages to get to where we are and he all but grabs Meeko out of my hands, and he's fumbling in his pocket for his cell phone so he can take a picture. And he's all ruffling Meeko's fur up and then........brace yourself......he goes and KISSES OUR dog!!! All over his head and between his ears.  WOULD you EVER kiss a stranger's dog?? NO!! For so MANY reasons....no... you would not!!! OMG!!!!!  (And no....the man was not missing a few marbles as I'm sure many of you are wondering right now)
I assure you .....I rubbed his kissed fur parts really really clean with baby wipes!! Poor dog!! UGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

Meeko creates quite the scene...let me tell you! I never in a million years imagined that when we picked him out at 3 weeks old, that he would posess such star power!! But he is creating so many terrific memories for us all. And all we do is laugh!!

We had such a blast for our quick two day trip! We stayed the night at the SLEEPING LADY Lodge in a 'Canine Companion' room. Complete with dog bowls, a doggy bed, treats, and biodegradable poop bags! The canine cabins were located at the edge of the property so we had plenty of privacy and lots of forest for doggies to romp in. There were several other dogs staying in the cabins near us. We would often run into a few on our daily walks, much to Meeko's delight! In the cabin, the older kids shared a bunk bed, while Zoe slept with us in the queen bed! The property was breathtakingly gorgeous!! There was still quite a bit of snow on the ground there, however it was hard frozen icy snow. We did still manage to get the sleds out and pull the kids around a bit. Meeko did his part in "mushing" and even pulled Zoe for about 15 feet! Not bad for a little 10 week old guy!
The next morning we headed up to the KingFisher Dining Hall for a delicious buffet breakfast made from all organic meats and produce; all from local farms and purveyors. ooooohhhhh...it was SOOOOOOO good!
Homemade scones, muffins and cinnamon rolls, 4 different kinds of sausages, raspberry pancakes (their specialty!), freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (which you do yourself...Quinn was there all morning!), oh my gosh....so much more!
It was a super fun place and we will definitely go back!

Meeko ended up with a doggy cold however! HA! YUP! Dogs can and do apparently get colds! Once again......I have had 4 dogs since being married, and grew up with two at least, and I have NEVER experienced a dog with a cold. Meeko had a cough, sounded a bit like a pig snorting....and the sneezies...and a runny gungky nose. He also managed to throw up 4 times just to make me worry some more. WOW! Does this pup have the lowest immune system EVER! Give that poor dog an adjustment Darrell! And maybe some vitamin D!! Anyway...I called the vet ( our new vet....long story for another post!), and she said not to worry...that he just has a mild canine flu and that 98% of the time it passes on it's own without the need for treatment or antibiotics, but to call Monday morning if it takes a turn for the worse or has not improved. HMMM...who knew?? (She also said that it cannot be transfered to humans in the way our colds & flus can.) I am glad to report that his cough is gone, he has stopped sneezing, and I no longer need to wipe the crud from his nose! Good Job Meeko!!
(However...I do want to add that somehow he wasn't sick enough to not share and enjoy an ice cream cone with Zoe or his own "White Chocolate" milkbone form the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory"

All in all...the trip was very fun & Meeko made it very memorable as well as more exciting and interesting. We did feel badly that we weren't able to take our other two pooches.....however we really weren't planning on taking any of the dogs except for the fact that Meeko is still so young and still needs to go out so frequently that we didn't want to put that huge responsibility & burden on our neighbors who so graciously watched Fudge & Boomer for us. But worry not; those two left behind were treated like kings with extra attention, walks & treats!! I also think that they secretly enjoyed a two day reprieve from the little monster otherwisse known as their new little brother!!

          

SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!!!!!!

YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!! I am ecstatic!!! Joyful!!!! So relieved!!!!! So elated!!!!!!!!!

Meeko just spent an entire HOUR in his crate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEP! You read it right!!! An entire HOUR!! QUIETLY!!!! NO WINING! NO SCRATCHING! NO CHEWING AT THE DOOR!!!!!

Just utter compliance and relaxation! He chewed on a KONG stuffed with cream cheese and sausage, ate a few nibbles of his kibbles, (HA!) , and then circled his bed a few times and went to sleep.

I switched out the small crate for the larger one, now that he is a proficient outdoor potty-er, so I figured there might be less chance of him using it as a bathroom, and it seemed to be the right timing for everything!! I set the crate in the middle of our family room, while we all still mingled about, TV on, kids playing and talking.......and he just relented and offered acceptance!!!!  I am so happy!!

I KNOW!!I know!  It's a SMALL thing in the grand scheme of life and every day living. BUT really....it's HUGE! It's been a GINORMOUS (my own word?) project of mine the last two weeks,..... every single day...to get him to like his crate. It has been pure torture! But I cannot have a 80 pound juvenile Siberian Husky roaming free in my house in 7 months. I also can't continue to keep him tethered to my furniture. And seeing as he can already scale the 26" SuperYard in our kitchen at 9 weeks(actually he did it at 8 1/2 weeks), I do not have high hopes for that containment idea for long!!
 So it is a big deal! A Huge deal! Quite an accomplishment!
And one that lends a huge sigh of relief! (~sigh~) (hear that.....? aaahhhhhhh)

Thank you Meeko! You have reminded me that nothing worth it's while is ever quick or easy.
What a great application for life. See.....our dogs never cease to teach me lessons or offer me reminders. And THAT is why I love them so!

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

Success!!!! & Patience!!

Success at Last! Even if it was very short lived!

Meeko got in his crate; lured & temporarily distracted by a yummy peanut butter & steak filled KONG!

It lasted all of 3 minutes! But it was definite progess!!

"Patience is the greatest of all virtues." - Cato the Elder

"Patience makes a woman beautiful in middle age." - Elliot Paul

(ohhhh...am I going to be gorgeous!!)

Phew! What a week! (and a half!)

OK! I'm baaaaacckkkkkk!

Ummmmm....I think.....hold on a sec........

Ok....not quite......more pukeyness happening as I write........be right back!


OK! Now I'm back! I hope!
First of all........Sending HUGE apologies!! I know a few of you; my beloved followers, have been checking in with me to see if everything is alright. Thank you for your thoughts and your support!
I promised myself this would be a daily blog but I just couldn't summon ANY energy..... let alone positive energy, to write. So until I am back completely....this will have to be a "when i feel like it and have a moment" blog. Thanks for understanding!!

PHEW!!! It has been quite a week! Here is a brief synapsis. (Well maybe not brief as detailed here, but believe me when I say....this is definitely the shortened version!!!!!!!!!!)

