Tag Archives: ACD

The Day of Poo

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Poor Pongo had such an off day at daycare today.  It was completely unexpected as nothing was out of the ordinary with him this morning.  He went through his usual morning routine: out to potty, in for breakfast, and back to bed until it’s time to go.  I dropped him off at daycare thinking he was pretty happy to be there but I guess I was wrong.

The report card reads: “Oh Mama! I can’t tell a lie.  It was the day of poo.  Just one of those days you realize it happens, don’t have to like it and it stinks.  No, I’m not proud but I am aware of my attitude and it needs a “removal”/flushing.”

I totally appreciate Miss Sue keeping her sense of humor, while having to deal with a cranky, moody Pongo as I know that can be no fun!

Field Trip!

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Pongo will be staying with Miss Kari over Spring Break.  To help him ease into staying with Miss Kari and her pack, Miss Kari and Miss Peg graciously took him yesterday to meet her three dogs.  Here’s the email I received from Pongo after his field trip:

Mom,

Today I went on a field trip with Miss Kari and Miss Peg.  When I left the building I saw your car, but then Miss Kari started to drive and I was confused because you were not there.  Miss Peg told me it was ok because Miss Kari’s car is just like yours.  Our field trip was my chance to visit the two remedial daycare homes where kids who are not so smart spend their days since they can’t go to Dog Tired. 

Our first stop was at Miss Kari’s house where I met Tobe, Abby and Maddie.  I was a very good boy and did not do anything out of line.  I greeted each dog very respectfully, which actually surprised both Miss Kari and Miss Peg.  We investigated each other and made our way around the yard.  Tobe peed on a lot of snow so I followed him around and did it too.  We all went number two and then Miss Kari and Miss Peg decided that it was a great start and we should head out on a good note.  I get to go again later this week to see my new friends once more.  Next time I will meet the cat and see the inside of Miss Kari’s house.

At Miss Peg’s house I didn’t meet any dogs put I did help them move a treadmill into the car so they could transport it to Dog Tired for the staff to use in the break room.  I was a very brave boy because that treadmill was big and mean and scared me a bit.  We arrived back at Dog Tired and I ran into class to tell all my doggie pals about my big adventure.  What a great day!

Love you – PONGO

And here’s Pongo after his field trip adventures…

One worn out boy (who was also being rather bad by making his sleeping nest right on top of Mama’s pillows!).

Better Late Than Never

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Way, way back when the grass was still visible, brown but visible, and the air held the smell of impending snow, I entered Pongo into a Halloween photo contest on the AuCaDo Cattle Dog forum I frequent.  Unfortunately, the moderator for the photo contests needed to take a hiatus from moderating so the contest was never completed.  Forum members voted but the polls were never closed and winners were never announced.  Until…yesterday.

  Fun Police Pongo lives again!

Say Cheese!

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Pongo loves to chew and he’s very good about only chewing appropriate things.  He has a toy basket full of Galileo Bones for him to chew at his leisure but his all-time favorite chew object is a raw beef marrow bone.

He gets to indulge in these while Steve and I eat dinner.  We are very careful about watching him so he doesn’t break off large pieces or partake in too much of a good thing and end up with an upset tummy.  It’s pure ecstasy for him to dive into his raw bone.

As you can tell, Pongo can be a total little brother when it comes to flaunting his bone in front of Reid.  Reid does get a bone too but spends a few minutes licking them and then she’s done.  I think it hurts her deteriorating teeth to chew on something so hard.  We end up putting her bone away when she’s done because Pongo will be greedy and want both bones.

We are always on the look out for chews that aren’t going to cause intestinal blockage (rawhides) or break off into big pieces that will have to be surgically extracted later (some raw bones).  I had seen these Himalayan Dog Chews at our local Mill & Feed store but always bypassed them because they were made out of Yak and Cow’s milk.

With ingredients like those, I assumed they were soft and would be devoured within minutes.  Then I read a post on the Notes From A Dog Walker blog about these dog chews.  The author was raving about them and how long they lasted, even with her most powerful chewer.  So, I picked some up the next time I was at Alaska Mill & Feed.

Pongo loves his new cheesy sticks!  I love that they break off in small pieces and if he does happen to break off a larger piece, he’s able and pretty good about chewing them down into smaller pieces.  The only drawback the Himalayan Dog Chews have is they give Pongo some pretty horrendous gas.  Oh well…I guess that’s the price you pay for some peace of mind.

