What?

 Man, tell Lady I don't want to have my picture taken.

Fine - what do you want?

Are we done yet?

The Service I Expect - by Lee

 Dear pals,

I always like to keep things fresh and keep my people on their toes. This past week I have added a new game.

We go out. I go on my perimeter patrol. Then I decide it is too much effort to walk up the hill or up the stairs to the front door and I demand to be let in the basement.

This door is only opened for me when there is another person inside, because it is locked.

your pal, Hailey Bug who is trying new things out

Perimeter Patrol - by Lee

 Dear pals,

If I am honest, there is one really good thing about getting old. I get a lot more off leash time now. Lady says it is because I can't run and jump as fast. I got in the bush once this summer, and got stuck and didn't like it. I am likely only going to wander next door and the neighbours are happy to have me visit.

One of the things I want to do 1-2 times a day, is what Lady calls my perimeter check. I walk around the edge of the yard, checking things out. Lady usually follows me, just to be sure. She doesn't 100% trust me. I can't imagine why?

your pal, the patrol pup, Hailey Bug

Funny Habit

 Hailey has a funny habit. As we are in the process of changing foods, we have mixed the old and the new ones together. 

She likes to take pieces she doesn't like out of the bowl (ideally Phod's side if he doesn't finish it)

then proceed to try and bury this "bad food" on the floor.

Note: She eats most of both foods, it is just some pieces of the old food are not acceptable to the princess. However, sometimes after burying the offensive piece, she will eat it. 

Enjoying the Outdoors - by Phod

 Dear pals,

While I like to spend most of my time in the closet, when the people go outside, I like to be with them, to make sure they are safe.

I can check the yard and look towards Callie's to listen to make sure they are all ok. 

I can enjoy the new deck that Lady and Man remind me they spent a lot of money on, when I am annoyed they are outside and I don't feel like being outside with them. 

I can't get love. Sometimes even pets with a foot. 

These are the simple things that makes this old dog happy.

Grass Bath - by Phod

Dear pals,

On days I am not feeling too stiff, I still love a good roll. Lady says I am having a grass bath. 

She can't imagine how I get so much dirt in my ears sometimes. 

Rolling is the best.

your pal, Phod, roller extraordinaire

Trouble on A Tuesday - Things That Need to Go In The Night

It isn't every night, but a few nights a week, Miss Hailey Bug continues to need to go out in the night. There isn't a clear pattern, although not pooping after dinner seems to be more related to the need for a night trip. Somewhere between 2-4 am, Miss Bug wakes up and starts to pace around the bedroom and won't settle until we go out. 

If the Man takes her out, they stay in the yard, but if I take her out, we go for a walk to Callie's driveway and back. The reason we go this far is because Hailey likes to poop on Callie's yard, so I am hopeful that if we walk that way, she will go.  Very, very rarely, Phod wakes up and joins us on this night time adventure. 

Tired the day after a 3:30 am walk

I do what I can to try not to wake up too much. I don't turn lights on. I don't put my glasses on. I throw a jacket and shoes, clip on the leash and we go, pjs and all.  I appreciate both the time with my girl and parts of the night I don't usually see. We have heard the owl and the whip-poor-will, seen the stars and watched  beautiful firefly shows. The other night, while out with Man, Lee got to bark at the raccoon that was yelling at her. 

This is the current chapter of our lives. It is difficult and an honour and a privilege to share the golden years with Lee. I hope someday I look back at this fondly.

A tired and grateful Lady

The Two Different Reactions

Last weekend, after doing a lot of yard work, I decided to lay down in the grass. This is how each of the dogs reacted to this.

First up - Phod

What are you doing Lady?

This is scary

Why are you being weird?

I am going to stay over here

And with the complete opposite reaction, Miss Bug

Now that I licked up your nose, I am going to stand over you and you can pet my belly

How do you think your dog would react if you did this?

Mischief Monday - My Favourite Toilet - by Lee

 Dear pals.

As you know we live on 3 acres, surrounded by bush and field. There are many places to walk and do my business.

Do you know where my favourite place to go is? 

Plotting my escape

Callie's lawn! As often as possible, I try and sneak over and do my business there. Somedays I will refuse until my people take me on a walk by her house. Yes, I have decided Callie's yard is my toilet. 

Phod waiting on the path between houses to see if he can come over too

Lady says it isn't neighbourly to do such things. I say, they don't care (Callie's people have said so much). I guess we should be lucky to have such friendly neighbours. 

Your pal Hailey Bug

Necessary? - by Lee

Sometimes when I am outside, I see Callie out in her yard. When this happens, I have to bark, a lot. Callie will usually bark back. 

Lady wonders if this is necessary, and I say it is. How else will I keep up with the going ons in the hood?

Mischief Monday - More About Poop

I realize the Man and I talk about the dogs' poop a lot. We are always asking did they, go, when did they last go, did it look ok, etc. etc.  It may be a mild obsession. As mentioned last week, we have a poop eating problem. Hailey has always had this tendency and if anything it has gotten better in old age. Phod has definately developed this more in old age.