Brought Meeko home...all was well....except for 3 very sleepless nights with lots of whining, wimpering, and squealing like a stuck pig. He Hated/HATES the crate!! So I tethered him to one of the bed legs (sounds bad, but is really just to keep him from wondering loose around the house and messing everywhere), made him a comfy bed on the floor right next to me, added a heartbeat toy, purchased a "calming" spray for dogs made with dog pheromones(yeah...really!), several special chewies, and a soft pink stuffed piggy(which he sleeps on top of every night). Finally night 4 was much better after laying with him while he fell asleep gently stroking his head, ears and tummy (just like a baby). He slept a whole 4 hours!!!! Woohoo!
He was an angel puppy during the day! Very sweet, licky, playful, eating and sleeping well.

I thought...OK...this is great! Things are going quite well! A few more nights and I will not feel so dead tired and will catch up on my sleep deprived brain!

Not so fast!!  So suddenly our little Boomer.....starts to have the runs and is puking all over the place. Then he has a fever. Hs ears are bright red. Then there is blood in his poop. (Now those of you who know & have seen Boomer....he has alot of hair around his rear end. Lots of LONG hair. So what happens when a dog like that has diarrhea? YUP! Lots of butt washing!unless you want it scooted on your bedding and carpet, and couch!)

A little panic alarm goes off in my head and I jump on the computer to google his symptoms. Sure enough.....all signs point to the deadly canine parvo-virus. EXACTLY what I was afraid of. This was on a Sunday. So of course we have to wait till Monday to take him in to the vet so as to avoid astronomical emergency fees. On Monday, he goes in for all sorts of testing; fecal, physical exam, blood tests, giardia testing, etc. They also wanted to take xrays. I knew in my heart that this wasn't any type of blockage! Boomer is not a chewer! He never ingests anything foreign. Ever! He barely eats his own dinner; he's that picky! Anyway....all those tests ( and $400.00 later Thank you very much!) came back negative! Thank God! BUT SERIOUSLY????!!!!!!!!  So we figure he had the dreaded, " I hate you for bringing that crappy puppy into my house when I was top dog, so I am going to SH%$#@, and puke all over your house to make you pay" disease!!!!
He's on antibiotics, just in case, and anti-diarrheal medication to coat his tummy,  and a special "sensitive" tummy diet. HA! What a joke! WHY oh WHY...do I love these dogs so??

In the meantime and during all of this......Meeko also starts vomiting, and squealing and jumping up from a deep sleep. What in the world is going on??  So I call the breeder and relay all his symptoms, ( while bawling; remember I am running on 3 hours sleep a night and you know what  that can do to emotions and rational thinking) but she didn't seem too concerned as long as he was eating and drinking fine and his poop was normal. Which it and he was! He also wasn't listless. So.....aong with watching Boomer closely and butt washing I am now watching Meeko closely. Of course all the while I still have my normal life of taking care and chaufeuring my 3 children around.

Then.........I think Fudge was feeling left out....because the next morning he starts puking on the carpet. At least Boomer and Meeko had the courtesy to do it on the hardwood floor. OMG! Now I'm really reeling!! ENOUGH!!!! (I'm screaming in my head!) Thankfully his was very short lived.....the outcome of chewing and eating an entire bully stick in one sitting.

Ok....so now we have Boomer under control (although I think his poor snow white butt hair is permanently discolored!) , and Fudge is good, and Meeko is....well.......he's the one who puked earlier when I started to sit down to start this blog post. He now apparently has worms and will need another de-worming asap! (Thank goodness for the new puppy wellness program at the vet which covers all deworming necessary!) Poor little guy...this is why he was so uncomfortable and couldn't keep any of his food down. Those damn worms! All puppies are born with worms and require several dewormings to get things under control. He's apparently already had 3 or 4 deworming sessions but the poor little guy needs some more. Sooooooooooooooooo....I'm hoping that,.... after that is taken care of we will be in the clear and can begin to enjoy our new little addition.
Boomer's energy has turned around and he was even being a bit more playful with his new little brother today.
Ah yes....there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lastly.....Meeko even slept for a full SEVEN , (yes, 7!) hours last night! Mind you.....this could in part be because he was so exhausted from puppy playground at the Humane Society last night. He had a blast, but was zonked! Yeah for me!!

He also had his first puppy class today, and he is a star student! He very quickly learned his sit, stand, keep off , and leave it commands. He even learned a trick, "spin". What a Good Boy!!

I am also glad and proud to report that he is a very compliant "potty-er". He whines when he has to go out, runs to the back door, and promptly gets down to business. He is also a very polite pooper....and EVERY SINGLE TIME, does it behind our set of trees right near the fence on top of a pile of leaves and bark. he has never once yet gone on the grass. So courteous! It saves our grass and my pooper scooping duties! LOVE that pup!!

AND(the last thing I promise!)...he even spent a few minutes in his closed crate today without whining!! (while bribed with a KONG full of peanut butter and cheese; but whatever works!)
We will slowly start to build on that time daily until he's up to an hour or two at a time without whimpering.
YUP! Things are definitely looking up!
But I have to say....I felt like I was in the 'Twilight Zone' for awhile there. I have never, ever, had this tumultuous of an experience bringing a new puppy home before. It was either all very bad luck & timing, or......well I do not know really. I am just thanking my lucky stars it's almost over and everyone is well!

Till.....soon.

                                  ( A sweet picture of some of our better times this week)

I know! ....I KNOW!!!!!.....I missed a blog yesterday! Let me explain!

Can you spell.....S-L-E-E-P  D-E-P-R-I-V-A-T-I-O.........ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

Oh my goodness! Anybody who ever said that having a puppy was just like having a new baby LIED!!!!!
Having a baby is so much easier! At least I could still sleep when all I had to do was to shove a boob in a mouth and they wore diapers to catch their business!  Not so with a 7 week old pup! (Ok...don't EVEN go there!!)

Up every hour to hour and a half....standing out in the rain...surviving whining and yelping and close to strangulation (the pup to himself, not me to him!) trying to get away from his tether by the bed.......and on & on  & on.
Madison took a few shifts last night, bless her heart, and finally at 4am, she decided to sleep with him on the kitchen floor (so NOT good for her back!) on a doggy bed with a pillow & blanket from the couch, while Meeko slept soundly and comfortably beside her till 7:30 this morning!

We tried him in his crate for a bit to start the night off last night! Hmmmmmm.......have you ever heard a stuck pig squeal? Well I haven't...... but I can imagine....(it didn't earn a place in our English language expression collection for no reason!) and it probably would not be as bad as what Meeko last out last night! WOW! I'm so suprised our neighbors didn't call our local SPCA (the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). It tore my heart out! I couldn't even use the "cry-it-out" method for my kids.....so there's no way I can do it to my pup!

