Happy New Year!

Barker's Grooming did a fantastic job of the dogs just before Christmas. The hair is growing in on Ziggy's head, and his tiny stub of a tail is becoming a more poodle-like puff. Missy is gorgeous, as always. Yvonne is the BEST groomer we've ever had... (425) 344-5187. Home base is Edmonds, but they're going mobile. With excellent prices and great service in your own neighborhood, they'll come anywhere on the north and north-east side of Seattle. If you have several dogs or if your neighbors will go together to provide a group, they might even travel further afield.

I clipped off the garlands around the dog's collars except for a tiny piece of color that makes it easier to tell the dogs apart. With their haircuts, it's sometimes hard to see who's on the run. Oh, I do love a clean and fluffy poodle!

We walked through the neighborhood this morning. They were in fleecy coats that keep the dirt off (raincoats above are for really awful days.) I looked down at the two, trotting happily on a leash coupler. No fights, no tugging, walking by my side. One is eight; the other five. They are not related though they look like siblings. Ziggy, the younger and at the back of the photo, looks older because his hair is greyish.

They play and get along great. Happy New Year to you from me and these good doggies!

Thankful!

On 2011 Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for such good companion dogs. Ziggy (above) watched me carefully to see if I would relent and give him people food (nope). And Missy is snoozing by my desk.
Good doggies!

I'd love to see photos of the animals who bring you joy, too! (Or post your link in comments for everyone to enjoy.)

Haul out the coats!

Doggy, it's cold out there!

I put on some new coats we acquired last month from CL ($60 on sale for $10). The label says dry clean only, which made me laugh. 

Sure. Not.

Well, it was dry and sunny out, and below zero so I figured we'd get dressed up for our Sunday walk. The coats are beautiful wool and polyester, warm, and a great fit. Classic style and useful, too.

To take a photo, I put the dogs on a bench, not realizing how slick it probably felt to them. Missy put her head down and refused to move. The ever-ready Ziggy posed perfectly. Oh well, side shot of the garment, anyhow.

I've been putting both dogs on one leash for the walk. The green leash may not be pretty, but it is effective. I hold one end, Missy holds the other, and Ziggy trots between. We had a long walk today. Usually, because I'm studying and have limited time, I let them off leash at the park: they race around and chase each other. They're panting when I call them.

Today we just walked together for a few miles. When we came home, I weighed Ziggy, who came to us at a chubby 12.5 lbs. He's down to 10.8 today. So we've made some progress. He's always had high energy; I'm just hoping taking a few pounds off will extend the life of his poodle-leg joints. My goal is a steady 10 lbs, which will still be linebacker for a poodle, but will bring him closer to our 9 lb Missy.

After I took my children out for lunch, the dogs got a bath. Oh... they smell so much better! They are such beautiful animals. I couldn't be happier with them: they're obedient, well house-trained, and adore me. Good doggies!

What dogs do

What do dogs do when their owners are busy? Sleep. Snooze. Look around.

I see a lot of ads on Craigslist from people giving away their animals. "Don't have time." "Took a job, feel bad at neglecting my dog." "Moving soon. Dog doesn't get enough attention."

We can't know who will be taking care of our animals when they're not with us. Both our dogs are "rescues" from CL, families who couldn't take care of the doggies. So there are good homes out here.  We've rehomed two other dogs that fit into friends' homes, too.

Hope everyone is as careful as the people who gifted us with Missy (formerly Bella) and Ziggy (formerly Frankie). These precious pups have brought me a lot of joy, even though they do spend a lot of time hanging out while I study.

Walkies, anyone? Good doggies!

Yeah for home

There's no place like home! The dogs leaped and frisked around me when I went to pick them up. They have behaved well and adjusted without a hitch to being back from Pam's. I can tell they were well cared for. We went for a walk to reacquaint ourselves with the neighborhood this morning. Then while I studied, Ziggy tossed his toys around and Missy snoozed. Ziggy is amazing at finding things. I throw his toys over the railing into the entry, hall or LR below, and he runs off to find them. Under the piano. Beside the sofa. Behind the table. He doesn't give up until he can bring it back. Mind you, he's not very willing to give it to me.

I'm working on, "To your place," so I can get them to lie down and be quiet when people come to the door. So far, so good at getting on the dog beds. But will they stay? Hmmmm.

They've hopped into bed together for the night. Good doggies!

Doin' well

I'm studying in Springfield, MO. Pam's spoiling the dogs at her house for three weeks. She reports that they are the most obedient and well-behaved dogs she's met.

Meanwhile Zoe is loving the fall weather (low 80s) in Austin. Kirsten and Jennifer are spoiling her with raw food and two walks a day. She eats her chicken wing the minute it hits the ground, rather than playing with it all day before eating at night.

Kirsten wrapped Zoe in a hand towel after a bath. Mine go to the groomer Monday, right after we get them back.

Such happy and good doggies! (and they'll smell good, too.)

Zig-zagging Ziggy

The new dog in town is fabulous. Ziggy's family had to give him up, same as Missy's. He's got a great level temperament, whizzes around with no problem for such a little guy (12 lbs and getting smaller!) Our goal is 9 lbs for him, I think. 8 might be svelte, but he's got so much muscle under the padding that he's gonna look great. Ziggy's hair is growing in on his head. Pretty soon he'll look like a poodle! His ears are clipped and dematted, too. We're on our second round of ear mite cure, so hopefully by the end of the week, those will be gone.

