Happy now?

I mentioned a while back on my Facebook page that China was on a diet. She's too good of a "vacuum cleaner" and has put on a few pounds (I can relate  *wink*). So unfortunately, in order to keep her from scrounging for tidbits, she has to stay in a dog run.

The highlight of her day then is our morning walk!

Here we are heading down the trail. We are blessed to live in an area where there are safe places to walk and the dogs can be off lease.

This was cute. All I said was, "Hey!" to get their attention for the picture and this was their reaction. Good dogs!

Usually these three (Echo, Moriah and China) are out ahead scouting things out.

Pooh likes to scout too, but he also keeps an eye on mom. Can't get too far fro her!

Heading home.

Are you happy now guys?

Kong toys

I love #Kong toys! They are durable, come in different shapes and sizes, and you can stuff them!

Here are a couple different ones I have for the puppies.

Today, I'll show you what I do with them. 

First I filled them with puppy food.

Then I sealed off the end (both ends on the red ball) with peanut butter or cheese. *Hint* Don't put to much cheese in there (just enough to "seal' the end) or you may end up with some loose stool:(

Filled with food and sealed shut.

Now we stick them in the freezer until the cheese/peanut butter is frozen. (Shhhh...please don't tell my family there are dog toys in the freezer! *wink)

Now we share with the puppies to keep them occupied!

These are wonderful for crate training. It gives the puppy something to keep them busy instead of worrying about being closed in their crate. And you can actually get the bigger Kongs and put the puppy's whole meal in there. This is especially great if the puppy has to be home alone while you go to work. It will spend a good part of it's morning getting his breakfast out of the Kong.

Of course, they both want the same one!

Now we've got it. One Kong per puppy! Happy mom, happy puppies!

"Can we come in now?"

We're finally getting more snow. Which does make it a bit challenging when I have two puppies I'm trying to potty train. (Thank goodness for litter boxes!)

I usually put them in this little fenced in area outside the back door for potty breaks.

You can see how deep the snow is compared to Echo. And it's a bit deeper in the pen because the snow slides off the roof here. I think I'd lose the pups for sure out here!

So for now the only "safe" place to let them potty and stretch their legs a bit is Echos' covered kennel.

"Mom, can we come in now?"

The dilemma

So I was at my vet's today for an appointment.

As I waited at the front counter, ready to "surrender" my debit card to the receptionist ;)  the Dr. walks in and starts gathering dogs for an outside potty break. (She takes in a lot of rescued/injured, rehabs and rehomes them.) So of course, she throws out, "Do you need another dog?!" HAHA...yeah, I needed another dog like I needed another horse!

We went out and visited while four dogs (two of hers that had been rescued and two needing homes) played and pottied. There was a 3 month old lab/husky type cross with these gorgeous light eyes and this old "man". He had been found on the highway; no micro-chip, no tag, no owner found. He came in with a female that had already been spayed and successfully placed. The vet thinks he's about 8, although he already had that sunken in look over his eyes and appeared older to me. They think he's a lab mix of some sort. He had the longest, lankiest looking legs though. It reminded me of how some Anatolians are built, although he isn't that big. He just seemed like a sweet, gentle soul.

Of course since we lost our Jack dog, I've thought often about what we would get next. I still have two great watchdogs, Moriah and Echo.So I've only thought about getting another large dog after one of them passes away.

And now my vet has to throw this at me.

I don't need another big dog to feed. Especially one that will just be laying on the front porch, with not enough energy to help "watch". Sorry, if that sounds harsh. That's my practical, bill paying part of me; my "head" that tells me "No" (husband probably will too). But my  gushy, animal loving, sentimental heart says "Yes". Who cares if he isn't a good watch dog. Doesn't the old guy deserve a loving home for his last days. And he might still have many good years left.

What to do. What to do. That's my dilemma.

Cookies!

I don't know about your dogs, but my dogs get treats everyday. At our house, the dogs all know what the word "Cookie" means!

So I go through a lot of cookies and am always looking for some that look halfway "healthy". One day I decided to do some internet perusing and find some recipes to make my own.

Today was the first test recipe that I found on Pinterest. They are called "Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats" and found on http://blog.doggievogue.com.

I decided to try a double batch since I have more than a couple dogs ;) And I did substitute some unrefined white flour and rice flour for some of the wheat flour since I didn't have enough. They still turned out fine.

Here they are ready to go in the oven. And yes, it did take a while to make all those! The recipe says to measure the dough out by teaspoonfuls then flatten with a fork. Doubling the recipe got me over 120 cookies.

They puffed up a bit with baking.

Now to see if the "taste testers" will eat them. This cookie is disappearing!

Number two cookie going in!

The cookie monster looking for crumbs.

Yep!  I think we'll make these again.

The developing of an Aussalier

First you start with an ASDR Reg. Toy Australian Shepherd named "China". A true Aussie, with a spitfire personality and herding instinct packaged in 10" tall, 13 lb blue merle colored, blue-eyed body.

Then you add in a AKC Reg. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, "Noah". A gentle, sweet soul, happy, playful in a gorgeous coat of black, tan and white. Weighing at 20 lbs and standing a bit taller at 13".

And what do you get? Viola' this beautiful bundle of gorgeous Aussalier puppies!

 Today we're following one of those sweet babies as she grows up. We call her "Concho" and she is the beautiful blue merle with the big white face in the front left side of the picture.

Here she is looking sweetly into the camera at four weeks of age.

Looking more grown up at five weeks!

Taking a ride at six weeks!

At seven weeks we have lots of pictures of her playing outside with her littermates!

(Sorry, not a clear shot, but I love how it shows her "in action")

(You can see from previous pictures that the pigment on her nose is filling in all black:)

And here she is today at eight and a half weeks of age!

She is definitely an Aussalier; a wonderful combination of both mom (Aussie) and dad (Cavalier). Her body build is more like her mom with the Aussie coat and coloring. I'm guessing she should mature around fourteen pounds as an adult. She obviously has the beautiful Cavalier ears and her temperament is more like the Cavalier; sweet, cuddly, but still playful and happy!

She is here waiting for her perfect, forever family!

Will it be you?

This is what happens....

when you buy a label maker and you have boys at home......

They spelled his name wrong :P