One going on to Two

Since my big puppy turned two this month, I put together some photos to see how his life has changed in the past year.

These days, my boy is never on the couch ... unless in hot pursuit of Miss Riko.

Moving objects do not excite him that much as he has handed the reigns over Miss Riko to give first chase or tackle.

He hardly ever snitches anything lying around because there are more adult things to do like go walking and humping.

He doesn't find it all that exciting to retrieve a ball for tiny treats. But, he'll fetch anything if the reward is to go walking.

He loves his girl(friend) enough to allow her to wrestle him down.

But, some things never change like sniffing around, chasing cats and marking his territory...and humping for that matter.

My boy's always a trooper at the vet, who doesn't own an animal scale. Each time, the vet carries my boy on the scale and deducts his weight to get my boy's weight. So, I always wonder whether he's really 80 pounds...maybe plus/minus 5 pounds.

When I get up in the morning, he's always waiting for me by the bathroom door like this. When we come home at night, he does the same because I always shower when I get home. He always rinses his face in the shower before bedtime.

Like momma, he still hates the heat. He's never out in the afternoons unless absolutely necessary

He thinks it's ok to lick his yogurt lying down.

He still loves the water!

and, he thinks it's great to still be able to do his frog pose at two!

Slow days ahead

Ever since my sports doctor (yeah, I have one now) ordered full bed/ couch rest, things at home have come to a standstill. All previous routines disrupted.

Nowadays, mornings are threaded with caution. You don't see me walking pass the bookshelf where I keep the door keys or going near the front door. This is to avoid any notion of dog-walking in the boy's mind. Once we get up, breakfast is promptly served. After their meals, I will declare to them that it's morning nap time.

This week, the mornings have been cool. Here's the boy basking in the morning sun.

Poor kids lay in total boredom till late afternoon. Luckily, they are pretty laid back. My girl occasionally comes over to get her head patted. My boy usually naps in the master bathroom and I don't see him until he's done napping.

Then, at around 3 pm, my boy wakes up from his nap. He lounges on the floor waiting for the sun to cool or until he's good and ready to get up.

Like clockwork, he will come over to nudge me at 4.30pm because he is ready to go out. If I don't get up after a few nudges, he will start to lecture (bark) me. If that didn't work, he will start to clamber all over me on the coach. Then, Miss Riko will join in the fun until I finally get up. Then, my boy escorts me into the bathroom to get changed. He follows me around the house... right up to the car to make sure that I don't get distracted from doing other things.



When we get to daycare, he wants to go for his walk. And, he's one boy with a persistent face! Luckily, Granddad has been taking him out all week. Ever since I became is sole dog-walker, he hadn't been bugging my dad to take him out walking. Grand dad was wondering why he started to bug him on weekdays again. I think my boy thinks it's the weekend because I'm at home.

He's happy and contented because for the past week, everyday was a weekend to him!

The day has come

My sister tells me over tea time yesterday that she dreamt that Riko got pregnant...wobbly tits and all. My girl was laying under the table. Sis looked down and said "Is that blood?". And suddenly, my baby's all grown up!

My boy stayed overnight at daycare. My girl came to visit this afternoon.

Here she is looking a bit moody and wondering what's with the ridiculous fashion momma is putting her through.

But, all moodiness was forgotten once we reached daycare. She felt too excited to see her brother. Thankfully, the boy did not get horny in any way. Grandma had to tie a sash to secure her panties because she was wagging her tail to hard.

After a long moody day, she slept like a log. I had to move the old sheets under her on the bed, she slept through the whole process... as if she was heavily sedated.

Occupational hazzards

On weekdays, I may be bossing people around...but on weekends, I'm basically the dog walker....serving my kids hand-and-foot. Well, this weekend, I served my left foot.

I managed to sprain my ankle after losing my footing while holding off my boy from getting too close to a (silly) toy dog in the park. The good news is it will give me time to kick my leg up (recovery includes keeping my foot elevated at all times to reduce swelling).. and catch up on some leisure reading.

The bad news is saying "No" to my boy and feeling all guilty for not doing my weekend job well. Here is he waiting patiently to go for a walk after his sunday afternoon nap.

When patience runs thin, he moves closer to nudge me to go out.

Here's his still-hopeful face after I said "No walk-walk".


My poor boy...He's is the culprit and yet, he's the single most important reason driving me to full and permanent recovery right now. :D

Tiny terror strikes again!

I purchased some pretty cactus last weekend in my constant attempt to rescue my terminally ill garden. I left them on the garden coffee table thinking their prickly thorns will keep the kids away.

