Back to Training...sooner, rather than later, I hope!

Sahara had her staples taken out yesterday (slightly early, in fact, as she's healing so well) and after a lot of sillyness from sheer excitement at being outside for the first time in a week, she was given the all clear to go back to training in the New Year. I, for one, am absolutely thrilled - she's in desperate need to get out and about, but in a controlled environment where I can limit her actions, unlike in the dog park where there's crazy mutts running up all over the place and jumping on her. We train with ADT, and she reached Gold - the second highest level - before injuring herself. Before that, I'd been super keen to get her to Platinum within the year - I think we'll be challenging ourselves to at reach that level 4 months, maximum (depending on her recovery time, obviously). It's about time we knuckled down and worked our butts off again - it's been far too long without the discipline she needs (and as there's been no agility or fly ball, let alone any form of hard physical work for the past 4 months, she's going absolutely bonkers). Phoenix will, of course, will be coming along and training at the same level - he's realistically more likely to be a Platinum dog earlier, because of his sheer devotion to doing anything I ask of him, but I'm more than up to the challenge of focusing Sahara's energy, too. Bring it on!

He sure knows how to guilt trip me.

Phoenix has taken to stealing my socks - clean or otherwise - and making a nest with them. He doesn't harm them (unlike the incident with my new undies having the elastic carefully removed...), he just seems to enjoy suckling them.

I know why he does it. I haven't been home a lot lately, and he's wreaking his revenge. Yesterday I found my bikini in the hall way, a shoe next to his food bowl and several orange hairs in my bed.

We are so heading back to his extensive training in the first week of January.

Sahara...

...is doing great. 5 days in, she's at the same recovery stage she was at at around the one month mark last time. She's running around like crazy; jumping over furniture and chasing the cat. I am having hysterics practically on an every day basis because of this.

Becuase I don't like seeing that

..at the top of my screen all the time, here is a nice photo of my chubby kitty, Cleo, doing her best Asian Samurai Master impersonation. Let me hear you say 'aww'.

Mmmmm, messy.

I've kept this purposefully dark in the vague notion you might be able to keep your lunch down this way.

Lack of posts.

I know I haven't been blogging here for a while - nor have the dogs, for that matter - but what with Sahara's healing leg, we haven't been able to be out and about like we used to. Now her surgery has failed, and she's back in again today, it'll be another few months before there will be more wild adventures. Bear with us. And check out more details on Made in Melbourne.

I didn't do it.

ZzZzzZzzZ

It's a bad photo...but she's so adorable when she's asleep. She looks like a big teddy bear. And snuffles like a real one.

Phoenix's lump.

I discovered this on Phoenix left hand side, right over his last 2 ribs last night. I am seriously hoping he's simply popped a rib, or run into something and has some fluid built up. It's grown in size over night, and he seems a little down. We've got the first available appointment at the vets this afternoon, and I'm terrified it's cancerous or something sinister. I am also horribly upset that I didn't notice it sooner - I'm trying to tell myself there's no way he could have had a lump for longer than about 5 minutes, because I'm always patting him, giving him massages and generally adoring him, and I would have noticed it, right?

At least....

Sahara still loves me. And our little road trips. She's so nosey.

Captivated...

...by Kerplunk.

Hydrobath time!

Baby Sitting.

I've spent the week trying to organize a baby-sitter for the kids, as we're going away for the weekend, and I've only been left with one option via the agency we're going through. I just called to have a chat with my pet minder, and I'm a little concerned. She already has three dogs there (and I think we're mostly aware Sahara is rather Top Dog and goes to any means to be in that position), two of which are female. Oh Lordy. Aside from that, she didnt' seem to be aware of the fact Sahara cannot be left outside for ANY amount of time - and with 4 other dogs, that would surely be asking for a broken leg or two - to which she said "I'll leave the laundry door open". What does that mean?

