Happy Halloween blogaroos! Squirmy here. Do you recognize us in our scary dinosaur costumes?! In case you don’t – from left to right it’s me, the Boss and the Coyote. Some poor kids who went to the Dollar Store to find dinosaur costumes were out of luck. And instead the luck was ours. Although you can’t exactly tell by the Coyote’s expression.

Now one might think that little hooded costumes with a simple ribbon to hold it on – would not be THAT difficult. Guess again. Either we couldn’t see – so we would paw off the hood or the shiny fabric and spike things on our backs were just too intriguing to resist pulling. We could never have done these photos without the assistance of Sue. They had to cut holes in the Coyote’s costume for his ears. He didn’t really care.

In the first few shots, none of us was happy…

Then we realized there were liver treats and our mood improved…

Then the Boss realized there were not many treats left…

He was really not impressed…

But in the end we got a few cute shots out of the 458 taken – and the Warden called it a day. She thought for a nanosecond about a different location- but the look she got from Sue said she had enough material.

The Warden and Sue have prepared the 80 bags of chips and Cheetos and the assorted chocolates for the three kids who will brave our driveway for Trick or Treats tonight. We will be safely sequestered behind a gate so as not to traumatize any child with our Cujo-style barking. We know the Coyote is definitely feeling better because he again joins the PON choir if someone comes to the door . He’s even staring to bark if he’s hungry !!!! Go figure.

I tried to convince the guys that we should go Trick or Treating wearing our costumes on our road. Two against one I was voted down. I want a recount.

Anyway- have a safe and junk-food filled Halloween! And don’t forget extra treats for us canines!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ.

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here reporting from the asylum.

It’s been another crazy week here. Sue and Keith arrived late Tuesday night. We knew something was up – why else would the Warden be vacuuming at 10:00 at night? She said there’s no point doing it earlier – it’s the time of year when we bring in a bushel of leaves every time we go out. It’s a losing battle.

Anyway, we were all overjoyed to see them AND to see the treats they brought us. All the way from France. That’s us posing for the obligatory gift photo. We were thrilled with the treats – the photo not so much.

They arrived late Tuesday and on Thursday afternoon, the Warden announced that she wasn’t feeling well. Bang. By Thursday night she had a full blown coughing, choking, achy, tired cold. She took a COVID test (several in fact) but they were negative. Still- she felt like she had been run over by a herd of hungry PONs.

To help nurse the Warden back to good health, Sue and her sous chef, Keith have cooked up some yummy meals. And GUESS who is right in the middle of things, staring at the food on the stove? The Coyote! The last two days he has easily met his required calorie count. The Warden is still nervous about weighing him- but he seems to be holding his own.

By this time each year, the Warden has taken our annual Halloween photos. But this year, she was a bit reluctant because the Coyote wasn’t feeling well and she didn’t want to torture him doing his least favorite thing. BUT – he has been feeling VERY well lately- and so she decided that since it’s “tradition” we should do it. She enlisted Sue to help with the wardrobe assembly and Sue was also the entertaining “distraction” to get us to look in her direction – behind the Warden. We had costumes this year. No bandannas or head gear. I’ll give you a clue. Think Jurassic Park meets the Wizard of Oz. The things we do for liver treats. Stay tuned for the result.

According to the crazy calendar, today is something called International Internet Day. Here is a bit of history and some fun facts:

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/international/international-internet-day-october-29

It’s kind of hard to think back to before the Internet. The Warden can because she’s that old. IMAGINE having to look up information in BOOKS. And IMAGINE staying in touch with people by writing a letter or by talking on the phone?! If you wanted to buy something, you bought it at a store – OR you used a catalogue to order something that would come in the mail. If you wanted to know about “the best product” to buy, you usually asked your friends. If you needed to find a local business, you looked them up in a huge book called a phone book. If you wanted to know the news, you read the newspaper or watched TV.

The internet has changed the world in so many ways. Heck – if it weren’t for the internet, you wouldn’t even know about the lives of three crazy dogs in Nova Scotia!

So in honor of this day- go order your dog some new treats on-line. Or a fun new toy. Or check out an on-line course about dogs. Or find a recipe to make your dog some tasty treats. Just don’t order any canine Halloween costumes….

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ

Howdy blogaroos. Well here we are after another roller coaster ride. And that’s really no surprise- because let’s face it – our house IS like an amusement park….

So when we last wrote, the skinny Coyote actually appeared to be developing an appetite. He was eating kibble – which made the Warden happy because she could calculate his calorie intake pretty easily. He of course, was eating OTHER things like blueberries and bread – but she was thankful he was eating SOMETHING consistently – and she wasn’t having to change the menu each day – from chicken to steak to pork tenderloin….So life was returning to some degree of “normalcy.” Mind you – we are not exactly your typical, “normal” household- even at the best of times.

