Christmas Week Walks

Some days there was snow and others there is not depending on when I took the photos.   This day we went out there was still some snow on the ground but it was becoming quite patchy, especially where they are building.  

It was great for walking the dogs as there was great traction and no falling on the ice like I did the other day walking round the roads.   

Any time Zack gets to run off leash he is a happy boy.    He still manages to sneak in a poopsicle every once in a while.  It is quite the sight seeing me running through the snow drifts stumbling as I go, only to get there when Zack is eating his last morsel of  shit or  he runs off with it.   Either /or my language is quite foul by this point, but Zack doesn't see what all the fuss is about.

Molly isn't quite so bad with the poop thing, she just loves to run about.   I swear she is as quick as a rabbit and a couple of times she has scared me as to how far she was away from me.  Luckily she comes back but I am going to work on that more in the future so my heart doesn't skip so many beats

They are building new houses over on the fields so there is a lot of mounds of dirt around.   The dogs loved running up and down.

Up

and over Molly

Zacky takes flying leaps off the mounds of dirt - he was having a blast.

Since these photos were taken, all the snow melted, but then we got another lot  of snow.   I will do more posts of our Christmas walks as I have more photos to share.   

Christmas Morning Cheer

This was Molly's first Christmas with us and I think she was a bit overwhelmed, but she soon figured out it means lots of fun and goodies….  

She just had to watch Zack with his new ball within a ball with flashing lights to boot!!!

I think it was a hit.  He loves to shake it and throw it around so the lights start flashing.  He never stopped all morning :)

Molly's new toy was also a hit with Zacky - he was a bit of a hog with all the toys

so as usual Molly sneaks them away and hoards them in her kennel.  She is so funny.

Zack (well Molly too) got a new octopus squeaky toy, so there was lots of tugging 

with me 

and with Molly

and then just me and Molly (I just love her stubby little leg)

Well Fat Cat's Christmas morning was just like any other she rolled over and waddled  from one spot to the other

although she did make the best of all the paper,  and the boxes were her favourite resting place.

The dogs were so tired from all the excitement and playing throughout the day that when we had company over for Christmas dinner they were on their best behaviour and slept most of the night.  Zack didn't even have the energy to give anyone a quick frenchie.     Hope everyone's Christmas was a great one. 

Merry Christmas Everyone

Have a  Great Holiday Season.   

Morning Walk

Zack was ready for his walk this morning.   He was giving me the look, come on let's get going…..

So our morning walk was a cold one.   There was a biting wind and the ice pellets felt like needles hitting the skin - it wasn't fun.   However the dogs didn't seem to mind as I went across the grass park as the walking trails were all iced up  in places and made it hard to walk.  They had a blast running around and scoffing deer poop at every opportunity - little buggers. 

Everyone who reads my blog must remember how Zack is with rabbits, well this past little while little Miss Molly has got a thing for Magpies.   We have been doing lots of "leave its" and trying to distract her away from her black and white enemy.   It is an ongoing process as the Magpies are everywhere in our neighbourhood and I swear they tease her and egg  her on.   We will keep up with our training tho as I love the Magpies and hope there will be peace between them in 2014.

Zack has been so patient when I am training Molly.   It is a challenge when you walk two dogs together and try and train the other one.    Molly is good at heeling when she is on her own but when they are together she likes to pull.   Finally this last week we have had a breakthrough and I have got both dogs heeling beside me.   Zack has been great and really patient when it comes to heel training with Molly.   He is so good about it.  I think Molly is finally catching on.   Their reward for heeling well for a while is to have freedom again on the extendileads so they can sniff around and "be dogs".

When we got home from our walk I came through the back gate and the dogs went mad.   I didn't have my camera initially which is too bad as Molly went mental and crazy chasing Zack round the garden.  It was so funny --- those little stubby legs are mighty fast and Zack nearly got his bum nipped on a couple of occasions.   He has an amazing talent to tuck it in and turn at the last minute LOL.

