163/365: Outdoor Fun

We've been spending a lot of time outside lately.  Boo has decided that it's time to learn to ride his bike without training wheels.  Last year we entered the kids in all the kid races in the area.  They both did great at the Midtown Alley race, but there were very few kids entered.  By the time we got to Gateway Cup, Boo couldn't keep up with the kids who were riding without training wheels.  That, coupled with the fact that I told him he couldn't race anymore with training wheels, may have spurred this interest.  Plus, my deal to him as been that he can get a brand new bike when he can ride on his own.  So every night we come home, he wants to practice.  He's getting better and better.

On the other hand, Bella still has no interest in her bike.  She plays on the swingset or draws on the driveway.  Tonight she followed Daisy dog around the yard.

60/365: Doggie Bunkbed

I was fixing supper last night when Klucker called me into the living room for this sight. There they are, my ever vigilant watch dogs, manning their post. I really wonder how exhausting it is to be a dog. Diesel is in his kennel all day, so I know he's not getting any exercise. Daisy lays on her pillow by the back door; I can feel the warm spot if I check it when I get home in the evening. And for the most part, they both sleep through the night. Yet, at 6:00PM, here they are on the chair. They do have moments of fiestiness and barking, and Diesel does do squirrel patrol when he goes outside, but the laziness far outweighs those.

50/365: Scary Moment

This morning I was upstairs uploading the data from my run when I heard Daisy barking. Her "tone" was the one she uses when Diesel is in her food bowl. It went on for about 20 seconds before Boo told her to be quiet and leave Diesel alone. Of course, Daisy continued to bark. I yelled down to Boo to ask what was going on and about that time, the barking changed and Diesel's voice emerged. They were fighting. I jumped up and headed down the stairs yelling for Boo and Bella to stay away. I had instant visions of one of them trying to separate the dogs and getting bit in the process. I made it to the kitchen in time to see Klucker dragging Diesel by the collar into the bathroom. I pulled Daisy to the other side of the kitchen.

Boo was concerned because Diesel's food bowl had been spilled. I told him to pick up food and I was "lecturing" Daisy on trying to take Diesel's food. I let her collar go as I noticed a drop of blood on the floor. Just then she shook her head. It was as if I was in a CSI episode--high velocity puppy blood splatter went everywhere. I grabbed a paper towel and found the wound, the bottom of her ear was split. After attempts of pressure, ice, super glue, and cornstarch, Klucker finally got the bleeding to stop. Of course, I wiped down the kitchen three or four times during this progression.

So here is the wounded warrior. If you look closely at her right ear, you'll see the little tear. Doesn't she look pitiful?

17/365: Our Original Princess

This is the original princess in our family, Princess Poops-alot, AKA Daisy dog. This pampered pooched just celebrated her tenth birthday this past June. She's graying and plump now, but she is still fiesty and makes sure that Diesel knows she is the alpha dog.

Daisy joined our family in September 2000. At that time, we had three finicky felines who kept us entertained. My dad worked with her breeder who was looking to get rid of the four final pups in the litter. Bud and Sally had gone to my great uncle. Another one went to my pseudobrother Tony. That left an adorable little female named Daisy. My dad set me up. He made sure I played with the Bud & Sally one Sunday afternoon. They nipped at me and gave great puppy kisses and even fell asleep while I was holding them. It was then that my dad set the hook. "If Brian doesn't find a home for her, he'll euthanize her. He can't feed another dog." Tuesday morning I drove to Olivette, picked her up and took her home, and drove back to Ladue for work--all by 7:00 AM. Daisy quickly asserted herself as royalty and demanded to be treated as such.

The rest of the story of these pups has to be told as well. The dog Tony took ended up passing away before she was a year old. Sally got lime disease and died as well. Bud was gun shy and liked to run. My uncle couldn't hunt him and got tired of picking him up from town or the neighbors. Bud became Buddy, a city dog, and was reunited with Daisy shortly before they turned three years old. He was a kind, gentle dog who wanted nothing but a walk and a belly rub. Buddy left us last spring as quickly as he joined us. We were lucky that we were able to be his people, even if it wasn't as long as we would have liked.