A New Pal - by Zaphod

 Dear pals,

I apologize for the amount of cat content on this blog. I am sure the ghost of Lee is going to come and haunt the Lady. 

I am mostly indifferent to the Rivers. Styx bugs me the most. He will come into the closet and look at me However, my life hasn't really changed at all since they joined the pack and they mostly leave me alone. 

Enough about them. Let's talk about my other new friend.

Lady and Man have been having some trees removed. One of the guys who is doing it brings his dog Tri with him.

Tri is a very nice girl. She is 5. I am very interested in her and want to be friends.

Tri let's be friends

Tri isn't that into me. Her man said that humans had abused her before he got her. She used to be afraid of everything. She is making progress and is cleared loved. 

In spite of her past, Tri still loves people

Lady and Man let me sniff her a bit, and then make me move on. 

It has been nice to get to know her, even if I want to know her more. 

Tomorrow I will catch you up on our snow contest! 

your pal, the friendly Phod

Wordless Wednesday - Evening Field Walk with Friends

 

New Friends!

Dear pals,

Saturday was a big day for us. For the first time in like 2 years, we had friends over and we got to meet some new to us dogs. Lady before they arrive "I will take good pictures for the blog." Lady after they left "I was so busy I didn't get many pictures and no real good ones."

Anyway, here is the best we have. 

Phod meeting Dave

Hailey checking out Carl

Did we mention they also brought two babies?  Seven month old twins!

For the first time ever Hailey did not bark at the babies, even when they were crying!

 

For the most part we were outside, but we did come in to eat. Phod welcoming Carl to the house.

Lady says we were super good with the dogs, people and babies. We were very mad that Dave and Carl got to go to the lake without us. Callie also dropped by to say hi, so Lady was thrilled to have 5 dogs for a bit.  There were a few instances of one of us telling Dave (who is only 1) to back off. Carl, at a mature 11, was not as much in our face. Lady and Man told the friends they were all invited back anytime they want.

We hope we get to go to lake next time they come! 

My Kids - By Phod

Yesterday we introduced the pup from next door. Those pictures were taken when the kids from next door were at school. Over the pandemic, the kids and I have become good friends. Tere is 10 year old J, 8 year old M, and my special boy, who is not pictured, almost 5 year old D. D and I are very good friends, but I love the girls too. Sometimes I see the girls at the bus stop in the morning and often they stop by on their walk home if we are out. 

My girls, stopping to play on the way home

D loves me sooooo much that when his family was starting to look for a new dog,  their 13 year old Diesel, who we never met as he did not like other dogs, unfortunately went to the bridge earlier this year. D told his parents he wanted a big orange dog like me! So while the rest of the family may have wanted a blue coloured dog, he is very excited that Callie is orange. 

I am very lucky to have kids who love me. Hailey is doing ok with them too. She always has to bark when she first sees them, but the kids are use to it and aren't scared. Then she lets them pet her. She just doesn't love them like I do but she does like them.

We are lucky to have neighbourhood kids!

Mischief Monday - The Puppy From Next Door

Last week, we eluded to the fact our neighbours had gotten a new puppy. We met her very briefly one day, but last Tuesday, at lunch while we were outside, we heard a rustling in the bush. Hailey, went on high alert at the intruders. 

Phod came running across the yard. 

Out of the bush came the pup with one of her adult people.

Meet Callie! When we met her, she was almost 8 weeks old. She is a blue heeler, with the red colouring. At the time of our meeting she was about 8lbs, but will grow up to be around 50 likely. 

Lady would like to say how proud she was with us when we met her and when we have seen her since. We do a good job with the sniffing and letting her sniff us. 

Phod is always happy to see her, but not sure how to play with her. 

Hailey is always excited and always tries and play, but having to be on leash and having a puppy who doesn't know how to play make it hard. We are sure the girls will figure it out!

During her first visit, Callie kept eating the rocks in the driveway. She has a lot to learn! She also didn't stay still very long! 

