1 day ago
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, October 01, 2010
Upping the Ante
This afternoon, when Charlie spotted little Cassie walking in front of the house, we bettered his pleas to go walking with her and let them play in the backyard.
They ran and chased,
and wrestled and chewed on each other,
until they were both tuckered out, too tired to run anymore.
They're still getting to know each other, but this looks like the start of a wonderful friendship!
They ran and chased, 
and wrestled and chewed on each other,
until they were both tuckered out, too tired to run anymore. 
They're still getting to know each other, but this looks like the start of a wonderful friendship!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Howdy Neighbor!
Yesterday Charlie began making friends with his neighbor, Cassie, a 4-month-old black lab.
Last time they met (about a month ago) Cassie was afraid and hid behind her people. Not anymore, though...
Even though Charlie grrrrrd and lunged at her in greeting, producing a puppy yelp heard for miles, she came right back at him, ready to play. They were good together, with Cassie obviously interested in romping and Charlie patient and kind of curious.
"Here, let me show you the pee-mail ropes, kid."
"Can I sniff you too?"
I hope they'll be good friends and play together.
Gabbie, his long-time best friend, now mostly ignores him; their back yard play dates are now few and far between, having devolved into a mix of our chasing Charlie and trying to keep Gabbie from digging holes and eating dirt.
I expect Cassie, with her playful puppy exuberance, to change all that. Anyway, I hope we'll find out soon...!
Last time they met (about a month ago) Cassie was afraid and hid behind her people. Not anymore, though...
Even though Charlie grrrrrd and lunged at her in greeting, producing a puppy yelp heard for miles, she came right back at him, ready to play. They were good together, with Cassie obviously interested in romping and Charlie patient and kind of curious.
I hope they'll be good friends and play together.
Gabbie, his long-time best friend, now mostly ignores him; their back yard play dates are now few and far between, having devolved into a mix of our chasing Charlie and trying to keep Gabbie from digging holes and eating dirt.
I expect Cassie, with her playful puppy exuberance, to change all that. Anyway, I hope we'll find out soon...!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sweet Sophie
I've been in Indiana, visiting a friend. She has Charlie's sister, Sophie, and I'm amazed by the sibling similarities. The two dogs not only look alike, but they have the same mannerisms, too! They both hold their heads the same way, lie in the same positions, grab your arm in their teeth when they get too excited, and squint when they're happy. They have their differences, but I constantly catch myself calling her "Charlie".
Sophie
Sophie again
Sophie, doing the Charlie "twist"
Sweet Sophie
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
New Old Friends
We had a great experience this past week, meeting Brooke & Greg from DWB (Benson's, Opy's & Angel Charlie's mum & dad) and showing them some of Portland.
They petted Charlie nonstop and fussed over him, called him a beautiful boy, hugged him and fed him treats. Charlie, of course, ate up every second of it!
We were all so sorry to let them go, but grateful for the opportunity to spend time with two of the nicest people in the world!
However... Charlie now knows it's possible for people to pay even MORE attention to him than we usually do. So the bar's been raised, and we're going to have to do our best to meet the new high standards. :-)
They petted Charlie nonstop and fussed over him, called him a beautiful boy, hugged him and fed him treats. Charlie, of course, ate up every second of it!
We were all so sorry to let them go, but grateful for the opportunity to spend time with two of the nicest people in the world!
However... Charlie now knows it's possible for people to pay even MORE attention to him than we usually do. So the bar's been raised, and we're going to have to do our best to meet the new high standards. :-)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Good Fences Make Good Dogs
Charlie is intrigued by the new garden I put in. He loves to eat dirt, plus Pouncer digs there and that's a big attractant. But when the veggies ripen, the attraction will increase exponentially, because Charlie's an omnivore -- he loves veggies as much as I do!
So I'm erecting a low bamboo fence around the new garden. Tall enough to keep Charlie (who doesn't jump fences or push babygates) out, yet low enough for me to step over.
"Mmmmm... 2010 -- a good year for dirt."