But NOOOOO....Riko thought they looked rather like cute cupcakes in the basket and helped herself to a few pots while I was out for dinner.

When I got back, I immediately gave her a earful. She ran to hide at the back of the garden. Despite calling her back, she was just lurking at the side of the house. When she finally came into the house, she dashed straight into the bedroom and hid under the bed. She hid there until bedtime. At bedtime, we had a heart-to-heart talk about it in bed.

But, I guess the lesson learnt got erased during her sleep. The next day, she mouth-picked another batch of cactus pots from the basket on the table. I found them strewn on the lawn. Once again, she got a earful from me. She was put on her leash over breakfast and thereafter..


...until, she pulled the collar out of her neck on her own. I guess the lesson learnt will be erased again during her afternoon nap. So, the basket of cactus are safe on the top of the shoe rack for now.

Happy birthday!

My Heart Boy turns two today. Big handsome boy already :D

They likey...

Facing a rough patch with food, I'm trying out a new brand and rotating the flavours to curb boredom. The latest kibbles cost a bomb..and a half. Thank goodness, they liked it or else, I may have to finish the bag :O.

I seriously can't believe that my kids are eat healthier than me!



INGREDIENTS
Fresh deboned salmon, salmon meal, herring meal, russet potato, fresh deboned lake whitefish, sweet potato, peas, salmon oil (preserved with vitamin E), fresh deboned walleye, fresh deboned herring, sun-cured alfalfa, fresh deboned flounder, fresh deboned lake trout, dehydrated organic kelp, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, apples, cranberries, saskatoon berries, black currants, choline chloride, psyllium, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile flowers, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, sea salt, vitamin supplements (vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin C, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12), mineral supplements (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium), dried Lactobacillus acidophilus product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.

Food for thought

Riko is one fussy eater.

Recently, she just wants to be served plain kibbles...without any cooked meats...do not sog the kibbles with meat broth. In the mornings, I have to allocate 5 to 10 minutes to stand by her to make sure she focuses on her food bowl. It's also impossible to feed her daily glucosamine and monthly heartworm pills. Despite breaking them to smaller pieces, her superb mouth control is able to filter out the pill bits. They automatically fall out of her mouth like unwanted seeds.

But, there are some things she just loves - yogurt and cheese. Perhaps, a reminisce from her past goat life. :D

If you have not seen a labrador that refuses food, come over to my place. Look how skinny she is! :(

The Chariot - Test of Courage Part 2

We must live on the neighbourhood chariot route. When we got home from dinner today, there was some commotion on the street leading into the house. I thought maybe someone had died or a house break-in (so much for positive thoughts!). Well, we found out that the chariot is coming again.

This time around, my kids were as quiet as mice...nobody let out a single bark the whole time. They were watching the whole parade intently. Notice the line of retreat as the chariot made it down the junction in the below photo.

As the chariot passed upfront, Ruki thought it was best be sit by me at the front door. Funnily, Ruki had a long drool coming down the side of his mouth, which was shut as tight as a clam, the whole time.

The kids enjoyed the show from a safe distance. I think they were mesmerized :D.

When it finally passed, a small crowd followed. Ruki must have thought it wasn't quite a "safe distance" and retreated into the kitchen to wait for the coast to be clear again.


My boy can bark as fierce as a rottie at times...but at times like this, he can be such a scaredy cat!

Photo on 31 July 2010

Something about Mari(ko)

I often make passing comments that my girl is more dog-like than my boy. But, as soon as I make such statement, I think I have to eat my words. This is her typical routine at our house:
1. In the morning, she licks any part of me that is outside the covers...to check if I am still asleep.
2. She sits in front of me the moment I am awake for her morning pet as I question her on what she has been up to for the past 2 hours since she got up.
3. She leaps into the car as soon as I open the car door to get the dog leash to go walking.
4. She watches Ruki and I leave the house for our morning walk from the back seat of the car.
5. She waits patiently by the gate for our return.
6. She gets way too excited that she could hard sit still to be leashed for her walk.
7. She automatically heads for the bathroom when we get back from our walk out of habit...although her wipe-down location has shifted to the kitchen.
8. She seldom waits in the kitchen as I'm preparing breakfast because it's more exciting being outside until meal time.
9. She takes her time eating. She eats like a cat, chewing every kibble before swallowing.
10. She eats slowly from one side of the plate to the other. She makes sure everyone waits for her to finish before we leave the kitchen. Otherwise, it's our fault she didn't clean her plate.
11. She excuses herself from the breakfast nook when duty calls for her to bark at something outside. (even if the shortest way out is crawling between the backdoor grills which is getting too narrow by the day for her).
12. She goes to investigate her brother's bowl when he's done. If there are leftovers, she has a taste before coming back to her bowl.
13. She is called at least twice to get back to her bowl to finish her food.
14. When breakfast is done, she always thinks it's time to play/ wrestle her brother down the ground.
15. She hangs out under the bathroom sink while I get ready for work.
16. She is first to jump into and out of the car to day care.
17. She jumps like a silly billy goat when I get home.
18. She waits at the kitchen to get her wipe-down and nightly yogurt snack.
19. She perches on my lap at least twice to see what I'm doing/ eating at my desk.
20. Twice a night, she sits attentively at my side and awaits to be petted.
21. She gets at least one belly rub with her nightly pep-talk.
22. She loves to check on her brother to make sure he is sleeping in the bedroom.
23. She sleeps on the coach with her chin rested on the arm rest until I go to bed.
24. But, she dashes outside at lightning speed, if she hears a pin dropped from outside.
25. She always thinks my side of the bed is the best place to sleep.
26. When she's scooted into her rightful place, she makes sure her bum is always facing my face when she sleeps.
27. She thinks anytime between 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. is good time to rub her nose on my toes to signal to be led outside to pee or stretch her legs.