So all was going along great. The Warden was watching his meds – and trying to keep track of his medication refills. On Monday, she called the vet to let them know she would need a refill on his appetite stimulant. Clearly it was working well since he finished his antibiotics. The pills would run out on Wednesday- so she needed to get them before Thursday. And they would need to be called in to the pharmacy.

We wouldn’t go into the details about what happened next. Several poor souls have heard her tale of woe and we don’t feel the need to share her misery world-wide. Suffice to say…there were some “miscommunications” about that refill. So when she went to get it at the drug store on Wednesday, there was no prescription.

The Warden began to panic a tiny bit because the timing of his meds really seemed to be making a difference. But quite honestly, although she didn’t want to upset the pharmaceutical applecart, she figured that not getting his appetite stimulant first thing in the morning wouldn’t REALLY make a huge difference. Wrongo. It’s now very CLEAR that the medication is working. And working well. Because he didn’t have it Thursday morning, he wouldn’t eat all day- even after she was able to get the meds by noon and she rushed home with them. Nope. The Coyote wanted nothing to do with kibble, treats or any delectable morsel offered to him. In order for him to take in some calories, they had to resort back to the liquid stuff – which he hadn’t had in weeks. The Warden was utterly deflated. Not to mention that a change in his probiotic has not helped with a recent bout of soupy poops. They have been up in the night running out one to two times. The Warden felt like they were back to square one.

Add to that, the Warden did SOMETHING to her leg. It felt like a shin splint – but she hadn’t done any strenuous exercise to cause it. It’s entirely possible that yours truly bashed into her leg, and she forgot about it – because it happens so frequently. As a result of her leg pain, we haven’t been able to go on long walks. She did have X-rays – but nothing showed up – so it’s likely a shin splint. All that to say with the non-eating, poopy Picard and the gimpy Warden – things were kinda sorta dismal at our place on Thursday. In the big scheme of life problems, these were NOT earth shattering. But as you humans know, sometimes a bunch of small challenges can pile up and they seem catastrophic at a particular time. Again I say humans need to be more dog-like and shake it off like we do when we get up or after a bath. Try it some time.

Anyway…… on Friday and yesterday- when the Coyote was back on his medication routine- all was again right with the world – and he began eating. The sun again began to shine. He was even begging for food while she ate (a behavior that would normally be discouraged- but which, in this case, she was excited about) and he ate both of his own meals. Plus extras. He was at his caloric intake target. He just made it – but he did. So happiness and joy returned to the land. And her leg is a bit better.

On a more serious note (yes- much more serious) – we had some very sad news this week. A wonderful PON by the name of Zan, went to meet Viktor, Paxton, Guinness, et al and his own sister, Romi at the Rainbow Bridge. Now we never got to meet Zan – and if COVID hadn’t happened, we might have- but we knew all about him. He lived in Florida and summered in Michigan. It’s estimated he logged in over 135,000 miles in his travels in his over 16 active years. Yup – he lived to the seasoned age of 16 years 7 months. He traveled with his right-hand co-pilot and trainee, Vince. Note I say trainee and not trainer. Zan ran the household, and efficiently trained Vince ALL about how clever we PONs are. They were quite the team.

While the number of years seems like such a gift – let’s face it – we dogs are never with you long enough. Ever. So while Vince has a gaping hole in his heart, he has AMAZING memories – and Zan trained him that a PON is THE breed for him. Someday….another PON will find his way to Vince – not as a replacement for Zan – but as a necessary co-pilot. Everybody needs a good co-pilot. Even when our navigational skills may be like those of a hummingbird on speed. Not that I speak from experience…

Lastly, GUESS who returns on Tuesday night?! The European travelers – Sue and Keith. I’m really hoping that they found a place in France that sells good dog treats. We LOVE edible souvenirs. I’m mentioning it now because they still have a few days in Paris. SURELY Paris has dog treat stores. Or heck – they can just bring back some Brioche. That’s the Coyote’s favorite. Of course it is.

OK. Time to get Hopalong moving. Don’t want her to seize up. And let’s hope the roller coaster Coyote continues to ride the train up.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here on a super Saturday. Just here to let you know that we survived. What did we survive? Why Friday the 13th! We’re not all that superstitious in our house- but let’s face it – we’re really not in the market for bad luck. But not to worry – no black cats in our yard yesterday.

Anyone curious about a Coyote update? We’re thinking you might me. So, to sum it up – the seas were bumpy at times, but also super calm. He had two days of upchucking a meal – but he was clearly not feeling too badly because he wanted to then eat it. Ewwwww. I know – too much information. But the reality – we PONs would have also eaten it. Not that’s REALLY gross. Anyway, the Warden changed when he got one of his stomach medications and voila- no recycling! PLUS the past couple of days he has been HUNGRY. I mean eating not just because it’s put in front of him – but scoffing it down like a PON. Yup. He definitely has had an appetite. Now to just put on some weight. Said the Warden to herself. Never.

