Chloe The Watch Dog!

Our Chloe will sit on the table in the living room, and bark at the neighbors, and anyone else who passes by. She's scared a few kids selling stuff so much they turned around and went to another house! If we're outside and she spots a squirrel, Chloe will watch it like a cat stalking it's prey, and then chase it.

However, the other day, Aunt Pat noticed a bunny in the front yard. But, Chloe wasn't barking. If Chloe were outside, she would have barked immediately and ran after it. Aunt Pat wasn't sure if Chloe had seen the bunny. So, she moved the sheer curtain aside so Chloe could get a good look. Still, no barking. Aunt Pat even pointed out the bunny to Chloe, but Chloe didn't move. The bunny didn't hop away until Aunt Pat opened the front door to get a better photo.

I'm sure you're asking, "So, what's the big deal if Chloe didn't bark a rabbit?" I know that Chloe knows how Aunt Pat can get with her camera, and she expected that Aunt Pat would open the door to get a better look and scare the bunny in the process. Chloe's a smart girl. We've been more tired this week because of all the walks we've taken, and I think Chloe was conserving her energy. Don't get me wrong, we get very excited when it's time for "walkies", but we also like a good rest afterwards.

Where's Richard Simmons When You Need Him?

We went to the Vet yesterday for the big weigh-in, and boy, were the humans upset. Instead of losing weight, I gained a pound! Katie weighs a little over 19 pounds, and Chloe weighs a little over 26 pounds. The Vet didn't say anything about their weight, but Daddy and Aunt Pat agree that they could lose a couple of pounds. The Vet took some blood for the Heartworm test, and Daddy got our medication that we'll start on June 1st.


The humans have been limiting our treats, and cutting back on our portion sizes. However, since we eat from each others' bowls, its hard to know exactly how much we're eating. Katie likes to graze more than Chloe or me. Contrary to what these photos show, we have been more active outside. We've gone on a couple of walks, but we missed a day or two when Aunt Pat felt too bad to go out.

We've been helping Aunt Pat clean up the yard. I've taken the initiative to be in charge of the larger sticks she's raked. I chew them into smaller pieces so she can put them in the trash bags instead of tying them together.

I've taught Chloe the finer points of stick chewing and she's a quick learner. I hope she catches on just as quickly when she starts school. Yes, our little Chloe is starting school in a couple of weeks! Aunt Pat is taking her to an obedience class run by our school district. Aunt Pat hopes Chloe will have fun, learn new things, and make new friends. I think Aunt Pat wants to use what she learns to teach Katie and I new things. Hmm, maybe an old dog can learn some new tricks. Wait and see!

Happy Easter!!

We want to wish everybody a very happy Easter! We hope that Mommy, Aunt Al, Aunt G, and our new friends Cousins D& S and their Daughter G, all have a very peaceful, meaningful holiday! We're taking it easy today. I overheard Daddy and Aunt Pat talking last night about a surprise for us. I think it's a new dog bed for his bedroom. That would be lovely, since Katie and I have wandered in there looking for a place to rest, and all we've seen is bare floor!


We've been outside quite a bit this morning. We know the Easter Bunny was around because we could smell him. Chloe spent a lot of time near and under the forsythia in the back corner of the yard, and I think she spotted some bunny tracks in the garden and by the gate. We'd never chase the Easter Bunny, or try to hurt him. We'd just want to be sure he got through the yard safely with the fence and all. Plus, snagging a couple of treats would be nice too! Granted, chocolate is toxic to dogs, but I think he'd have a few biskees in his basket for good dogs like us. What a time to be on a diet!

Today is The Cleanest Day of the Year!

It's 409, get it? Like 409 the cleaner. Aunt Pat did some cleaning this morning. She sorted out something called Beanie Babies. Daddy and Aunt Pat's late mom collected them and Aunt Pat was To me, and Chloe, they look like really cool chew toys! Don't worry, the toy Chloe has in her mouth isn't a real Beanie. It was a regular stuffed buffalo that a charity sent hoping it would guilt Aunt Pat into sending a donation. I think Chloe sensed Aunt Pat's dislike for the whole idea of using guilt to get a donation, so she picked that one to chew.

I've been in a little better mood the past couple of days, despite being on a diet. I think the extra aspirin is helping. I've been playing more fetch. Yesterday, Daddy put the dog bed that had been in his bedroom, into Aunt Pat's room.

At night, I'll periodically leave Aunt Pat's room and go into that dog bed to sleep. The dog beds are nice, but I really want to sleep on Aunt Pat's bed like Chloe does. I know Aunt Pat says there won't be enough room, but I can curl up rather tightly. Chloe doesn't take up that much room. She loves to snuggle right up against the humans. That leaves half the bed for me! I need to keep giving her those adorable, needy dog looks after she gets into bed, while telepathically sending the words "dog stairs".

I Went To The Vet Today

Daddy and Aunt Pat have been a little concerned about me. I've been a little...snappy with Chloe and Katie. I also haven't been as interested in playing fetch lately, either indoors or outdoors. So, Daddy made an appointment to be sure I'm not sick. The good news, is that the Vet thinks my arthritis is acting up. He check my ears, eyes, and everything else. Then, he had me take a walk with the Vet Tech-who gave me a couple of tasty treats to get me moving. The Vet said I walked like an "old arthritic dog." Humph! Arthritic, yes, old, I don't think a hair over 8 years old is very old. I also need to lose close to 15 pounds. I weighed in at 94 pounds. I think the Vet Tech put her foot on the scale, but she denied it. Darn, I really hoped the Groomer was wrong, but she wasn't.

So, we're increasing my aspirin dose, and if that doesn't work, there are other medications we can try. Plus, I'm going on a serious diet. We all are. The Vet said that he has special food the humans can get if they need to, but for now cutting portion sizes and getting more exercise would be a good start. He hopes I can lose a half of a pound by next Friday, the 17th. That's when we all go to get our Heartworm tests done.

Aunt Pat's been online pricing treadmills, but I think we're going to stick with walks outside. It will be nice to get outside and see the neighborhood. It would be nice to meet some of the people we've only barked at.

Katie and Chloe got very excited when the leash came out. I was too. I moved around so much that I almost ran Aunt Pat headlong into the refrigerator when she tried to put the leash on. How ironic.

Yesterday...

was quite a day! Chloe and I went to the Groomer! It was pretty obvious that Chloe needed a haircut, but it's not too obvious with me.

Here we are afterwards. Chloe has festive striped bows in her hair, but you can't see them

too well in this photo. I just love my Easter-themed bandanna. Katie stayed home this time.
She doesn't need a haircut just yet, but maybe in a couple of weeks. Aunt Pat felt a little bad that Katie didn't go, so she bought her a new toy. Actually, she bought each of us a new toy.

Chloe and I were pretty tired yesterday afternoon. We had a nice drink, went outside, and then promptly took a good nap.

The Groomer told Aunt Pat that Chloe and I had put on weight. Personally, I thought it was just the extra hair. It doesn't matter that Aunt Pat's gotten quite a lot off of me when she's brushed me...Well, I guess it does. We have put on some weight this winter, so the four of us are on a diet. Yes, Aunt Pat is joining us in our weight loss endeavor. We girls are all in this together. So, there will be less snacking, smaller portion sizes, and once the weather gets nicer, more time outside. In the meantime we'll play more inside. We'll be very careful not to break anything.