What is this thing?

He gets so curious when he sees me playing with the camera, he puts his nose up to it and then he sees the flash and it all comes back to him..its "THAT" thing. Oh no, didn't turn my head quick enough!!

Puparazzi!! No that isn't a typo, paparazzi is for humans, PUParazzi is for puppers!!

French Kissing

She has tongue and she knows how to use it! Last night when we were walking two pit bulls escaped from their house and came charging up to say hello. The owners were right behind, three adults came running out of the house and the dogs were caught without incident.

Sadie wasn't really interested in the dogs, however when their human came over to apologize and make sure everything was ok and say hello, he bent down to pet Sadie...not one to miss an opportunity she jumped up to meet him, sticking her tongue in his mouth as she did. I tried to say "careful she's a kisser" but I was too late, the guy in the corner house had been slimed, Sadie style!

Dieting for Doggies

Sadie:
Starting Weight: 58.5 pounds
Goal Weight: 55 pounds


My name is Sadie and I love to eat! People food is my favorite. If the humans are eating it, I want to eat it too. I've learned that certain whimpers make them think I'm starving or makes them feeling guilty and compelled to share. I don't care what it takes, I want their food. I've even resorted to stealing a fully cooked chicken breast from the counter and a sandwich from a plate on the coffee table. "hey if they didn't want me to have it, they shouldn't have left it where I can reach it" My hobbies include: going for walks, running through sprinklers, biting sprinklers, laying on the sofa, laying on the chair, begging for food, warming feet by laying on them, sitting in laps and french kissing everyone who dares put their mouth near mine. I'm only doing this diet because my human Mommy is making me. Yeah, Daddy still slips me extra treats every night but shhhhh don't tell Mom, I'm on a diet!

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Max:
Starting Weight: 48.5 pounds
Goal Weight: 45 pounds

My name is Max and I'm cute! I love to eat and people food is my favorite too but unlike Sadie who has to whimper, I've learned to communicate by staring at the humans and drooling until they hand over the food. Sometimes I have to pant a bit and prance around to make sure they know I'm there and waiting but I always get my food! My favorites are cheese, meat, vegetables and whipped cream. I love toast but only if it has butter on it. I love pizza but I won't eat it cold. I enjoy having my neck scratched and my belly rubbed. I truly believe the humans main job is to rub my belly. I roll over and they obey, works like a charm. Everywhere I go people think I'm a puppy because I'm short and cute and they let me get away with everything. My hobbies include: going for walks, playing outside, laying in the sun by day, staring at the stars and moon night, watching geckos, licking frogs, sleeping on the chair and sofa, patrolling the house, sitting in the front window and growling at everyone who walks by, barking should they get to close and running to warn the humans of intruders. I hate cats, cats are NOT allowed in MY yard! Unlike Sadie, I don't slobber on the humans but I do give kisses, especially to my human Mommy. I'm very protective of my family and I'm a good guard dog. They humans don't realize how much work it is being this cute. I love treats, bring on the treats. I'd do a flip for a treat. Don't tell our human Mommy but Daddy still gives us extra biscuits at bedtime every night. He is only supposed to give us two each, he gives us three.

But we're at the beach...

What do you mean we can't go swimming???

Sadie is looking up at Dad saying "but Dad we always go swimming at the beach" while Max eyes up the water and watches the fish jumping wondering if today will be the day one jumps into his mouth. We walked down to the beach the other day, it was about 85 but the water is still freezing. Of course they don't care, they are guppers after all, half guppy and half puppy.

And so we went to the vets...

Does this look like a cry baby face?
Could you ever believe that this sweet face is aggressive?

Yesterday at the vet was a disaster. We are under contract with Banfield's, we pay a monthly fee, Max and Sadie get all of their shots and exams covered. When we first signed up, I LOVED the vet and they loved the vet. Then they had a new vet for a few months. I didn't like him at all. Max and Sadie didn't like him either. After their last drop off visit with that vet, they hated going to the vets. Yesterday was no exception.

As soon as they saw where we were they both had their little anxiety bowel movement. TMI I know. Then we got inside and Sadie started acting like a wild woman. Jumping, trying to bite my hand, trying to bite the lead. Max wanted me to "hold" him. We got checked in, they weighed in and we were put in the little room and for the 45 minutes we were in there, Sadie whimpered. They both tried to sit on top of me. They both wanted on my lap.

First the vet tech nurse came in and they were skiddish. One by one I was able to put them on the table for an exam. Yes, the thermometer goes up the butt Max, I'm sorry. They did ok.

Then the new vet came in. They started barking and Max can't bark without growling. Its just what he does. He growls when he is playing too.

Then they start trying to bribe them with biscuits.

Then the vet starts questioning me as to what they are mixed with. I told him their story. Remember that the entire time Sadie is whimpering, jumping up on me from one side, Max is jumping up from the other side. It was complete chaos. So then he asks me if he just doesn't like Men and I said he has no problem with me, only when they are wearing hats do they not like them. Thats not completely true. Some people they just don't like, others they love. Kids they love. I said "he is just protective because he doesn't know if you will hurt me or Sadie"

So I put Max on the table and the vet starts to go up to him and then stops. Then he looks at me and says "I want to put a muzzle on him"

I guess the look on my face said it all. Max was already traumatized by being there and now he wanted to put on a muzzle? I said "this dog is NOT aggressive. If you could see him with the little children of the neighborhood who hug him, pull his ears and kiss his face and he just sits there wagging his tail loving every minute of it you would never ever call him aggressive"

So then the vet went to plan B. Offering Max a treat. The way to Max's heart is through his stomach. He took the treat and made friends with the vet and all was sort of ok.

Sadies turn on the table was just horrible. I had to HOLD her in place to keep her from jumping off the table. She was trying so hard to escape.

I just wonder what they did to them last time they were there with the old vet?

All was fine until it was time for the vet to leave the room, he dared shake my hand and Max started barking and growling at him all over again. He was sitting in the corner at the time, he didn't leave the corner. He didn't approach the vet. He just barked and growled.

So the vet says, from now on they should have their exams without me in the room.

Unfortunately we are under contract until January of next year and they have to go back again in April for a comprehensive exam. They will have another exam next fall. After that we are looking for a new vet. I'll interview as many as I have to find the right vet for my "children" I really liked Banfields at first but its just a revolving door of vets and I just have to wonder about the quality of care when the vet can't built a relationship with dog and can't recognize basic dog behavior. I really believe that the last vet did something to hurt them or scare them. I wish we would have canceled the contract after last October's visit.

Anticipation and an Ear Curl to Go

Lord Maxwell waits with anticipation for fun and games to begin...

I love the way their ears flop back and they are just oblivious to it for so long and then they realize it and start to shake their head to flop it back in place.

And from this side you can see my giant teeth...

For a smaller dog, Max packs a powerful CHOMP! A Chomp on this favorite dog toys that is. In this picture he is waiting patiently for Ken to throw the toy and he is waiting to pounce. Max is all heart, he is my protector, my defender and my 45 pound lap warmer. He is 100% boy, he loves to play catch, roll around in the sand and sit in the front window to growl at everyone who dares walk past our house. Heaven forbid a cat dare enter our yard! He hates cats! But with good reason, when he was just 5 weeks old, the neighbors cat smacked him on the nose and gave him a big hisssssssssssss for getting too close and too curious. Clearly dogs can hold a grudge.