Weird Weekend

After a rough night on Friday / early Saturday morning we ended up with Zack at the vets again and to cut a long neverending story short, he has now been put on predisone to see if this will help prevent these painful bouts from coming back.    It was a decision we made after alot of thought and discussion seeing there could be side effects long term but it our goal to wean Zacky's dose down over time then the chances of side effects are alot less.  He just can't go on having these bouts so we thought it was for the best at this time.

Zack had a good night last night and ate this morning and seems alot better so all is good today.   EXCEPT we have about a foot of snow in the back garden and it is still coming down.    We are under a snowfall warning and they aren't kiddin.    On the bright side it is that lovely warm snow if that makes any sense.  A bugger to shovel but you don't freeze your butt off doing it!!!

Zack had trouble getting round the garden you can see some spots that were deeper than he was tall.

He didn't care though he was happy to get some fresh air  and push his way through the snow after being cooped up yesterday in the house.

At times he looked like a little snowman  :)

a foot of snow doesn't keep Zacky from rummaging 

WHO ME?

The funniest is when he comes in the the house the  snow melts off him and he is all wet then he acts like he has just come out of the bath and zooms round the house like a mad thing..... no matter what, he is always able to put a smile of my face.   He is just the cutest.

Great Gift

Zack gotta new toy from his buddy Deuce for showing him such a good time while his mum went on holidays, I think Zack's new Zebra Kong was a hit...

literally, Zack kept whacking himself in the ribs with it!!!!  It doesn't seem to phase him tho he still keeps on giving it the death shake.    He plays by himself alot like this and I never get tired of watching him -   he's so funny.

Thanks Duecy Doo for such a great gift.

On the Way Home

I never get tired of the scenery we drive past - it is always different depending on the time of year.

We stopped to check out more lakes on the way home and this one was open and you could smell the fish.   A fisherman just came out of the water while we were there.   Zack was checking for leftovers not to eat but to roll in LOL!!

There were newborn calves everywhere in lots of the farmers fields.   Soooo cute.   I just wanted to go and cuddle um - not sure the mama range cow would appreciate that tho - and no, I didn't grow up on a farm and have no cow sense - but it does'nt hurt to think "what if I could", especially when the little one looks back at you like this one did.   Zack couldn't care less about the cows - he was probably thinking...mmm dinner.

The grass still hasn't turned green yet but it is starting to and Zack was well into snuffling through all the grass and bushes to check things out.    The gophers tho are out with a vengeance and chirping everywhere.

This is what drives Zack into a trance.   He is not like a normal terrier that charges and tries to catch them (which is good).   He stands and listens to the chirping and stalks the ones he sees - by the time he thinks of running they have popped down their holes in the ground again.   I don't mind it so funny to watch and the gophers always get away.

Travelling always makes for a tired Zacky.    After we got home I was up on the landing upstairs and looked down and caught Zack and Fat Cat on the mat at the bottom of the stairs.   Fat Cat saw me but Zack was out cold.

It was a quiet evening....:)

Easter Sunday Drive

This might be a long post..... just saying

Easter Sunday Pete, Zack and I went for a drive to the mountains to check out the lake situation for Pete's fishing on Monday as the fishing season was opening for those lakes.   On the way there we attended Church for Easter Sunday - well sort of - we stopped at this tiny historic church basically in the middle of nowhere.   I wish we knew it's history, it is very quaint and has it's own little grave yard.   Here is Zack at the front door.

and Zack closer up - the foundation of the church is rock

There is a little creek that crosses the churchyard before reaching the gravestones with a little footbridge.   Zack was having trouble sitting still on the bridge as the gophers were chirping all around him and he was so focused trying to see where they were LOL.

Once at Police Lake it looked like the lake was still iced up a little - especially round the boat launch - a bummer for Pete, but the majority of the lake was open water.

Zack kept watch on the jetty and then he got to sniff through all the rushes and check for critters round the edge of the lake

Big Chief Mountain was clouded over but later in the day the sun did come out - too bad my pictures don't show that.