I'm also meant to arrange a time to meet the minder before I agree to her looking after my children, but she didn't seem to know this - and I was in too much of a delusional state of mind after my bad haircut and lack of food to push the point - but now I'm getting a bit worried. I think I'll give her a call back in a few hours once I've thought it through a little more.

General Update on Doggyness.

Sahara had a check up on Tuesday, along with her final weekly cartiledge injection. The vet said she is healing super quick, she's still remarkably fit, and she'll be able to enjoy some gentle off leash exercise in the coming weeks. I mentioned she doesn't understand the concept 'gentle', and she'll be on lead for a verrry long time. I was hoping she'd be miraculously fixed for our camping trip in November, but no such luck - I'll have to count myself lucky she's well enough to even make the trip with us.

I had a slight fit of depression on Sunday morning, as we attended the Pets Day Out across the road to us. There were hundreds of dogs - and that meant there was fly-ball and lure coursing demonstrations, the two things she would absolutely excel at and to which she will never be able to do. There was even signs up at the lure course warning of the dangers of rupturing cruciates. But again, it was amazing she even held up on her first big walk to make it there and back, and no one stared at her shaven leg and bald epidural patch too much.

Phoenix has been enjoying his daily hour long walks, which now include Bruza, Mac, Kaos, Mayhem, Kai and whomever else we manage to pick up along the way (usually a lone dog sees our big group and comes to play, refusing to go home with their rightful owner) but he pulled up a little sore last night, so we've just been for gentle strolls around the block this afternoon.

She is, fo shizzle, gonna win.

Sahara is SO going in for this!


Edited:
DAMN HER LEG!
Do you think maybe I can put hot pink bandages on ALL her legs so they wont notice she only has fur on three of them, and somehow hide her hideous epidural bald spot?

Maybe I can shave a big love heart in her back to hide it...?? Or spray paint one over it???

Oh dear...Life's little difficulties.

Oh, Sahara. Back when you had 4 legs.

Brother's brother?

Sarah and I are constantly on the look out for more Long Lost Brothers to our two boys Phoenix and Bruza. And today...I think I did! He's free to a good home, looks so much like Bruza and I feel like I should be doing something about it. I've made a life long friend from meeting Sarah through Phoenix (and Phoenix now has Bruza, and Sahara has his 'brother' Mac...see where I'm going with this?)

Check out Made In Melbourne to see some more evidence.

Birthday Bash: Fun!

One of the Birthday Boys :)

Some of the guest enjoying the Fairy Bread (didn't last long, I can assure you!)

Phoenix and his proud daddy show off their muscles.

Phoenix and Bruza let off some steam before their guests arrive.

Adele gets some Lab love from Kai.

Kaos takes a break from Fetch.

Our Old Men wait for some crumbs.

Mac, Bruza, Phoenix and Kai have a breather and pose for us.

All in all, I think everyone had a fun day. Phoenix is completely beat today, and I wish Sahara could have come along and joined in the fun, but we were super lucky with the weather and we made some new friends (as well as the dogs!). The KatFur Bakery doggy biscuits went down a ...treat, and Phoenix and Bruza got some lovely presents from their doggy friends (and ate a whole lot of human food, as well as their Scooby Snacks).

... Sahara's off to get her stit...staples check in an hour. Hopefully they can come out and we'll be able to go for teeny, tiny walkies soon. She's quite clearly about to climb up the wall with boredom, and she's getting rather chunky being idle all the time!

Boys Birthday Bash Vol I: Development Stage.

To celebrate the boys birthday, Bruza's mummy Sarah and I have joined forces to give them a birthday bash to be proud of on Sunday.

First, the invites were sent out to all their favorite doggy pals.

Then Phoenix tested out his sexy, sparkly Birthday Boy bow tie out, just to show how handsome he'll look on the day. (and, admittedly, to see if he'd take offense and destroy it within seconds).

Then yesterday was Bake Day. Sarah and I slaved over 90+ dog friendly, healthy (ish) doggy treats, which our more-than-willing taste testers Bruza and Mac hungrily approved of. (Sahara doesn't lower her standards to eat anything other than prime steak these days, so obviously she completely ignored them).
These Cheesy Chocolate Chews came out smelling divine! If it weren't for the 'dog friendly' chocolate I'd have demolished a few myself.

