Going Shopping

I decided it was time to get a few new things for Lola.  So off to Petsmart I went.  (I like supporting local shops and owners but I was in a hurry and a had a coupon, and I was 99% sure they would have what I was looking for and I was not sure the local shop would.  So this time it was Petsmart. )   Lola did not get to go with me this time.  It was in the evening and way too busy.  She would have been way too excited.  Regardless, she was pretty excited when I brought home the bag.

I few large cow hoofs.  I have never seen any this large. I know Lola will love those.  I usually save those for rainy days, or days where she seems to have a lot of energy.

She also got a new bright pink collar.

Nice new collar

It seems like a lot of people don't know she is a girl.  Her old collar started out pink but looks more gray and brown now. It is so dingy and dirty that it is time to retire it for a new one.

Old gross collar

And now, hopefully, people will be able to tell she is a girl with that nice pink collar.

She got one more thing, the Sporn Harness.  We are still trying it out and working on getting it adjusted just right.  But so far it seems to be working well.  There will be an update on how it works.

A Morning Walk

I mentioned here last week that we love going our walks.  Life With 5 Dogs left a comment saying that she loves morning walks in the snow.  I completely agree, at least, about the morning part. I love going for morning walks on the weekends.  It is so peaceful and quiet. I think Lola enjoys it too.  We both walk a little slower, and I let her stop and smell more and we are just more relaxed.

Wait I have to smell this. 

Some pretty purple flowers we saw.

Sitting at the corner waiting to cross the street.

There is a squirrel in the tree.

Getting tired and slowing down 

Home and getting water.  

Saturday Blog Hop 8/28/2010

Stop and Smell the ...

roses flowers it is one of the last weekends of summer.  It is almost labor day which means smelling these flowering bushes is almost over for the year.  I am not sure what is planned this weekend, but we will be getting out in the nice weather, because it will be snowing before we know it.

Happy Friday!!

Rain or Shine, It's Walk Time

Like most dog owners I know, there is the ritual of the daily walk.  Lola and I go for a walk nearly everyday.  There are only a few days a year we do not go for a walk; if it is pouring rain, if there is a blizzard or if it is extremely cold.   But we will venture out if it is sprinkling.  This past week we have had some rain showers moving through and out we were when it was sprinkling.  It was actually kind of relaxing to walk in the cool
weather. 

I also have no qualms of walking in the snow or the cold.  I put on a hat, some gloves and a warm jacket and we are off.  If fact, we usually walk a little faster since we are both cold.  And therefore, we both burn a few more calories.  So, I view that as a plus, for both of us.  When there is a blizzard, I usually try to wait for a break in the weather and will try to get her out for even a short walk around the block.  It is good for both of us.  I think we both get a little cabin fever during huge snow storms.

Walks are great for both of us.  They are and will continue to be a great little training session for Lola.  There are always certain things I make her do, sit at corners, (unless is really cold then I let her stand), heel when we walk be people, sit and lay down when people want to pet her, etc.  And for me, they are a great way to unwind and mellow out after a day at work, and it is great way to get outside and exercise.

Wordless Wednesday

Dog Beds

Like so many other pet parents I have bought dog beds for Lola.  She needs a place to sleep at night that is not the bed or the floor.  (I will get to floor issue later.)  She just needs a nice comfortable bed.

When she was a puppy I started out with just blankets.  Blankets are much easier to clean if there are accidents or throwing up, etc. She was perfectly content with her blankets.  At a certain point, I decided it was time to try a dog bed.  It was an effort to keep off the couch and a bed typically looks a lot nicer than a pile of old blankets.  Off to Costco to get her a large dog bed for a relatively cheap price.

This was a nice large bed and she did like.  But sure enough I came home one day and it was shredded.  So back to the blankets and couch.

