Hike-a-palooza!

All in all, Singer went on two mountain hikes and one beach walk this holiday weekend.  What a lucky pup!  Can you guess where we are in this picture?

Can't wait to get her some snow gear so I can take my little rock star glisadding!  Or even better, turn her into a sled dog.  Mmmmmush.

Happy New Year!

Singer's 2011 was capped off with her first group hike!  We met up with a local dog hiking group for a 1.5 hour off-leash hike on Saturday morning.  Of course, we were late, and by the time we got onto the trail, we ran into a woman who had already lost her Husky dog.  Not an auspicious way to start the hike!  (The Husky was eventually found, twice, in fact.)

Singer, following the elusive Kenai.

Fifteen minutes later, we finally caught up with the lead group, and met the other hikers and dogs.  There were probably about 30 dogs, from Dachshunds to Dobermans.  Singer was the only Singer in attendance though.  Although she was a bit timid at first, she made fast friends with a mix named Avery and a big wire coated giant Schnauzer named Demetrius.  A giant black Russian Terrier was a part of the mix too, but she was a little more than Singer could handle.  The dogs all ran circles around each other, racing up and down the trail, barking and play bowing.

Singer looked so thrilled to be running around with the other dogs.  For every mile of the trail, she probably ran 3 miles.  The hike was 3.6 miles in total... Singer just about did a half marathon!  She's made so much progress in just a year.  This time last year, she was running behind me at the sight of puppies across the street.  Yesterday, she was letting other dogs sniff her, engaging dogs in play and chasing and being chased, like a "real" doggie.  Happy New Year!

Character (and quality). Of a man and his work.

My friend had a picture posted on her Facebook today.  In the picture was a hand, holding what appeared to be a small bunny.  Around the hand/ bunny was printed, "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him," attributed to James D. Miles.

This post struck a nerve with me on several levels.

1) Singer's Christmas fence was a total disaster.  I was very sad this morning when I saw the whole thing in daylight.  I cried.  I hope the company, so far unnamed, will do the right thing and fix the problems promptly.

2) The first thing I thought of when I saw the picture was Lenny.

3) I've been a little slow on the uptake lately, so I had to break this third one down.  Pets, even the most annoying ones, do something for you.  That's what makes them lovable, cherished members of the family.  When they stop doing anything for you, they're just burdens.  I guess that goes for everything in life.  Sometimes things are unpleasant and feel like burdens, and it is how we deal with them that shows our true nature.

When I first started fostering Bo, she was a terror.  Many people advised me to have her put down.  She was expensive, time consuming and unpredictable.   However blindly, I never stopped caring about her, even when I was bedridden and on painkillers because of her.  I'm not quite sure what she provided me, but I never felt like she had nothing to give.  She was troubled, confused and defensive, but full of life, and certainly deserving of love.  But what would it have taken for her to become an unqualified burden?  Would I have walked away?

Christmas Wrap Up.

Mantel Merriment (!)

Singer and Bo spent Christmas in CT and NY this year, so Santa came several times.  Their booty included  treats, a hair brush and the whopper, a fence that will be installed later this week.  Pretty soon, Singer and Bo will be able to run around with reckless abandon in their backyard.  If you've never gotten a fence installed, those things are not cheap!   I wonder if I can take the fence with me when I move?  My next house will definitely have a fence.

On Christmas Eve, my parents and I loaded up the car with the doggies and went Christmas light hunting and found an amazing property that had been decorated like a gingerbread village.  It was truly a sight to behold.  I love everything about Christmas, from the lights to the festivity to the time spent with family.  CHRISTMAS!

Singer has the Christmas zoomies.

In any event, my parents were thrilled so see Singer, and she was thrilled to show off with some extra fast zoomies in their yard.

Bo, on the other hand, was content to gnaw on a tennis ball after giving chase.

Unflappable concentration

In other Bo news, someone has expressed interest in adopting Bo.  As you know, Bo is a foster that I have had for almost 7 months now.  My family has grown quite attached to her, despite her old lady quirks.  So much so that she stays with my parents half-time these days.  If push came to shove, I would adopt her myself. 

Waiting for Santa Paws

Will not be leading the sleigh tonight.

Singer's quite the Christmas traveler.  For our first Christmas together, we went to New Hampshire and Maine and nearly missed being stranded by a snow storm.  This year, she'll be spending it in Connecticut and New York.  On the way to see her grandparents, she gained a few not so secret admirers who actually stopped their car just to tell me how adorable she was being.  And with a face like this, who could disagree?

Santa, I've been a very good girl this year.

Just because Christmas came early for her doesn't mean she still isn't still holding out for a little something special in her stocking tomorrow.

Christmas comes early.

Singer's special friend Mary has been spoiling her since the first day she heard I was bringing her home.  For Singer's first Christmas, she received Better Than Ears treats and some chew toys.  Singer knew exactly what to do with the Better Than Ears.  The toys, not so much.  Good thing BoBo came around  later on to help out.  This year, Santa Mary came through with not one, but TWO bags of BTE!

Thank you Santa Mary!!

Ever since Mary introduced me to BTE, I've been getting Singer and BoBo the healthy joints formula.  Neither have mentioned increased dexterity, but it makes me feel better.

White balance is off in the picture, but Singer's making her puppy face.  Christmas might include some camera homework.

Ghost poop.

I've been on poop patrol ever since Singer's birthday.  Why?  She had a run in with some chicken soup bones and the trash.  More like she ran into the trash can with her mouth open.  We called the vet right away to see if we should take her in for an x-ray.  After the vet asked about Singer's age, breed and weight, she advised us to hang tight and watch for loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation, or bloody poo.

It's been pretty clear that the first three have not been a problem.  I have been on poop watch though, and this is what I saw this morning:

Ghost poop.  Chicken bone calcium poop.  I'll take this over the 4th symptom anytime though.  And Singer will be glad when I stop following her into her secret pooping area and poking her ghostly works of art with a stick.