So...we last minute built a make-shift crate with bedroom furniture which worked for awhile, until he decided to try scaling it,( & succeeded!) and crawling under the bed and partially practically strangling himself!

Night is now approaching.....and do not even ask me what I am going to do .......?? No plan!!!!
Maybe sleep on the floor with him next to my bed? I'll still have to get up every hour since I think his wining signals his need to eliminate. Instead......all he does is flumps in the nice cool wet grass and goes to sleep.........
SERIOUSLY??????? So tonite....when you are tucked all warm and cozy in your beds...and you happen to wake upon turning over and you glance at your bedside clock at 3am....think of me.........   :)

I know this too....will....pass!!!!!!!  This too will pass!!(I'll just keep repeating that to myself!)

(By the way......he is an angel puppy during the day!!)

And lastly.....I know the title of this blog is 365+ days of puppy love and my promise to myself was a daily blog......., but I am now realizing that promise may be very tough to fulfill during these puppy raising days......though it will still be 365+ days........the days may just not always be CONSECUTIVE!

Pure Puppy Exhaustion!

Me! Not the puppy!(although he is plenty tired from all his expeditions, but he just plops himself down where-ever & when-ever to catch up!)(JEALOUSSSSSSSS!!)

Apologizing in advance for my lack of creativeness or motivational blogging tonite!
Phew! Am I beat! ( baby #4 for sure!!)(although I do not recall going out into the cold darkness at 1 and 2 and 3 a.m. with my infants!)

Meeko had a fabulous second day! He's already got a head start on his socializing, charmed the pants of some girls, and doing terriffic in the potty arena (after getting past some mishaps in his crate, and no he wasn't locked in....he CHOSE to eliminate IN THERE!?) (got me stumped on that one????)(Anyone??)

Hoping he settles more quickly tonite and hoping he get all his "goodies" out of him before bed!

Wish us luck!

He's Here!

Home sweet home for puppy! Pure sweet puppy bliss!

Meeko has arrived.....yes....one day early! Our breeder called us this afternoon to see if we wanted to take him tonite, as he did very well with his shots Monday and seemed very ready to go. And of course we said YES!!!!!!

He was so incredibly happy to ride in the car, and he's been so comfortable here ever since.
It's like he's always been here. He's so relaxed and at ease. He rolls on his back and shows us his tummy, playfully and comfortably. Which is a very, very good sign!!He played, he ate, he pounced, he peed, he pooped (both outside in his potty spot), he drank, he played some more, he slept some more, he chewed his very first bully stick, he let me put his collar on ( no reaction whatsoever!), he slept again, he met his brothers, his went into his crate voluntarily and stayed in and laid there a bit, he dragged a toy into his crate.....he's AMAZING!!!
He's the best puppy in the whole wide world!

He is so mellow!!!! Like my hubby says...."the dog's on valium!!"

Of course......there's always tomorrow. ( and yes...I will fill you in!)

Here's a picture of Meeko in his new home on his new bed.........

A waterlogged stick is what 'it's' all about!

(sorry...I am tired tonite and nothin's flowin' so here a great quote that really sums it all up anyway!)

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. It was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."
John Grogan

I'M GONNA NEED ONE OF THESE!!!!

Watch this YouTube video...........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG1VGLpH90I

Then click on THIS link.........

http://furminator.com/

aaaaaahhhhhhh.....all problems can be solved!! Ummmmm....but NOT....EVER in the kitchen! YIKES!!!!!!!

At least we'll be providing the bird world with some nice nesting materials come spring!!!!!!


STILL SO.....so excited for our husky pup!!!!!!

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

Barking and Tail wagging are the two main ways dogs communicate with us and other dogs.
What some of these tail waggings might mean to us:

WELCOME HOME: Broad, medium to fast sweeping motions. The happier he is, the faster his tail wags.

CURIOSITY: Mostly horizontal but not stiff. This wag signals, "I am interested, I would like to get to know you, but I am not challenging you or being aggressive."

A CHALLENGE: When the tail is fully horizontal, a duel is offered up to another dog or human.

LEADER OF THE PACK: The tail is held up and over his back.

RELAXED: The tail is lowered, but not between the legs.

IN FEAR FOR HIS LIFE: The tail is dropped completely between his legs and he is shaking. (SAD!)

TOP DOG: Tail up but not vertical lets you know he is confident and in control.

CONFUSION: Slow wagging signifies confusion over whether he is encountering a friend or foe.

AGGRESSION: A bristling tail signifies aggressive intent. (Stay away!)

DON'T MESS WITH ME: The tail is held high and stiff and wagging fast.

(borrowed from The Dog Lover's Daily Companion)

and...........adding from my own dog's experience.....(especially adept at these wags is our lab!)

I LOVE IT WHEN YOU TALK SWEETLY TO ME: Tail thumps on ground or wags gently in circles.

I LOVE IT WHEN YOU SAY 'TREAT': Definite wild tail wagging in circles practically making their rump follow.

I LOVE YOU AND PLAY WITH ME: Entire backside moves left and right with tail, enough to knock a wine glass clear off the coffee table!!

A puppy is what a puppy eats........

Huh? Aren't all dog food brands virtually the same??
Well...apparently not.

Meeko arrives home in 6 days. Time to go get puppy food. Hmmmmm....do I feed him the same food our older dogs are eating? Nope....puppies need a higher caloric and more nutrient dense food for good growth and proper energy supply. What goes in, comes out. And I'm not talking in that sense. I'm talking about the quantity and quality of food our puppy eats, will naturally affect how he behaves and how successful he will be in managing the daily stresses of puppy life. So if not our Fudgy & Boomer's brand of food, then what? Ok then....time for some research.....( you all know how I love to research!!)

WOW! There a lot of dog food choices out there! And a lot is CRAP!(or will be)  (parden my pun!)

When I was growing up we used to feed our dog Tanya ( a sweet Heinz 57) our human food left-overs. Makes sense...why not...if it's good enough for us why not then especially good enough for our canine companion? Apparently many years ago ( ok....not THAT long ago!) commercially prepared dog food became popular because of claims that human food didn't contain enough of the nutrients that dogs needed for good health, and that it possibly contained ingredients that were difficult to digest. I suppose some of that makes a case....however are today's dog or puppy chow choices really much better?

