Saturday, November 28, 2009

A Little Work, A Little Play!


Yesterday was Black Friday, when traditionally the retailers have lots of sales and lots of shoppers so that the stores start breaking even and making a profit. Daddy and Aunt Pat didn't get up before dawn to go to the mall. Aunt Pat was tempted to go to the mall later in the day, but she didn't. Instead, the humans were busy cleaning the house. Chloe and I helped Aunt Pat assemble a book case in her bedroom. We made sure she was on the right page of the instructions and all the parts were present.


It wasn't all work, though. We did our share of relaxing, too.

Today, Aunt Pat and Daddy surprised us with a long car ride! We went to Lollypop Farm, which is the local Humane Society. The last time I was there, we came home with Chloe. But, we didn't get another dog. Chloe and I had our photo taken with Santa! This is the best of the photos. Boy, I'm really glad I stuck to my diet and lost the weight. We met some very nice people and some nice dogs, too. Once our name was called, we went back to a large room and saw the man himself! He was just as nice as last year, and the photographer even remembered us from last year. Chloe sniffed all around the room before she went over to Santa. She even started to climb onto his lap! I sniffed around a bit, but mostly checked out the sleigh and the presents under the tree. I mean, with Santa there and all, a girl has hope that there may be something for her under that tree, too! But, he's waiting until Christmas to bring everything straight to our house. Aunt Pat took us for our morning walkies once we got home. I tried to convince her to take us out in her car, but she wouldn't bite. Chloe and I used our cutest faces, but she didn't budge. Oh well, maybe next time.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!!


We'd like to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving! Yesterday was a very big day. Chloe went to the Rehab Vet yesterday and she was very good. She can get rather hyper when she meets new people, but she was very interested in everything that went on and very polite. I think she got a little nervous when the water filled up the treadmill tank. Either that, or she wanted to go for a swim. Anyway, she came over and stared at the tank, making sure I was okay. She had to come over and sniff me, then, and after I got out of the whirlpool. I think she was pretty awed when they lifted me up in the harness to put me in the tub. Let's face it, it's not every day when you see a dog fly.

The great news is that I'm down to my goal weight!! I weighed 79.9 pounds and everyone was very happy. Now, the hard part...keeping the weight off. I don't know if I'll still be on the same portions that I was, the humans will have to ask next week. They also said that I was moving my hind legs better while in the tank.

We've been relaxing today. But, we've been helping Aunt Pat cook all week long. Chloe and I have been standing, well, laying in strategic places in the kitchen. I've camped out in front of the stove and Chloe's been laying by the kitchen door. We want to be sure that we're ready to clean up in case Aunt Pat dropped anything. And yes, Daddy gave us a sample of the turkey I was looking at in the first photo.

Chloe is smarter than she lets on. Chloe was walking in and out of the kitchen, waiting for a slice of, well, something. So, Aunt Pat grabbed her camera and said something like "Why don't you go into the dining room so I can get a picture of you and Heidi together." Well, to my surprise, Chloe went into the dining room and sat next to me. Yes, Aunt Pat gave the little suck up some turkey.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Winter is near...


And things are getting busy around here. Chloe and I have been helping Daddy get the leaves out of the back yard before the snow flies. He uses the lawn mower, and we use our noses and our teeth to get rid of them. Sometimes they'll cling to our coats and we'll bring them inside. Usually they'll fall off in the laundry room, but sometimes Aunt Pat will find them in the family room or in the kitchen.

We're not the only ones working hard, either. The phone company has been working in our neighborhood. They've come in our yard because we have a pole, and in the G's yard. We saw one of the phone company guys in the G's back yard when Daddy let us out for potties. I knew enough to leave them alone, but Chloe ran to the fence and barked furiously. Daddy said something like "Chloe, I let you out to go potties, leave the man alone." Chloe stopped barking when Daddy spoke and cocked her head like she could understand him. Then, Chloe turned around, found a spot and did her potties. The phone guy was impressed. He told Daddy that he had a very smart dog. Of course, we knew that.

My last appointment at the Rehab Vet went well. I haven't lost anymore weight, but I haven't gained any either. Chloe will be coming with us this Wednesday. They want to meet her, and I hope she makes a good impression. I think she'll be very excited between the car ride and seeing the other animals. I don't know if Chloe has ever seen a horse or a goat before, and there may be other dogs there, too. She's such a social butterfly I think she'll have a great time. She may want to come with us every week!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Chloe and I Have A Vocabulary...



