Chillaxin

Zack the Popular Pup

Friends of ours from the UK who live round the corner from us got a little bichon x pup called Archie a while ago. He is cute as a button and is now about 6 months old but is a little scared of dogs as he hasn't been round them much until now. On our usual walk last night round the neighbourhood I hear my named being called and lo and behold it was Caroline running down the street after me calling me to bring Zack in to see Archie. Zack being his usual social self was all over the place and little Archie didn't know what to think. Zack did all the usual crouching with bum in the air wanting to play and Archie so wanted to join in but was unsure. Whenever Zack got too close tho he would nip at Zack but would then start to follow him. Zack is so good not to overwhelm the pup and is very gentle even when the pup takes a nip he just rolls over or ignores him. After a few minutes Archie was coming round and I think we are going to be getting them together more often to help little Archie come out of his shell.

Archie is scheduled to attend the same doggy daycare as Zack and I am sure that will help socialize little Archie as well.

I know when Zack was a pup, Zack had Dylan the Labradoodle who helped him with some of his issues and now maybe Zack is paying it forward helping other young pups along the way. I am so thankful for such a sweet natured little terrier.

I am not saying Zack is perfect as he did go through the occasional issue of meeting big dogs on a leash - he would occasionally lunge at them but we seemed to have worked through it with our latest dog class, beyond basics - thanks to Amanda. He had several big dogs get "in his face" in class and he was so good. So far we haven't had any more problems.

Zack is truly a popular pup.

The Funniest Thing!!!

So this morning I put Zack's boots on as planned for our walk. My neighbour Constance and Paisley the poodle were waiting for us out front of the house and as I stepped out of the door and started down the front steps Zack lifted up his back two feet in the air and walked down the five steps in a handstand!!!! It was so friggin hilarious!!!

I just wished I had my camera.

The White Stuff

The snow and cold are back for a few days, although it isn't too too terrible considering what a lovely winter we have had. The temp is still -12 this morning so I think Zack's boots are a must for our usual long Sunday morning walk or his feet might freeze or at least keep balling up with snow. Luckily once he is outside he forgets he has them on. I reckon it will be rosy cheeks and cup of tea when we get back today - oh yeah and a large cookie for Zacky boy.

Worry Wort

This last week or so Zack has been walking away from his food again on and off. He eventually will go back or eat it later that same day or wait til the next morning - but he eventually eats it, it just takes him a bit longer. He normally eats as soon as I put his food down so it is a little unusual for him not to eat it right away. Zack seems fine tho, runs round, plays and seems normal. He has not had a bad bout with his intestinal cramps since last October and nothing seems to be wrong with him so why does it bother me so much? Could there be another round of belly troubles brewing? I hope not.

I know other dogs do this all the time (don't eat) and there is nothing wrong with them and Zack has had so many tests and check ups and there seems to be nothing wrong with him either but it still gets to me. I hate it when my dog doesn't eat as it brings back the horrible memories of him as a puppy.

I have never been able to forget the Vet Specialist in Calgary telling me that Zack had cancer cells in his blood when he was sickly and it always plays in the back of my mind even though after Zack had his bone marrow biopsy it was all clear and we were given the A OK.

Why am I such a worry wort over Zack just skipping a meal every once in a while?. It just doesn't seem right when he normally eats that's all. Do other people get so concerned or is it just me? May be it's because all of the dogs I have owned in the past, my Cavaliers and my sheltie (age 3) all died prematurely of serious chronic health issues.

It isn't as easy as changing Zack's food to something else he might like as that could cause a whole serious of other issues with his belly so unless he shows signs of being sick (which he doesn't right now) we will just carry on and just let him eat at his own pace I guess.

I need to quit worrying so much!!! Geesh I love my dog.

Ready, Set, Go!!!!

Ready, set and go........




Whoo hoo Zacky!!!

Border Terrier?

Zack doesn't even look like a border terrier in this windblown picture. LOL.

Another Run

Saturday morning we were all up and out early as my husband Pete had another run to do. Zack knew something was up and was all whiny and raring to go.

He waited quite patiently before the run started or was that cuz I had cookies in my pocket!

Once the run got underway Zack and I headed off in the opposite direction down the river bottom for a good walk. The sun was in and out and with the hills there was lots of shadows and then sun and for some reason Zack was spooked. He was growling and snorting on and off at things and he was actually starting to freak me out - I was thinking there was a coyote, skunk or some crazy person in the bushes

So what did we do but go down the path into those bushes - I must have been mad but I knew the runners would be around sooner or later and I tend to overreact at things to put it mildly LOL

Zack soon settled down and started to enjoy his surroundings and I started to relax too. It was nice to go down the river bottom for a change and into the nature reserve.


We saw Pete running by a couple of times on his route and we cheered him on - Zacky too was screaming his head off as Pete ran by he just goes ballistic - quite embarrassing actually.