He and Missy get along very well. She mostly ignores him, but I've noticed that if he leaves the room, she follows. They share a bed at night without any problem at all.

Our game of the day before supper was fetch. Ziggy's getting better at bringing stuff back and releasing it, but he has such a hard time letting go... he'll do the poodle-jerk, bouncing his head to dislodge my grip. I have to hang on tightly: I'm Top Dog after all, so I need to win most of the tugs!

Today I tossed the stuffed toys out the door, into the woods, into flower beds, etc. and Ziggy rooted them out and brought them back. Missy just watched. I'm resigned to her not playing along. Don't know if she still misses our first rescue, Spike. He's happily with another family who doesn't mind his intense energy and occasional house-training mishaps. I'm glad that walks are an option rather than a poop-necessity, like they were for Spike. If I didn't get him walking first thing in the morning, he'd do his job in the house. Sigh. Never could break him of it, and it got us out the door every day, very early.

Ziggy and Missy are more laid back. They have no accidents in the house, but wait until we can go for a walk at 8 a.m. or so. We love our walks; today we included a run in the park off-leash, and that made both dogs happy.

Ziggy is finally eating raw food. If I'm introducing something new (pork chops yesterday), he wants to taste it after it's been seared first. After the initial bites, he's fine. He's chomping down on bones, too. Wow, what a difference in his breath! With good kibble, his breath stank so badly that we could smell him from the front door when I walked in  at 7:30a after exercise class. Now, his mouth smells as sweet as Missy's. Yay for BARF or raw diets.

Missy and Ziggy have great energy, are content, and we have a great pair! Good doggies.

Fall days

We went for a bike ride instead of a walk this morning: when I get back from exercise class, I hate going for a walk: I've already used 2 hours of the day exercising, now another hour of walking? Maybe not.

So I drag out my Brompton bicycle with its Walky Dog attachment, put the two little poodles into their harnesses, and walk up the steep street to the crossing. After that, it's all fun for me and good motion for the dogs. Missy is a trooper on the leash, whether walking or cycling. At first, Ziggy had a hard time staying on track. He would race back and forth as far as his coupler allowed, and poor Missy trotted along the best she could beside him. Now they look like two curly back sled dogs in formation. (Photo right: not me, but you can see the stem of the Walky Dog, the best dog/cycling invention EVER. Our dogs run on a coupler, so they're on the stem together. Cool.)

We only went 2 miles or so this morning because they set a quick pace. It was sunny and cool, which helps them run and not get too steamed. When we came in the door afterwards, both of them bounced around the house, running the loop through DR, LR, kitchen, as though I'd lit them on fire. Ziggy found his duck and squeaked it for 5 minutes, while Missy fetched a few times before she left the toy under the piano. Silly girl.

They're lying beside me in the office. Every few minutes Ziggy stretches his legs with a walk in the hall. But Missy is content to sprawl on the towel I've put beside my chair to catch drips from a badly made French press (tea). The tea press holds 3 huge cups of tea, all gone by 10am, of course. Time to refill.

C'mon good doggies! Let's go fill 'er up again.

Zoe at the benefit

Kirsten reports that Zoe's adjusted to the heat and is much happier on walks. Zoe gained a pound with all the lounging around and eating raw, so K has to ration her food a bit.

They went to an animal benefit today, and Zoe showed off her form by being a sweetie. She's definitely K's doggie - loves her mistress! K's going to try to crate train her (sleep in the bathroom of K's room) so they can sleep through the night. So far, Z's trained K to get up twice at night, and K needs more uninterrupted sleep. We'll see how that goes :-)

Meanwhile we're happily walking and cycling with the two poodles at home. Today was a nice day, and they hung around with family after church. Ziggy's learning to like raw food - and has lost a half pound already. He needs to lose about 2 more before he's in good shape... Missy would eat every raw bite I'd let her steal from Ziggy. Z will learn to eat quicker or his diet may be more rushed than we planned.

Pam watched them last weekend while we were gone. She loved the doggies, "So obedient! and well-behaved!" she raved. Ziggy's up to date on rabies shots, dental, and everything else a good dog needs to know.

The animals seem content. Ziggy's in love with the baby Kong duck and bear. He's happy to squeak them all day for his own amusement and to get my attention for "Fetch!"

Both are sleeping in the crate, on their newly washed bed inside. They got a bath today, so they smell like eucalyptus flea shampoo with a hint of oatmeal conditioner. Good doggies!

Doggy dental and we're done

Well, today we made a successful trip to the vet for a dental cleaning - and our boy Ziggy did great. He was "bouncy!" According to the tech: "Look, he's like a little bronco." He was very happy to see me at the end of the day.

His teeth are fine, just needed scraping. The vet noted the teeth the previous owner said were missing (4) but said that was normal and he is a happy healthy dog. We've finished the first grooming session (ears cleared, feet and nails clipped), so he's ready to go. He needs a restricted diet, and if he can shed weight, he'll be done with DIY improvements. He's 12.2 lbs, and the vet said it takes an average of 1.8 years off their life to be obese (defined on a 40 lb dog as 4 extra lbs.) Oh oh.