On the left we have Meaty Munches, filled with liver treats and vegetables, and on the right are the fishy feasts known as Tuna Treats, which sent the 3 cats in residence into a meowing fit. (Please note: these are the deformed ones that didn't quite come out bone shaped. The 'real' ones are far superior).

Last night I spent quite some time packaging up their 'Doggy Bags' for their four legged friends to take home from the Bash.

So far, these are all we have in them as we're a-waiting more shampoo samples and other doggy goodies.

Today I'm going to be busy making up all the labels (for ingredients lists etc) for the 20 'Doggy Bags' of cookies from KatFur Bakery (that's me!) which will be under our 'production' name of 44Paws (the number of feet our pets have put together),
and get a'baking on the cake front.
Yay!

My two 'just dogs'.

I've always loved this quote (hence why it's on the tool bar section of this blog!)...

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

... but today I came across this on Sahara's Myspace page (it's been a while since she'd logged on, what with the lack of opposable digits etc).

"He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me. When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog." - Gene Hill

it really does up up everything I feel about my two 'just dogs'.

Mangled Leg and Bowties.

Sahara's leg

She's just come home from the vet, and she's a zillion times better today than yesterday. She's actually alert, and we're having a bit of trouble keeping her off furniture/climbing walls etc.
My little girl :)

Here's a preview of the dress code for Phoenix's birthday bash...

And I think the pooches are strange...

As you might have noticed on Made in Melbourne yesterday, Sahara and I got a little snap happy to ease the nervousness of her Op (my nerves, not hers. She seems completely oblivious). And today was no different. As I sat down to eat some lunch, it wasn't long before she snivelled her way onto my lap (and believe me, she's not allowed on the couch easily - it takes her a fair bit of those Puppy Dog Eyes and the Oh, My Leg Is So Sore look to make me melt into submission).

Shortly after...

Reminds me a little of...

I really need to get out more, or at least stop singing to the dogs.

Surgery Date.

I just took all three of my charges for a short walk, and stopped in at the vets to have a chat with the surgeon who I have been hoping to entrust with Sahara's surgery. Luckily, he was available for a chat, and he was absolutely lovely - I couldn't have met anyone I would rather chop open my darling fur child. He didn't seem to mind me bombarding him with hundreds of questions, and practically sobbing when he said she would need to stay in overnight. He really made me feel at ease, and all the dogs were quite happy too - they were so busy snuffling him and tying him up in their 3 leads to realize they were in the consultation room they usually despise so much.

As a result, she's booked in for Friday morning, and will stay overnight. I am terrified, to say the least, and hoping she makes a speedy recovery.

3 dogs, three pieces of news.

As you may have read on Made In Melbourne, I have two new bits of doggy news: Firstly, Sahara has torn her cruciate ligament, and will be ungergoing surgery soon. Secondly, I have a new foster dog, a Maremma named Axle.

Bruza's mum, Sarah, and I have been busy organizing the boys birthday bash, which will take place on the 21st September at a local dog park. All their nearest and dearest have been invited, and we're still finalizing details of their cake and 'doggy bags' etc.

I've entered this photo into a "What Makes You Smile" competition.

Axle :)

The invite to Phoenix's and Bruza's 3rd Birthday party.

The dog's invite. There was a deciphered version for the human on the other side.

Doggy Weekend Away

Our evening at the beach.

Kids @ Sunset.

Sahara shows off her tree climbing ability. Kelpie much?

Phoenix and his handsome new collar.

Sahara and her pretty new 'breathe' collar from Fuzzyard (hello, blatant plug!).

The Extended Family Photos.

No dogs were harmed in the making of the photos, but several cocktail sausages lost their lives.

The extended family - Mac, Sahara and Bruza, with Phoenix lurking in the background.