Makers & producers of dog food these days, are really just that....producers. It's a business. The faster and cheaper they can make it, the more the dough rolls in. Veterinarians are noticing a huge pitfall in the majority of brands of commercially prepared dog food choices on pet store shelves today. These vets are noticing more and more cases of liver & kidney disease, seizure disorders, skin allergies, pancreatitis, and on and on, in the pets they care for.
Not more than a few months go by before we hear of yet another widespread pet food recall. This can affect numerous brands that have been found to contain poisonous substances as well as many ( I really don't want to go here, but it'll be quick and brief!) rendered animal byproducts; and sadly, it's not the livestock left-overs we consume!! ( Done....no more!)
Another huge problem with these mass market produced brands is that the extreme heat used to produce it destroys what it's supposed to (yes...all the bacteria infested junk), but it also destroys most of the nutritional value (if there is any) of the ingredients, including any beneficial bacteria and, vitamins & minerals, and enzymes needed for digestion.

OK....so ....where does that leave us wise and conscientious dog food consumers? Well....it leaves us with 3 good choices! (phew...you were worried huh?) (I was!)

1. Human-Grade High Quality dog/puppy food
2. Home cooked food ( and no this is not YOUR left-overs)
3. Raw Food Diet

Human-Grade High Quality dog food - There are a few pet food manufacturers that developed and offer a better choice in dog food. They have created a dog food that is actually fit for humans to consume. It is primarily made up of fresh real ingredients such as; chicken (real chicken, not rendered pieces we couldn't eat), chicken liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, apples, and supplemented with flax seed oil, vitamins and minerals! You can choose dry kibble or canned versions. And if you still feel like maybe your pet may be missing certain nutrients you can always add your own such as, cottage cheese, raw fruits(Note: raisins & grapes are toxic to dogs!) & vegetables, a raw egg, acidophilus, yogurt...etc

Home Cooked Food - This is not always the food you eat at your dinner table.....at times it can be, but if you are eating pizza & brownies tonite....it may not be the best choice for Fido. This option can be time consuming if you are already cooking a meal for a family of 5 and then making a separate course for your pups! But it is definitely a good option. At least then you know what your pets are eating and can add any supplements yourself, that they may need to correct any health problems they may be experiencing. There are endless websites with recipes and ideas to help you get started!Go.........google!

Raw Food Diet - Apparently our canine friends thrive on an enzyme-rich diet, which more closely mimicks their diets from the wild. All raw food dog diets include raw meats such as; beef, fish, poultry, venison, lamb & rabbit, mixed with raw vegies, fruit, high quality oils, and herbs such as parsley, ginger & garlic. You can also add grains such as quinoa or brown rice. Again....a very viable option, probably a bit more expensive and time consuming. But fabulous if you've got both of those.

So.....after all this fabulous information, what did I decide to go with? For now I am choosing the human grade canned and kibble dog food. (Mixed with the occasional home-cooked meal as well, just not on pizza night!). The brand I am first going to try is Merrick. They have fabulous & delectable flavors that you might find on an old-fashioned small town cafe menu. Servings such as; "Grandma's Pot Pie", "Burger Pie & Sweetie Fries", " Mixed Grill", "Brauts N' Tots", "Harvest Moon", & " Thanksgiving Supper", and so many more! Merrick's kibble has an all natural dried gravy coating so that you can add a bit of warm water to it and it creates a yummy gravy for the pups to slobber up! It is really & truly all natural and all human grade food! WE could eat it! Really! ( I wouldn't and I won't, but I could!!) AND...all of Merrick's chicken is now organic! Bonus!

But it'll be so fun to watch Meeko gobble it all up....hopefully anyhow. I'll let you know with a follow up post in a week or two.

And Fudge and Boomer lucked out with a few cans of Grandma's Pot Pie for a taste test. Maybe they'll be trading their old kibble for more of the good stuff as well!

Puppy Socialization

Meeko got to touch grass with his paws today! And hear a car drive by. And see a fly zoom past his head. And explore a tree trunk. And feel what eating clover is like. And play with a toy we brought him. And......well, you get the picture!

He was socializing. Getting used to a different environment. An outside environment. It was very cute and funny to watch him observing his outdoor environment. He'd stop and listen when a car went by. He'd look up at the sky and wonder what in the world that was zooming by. Quite the entertaining sight.

Puppies needs tons of socializing. Especially between 6-14 weeks of age. And that doesn't just mean human interactions. It also means access to hundreds of different types of situations and environments. Meeting a variety of dogs, young & old, small & big, Daschund or Newfoundland, and anything in between. Introductions to a wide variety of people as well; young & old, white or black, people with hats or sunglasses on, people with no hair, people with beards, people with canes, people on bikes or in a wheelchair, children of all ages, babies, men, women, running, walking, shouting or quiet. There are actually Puppy Socialization charts that you can download from the internet if you are unsure of where to begin and what types of situations you should introduce your pup to. It contains an entire list of introductions to various types of people, other puppy safe animals (ie. cats/kittens, other dogs/pups, horses, and other livestock), places, things, noises, surfaces, various types of handling, and smells.

Puppy socializing is more than just housetraining. It is a big and busy job. According to information from the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), by the time your pup is four months old, he/she should have met at least 100 different types of people(100....really?? Do I even know that many??), walked on at least 15 different types of surfaces, experienced 30 new places, heard hundreds of noises, met a handful of different types of animals, and be actively engaged in weekly play with other dogs and puppies; either through a training class or play group.
Raising a puppy is like raising a family member. It is these early life skills that will stay with your puppy for the rest of her life.
It is a lot of work in a short amount of time that will pay off for an entire lifetime!

Puppy Veggie Biscuits

This is a terrific recipe for home-made puppy or doggie biscuits, and I thought I'd share it with you.

(courtesy of Dog Lover's Daily Companion; by: Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire)

Our plan is to stuff the KONG type chew toys with home-made biscuits, treats, dried liver bits and peanut butter to curb any possible destructive chewing habits Meeko might be tempted to indulge in.
So.....the more biscuits....the merrier........I better get baking!

4 cups Rye Flour
1 1/2 cups whole rolled oats
1 cup water
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup shredded carrots
1/4 minced parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced


1. Preheat Oven to 350*. In a medium size bowl, mix together the flour, oats, and water until blended. Stir in the eggs, and add the carrots, parsley, and garklic and mix well.
2. On a lightly floured surface (using rye flour), knead the dough, adding more flour if sticky.
3. Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out 1/2 inch wide biscuits, with a sharp knife or pizza cutter, or use a doggie biscuit shaped cutter.
4. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
5. Store in sealed container in refrigerator and enjoy sharing with your puppy for best behaviour treats or stuff in KONG with peanut butter or cheese!