Yes, that's right. Chloe and I can understand words the humans say, and I think the extent of our vocabulary has surprised them. We know our basic commands like sit, stay, come, down, etc. We perk up when we hear the words Walkies-Chloe gets more excited than I do, because I'd rather hear the word Ride, or Ridies Whenever we go outside, I'll stop at Aunt Pat's car first, and then Daddy's car, with my best, cutest grin on my face. By then, Aunt Pat or Daddy usually tells me that we're doing walkies not ridies and calls me a silly girl. Silly? Maybe. But you can't stop a girl from trying.

Many of the words we know have to do with food and eating. We know breakfast, dinner, turkey, num-num or noms, biskee, treat-treat, and the results of those actions, like potties, outside, bathrooms, piddly-widdlies, or poopies, or poopie-doopies. Boy, the humans use more baby talk than I thought they did. But, if they think we're amused by it, Chloe and I will let them think so.

Chloe's latest favorite word is carrot. I love a good carrot, so I know where she's coming from. But, Chloe's found a new favorite food, besides our usual kibble. If Aunt Pat gives me a carrot for doing my exercises, Chloe has to have one. When she hears the word, she'll stop what she's doing and comes running. Aunt Pat's been using it to get her to come inside when she dawdles at the spot I've used to eat grass. She's even been checking out the refrigerator to see if she can find them. I think Chloe's heard the humans talk about Thanksgiving so much that she's been searching for the turkey and the stuffing. That's next week.

I know actual names of food places. I don't get too excited if Daddy or Aunt Pat talks about going to Wegmans. But, sometimes Daddy will go to McDonalds and get himself breakfast on the weekends. He doesn't give me any, but it smells really good. So, on Saturday, I was in the laundry room with Aunt Pat, helping her fold the sheets we use for the furniture, when I heard the word McDonalds from the family room. I thought maybe this time Daddy would get a hamburger or french fries for a little treat that he would share. I've been good on my diet and I've lost weight, so one little nosh wouldn't hurt anything, right? So, I ran from the laundry room into the family room. I heard the word again, and my ears perked up. Boy, was I disappointed when I found out it was only the t.v. There was some special on one of the news networks about the restaurant. Daddy thought my reaction was funny. I didn't. Why is it, when you're on a diet, or you're sick and can't eat anything, that every t.v. station has the best food commercials or programs about food, and all you can do is sit there and drool?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I'm Not The Only One On a Diet


Last Friday, Daddy took Chloe to our usual Vet for a routine check up and her immunizations. He was happy with how she looked, but he said she could lose a couple of pounds. So, we're both cutting back on portion size and getting more exercise.


It seems to be working in my case, anyway. I went to the Rehab Vet today, and I've lost two more pounds! I'm down to 83 pounds, and there's only three more to go! Of course I'm giving Chloe some tips on dealing with this whole diet thing, and I'm helping the humans monitor her portion size. If she wanders away from her bowl, even if she's still chewing, I'll make the sacrifice and eat what's left. Everyone knows that once you walk away from the table, you shouldn't sit down again. I'm just looking out for Chloe.

I lagged a little on the treadmill today, but they were still happy with my progress. The weather's been pretty nice the last few days. Warm, and we haven't had a lot of rain. So, we've been spending more time outside.

Chloe really likes leaves this year. She loves the sound they make when she walks on them, and she, well, we both like their smell. They don't always taste too good, though, especially if they've been sitting around for a while. As with all food, fresh is best. Sometimes we'll find a little surprise underneath them. I've found pieces of bread or a hamburger roll. Aunt Pat couldn't tell because I ate it so fast. I knew Aunt Pat wouldn't let me eat it if she'd seen it, so I scarfed it right down. It must have been fresh, since I didn't have any tummy trouble afterwards. Aunt Pat told me I would probably throw up, but I didn't. She isn't always right. Most of the time, yes, but not always. Silly humans.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night,,,


The wind howled, and so did I. Evil was afoot...actually, kids in costumes were running around outside, ringing doorbells and threatening to do a trick, or commit a senseless act of vandalism unless they got candy. I'd never get away with that! Anyway, I apologize for the cheesy beginning, and no, I didn't howl. Aunt Pat is doing something called Nanowrimo, and she was practicing on Saturday. The writing binge started Sunday. It must have rubbed off on me. Too bad it wasn't real cheese. Saturday was Halloween, and Chloe and I spent the evening with Aunt Pat upstairs. Chloe really wanted to answer the door with Daddy, but Aunt Pat wouldn't let her. She whined and scratched, but to no avail. By the time Aunt Pat let us out, everyone was gone. I was happy just to hang out in the dog bed and nap. I was getting a head start on getting my extra hour of sleep.

I had another appointment at the Rehab Vet yesterday, and things continue to go well. My weight is the same, and I went an extra minute on the treadmill. I've been a bit stiffer this week, so I haven't let Aunt Pat do my range of motion exercises every day, and we've been going easy with the walks and some of the other exercises. The Vet said that this was the right thing to do.