So I did some research and landed on trying these:

They past the first test, the dogs will eat them. They have failed the second test as they seem to have upset the dogs' tummies and made them have to poop more (Phod went 6 times one day - he usually goes 3). We have yet to decide what to do about this.  So we are doing our best to pick up their poop right away and now the snow is solid this is easier. However, even if we pick up all their poop we have the cat poop, deer poop, turkey poop, sometimes' Callie poop to deal with. 

Phod licking up turkey poop

Hailey walking across the snow to look for poop

For now, we will continue to be obsessed with finding answers and the dogs will continue to be obsessed with eating poop. 

Love Is . . . .

Wow, it is already February. January just flew by! Now we are in the month of love. We thought we would do some posts on what love is for us pups.

Love is

eating out of each other's dish, even when it is the exact same food. 

Favourite Place To Sleep - by Phod

Dear pals,

You use to find me sleeping by the front door, or on a bed near my people. I especially liked a bed in Lady's office. However, over the spring and summer I found the perfect place to sleep, day or night. In my people's closet. Specifically, at the back under Man's sweaters. 

Because I was getting so much hair on Man's sweaters and clean ones were having to be re-washed, Lady moved the good ones up top and put some old clothes at the bottom.  Lady and Man have accepted this is my nap spot, as you can see, they have put a blanket in there for me to sleep on. 

It is dark and cosy, and very quiet. Lady and Man miss me because I am in the closet a lot, but I am happy there, so they leave me be.

Question: Do you have a favourite nap place?

Your friend, Handsome Phod

 

Wordless Wednesday - After You Sneak to Poop on the Neighbour's Lawn

 

Tasty Thursday - Real Whipped Cream

Regular readers may be aware that usually, on Sundays, the Man makes pancakes. Last weekend the Lady made real whipped cream. Usually we get the stuff that comes from the can. 

 Even if we had to wait . . . 

It was worth it! (The spilt food couldn't even distract us!)

We now expect this every weekend! 

Watch Your Back - by Lee

Dear pals,

I had a very stressful four days last week because my arch nemesis, Charlotte, was staying next door. Unfortunately, the snow barrier kept me from running over and trying to fight with her. However, she and I exchanged a lot of words. 

If I was inside and heard her bark, I barked. If we were both outside, we barked a lot. Sometimes Callie joined in.  There were a lot of rude words exchanged. 

Until we can meet in person Charlotte . . . . 

Editor's note: Charlotte is Callie's grandfather's dog. She is a weimaraner. When he lived out here he had a lovely one named Ghost. However, he fostered a not so nice one Shadow, who attacked Phod several times. Since then, both dogs have been cautious around his weimaraners. I am not 100% sure why Hailey has decided she hates Charlotte. She truly wants to fight her. While Charlotte barks, she is very fearful and when Hailey comes towards her, will try and run away. As she only visits occasionally, we just keep Hailey on leash if we know Charlotte is around (and we usually do because we hear her bark!)

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Reminder to click HERE to join our when will the snow be gone contest!

Habit Breaking

Some puppy has developed a very bad habit. If both of us are out of the house some big orange dog goes downstairs to do his business all over the floor. 

I have no idea who she is talking about

To be clear, at this time, the dogs are alone maybe 2.5 hours on a Tuesday evening and for 4ish hours on Saturday. Man is still working at home (although he will have to start going back to the office soon) and Lady works out of the house 2-3 days a week. 

Also to be clear they are taken out right before we go (even if it is not a routine time to go) and are left with a going out greenie.

Someone, just doesn't like a change in his routine and he does not like to be alone.

As the top of the stairs is too wide for a traditional gate and previously I have not found an affordable alternative that the little black dog wouldn't eat, this is our current solution:

As long as the stairs are blocked there are no messes (and yes we have used all the fancy stain removers to discourage him). 

Leaving is now a production, garbage up, stairs blocked, dogs out, greenie given . . . . The things we do for love!

Tag!

With everyone talking about AirTags for stolen cars and lost luggage, Lady thought, what about an AirTag for a dog who likes to go for walks alone in the bush. Lady thinks having me tagged will help her find me when I go my way.

I have to wear this big thing sometimes?

Enough, rub my belly.

Man, didn't they get enough of this hat yesterday?

I Own It - by Zaphod

Ummm excuse me Hailey

 

I now own this part of the yard

Mischief Monday - How The Food Keeps Getting All Over The Floor

Lady's theory: Some older lady dog, who shall not be named, who use to eat so quickly she needed a slow bowl has become very picky. She will pick out the pieces she doesn't like (we have been mixing 2 different foods) and leave them on the floor. She will sometimes go back and eat them later or maybe the other dog eats them.

The dog's theory: He is a very messy eater!

(Note: One day Lady came into the kitchen and this was the set up)

Which theory do you believe?