Zack enjoyed playing for a bit and digging in the snow banks.

It's amazing what he keeps finding in the snow.  Many balls have been recovered lately.

Molly gives it her all to chase the ball or kong but it doesn't last long, she just looks at me then and watches me throw it for no reason LOL

Once inside everyone warmed up , Zacky cuddled with Fat Cat 

and Molly was on the couch with the dogs' Christmas blanky

It is supposed to snow a lot again today with bitter wind.  I am glad we went out when we did as it may be a lot worse later on.   I think for nowI am going to have a nice cup of tea and some breakfast.  

So Not A Little White Fluffy Thing

Walking and playing in a bit of muck and dirt doesn't seem to phase her :)

This Happens Every Time

It's war between Zack and the snow shovel.   I am sure the neighbours think we are killing him considering all the shrieking and screaming that comes out of his little whiskery chops.

This is him getting ready for the attack

I wish you could hear as well as see these pictures as it was bad, like really bad

hollering bloody murder

he dives in for the kill.  He literally grabs hold of the shovel and I have to watch I don't hurt him.

On the opposite end of the spectrum Molly totally ignores it and would rather be inside in the warm than take on that giant metal shovelly thing

She took quite a liking to the watering jug though that we use for the Christmas tree :)

Warm and Cozy Evening

:)

The Coldest Days Ever!!

This last week the weather started with a blizzard and then frigid cold temps of -46 wind chills.   It has been awful for us and the dogs.   No walks or anything for the dogs as it was too cold - which means keeping them busy has been a challenge.

They have been really bored.  

We got all the balls out for the dogs to have some fun.   Zacky still loves his tug of war.

With or without Molly

Molly often runs off and hoards the balls in her kennel, she is so funny

Zack was just left with his chuck it, but he didn't seem to mind and played fetch for ages and has me well trained to play fetch too.  As soon as the ball goes under the couch he whines and whines until I get down on my stomach to fetch it out for him.  This went on over and over.

This afternoon it warmed up to a balmy -12 so I thought I would take the dogs out for a walk.  Everyone got into their winter woolies, boots and all.   Molly was just fine in putting on the boots and ran round the house thinking it was great which was surprising :)

Zack was not so happy with the whole winter gear thing until we go outside then he forgets about it.

We went half a block and one of Molly's boots came off so we came back to the house to put it back on (I think her legs are too short to wear them LOL) , then she put on the breaks and didn't want to go anymore so I didn't want to force her and left her back at the house.

Zack and I met up with Paisley the poodle and Constance and we went for a great walk together albeit not too long as it was still pretty chilly in the wind.   It was just nice to get Zack out in some fresh air.

This next week it is supposed to warm up a bit more so hopefully we can get little Molly out too.

WHAT LIES BENEATH

We have had Molly now for 6 months and over that time we have had lots of ups and downs but mostly ups.   She has come so far and is pretty much a normal dog today, so happy, bouncy and cute.

When we got her she was matted, had sore feet, her ears were well disgusting and she had to go on medication for her skin as well as other problems she had.    Over time, she got better and we have spent many hours desensitizing her to the touch and being handled, her feet, ears, etc.   Got her used to being groomed and she is coming along great.    Some days I even forget she is even a rescue dog as she seems so normal.

But every once in a while I think Molly has little flashbacks of her previous life.   For example, with the  extreme cold the last couple of days Molly took just a second too long to do her business in the garden and her feet froze.   I saw her hobbling in the snow trying to cross the yard so I went out to pick her up to get her in and she had a panic attack.  She freaked out when I got near her.   I am not sure if she associated the pain and discomfort she was feeling in her feet to humans - I am not sure, but it was sad.

This time of year makes you think of how thankful I am to have her and that she doesn't have to live like she did anymore.  

Christmas Pictures

Zack's daycare Paws-on-the-Run did another fantastic photo shoot as a Christmas fundraiser for Windy City Canine Rescue.   I just love how they turned out :)