November 2015 – Page 2 – Viktorsviews. The Next Chapter.

In the dog news.

November 20, 2015Leave a Comment

Time for some dogs news.

Remember my run in with the porcupine? Well. Apparently the results could have been worse. MUCH worse. Three dogs in Saskatchewan, Canada decided to “investigate” a porcupine. The oldest, a nine-year old was the first to encounter the moving pin cushion and only got a few quills in his chin. But the two younger dogs, a 19 month old and 9 month old, ended up in MUCH worse shape. One had tons of quills in its chest and it almost died when quills pierced its lungs and heart. The third dog had more than 1000 quills in his face. 1000!!!!!!! Between all three dogs, the dogs’ human had a veterinary bill of over $10,000. Holy moly. And my human thought we three were bad!

I also read some interesting statistics this week. 1000 pet owners in the US were surveyed. Did you know 95% of pet owners buy their pets a Christmas gift? The other 5% are Scrooges. 50% of owners have a social media account for their pets. Guess I’m in that stat. And 45% of owners admitted to dressing up their pets in costume at least once. Only 45%? We are dressed up for every holiday. I’m waiting for the dreaded reindeer antlers to come out any day now. I’m just thankful that she hasn’t managed to find turkey costumes for Thanksgiving.

Well it’s Friday. So three days ahead with our human. And she’s going to spend every waking minute with us to make up for being away last week. As least that’s MY plan! Have a great weekend!

The picture of health

November 19, 2015Leave a Comment

Well. My human found ANOTHER one of those lists. This one listed the 33 most healthy dog breeds. And GUESS what? PONs made #5! NOT bad! It’s those tough Polish genes. We were beat out by the Pharaoh Hound (they should be healthy – they’ve been around since King Tut’s time), The Redbone Coonhound (remember- I wanted a Coonhound!!), the German Pinscher (don’t know much about these guys) and the number one dog – the Saluki (if I’m not mistaken, they’ve been around since King Tut too!).

And speaking of healthy, some of Frodo’s health tests came back and they had my human jumping for joy. Remember those X-rays? Well apparently those radiologists at OFA rated his hips as EXCELLENT. That makes two dogs in this house with Excellent ratings. Bucket Head also has Excellent hips. I have never had mine X-rayed – and now I don’t want to. The pressure of competing with the other two is just too much.

And Frodo also had some weirdo test for his eyes. It had lots of letters and a number. Oh yeah – the rcd4PRA test. It’s a test that looks at one form of eye problem that can develop in dogs as they get older. PRA can actually cause dogs to go blind. Anyway – his results came back as CLEAR. It had my human singing that old Jimmy Cliff song – I Can See Clearly Now. Honestly. She can be pretty corny sometimes.

Frodo also had his thyroid tested – which was fine and he passed a cardiac test too. His patellas were also fine. I didn’t even KNOW what a patella was. Sounds like some kind of Italian pasta. What’s up with all this stuff? Is he going in the Olympics or something?! I heard he is going to go for some kind of surf test too. Or was it CERF? Apparently he went surfing before – and he passed the test before. But he’s going to do it again. I thought he didn’t like the water!

So my brother can jump around with the best of them and it looks like he will be able to continue to see where he is going – once the hair is out of his eyes. I keep trimming those bangs – and I continue my work on his asymmetrical ear look. He’s very patient with me.

So he’s smart – he has obedience and rally titles, healthy and pretty darn handsome – he even has some kind of championship beauty pageant awards. I can’t believe we’re related. But then, he doesn’t have a blog – does he?!

Quality control trio

November 18, 2015Leave a Comment

So. Our human is home. And she has already forgotten that story about the ham sandwich. Or I like to think she has.

Despite my standoffish behavior after my initial frenzied response when she came in the door, I DID hop up on the bed and snuggle right in when she went to sleep. When Paxton came near the bed, I stood up as if to warn him that I was there first – but my human, who was not yet FULLY asleep – QUICKLY reminded ME that I needed to be POLITE – so I let him come over. All was fine and I got comfy cozy again.

Last night after she got home from work, it was dark out so we didn’t go for a long walk. What’s with this dark in the morning and dark at night thing? I’d like to blame it on humans but I’m thinking this one is a Mother Nature thing. So because it was dark, we got to take turns playing with a NEW fetch toy. One of the guilt gifts. Which was fun. While it lasted…

I went first. I have the most energy – so I get the longer fetch game before my human slows down. She realizes though, that this “being first” DOES cause me to think I am the Top Dog at times – so I THINK I may not always be first in the future. Anyway, the new toy was a looped rope thingy with a tennis ball attached. My human was so happy to bring it out. And we were ALL excited to try it out. It was “organic and made of hemp and a healthy toy.” Perhaps. But not exactly a DURABLE toy….