Puppy Preschool

Well......Meeko starts school a week after he arrives into our home. Puppy preschool! Kinda cute! And oh so necessary!!

There is such a small window of opportunity to socialize a puppy. From about 7-16 weeks of age they need to be slowly & gently exposed to all sorts of people, experiences & environments, and situations. During this time they also need to have as much exposure to different sizes, types, and breeds of dogs as possible. EVEN if they have "brothers" at home. Puppy classes ensure much of this exposure as positive experiences, as well as learning that they are not the top dog! Their master or mommy and daddy are!
They will learn all of the basics such as sit, stay, down, come, off, release, as well as the all very important bite-inhibition. This is where they learn to have a soft mouth, while playing and mouthing another human and/or fellow dog. This bite-inhibition is probably the most important training piece your pup will get, and you should practice it as much as possible at home. It will mean a safe & secure peace of mind in your dogs (and your!) future.

So....Meeko starts puppy preschool for 6 weeks. The first class is actually just for owners/masters. It's just me that'll be going, so really it's just 5 weeks. Then he'll graduate and jump right into puppy kindergarten for more of the same just on a more challenging scale! Thank goodness our kids don't grow at such an exponential rate! I could never keep up! (although sometimes I find myself wishing they'd hurry up and grow out of a certain phase!!)

These classes are the best investment you could ever make when you get a pup! And Meeko will be the best dog on the planet! (right alongside Boomer & Fudgy)  :)

By the way....Meeko's preschool classes are at the BARKZ dog store and university in Kirkland. This is their link;  http://www.barkz.com/
They also have puppy playground times, as well as playtimes for bigger and older dogs.
Check it out!!

Puppy Kisses.....or are they??

I absolutely adore getting all the licks & tongue lashings, from our current doggies, on a daily basis. They are always so forthcoming and the pups gaze longingly into my eyes when they do so. I absolutely do not mistake this for anything other than a pure and loyal display of love and affection. That big slobbery tongue slathering my cheek, chin or neck, or even hands.......most definitely means....."You are my best human, what would I ever do without you, and I adore you more than anything on the planet!"

Or does it...........??????

Apparently even Charles Darwin would write about his dogs showing affection and it's meaning; "the dogs have a striking way of exhibiting their affection, namely, by licking the hands and faces of their masters." Was Darwin correct?? All this slobbery and licky attention.....is it true love?
According to Alexandra Horowitz's research in her new and heart warming book, "Inside of a Dog", she states that scientists and researchers of wild species of dogs; coyotes, wolves, foxes, have observed that puppies lick the face and muzzle of their mothers upon return of a hunt.....in order to persuade them to regurgitate some of their dinner.
Boy.....Fudge and Boomer must be extremely let down and dissapointed on a daily basis that I have not once regurgitated any grub for them!! However they both do always come to me AFTER I have fed them, and give me a "Thank you" lick on my hand or chin! Maybe it is good enough for them!

And apparently, Horowitz goes on to say, that our mouths just simply taste great to our pack. Dogs, like us humans, have similar receptors for salty, sweet, bitter and sour tastes. Hmmmmm.......has most of the "kissing" been going on after a delectable and quite scrumptious meal on my part? I'll have to take note of that next time. (again...I think they are just hoping I will share! Not a bad idea....I might finally lose some weight!)

The best news of all though, Horowitz writes, is that most of the "kisses" our dogs relinquish on us has to do with genuine happiness to see us or to once again greet us when we come home from our hunt; or work. In addition to muzzle licking in a way to ask for food, many dogs and wolves lick each others faces in a ritualized greeting. "Sibling" dogs may greet each other after a time apart; a mother will lick her pup not just to clean but upon reuniting after a time apart. A young or timid dog may give a more dominant overbearing dog a few licks on the muzzle to appease him for the time being. And most always these licks; "kisses", are accompanied by tails wagging, excitement, and mouths open....displaying a true happiness.....too see you again.

I personally......will always still see them as "I love and adore you" kisses!!!! ( And will give serious thought to that new weight loss idea!)

Happiness is a Warm Puppy!! ( or five!!)

"Every child should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one."

                                                                                                          Anonymous

"Ohhhhhhh....the joy!!"

Puppy day again today! How much they are growing! Zoe was in complete puppy heaven! And boy...did they LOVE her! Instinctually...they were much more gentle with her than they were with me, or another adult; "larger" person. No nips or bites to the little one, ......just gentle nudges, and licks! So amazing!

Puppy love!!!!!!

“Dogs allow us to experience a companionship that is supremely honest and extremely forgiving."

Our Pack......

"A house is not a home until it has a dog." Gerald Durrell

This is our current pack.......Fudge, Boomer and Ginger (the cat).  They have no idea what's in store for them! But they are all extremely well balanced, well adjusted, and well socialized, dogs (and cat), that they will be fine!
They took a trip to the vet yesterday. To get updated on their boosters and had a pre-cautionary deworming. All to keep the pup as healthy as possible! They were very good sports about it!

Apparently there is a fine art to introducing your new puppy to your current pack of dogs (or pets). In many books I've read they say to have the VERY first introduction be on neutral ground. Meaning at a park or parking lot, or a neighbors front yard, with the dogs on leashes of course! They even suggest taking a short walk around the neighborhood together.This allows for the older dogs not to feel threatened of protective of what's 'theirs', and it allows the new pup just a very friendly first 'Hello'! Some books just say to take your new pup straight to your backyard first, without the older dogs present, to introduce the pup to their 'elimination spot'. When your pup goes, praise him happily and give him a few treats. Then allow him to sniff, and explore his new playarea for about 10 minutes. Then it is suggested that you may bring the pup inside for slow & gentle introduction to the other dogs...while holding your pup....and letting them sniff out the newcomer. As long as everything is going well at this point.....you should then feed the dogs, and allow them to eat together at the same time, but separated, perhaps by a puppy-play yard or gate....so that all dogs associate this new event with a positive experience. Then let them back outside for some supervised playtime, allowing the older dogs to "potty train" the pup.....through modeling for them. Pups learn a lot from watching and observing their elders! When everything is going well.....it's time for lots of praise, treats, toy play, and then inside for a good long nap.....with puppy in the separated play yard and older dogs back to their normal routine. Before you know it they will be best friends...and it will seem like the pup has been their brother forever.

Well.....here's to crossing our fingers & toes.......!

Pure Puppy Love!

       "Whoever said you can't buy happiness........never bought a puppy!" 

Puppy Visiting Day today........

Well not THE official visiting day....but I have woo-ed the breeder, she now loves me, and lets me come whenever I want! And it is pure HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!

