Author: frodopon

One sick human

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Well we have had a couple of pretty low key days. After the excitement of the puppy news, my human got sick.  I think it was all the excitement.

She felt miserable all day Sunday and all day yesterday.  She thinks it’s a case of the flu – body aches, chills, trouble eating – and she was very tired.
We were pretty understanding- so we were content to curl up with her on the bed.  I’ve never seen her sleep so much.  Nor have I ever seen her hair stand on end in such a unique style.  Good thing no one else saw her – she was quite the sight. 
She is supposed to go to work today….we’ll see….
Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 2

It is a girl!

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Well another good news/bad news post. Well it’s not BAD – just hmmmmm….disappointing. Well not disappointing…just unexpected. So here we go….

It’s official.  I am an uncle!!! And Einstein is a Dad!!  His mail order girlfriend gave birth on Saturday night. My human hardly slept all night -waiting for the news. Merida is his girlfriend’s name – and she lives clear across the country in British Columbia.  That’s the good news.  But here’s the glitch…Remember the ultrasound said at least three puppies? Well here’s the disappointment- there is just one puppy – a little girl. 
We were hoping for lots of Frodettes but there is just one.  She has big paw prints to fill. 
I shouldn’t say we are disappointed- because really, any life is a miracle.  And knowing how challenging breeding can be – especially at a distance, to have even one puppy is a gift!
If she takes after her father, she is going to be one chatty girl. We’ve never had a girl in this house – except my human.   Just us rough and tumble boys.
I don’t really get a say in picking her name – but it doesn’t stop me from making suggestions….How about Indy – for individual? Solo works – but I think that sounds more like a boy’s name. There’s Treasure. Because she is one.  Or Gem – which could be Gemma if you like two syllables. Addie – short for adventurous since she is the only puppy. Adira is a Hebrew name meaning strong.  Isa is a German name meaning strong-willed.  Mind you that might not be such a smart choice.  We know that PONs can be strong-willed to begin with.  Why add fuel to the fire? 
Ada is a Polish name meaning nobility.  Tola is a Polish name meaning priceless.  And then we have Ula which means sea jewel.  Given that half her roots came from Nova Scotia – Canada’s Ocean Playground, that could work….
Anyway, we just hope she continues to thrive and leads a happy PONtastic life!  We are all excited to follow her progress as she grows.
Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 1

Bad news.

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Well I’m afraid I have some bad news today .

If you check my seizure count, you’ll see what the bad news is.  Yup.  I had one yesterday.  In the afternoon- which is kind of unusual.  My human had gone the the dreaded Dollar Store and the Dog Food Store, and when she came home, we all ran around in the back yard playing fetch. We had a grand time and when we were suitably tired, we came in.  My human went to get something in the bedroom, and her cell phone rang .  It was a good friend- and they started chatting.  After a few minutes, she heard Einstein barking.  And barking.  She figured we were just horsing around, but when it didn’t stop after about 45 seconds, she came to see what all the ruckus was about.  I was lying down and the seizure had stopped, but my human knew that’s what happened….
The only thing that was different yesterday was the fact that we let my human sleep in until almost 7AM.  Which is when I take my medicine from the Vet.  Usually I take my CBD oil BEFORE my regular meds.  They don’t recommend taking them together.  So my human figured she would wait until 9 AM to give me my CBD, but- and she feels awful- she forgot.  She had to go to our Vet to pick up something- and in her haste- she forgot the CBD oil.  She had been wondering lately if it was making a difference- and clearly it is.
So it’s back to square one.  We are all bummed with the bad news.  Paws crossed that it was just a glitch….
Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 0

Gift ideas

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So the official start to the Christmas season has begun.   Mind you, some of the big stores had Christmas stuff out at the same time as Halloween.  Pretty soon they will be leaving the Christmas trees out all year round…

So since it is that time of year, it is time to start thinking of gifts.   And of course, the first thing that you need to know is that a dog is NOT a good gift.  A dog is a lifetime commitment and the following commercial by the Dogs Trust in the UK makes the point quite well…Scroll down to click on the ad….

https://www.youtube.com/user/DogsTrust

That being said…my human and her sister DID buy their father a puppy for Christmas one year.  They had lost their old Irish Setter, Mickey and even though my human wasn’t living at home any more, she and her sister thought her Dad would REALLY want another dog.  With the agreement of their mother, of course.  So they brought home this Golden Retriever puppy.   Her father took one look at Midas and said “hey – I said no more dogs!”  (He was sad about the loss of Mickey.)  But within 3.5 seconds his heart melted and he was holding the little fella.  They became best buddies…and Midas lived to a ripe old age of 13….