Ziggy's fallen in love with a little KONG duckie that squeaks, and schleps it everywhere in the house. "Squeak, squeak!" He and Missy don't play much yet, but they hang out together. She was pretty upset that he was gone all day, and sulked in her bed until he came back. Then we got the whole poodle "wrourwrououour," accompanied by some happy spins and bounces. She couldn't stop sniffing his mouth; guess it smelled funny after cleaning.

They ran out to do their business, and came bounding back in together for supper. Ziggy likes the homemade dog burgers (raw chicken, pork, ground bones, a bit of whole grain rice and veges.) He gulped it down, and no vomiting, which the tech had said he might do.

He's lying beside his duckie licking his paws. Missy's nearby, curled up for a snooze. Good doggies!

Ziggy. (Who's Frankie?)

Zoe's having fun in TX. She's livelier on her walks, eats well, and loves Kirsten. She slept most of Monday, then played around most of the night and kept K awake. They were both groggy Tuesday.

I recommended a crate for Zoe, to be put nearby in the bathroom. When K gets up at night, she can take the dog out, then put him back until morning. It's an inner room, so no windows will wake Zoe. Otherwise, the crate could go in the LR where Jenn stays up until 3am. If she's willing to let the dog out and crate her in the middle of the night, we bet Zoe will sleep in until K wakes up.

K needs her sleep to keep her inflammation in check: this could be a deal-breaker if she can't rest at night. So far, they're getting up twice each night. That's quite unnecessary: when Zoe was here, she curled up with Missy in their doggie bed in the crate for 10-12 hours without getting restless or having to potty.

They go a lot of places together - Jenn, Kirsten, and Zoe. They've tried a lot of food trailers, famous in Austin for vegan, meat-lovers, Mexican, Oriental, and everything between.

Back in Seattle, we decided on a name for the new addition, who used to be called Frankie.

Ziggy. It was a tossup between Zippy (what a runner!) and Chippy (lively) and... Ziggy (chubby, energetic, funny). That's the new boy. He's on a diet of fewer calories... and has gained a half pound as of today. Hope it's water!

He's a keeper. He has great manners, has had no indoor "accidents," and loves people.

Yesterday Ziggy had his first visit to the groomer, who plucked his ears, trimmed his toenails, and shaved him into bare poodle feet. It's going to be a while before his hair grows into a full poodle trim.

Yvonne asked, "Shall I shampoo him and blow out his hair?" Nope, not long enough yet. He has a tiny stub of a tail where an over-enthusiastic snip cut his puppy tail. We'll have a lot of hair-growing before it is poodle-like, too.

"What the heck happened to his hair?" Yvonne wanted to know. "This is the strangest poodle clip I've ever seen." Guess it wasn't a poodle cut, just a trim. His inner ear hairs were as long as his ear hairs on the outside. I clipped those the first day, along with hair that was growing from his topknot into his ears. Yvonne is an amazing groomer - as she proved with Missy and Zoe. He'll look good when she's done with him :-)

Meanwhile, Yvonne found ear mites. "Treat them yourself. 7 days on, then wait 7 days while the next larvae hatch. Then do 7 more days, and you should be done." Off to Petsmart we went for ear mite drops. I took off the yellow bow in Ziggy's hair halfway down the second aisle. I keep forgetting to ask Yvonne NOT to put in bows. I think they look silly.

Both dogs have to be treated, since ear mites are airborne: if one dog has it, probably the other gets it. Yvonne thought Zoe had mites, so she was probably the carrier to Missy, to Ziggy. Kirsten's treating her in TX for those.

We're off to the vet to get Ziggy's dental cleaning tomorrow morning. That should improve his breath when he and Missy stay with friends part of the weekend. W and I do a college floor retreat, and no dogs are allowed in the church where the students will sleep. I'll feel deprived without my twin cushions on either side of me.

Everyone's happy tonight. Good doggies!

Frankie? Frankie.

Kirsten sent some cute snapshots from TX. Zoe loves to nap, though she's enjoying two (plus) walks each morning and night. Jennifer is getting the hang of Zoe, so they're getting along better.

Meanwhile, today we brought home a black toy, a chunky guy about Missy's height. Frankie. I bet he is 2-4 lbs overweight, but that will begin to change during his two-week trial. What's going on with owners who clip poodle tails to nothing?! Poor Frankie - his stub of a tail still wags fiercely and he's a happy boy.

We've been looking for the right poodle to hang out with us and Missy for months. Kirsten took Zoe, who felt like a great fit. Zoe turned out to be perfect for Kirsten instead. I still miss her sometimes! though she only lived here for 4 weeks and seemed to be K's dog pretty quickly.

Actually, I'm in no hurry to find the right dog. He's out there (though Frankie is wonderful, so he may already be here!) Frankie's owner is having knee surgery. With 5 dogs, 8 birds, 2 guinea pigs in the house, someone had to go. It was Frankie, whom she adopted as a young adult from a friend.

Just after we walked in the door with our new friend, another gal called to say her white doggie needed rehoming due to finances. Oh my, once in the poodle pipeline... I am not interested in more than two and totally uninterested in breeding. Frankie is fixed. YAY

On the way home, I took Missy and Frankie for a walk to drain off some of their energy. I bathed and groomed Frankie, who is unimpressed with the dryer and tried to flee from the warm air. I had the leash on, of course.