They are growing so quickly, and are so stinkin' adorable! I want 'em all! Well.......I want two! Well.....maybe just one! (Ours is the one right smackin the middle of the picture, with the panda bear eyes)

They are very well socialized and love anybody that comes to visit. They are happy, well-fed, and very playful! And boy are their teeth sharp! OUCH!! A few nips to the legs and toes.........we'll have to nip that in the bud on Day 1, of puppy training at home.

But our little guy....is still the gentle giant of the bunch. He's content to let his brothers and sisters romp, and chomp, all over him and he just lays there or rolls around. No retaliation, no yips, no barks, and no growls.
He's a gentle old soul.....wise beyond his years!

His fur is growing in more & more each day, and he's becoming quite the fluff ball. He also LOVES cheese bits. While playing today I tried out a name or two( from our list of ten!) and he responded the most to "Meeko!" (or was it the cheese bribe.....??)

Either way...we think he fits the name Meeko the best! Meeko was the raccoon's name from the Pocahontas movie. And the pup really kinda looks a bit like a raccoon!
I looked it up and Meeko also means...."gentle strength". Perfect!

Anyway....it was a fun visit, we cuddled, took more pictures and (he's quite the poser!-see the smile below)
got a bit more acquainted! LOVE, love, love...... that this breeder lets us have this time to bond, Meeko will have such an easier time adjusting to his new home, and new pack, when it's time.

                                                      Smile Meeko!! Good Boy!!!!!

Perspectives of Patience & Possibility

"Perhaps the most enchanting quality of a puppy is ........possibility"

Puppies fill us with hope, and inspiration, giving us a chance to start over again, to shape them and ourselves into long-term companions who will share an intimate part of themselves in our lives for the next ten to twenty years.
They grow up into dogs who help us decide what car to buy; help us to understand that farts are normal; know that we are never alone, ever; connect with our hearts; and feel that we are loved and appreciated. They also teach us the true meaning of compassion. So much possibility!


"Often when we adopt a new puppy, we have a vision of the type of relationship we hope for, but it takes ........patience"

Based, in part, on past experiences, or on what we have read about or witnessed with friends, we can easily put more pressure on ourselves (and the pup) than is wise. Patience is a key virtue in nurturing the relationship, to keep us relaxed, and moving forward step by step. With patience we can stay in touch with the bigger picture, realizing that the foundations of a healthy relationship are laid over a broad period of time. No relationship of any real depth matures overnight - (human or canine); trusting in the process will give us a calmness and flexibility in the face of challenges that arise naturally from time to time.

(certain excerpts borrowed from "Rescue Tails" and "Dogs & Devotion")

The Name Game......

Now that we finally have our pup picked out....we cannot WAIT to bring him home......

But another order of business must take place first....he needs a name!

Of course this would be a fairly easy & simple task if there were one single person involved. You just come up with a few ideas, roll it off your tongue for a few days....and the one that sounds best sticks.
Easy....right?

Well....not in a family of FIVE! Five different ideas and opinions on what his name should be. We are playing the name game! It's quite fun & cute....actually...hearing our kid's ideas.........here's what we have so far.......

1. Meeko
2. Nuka
3. Pwincess Auwowa (she doesn't quite get that we picked the boy yet)
4. Tanker
5. Diesel
6. Comet
7. Keiko
8. Balou
9.Stanford
10. Kyak

YEP!!!! Ten names to narrow down to one!

Any suggestions...............????

It's a boy!!!!!!

Well...better late than not at all! It's almost midnight...I feel like I'm making a deadline!  :0
 But I promised this would be a DAILY blog........so here it is.....short & sweet;

So....after much thought, turmoil & deliberation, and yes ....another visit to the pups tonite (by me)...we decided on the boy. He's such a cute, fluffy, goofy, sweet guy! I just needed one more visit to see them interact!The pups were in rare form tonight. Much different from the other times I viewed and observed them! They were all very animated and busy, and play-fighting...and were all over me! Some even tried out a growl on a brother or sister and surprised themselves! Too funny!

But the boy it is....even though my heart is still attached to the girl pup...and she is attached to me. (She curled up right in my lap all on her own for most of tonite's visit!)
The girl ended up displaying some dominance and playful aggression tonite, while the boy remained calm, playful and yet let all his sibs do anything at all to him without retaliation! THAT is the dog we are looking for!

So....the decision is made....now onto the next one.......... 

A name........   ??

....till tomorrow then.............

WE STILL CAN'T DECIDE!!!!!!! Aarrgghhhhh!

Seriously! We are pathetic! We love two puppies equally and still can't choose between them! Ridiculous right??

Well....it's so much harder than you think!

The female is sooooooooo incredibly sweet, and loving, and gentle, and animated and happily engaging & curious! She would continually come back to us and crawl up on us all by herself. Of her own free will...she's continued to climb all the way up to our necks, just nestle herself in and lick us all over! (pics below)

The boy we picked out from last week....turned out to be a very timid, scared, shy, cowering and shaky pup. Poor thing wouldn't even try to come out of the safety of his little corner. He tried a few times to encourage him, but each time there was any sort of commotion (either puppy or human) he would wrestle his way back to his corner.
We picked him up to try to engage him, and calm him....but he would try to wriggle out of our hands and want to be put down. Or he would just shake. I feel soooooo terrible for him, but I knew in my heart this would not be the right pup for our family! Not with kids, or our other dogs! I pray he finds a great home, that will give him gentle handling and lots of patience!

So the female was going to be our choice! Then............

BUT....of course............. we found ANOTHER male pup from the litter to love (& to add to our crazy decision making process), that we hadn't really noticed before!(They change so quickly!) Well....Madi did. She picked up the cutest, fluffiest, biggest male....he absolutely looks exactly like a panda bear. He is so very mellow and laid back, compared to his brothers. He looks like an old soul! Like he's already lived 20 years, and could teach us a thing or two about not "sweating the small stuff!" He was engaging, and super relaxed....not timid or shy....but just very seriously.....'chillin'. He is very fluffy and will easily be a bigger boy.....maybe almost 80lbs as an adult male. (Which is what my hubby prefers!)

So now we are even more stumped! As Madi and Quinn said......we all wish they could morph into one and have all of the best characteristics all wrapped into one.
Or as our dear friend Whitney said.....just get both! HA! Then you all seriously have to have me comitted please!! Don't get me wrong! I would absolutely love to give them both a home here, knowing there is no better place for a dog to live! But training TWO pups at once, while potting training a busy toddler? And with our travel responsibilities.....it'd be tough to find a sitter for 4 dogs! Nope...that would be crazy!
FUN, but crazy!