Back on the couch with a pillow

Once Lola was about 2, I decided to try the dog beds again.  I had read a lot of things about Molly Mutt dog beds and loved the idea (and still love the idea).  I could stuff the bed with her own blankets and then put a cover on it.  And all of it could be washed very easily.  So I bought one using some swagbucks to save some money.  Once I got it I stuffed and laid it down for Lola.  She seemed indifferent about it.  She would lay on it for a minute or two and then move somewhere else.  She is like a cat (or at least like my cat as a kid) and likes to move blankets around and fluff them and get them just right and she was not quite able to do that with the bed.

On her Molly Mutt Bed

And sure enough I came home and there was a tear in the cover and the liner.  I think she was trying to fluff.  But it was not fully destroyed or shredded.  So I figured maybe she needed a bed that was softer so she could fluff it.  I was at Costco shopping (not looking for a dog bed) and saw they had the big ones for $15.  I figured why not.  (Why I don't learn the first time, I have no idea.)  Because sure enough I came home one day and there was stuffing an ceder everywhere.   I think the ceder drove her crazy (among other things).  From the moment I got it home she was sniffing at and pawing at it. 

I guess it must have been the 4th or 5th  time but I have finally learned.  Lola does not like dog beds or she likes them too much and wants to play a little too rough with them. However you want to look at it. I have finally come to the realization, if she wants to sleep on the floor or rug fine.  She plays with her toys on the floor and eats off the floor, and I have not issue with that,  why is that any different that sleeping on the floor.  I had this strange, irrational hangup about her needing a bed.  If she does not care why should I.   I have pulled out the pile of old blankets again so she can make a nest out of them if she would like.  And she does.  I just put them in the corner when she is done and it is fine.

Lola, happy laying on the floor

I have come to the conclusion, that the bed issue was to make me happy not her.   So, no more dog beds for Lola.  And now we are both happy.

Happy Monday!

Monday always comes so fast,, doesn't it.   Too fast.  Here is a little video to put a smile on your face.  Every time we go to the park on a walk, Lola loves rolling around in the grass.  Here is something to hopefully start your Monday with a smile.

Saturday Blog Hop 8/21/2010

Its time for the Saturday Blog Hop.  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!!

Caught Red Handed

This morning I woke around 4:30 needing a drink of water.  Usually when I get up Lola gets up and wants to be let out.  But this morning she was no where to be found.  So I went looking for her.   I went to check her love seat in the office where she sleeps during the day.   Nope not there.  She must be laying on the rug in the living room. Nope not there.  So the only place left to check was downstairs.  I went downstairs thinking she must be laying on some blankets on the floor.  Nope not there.  Then I see her curled up in a ball laying on the couch.  Then she saw me and sat up.  The best part was her expression.  She sat there for a minute looking embarrassed, surprised and exhausted all at the same time.  I wish I had my camera to capture it, but it was 4:30 in the morning. Who would have known there was a picture to capture?

Happy Friday!!

Introducing Otis

I mentioned yesterday that my dad got Otis from a shelter.  He was about a year old when my dad got him.  When we picked him out to go for a walk with us he was beyond excited and could not wait to meet new people and get some fresh air.  I would feel the same way if I were locked in a cage.

My dad decided he was the one.  Once he got home he had his own fair share of destruction.  Not to the same extend as Lola, be he did chew up his fair share of things, including shoes, books, stuffed animals (one was hand made by my grandma, dad was not happy about that) and even a book case.  I don't know why he would chew up a book case, you would think there would be splinters.  He did grow out of his destruction stage when he was about 3. 

One of Otis' favorite things to do is chase tennis balls.  He loves it.  And just recently we discovered he loves keep away.  Two people will throw the ball back and forth and Otis will run between the two people.  Kind of strange but he loves.  He is also a great squirrel patrol dog.  He will sit in the back yard and watch the trees and fences. and when one starts coming, he is off to make sure the cannot enter. When Lola comes around they are no match for the squirrels.

Otis checking a tree for a squirrel 

Lola loves rough housing and Otis is not all about that.  He will do that for about 3 minutes and he is done.  Otis would much rather be relaxing or pet.  And trust me if you are there and not petting him, he will be more than willing to allow it.