Both dogs enjoyed some raw beef and now they're sleeping around my feet in the office. Frankie is mimicking Missy's snores. Must be an occasional poodle gift to their owners. Good doggies!

PS. In the evening I put Frankie on the scale: he's 12.2 lbs @ the same height and shorter body than Missy who is an athletic 9 lbs. We have some work to do, Mr. Frankie!

Poodle days

Zoe got her first bath in TX, and Kirsten was happy there was minimal fuss or squirming. I talked to K on the phone just as the FedEx guy drove up. Zoe gave him a "BIG DOG" welcome (woof, woof.) She's settling in, hasn't accepted Jenn as pack leader yet, but is getting better at responding to her.

Zoe is K's dog, no doubt about it! She loves being near K, snuggles and goes for walks with her. She's at the door as soon as K and J get there. "Don't you dare leave me behind," she says.

If K has to go out alone, Zoe is ok staying with J. but she wants to be with her persona 24/7, poodle style.

Meanwhile, back at home, I took Missy for a run with the bike. She's out of shape, like the rest of us. She rested the day after that, happy to be out of the weather (warm sunshine). Part of the afternoon, she lay in the conservatory, soaking up sunshine. Good doggies.

Austin heat

We took Missy on a boat ride again. This time we paddled the inflatable kayak around Green Lake. Missy LOVES sitting or lying on the prow, close enough to sniff ducks and waterlilies, high enough not to get wet. When W rolled up the boat near the car, she hopped onto the deflated prow until the last minute. "What? You think you're done already? I'd love another ride."

Meanwhile, Zoe is relaxing on the concrete floors of the apartment in Austin. She loves to sprawl out on the cool cement, between luxuriating on the doggie bed K brought from Seattle. It's still a bit hot for walks during the day, but Kirsten and her roommate take her out morning and evening.

Zoe barked up a storm at Jennifer, who took her seat on the couch across from Kirsten. They're settling in together nicely, and Zoe is "Too cute! Too cute!" according to Jenn.

Into the routine

Missy's settled back into a routine without Zoe. We miss her a lot, but Kirsten reports that she's establishing her own schedule. She gets up at 5, 5:30 to potty, then wants to get right back to sleep. At about 9:30 or 10, she's ready to rumble. Off to "do her dooty" and back into the house to eat breakfast with Kirsten. About noon, she gets a snack (organ meat). They rest in the afternoon, and after it cools down a bit, it's off to the store, to run errands, or just to go for a walk.

Zoe is not convinced that dogs belong outside when it's hot. Kirsten puts a gel cold-pack in the base of the carrier, and Zoe flops on that when they ride in the car. She's adjusted to the air-conditioned (78o) house without a problem.

Tomorrow, K's roommate Jennifer comes back. Kirsten's best sleep time is 8-11am, when the swelling of her joints goes down and she gets relief for the rest of the day. Jennifer will take over the mid-morning potty break and snuggles so Kirsten can rest. Can't wait to hear about the meeting between dog-lover J and cute little heart-breaker Zoe!

They're settled!

Zoe did well on the flight home, and Kirsten was amazed at her good temperament. "She's the perfect dog, Mom. She is so quiet. Just follows me around, snuggles, goes for walks to the office with me, and sleeps well." I suspect they're perfect for each other.

Those two have lots of time together. Jen, K's roommate, comes home Saturday from NC. Meanwhile, Zoe hops into her rolling carrier, shops Whole Foods, and runs other errands with K. She sleeps in her little brown bed atop a sheepskin (how's that for plush?) close to Kirsten's bed.

During daytime naps, Zoe can be found burrowing into a down comforter on the bed beside K. I laughed at the photo of her snoozing beside K's screen, set to the latest episode of Big Bang Theory. She's chosen a favorite spot on the LR couch, too.

Zoe barked a few times during the night last weekend when people were coming home late. "We got up at 4:30a.m. and stayed up for a few hours after being interrupted so many times!" Kirsten reported. She didn't want to put in her earplugs while Zoe was adjusting to the apartment. A few "shush"-es, and Zoe quieted to lay back down.

I told K, "She'll be as quiet there as she was here. Give her time to get used to it." K's quite strict and stays on top of things, so Zoe will learn her new habits quickly.

The heat stunned Zoe the first day. "She just moped behind me on the leash, not sure what to make of it all." She was probably jet-lagged, too. A few days later, she's up and at 'em. The little gel collar helps cool her down, and everyone has air-conditioning in homes and shops. The weather has let up, falling from 100+ to the 90s, which helps man and beast. (Ok, they are neither man nor beast.)

People are friendly in Austin, tho who could resist this face? "With Zoe, people are friendlier still," K says. She loves her little friend!

Meanwhile, Missy's gone for a few long walks and is regaining her vigor on bike trots. We rode 5 miles along Burke-Gillman trail yesterday to the Riverfest in downtown Bothell. Missy ran alongside for 2 1/2 miles or more. People kept stopping to pet her. We popped her into our wicker basket for the ride back. She promptly snuggled into the bottom of the basket and slept. She slept well last night, too! Good doggies!

Off they go!

I can't believe that "my" sweet doggie has left with Kirsten. Yesterday evening, Zoe's first family came for a visit and goodbye.

