Exciting and new...challenges!

I drove several hours in anticipation to pick Buster up out of the cold one day in January several years ago. He learned the sound of my voice, over a course of time, not knowing where he was going, but away from where he lived, trusted enough to curl up in a new fleece blanket and sleep in the warmth all the way home.

Exciting and new challenges lay ahead for both of us. The kennel turned into a hallway, which turned into 1/2 the house which challenged us as we worked on house training too. New challenge for me was to be up and out at 6am, but three months to the day he arrived we were on routine and he was trained. He has a very good bladder! We are best buds!

Brushing was a challenge, starting with once a week, being nipped at, talking softly, his treat was what he loves most in life, go for a ride! Playing fetch wasn't his forte and I didn't enjoy fetching as I did throwing. Which rolled us around to Carlee, afraid of her shadow, and Buster, wanting to be everyone's friend shared his blanket.

They have learned from each other and I from them, our next challenge is brushing, their teeth! Yes, it's true! Some of you chuckle and wish us luck, but like every other challenge we face, we start slow, together, once a week and a treat.

I'm excited, will that change?! That's the challenge...exciting and new!

Knick knack paddy whack...

Give your dog a bone. Remember the childhood tune? It's also similar to Barney, the purple dinosaur's, "I Love You, You Love Me" tune for the younger generation. I find that eerie.

We have come up with ideas over the summer and provided baked treats at the Farmer's Market. We've made various shapes and sizes from ducks, fish, buffalo, barns and the State of South Dakota. We've carved our dogs out of bone and now we have etched "commands" or maybe what your dog would say if we could speak Doglish. Available only in medium size treat bags of hearty beef and savory chicken.

Our dogs were bathed and groomed last week and though I requested short, it has shocked their system. Once again they feel the cool breeze and hit the deck or floor. Some area's of their bodies were trimmed a little too close and they will be uncomfortable for several days. We are easing their tensions by staying close, scratching ears, providing laps, hugs and an extra treat or two. They look up as if to ask, "what were you thinking!?" They are as handsome and pretty as they were before cuts, but will feel so much better when temperature's of 85 rolls around again this coming week.

Love your friends and give your dog a bone.

Wanted...longer days!

We've shortened our days with last outs by an hour, the days have become shorter in an instant it seems. One dog eagerly comes in from the dark and the other is sluggish, walking in as if he had been scolded, hanging his head and sighing. Poor boy!

We miss the rising sun at 6am, but now we spot deer in the pasture and they are curious as to who we are. Though it is to early for barking, the dogs greet anything that moves and each sound they hear. With a quick command, they head back into the house, we turn on lights and begin our day.

Our calendar shows we "fall back" October 31, 2009. In the meantime we'll work double time to get items crossed off our todo list. This weekend we filled treat orders, baked bones for upcoming fairs, made both beef and chicken broths waiting to be added to treats and still had time to play fetch and go for a ride.

We love weekends!

Sand burrs...

Sand burrs are nasty, they hurt like the dickens when the dogs step on them as they gimp along, stop and try to untangle them. They are nastier when they get into their long hairs. I eek them out as the dogs will only stand still a short amount of time. "Trust me" I tell them. Just today a friend of mine told me to wet the burrs and they come out easier. Wet them, hmmm, a simple answer. Buster try's the bite and pull method, which hurts me to watch. He growls if I come near, "let me help you, trust me" I whisper.

Carlee, the constant cleaner..I think she's part cat, licks them out. Ah, the things I could learn from her, wet the burrs.

Sand burr plants have shallow roots from what I can tell as I keep them out of our patch of prairie, however, as a neighbor mows over them, the individual burrs can shoot a long ways and our Buster is a magnet. Long hairs will soon be short as their trims are just around the corner. Buster the magnet should be sand burr free for Fall.

In the meantime, he'll hear, "trust me". Our pets, members of our families, trust us, we need to tell them "trust me".

Enjoy their company.