Otis is a mix of some kind but we are not sure of what.  Our thoughts are maybe part Portuguese water dog, or maybe labordoodle.   We really don't know.  What are your thoughts?

My History With Dogs

I have talked a lot about Lola here (obviously, the blog is about her), but I thought maybe I should talk a little about my history with dogs.  She here it goes. 

I have always been around dogs.  At least that is what I have come to believe, since there is a picture of my mom introducing me as an infant to Charlie, my parents dog.  (I think it was probably pretty hard to fabricate photos like that back then.)  Charlie was a corgi - terrier mix.  I love the Charlie stories.  There is one story of Charlie going missing for a week or two and my parents thought he was dead.  Then the next day there he was sitting on the door step waiting to be let in.  I always joke that there are little Charlies running around, since that was before the big push for spay and neutering came around. 

Next came Aspen.  Aspen was a Golden Retriever.  I remember him being the sweetest dog.  He would let me lay on him and climb all over him. Sadly, Aspen had an enlarged heart and had to be put to down when was 7 or 8.

Next came the Standard Poodle, Amadeus.  Yes, he was names Amadeus, after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  It was thought that he needed a sophisticated name given that he was a sophisticated breed.    Amadeus was a very well behaved dog.  And he is the dog I really remember growing up.  He was with me through elementary, junior high and high school.  And he was still around when I went to college.  At that point he was starting to get old and cranky.  Which I cannot blame him.  He lived to be 16 (112 in dog years assuming the conversion is still 7 years). I would be cranky too.

And then came Otis.  My dad got Otis while I was in college.  I but I still count him as partially mine.  I went to the shelter and helped pick him out.  Otis is a great dog.  There are plenty of stories about Otis.  Come back tomorrow for more about Otis (and Lola).

Thanks!

I would like to thank My Brown Newfies for the blog award they have given to us.  This is first award we have received and we are honored.  I guess eating the couch has payed off in its own way.

Here are the rules for receiving this award.

1) Thank the person who gave you the award

2) Share 7 things about yourself

3) Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discoved and you think are fantastic

4) Contact the bloggers you picked and let them know about the award

Here are 7 things about Lola

1. Lola is a lover.  She loves all dogs, big and small.   One of her favorite breeds to play with is boxers.  They have the same temperaments.  So they love playing together and rough housing.
2. Lola loves to lay underneath blankets. She will stick her nose under it until you lift it up and let her under.
3. Lola loves bananas and strawberries.  But she does not like carrots and does not quite know what to think about peanut butter.  She does not seem to like the texture.  She sticks her tongue out and will lick her lips like she is trying to get it out of her mouth.
4. Lola can destroy anything.  Even if it claims to be "indestructible", it can most likely be torn into tiny pieces by Lola.
5. No matter how hard you try Lola will always find a way to lick you in the face.  And the more you resist the harder she will try.  And trust me she will when and lick you.
6. Lola loves going to the vet.  It is very strange.  Most dogs dislike the vet but when we walk in Lola gets very excited.  She loves the attention from new people, even if they are sticking her with needles. They will stick her and she will turn right around and lick them in the face.
7. Lola likes chasing tennis balls.  But she loves chasing other dogs who are chasing tennis balls.  She would do that all day if she could, as long as no squirrels come out.

And now to pass the award on to 15 others

Doggy Days 

Bogart Handsome Devil 

Three Heeler's Wild

"Dog Gone It" - Byron's Blog

Zig Zaggin' Zoom

The Happy Pit Bull Blog

The J.A.Z. Pack

The Teacher's Pets

Why Everyone Should Train Dogs

Another Tequila Sunrise

Cedes of Change

Claire's Dog Diaries

Everything, Nothing and Dogs Too

Life with 5 Dogs

Lucy's Human

Wordless Wednesday

Lola Got Mail!

Lola was still pretty worn out after her busy weekend.  But she did get excited about something yestersay.  Lola got some mail.  Lola doesn't get treats.  She usually just gets her food and maybe some fruit if I am cutting up.  But I do not buy extra dog treats.  So when I see a free sample for dog food or treats I usually sign her up.  And Lola got a free sample in the mail.  And that perked her right up.