"I'm so glad they came!" our daughter Kirsten said. "I learned a lot about what Zoe likes, how she plays, and what she knows." We talked a lot after they left, reinforcing what pleases Zoe. "Did you see Zoe do (this or that)? Did you see how they played with her? Did you hear that she is used to... (being a neck pillow, lol)?"

Kirsten enjoyed the visit: the little girl of the family is a cute live-wire who loves people. It was so much fun to get to know the family better, to see how they love Zoe. We plan to stay in touch, which makes the whole experience even better.

We are thrilled that the family is ok with Kirsten taking Zoe home to Austin. That was absolutely NOT my plan when Zoe came here for a compatibility visit. I'm surprised that I was able to let her go... and that's after only a few weeks of getting to know her. She is a lovely doggie girl. How we look forward to our long long visit when Kirsten comes back for surgery and rehab, December 2011 - March, 2012.

W, the dogs, and I started this morning with a final walk and romp around the park. Zoe's wheeled carrier was delivered to Austin (online error), so Kirsten put her tiny bundle of apricot hair into a new Petco carry-on, lined with Zoe's brown dog bed. Zoe happily went into the new carrier, head popping out until she had to be enclosed on the plane. Kirsten put treats and a favorite toy (the pink Beany-Bear from her first family) into the carrier with her.

I dropped Kirsten and my husband W off at the airport check-in. K was armed with both health and rabies vaccination certificates and had no trouble checking them both in. W waited at the counter with Kirsten until a wheelchair arrived: K's saving her wrists and shoulders for the trip home and the chores waiting at her apartment. They have a 4-hour direct flight ahead of them, and Zoe was not yipping or upset. W reported that several people already petted her at the counter, fussing over this beautiful little canine.

Kirsten called from the plane, just before she had to turn off her phone. "Oh Mom, you wouldn't believe how many people stopped to say hi, with Zoe on my lap!" Yup, she's going to have company - Zoe and more! - from now on.

Thanks, more than we can say, to the family who loved Zoe enough to let this process happen. And thanks be to God who watches over all his creatures, great and small.

Last day coming up!

Oh, they're lookin' good! Both dogs were at the groomers ($100 OUCH). I wanted to send off Kirsten and Zoe in style. And Missy was looking shaggy. They came back spruced up and prancing. Poodles sure know when they've been styled!

Zoe is almost ready to fly to Austin with Kirsten. She won't be in the wonderful rolling carrier Kirsten purchased... because it was delivered to Austin instead of here. Luckily we have a few carriers to choose from in my stash. Zoe will be comfortably tucked under Kirsten' seat for 4 hours before arriving at her new home. Kirsten has treats, toys, and the pad from Zoe's bed ready to go.

This morning, Zoe was not excited about walking with Missy and me. She resisted the leash most of the way, and didn't do much running in the field at the park. Probably the vaccines are making her sleepy, and her shoulder may be sore from the shots. Kirsten reported that Zoe was less restless in bed last night, a good thing for both of them. She's asleep beside my desk while Kirsten catches a few more winks after breakfast.

Zoe loves perching. Her favorite spot in my office is lying on top of my laptop case. It can't be that comfy, but it's a little space about 2" off the floor. Zoe curls up and goes to sleep there whenever I'm watching her. I'm going to miss her, but know she's going to have the time of her life, lots of attention, and a life of happiness with Kirsten and her roommie Jen.

Missy will be happy to get back to her brisk walks and runs alongside the bike.

Doggie days of summer

Zoe has had a busy week already. The family was over Sunday for K's 30th birthday. My parents met Zoe for the first time. Mom loved her. "Oh, she's beautiful! And she's the perfect companion for Kirsten!"

Dad, who grew up on a farm with outdoor pets and has always considered "house dog" an oxymoron, admitted Kirsten would be a blessing to her doggie and Zoe would be a great friend in return. "She is just the right one and they'll be good for each other," he said. I was surprised that he affirmed the pairing of doggie and gal. Since we got permission for Kirsten to love Zoe as her own, we've seen how those two have enjoyed each other and become best buddies.

Monday we got Zoe's vet certificate of health so she can go in the airplane cabin with Kirsten. She has knee luxation on right side, otherwise her heart, lungs, and and body are healthy. She's been tested for heartworm. She had vaccinations and rabies shots, all for her body size.

The doc and assistants loved her. Mind you, Zoe always gets oohs and aahs. Yesterday people waiting at the vet kept saying, "She's so little! Wow, tiny princess! Is that a real dog? She looks like a stuffed toy." The vet's assistant lifted her off the weigh scales and exclaimed, "She's 5.5 lbs. Smaller than my cat! Amazing." Of course, her calm temperament and snuggling endear her to everyone.

The vet said the walks have helped a lot with her knee condition, and to keep walking her. I think running at her own pace straightens her leg most. She walks more briskly afterwards without knee bending. Hopefully Kirsten can find a small dog park where Zoe can amble and trot.

When we got home from the vet, Missy kept sniffing Zoe. The meds or vet handling must have smelled funny.

We go to the park a few times a week after a good walk. Missy got a good run alongside the bike on the Walky Dog yesterday. For such a small beastie, Missy is an athlete. She wanted to go further, but the wind was blasting us and Zoe's hair was ruffling through the wicker weave, so we made it a short 2 miles. Meanwhile, Zoe kept looking down at Missy from the wicker basket.

