Adventures With Peanut

Wow, TWO updates in a month.  I'm spoiling you girls and guys.

This week has been an ongoing adventure.  My vet techs and I have started to get on a first name bases over the phone.  I give a round of applause to every GOOD Vet Tech and Veterinarian out there for all the hard work you do to help us pet owners over the phone.

It's been one long HOT summer, and with my life changing as much as it has (kicked my ex out and went from a 2 person income to a 20hr a week income), and with the Search and Rescue team on the rocks (long story there) we haven't been doing as much training as we should normally be.  Therefore, one black dog has been "bored" and finding things to do.  Yeah it's my fault, I fully blame myself (how often do you see that?).  So Peanut has taken back to fence jumping.  Yup!  So I've spent my mornings in my yard figuring out how she's jumping the fence.  Every time I think I figure it out, she has found a different way to get out.  Yeah, it's getting old.

Now Peanut's actually been a pretty darn good dog lately and behaving herself.  That came to an end this week.  On Tuesday I was really sick with a sore throat and stuff like that.  I had a few cough drops in the middle of my table.  On Wednesday, I'm sitting at my computer before work, and the dogs are in the living room chewing on antlers.  Nubs is facing me, which normally they always have their eyes drilled into my skull (I might leave them you know).  Peanut had her back to me, and out of no where the smell of Cherry Cough Drop hit me.  Sure enough I walk over to Peanut and you could smell it on her breath.  -sighs-

Friday's was the worst to date though.  In my kitchen, I have a counter top, then on that counter top I have a microwave.  On top of that is the medicine cabinet, which is a good 6ft off the ground.  While I was blowdrying my hair getting ready for work, someone climbed up into that cabinet and knocked out some medication which then dropped and opened when they reached the floor.  I busted Peanut as she was swallowing my last gummy Rescue Remedy anxiety pill.  YAY!  

I was over an hour late to work while I sat out in the yard and watch Peanut stalk the yard with her ears pinned back, tail between her legs, glaring at me like "YOU MADE ME SICK!  YOU ARE A DEAD HUMAN!" Finally after 20mins of waiting she threw up all the medication, and I was able to go to work.  

Yesterday (Saturday), was the last day of the Hot Air Balloon World Championships.  If you've never been able to see 100+ hot air balloons in the air at once, it's something you HAVE to see.  I've grown up with hot air balloons living were I do, and this city will always have them around.  Figured it would be a GREAT training opportunity to take Peanut out  there with out Search and Rescue team and train with distractions (a 60ft tall Hot Air Balloon inflating and taking off is a BIG distraction too).

"Hello did you say something?" 

Peanut under the SAR table watching everyone go past.

Peanut did WONDERFUL!  There was upwards of 500 people around us at any given time.  It was really shoulder to shoulder packed full with 10 hot air balloons filling up less then 20 feet away from us.  Only at this festival can you actually walk underneath a 60 ft tall balloon and see what it's like to look inside of 10-100 of them at once.  It's simply amazing.  Peanut watched a few take off, then was more interested in the food the people next to us were eating.

  

"It's hot out here! OH FOOD!"

She heeled on a loose leash around all the people, did sits and downs on command, and even played nice with young kids who would stop by with their sweet, sticky fingers and pet her.  She did awesome.  While she is a HUGE pain in the butt, she really has turned into a wonderful dog.  Loves people, loves activities, and loves to work.  Can't ask for a better dog!

"Behaving myself and being a good breed ambassador is HARD work!

Peanut the Wanna-be Cat

I often refer to Peanut's personality as very "cat like" since she's a bit aloof with new people but warms up quickly to people.  The fact she's very "smart" and has a "I'll do what I want when I want to" attitude, but still likes most everyone.  I also refer to her as "cat like" because of how agile she is.

I recently started training Peanut for scootering as a new way to give her an outlet for her massive amount of energy and a way to use her mind.  It also helps to train her for weight pulling so it's killing two birds with one stone.  She's really starting to love doing it (she actually starts dancing like she does with her flirt pole which is amazing).  Well I was out riding with her and when I returned my Dad was in my yard which is normal, but the following conversation wasn't.

Dad: Hey did you get a new dog?
Me: Um, No.... Oh wow, who is that? (takes Peanut quickly and puts her in the house)
Dad: I don't know.  You left the gate open and he decided to come in and say hello to Nubs (who was in the outside kennel)
Me: -sighs- Oh I bet Nubs was happy with that. (Nubs doesn't care too much for new dogs anymore)

Sure enough there was a 60lb Pointer/Bully mix walking around my yard with a sqeaky toy in his mouth.  He just made himself at home and was happy as heck to stick around.  After about 20 mins of walking around and seeing if I could find his home, I returned to the house with the dog (who later I found out was named Gumby) and walk inside where I had Peanut still running loose and look what I see Ms. Tude herself up to:

Note: Please excuse the mess I was thrown for a loop when Gumby  stopped by

Yes Peanut climbed in a window, that she really can't get too and was sitting in it just like a cat would.  I laughed so much over this sight.  That's my girl!

Thanks to Facebook, I was able to locate the Shelter where Gumby was adopted from and he was returned there today to find a new home.  If you ever adopt a pet, PLEASE see if your shelter will take the dog back PRIOR to selling your new pet.  Lots of shelters require you to return the dog/cat before you sell them.  Thankfully this shelter always takes their adoptions back so Gumby returned (same shelter I got Nubs from) and will find hopefully a better home this time.