So we are still at square one! I hope to go back once more this week to observe them again. They change so quickly that they may display different temperaments each time. The bottom line is that I really want the best dog possible for our family's needs with little kids and our other two dogs and our cat!

So....stay tuned!

Here's a pic of the boy & the girl laying together on Madi's lap; - The boy has his eyes open & the girl is sleeping)

Visiting Day

Hooray! It finally visiting day again! And it's time to make a final decision on which pup to pick. So we can begin the bonding process an get him/her used to us and our human smells.

Well....the polls are about to be closed on the male vs. female issue. And thanks for voting but....alas...it wasn't much help! It was a tie!  5 to 5......... (but I really appreciate your votes...it was fun to watch!)

(sigh) Oh well......we REALLY aren't just picking out our dog according to sex anyhow. Not ONLY for that reason anyway........

You're actually almost supposed to let the dog pick you......or at least somewhat.......

In reading Cesar Milan's ( you know...The Dog Whisperer)  recent book, "How to Raise the Perfect Dog", he says that picking out a pup is really quite easy, you just have to know what you are looking for in a dog, in regards to how he will fit into your lifestyle, and then you have to decide what type of energy level you are looking for in your dog.
He says, for example, that a busy family with triplet toddlers, should probably look for a low-key, low-energy pup. A marathon runner who is looking for a running companion will want a high-energy pup. Each litter will usually have low-energy puppies, medium-energy puppies, and high-energy pups.
The high-energy pups usually will be the leader of the pack and display lots of anxious energy and dominance. This is not necessarily a bad thing, You just have to be aware of it when you are seeking a dog to match your lifestyle. Of course the low-energy puppy will be more of your couch potato variety! He should still display that puppy energy, but he will be much more laid back, and will usually be the last to get to the food ( mom's or otherwise). Cesar suggests that for the typical American family, or working single or married citizen, a medium-energy dog usually fits the bill. Not too overly dominant, not in hyper-drive mode, but a just- right- healthy- balance- bundle of energy that most owners will be able to channel into the well trained, obedient and loving dog they dreamed of owning.

So...tomorrow, during visitng day....we will be observing closely. What are we looking for EXACTLY??

The Dog Whisperer says that the easiest and most successful way is to try to view the pups at feeding time, just as they begin to nurse on mom. The one who gets their first and pushes his brothers and sisters out of the way.....you guessed it; high-energy (& dominant!)  The next few to get there will usually be of medium-energy, and then you have the stragglers and voila! You have your lacksidasical couch pup!
But most pups stop nursing from mom around 4 weeks of age....and ours will be 5 weeks this week........so I guess that technique is out of the question.
He also suggest setting pups on a short chair or bench...and then observing how long it takes them to get bored and decide to jump off. The ones who jump first are high-energy, and the ones who are just happy to sit and observe, yawn, and eventually fall asleep....are probably the ones we are going to want.
Another method is to just observe them at play with each other. You really can tell which dominate the litter, and are willing to explore beyond the parameters of their comfort zone, and which are just happy going along for the ride as long as they have a buddy to do it with.
So tomorrow...we are going to visit our pups....armed with toys and techniques in order to determine which one pup we want to bring into our family in a few weeks!
Wish us Luck!
(And look for Mondays post, which will of course include our decision, and more puppy pics!)

A Siberian Husky huh? Hope you know what you're getting in for!

The first thing people ask me when I tell them about our upcoming pup is.....why in the world a husky??
(My brother-in-law especially thinks we are off our rocker because he owned one!; (more on this later)

Well firstly (and quite frankly & honestly).....I would have to say it is their aesthetic value. (Is that bad??)They are so beautiful, majestic, and regal looking. Their gorgeous piercing ice blue eyes (some are bi-eyed which means one blue eye and one brown eye, and some are even parti-eyed which means that part of one eye has two colors in it, very rare and unique). Their pricked up fuzzy ears. Their super thick doublecoat fur. In rich, deep colors such as black & white, or the red & copper (brown) varieties. Or the pure grey or silver tipped coats. Gorgeous! I have met many huskies in my day and every time I met one and was lucky enough to pet one, I made a little mental note that someday I would love to own one (and would name it Starbucks, but that is again, another post!).  My oldest daughter Madi also has a special affinity for huskies......maybe partially by osmosis, but she is super excited we are finally getting a husky! My youngest two don't really seem to care, they are just happy we are getting a puppy of any kind! (My hubby was slightly pushing for an English Bulldog, but when he found out how much they are due to needing to be delivered by c-section due to their large heads, and their predisposition to snorting and wheezing and snoring....he quickly changed his mind! Lucky us!) Ok.....sidetracking....(warning: I will do that a lot....so stay with me......)
Anyway...back to the Siberian Husky..... in regards to their coats. There is another "type" or, variety if you will, of the husky and that is one with a "wooly" coat. The "Wooly Coat" simply means a slightly longer, thicker, much fluffier coat than the average coat for a Siberian. It is absolutely breathtaking, when it is the right length and thickness, though this type coat may not be considered "desirable" by "show" judges, and is not recognized by the AKC breed standards; they call this a fault. ( SAD!)  I personally find this type of husky to be the most gorgeous, but they are extremely difficult to find, with just a few breeders across the country, but I was against shipping a 8 week old pup in a crate across United States.
The breeder we found here locally breeds some pups with a longer coat, but not as long as the "wooly" variety. But he/she will still be quite a fluff ball!

I know that the most important quality that draws me to a husky is it's unflappable loyalty to it's family or pack, and it's reputation as being one of the most friendliest and most people-oriented breeds around. So no guard dog for us! (Not that I was looking for one anyway). But if an intruder would ever (God forbid) happen to find his way into our home, the worst our lovely husky would ever to is lick him to death! And then he (our sweet friendly dog) would probably invite him to help himself to anything he desired as long as there was some playtime involved! A husky's even & friendly temperament, and ability to get along with anyone, has to do with their background and history. Way back in time, several thousand years ago, the women and children of the Chuchki tribe; a primitive Eskimo-like tribe in Siberia, raised the dogs and were responsible for their daily care, and the children were encouraged to play with the dogs often. So, the breed adapted quickly to family life and became accustomed to much interaction with humans & most especially children.  They make one of the best breeds to have around kids!

They are also one of the most intelligent breeds around. This can be a good thing, but can also be a bad thing; depending on how you look at it and how ready you are to outsmart them and be always be one step ahead. They are easily trained unless you show them that you are the weaker link. Then they will definitely try to take over the roost. You HAVE to show them that you are the leader of the pack! So...I will be the ALPHA! ( That's kinda funny to me....can't really explain why) but I will make sure he/she knows that without question!