When we got to the park, I lifted Zoe out of the basket and set her on the ground. I started pedaling slowly across the lawn. Zoe took a few glances at the receding bicycle and started running after us. Missy of course took off at a gallop as soon as I unclipped her.

Zoe had a blast! She raced at her top speed first behind the bike, then chased Missy, who runs circles around her. Missy ran all around the trees, searching for squirrels. By the time Zoe caught up in a straight line to Missy, Missy was off, criss-crossing the field at top speed.

It's a marvel to see a poodle in full flight. The bounce smooths to a deer-like glide. I am in awe every time I see Missy at a full run. Beauty and grace. When the dogs finally slowed down, I put them back in the basket and on the bike leash for the short ride home. They bounded around the house before settling down for naps.

This morning Zoe goes to our groomer with Missy. Yvonne at Barkers makes the dogs more beautiful still. Can't wait to see Zoe with a full trim! Pictures to follow.

We are excited to have Zoe's first family visit tomorrow evening... hope they are as happy with her as we are. She has thrived under the attention and care; she no longer barks unless Missy is going crazy at the door. (Cacophony!)

Thursday, Zoe's off to TX for new adventures with Kirsten. We'll miss them both! Kirsten's roommate can't wait to see them, though.

Those two, Kirsten and Zoe, are still asleep downstairs. Zoe burrows into Kirsten's covers and keeps her company until I take the dogs for their morning walk. The sun's almost up, time to get out and walking. Good doggies.

Backpacking

After a few blocks, Zoe's dragging on the leash. Poor girl! Her little legs just don't like the mornings. If I could go later in the day, she might enjoy walking more.

Meanwhile, Missy's raring to go. Both of us have gained a few pounds since Zoe's come; we're not walking as fast or far as we used to. Missy tugs and wants to hurry up, so we pop Zoe into the doggy backpack and off we go. W's got backpack duty today. "Don't take a picture of my face!" he laughs. "I don't want to show up in dog pictures."

Zoe can see everything from her perch. When I trade sides, she turns to watch Missy and me.

W suggests we let the dogs run in the park to see if that helps Zoe's fitness, endurance, and leg strength. As usual in Seattle, we scan the treetops for eagles before releasing the dogs.

Missy won't come when called, so I clip the leash back on and walk her around the park. Zoe lags behind and then runs full tilt "bounce, bounce, bounce," hind legs together, catching up with us. She loves to gallop through the newly mowed grass.

When we get home, the dogs eat raw chicken for breakfast before playing with the dog toys we bought at Denny's Sunday sale. I jammed a long twist of jerky into the center of the ball and stuffed some treats into the rubber cat. Missy and Zoe stay happily busy for a long time, working for their food.

Good doggies!

Monday morning

We skipped our walk this morning: I was worn out from the weekend, and went to an exercise class 6-7:30am. The dogs had a full weekend of people coming and going. Both were very respectful, even when a guest brought her newborn, giving lots of space and not sniffing too close to the baby.

I took the dogs along to Molbaks Saturday; what fun, and what a lot of petting! We also dropped past a friend's house. She has a huge Labradoodle. The dogs smelled each other in a friendly way, walked around a bit, then flopped at our feet while we hung out. My husband came home Saturday night after weeks of working on our MT cabin, meeting Zoe for the first time. She had a brief, fierce barking fit before settling down for a cuddle and lots of petting.

We went to the community garden Sunday afternoon, and both dogs got a bath and soothing oatmeal conditioner before bed. Missy's been scratching her stomach off and on, and Zoe has a spot on her tummy that she paws at when she gets out of bed and during the day. We've had no sign of fleas or ticks, though I keep looking at their hair and tummies to check for bugs. Nope, but the dogs picked up a lot of weed seeds, which had to be picked out before their bath! I counted several dozen pods in the bottom of the shower tray.

I put beef treats in two tiny-Kong dog toys last night. The dogs had to figure out how to open the Velcro to dig out the treat. YAY! Zoe was quicker and had hers out in a few minutes. She finished hers while Missy was still figuring out the Velcro; anyhow, Missy always takes her time eating.

Missy snarled at Zoe when she walked over to try to take Missy's treat away from her. No harm done, though Missy made a loud enough racket that Zoe quickly abandoned her attempt at sneaking food.

I gave Missy a shake, "No!" and in return she gave me the evil eye. Hilarious, like "It's mine! What do you expect?" She had no sense of repentance. She's not aggressive toward Zoe, but I guess she was meting out doggie justice and protecting her stuff.

Meanwhile, our daughter Kirsten and little Zoe are getting along like a house on fire. They have similar temperaments and energy. Kirsten easily lifts Zoe's little body onto her lap or her low bed (occasionally Zoe can't decide whether to make the leap).

I'm so glad Zoe's first family is staying in touch with us and Zoe. We'll have to check if they're ok with Zoe and Kirsten staying together. Kirsten turns 30 this week... I'm wondering if "Only Dog Princess" at Kirsten's might be the best fit for Zoe, though we just love her.