Back In The Game

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After a holiday hiatus, we are back into our Nose Work classes.  Pongo has sniffed his way to Advanced Nose Work and is preparing for a trial in May.  Our instructor Liz, at Alaska Dog Sports made today’s class especially challenging for the dogs.  Instead of using the usual small, metal tins to hide the scents, she put the scented q-tips into empty pens.  That means the scent could only travel through the very small opening at the end of the pen.

I love watching Pongo take on a challenge but felt for him today when he struggled a bit to find the hides.

We also had a chance to practice box drills.  Pongo is working really hard on alerting with a sit instead of becoming the Smash-O-Nator and destroying the hide or the box.  All of these small details matter in a trial.  He can find the hide no problem but if he disturbs the hide area, it’s a fault.  So, practice, practice, practice!

Workin’ Out

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Exercising outside when it’s 7 below zero is not really my cup of tea.  I’ll do it if I have to but I’d prefer not to.  Pongo and I went for a 40 minute walk today.  And while it was a brisk walk in attempt to stay warm, I don’t really call that a workout. So, I hopped on the treadmill this afternoon.  In the past, we’ve tried to get Pongo to walk on the treadmill by himself but in order for him to walk on it, you have to be walking on it with treats.  I wasn’t too worried about him getting his exercise today as we walked this morning and played frisbee out in the yard a couple of different times.  But when he decided to jump on the treadmill with me, I took advantage.

(I apologize for the poor video quality but walking, while videoing and feeding treats to Pongo was a task in itself!)

Holiday Highlights

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I was too comatose yesterday to even think about blogging.  The past two days have been filled with wrapping, cooking, opening, eating, drinking, and just trying to maintain a calm household.

I’ve really enjoyed these past couple of days.  When I have time and am not completely drained of energy, I love to cook.  The prepping is soothing.  The cooking and baking is fulfilling.  The eating is, sometimes, outstanding.  I wouldn’t call myself a good cook because I have messed up many a meal but overall, I think I do alright.

Christmas Eve Dinner: Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip, Bread, Salad, and Filet Mignon (for Steve)

Christmas Dinner: Bison Pot Roast (for Steve), Turk’y Roast (for me), Cranberry Sauce, Sweet Potatoes and Salad

The highlight of our Christmas extravaganza was watching Pongo’s excitement rise as he realized…there were presents under the tree!  I don’t know what changed for him because last year it took all we had to get him interested in opening presents.

But this year…he was OUT OF CONTROL!

The only thing that seemed to calm him down was putting on his new survey vest–a present from Papa.

Poor Reid just didn’t seem to be enjoying herself like she usually does.

I’m guessing she was annoyed at Pongo’s overly exuberant enthusiasm.

And, the fact that he kept trying to steal all of her presents, which was absolutely not allowed.  As you probably can figure out, there was A LOT of redirection going on.

After the animals were satiated with opening gifts, Steve and I also enjoyed our Christmas morning.

And what was suppose to be mine…

is now his.  Oh well, that’s what happens when you have a baby head.

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season!

It’s A Good Thing

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My mother-in-law, Bev has a sign that hangs in her house.  It reads: “Martha Stewart Doesn’t Live Here…It’s A Good Thing.”  I chuckle every time I read that sign because both Bev and my Mom are very crafty but not in a Martha Stewart-ish type of way.  I envy the creativity that comes from the brilliant craft minds of these two women.  The quilting and knitting projects they create are beautiful!  And, I definitely could have used their expertise last night when I was cramming in some marathon sewing of Pongo’s Christmas stocking. Nothing like procrastinating until the very last minute to get something done (voting for the holiday stocking contest at Dog Tired Doggie Daycare started today).

I’m no Martha Stewart.  I know she would be appalled at the amount of time I took, all doing and re-doing I had to do, and the choice words that sometimes flew out of my mouth.  Eight hours of non-stop sewing later, I think the end product turned out to be something I can be proud of hanging on our stocking chest of drawers with care (unfortunately, no mantel in this house).

Trying to capture Pongo’s affinity for rocks.

The infamous Pongo ears.

The innocent porcupine Pongo decided to tangle with.

All ready for Santa!

the DESTROYER

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There isn’t a tug toy out there safe from Pongo.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a tug toy durable enough to match the intensity of his play.  He doesn’t chew on them.  We don’t play tug very often with him.  But, the manner in which he shakes and whips that toy around, they only last about a day…some only 5 minutes.  What I don’t understand is how he hasn’t knocked himself out yet!

Steve and I talk about inventing some titanium strength plastic to make the perfect Pongo-proof tug toy from but until then, we’ll be on the look-out for the ideal tug toy.