What Lola Did This Weekend

Lola had a pretty good weekend.  And by the end of is she was zonked out.  Here is what she did.

There were plenty of walks, morning, noon and night.  Lola loves walks regardless of the time of day.

Lola thought she would be nice and help me put the groceries away.

And in the process she found the surprise I bought for her.

She got to go on a car ride  and play with her buddy, Otis.  And do some squirrel patrolling.

And here is the most dramatic thing that happened this weekend.  I can home to this after I went to dispose of the old couch.

Are you thinking the same thing I thought?

Don't worry the couch is still in one piece.  It was actually an old pillow that got left on the floor.  Hope you all had a good weekend.   Even though it went way too fast.  Happy Monday!

Saturday Pet Blog Hop 8/14/2010

Dog Supplies with Swagbucks

We all know having a dog, or any pet for that matter, is not cheap.  Between vet bills, food, supplies and toys it can get expensive.  And especially in this economy, I'm sure most of us are trying to safe wherever we can.

One thing I love using is swagbucks.  It is a search engine similar to Google, yahoo, etc., except you earn points or swagbucks when you search.   The Swag Guy or Girl also post "codes" from time to time to help you earn more swagbucks.  Once you have enough swagbucks you can then redeem them for gifts or items listed on the site. (Check out this how to post from Blogging With Amy.  She gives some great step by step directions.)

Swagbucks are basically free cash to me.  I almost always cash my swagbucks in for $5 Amazon gift cards.  But you can also get Starbucks gift cards, Barnes & Noble gift cards and so much more.  You can check out the rewards and the number of swagbucks you need here.

Now, I am a numbers girl, so let me tell you how much I have earned.  I started tracking my earnings in April.  (I joined prior to that but did not log my earnings.)  I have earned 5,427 swagbucks since April 1, 2010.  I have redeemed 3,150 swagbucks for 7 $5 gift cards.  That is $35 free dollars.  If I continue to earn at the same rate, I could potentially earn $180 in Amazon gift cards.  Now, that is quite a few toys and poop bags.

I typically use my gift cards for dog supplies, but I have used them for books or gifts too.  I bought a dog bed for Lola, toys, and even poop bags.  I was able to get them for free or for a fraction of the price.  You know the old saying "A penny saved is a penny earned."

If you are interested on joining I have a box on the right side of my page that will link you right up to swagbucks or just go to www.swagbucks.com.  I highly recommend.  I love it.  (And trust me I would not write about it if I didn't.)

I used swagbucks to partially pay for this Molly Mutt bed.

And finally, here is a picture of Lola with one of her free toy.  And trust me she does not care one bit that it is free.  She is just has happy to chase it and chew it regardless of the price.

 Do you used swagbucks?  What other cost saving techniques to you use for toys and supplies?

Lola on the Furinture

Since this week has been about furniture and think it is only appropriate to show pictures of Lola on the furniture.  Now, I know she is a dog and should not really be on the furniture.  And that is my fault.  When she was a puppy, she was just so cute and I just wanted to cuddle with her and she wanted to cuddle with me.  And that is how it all began.  She still loves getting on the couch with me and cuddling or just sleeping with a blanket or pillow on the couch. I think she likes be able to just streach out.

She also will sit on this chair sometime when the sun is shinning on it.  It is her indoor sun chair.

She also has her own love seat in the office where she can sit and stare outside at the squirrels, birds, stray cats and whatever else comes along.  (Yes, she has her own love seat.  Yes, I know she is a dog and some people think it is ridiculous.  It is an old couch that was not being used.  If gets chewed up nothing is lost, except for her place to lay.)  It is on the west side of the house, so she gets some more sunbathing in the afternoon.  I have come home many days from work and found her sleeping on her love seat.  And oddly enough, she has not damaged this couch in anyway.

