Thursday, December 31, 2009

New Years' Plans

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Lia: So?

Zoe: So what?

Lia: What are we doing for New Years?

Zoe: What? We're dogs, Lumpload!


Lia: Seriously! Aren't we going to celebrate?
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Zoe: Yep: about 4:00 pm Mommy's going to give you a doggie Zanax so that by 6-7:pm, when the fireworks start, you won't care. And since Kinsey will be visiting, I'm sure we'll all get a special treat - our fav rawhide or a doggie ice cream.
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Lia: And...New Years' Day?
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Zoe: Did you see Mommy's personal blog? I have a feeling we'll be on that thing with her while she power-relaxes.
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Lia: Man...I'm glad Kinsey will be here for awhile - we can go throw snowballs at each other or somethin.
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Zoe: (...Good! Bye! Mommy and I - bed all to ourselves...perfect!...)
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happy new year, canine friends....
see you next year....
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Because....

Why this picture? (his name is Cooper)



Because Steven Bobb of fidojournalism.com is one of our favorite photographers and we wanted to say so before year end.
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Thank you.
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Lia and Zoe's Mommy
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Zoe: psst: if you click on the foto to enlarge it, it's more dramatic/intense and that's how she likes her photography...
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Lia: Yeah.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Refresher Course

Lia: Are you over that "plans" and "goals" for 2010 thing?

Zoe: I am, but your Mommy's not! We're in for it!




Lia: Why? What do you mean?

Zoe: Didn't you see the book on the kitchen table? WE may not be making any plans but ...


...I'm guessing we're involved in HER project

Lia: YAYYY! This will be fun!

Zoe: (....THIS will suck...)
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Monday, December 28, 2009

Plans for a Decade

Zoe: So...Christmas is over and a new decade is upon us - we should make plans.

Lia: Ok. Where do YOU want to go on vacation this year?

Zoe: No...I mean...like...a bigger picture - plans for a decade.

Lia: Oh, I don't know...I think we handle the backyard quite well - from the back door to the fence out yonder...and we know every board from the back porch and the stairs leading to the lawn...

Zoe: WHAT are you talking about?


Lia: I don't think we need a deck aid at all - we know every inch of our deck and back yard and we don't need any help protecting it....now...what plans would you like to make for the new year?
/
Zoe: I want you to go look up the definition of resolution. Then I want you to make a resolution to not speak unless you've looked something up in the dictionary BEFORE you give your opinion.
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Lia: And I want us to go to the lake more this summer. There! Good Plans!
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Zoe: (****sniff...sniff...boooo hoo...sniff...***)
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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Mommy's Suggestion

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Lia: Mommy wants us to look at the picture on today's blog and learn something important from it.
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Zoe: Like...how to make a doggie snow angel?
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Lia: I dunno....she said to look at the dog and how much he's enjoying his life - and his surroundings...and mother nature....and what a gift it is that he and his humans found each other...that kind of stuff... Maybe she's trying to teach us the true meaning of Christmas?

Zoe: I'm not so sure....


Lia: Ya - and that Christmas isn't about balls and frisbees and rawhides and rope chews...and buckets...maybe this guy here knows what true happiness is...
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Zoe: Well I'm not rolling around like that - what I see is that his Mom's got an UGLY SWEATER wrapped up somewhere! Nosiree, Miss Dimbulb, I'm not falling for it!
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Lia: ok...me neither.
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Zoe: (...sigh..man I'll be glad when this is over....)
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Chores

Favorite photographer Jesse Freidin (and friend) off to get a Christmas tree:


This is Booker: Pit/Reindeer Mix

You have to walk thru the tree farm to find, smell and taste the right one...

Try on a couple wreaths - just to get in the spirit of things

Booker and Pancake decorate.


All's well in dog world!!!
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via dogarttoday.com

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Monday, December 21, 2009

4 more days till Santa brings toys

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Zoe: Ooooohhhh nooooo.....

Lia: Wha?

Zoe: Look at the picture Mommy found for the blog. Boy, I hope that's not an indication we're getting scarfs for Christmas - again!



Lia: I wouldn't mind - and I think those pink goggles are HOT!
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Zoe: (...you wouldn't know HOT from SARDINES...oh yeah - you don't know what those are either...)
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Friday, December 18, 2009

SEVEN days till Santa comes with dog toys!