Long Awaited Update (Lots of photos)

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated this blog.  Well I can since there hasn't been any real progress and a lot of stuff has been happening in my life to keep me from posting.

Peanut:

She's turning into a wonderful dog.  She's now been with me for officially over a year now!  Can you believe it?  I can't!  I mean look at how much she's changed:

The recent heat has really kept us from doing any Search and Rescue training so between that and a falling out between me and one of the other members of the team it's been slow going.  Thankfully I have a dear friend who is willing to help me out once the heat breaks which looks like this week.

Nubs:
What can I say about this nut?  He's been having issues with both of his knees again and I'm at a loss at what to do.  He doesn't seem in much pain so I've been treating him with some pain pills for bad days, and lots of different herbal remedies which seem to lessen his pain.  Wish I could win the lotto and take him to a doctor at Michigan State Univ. and get both of his knees fixed finally.  It sucks watching your dog grow older and start to have issues.  At least he isn't in pain, and still loves a good cuddle.  I just feel guilty when I take Peanut out for our nightly walks, while that was Nubs favorite thing in the world.  Makes me want to cry just thinking about it.  Maybe here shortly I'll get a job that gives me more then 17hrs a week and I'll be able to actually afford more things like that.

Anyways, He's doing great knee's aside.  He's such a ham and has been such a cuddle bug as of late.  Love my boy so much.  He's the best dog I could ask for.

And now one last photo of both of the Nuts!

Peanut Broke the Half Mile Mark and an Update on Nubs.

This is the day I've been looking forward to for a while now, the day Peanut broke the half mile mark with her tracking, AND had a successful find without any help from me at all.

See, the number one rule in Search and Rescue is TRUST YOUR DOG, can you picture trusting your dog while searching for a child lost in the snow? I'm still only searching for Men or Women that volunteer to go hide in the woods and are in full contact with these people and it's STILL nerve racking to trust your dog. More so when your dog never indicates rather they are on a scent or not.

Peanut LOVES to search. She has a blast doing it, and making her find, but she has no indication at all rather she's on a scent or not. It's always GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOOOOO. I constantly have to ask her if she's still working or not because there is no way to tell if she's still tracking the person we are after. Today for example, there is a fork in the path we use, and our victim can go left or right. There is no way I can know which way they go, I have to trust my dog. Now Peanut has been wrong before, and I have trusted her, and until she came back to me and started playing with me, did I know she wasn't on scent.

Today after 6mins into our track I asked Peanut "Are you SURE you are working?" She just spun around and looked at me with a grin on her face, and kept moving, but she had a dance in her step. Sure enough 20ft away was the guy we were searching for, hiding behind a tree. It was a proud moment for myself and Peanut. Peanut was so excited to find the guy and to get her treat (just one piece of cheese).

Not that amazing? I want you to sniff a person's hat, and then find them in the first half mile of a forest without cheating, only using your nose. Could you do it? I know I can't. So CONGRATULATIONS PEANUT! Shows you even street dogs can do amazing things!

Monday brings Peanut's Spay, so everyone keep her in your thoughts on Monday. This will be the first time she's ever been put under and out of my care in the time she's been with me.
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Well, I wish I could tell you that Nubs was back to his old self and starting to do some work himself, but sadly that's not the case. Nubs tore his ACL/CCL again, this time on the knee that he never had surgery on. For those keeping track that is 3 in under 2 years. Right now I am trying the non-surgical route with crate rest and lots of supplements. Seems to be doing well, this is day 5 of crate rest and besides Nubs going crazy from being in a crate, his leg is showing much improvements. Surgery isn't out of the question for the future, but with my hours being cut down to 17hrs a week (yeah how lovely right?) as long as he's not in pain, we will do this.

Nubs Always Gets What He Wants.

Peanut's crate is right next to my computer, under my computer desk. On nights that I'm on my computer, Nubs lays in Peanut's crate to be close to me while Peanut normally runs in between laying in my computer chair with me or on the love seat staring at me.

Tonight is like every other night. Nubs is curled up in Peanut crate, while Peanut alternates different places. Well at some point tonight, Nubs stands up and grabs a drink of water. All of a sudden I feel Nubs's head on my lap which he does all the time when he wants to be loved on. Not taking my eyes off the computer, I use one hand to pet Nubs and the other on my mouse (multi-tasking FTW!). Just a normal night in this house.

After a few minuets of petting him, he's starting to whine and nudge me even more. So he wants something so I ask him "What's up Nubs?" This is when he turns toward Peanut cage and starts pawing at the bed inside.

Now Peanut has never been much for her crate. She likes her crate, but will not go in to it unless I ask. Even then sometimes I have to make her go into it. She's just not fond of it.

I finally make out a figure in her crate. Peanut, while Nubs was grabbing a drink had taken over her bed, kicking Nubs out of it.

I have to laugh. Silly puppy. Nubs gives up and makes his way to the love seat while Peanut seems content with the new sleeping arrangements. As soon as I hear Nubs crawl up on the couch, Peanut takes off because all she wants to do is cuddle up to Nubs. Two seconds after Peanut runs into the living room, Nubs is hauling tail and again laid claim to Peanut's crate.

Nubs always gets what he wants.