Welcome to the 'hood Callie! We look forward to causing mischief with you (and hearing about the mischief you create!)

Ps. Blogger is causing Lady grief and everyday won't let her comment on some other blogger blogs. It let's her comment on others so we are sorry if we couldn't comment on yours! We have no idea what is going on lol.

Making New Friends - By Zaphod

Hi Pals,

As some of you may know, while I am a very loving pup, the first year or so of my life was a little hard. I try not to remember it, but I know people were mean to me and sometimes I can be a little nervous about strangers, especially men.

However, while visiting Grandma and the Big Guy I made a new BFF. The little people in our family call him Q, so that is what I will call him here.

Lady said she was very proud of me for being so brave. I think what I learned from my hard past is there are just some humans you know you can trust, and Q is one of the good ones.  After the crowds left Sunday (that is when we had the big dinner), Q and I had some quality time.

Lee was a little stand-offish when guests were over. She settled but really didn't like the strangers touching her. She totally missed out.

This was one of my favourite parts of having all the people over.

Your pal, Zaphod

A New Friend At The Beach

On Labour Day weekend, Lady's BFF came for a visit to celebrate her and Lady's 25 years of knowing each other. After dinner, the Ladies took Phod for a swim.

Phod and BFF

Phod met a new friend at the beach. An 8 month old, highly energetic lab named Beau. Beau's people said she was the most exhausting dog they have ever have. She has to go to daycare a couple times a week to try and tire her out! Lady said that was like her other dog!

Phod was very gentle and patient with this bouncing ball of energy. However, he did let her know that it was not acceptable to take his bumper out of his mouth when he was swimming. Beau's parents thought he told her off in a very gentlemanly way.

Phod and Beau

Phod swimming to get the bumper. The ear that is down is the one that gets infected easily. 

Phod and Beau

While Phod had a great time, Hailey Bug was very put out that she did not get to go and play too! 

Sad Week

Remember our friend Huey? We went to the dog park with him and his family a couple of months ago. Huey died this week.

It was a complete accident. Huey was in the yard alone, like he had been a million times before. Huey's people don't know what happened, but somehow he got into the pool and drowned. He has never gone near the pool before.

We are devastated. His family is devastated. It is so sad. As the survivors of an accident that took a dog life, we know there is not point in going over the should have/would haves. All we can do is go forward. Lady says it is a reminder to be careful around water and a reminder that sometimes for no good reason accidents happen.

We were also sad because our Lady left us alone with the Man for 3 night sleeps as she went to a conference near Boston. She returns today. We will report how that went tomorrow.

Take care everyone and be safe!

A Play Date

On Labour Day, I set up a play date with the dogs. Taking the dogs into the city is always a big production because of Phod's car sickness. We have to plan it the night before to give him his drugs, and not feed him in the morning. I feel bad that he can't do it more, but it is our reality.

Our play date was with a friend's 8 year old, rescued, Cocker Spaniel/Lab mix, Huey.

Phod meeting Huey

We drove into town and met them at one of the big dog parks, Bruce Pit. Cousin Emma and Uncle Chris met us too.  My friend has a 6 year old and an 8 year old. Hailey barked at them for a second and was then fine. She was also amazing when a toddler came over to her. She just ignored him.

Hailey showing her tricks to my friend's kids

We walked around for about an hour. The pups were all good. Hailey did chase a few squirrels, but came back. Zaphod sat in the one puddle in the park. Huey tried to hump everyone. Just normal dog stuff.

Walking in the woods

Squirrel Hunting

Happy pups! 

Emma

Huey

Then we were invited back to my friend's house. Hailey and Zaphod have not had the opportunity to visit other places that our little dogs did. Bigger dogs, and dogs like Hailey are more of an imposition. It was only the second house other than ours that we had taken Phod too. My friend has a fully fenced yard, and because it was a nice day, we stayed outside. The dogs were amazing. They just pupped around and Phod kept trying to go into the house. It was funny that Huey didn't try and hump everyone at the house.

Visiting a house

Overall, it was great and we would do it again!