Henry's Story

We have a guest blogger today, Henry the Schnoodle. Henry is very precocious...he wrote this story when he was just a puppy!

(The picture shows Henry checking out the goodies under the parrot cages)

A Different Perspective on the Thanksgiving Holiday

We knew something was going on when she brought in all the groceries and started cooking. First there was a pie, then some stuffing, and finally some sweet potato dish. Oh, I guess I should explain…I am Henry, and I am ten months old. I live with my sister Lucy and my Mom and Dad.

But to explain further, Lucy isn’t really my sister. I was adopted into this pack back in April, and she was already here. My Mom isn’t really my Mom, either, since I remember my real Mom a little, and she was furry, just like me. Other people call my adoptive Mom either Nana or Nanny. She’s nice. My Dad’s name is Paul or Honey. So now you know who we are!

When Mom started cooking we knew either someone was coming over or we were going somewhere. When she didn’t vacuum, Lucy and I started getting excited because it meant we were going to go somewhere in the car! We knew it for sure when she brought the cooler in from the garage.

We still had to wait a while because Dad was still at work. When he came home he helped with the cooking, too.

In the morning we didn’t get to eat breakfast like we normally do. Lucy was mad at me because it’s my fault. I get carsick if I eat before a car ride. Oh, well, a car ride is fun even if you have to miss a meal!

Mom and Dad loaded the car and off we went! I have to ride in my little bed on the floor of the van because of my car sickness problem. Lucy rides on the seat and looks out sometimes. I feel like such a baby!

We rode in the car for a long time. We stopped once and Mom walked us around a very interesting parking lot right by the freeway. There were so many unusual smells! Then we rode some more and after a long time more the car stopped again.

I knew it was a good place because Lucy was so excited, banging her tail against the side of the van and whimpering to get out. When we got out I remembered – and I remembered even more when I saw Erica and Owen. They are my favorite kids in the world!

Wow, I was so happy to see them! I jumped up and licked their faces and wiggled and squirmed. They petted my sister and me a lot and then invited us to join their pack and visit their den. Well, maybe they call it something else, but I call it a den.

It’s very nice there. We had a fine time chasing the ball and playing with the rope toy, but sometimes we had to go to our beds for a while, too. We like that Mom and Dad bring our beds from home.

One fun thing we did was listen to Erica play the viola. She’s good! I could never play that well! We also had fun when they were testing Owen on his addition and subtraction. He is one smart cookie, if you ask me!

After a while everyone except Lucy and I sat down to a special dinner at the table. The dinner smelled so good! Lucy and I were very happy that they put a piece of turkey on top of our dinner that night, too.

Another special thing was that we got to stay overnight! Mom and Dad took us with them when they went to bed, and we got to sleep right next to their bed. In the morning I woke up first and took a quick trip upstairs to see if I could find Erica and Owen’s dens. I went from room to room licking the faces of the entire pack!

We got to go on lots of walks, and play in the backyard, and other fun things, but before long it was time to go. We were sad to say goodbye but excited about another car ride.

On the way home Mom and Dad were talking about Thanksgiving Day and how it is important to be aware of the good things we have in our lives and the holiday is about taking a moment to appreciate them.

So, I thought I should end this essay by saying that I am thankful that I have such a nice pack and that I’m glad we went to Erica and Owen’s for Thanksgiving!

Free Inventions

I'm always thinking!

One day we were watching a design show about some people and their dog who lived in a tiny apartment in New York City. Of course we had to get up in the middle of the show to let the dogs out & then back in...wiping their feet on re-entry. What a chore!

So I came up with an invention. You can use it if you want! For free!

The invention is a bathroom for dogs. Maybe cats, too. Why not?

So you put a little room off your mud room. There's a toilet drain in the floor covered by a grid kind of lid that is controlled by a handle high up. There's a hand held shower that has enough length to wash off the whole room.

You teach your dogs where to go outside, why not teach them this? You'd still need to go in there and open the drain cover and wash it down but that's not nearly as awful as picking it up bit by bit from your yard or on your walks.

There are still a few bugs to be worked out such as making sure they have a walk-off mat in case their feet get wet, but I think it has potential. It could also be used as a dog washing area.

My next invention I knew would be a hit, and Paul came up with a name for it..."Cat Scratch Fever." Can you hear the music for the commercial? It is an adaptation of what we did for the goats - two scrub brushes zip tied to the corner of the fence. They would scratch themselves on it all the time - no muss, no fuss critter brush.