We then decided to hike through the bush to the foot bridge across to the island where the water was open.   I hope you can see the footbridge on the photo below - that is where we were headed.

It was lovely until I saw this sign and then I started freaking out on the trail  as I could hear grunts and snorts in the bushes.    I haven't been that scared in forever - whether it was in my head or there was actually a bear there we will never know and I am glad I didn't have to find out.  I don't think Zack would protect us in any way he would probably think a bear was just another giant doggy pal to play with.

You have know idea how thankful I was to get out of the bush and into the open and onto the foot bridge.    There were two geese sitting on the rail honking at something - may be they saw the bear LOL!!!

You see Canada geese everywhere here but they are majestic when they take to flight.

I thought Pete had trained Zack well and he was looking for fish from the dock  just like Pete

but this is what Zack was after, he saw a ........mmmmmmm  muskrat -  I swear they look a bit like a miniature beaver - but so cute.

After walking back through the bush talking gibberish and singing loudly and sounding like someone who has escaped from the asylum we made it through the trail back to the car without any sign of the bear.  Note to self - bears come out of hibernation the end of March !!!!!

Once back at the car it was time to harness Zack back in his car seat and head to our next destination and then on home.   It was a great Easter Sunday tho.

The Boy's Day

Zack hung out in the garage with Pete yesterday cleaning up and getting the boat ready - fishing season starts on Monday ya know!!!!

Being an assistant is tiring work tho...... he had to catch up on his zzzzzz

Ready for the Easter Bunny today!!!!   Happy Easter Everybody.

I hope I Did it

I have had my video camera since Christmas and have previously uploaded videos before but for the life of me I couldn't do it and couldn't figure out why - I am so technically challenged.   I hope I have figured this out and this one works.  This video is from about a month ago when Deuce, Zack's whippet mix buddy was staying with us for a week.

He is such a good dog to look after.  I noticed this time tho that after a few rounds of play in the garden poor Deucy starts to limp a bit.   We forget he is going on 11 and now restrict the play sessions a bit so he doesn't get sore.   He still loves his walks though.  

It seriously makes us consider another dog as Zack is so happy when Deuce is around :)   May some day in the not so distance future........

Shit Happens

I just took Zack for his evening walk and after he pooped I bent down to pick up his poop with the poop bag as usual only to find out after the fact that there was no bottom in it and I ended up picking up the poop with my fingers in the split second it took for me to realize... eeeew.   I thought it felt different LOL.   It is funny how long it seemed walking home trying not to touch anything with my shitty hand.

Weekend Socializing

This last weekend we had the snow back and some chilly weather with biting winds.   Just means the winter woolies came back out and lots of running around with four legged buddies and cups of tea for the people.   Zack met up with his buddy Zoey today but he was non too keen on wearing that blasted sweater again - it's supposed to be spring on Wednesday ya know!!   He sulked in the car on the way over.

But he soon forgot he was wearing it once Zack and Zoey got together for a walk and romp in the park then back to Zoey's for some visiting.

and running mad around the garden

Zoey didn't take her eyes off Zack

unless it was for a cookie :)   this is her little "cookie monster" face - too cute!!!

Inside she sat perfectly on her couch for a portrait

Once home Zacky did his own cookie monster impression - not quite the same - but he got the same results - a cookie was dispensed....

Now time for a Sunday afternoon nap I think.

Pooped

Over 6.5 km of walking today ahead of the snowstorm - I think I have a quiet evening ahead :)

Another Vet Visit

It seems like we lives at the vets and I wished I had shares in the business, but we do what we have to do for our beloved pets.   On Saturday morning I noticed Zacky was licking his paw and there was a bit of blood there.   I took a closer look (this was 3 a.m. in the morning)  and there was a tiny pea size lump on top of his outside toe.   It looked like a small wart, but I couldn't be sure.  