He also received some mail this week from some canine (and human) friends in British Columbia. He got some super yummy things – which he LOVED. And THANKFULLY, he agreed to share some with us. A big thanks to Takoda et al for thinking of us!!!

Plus yesterday, some friends- Shawn and Patti came by – and get this Patti made banana bread – for the Coyote! She said their dogs always loved the tasty treat, and guess what? Mr. Picky ate a slice! This is the same guy who wouldn’t eat a banana in the past. But banana bread is clearly different. So Friday the 13th was far from unlucky!

I went to my obedience workshop on Monday, class on Wednesday and extra training on Thursday. Good news. My heeling is not too awful. Bad news. I have once again decided that the sit stay exercise is just plain boring. In class, I went to visit one of the Borzoi babes. I didn’t get too far before the Warden swooped in and put me in my place. The Borzoi babe was not impressed – although she never moved. I think she just considers me a pest.

During the workshop, I didn’t visit. I just slowly slid down from a sit to a down. And when the Warden tried to get me to sit, I became like liquid. I wouldn’t sit. When she tried again, I rolled over in my back. Kicking my legs in the air. I was put on leash and led out of the line up.

So in practice on Thursday, the Warden and Saint Jane decided to make the sit stay even more difficult. Just to see what I would do. They put my Pyr Shep friend Fidjit about 2 feet from me – with her back to me. Did they HONESTLY think I would go to visit her?! Seriously ?! She’s a friendly girl , but she doesn’t like boys sniffing her. I tried it once in the past, and hello – she told me off in very clear terms. Did they think I forgot that? I didn’t move on my sit stay.

So then they tried throwing treats just in front of me to see if I would break. Hello? I know it was a trick. I didn’t move a tiny muscle.

For me, breaking the sit stay is something I do for several reasons. Number one. The sit stay is boring. I like ACTION stuff like heeling and retrieving. Sitting and staring at the Warden is just boring. Number two. I’m curious. I like to check out new friends. But nooooo. Obedience does not include socializing between dogs. Number three. I behave really well when the Warden is close by. When she leaves me in the stay, it’s just my chance to be bad! I’m far from her. She can’t quickly stop me. It’s all about the excitement of doing something BAD.

Remember this was an issue before – and then I got better at it. Seemingly better. It’s called intermittent reinforcement. Let the humans THINK you are ready to go in a trial – and then smash that idea. Then get really good at it again. And start doing something else poorly. Training humans is such a blast.

So the Coyote seems to be regaining his appetite. He has also regained his energy to play endless rounds of Poke-a-PON. Yesterday, the Warden had to tell him to STOP bugging the Boss- he was obsessed with “playing the game.” No matter how much the Boss tried to tell him that he didn’t want to play, he persisted. We cut him some slack because he’s sick – but that slack only goes so far. I think he’s misbehaving just because he can. Sounds familiar.

OK. Time to start a new day of human training. Some are easier than others.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ.

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here today to wish all of my Canadian peeps a Happy Thanksgiving! Heck – even if you’re not from Canada – I wish you a very happy grateful day. A day to give thanks for all the good things in your life. Some you might not even think about – like the phone or tablet or computer you are reading this on! Just being able TO read – is something to be grateful for!

We’re grateful for every one of you reading this! We appreciate your comments, your feedback and your likes! We especially appreciate your suggestions and positive support regarding the Coyote. There have been some great ideas about how to get him to eat – and what he might like. We also are grateful for your prayers and healing wishes. He definitely needs them.

Yesterday started off brilliantly- he actually ate all of his breakfast for probably the first time since this whole challenge began. It was plain old kibble- without any enticing add ons. He ate every morsel. The Warden came just short of doing a backflip. Good thing she didn’t. She probably would have ended up in the emergency room. THEN he ate blueberries. The rainbows came out and the birds were singing. But that was the beginning and the end of his appetite for the day. She had to give him liquid food in the evening- just so he would get more calories. So while the day started on a high – it ended on a low. Now his energy was fine. He had a great walk. And several times I had to step in to keep him from bugging the Boss. He kept poking the Boss – and leaping around him. The Boss wasn’t in the mood for it – so yours truly rushed in several times to deflect his poking. So he clearly was feeling fine. He just wasn’t hungry. Sigh.