I guess she has trained me well. o.O

Photo on 26 June 2010

Not-so-bravehearts

I was watching Robin Hood with my earphones tonight. I could hear the kids barking in the background. Quite normal. But after a long while, it didn't stop...in fact, it got louder. So, I decided to investigate ...for the sake of my neighbours. I looked outside and saw this.


It must be for an Indian festival of some kind. As the chariot was coming down the road, the kids bark excitedly at the gate. My girl slowly retreated to the front door to watch it pass. She was rather scared...as she hasn't seen anything like this before.


When the chariot got to the front of the house gate, my boy made a dash for his life...to the back of the house! Sigh...there goes my hopes that he will one day save my life.

My Not-so-braveheart freaked out and ran for the hills. Only after a while, he came out of hiding...and moved to the side of the house to watch chariot pass by.

Photos on 24 July 2010

The spoilt of the spoilt

So, I am at my desk doing stuff after sending the kids to bed. My boy comes out from the bedroom half an hour later to nudge me.



This can be two things - "it's time for me to go to bed" or "please check the air-con". Too early for my bedtime. So, I went to the bedroom to check. Sure enough, the room was stuffy. The temperature was adjusted and all is well again at sleepville.

July Birthdays

AWWWW...my kids...all smiley and looking good with grandma..



They are seldom still enough to take photos together. So, this is just perfect:D
Yeah, these are the same kids who wrecked my flower bed 6 hours earlier. They are lucky they are cute ;)

Tsunami strikes again

Black Monday. I realized that I left my car keys in the ignition and the battery was dead this morning.

So, the kids couldn't get to daycare since the only car they will climb into is mine.
So, they were (real) home alone until my car was restored.
So, they left to their own devices...hmmm.. my kids unsupervised. o.O


Now, I have left them at home before for a couple of hours - indoors and outdoors. The house was still intact when I returned. But today, the usual suspect decided to do some gardening in my one-month old flower bed at the garage. It was literally tsunami-ed!

When we got home, I put on my stern voice - who did that? As usual, the culprit was the first to flinch from the guilt. She had the same face and low head hanging like the earlier time ... like this.


As I was sweeping up the mess, they tried to hide behind the bushes. They didn't dare to step into the house until I was in the shower. When I came out, they were in the hall keeping a low profile like this.

Then, I called upon my girl to come to me. She hesitated a while before walking towards me. When I said "naughty girl", she circled back. So, I called again. When she finally came and sat down, I lectured her for a few seconds. She had a truly sorry almost-tearing face like this.

When I was done, she walked away and sat down. My dumb blonde came over and sat in front of me apologetically. Their normal routine was totally upset today. So, I decided not to punish them by sending them to bed without supper. So, they got wiped-down and my girl had her yogurt as usual. Usually, she will hang around in the hall and garden till midnight. But tonight, she gingerly walked straight to the bedroom after her yogurt at 9pm. :O

Hopefully, the lesson is learnt. I might just put a dead plant at the crime scene...as a warning to them.

All photos are from my collection except for second photo since my camera doesn't take good night photos.

Bath Time

The weekend begins with bath time after their walk in the park. My kids are total opposites when it comes to bathing.

When the leash comes out, my boy's face lights up. YES! YES! YES!. My boy enjoys all scrubbing and the massage. It's probably the only time he listens attentively and follow instructions. Stand still - left-side scrub, turn right-side scrub, bum-tail, neck-ears, cheek-rubs, lie-on-the-back (legs up) tummy scrub, ..stand up RINSE. Shake-shake. Towel dry.