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Zoe: Y'kno...there's something I notice about our "cousins" pictured in your Santa Hat project.

Lia: What? How cute they are and how Santa will leave us extra gifts for coming up with such a good idea?

Zoe: No. Actually, look at this poor Pug. I think he and most of the others agree with me - WE DON'T LIKE CLOTHES!


Lia: You're just a party pooper. And I love my hoodie sweatshirt.

Zoe: (...and now you all know she's [a tad] impaired...if you didn't already know...)

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Just Another Christmas Cutie!


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Nine days 'till Christmas

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Lia: Ahhh, hahahahahahahaha
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Zoe: WHUT?????
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Lia: This looks like you, pretty much!
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Zoe: He's not laughable...he's adorable.



Lia: Oh...you think he's cute?

Zoe: Frankly, I do.

Lia: So you DO like my Santa Hat project-----nah nah nah!!!!

Zoe: (...juuuuussst wait! ...)


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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Reminders...

Zoe: Reminder of what? Kinsey - how his ear sticks up and you can put a Santa Hat on it?

Lia: Yah. Or Jadie; 'lil black and white and this made me think of her.


Zoe: Well...this time of year can spark a little melancholy...
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Lia: Oh, it's not that -sure I miss her...but that just tells me we need another dog or two around here.
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Zoe: (...you just need to get over this project so you stop looking at/for other dogs!...)
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Monday, December 14, 2009

Eleven Days 'Till Christmas...

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Zoe: I suppose you think this is fun?

Lia: I think this Santa Hat tradition is fun and if I saw this big boy in my neighborhood, I'd follow him to Santa's workshop! Hubba Hubba!



Zoe: (... His name is Big Max. He lives four houses to the left on the block behind us. He walks his Dad every day at 5:45 a.m. I'll be sure to leave our door unlocked...)

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Friday, December 11, 2009

The Little Dog Spoiles

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Lia: Here's my problem...

Zoe: It's about time you met your own truth...YOU have a problem.

Lia: Ya! You! You and all the little dogs they make these cute things for. Do you think I can get this cool sweater in an xxxxxxl?


Zoe: not without alot of money - and since you don't have a job, I'm guessing small dogs will always get the cool clothes.
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Lia: Oh yeah...well...I'm gonna find a someone that makes stuff like this and has large pets.
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Zoe: (...Dear Santa: You may want to not show Lia all the cool stuff your reindeer wear...)
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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas Dogs

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Lia: Awww....look how handsome he is...
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Zoe: You're gonna keep this up till Christmas, aren't you?

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Lia: Yes, I think it's delightful; I may make this an annual tradition.
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Zoe: (...I think Florida is nice this time of year....you should consider making that your tradition...)
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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Dressed up Dogs~

Lia: I think we should post pictures of dogs dressed for Christmas.

Zoe: That's so lame.

Lia: Ok, I'll ask Mommy.

Zoe: Nevermind - I already know this outcome....here we go!

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Learning a Foreign Language

Ace and Sammi


Dogs pick up on more words than we give them credit for. They are very capable of learning 100 to 200 words and some learn more.

In the book “The Loved Dog” Tamar Geller encourages dog owners to teach their dogs as many words as possible by saying words like “walk,” “drink,” “cat” or “play” over and over.

I made a list of every word I know my mutt Ace recognizes. I counted about 70 words, and they are listed at the end of this post.

Of course, Ace recognizes some words better than others. He knows words like “Ace,” “ball” and “come” no matter what. To understand other words, he has to be in a certain area because it only makes sense to him in certain contexts such as when we practice agility or when we get in the car. And some words like ”crawl” and “stand” only make sense to Ace if he sees a hand signal. I also assume there are some I’ve forgotten and at least a few others my dog recognizes without me even realizing it.

It’s helpful to make a list of all the words your dog knows so you can try to increase the number of words on the list.

To help a dog learn more words, Tamar suggests creating a pattern in the dog’s mind so he will learn to connect the pattern with the word. She says to constantly acknowledge “good” behavior by repeating the word for the action over and over when the dog is doing the action without being told.