I was first. I WILDLY retrieved it numerous times, spinning and playing tug and having an absolutely GLORIOUS time. Until my human noted the tennis ball was disintegrating. Quickly. So she went and got scissors and removed the ball. We continued to play until my tongue was hanging out and she was sweating. A lovely pair.

Next in turn was Frodo. He had a BLAST. And he QUITE enjoys some obedience training in between retrieves. He enjoys a good tug as well – but he is quick to release the toy when my human tells him to. Me? Not so much. Maybe THAT’S why the ball disintegrated?

Next came Bucket Head – who bounded off to retrieve in the rec room – which is aptly named. For Paxton, rec does not stand for recreation. It stands for WRECK. He rearranges furniture when he goes to retrieve. And as for tugging…well, the looped rope was now no longer looped. He saw to that. After several rounds with Pax, my human trudged upstairs with the “new toy” which promptly found its way to the garbage.

I wonder if we could get a job testing dog toys? Seriously. If any toy can withstand the three of us, it can withstand ANYTHING. The quality control trio. That’s us.

So the big treat was fun while it lasted. Mind you – she DID also bring home some tasty edible treats as well. Speaking of which, excuse me while I look to see where she put them! And I check on-line for quality control jobs…

SHE IS BACK!

November 17, 2015Leave a Comment

SHE’S BACK!!!! This is my happy face. There was much jumping and barking and spinning when she came in the door. At 1:30AM. Her flight from New York was delayed. She got on the plane, it started to move and then it stopped. And so did my human’s heart. Especially after a few minutes and an announcement came on that they were having computer problems. And they needed to do a “reset.” I am not kidding. Deja vu. She started praying. REALLY hard. Well the Big Guy listened and an hour after they were SUPPPOSED to take off they were finally in the air.

We were overjoyed to see her. At first. And then Frodo and I played it cool. We wanted to show we were not happy that she didn’t take us with her. Paxton, on the other hand, sat on her feet and would not let her move while she talked with Sharon. Sharon said we were all very good. My human said, I’m so glad. And no one stole anything – that’s amazing.” And then Sharon spilled the beans. “Well I didn’t say no one STOLE anything. There was this incident with my ham sandwich….which was taken from the counter when I turned my back.” My human automatically assumed it was Bucket Head. He’s so big – he can grab anything. “Oh no,” Sharon said “not Paxton.” Then she nodded my way. Busted.

Anyway……

We got some VERY yummy treats and rumor has it there MIGHT be a new toy in her suitcase. She didn’t have time to unpack. She has to go to work today. Which I personally think is just WRONG. But we had good walks this morning – and she promised a longer one after work.

All is again right with the world. At least in our house!

© Linda Wozniak

She got stuck

November 16, 2015Leave a Comment

We are all mad. My human’s plane broke down – luckily before it took off. So she got stuck in Denver. They said they had computer problems. Time for an upgrade. It seemes to me that in this day and age, when one plane breaks down, they SHOULD have a spare. We have spare toys. But no. In that HUGE airport, nobody could fix the problem – or send in a different plane. You humans are just not very organized.

We HOPE and she HOPES that if all goes according to plan, she will be home today. Around MIDNIGHT. I’ll have to take a nap during the day so I’m awake for her arrival.

Oh the anticipation….

Guess who’s coming home today?!

November 15, 2015Leave a Comment

Well, it’s about time. My human is FINALLY coming home tonight. She had better be bringing some extra-good guilt gifts. Besides the fact that we were not allowed to go with her- I have come to find out that she visited one of the top 20 most dog-friendly cities in the US!!!!! Everywhere she went, she saw dogs. Dogs walking on the street, dogs in stores, dogs at outside cafes – dogs everywhere! They apparently have lots of dog friendly parks, pet stores and even an ice cream store that dishes out scoops for us canines! Of course my human HAD to talk to many dogs she met – a cute Golden puppy, a Doodle puppy, a Cairn terrier, a Westie, a Bulldog – I think it sounds like she spent more time talking to dogs than people! And she even met a dog AT the conference! She had a great chat with a lovely Therapy Dog named Madrid – and his human Cheryl. They are from the Denver area – and they confirmed that it really IS a doggie town.

So all of us are feeling just a LITTLE bit jealous. AND to top it off – I understand that when my human got ON the plane to go TO Denver – she discovered some of OUR dog treats in her coat pocket. So all those dogs she met got OUR treats.

