PetHobbyist.com Site Blog - Diary of the Have-Knees

The Barking Song...by Nicky

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 11:12:00 -0600

Said the Poodle Hav to his sisters three,
Do you hear what I hear?
Echo: Yap yap yap yap YIP yap
Out there in the yard, sisters three
Echo: Yap yap yap yap YIP yap
A leaf, a leaf, fell down from a tree.
I will bark ince-es-ssantly
I will bark ince-es-ssantly.

Said the Poodle Hav to his hairy brother,
Do you hear what I hear?
Echo: Yap yap yap yap YIP yap
In the other room, hairy brother
Echo: Yap yap yap yap YIP yap
A buzzer, a buzzer
Says the cookies are done.
I will bark until kingdom come
I will bark until kingdom come!

Continue reading "The Barking Song...by Nicky"

Nuttin' For Christmas sing-off Part II

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:42:00 -0600

Yesterday you got to sing Gracie's version of Nuttin' For Christmas. Today, we treat you to Daisy Cake's version. She needed to add another verse because it's been a very busy year.

Im Getting Nuttin For Christmas .Daisy Cakes version

Im getting nothing for Christmas
Mommy and Clarity are mad
Im getting nuttin for Christmas
Cuz I aint been nuttin but bad.

I shredded up my moms paycheck
Somebody snitched on me.
Woke her in the morning by barking like heck
Somebody snitched on me.
I chewed the hair off Gracies head
Buried a potato in mommas bed
Chewed on a pen til my beard turned red
Somebody snitched on me.

Continue reading "Nuttin' For Christmas sing-off Part II"

Nuttin' For Christmas sing-off

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:18:38 -0600

For four years now, Gracie has been singing "Nuttin' For Christmas". It was "her song," you could say, and it fit her well.

But then came Daisy.

The duo are having a duel, a Nuttin' For Christmas sing off. So warm up your vocal chords and join in the defiant chorus of two very busy, very unique doglets. (In case you don't know the melody, you can hear it here.

We'll start with Gracie's version. After all, she wrote it first so the lyrics (and doglet!) have had time to mellow with age. Daisy's version will come tomorrow. You can decide which one especially sets your toes a tapping and which one runs through your head as you go about your day.

I'm Gettin' Nuttin' For Christmas....lyrics by Gracie

I woke Mom up by sittin' on her head;
Somebody snitched on me.
Hid a soggy bully stick in Clarity's bed;
Somebody snitched on me.
I left some pee on Mommy's rug;
Ignored her sayin' "NO!" & ate a bug;
Plenty of holes I have dug;
Somebody snitched on me.

Continue reading "Nuttin' For Christmas sing-off"

A Biteful of the Season...by Daisy Cakes

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:22:00 -0600

Dear Favoritest Aunties and Bestest Friends,

It's me, Daisy, the flower dog-child of the hairy crew.

We've been plenty busy around here....catalogs to shred, bully sticks to bury in the big chair, toys to steal from sisters and slippers to take to our doggie beds. A doglet's work is never done, that's what I say!

Yesterday was Riley's birthday so he got sung to (made me want to howl) and we all got bully sticks. I hope it's his birthday again tomorrow!

We're all working on our holiday songs for the big ol' sing along that I bet you have at your house too. Just in case you want to join in, we'll be sending you the lyrics. Riley, Gracie and I have ours done already! Nicky's working on his (Do You Hear What I Hear aka The Barking Song).

To put you all in the mood though, we're sharing with you the little ditty we made up today in honor of the SNOW. Yes, it started snowing today(!!!) but is still only a trace. We have high hopes though. Good thing mom dug out the Fido Fleece for all of us on Sunday. Nicky, Riley and I all got new coats on account that we either

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Hypothermically Speaking

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 12:08:29 -0600

Dear Favoritest Aunties & Bestest Friends,

I have a question for you, just hypothermically speaking, Let's say someone put your VERY favorite food inside their coat pocket and then hung that coat right at your nose level. For me that would be on a chair, hypothermically speaking, but for you it might be a high coat hook.

So there's that treat, that WONDERFUL, delicious smelling treat, and there YOU are, smelling it, knowing it's just begging you to take a bite. A wee nibble, or perhaps a lick, but something. It's calling your name.

