Halloween 2014

We only had two trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Disappointing, but it gave us plenty of time to torture-I mean dress up-the Rosendogs in their costumes. Enjoy!

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

Something woke me up shortly after the storm began the other morning. I got up to figure out what I heard and Ray was not in her usual spot at the end of the bed. I looked around the house and quietly called her but got no response. I returned to the bedroom and knelt down to feel around the floor under the bed. That's when I noticed a little head peaking out at me from the abyss! Yes, Ray was sitting in the dreaded abyss, hiding from the storm. Poor Baby Ray has gone from storm chaser to storm hater and no amount of coaxing could get her out of the abyss. I left her laying there and she had wiggled her way out by morning. We're still surprised by her choice of shelter since she still stands on the bed and peers into the abyss from a safe distance. The noise that woke me up was probably her squeezing in between the furniture and the wall. Sweet thing just wanted to feel safe and close to her papa.

Ray's Big Birthday Camping Adventure

Happy Birthday, Baby Ray!

It's hard to believe it, but Raylene is a year old. She's introduced us to a whole new level of dog crazy since joining our household nine months ago and we've loved almost every second of it.

We've been wanting to take Ray camping as part of our continued efforts to put her in new and different situations with and without people and dogs. A beautiful fall weekend during her birthday month gave us the perfect opportunity!

We recently camped at Sam's Throne Recreation Area in northern Arkansas. If you're not familiar with the place, Sam's is about 30 minutes south of Harrison up a twisty little mountain road and is popular with hikers and rock climbers.

Ray's car sickness, although better, is still an issue and this trip was a given. The trip down took an hour or so longer because we stopped a couple of times to try and abate the issue. She threw up twice on the way down and once on the way home. Luckily, she'd take a nap and be fine.

Ray loved everything about camping and hiking! From morsels at meal times to curling up on the sleeping bags, she was completely at home. The campsites at Sam's sit on a ridge with at least 75 ft. drop offs so we kept her real close to camp but she couldn't get enough exploring. We pretty much had the place to ourselves but she didn't bark or hide from the people we did see. She didn't bark at the owl or the coyotes singing together throughout the valley every night either.

Our weather was perfect and the leaves had just started turning so we were able to enjoy some early hints of autumn color. Ray had a blast hiking and did really well on the trails. We let her off leash for a little while and she would get 20 or so feet ahead then stop and look back at us, waiting impatiently just like Gypsy use to. Ray didn't let us linger very long to take pics or a drink when she was on leash either, she had things to see and smell!

Some of Ray Ray's funnier antics included digging up a steak from a previous camper and numerous small holes around the campsite hunting moles, and laying claim to sleeping bags as her humans were trying to enter them. She also followed us to the toilet, especially me, and would wait outside unless I brought her in. She would apparently get upset if I snuck over with out her. Funny girl!

Ray's definitely going on many other camping adventures with us and I can't wait to get her on the water! An unexpected treat is Ray choosing to sit and snuggle with me a lot more since we've been back, suits me just fine!

The other Rosendogs were left in capable hands, thank you Anna & Amanda!

Tip-a-Canoe and the Dogs Came Too

September was a blur. We took the boys floating early in the month. Lieu cried all 6.2 miles and Jason had to counter balance Speck the whole way. They used to float with us all the time but I don't think we'll be taking them again.

We've been trying to take Ray in the car on short trips. Now she loves to go and gets excited whenever we leave, unless we take one or more of the other dogs, then she throws a fit. One day we took her and Speck to the pet store, to get puppy cones at Andy's and for a walk on the greenway. She didn't quite make it, but we've had many shorter successes, all in good time. Ray also got to accompany Jason to my work picnic. She wouldn't let anyone pet her, but she loved walking around the park and didn't get upset with any other dogs.

I was 5 minutes from leaving for work one morning, getting ready in the bedroom with Ray laying on the bed, when I leaned over to give her some love. She jerked her head up, gave me a fat lip and knocked my bridge out. Luckily the dentist was able to get me right in.

We took Magi and Speck in for vaccinations. She's up to 54 lbs. and he's 23lbs. Magi didn't throw up on the trip, we're on a roll! Lieu's been to the vet twice-his first anal gland issue and to have a fatty tumor checked.

October brings Ray's birthday. I can hardly believe our Baby Ray is already a year old.