Watching those two is special. Kirsten is hoping the family lets her take Zoe along to Austin. She's done her homework: her condo complex is fine with it, the pet fee is doable, and Austin fall weather is definitely nicer for taking a little doggie outside. We have an airline cabin carry-on bag, and the flight is 4 hours non-stop.

Kirsten's roommate wants her to bring Zoe along. "You had me at the word 'dog,'" said Jennifer, when Kirsten called to see if a dog would be a possibility. The photos of Kirsten and Zoe sent Jennifer into begging mode, "Please, please. I'll watch her whenever you need a sitter, share the pet fee and grooming expenses..." Great to hear their enthusiasm. Because of Kirsten's disability, the gals have an apartment without stairs, which would be so much better for Zoe's back legs. She has to be carried upstairs and down at our place.

Kirsten returns to Seattle in early December for pre-operation doctor visits and scheduling, so she'll only be gone 3 months. Between then and now, Kirsten will mostly be resting and harboring her strength. A little companion would be a blessing when she gets lonesome for home. I've never met any doggie who better fits the description of "ideal companion" than Zoe!

Either way, whether she stays with us or with Kirsten, Zoe will be Kirsten's snuggle buddy after her ankle replacement surgery in January. Kirsten will have to stay at our house for 3 months of rehab, at least until March or April.

In the less dramatic and nearer future, we'll take both dogs to Yvonne at Barkers for grooming next week, my end-of-summer treat. OOOOh, they'll look beautiful. Good doggies!

Girls having fun

Missy isn't quite resigned to having another girl sharing the house. She runs up to me when I call the dogs and makes sure she's between me and Zoe. Girls! Girls! I pet them both, of course.

On the other hand, they sleep together just fine. In the same dog bed, no less. What can we say?

Our grown daughter Kirsten, visiting from Austin, TX, has rheumatoid arthritis. She moves slowly and can't walk far. She's in town planning her next joint replacement: her ankle will be fused and replaced after Christmas at Harborview Hospital.

Kirsten is on full disability, so she's home all day. In Austin, she shares her apartment with a dog lover. However, the two roommates have never agreed on a dog they like.

Kirsten has always been more of a cat person. Then along comes Zoe. Zoe has fallen in love with Kirsten, who is gentle and touches softly. While Missy and I love vigorous walks, Kirsten strokes, pets, and provides quiet company for Zoe. Needless to say, during her extended mornings in bed while her joints are unlocking for the day, Kirsten has had warm wooly company... our little Zoe!

"How much walking would a dog like Zoe need?" Kirsten asked. Zoe wishes we'd quit after a block or two, which would be Kirsten's limit.

Yesterday Kirsten asked if something wrong with Zoe. "The doggie had a fit of burrowing and scooting in my sheets and blankets this morning!"

"That's a poodle thing," I assured Kirsten. We watched a YouTube clip of another poodle doing the same wriggle and had a good laugh. Yup, Zoe is all poodle!

We have a dog backpack. After Zoe runs out of steam (up to a mile into our walks), I scoop her into the pack and off we go. Missy and I did 3 miles yesterday... the last two miles at a brisk pace after we put the toddling Zoe on my back.

Missy came home ready to fetch and spin and bounce around the house. Zoe headed for Kirsten's room. She seemed to be saying, "People! Please don't bother me! This gal is my snuggle buddy."

Don't know what Zoe will do when Kirsten goes home later this month. Zoe is bonding with her, and Kirsten loves her too. Kirsten's coming back at Christmas for at least 3 months during surgery.

Missy and Zoe are good watch dogs. They barked ferociously when UPS came by to drop off a parcel. Luckily the front door stood between them and the delivery person. Good doggies!

Shiver and shake

"Mom, what's happening to Zoe?" asked my daughter. Zoe was shivering and shaking. "She looks like she's on vibrate!"

We were on our way to the car, and Zoe realized that we were about to head off on a trip. That means I lift her into the vehicle, then she sits in a  dogseat lined with fleece, with the lead clipped to her collar. The Outward Hound seats are great: the dogs are secure, able to sit or lie down, and can see out the window. But when Zoe gets nervous or anxious, she "vibrates.

We spent some time on the deck later in the afternoon. It was relaxing for both dogs, and our reward for finishing the final flea shampoo, drying, and a new poodle clip for Zoe to match Missy's cut.

We had a weird experience last week. A policeman pulled up just as Kirsten and I returned to the car. We ate in the courtyard of the restaurant where we were able to see the car , parked in the shade, windows slightly open, sunroof tipped up. Missy kicked up a fuss when we left her, wanting to come along. A big woman with a handbag big enough for golf clubs and a prissy looking guy kept standing by our car. I looked at them a few times, but didn't hear Missy since the restaurant is beside a thoroughfare. We kept our eyes on the car, and finished our meal.

The policeman said there had been two 911 calls, that a dog was "in distress." With those two troublemakers were standing by the car, yes, Missy would go ballistic! I opened the car door, gave Missy the chicken pieces we'd saved for her, invited the officer to feel the car temperature.

"That's fine, Ma'am," he said. "We'd see the heat rising if the inside of the car had been hot. The dog looks happy to see you, but you know we have to check out these things."

The odd couple on the sidewalk watched the whole thing, looking our way, not-too-subtly eavesdropping, and talking only to each other. They looked dismayed that it was over quickly without a good show.