And the owner of that coat? She's not paying you NO MIND at all! Nooooooo, she's just gignoring you, doing something stupid like laundry and fussing with a broken clothes dryer. She doesn't hear those delicious treats calling your name. Oh no,,,,,she's TOO "busy". She doesn't smell the wonderrful scent; her sniffer's broken. Busy and broken. That sums up her approach to life. Tragic, really.

So you, being obedient to voices that call your name, take a bite or two of that delicious treat, hypothermically speaking. And those who are with you do too. Maybe there's even a feeding frenzy of sorts. The coat gets knocked to the floor. Maybe someone chews a hole right through the pocket in their anticipation. Plastic bags might be shredded, hypothermically speaking, and maybe a tissue or two is shredded as well. Who can say?

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Desi's Diary: It's All Terminology

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:07:00 -0500

She says it's where I eat.
It's true.

She says it's where I go to "think about it," when I've done something naughty.
Sort of true. I do think about things, but probably not what she had in mind.

She says it's my crate.
Wrong! It's my Maaaaaaan Cave.

Every day she comes home and has to dig out all the good stuff I pile in there during the day while she's gone. (See the door is left open so I can go in to get away from the estrogen that permeates this house if I want to.) The other day she took out one sock, a shredded envelope, the Lands End fall catalog, the cats' biggest catnip toy, Nora's favorite duck, two mini tennis balls, the remains of a tissue, one Eeyore toy that squeaks, one froggie toy that doesn't, a wash cloth I snitched off the side of the bathtub and two pieces of kibble I saved from breakfast. All I needed was a remote control for the television set.

Desi
I forgot to say....my foster mom is now wearing two different slippers. One is blue terry cloth. The other is a cream colored puppy slipper with long brown ears and a cute black nose. She said she can't find a whole pair of slippers in this whole house so she has to wear two halves! It must be those darned cats.....

Desi: Death to scrunchies

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 08:50:00 -0500

Dear Diary,

Life continues to be challenging for me here in this household where no one understands a cute spirited pup like me.

Nobody would believe this place. They have things they call Rules. They think everyone, (even ME!!) should follow them! Are they mad???? The answer is obvious.

"Don't chase the cats."
"Don't pee on the floor."
"Don't eat the computer power cord."
"Don't shred Mom's cheques."
SHEESH! What the heck CAN I do??? (Actually the possibilities are endless, and my efforts to prove this are the only thing that help me keep the tenuous grasp on my sanity.)

Every day my foster mom puts a hair scrunchie over my muzzle. Then she makes me stand up (or I'd lay down and push the scrunchie off my muzzle with my right leg. ) Since I've got to stand there and since I can only stand on my right leg, I'm forced to use my left leg to get that scrunchie off my face! I'm getting faster at getting it off, too. One day I'm going to whip that scrunchie off my face in one swipe. I'll show her! BTW, she calls this Physical Therapy. Range of Motion. You'd have to be crazy to believe that! The treats I get afterwards don't make up for the indignity of it all.

Continue reading "Desi: Death to scrunchies"

Desi: Locked up

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:59:00 -0500

Dear Diary,

Today began like most other school day. That is to say, my foster mom put me BEHIND BARS! Well, not exactly, but she HID me in the bowels of the house, far away from other creatures, all light sources and any sustenance needed by my frail puppy self.

Okay, she only put me in the hallway with a baby gate, allowing me access to the bathroom and with my own food bowl, large water bowl and the company of cats who pass through quite regularly to tell me they hate me and I'm a pest. But STILL, I was locked up!

You can well imagine her surprise when she got home and I greeted her at the back door! Until today, I never knew "How the heck did you get here???" was another way Wisconsinites say hello to each other. I wagged back and said, "And how the heck did YOU get here?"

Then we went outside, Cali sniffed where I peed and peed over it, Mom picked beans and kept puzzling over the whole puppy-at-the-back-door thing. Nora hid, Gracie ran, I ran and Tansy barked at the neighbors in the alley. It was glorious!

When we got back in the house, she was surprised to see that Bernie and Simeon had nothing to do with my escape. (They've been implicated in the past of carrying skivvies out of the bathroom, over baby gates and into the mouths of Havs. Who knows if they'd be willing to help a pup escape lock up.) But nope, those feeeelines wouldn't help me AT ALL!