Her Rotteness Reigns Supreme

We've created a monster. These teenage months are going to wear us down as much as puppy hood did, the only difference is Ray moves faster now. She's still adorable and funny, and we could definitely have it much worse, but she's as obstinate as ever and has little interest in listening to, much less obeying, commands. Unless you're Magi...or Jason.

Magi has very little patience for Ray's antics. They're still buds and wrestle regularly, but Ray cow tows to Magi, even when she shouldn't or doesn't need to. Magi's gotten really bossy with everyone, including us when she thinks she can get away with it. The two of them keep the boys in check though. They won't put up with Lieu picking on Speck at all.

Ray's love-me-not behavior wouldn't matter if she hadn't decided she's Jason's dog. She loves, loves, loves her papa. She brings her toys to him to play (while refusing my offers to play), and tries to share by shoving them in his mouth, she snuggles with him in bed or on the couch and ignores me or jumps off. And now she cries when he leaves.

So I've decided to use Ray's fondness for Jason to teach her a new trick. I always wave goodbye to him from the dining room window and Ray has started standing at the window with me when he leaves. So I'm trying to teach her to wave at him by moving her paw up and down. She's not very patient so she usually runs off before he actually leaves, but I call her back and help her wave as I do. I'm pretty sure she tried to wave by herself today and even if it wasn't intentional, she's still getting the idea.

I'm also teaching her to catch treats in the air. We started with Cheetos, cause who doesn't love Cheetos!? Ray did great, Magi not so much. Magi just lets them bounce off her head and the floor, much like Betty used to do. And Specker is great at it too. Lieu didn't hear the commotion and slept through it all.

A word of warning should you ever visit the Animal House: Ray loves to stick her nose in your crotch and butt, and will happily lift your skirt, shorts to do so. She actually has to approach you to do so, the chances of which are fairly slim given her track record with people, but consider yourself warned all the same.

Belly Love and Other Topics

Ray is a belly whore. Betty was the original belly whore. Whenever you'd pet her, Betty would invariably roll on to her back so you can pet her stomach, and usually sooner than later. Most dogs like their bellies scratched, but these two would prefer it was all belly petting, all the time. Ray takes belly whoring to a new level as she throws herself on the floor at your feet as you're walking through the house. She's hard to resist, laying there wiggling her butt and wagging her stubby tale, but she's also a danger to our well being at times. But look how big she's getting! The first photo is from today and the other six months ago.

Ray gets to sleep on the floor in our room every night. She's becoming a pretty good watch dog and doesn't care to sleep on the bed or tear anything up, so we're happy to let her sleep outside her box. The best part--Sillybutt comes up for snuggle time before we go to sleep and when we wake up. The other Rosendogs aren't too happy about it but they also aren't content to sleep on the floor. I also started pulling a bed in for Lieu (Ray also if she wanted) a few nights a week, he gets some special treatment as our senior Rosendog. Like getting to drag our clothes around the house.

Magi's been getting her own special time. I've started painting her nails every week or so. She does really well through about three paws, then it's sometimes a struggle to finish.

I'd feel bad if I didn't mention Speck. We're trying to keep his annual summer allergy freak-out at bay with Benadryl. Luckily the weather has been much cooler than normal. 

Now I Have a Name

*I wrote this for a short story contest at work. It didn't win but since it's Ray's story I wanted to share it here as well.

Now I Have a Name

That winter was a brutal one. My fur, matted with ice and snow, provided little warmth as winter raged on.

The man that lived in the house yelled and kicked at us with his big boots. The woman threw a cup of food out into the yard every day, but I had to fight my family for any morsels we discovered in the mud or covered with snow. I hate digging through the snow to find my food, it freezes my nose.

I’ve heard my father’s father say that “these kind of people don’t deserve the loyal companionship of a dog.” There were three generations of my canine family left outside to starve.

I saw a child come and go from the house next door. She looked like she’d like to play with us, but she never came over. At night my family crawled into a hole under a shed to stay warm.

One day a man and woman came to the house. They loaded two of us into their car. I’d never been in a car and it was very scary, but I could tell these were nice people. I never saw my sister or family again, but now I live in a pack with people who love us. I have a name and no one threatens to hurt me. I sleep inside and they feed me every day. Life is good.