While the boy enjoys the attention and pampering, my girl has to be coaxed to the leash. When the water comes, she stands like a statute until the whole process is done.


I'm trying to ease her into any water-related activities. She's just not into them...yet. I hope one day she will be ready.

Photos on 17 July 2010

Dog traffic jam and pesky cat pedestrians

Got to a late start this morning. The kids were already up and ready for the day over two hours ago. So, off I went walking with the boy. Hardly 10m out of the house, we approach our morning man-on-bike with his dog. Now, most of the time my boy is cool with bike man's dog. Ruki will normally slow down and whimper a bit because he wants to get closer for a sniff. Other times, he just goes all-barky...like the dog is a sworn enemy. Today, he was psycho-barky :(

So, we turned back immediately because I will have nothing to do with this bad behaviour. Ruki got an earful from me during his walk of shame home. I took my girl out instead. When we got back, he was calmer..with only his usual hints of excitement of being his turn to go out. I wonder whether he remembers his bad deeds from 15 minutes ago. Before we got leashed up to go out again, Heran, the black lab came walking with his owner and Ruki went territorial barky at the gate. It's NO GO again.


So, I went to do some weeding, while the kids doing some crazy chasing around the lawn. After 15 minutes, we got ready for our walk. Just as we open our gates, my neighour's maid was outside with their mongrel. Another NO GO. By the time we finally made out walk, we are faced with another challenge. It seems that the 10am slot is for cat traffic! So many cats...maybe because it was garbage collection day. I had to be on high alert because my boy is prone to sudden lunges to get close to them. I'm glad to make it back in one piece today.

Saturday is bath day...so, they are spanky clean today. While waiting for breakfast, they were play tugging, wrestling and chasing each other round the house. Crazy. Then,they gobbled down breakfast and went away fighting over the hump pillow. What's with all the energy today?? The worst thing is Ruki aggravated his paw injury. Slight bleed. :(


First, Riko got sleepy and konked out while holding to her tug rope.

Finally at noon, both were knocked out cold. What a morning!


Photos on 3 July 2007, messy bed coz it's laundry day

A Blast from the Past

Last Christmas Day

Paw problems

My boy cut his paw pad during his walk last weekend. It's a deep cut in his right hind leg. He seems to be fine - no limping, no whining. Such a trooper.



I was worried that he's in some pain..but NOPE. It's business as usual. This means no slacking on the morning walks, mama! ;)


The wound is being cleaned twice a day. I've tried wrapping it to keep out the dirt. He will patiently leave it on until it get in his way. Today, he wore an old sock but it stayed on for a minute before it fell out.

I need a nifty boot like this...not some make-shift red cloth.


I looked up my lab forum. Apparently, there's not much one can do because the vets does not stitch it even though it's deep (tho' one dog got his wound glued up by the vet). Just need to keep the wound clean and dry....which may be a challenge in rainy weather. Plus, I can't reason with my boy that it's not a good idea to walk with an injured paw.


Photos on 26 June 2010

Sometimes you wonder...

...whether they have dreams when they grow up...maybe, achieve something in life....


Well...since early this year, Mariko has moved from under my study table to the bedroom floor, to the foot of my bed...and have inched herself closer to my pillow. I think she has now reached her sleep goal. o.O

Pink panties for breakfast

So, today I decided to work from home and spend some time with my kids.

I was awaken at 7.45am by the sound of rummaging in the bathroom. I yelled out RIKO and sure enough, she scrambled out of the room. Sure enough, she handpicked my undies by climbing into the bathtub to get to the laundry pile. When I went outside, there was paper strewn all over the garden by the usual suspect, Riko...who decided to check out the rubbish bag by the gate this morning. By now, they were tugging my panties around the garden, chasing each other around the car...and I was fuming mad!

For an hour, I totally ignored them. By now, the stolen item laid surrendered in the garden. Ruki knew he was in deep trouble when I dumped the panties into his bowl. He nudged me every ten minutes to signal for his walk. Each time, he got NAUGHTY BOY...and he went away to his corner to feel sorry (normally, he will nudge incessantly until I got up my chair). The silly girl, on the other hand, probably cannot relate her wrongdoing to her cold shoulder punishment. She went about running oblivious of the trouble she was in.

At around 9am, she ran into the house with upturned ears looking silly. I burst out laughing at her cute face. Usually only one ear get upturned at a time....so she must have been running at top speed to achieve this look. ;)


Poor boy is often sucked into Riko's mischief. So, he got to go for his walk later that morning.


Photos on 25 June 2010