My invention would make two scrub brushes with velcro on the back. Velcro them to the wall, and your cats would be grateful.

There are a few other inventions I am still working on, but these two are yours, for free!

Hot Stuff!

Henry went to the groomer and came out looking like a Schnauzer!

He is a wonderful little dog and fits in perfectly to our pack.

Good Dog!

Thanks to Catherine of Lives in a Shoe for the tip on using a Gentle Leader to keep dogs from pulling on the leash. I bought them for Henry and Lucy on eBay, and today we had our first walk with both of them using the new collar.

Paul works at home on Thursdays, so we were able to take a walk together this morning, with one dog each. It was a wonderful walk, with the dogs behaving beautifully and energizing sunshine on our faces and blue water in the distance.

One of the things I have wanted to accomplish before we move away from the Black Dog Farm is to have the dogs walk in a relaxed manner on a slack leash. Who knew it would be so easy?

Fall or Winter, Take Your Pick...

Saturday there was a crazy wind and rain storm that was so crazy and wild I went outside to take a picture of the insanity. The rain was bouncing up it hit so hard! So after taking the picture above I came inside and noticed that the lights were off. So we lit a bunch of candles and already had the fireplace going. I brought the birds into the living room to hang out by us and stay warm. Paul and I tried to read. It was hopeless so we got our mp3 players out. I started listening to Laura Esquival's "Malinche." After a couple of hours we headed out to get some dinner, returning just as the lights came on! This morning the rain had stopped for my usual walk with the dogs. We live just a couple of blocks from the water and I just adore seeing the morning from this location. Lucy has a tendency to pull on her leash, so we are using the backpack as a way to give her a "job" and make her less likely to pull. Henry pulls all the time...I need to enroll us in obedience classes, soon! I love the autumn colors and I like this picture of our driveway with Lucy included in the frame.

Happy Lady

So this is the sight that greeted Paul when he drove in from work today...the dogs and I having a walk on the property while we waited for him to come home! Hey, it is such a treat for me to be here when he comes home, that I want him to have his whole pack greet him with big smiles!

Of course you'll also notice the way-cool boots that replaced my old farm boots this year and that my hair is really gray now!

Home Sweet Home

As part of the reformation of the Black Dog Farm pack after Angus's passing, I have been taking the dogs for a walk every day. For city dwellers this may seem like a normal enough thing, but for people who live in the country...it seems a little pointless. I mean the dogs can run around all over the place to their heart's content, so why bother with a walk?

I've read enough dog psychology, though, to know that it can be very stressful for dogs to figure out where they stand in the pack hierarchy when there is a change in its structure. What the walkcan do is reaffirm Paul's and my authority as pack leaders and give the dogs a chance to follow their pack leader for almost an hour in the morning.

So, to get to the point, I have been taking the dogs for a walk every day before work. What a revelation it has been! We live just a couple of blocks from the water, but crossing the highway and catching a glimpse of the sun coming up with the gleaming water, beautiful trees, and mountains give me such a positive outlook on the day! I can't believe I haven't done this sooner! What a dope! All that beauty combined with the love I have for Lucy and Henry are just a perfect way to start the day.

Birthday Boy

Owen turned seven years old last Sunday, and we all had fun helping him celebrate!

The dogs went with us to celebrate Owen's birthday...and they are adjusting to life without Angus. As you can see from the picture below they still look a little dazed.

Rest In Peace Angus, loyal friend and pack member

We will miss him. What more can we say?

What Packs Do

I am very interested in dog psychology and pack behavior, and thought I'd share some tidbits on how the Black Dog Farm pack behaves:

People come in the door first. Paul and I are the pack leaders, and we enter and leave the house first - except first thing in the morning, when they really need to GO!

Higher level pack leaders get groomed by the lower level pack members. Paul and I get our faces washed a lot!

Lowest level member (Henry) always "escorts" Angus into the house.

When emergency vehicles go by with their sirens blaring the whole pack howls. Yes, that means Paul and me, also! We throw back our heads and howl like a wolf pack at a full moon. It's my favorite pack activity!

Fall is Coming (part two)

We've taken Angus to our regular vet a couple of times in the last week and know that he is starting to fail now for real. He has been an amazing example of how to manage illness - his strong and happy attitude has carried him for a year and a half now. Of course the fact that since he's a dog and doesn't know the reality of what he faces, an optimistic attitude is a little easier than it might be for a human!

It was April 2005 when we were told he had lymphosarcoma. Without treatment he would have had less than a couple of months to live. We opted for chemotherapy, and he had two rounds of treatment. His quality of life has been amazingly good this whole time, and even now there are times when he chases around just like a puppy.