Anyway, do NOT follow my human’s lead with the whole puppy-for-Christmas routine.  The results are sadly not all as positive…

And while on the topic of Christmas I have been looking at a VARIETY of sources for the best gifts for dogs.  I kept looking for one to share – and some had good ideas – but if they included rawhide chews, the list was eliminated.  Rawhide is NOT a good idea for dogs – but that’s a topic for another blog.

I did find this site and although there are things I do NOT want, I did find THE best gift.  The GoBone.  Check it out by clicking on the video:

https://www.caninejournal.com/best-dog-gifts/

Can you just IMAGINE our house with one of those?!  My human said it is too pricey.  I suggested the price would be divided by 3 since we would all use it.  She still said it is too pricey.  She said one of us would probably eat the sensor.  I said we would only use it while she is home- so she could make sure we don’t destroy it.  She still said no.  I think she is just trying to pretend Santa won’t bring it. And then we will all be surprised on Christmas Day.   She said I am in for a disappointment.  We’ll see…

My human liked the headlight harness.  Sure she did.  It’s so practical.  We better not get one of those.

The gift boxes are cool and who wouldn’t like food delivered to your door?

Heaven help us if she gets us the clothing that we can wear and match her.  Right now I bet you are ALL thinking THAT would be great.  Forget it.  I do NOT want attire.  Of any kind.

We don’t need the DNA kit – and no amount of Aromatherapy will reduce stress in this houe.  She would be afraid we would knock the candle over and set the house on fire, so that would actually cause MORE stress.

Scrap the bathing gloves.   They imply a bath – and really who wants more baths?

So REALLY, the best gift on the list is the GoBone.  Right?  My human said we might get new pillowcases.  She’s so funny.

Anyway, if I find more cool gifts, I will be SURE to share them and give you my opinion.

Oh and by the way – thanks to those of you who are clicking on the ads on my blog page.  My goal is $100 by Christmas.  I’m at around 88 right now.  Hey.  Maybe I can buy a GoBone MYSELF!!!!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 71

Wolfenoot

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November 23.  The day after US Thanksgiving.  Also know as Black Friday – a HUGE shopping day when people share the true Christmas spirit by trampling each other to get bargains for things they don’t really NEED.  It’s a kind of strange human holiday.

It is also National Leftovers Day – which makes sense because the best part of big meals is the leftovers – and there are often plenty after Thanksgiving dinner.  Trust me – we dogs take inventory when it comes to leftovers.

It is also National Flossing Day.  Guess the dentists wanted to capitalize on the fact that people eat so much for Thanksgiving – so they definitely need to floss.  Flossing is important.  But does ANYBODY do it enough?  Just wondering…

But besides these holidays it is also Wolfenoot.   I must confess, I’m late to hear about this one – but I DO like the sound of it.  It was essentially started by a 7 year-old boy in New Zealand. It celebrates the spirit of the wolf – BUT the cool thing – it celebrates anyone who is/has been kind to DOGS. You eat roast meat and have a cake that looks like a moon.  Gifts are hidden around the house, and the people who are kind to dogs get extra gifts.  They even have an official website:
https://wolfenoot.com/

My guess is that if you are reading this blog (written by a dog) you definitely fall in the category of someone who is kind to dogs!  So cook up a big steak tonight (or a tofu version if you are vegetarian) and celebrate Wolfenoot.  And, of course,  don’t forget to share with your canine companion.

“Have a howly Wolfenoot”.  Peace and pawsup!
Seizure free days: 70!!!!

Charlie. The fairy tale.

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My human heard some sad news last week.  Charlie went to the Rainbow Bridge…

My human has an old friend who lives in British Columbia, Canada.  They have known each other for 35+ years – but there was a period of time where they lost touch.  That sometimes happens with humans. Anyway, they reconnected in 2009, and she went to visit him that year in the wilds of BC.