For example, since I am trying to reinforce Ace’s understanding of the word “stand,” I will repeat the word stand, stand, stand when he’s standing still with all four paws on the ground. I’m not telling him to do anything. Instead, he gets attention and praise just for standing!

Teach dogs short words
When I made Ace’s list of words, I realized many of the “words” Ace knows are actually phrases. For example, “Get your toy” or “Where’s the ball?” or “Find Scout.” Al of these could be much simpler - toy, ball, Scout. When teaching Ace new words, I will make sure to be much more precise.

Phrases can be confusing to a dog if the same words are used in multiple phrases such as ”load up,” “get up” “hurry up” “table, up” and “back up.” Or how about the classic mistake of using “down” to mean both lie down and don’t jump. Why not use the word “off”? Talk about confusing!

Some words I am working on with Ace right now include “back up,” “leash,” “Josh” “upstairs” and “which one?”

Ace usually takes awhile to catch on to precise commands. Perhaps he has a teacher who tries to rush him. He has a tendency to get either too excited and lose the ability to think through problems, or he just stands there and doesn’t do anything for fear of being wrong. He waits for me to show him or to physically make him do the right thing.

My goal is to slow down, and as Tamar suggests, to allow Ace to think through the concept on his own. I don’t have to be so quick to correct, but instead I should encourage him to try. When I say a word and the wait a few seconds, I can see Ace thinking and I notice when it clicks. I love showering him with praise when he gets a command right for the first time.

I don’t learn very well when someone gives me orders or walks me through the motions. I need to try new concepts for myself, screw up a few times and think through the patterns.

Maybe this mutt and I have more in common than I thought.

How many words does your dog recognize? What is the most unique word he/she knows?

Words Ace recognizes:

Ace, Ace of Spades, Bad, Ball, Back up, Bang, Beamer, Bucket, Catch, Climb it, Come, Crawl, Down, Drop, Heel, Here, High five, Hug, Hungry?, Hurry, Find it, Get it, Give me ten, Go long, Good, Good boy, Go, Go lie down, Go to your bed, I’ll be back, Jump, Kennel, Kisses, Leave it, Let’s go, Load up, No, Off, OK, Out, Outside?, Quiet, Ready?, Roll over, Say your prayers, Scout, Shake, Sing, Sit, Slide, Slow, Speak, Stand, Stay, Stick, Teeter, That’s right, Tire, Touch, Toy, Treat, Tunnel, Turn, Up, Wag your tail, Wait, Walk it, Watch, Water, Weave, Where is it?, Which one?, Yes, You coming?, You’re staying

via THAT MUTT.. a dog blog

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Surprise Kitty...again

Got this a couple days ago from Lynn in Paris...I hear today it was a big hit on Ellen...too cute!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Treats from....(shhhh...Santa....)

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Bo Obama Cinnamon Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

■2 cups whole wheat flour
■1 cup organic/natural peanut butter (has less sugar than regular)
■1 cup skim milk
■1 tbsp baking powder
■½ tsp ground cinnamon
Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2.Mix flour, cinnamon and baking powder in a medium bowl.
3.In a separate bowl mix the peanut butter and milk until smooth. This may take a while as natural peanut butter is somewhat grainy.
4.Combine the dry and wet ingredients and mix well.
5.kneed the dough with your hands until well combined.
6.Roll and cut with cookie cutter in your dog’s favorite shape.
7.Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
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Cinnamon Cream Cheese Puppy Frosting

Ingredients:

■4 tbsp low fat cream cheese
■2 tbsp plain yogurt
■½ tbsp cinnamon
Directions:

In a small bowl combine all ingredients.
Mix until thick and creamy.

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via design crush

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Dear Santa ~


The Mommy: Have you two written to Santa yet?

Lia: Why? and Who?


Zoe: Santa, stupid. The jolly man in the red suit with the white beard...he brings toys and cookies and bones and buckets and balls to good little dogs on Christmas Eve. I wrote my letter in August.



Lia: And you didn't tell me? Is it too late to write? Can I just call him, cuz I don't have thumbs so writing eludes me...




Zoe: Nope: from our letters, he makes a list and checks it twice...I'm thinkin you wouldn't make the list anyway...





Lia: Mommy: would you tell Santa I want everything Zoe said? I'm a little tied up.


the Mommy: No problem, Lia.
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