Today I took Zack to the vet to have it checked out as I couldn't stop thinking about all the bad things it could me.  That's how I am, paranoid about my dog.   The vet thought it was a wart thank goodness and  we have a choice to make now as to whether we get it removed or not.    She said if he doesn't bother it too much we could wait and let it be but if it grows then it should be removed or we could just remove it now.  

With all what Zack has been through this past 6 weeks I think I will give it a bit of time before putting him through any surgery unless there is some significant change or he keeps chewing on it or something and then I will get it removed right away.

Dam warty wart warts!!!!

Park Lake Fun

I have quite a few videos I have not posted lately but I will try and catch up.   When Zack feels good we try and take him out lots to have some fun.   This day we took him to park lake to play fetch.   It was more of a stand off between Pete,  Zack and the ball as they played on the beach.  

I apologize for my annoying laugh and commentary but Zack was making funny noises too and I couldn't help myself.   We then continued round the park through the woods to the other side of the frozen lake where Zack showed off his agiliteez - it was a fun afternoon out.

Minnie Me

The stork finally arrived from the UK and Zack now has a little minnie me

Thanks to Marley and Posie for their information as to where to get Zack a little brother :)

I think we'll call him George.

The Boys

Deuce has been staying for a few days and we love every minute of it.

I think the feeling is mutual :)

Before and After

I think it was time ......

for alot of this

1 hour later and all bootiful again

Zack and the Shovel

Last Sunday we had a skiff of snow and Zack did his usual when it comes time to shovel.

He causes such a ruckus - but he is so funny!!  He  is just not letting that shovel get his wubba kong!!!

Nature Walk

Pete and I took Zacky for a great walk yesterday along the river bottom.   The warmer weather had melted most of the snow but there were still patches around and the river was unsafe cuz of the ice shelves along the shore with lots of geese on them to entice a little terrier to chase  - so Zacky stayed on his leash when we were near the water.

He hates water but he loves goosems and just his presence made them fly away - he is king of the riverbank!

We hit lots of wet spots :)  that was before we went "off roading"

We lucked out at seeing a freshly fallen tree that had been chewed down by a beaver.  It's amazing up close to see every chew mark.  

We followed the trail from that tree where the beaver must drag his stash of logs.  You could even see the crack in the ice on the frozen pond where the log was drug into the water and then under to his lodge.

Here is the top of the beaver lodge.    We couldn't get a closer look cuz of the dangerous ice but it was pretty cool how they make their homes.   Zack was super keen to check it out but we didn't let him near it but it was pretty neat to see.

Zack didn't care that alot of the trails were quite boggy and wet where the snow and ice had melted but it was hard for us to maneouvre through.  The bushes on the sides were full of thorns so couldn't even walk through them or grab a hold.

When there wasn't this mud there was packed ice - just lovely :) - Zack is definitely more surefooted than we were and was wondering what was holding us up.

Luckily the second half of our walk was alot dryer through the trees and pathways - which was a nice break from trying to stay upright or walk with monster mud feet.

Zack's nose was glued to the ground most the time and it was hard to actually see him with his coat being the same colour as his surroundings.   Can you make him out in this picture - that's what I mean.   I keep on saying I will have to get him a flourescent vest to wear so we can keep an eye on him in the outdoors.   Not sure he would appreciate it too much tho.

All that sniffing in the bushes didn't distract Zack from cadging for a cookie every once in a while - he would never miss a free hand out.

The river was pretty awesome to look at but about the last mile of our hike back  a bad wind storm blew up and it became really cold.    Walking back through the cottonwood trees was a little freaky as most of the trees down the riverbottom  are dead, swaying and creaking badly.   Pete just said the it's not the creaking you need to worry about it when you hear a loud crack you need to run!!!!   That made me feel a whole lot better LOL!!!!.....On the plus side the dead trees make a great place for woodpeckers.   I think this one must have been their practice tree :)

It was such an awesome walk and good to see Zacky feeling good and having so much fun going somewhere different for a change.

I just love this last picture of him  his face is just so darn cute - although I think he is due for a hand stripping soon - starting to look a bit like a schnauzer with that beard and wooly knees :)