Continue reading "Desi: Locked up"

Desi: Wonder Dog Impersonator

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:17:46 -0500

Three years ago I began a fostering journey with one of the most delightful little dogs I've ever met. When writing up Desi's petfinder notice, I truthfully said, "This boy could charm the stripes off bees." While not an "easy" dog, he certainly was loveable. Even now, I smile just thinking about him and I joyfully open the updates and photos from his mom.

Desi came to HRI because he had a severely deformed front leg and his foster mom felt he wasn't doing as well with her rescue group as he would in a Havanese rescue organization. I was surprised at the extent of his deformity when I met him. His left leg was much shorter than his right, a single toe and a dew claw were the only evidence of a foot. He'd used his leg so little, my vet described it as "a pencil with fur."

With physical therapy I did at home and the amazing spirit of a strong willed puppy, Desi learned to use his underdeveloped leg. He moved faster, played harder and developed quite a following. A part of my heart will always belong to Desi.

I hope you enjoy some of the "Desi letters" that came so easily during the months he lived with my family.

lu

Continue reading "Desi: Wonder Dog Impersonator"

Have-knees visit the vet

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:53:00 -0500

In case you've ever wondered what goes through the mind of a crazy dog lady here's a scenario from earlier this afternoon.
12:05 Oh heck! I've got to get 6 dogs to Pewaukee for CERF exams this afternoon. And I need to leave in an hour! How will I fit them in the car??
12:07 Nora's a puker....She should sit by herself.
12:08 Nicky and Daisy ride together well. That works! They're up front in seat belts.
12:09 Riley is sometimes a puker but he's ALWAYS nervous. He needs a buddy. Maybe he could sit next to Nora.
12:09 1/2 Do dogs have sympathetic car sickness?
12:10 Nora and Riley can't sit together.
12:11 OkRiley sits on the outside, back seat, in a seat belt. Daisy and Nicky sit in the center, in seat belts. Moral support but they're not toooooo close. I'll hope for the best.
Lita will be in a crate on the outside.
Nora and Gracie sit up front. Maybe sitting up front will prevent Nora from getting sick.
12:12 Where are those homeopathic car sickness drops I just bought last week even though they weren't on sale????
12:13 I'm packing the stroller. That's a better choice than the fold up wagon and several crates.
12:15 What's the address again and what exit should I use? I think I better do a goodsearch and find out for sure.

Continue reading "Have-knees visit the vet"

Toe Trucks and Experience

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:52:02 -0500

Dear Friends,

Ive been here at Camp Wyland for almost 2 months! Thats been long enough to learn a lot of stuff, especially when youre just a pup. I came out of a puppy mill so when I got here, everything was scary. Now Im only scared sometimes which is a whole lot better than ALL the time!

First off, I know how to take a treat out of Lus hand. I also take treats from Carolyn, our pet sitter. Treats are GREAT! I didnt dare try them in the past unless they were sitting on the floor of my crate and I could eat them when no one was looking.

I play with all the dogs here now, too. Nickys my HERO! Hes the best. He said hell let me go with him and Lu on a walk on a leash. I always thought that sounded scary but the other day he came home all excited. He said he saw a toe truck at the gas station at the end of the street! I never heard of such a thing!! I love feet so Im thinking Ive got to learn to walk on a leash so I can find a toe truck. Ill let you know when I do.

Yesterday I went on a field trip Lu said. Me an Nicky didnt see any fields though. We went to a pet store instead. The lady at the counter gave us each doggie treats. Nicky ate his right up. I stuck mine in the crack of the dog bed and Nicky stole it later in the car. (We rode in a cart on our own doggie bed. Afterwards the dog bed went back in the car with us.)

Continue reading "Toe Trucks and Experience"

Organ Theives!

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:05:33 -0500

Dear Favoritest Aunties & Bestest Friends,

I never even heard her hum, but Dr. ColdHands must be musical (as well as a THIEF!) I dont want to cast nasturtiums about her or anything but I heard Mom talking and she said Dr. ColdHands is gonna take Daisys mothers organ on Tuesday.

First of all, I didnt even know mom had an organ! She got rid of a piano a long time ago an I never saw or heard an organ in this house. Wheres she been hiding it? An besides that, why was it was sposed to be Daisys? Shes the baby around here. SHE doesnt deserve any organ, piano or even a harmonica yet is my thought! Maybe a kazoo. If mom had a spare one, Id let Daisy have a kazoo. A plastic one. But if Dr. ColdHands would take it, well.whats the point?

