Snow Days

It's been a long time since my last post, so long, in fact, that this is my first post of 2011. So happy New year everyone. If you live in Toronto or anywhere in North America you will know that we are enjoying one of the snowiest winters in years. Cadie loves it. All this snow means that the temperature has been pretty mild, plus she loves to run and jump and dig in the deep, loose snow.

Luckily we haven't lost any dog toys under this white carpet of fun. Though we have had some close calls. On at least 4 occasions Cadie and I have been digging frantically, while I try to calculate store opening and closing hours to see if we can replace the ball. As I said though, so far we've come home with all of our toys.

We haven't been going far. The sidewalks are very salty and I worry about Cadie getting salt stuck in her paws, I've heard of dogs developing infections if the salt stays in their paws. Anyhow, mostly we've been going to the nearest large-sized park, and then going for a walk along one of our trails.

As you can see, Cadie has taken the opportunity to make some new friends. She's becoming bolder with huskies, and labs, which is great, because it means that she's starting to bounce back from those attacks when she was a puppy. Today, a corgi gave Cadie a run for her money. Who knew corgis could run so fast. So, even though winter is just beginning, Cadie and I are having a blast.

My Worst Nightmare

When Cadie first started sleeping in the bed with me, as an older puppy I used to have nightmares that I would roll over on her and break her legs. I would wake up in a panic and check each one of her legs, go back to sleep for like an hour and then do it all over again. Cadie is unflappable, she usually slept througth the whole thing, but would drowzily pull a foot out of my hands if I bothered her too much. I remember one night in particular, when my sleep-addled panic had me saying out loud "I broke all 6 of her 4 legs". However, Cadie was always fine, and it was just my overactive imagination. This fear stems from my last dog, Kaely, she fell down the stairs and broke her back left leg, it's just so awful to watch them suffer, and so terribly expensive, it's stayed with me.

This morning was different. I didn't give it a second thought, I came in and saw Cadie looking pitiful, which isn't really that unusual, as she likes a good lie in, but when I called for her I realized something was wrong. Normally she hops up and runs to the door to wait for me, but today, she stayed on the bed, so I went over and scooped her up, wrapping my arms around her hind legs, and as I did so she cried out in pain. Putting her down I could see that she was holding the back left and still looking pitiful.

I picked her up and put her back on the soft blankets, where I gave her a leg message, being satisfied that everything was attached I put her down again, and watched as she tentative walked to the front door, looking pitiful.

I was really unsure of what to do, should I stay home and observe her, you know in case I need to take her to the vet. But then we opened the door to the building and Cadie got a nose full of fresh air, and she was off, trotting along like nothing was wrong, and I realized that it was all an act when after 5 minutes she tried to pull me off in the direction of the park. Sneaky little girl.

Today is a work day, so I forced her home, where I made breakfast for us both, and as I sat down next to Cadie on the couch with my cereal she turned and gave me a pitiful look. Dogs, such manipulators. And what about me, who nearly fell for her tricks.

Surviving the Heat Wave

The worst thing about a heat wave is talking about how hot it is, and, in the interest of focusing of the positive I try to avoid talking about the temperature. Just for the record it was 33 degrees C, in the shade, 43 with the humid ex and 50 in the sun. That's far too hot for anyone who likes snow. And unfortunately the temperature has become a bit of a problem for those of us who own fury little ones. Cadie likes a good chew, so yesterday I took her to the park, and she chased the ball and then dropped to the ground and proceeded to chew on it until she was warn out. We had met Salt at the park, but she didn't find an alternative way to wear herself out, and she had a very bad night. Salt and her mother came over tonight for an indoor dog park, but it was pretty obvious that she needed more than just a ball to chase, but it was so hot, we couldn't ask the dogs to walk today. In the end we decided to take them down to the parking garage. We started with sled dogs, pulling and straining at the end of their leashes, and after only 5 or 6 trips up and down the parking garage we had tired dogs. By this time a nice breeze had blown up and the shade was very enjoyable, so the dogs also had a chance to sit in the grass.

Uter, being a tropical sort of turtle is loving the heat. The water in her tank is up at 28 degrees C, a nice hot bath really. She is watching me as I type this. That's the problem with prey animals they never really love or trust you. Oh well, I can't complain, happy turtle in "the bath" exhausted dog passed out on the cool floor. Off I go to cool off myself.

Cadie and I

I have, by far, the best dog.

I know that this is open to debate, everyone always thinks that their dog is the best dog, except for those people who don’t have dogs, and I feel truly sorry for them.

My dog’s full name is Acadia Jane, but I call her Cadie. She is 19 Lbs. Ganaraskan, and she is beautiful. She has black hair, and always looks a little scruffy, and a wonderful little round face. A Ganaraskan is a newish breed, made up of ¼ Poodle, ¼ Cocker Spaniel, ¼ Schnauzer, and a ¼ Bishon Frisee. In addition to being beautiful she is also very sweet, and the past part of my morning is when I leave for work, and stop in front of my building. I look up and I can see Cadie looking right down at me, she is still standing there waiting for me when I am on my way home.

It’s funny all the small things that dogs do that can really change a person’s life. I mean aside from the fact that they us get up and out of the house, help break the ice with strangers, and generally fill our lives with love. Last night I was determined to stay up and watch the Olympics, in particular I wanted to see Patrick Chan and Johnny Weir skate. So I set up camp on the couch, and within 2 minutes I was asleep. But then, just as Chan’s music started to play I felt a little pressure on my feet, Cadie had come out to make sure that I was awake, which meant that I was able to see the two skaters I had been hoping to see. Just another dog miracle.