Meanwhile, while the Coyote wasn’t eating, the Boss was moaning and groaning. He was being tortured. He needed a really good grooming – and boy oh boy – was he knotty. And naughty. The two go hand in hand. Or should I say paw in paw. The Warden has no idea how he got SO tangly – but he was a MESS. And because he tries to get up every 15 seconds, the Warden is constantly wrestling with him. And jeepers – it’s not like he doesn’t get a bucket load of treats in the process. But he squirms and pants and pushes and curls his feet so you can’t touch them and moans and groans – when I say torture, I’m not kidding. For both of them. After 2 1/2 hours, they emerged from the garage with a better looking Boss and a worse looking Warden. She was literally bathed in sweat. Now she understands why many PON owners shave their senior dogs. She’s not ready to do that – but let’s just say that when they came out of the garage, and yours truly tried to put the finishing touches on the grooming by licking his ears and head, I thought she was going to cry. “STOP” she shouted – “ that’s why his ears are goopy and the hair on his head gets all tangly!!!” I immediately stopped. Until she wasn’t looking.

Today I’m going to an obedience workshop. Between company and the Coyote’s needs, we have kinda fallen off our training routine. The workshop should give us a jumpstart to get back into things.

Well time to Carpe Diem. And time to say our grateful prayer that we Three Stooges – make that Three Kings – were able to be together for the photo above. Every day each one of us gets – is really something to be grateful for. Now let’s get out there and do something good with it!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ.

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here today at a sad household. Sue and Keith departed yesterday for their European vacation- leaving us behind. They didn’t even TRY to fit any of us in their carry on luggage – mind you they probably couldn’t have fit in a dime – they had them so jam packed. While we wish them well, we sure are going to miss them.

Meanwhile, yo yo boy continues to completely exasperate the Warden. It’s the good news- bad news story again. Good news – he is finished with his antibiotics on Tuesday. Bad news – eating is still a huge issue. The vet said it is important that he take in a certain number of calories to at least maintain his already skinny body. So far, the Warden managed to get him to take in 80% of the goal. On only one day. Since then, he’s about 60% there. She counts every morsel he eats. But it’s not great. Something he thinks is yummy one day, he won’t touch the next day. Hand feeding sometimes works. And sometimes he walks away. Getting the liquid food into him is no easy task again. He refuses to swallow. Really. He just holds the liquid in his mouth and spits it out if you don’t hold onto his chin. And you can’t just shoot the liquid down the back of his throat – for fear of sending it into his lungs. All he needs is pneumonia.

And what’s weird is that it’s not like he isn’t interested in food. He’ll come over to see what the Warden is eating or cooking, then sniffs the sample that’s offered to him, and walks away. He’ll eat bread – but only certain bread. White, brown and whole wheat are out. But he will eat egg bread. Most of the time.

He DID eat kibble the past two days. But only at one meal. The other meal was a “nah.”

For those who have suggested raw food- he ate it on two occasions. Then said “never mind.”

Pork was tasty one day. Then that became old. He does not do leftovers. The humans had a turkey dinner the other day – and what dog wouldn’t like turkey?! He ate one or two bites and said “that’s enough.”

He will chew on a bully sticks voraciously- and that’s probably the only thing that’s a sure bet. We almost hate to say that for fear of jinxing it. Apples, carrots, pumpkin are on the “no fly” list.

Despite his lack of eating, he trots along on a walk just fine. Say the words “car ride” and he races to the garage door. So his energy is good when it’s something he wants to do. The Warden had to take something over to the neighbors yesterday, and he was fine to go and visit. He acted like his usual laid-back self.

In the meantime, the Boss and I have had our meal rations cut in half!!!! It might just have something to do with the fact that the Coyote eats when food is being doled out to each of us – like when we get our daily bread treat at breakfast time. He seems to enjoy “competition” when eating. IF the Coyote is interested in eating a snack , we get some too . Mind you – I do see that we PONs are getting pea-sized pieces and the Coyote’s pieces are more the size of a jumbo strawberry. But we’re getting way more calories than we normally would. She has started calling us the Tubby Twins. While I feel badly that the Coyote is not well, we’re sure doing just fine!!!!

Today I’ll be hiding in the woods the first chance I get. The Warden said I look like a woodland creature – I’m in need of some serious grooming. Oh joy oh happiness.

According to the Crazy Calendar, today is supposed to be “Do Something Nice” day. And it is exactly as the name suggests – a day to go out and do some kind act. It could be going to the store to get your dog a new toy, or holding a door open for someone else, or giving your dog an extra treat, or smiling at a stranger (but not in a way that would seem creepy) or taking your dog for an extra walk or calling someone you haven’t reached out to in a long time. Just be nice. Mind you, it seems like we should kinda practice that behavior most of the time. But humans sometimes seems to need reminders. Not us canines – we’re nice most of the time. Even when we’re peeing on the pumpkin outside the front door. We’re just trying to water it.

OK – almost time to rumble. Keep those positive thoughts, prayers, vibes coming this way for the Coyote. It was a month ago that this challenge began – and we’ve made it here. Keep sending those eating thoughts.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