I dish illusioned. Everyones holding out and hiding something. Mom had an organ, gave it to Daisy and now Dr. ColdHands is gonna take it. They might think its a trade because Mom said Daisy will have a spade when she comes home but come on.an organ for a shovel? Who makes a deal like that???? Clearly someone needs to help our mom learn how to make trades.

Daisy, by the way, is clueless. She doesnt seem to have any idea shes about to be robbed blind. I tried to tell her but she wouldnt listen. She thinks of Dr. ColdHands as having pockets with endless supplies of livR treats. I tried to tell her about how Dr. ColdHands tries to take your temperchure (an everyone knows you gotta have a temperchure or youre not alive so if someone TAKES it.youre a gonner.) But Daisy thinks she knows everything cuz shes all grown up now. Ha! Well see what she thinks when she comes home with a stupid shovel on Tuesday.

Your Pal,
The very dish illusioned Nicky

Really Rosie - HOME

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:27:46 -0500

I heard about home before. When I would go to see Dr. ColdHands with Lu, my foster mom, shed say afterwards, Lets go home! when we got in the car. I hadnt ever had anybody say something like that to me before, but I liked the sound of it. So I did a little research and heres what I learned.

Home is where, if you have an accident, they dont throw you out.

Home is where you can sleep belly up and its okay. (Somebody might even give you a tummy scratch which always leads to really good dreams!)

Home has the food you like and treats for special occasions like when you sit or go potty outside. Theres enough food, too. You dont have to fight anyone to get it.

At home there are toys and when you play with them, people smile and laugh and are happy just to see YOU being happy! (Amazing, isnt it?)

When youre home, someone pats their lap and it means theyre asking you to please come sit with them. They probably want to rub your ears for a while. (Its a well known fact that rubbing a dogs ears, especially mine, lowers stress levels and makes you a healthier person!)

Continue reading "Really Rosie - HOME"

Rude Camels and Horse Pills ...by Nicky

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:44:00 -0500

Dear Favoritest Aunties and Bestest Friends,

My poor mom. Shes had a rough time lately. First her tooth was hurting her and then she got a nasty bump on her jaw on account of it. She was worrying that tooth and that bump so much with her tongue an her finger that me an Gracie thought for sure wed have to put her in an E collar!

She made it through the weekend without an E collar or even Apple Bitter, but on account of the tooth, she had to see Dr. GagMe today after work. Theres not a lot that my mom hates more than seeing Dr. GagMe. She was mighty depressed. Monday and Dr. GagMe. What a combo!

Well, he saw her an he saw that tooth an the lump on her jaw an he said, Infection! Mom said, well..never mind what Mom said but if shes not careful, shes gonna have to have her mouth washed out with broccoli slaw!

Now Mom has to take what she says are horse pills. If that means what I think it does.YEE HAW, Daisys gettin a pony for her birthday!

Continue reading "Rude Camels and Horse Pills ...by Nicky"

Really Rosie - hanging out

nospam@example.com (Lu Wyland) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:50:00 -0500

Dear Friends,

Guess what. Today I met a couple of Lu's friends from work. I really liked crawling onto the lap of one of them. Everyone was happy I was friendly. Well of Course I'm friendly! Even when I was matted & smelly (instead of nekked & smelly) I tried to smile for the camera, didn't I?

Tonight I met 4 new people who really wanted to see me, having heard about me from my good friend and neighbor, Rachel. One of them has 2 girls that are very gentle (says neighbor Rachel, who loves me) so my foster mom, Lu, said she'd love for me to meet them. We need to know how I do with kids, after all. Maybe it'll be luv at 1st sight for all of us.

I'm a Good Dog about pottying outside. Everybody's really excited about that. I don't know what the big deal is but hey, whatever tosses your toy. Of course dogs should pee in the grass. Where else would I do it? I tol' you the first day I gots manners.

I'm eating dry dog food now too, not just the canned stuff. I like the really big dental bites that Lu puts in the doggie bowls in the morning. She always gives me a few pieces in my crate when she goes to work, too.

Tonight I rested with Bernie, the big c@. I still want to hassle him (& try whenever I get the chance,) but we did just fine together on the chair. See? I'm learning self control.

Your Pal, the controlled doglet,
Rosie, aka Rosarita