Bruza and Phoenix. Or Phoenix and Bruza...?!

When I got that email saying someone had a dog that looked slightly similar to my own, I never thought they would be quite so creepily identical.

"Feed me!"
"No, give it to me!"



Note from Phoenix and Sahara: We just found Dogs With Blogs, and we think it's WONDERFUL. We didn't realize how many dogs had their own blogs - and we sure can't wait to meet some new pooch friends!

Mud, barbs and collars.

Ahh, to be back :)

The kids are both well, if a little exhausted. They've been enjoying running around (and through) The Bog Of Eternal Stench with Bruza and Mac, and even made a new friend in a Mastiff X named Tiger, who is very handsome indeed. Sahara is still being her usual elegant, ladylike self, and ruling the entire pack with her witchy feminine powers. 

She's been limping quite badly after her last two visits, so I'm looking at getting her into hydrotherapy or massage to see if it can build up her hip and leg muscles. I think it might be time to cut back all the jumping I tend to encourage her to do - I'm still going to keep up her agility training under a close eye, but no more big ditches and/or fences until she's stronger.

Phoenix is getting more mellow by the day, and would quite happily sit for hours on end with his head in ones lap, drooling slightly and looking at you in adoration whilst he gets pats. I've been training him to 'search' - every time we come home, I send him through the house with the signal and he goes in and out of the rooms checking for the sorts of breaking and entering trash/murderers our area is rather prone to. 

Sahara is awaiting her new collar and coat (in pink, of course) I've had ordered in, and Phoenix is looking radiant in her beautiful new studded Staffy collar. I've bought him about 6 since I've had him, and he hasn't liked wearing any (no, seriously. He will actually remove them if physically possible) or they've broken in a day or so. I've been waiting to get him the collar I did for months - Bruza and Mac have them, and they're totally durable - and finally, the day has arrived - I can, once and for all, rid him of the collar he came home to me with. It's a nice collar... I just don't like the thought of him still wearing something from his last home. I know, I get too involved :)

Yesterday I took the kids down to one of my favorite beaches, where they had a blast jumping in and out of the whitewash. As we were leaving, Sahara somehow got a sea anenome embedded in her paw, and as we were driving off she started having what looked like convulsions; jumping all around the car trying to bite her paw off. I quickly pulled over and parked (illegally) and both D and I spent a good half hour sitting on her to keep her still looking for the cause of all the pain in her foot. I washed her leg with water continuously, and it seemed to help, and as I was contemplating the idea of peeing on her if it were a jelly fish stinger, D found the spines in her pad. They were tiny, but deep, and luckily he managed to remove them and she soon calmed down enough to drive him. I kept her warm incase she went into shock (she was very, very upset) and kept a close eye on her all night as I was worried she might get some poison from the barbs, but all seems well. She's a little sooky today, but she soon got into bed this morning and snuffled me in her usual manner, so she'll be fine :)

I think I have a few more grey hairs to add to the collection though...

Grrr.

After watching Today Tonight on several occasions regarding ACA Breeders in Victoria, I am absolutely appalled by them congratulating the puppy mill. If you look at their website, they claim to not breed their own puppies, yet every expose done on them shoes they own over 300 dogs, all for the purpose of being kept pregnant for the extent of their lives. The guy who runs the business claims to be a dog lover, and gets visibly upset when he mentions the dogs will be put down when they can no longer give birth to large litters, yet he is daily adding to the tens of thousands of dogs put down in Australia every year. I am beyond furious at this breeder in particular, as there's always some sort of bad publicity regarding their puppy mill, which they try and use to their advantage. If anyone is searching for a puppy, I can do more than urge you wholeheartedly to go to the RSPCA or another pro-life shelter, and take the time to really understand what breed is right for your lifestyle, rather than buy from a pet shop and support people like ACA. Here endeth my vent.

...still here!

The silence from the dogs is due to the fact the cats are taking over our lives.

O-lei!

What Sahara has to do for attention whilst she waits for her Empawrium collars to arrive.