To describe this friend, there is only one word – “adventurer.”  He has climbed mountains, skied the Alps, sailed across the Atlantic and volunteered for more than one tour in Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres.   In the heart of the action… He has seen  a LOT.  He is headed to Iraq in January…. My human feels honored to call him her friend.

Anyway, when my human went to visit, she was introduced to her friend’s new canine companion – Charlie.  Charlie was a cocker spaniel who my human’s friend rescued from a shelter in Missouri.  Prior to his 3 years in the shelter, he had lived on a farm and was used for “breeding”.  When he couldn’t produce puppies, at the age of 2, they sent him to the shelter.

When Charlie arrived on the plane, his eyes were a mess – and he was also found to have a tumor in his ear.   My human’s friend stopped at a Vet clinic on the way home from the airport- and saw to it that Charlie was treated for all of his problems.   He had surgery for his ear – and it saved his life.

And WHAT a life he had.  He went hiking.

He accompanied his human while ski touring.  He sailed.  He traveled across the country.  And to top it off – he was THE sweetest and most obedient dog imaginable.

My human recalls how Charlie followed her friend EVERYWHERE.  He NEVER needed a leash.  She was just a tad jealous – here she was spending a fortune on obedience lessons for her canines – who could never be let off leash in the places that Charlie went – and Charlie NEVER went to a single obedience class.  It was like he KNEW his life had been saved.

Charlie never growled.  And didn’t even bark much.  He never met a dog or person he didn’t like.

But as you humans know,  one of the hardest parts about being owned by a dog is the fact that you outlive us…. My human had talked to her friend this fall and learned that Charlie’s engine was beginning to slow.  His vision was poor and he could no longer hear.  He had an incident at home last week, that told her friend it was time to say good-bye….

So while this story IS sad – it is also happy.  Charlie was happy for nine amazing and wonderful years – and that can’t be forgotten.

And on this day, which is Thanksgiving in the US, we should all learn a lesson from Charlie.  His life started off hard.  Very hard.  And then he was saved.  And I think Charlie was so well behaved because he was thankful!   He was completely and utterly devoted to his human.  He knew what life was once like – and he gave thanks every day for his amazing luck. It was truly like a fairy tale…

We often take for granted the basic things in life.  Food, shelter, power, friends….So take a note from Charlie, today – wherever you live – and don’t forget to give Thanks….. And also don’t forget – sometimes fairy tales do come true.

Have a thankful one. Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 69

Walking games

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Sometimes my human just doesn’t think things through.

Yesterday she was off. So….drum roll please… we let her sleep in until almost 7 AM!  See – we can be thoughtful.  By the time she got dressed, it was light out- so we got to go for longer walks.  Sweet.
First the FG went. They had a lovely long walk up on the golf course.  Then it was our turn. The PON walk.  We went on the trail, sniffing and snorting and taking in the aroma of any four legged creature who had been by.  My human let Einstein off leash – because, let’s face it, he IS the most obedient.  And as we we were heading for home, my human decided to play an old game.  She drops one of her mittens on the trail without us seeing it.  We continue to walk and then she loudly announces “uh-oh I lost my mitten.  Go find it!”  And then the dog(s) go to search for the missing clothing.  Great game, right?  Except she forgot that we never PLAYED this game before.  She played it with Bernese in the past.  Not us.  At least not that we remember.  Sure we play “find the bunny, or the hedgehog” in the house but this mitten thing was not familiar.  Or if it was, we pretended we didn’t know what to do. She tried it with Einstein.  He stared at her like she was speaking Swahili.  Kind of like the look I gave her when she wanted me to retrieve the new ball. She pointed to the mitten which was clearly visible in the middle of the trail.  She told him to get it.  At first he ran in the general direction of the mitten, but then went off to the side of the trail, sniffing the brush.  He was literally 1 foot from the mitten.  She shouted “get it.”  He stepped toward it, looked at it and ran back to my human. Minus the mitten.  So she had to walk back and retrieve it herself.  She mumbled something like “if it was a bowl of food or a pile of poo you would find it quickly.” 
As we came down our driveway, she decided to try it again.  THIS time, Einstein ran out, pounced on the mitten, grabbed it and ran back to my human.  Success!! He knew what to do all along.  We walked a bit further and she tried it again.  Bingo – success again. So you would THINK she would quit while she was ahead.  On the third try, Einstein was getting bored.  Even though he was getting a treat every time he brought back the now soggy mitten.  This time he did what he did the very first time. He went around it – started sniffing the trees on the side of the driveway and ALMOST looked like he was about to take off. My human shouted “get it.”  He slowly turned around, looked at her, looked at the mitten and then decided that he was pretty close to home – and breakfast- so he had better comply.  He got the mitten. And a treat.  All the while I was focused on going home – because I wanted breakfast.
The find it game can be fun.  It makes us use our noses and our brains. And if we don’t get the mitten , our human gets more exercise- which is good for her.  Trust me – we think these things through…
Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 67

