willow at the cottage

Last weekend at the cottage I kept Willow out of the sand and the water, since she had open sores caused by excessive itching. Although not a happy camper, she still managed to relax and enjoy being outside!

happy hikers

Just look at those smiles!!!
If only my camera was fast enough to catch the actual hiking... 

Willow smiling at the camera, tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth.

Ace coming towards me through the field of goldenrod.

Willow and Ace smiling for the camera. What happy dogs :)

mutluks

Ok, so when my parents moved to a brand new house in January, it meant big changes for my beasties. Firstly, Willow was no longer allowed to visit - only one dog at a time could enter through the sacred doors. And since Ace is 10x more popular than Willow - which I totally don't understand, since she is more gentle and less work - he is usually the only one invited. However after my first visit with Ace (who promptly gouged out chucks of the staircase with his nails), booties became a requirement for any dog who expected to stay anywhere other than the basement. 

Enter Mutluks. 

 

With a light rubber for the sole and around the toe to keep from slipping, the booties are held in place by velcro straps around the ankle. Not a bad design. Luckily Ace is one of the most accepting dogs I know, and even though he doesn't like them, he tolerates them pretty well. After only a few verbal corrections, he stopped trying to rip them off. 

Notice Archie investigating his brother's discomfort. Archie has worn Soft Paws for several years now, so he's probably glad that Ace has his own torture to bear.

So the moral of the story is that Mutluks are a great option to keep hardwood floors scratch-free, as long as your dog is as big a push-over as mine is.

And that my parents are crazy. It's a friggen house, not a museum.

busy days

I've been busy (meaning out of the house approximately 8 hours per day) for the last four days, and Ace has officially become my shadow. Interesting to know that's what it takes, normally he is quite independent.

Home day tomorrow, we shall see if this attachment sticks.

apartment :)

Well it is official. I have finally moved into my fantastically beautiful Guelph apartment. It is a large one bedroom on Paisley St, on the first floor of an old house. Expensive? Yes, but I have nice big windows, brand new appliances, and old-school hardwood floors... all only a 10 minute walk from downtown!

Still on my to-do list:
          Finish unpacking
          Hang curtains
          Hang pictures and posters

Oh yeah, and sort out my school stuff - scholarships, books, and figuring out how to get to campus from my apartment!

The dogs seem to like it so far, and Ace is now allowed up on both couches. Archie has escaped out the back door a few times, so I will have to make sure I close it tight behind me. Good thing he has a new ID tag with my phone number! I am technically only allowed one dog and one cat, but the landlord says she doesn't mind if Willow stays for an extra few weeks.

I have not met any neighbours yet, but am looking forward to it!
Give me another 2 weeks, and I will be available for entertaining :)

willow

As much as I love Willow,  I am definitely ready for her to be recalled. I feel like I have spent so much money on her this summer (wet food, dry food, treats). Now her constant itching is driving me crazy. Pretty much any time she is awake, she is itching. I have to double check for fleas, but I'm pretty sure it's seasonal allergies. So now I have to decide if I should try getting her benedryl (although I'm worried about her getting sleepy), or a more natural anti-itch supplement.

I will also not miss her whining in the car, how picky she is with her food, and her lack of a bowel movement schedule, among other things. She is unfortunately just not a good match for me, personality wise. However she is not all bad. When she is recalled, I will miss her dependency to sleep on my bed, how cute she is when she plays with Archie, and how she stops right in front of me and stares with her tail wagging. She is a very sweet dog, just not the perfect fit for me.

I am hoping to book her for her spay in two weeks, then she will go directly to the head trainer once she has recovered. I will miss her, but I am ready to move on.

oops

Wow, have I been negligent, or what?
I've spent much of the last month travelling, working, and preparing myself for the next phase of my education. I still have massive lists of things to do in the next week. Yikes.
In the meantime, here are some photos of Ace and Willow at my friend's cottage, playing with her husky, Lynx.
Enjoy!