Early this morning he threw up, then again about a half hour later. But he ate well and seems alert. Every little sign makes us anxiously watch him for more changes but he usually just perks up and is his old self again for a while.

Angus and Us ( click for a montage of pictures of Angus)

He's such a strong little guy that I wouldn't try to predict how the next months will go, but we love our little one and have loved having him as a member of the Black Dog Farm pack.

Oh, Henry!

Here is Henry strutting his stuff after his first haircut!

Our Tired Little One

Angus isn't feeling well lately. The prednisone had been helping him feel more like himself, but the last few days we've seen a change in him. Most nights he sleeps on the bed with us...we have a fan going so he can sleep with his face in the cool air. A choking fit this morning left him worn out.

I'm taking him to the vet this morning - as you can see in the picture above he is our tired little one.

Canine Brotherhood

(the pictures speak for themselves)


Henry conked out


Angus doing the same

Henry

Henry went into the vet this week for neutering. He took it really well (I guess I shouldn't say "like a man") and was back to normal by mid-day the following day. He's now five months old and is a happy little sprite.

Black Dog Farm Update

The most important news of the day is that the oncologist reports that Angus is not in remission anymore. He went through one full protocol of chemotherapy - which kept him in remission about four months...then we did another 4 weeks of chemo, and now the cancer is back again. Paul & I knew this was coming because the last few days he really hasn't been his old self.

So - now we need to decide what to do next. We want him to be comfortable and enjoy whatever time he has left to him - but the decision as to whether to try more chemo or just employ prednisone to make him comfortable is a hard one.

It is an awful thing to even think about...putting a price tag on our little friend. All of this has been very expensive, very time consuming, and I think all of us feel worn out.

Look at his expression in the picture below and see if you think he looks like he knows he isn't well.

Now Everybody Say "Oh! How Cute!"

Henry relaxing in the evening (4 months)


Angus doing the same


Lucy's the one who really knows how to relax!

I just want to pet dogs and read

This morning I had about twenty pages left of Sarah Dunant's Mapping the Edge, (#30) and instead of doing chores around here as I usually do, I sat down on the couch. Sitting down means that immediately three dogs join me for their favorite pastime, sleeping. So I finished the book, and when I left for work I was in a decidedly more relaxed frame of mind than I usually am. Maybe I'll make a habit of it.

It seems amazing to me that I've read thirty books since the first of the year. I started the 50 Book Challenge not to challenge myself to some sort of speed reading marathon but more just to keep track for my own knowledge.

Mapping the Edge was a really interesting read for me. I usually don't like books that have too much suspense in them because I have a tendency to have the more suspenseful bits keep me awake or make me too nervous. Don't even think of suggesting that I watch a suspenseful movie, either. When they get the least bit nerve-wracking, I get up and leave the room. (I think I watched about ten minutes total of Kill Bill.)

But Mapping the Edge was wonderful, and I made it through the suspenseful parts because I sincerely wanted to know how it all was going to come out. Plus, I learned that the world won't come to an end if I sit down and read with some sleeping dogs before work.

Spring is Here!

Every spring I am astounded by the newness and beauty of nature. Just as we didn't think we'd make it through another dreary winter - and did - so did nature. The bright green revives my spirit.


Another thing that revives my spirit is the wonderful pack we have here at the Black Dog Farm. The addition of Henry, with his high energy and happy disposition has even had a positive effect on Angus. We have another oncologist checkup Friday, but from all outward appearances, he is still in remission. He runs around with Henry, chasing and teasing, and they have a good old time pretending they are all puppies again. I don't think it works the same way with humans - when I am around teenagers I feel even older than I am!

Black Dog Farm Update

Our little Henry is so wonderful! We have been having a lot of fun watching his antics, playing with him, and teaching him his manners. He is an extremely smart dog, friendly and curious. Lucy and Angus both enjoy him and like to play his little games. (I've put more pictures on the farm pictures page)

Friday I threw caution to the wind and ventured out on my first outing with all three dogs on leashes. I had some errands to do, so we all piled in the car and when the errands were done we stopped at the beach at Wauna for a walk in the sunshine. It was a bit of a comedy but I was actually pretty proud of them. Henry carried a variety of sticks and crab parts and seaweed as we walked, while the other two just sniffed their way along. Fun.

We love this place so much in the spring! Everything is so green...and when we get everything mowed and trimmed and planted like we did last weekend, it just makes my heart happy.