We went right under the high level bridge - it always amazes me how they built it. As the run went on the sun came out and it turned into a gorgeous blue sky morning.

After walking over 5km Zack and I took a bit of a break and waited for the runners and Pete to come by on their final stretch of the run

As Pete came by this last time I handed Zack over so he could run with Pete the last 1/2 mile - he was so cute.
Here's Zacky the runner cuz ya know this blog is all about him!!!!

Gophering

I saw our first gophers out of hibernation this week and Zacky does a great impression of keeping a lookout just like they do!!! LOL

Happy Valentine's Day

I love fresh snow and my little scruffy terror which makes for a fitting photo opportunity today. Happy Valentine's Day everyone -
have a face full of fun!!!

Fat Cat Setback

After Fat Cat had her dental surgery a couple of weeks ago she seemed to be doing well other than a bit of an upset stomach due to the change of food initially. Once she was eating again she seemed fine and so we changed her back to her normal food again as the canned was giving her diarrhea. However, last week after her meds stopped poor Fat Cat started vomiting although she was still eating (of course LOL). She hardly ever pukes so it was very unusual and she developed oozing sores on top of her head. I was worried she had an infection seeing her antibiotics had finished and so I took her back to the vet. They gave her a thorough check up and thank goodness her temp was normal so she didn't have an infection. The vet figures that just with all the stress of everything and the change in foods etc. has irritated her stomach and so they gave her an anti vomiting injection and an long acting antibiotic injection for her sores on her head. Last Thursday when I brought her home Fat Cat was hiding and acting really weird but thankfully Friday she was feeling much better and those shots seemed to do the trick and she is definitely back to her normal self now, no more vomiting and she is howling for food both hers and Zacks. She went back for a final check up today at the vets and was given the all clear. Yay!!!

I have always said I was a dog person. I love cats but they are just well "different". I have realized this past few weeks that Fat Cat is not like any other cat I have owned before and I just love her to bits and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her. She is one special cat.

Resting Up

Zack and I went out for a long walk this afternoon and ended up doing over 10km in under two hours. It was a gorgeous day out so we made the most of it. Now Zack is resting up as we are going over to Constance & John's tonight, they are the parents of Paisley the Poodle so it will be non-stop again tonight for Zacky boy!!! Good job border terriers can just go go go!!!!

The Pink Squeaky

Zack was all gung ho when I brought out the pink squeaky on our walk





But after a few minutes it was all over and he had had enough LOL. I should have stopped while he was still wanting it.

Woolly Knees

I have never stripped Zack's legs since I got him and probably won't unless he starts to look like a schnauzer. I just love his little woolly knees!!!

Beyond Basics Class

Zack and I have been attending a dog class called beyond basics once a week for the past four weeks and it has been lots of fun. It is a class that concentrates on distraction training, shaping and tricks. We have learned many new things and even a new trick. Now Zack can do a "head down sad". It is so cute and I will have to get a photo of that!!! It was fun teaching him that trick and I plan to do more.

I found out tonight tho that Zack still doesn't pay attention to me off leash he totally ignores me in class and I have a hard time getting his attention. It almost makes me feel like he "couldn't care less" if I was there or not. I must have done something wrong along the way and I want to change that. I always feel I am upbeat and happy but Zack doesn't see it.

We play with him lots at home but always with food or a toy or something and we learned tonight in class that "you" have to be " the toy" and so I plan on playing games with Zack just him and I and see what happens.

We have been advised that a real live chicken will be coming to class as a distraction at some point so that should be interesting for sure LOL!!!

Golden Boy

Sometimes in certain light the golden fields shine




If our freakishly warm weather continues I am sure the grass will start to change to green sooner rather than later.....I think I have spring fever and it's only the beginning of February!!!!!!

Wisps

With the wind blowing from behind the wisps on top of Zack's head always stand up. It reminds me of when he was a puppy. I just love them!!!

Coffee Rush

On occasion Pete gives Zack his empty Starbucks cup and even if it is completely empty Zack still thinks he can find a minuscule drip of some'm some'm in there...

then he thinks he has won the lottery cuz he gets to keep the cup.....and starts doing his usual celebratory laps round and round the garden






I got so dizzy going round and round taking these pictures I felt sick LOL!!!

It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad Wind!!!

Last Sunday I took Zack out for his run in the field near my house but the wind was blowing like a hurricane. It wasn't too cold it was just crazy windy.

Zack's face says it all LOL - yep, wind blown

As long as it is not -30 degrees Zacky still has fun even in the strong wind



He couldn't help but stop to check out the burrows or holes in the ground

After about an hour it was time to go back home. Good job Zack has that wiry coat to protect him from all the long grass and weeds whipping in the strong wind.

I just don't know why he just didn't take the nice path like I did!!!