I've been using a jerry-rigged setup of sawhorses and 2x4s, but it's always falling apart as Charlie pushes the boundaries a little. So it was time for something better looking and more stable.
"I could help, you know. I could keep the kitties out of there."
Having taken a class on bamboo fence-building, I decided on a rustic Japanese yotsume-gaki-style fence. Gabbie's mom grows bamboo & donated canes to the cause, and I bought posts at a local feed store.
"Awwwww... you never let me have any fun!"
For the last week, Charlie and I have been measuring and cutting and digging and leveling and nailing... There's plenty more do do (namely, the pickets and a gate), but we have the bones of a fence; one sufficient to keep Charlie out and the vegetables in.
So I'm erecting a low bamboo fence around the new garden. Tall enough to keep Charlie (who doesn't jump fences or push babygates) out, yet low enough for me to step over.
I've been using a jerry-rigged setup of sawhorses and 2x4s, but it's always falling apart as Charlie pushes the boundaries a little. So it was time for something better looking and more stable.
Having taken a class on bamboo fence-building, I decided on a rustic Japanese yotsume-gaki-style fence. Gabbie's mom grows bamboo & donated canes to the cause, and I bought posts at a local feed store.
For the last week, Charlie and I have been measuring and cutting and digging and leveling and nailing... There's plenty more do do (namely, the pickets and a gate), but we have the bones of a fence; one sufficient to keep Charlie out and the vegetables in.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Why Charlie* Eats So Fast
*He's the little guy on top
Saturday, June 12, 2010
World Pup Soccer
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Joke of the Day
Q: How high can your dog jump?
A: How high do you keep your food?
And lest anyone be concerned - a nail trimming was handily accomplished at the vet's this week, using a jar of peanut butter to keep the animal sedated. :)
Monday, June 07, 2010
Could This Dog Even Do Anything Bad?
No pictures, but if I ever wondered what I'd look like with a Heidelberg dueling scar, I wonder no more. Charlie says it's my own fault for trying to pin him down for a little "work" when he was feeling playful. In any event, it's time for a toenail trim. And I know just the vet who can do it!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
We Be Yammin'
Charlie loves rawhide chews, but since he believes they're meant to be consumed immediately and has the teeth with which to do so, I often buy him off with a yam chew. Yam chews certainly don't last as long, but I haven't had to pull one out of his throat yet, and there's no worry about other digestive consequences. We just finished the batch I made in March, so it was time to make some more.
They're easy to make with a food dehydrator and tasty, too (I have this on the best authority, and I don't mean Charlie ;) ). 10 pounds of yams makes 2-3 pounds of chews, so they're even economical, compared to buying Sam's Yams. I blogged the recipe before. But since then, I've made an improvement -- perforating the slightly cooked yam slices before dehydrating them; it really makes the drying go better and faster.
Here's the short version of the "big dog" recipe:
1. Buy a bunch of the biggest yams you can find. 10 lb. fills my 6 round dehydrator racks.
2. Slice the yams into 1/2" - 3/4" slabs.
3. Cook the slices on a plate in a microwave -- about 4 min. on each side.
4. Perforate the slices all over (on both sides) with a fork
5. Dehydrate @135-140' F for 10-20 hrs.
6. Feed and repeat.
"Bone" Apetit!
They're easy to make with a food dehydrator and tasty, too (I have this on the best authority, and I don't mean Charlie ;) ). 10 pounds of yams makes 2-3 pounds of chews, so they're even economical, compared to buying Sam's Yams. I blogged the recipe before. But since then, I've made an improvement -- perforating the slightly cooked yam slices before dehydrating them; it really makes the drying go better and faster.
Here's the short version of the "big dog" recipe:
1. Buy a bunch of the biggest yams you can find. 10 lb. fills my 6 round dehydrator racks.
2. Slice the yams into 1/2" - 3/4" slabs.
3. Cook the slices on a plate in a microwave -- about 4 min. on each side.
4. Perforate the slices all over (on both sides) with a fork
5. Dehydrate @135-140' F for 10-20 hrs.
6. Feed and repeat.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Paging Dr. Mom... Dr. Mom to the OR...
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