We thanked the officer and pulled out of the parking spot. I really appreciate Good Samaritans who notice when animals are overheating in a vehicle. I'm glad they called in. But they weren't nice people, from what K and I could see. More like troublemakers and busy-bodies. When a dog is in the shade with plenty of ventilation on a 72oF day, he's probably just fine.

Nice to see Missy settling in with her new companion. They got a good walk, tromped through an empty field that will some day be a subdivision, and ate raw chicken.

They stayed in the car, quiet and snoozing in their dog seats this morning while I was in church. The extreme yapping that Missy did when Kirsten and I left her in the car last week? Seems over with canine company. Zoe hasn't cried (or wailed) for a few days, so she's learning the ropes around here, too. Having a dog buddy helps. Good doggies.

Walkin' fools

Hilarious to watch Zoe bat popcorn around the room yesterday afternoon. It's light, white, and fluffy, perfect for a tiny dog, so she had fun. Missy's friskier and playing "fetch" more often with another dog living in the house. Nice change from slacking off most of the day. Of course Zoe had to get in on the action with her own version of "fetch". She found a worn Beanie Baby she liked, but shook it to death on the way to bringing it to me. Not a gentle bird dog, no siree.

Zoe is considered a "tiny toy" poodle at 5.4 lbs. She was 7 years old in July, according to new info from the previous family. Missy is a "toy" at 8 lbs, and about the same age. She towers over Zoe, which seems funny, considering how little Missy looked when we first got her last year. Guess everything is a matter of scale.

We took our fourth walk this morning, 1.5 miles. Missy is getting a bit impatient with the slow pace, but it's teaching her not to lunge ahead. Meanwhile Zoe trots along on little legs, leash barely drooping toward me. She makes sure she's not back so far that it is taut. She got tired about 3 blocks from home, so we detoured through the park and let her walk and Missy run off leash. One worked off excess energy, the other rested and gathered stamina to make it home.

After breakfast, both dogs plopped down for a nap. So why am I still up? Good doggies.

Just lookin'

Zoe previously lived in a house with three active little kids who loved to pick her up. She has the most winsome face, and after a poodle clip, her personality and looks match. Her family is rehoming her because the kids are too rough for her and she was starting to be nippy to protect herself.

She arrived at our place Tuesday, August 2, 2011, for a trial run. I'm holding out for a wonderful doggie who suits us and who feels at home here: she may be the one. Sadly, she has hip and knee dysplasia. She was a bit ragged at walking, but did her first mile this morning.

Pros: 

• she's got great energy and is happy to follow us around the house, but not hyper or busy. She lies beside me when I study.
• completely housetrained! BONUS!
• she got over her yowling the first night and has been quiet and calm ever since. She cried at the door when her family left, but a few stern commands of "No, Zoe!" and she quit.
• she sleeps peacefully with Missy in the same dog bed. Missy is not reconciled to sharing food with her.
• she loves to snuggle. When put on a lap, she curls up. She's tiny enough not to be heavy or hot.
• she likes riding in the car and doesn't mind the carseat. She barked the first time I left her and Missy in the car (talking to a friend outside) but that has been it - no more yelping or crying. 
• she's a quick learner. She's fit in beyond my expectations and is a people and poodle pleaser. She tries to avoid doing anything that Missy dislikes, and hangs around close enough to be within reach, far enough away that I won't step on her getting out of a chair.
• she doesn't mind being groomed, though it would be exaggerating to say she likes it.
• she has a beautiful face and her conformation is good, ignoring the wonky legs.

Cons: 

• I don't know if she'll ever be able to go on walks with us. Her hips seem bad; and her knees are loose and shift when I pick her up. How can breeders be so cruel as to handicap an animal for life? 
• if her legs are like this at 6 years of age, what will she be like at 10, 12, 14? Ouch! [Actually she's 7, which I find out later in the week.]
• her teeth are filled with tarter, and she has to work hard to eat raw food. She's lost 2 teeth in recent months to "bad poodle mouth." Recently having spent a fortune getting Missy's teeth done, I hardly want to do the same with another dog right away.
• she doesn't know how to walk on the leash and trails behind Missy on the coupler. Missy trots ahead and takes her along, willing or not. Perhaps separate leashes are better. [Definitely!]
• she's SO little! at 5.4 lbs.

Summer fun

Missy is enjoying our summer walks. She has a new haircut that keeps her cool, though her head and ears are long and there are puffs on feet and tail. Poodle clips can be such fun! (photo of a spring clip; have to download the "Hollywood cut Missy has now.)

Our first grandchild (1 1/2 weeks old) came for a visit yesterday. Missy sniffed the baby's carseat, but stayed away from Kinsey, watching from a distance and then relaxing into her normal curl for a snooze. Missy's learned to stay away from reaching hands, though she is fine when kids pet her. She wouldn't choose a small child over an adult, but with all our walks and park visits, has become very tolerant of touching by strangers.

We've had a fair bit of company: yesterday, along with a meet-and-greet for the new baby, my folks came down from Canada. Mom's turning 76 tomorrow; Dad's 79 next week, and their 58th anniversary is between birthdays. It was so great to celebrate with them! After loudly welcoming everyone at the door, Missy put on her best manners. During lunch she cruised the table quietly, settling between feet without begging or fussing. Good doggie!