Seriously – those guilt gifts had better be spectacular. And edible.

Excuse me while I go and check when her flight gets in…

Oh. And by the way. We DID miss her….

© Linda Wozniak

Why?

November 14, 2015Leave a Comment

Humans. What can I say? I heard the news about humans killing other humans in France. Just because. And now what will happen? More humans will kill humans. Remind me how humans are more intelligent than us canines?

Sending licks, positive thoughts and prayers for those who lost their lives, for healing those injured physically and for healing those injured in their hearts by this horrible act- around the world.

© Linda Wozniak

My neurotic human

November 13, 2015Leave a Comment

My human is a bit neurotic. Actually, more than a bit. So the day before she went away, she heard Frodo chewing on a bone and she heard him break off a piece. She went to take it from him and of course he swallowed it. Anyway, she has been thinking about that since she went away. So at 4AM where she is, she woke up. Now mind you – it felt like 7AM to her – with the 3 hour time difference. And she kept thinking about that piece of bone. And worrying. So she waited until 5AM there which is 8 AM here, and called Sharon. Honestly, we were all still asleep. We don’t make Sharon get up at the crack of dawn like we do our human. And now she knows that…

Anyway, my human asked Sharon if Frodo was OK. Sharon said “Yeeeeeeeees. Why?” My human explained and Sharon reassured her that he is eating fine, peeing fine, pooping fine and acting fine. We are ALL fine.

My human was a bit embarrassed but relieved at the same time. She reminded Sharon that it was Paxton’s birthday and he could get an extra treat. I’m SURE she said we ALL could get some.

I’m hoping all of her worrying will result in some extra special guilt gifts. I know she is busy with her conference, but SURELY she will have some time for shopping…I know we drive her crazy some times – but I think she is missing us. And really, how could she not?!

Happy birthday to Paxton!!!!!

November 12, 2015Leave a Comment

November 12. A very special day. It’s Bucket Head’s birthday!!!!!! He is 7 years old today. I must confess, Paxton is THE most tolerant dog in the world. I mean he has to live with two PONs – one of whom torments him terribly. And he NEVER gets mad at me. He and Frodo have a special bond – Frodo will even rest his head on Paxton’s back. I’m the youngest – and let’s face it – I bug everybody. It’s my job. Someone has to liven up this place.

Paxton can pull a cart – which is really neat. He has never been in a test though, because I do believe he has SOME Polish blood in him – as he CAN be a BIT stubborn and he goes where he wants with the cart. He doesn’t ALWAYS follow my human’s directions. He learned that from me.

Paxton LOVES to cuddle with my human. He thinks he is a lap dog. My human says that if he could crawl into her skin, he would. He’s kind of like Velcro. And his very best habit is resting his head on her lap as SOON as he takes a drink. Every time. Really. Without fail. My human loves him but that habit is not one of her favorites. I think it’s cool.

I try to boss the big guy around, but honestly – I do admire him. He’s pretty handsome and so big and he also likes to go in the water. He doesn’t really swim. He just goes out in the lake and sits on this big rock. My human says he does it to get away from us PONs.

My human left instructions for our dog sitter that Paxton should get extra treats for his birthday. I’m sure she meant ALL of us should get them – I mean it wouldn’t be right for him to celebrate alone.

So happy birthday to my big tricolor Swiss brother. Thanks for putting up with me. I do love ya bro. Cheers to many more!

A conference.

November 10, 2015Leave a Comment

Well. IMAGINE my surprise when I noticed my human hauling a SUITCASE out of the closet yesterday. Yup. We are being abandoned. OK. Well that’s not really true. Our amazing dog sitter, Sharon, is arriving today – and she takes great care of us. Let’s face it – taking care of the three of us is probably not the easiest gig she gets. My human always pays her a bit more than the usual rate – kind of like danger pay.

My human has left the usual three page note warning Sharon of our exploits. The house is well-stocked with Sharon food – and extra biscuits. Sharon even knows the banana drill. We have her WELL trained.

My human is headed to some kind of conference. In a place called Denver. I thought maybe she was sneaking away to that Dog Museum in Saint Louis – but nope – she’s headed for the Rockies. I just hope they have some shops that sell good dog stuff. Gotta love guilt gifts.

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do my blog without her – but we’ll see. Excuse me now while I go and practice my adorable look so I will win over Sharon. And she’ll give ME the most treats. I’m sure I’m her favorite. In my dreams.

© Linda Wozniak