So then why....do you ask....do people have such a shocked reaction when we tell them we have chosen a husky pup.
Well....it's probably because they know that as sled dogs, the breed has a strong desire for speed! Yep...to run. And to run and run and run. Run 1000's of miles before even glancing back. It is therefore strongly advised that you NEVER take your husky dog off-leash....EVER! Even if you think you have trained the best, most well-mannered, most command- following dog ever, you should not let a husky off it's leash!! So.....we won't! Better to know and be prepared, than to be chasing our pup to Alaska!

They apparently also have an attraction to ....yes you guessed it......DIGGING! ( Much to my husband's dismay....but hey....the deposit is non-refundable! Lucky me again!) I however am going to make it my mission in life to curb this particular habit or hobby, and replace it with a more acceptable form of releasing that natural dog energy. Not yet quite sure how.....but I will research and experiment till I find something that works, both in the best interest of our yard and our pups needs. (Some books suggest setting up a sandbox that is strictly for the dog to dig in.) (and Zoe of course!) ( What a cute picture that makes in my mind!)

And lastly.....all that gorgeous fluffy double-coat fur has to go somewhere in the summer right? Yes...they shed! It is warned that they will drop their undercoat at least once, sometimes twice a year. And when I say drop....I mean DUMP!! (Not sure my hubby knows about this one yet, but he will now!) So....it is suggested that to keep up with it, and to alleviate wearing it....that you brush your dog daily during these shedding seasons! I figure between the 5 of us....we can easily accomplish this. Besides...I have always loved brushing our dogs...it's a very calming activity and notice that the dogs love it too! And think of all the local backyard bird nests we will be providing warmth for! ( See....there's a bright side to everything!!)
However...they are also one of the most meticulous dogs on the planet. Much like cats do, they clean themselves, and naturally desire to be clean and free of debris. They very rarely need baths, and apparently have surprisingly little "doggy" smell. (which isn't always THAT bad)

After all is said and done...I definitely feel that the more desirable traits in a husky, far outweigh the lesser ones! And there is almost always a solution to any issue!

We are very much looking forward to the bond we will form with our new little pup, and look forward to any challenges he will present us with, knowing that whatever we face together will only brings us closer, and the experiences will only make us stronger and all the more wiser! And I'm banking on the fact that on the way I will learn a lot about myself! Dogs have a naturally uncanny way of teaching humans a lesson or two.

And in regards to my brother-in-law's views on it...I know he's just giving us a head's up warning, but I am up to the challenge of disproving his theory! With great attention, and positive and consistent training, lots of physical and mental exercise, we will have the perfect husky dog! ( Don't make me eat those words pup!)

I also believe each dog is different, regardless of breed characteristics,......... just like all of us.

A Pet's Ten Commandments

A friend, and fellow dog & serious animal lover sent me this in an e-mail yesterday....and I thought it'd make a perfect post for today! I absolutely LOVED it ......and it came with this story (see below).....enjoy!

I know it isn't really MY post....and that I am probably breaking all the blogging rules.....but are there rules.....really? And don't you think that there are too many rules in life already? And aren't rules sometimes meant to be broken?? (Don't tell my kids ....or my dogs that!)

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........


1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.


2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.


3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being..


4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.


5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.


6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.


7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.


8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.


9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.


10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.


~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters.


~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

The K9 above is Brutus, a military K9 at McChord. He's huge - part Boxer and part British Bull Mastiff and tops the scales at 200 lbs. His handler took the picture. Brutus is running toward me because he knows I have some Milk Bone treats, so he's slobbering away! I had to duck around a tree just before he got to me in case he couldn't stop, but he did. Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor last year from his tour in Iraq .. His handler and four other soldiers were taken hostage by insurgents. Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant 'go away but come back and find me'. The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus. He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door. He then jumped against one of the doors repeatedly (the guys were being held in an old warehouse) until it opened. He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped. He's the first K9 to receive this honor. If he knows you're ok, he's a big old lug and wants to sit in your lap. Enjoys the company of cats. K-9 Congressional Medal of Honor Winner !
 
 Talk about animal intelligence and bonding with humans!
 
Remember that they can't do a lot of things for themselves and that they depend on you to make their life a quality life!

Are we crazy??

Many feel that we are crazy! I suppose possibly.....we are! Puppy crazy! Pet Crazy! Adding another dog to our already large family of 3 kids, two dogs, and a cat! CRAZY! Right??
Well yes......it will certainly add to the happy chaos that we call our family! (I'll probably be questioning myself at 3 am, when the pup has to go out for a tinkle!)
But we sure do love our pets! A Lot! They bring us such immense joy, and teach us so many invaluable lessons! Our youngest, Zoe, is ABSOLUTELY dog crazy! She spends a good 80% of her day at home playing with our dogs. No need for toys here! She'll carefully carry around our little Boomer, a pomeranian-chihuahua mix. She playfully drags our 10 year old chocolate lab Fudge around the house by his collar. She often lays on the floor snuggling them, hugging them, reading to them, and singing to them. And the highlight of the day is treat time. But they have taught her patience, and gentle kindness, and friendship. And through observing every one of their interactions, our dogs have taught me to really appreciate the simple things!

"A dog is the greatest gift a parent can get a child. Ok...a good education, then a dog"
John Grogan, An interview with John Grogan,2008

It's Official! We're expecting a puppy!!

Yes, yes......I know what you're all thinking.......(that post comes tomorrow!)

It's official! We have decided to add another member to our happy, busy, chaotic, loving family! As a family, we have decided upon a siberian husky puppy! (Pics to be posted soon!)
We are all very very excited, and anxiously awaiting delivery day. Well, that is, coming home day. He/She is currently 4 weeks old. Every Sunday is visiting day, and my how fast they grow in a week. We have spent two Sundays with him/her now. They are from a breeder in Snohomish, with 7 other brothers & sisters! They are all so handsome and beautiful, it was really hard to pick! Well.....we haven't actually picked ONE yet...we have two reserved. One is a male and one is a female. Which to pick. Is a girl dog better, or a male dog? My husband definitely prefers male dogs over female dogs. Something about the broad depth of their faces, shoulders, larger body, etc. We've really only ever had male dogs. They seem to always be more loving, attentive, loyal, goofy, more playful, and less aloof. Plus the male aggresion situation is definitely curbed by neutering early! But I have heard lately that a female husky tends to be better around a family with young children as the natural nurturing instincts kick in with kids.
Will you all please respond with comments in regards to your dog experiences....male or female....and why.
Thanks for your help & insight! We have to make our final decision by next visiting day!