She is also very content laying on the bed in the master bedroom.  Every once in awhile, she will disappear and I will find her chilling on the bed.

And lastly her she is standing on a coffee table.  Now, this is not a normal occurrence.  In fact, I have only seen her do this on a couple of occasions.  I think she was actually look for a tennis ball that either disappeared on or under the couch.  But I had to include this picture.  I think it is hilarious.

Wordless Wednesday

Lola and the Couch

For some reason, Crazy Lola, decided that she liked the taste of sofas.  Yes sofas.  Why couldn't she pick something less destructive, like tissues or paper towels.  (Ok, that is not as much fun at the back end, but much cheaper).  A nice sofa was bought for my extra basement lounge area.  And I come home one day and low and behold, there is a hole in the side sofa.  At least that one is not too hard to fix.

Now, this is a little harder to fix. 

Yes, those are holes in the cushions.  Now, this is about the third or forth time this happened.  I flipped the cushions, been through about 3 or 4 slip covers.  It just did not seem to stop.

So how do you stop it.  I am still trying to figure that one out.  But here are a few things I have found.  There are non-toxic sprays that can be sprayed on furniture, carpet, walls, etc, that are bitter in flavor and will hopefully deter the dog from wanting to chew it let alone taste it.  And let me tell you, I got a little on my hand and it does not taste good.   Another thing I have heard, is putting a piece of foil on the couch.  I will be trying this technique. 

The other thing that has worked wonders, is just putting a heavy chair or another piece of furniture on the couch.  This has stopped Lola from chewing on the couch or even getting on it.  

  

She seems to have finally grown out of the chewing of the furniture (knock on wood), so it has been decided to buy a new couch.  I will still be using the techniques of putting the chair on the couch.  It is cheap and easy and if Lola ever decides she needs a taste again, this should deter her.

Destruction

At some point, when Lola was in her teenage years, she started going down the destructive path.  Not mentally, like we would say about a human teenager, an actual destructive path.  She decided she should chew up things.  Yes, I know this happens with all dogs.  Even my dad's dog, Otis, went down the same path.

Lola has chewed up a variety of things.  I sure I will even leave some out of this list.  There were of course shoes, paper towels, tissues, and books.  Even her own dog beds.  (Yes, there were multiple dog beds.  I thought she needed a bed so I tried a few.  But that is a whole other post.)  But there were even worse things. She has chewed a couple holes in the wall.  Although, that one I think is my fault.  

The brilliant idea of using a laser pointer and shinning it all on the wall and allowing her to chase it was presented to me.  I did it  and she loved it.  It thought it was a great way for her to get some more exercise and get some of the energy out.   But I think the red little dot was tormenting her in her dreams and during the day.  And one day, I came one to a hole in the wall.  Luckily, it was not too big and I was able to patch it.

She also likes the taste of couches.  Yes, couches.  If only she could chose something cheaper.  Check out the blog tomorrow for those stories.  Yes, there are stories.

Just to top off this post.  Here is one fun surprise I came home too.  In case you ever wondered what was inside of a pillow, you will now know.  And let me tell you, this stuff is not easy to clean up.  They are basically little balls of cotton.  It took a few days to get it all. Even with the vacuum.

The Puppy Years

I got Lola at about 8 weeks old.  And of course I thought she was the cutest puppy ever.  (I am sure it is like that with human babies too.  Your baby is the cutest baby there is.)  Puppies are the cutest things until they actually start acting like puppies, peeing and pooping in the house, chewing up things, waking up in the middle of the night to let them out, etc.  And it goes without saying that Lola did all those things.

She was about 10 pounds when I got here.  Needless to say, she did not stay that small.  She continued to grow, as did her energy.

And she managed to get a hold of many different things and have fun chewing up many different things.

Obviously, she liked the wrapping paper roll over the toy.  Really, this is just an excuse to post puppy pictures. Here are a few more.

Lola with Otis.  

Lola after a hard day of play, and it looks like she is having sweet dreams.

Trying to look of the porch wall.  Probably looking for squirrels.