Guilt gifts

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Well we got to play with our guilt gifts yesterday.  And some of us played better than others…

So my human finally brought out our gifts yesterday evening after supper.  Three toys.  All different. A ball with handles, a stuffed fish and last but not least – Lamb Chop – a stuffed lamb who is like a puppet  created by famous puppeteer in the 1950s – Shari Lewis. Lamb Chop appeared on various TV shows including Captain Kangaroo. Seeing Lamb Chop in the pet store brought back memories for my human – so the soft fuzzy toy HAD to come home.  And really- how appropriate for three Herding dogs.
To say we got a little excited when the toys came out would be like saying a hurricane is just like a gentle breeze.  We ALL kept leaping and trying to grab the toys. Particularly Lamb Chop.  So in order to play with the toys in a civilized manner, we did so one at a time.  The FG went first, while Einstand I were sequestered in the front hall behind the French door.  Screaming.
The game was simple.  My human tossed one toy and when it was brought back, she tossed another. My human was certain that the FG would prefer the ball, but much to her surprise, he liked all three.  He raced and retrieved each one.  He didn’t always bring them back, but he did get each one.  He had a grand time- and he loved tossing Lamb Chop and the fish into the air.
Then it was my turn. I got Lamb Chop and the fish, but when my human threw the ball I just stood there. Who wants a rubber ball?  I mean it has no appendages that can be ripped off. I refused to get the ball.  I mean REFUSED.  My human tossed it again. Nope. I wanted the other toys.  So much to my shock she announced “your turn is over” and she sequestered me again in the hall.  She’s a tough referee. 
Then it was Einstein’s turn.  He ALSO refused to get the ball.  But when my human said “game over” he quickly obliged and brought each toy back- every single time.
  

My human then gave me another try. She tossed the ball and I just looked at it. She ceremoniously announced “one more try.”  This time I got the ball.  I KNEW I was supposed to retrieve it. When I brought the ball  back I got a big treat. And then the fish.  But it was CLEAR that my favorite was Lamb Chop. I had turns with the fish and now soggy lamb, but when it again came time for the ball, I again refused.  
Obviously I didn’t end up playing as long as the other two – even with my two chances.  My human and I like to see who can be more stubborn.  She won last night.  But the war is not yet over…
Plus I know where she hid Lamb Chop…give me 30 seconds in that garage…
Have a good one. Peace and paws up!
Seizure free days:  66

She is back

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Well my human is back. And sit down for the report….It was excellent!  We ALL behaved and our sitter left with no broken bones or scars!  I am not kidding.  I know you find it hard to believe.

She appreciated the fact that the FG and I are both excellent snuggle bugs in bed.  She said it took 24 hours for Einstein to be won over completely- but he totally warmed up and let down his aloof demeanor. He just likes to play the tough, intellectual type. 
We all went a bit crazy when my human came in.  There was much barking, leaping and spinning. Although I must confess that our sitter was so awesome,  it made our time without our human pretty sweet. She took such good care of us. And she wasn’t the least bit mad about being held captive…
So not only did my human return to happy dogs, a non-injured sitter and a clean house- but it smelled amazing- because our sitter baked bread and had a big loaf for my human!  Honestly- could life get any better than that???
Because my human got in late last night, she didn’t unpack the guilt gifts yet.  Something to look forward to today!!! I wonder what they are…..
Have a good one. Peace and paws up.
Seizure free days: 65