"Puppy Love" Melts the Heart

If you haven't yet seen Budweiser's "Puppy Love" commercial for this year's Super Bowl, then just stop right now and watch it below. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

I really like Budweiser's Clydesdale commercials. The one featuring the baby was fantastic - and genius marketing! It won't surprise any of you to learn that I absolutely adore "Puppy Love"! How can I not with the adorable puppy and his whole story with the horses? 

I'm not a commercial aficionado, I don't even drink beer and I don't care for football, but even I enjoy the commercials in the Super Bowl. What's not to like? Advertisers bring their A game, or at least try, and it takes a lot of work to come up with something that's going to impress us, especially in this day and age. Budweiser's team knocked it out of the park this year, as evidenced by its almost instant virality. And I'm writing about it, so it must be incredible! 

But seriously, I know, it's a commercial. In the big scheme of things it doesn't really matter one iota. But if it makes us smile and makes our hearts warmer for a couple of minutes, isn't that worth something? In this world where we hear about shootings and animal abuse on a daily basis, I'll take any bit of random happiness that I can get, even if it's from a commercial. 

Sillybutt on Ice

If I haven't expressed how much Raylene likes the cold, let me just cover that now - my dog is a yeti. Ray LOVES cold weather, it seems like the colder the better. She wants to stay out and play long after everyone else has come in. It doesn't matter if the wind's blowing, it's dark or snowing, Ray's out there entertaining herself, or if she's lucky, playing with Magi.

The top of our backyard pond has frozen more than usual this winter due to the unseasonably cold weather we've been experiencing. Raylene can't get enough of the ice! We've given up trying to keep her off of it. She lays on it, leaps onto it and digs at it.

But her favorite thing is to frolic with sweet gum balls - yes, the pointy, brown, pain in the butt castoffs from my neighbor's sweet gum trees. Lieu loves to chew on them as well, but never have I seen him prance and dance with them the way Ray does, especially across the ice! It's absolutely magical to watch at night under the lights, but of course I couldn't get any video of that. Too bad the Olympic figure skating trials are already over, Ray would definitely take the gold!

I have visions of her falling through the ice and having to scoop her out or worse, but it's worth the worry to watch her have so much fun. Jason assures me that she's safe, the ice is plenty solid. And when it does start melting, he breaks it up to discourage Puppy Shackleton from exploring. Then she has a grand time trying to grab chunks of ice from the pond and running around the yard with it.

The pack and their people enjoyed a beautiful day in the backyard yesterday,  taking advantage of the 60 degree day among all of the bitterly cold ones. There was plenty of chase, wrestling and stick chewing to be had. Ray also worked on her tunnel to China in the digging pit and found her way to the top of the compost bin to bark at the neighborhood dogs. Such a busy, busy girl. I took advantage of the warm weather by giving the yard a thorough poop scooping. Such is the glamorous life of a super dog mom.

Lieu Teaches Ray About the Digging Pit

Lieu introduced Raylene to the joys of the digging pit. She took to it very quickly and seems to get a big kick out of it!

The dogs do actually dig in this space we've set aside for them. We have to remind them occasionally but the whole pack loves their pit. In case you were wondering how we made it, we churned up the dirt about 1 foot down, cleaned out the larger rocks and mixed a few bags of sand into the dirt.  It hardens but breaks up quite easily and makes for great digging.

Random Dog Book Review: Devoted

I can't resist many nonfiction dog or animal books, especially short stories about dogs and their people like the ones that make up Devoted. I found it so touching that I wanted to share.

From stories about service dogs and the children and adults they help everyday, to servicemen and women and suicidal people who would have trouble thriving and may not survive without their dogs, these are stories about incredible dogs who have inspired, saved and loved their people in awe inspiring ways.

Every story had me in tears,  laughing out loud or both. They all epitomized a fact I've known for years,  having the companionship of a dog can change a person's life for the better, forever. Dogs bring a ray of light into the lives of those who are drawn to love them. I know first hand the transforming power of their unconditional love.

Raylene's Great Escape

Poor Jason! Raylene got out of the backyard yesterday and took Jason on a wild goose chase around the neighborhood. He was fixing the gate when the air compressor turned on and startled Ray who bolted through the gate. She explored the neighbor's yard then took off across the street and down the block. She chased a rabbit for awhile and generally enjoyed herself while Jason tried for an hour to round her up. I felt so bad that Jason had to deal with Ray alone but so glad that she didn't head the other direction towards Campbell.

We've noticed that Ray is terrified of a few things

and we're working to try and
alleviate those fears along with training her on commands (especially come!), so hopefully it doesn't happen again. I'd already planned to get Ray microchipped and her escape prompted Jason to get her "jewelry" when he was getting dog food. Guess she's official now!

Bonus for me: Ray let me snuggle with her for more than five minutes last night.

Adventures in Puppydom

It's hard to believe that it's only been two weeks since Raylene Ray(Ray) Sillybutt G2 entered our life. It seems like we've already had a month of adventures together as everyday brings something new. Her Royal Puppiness is developing quite the personality and definitely likes to have things her way She's growing like crazy and we have to let her collar out a notch every 2-3 days. Here are some of the things we've learned or experienced this week:

1) If Ray is napping you will find her in one of two places -  under the dining room table or in between the couch and coffee table ottoman under our legs. She has to know where everyone is and what they are doing (a true heeler!) so the dining room allows her a good vantage point for action in the living room or kitchen. Ray only naps by the couch if we're watching TV and is very particular about the boys coming into "her" territory with "her" people. She doesn't really stretch out with the other dogs on the dog beds much and forget about snuggling up together for a nap! She gets very hot while she sleeps, we're guessing as a result from having spent her early days outside, so she seems to seek cooler spots. Ray's sleeping habits seem peculiar after moving beds to follow the sunbeams around the dining room for the boys.

2) Snuggling is not a high priority. Not only is Ray not interested in napping with us, she's not much interested in being held or sitting with you for more than about 5 seconds. When she's not eating or sleeping, it's go, go, go! And she's bouncing from one thing to another, much like your typical preschooler. We've been lucky and so far she hasn't destroyed anything important, sticking mostly to chewing on her toys, me, and a recent discovery, sticks!

3) Sticks go hand-in-hand with Ray's new favorite pastime, going outside. She, like Magi, has developed an obsession for the dogs behind us that they cannot see very well, but can certainly hear. Luckily it was nice this weekend so she could spend a lot of time outside, as she repeatedly told us she needed to be. We put a bell up for Lieu years ago when we were housebreaking him. He learned to ring that thing incessantly just so he could go outside, I can't imagine the constant ringing Ray would subject us to. Looking out the dinning room window is a good second to going outside if she has to settle.

4) Ray is learning to sit, walk on a leash and come. We've been trying to walk the whole pack every day if  weather allows so she's picking up the leash pretty well. Ray and I went to visit my folks this weekend and went on a short walk with my mom. She loves to meet new people and got to meet a family, including a dog and a little girl, on the Fassnight Greenway this weekend, too. Magi on the other hand does not enjoy meeting new people or dogs, but we keep trying.

5) Ray discovered the digging pit this weekend and had a great time excavating it with Lieu. Hope to have some video of that up soon. We don't expect to be able to keep her out of the pond this summer so combine that with the digging pit and I imagine we could have a hell of a mess on our hands.

6) Ray got her nails trimmed for the first time this weekend. Probably could have cut them a little shorter but played it safe, I cut one of Gypsy's nails too short once and she never forgave me. We've noticed some other insecurities so we sure don't want to develop any issues with nail trimming!

Puppydom, like childhood, is so short-lived, I know that this time of discovery and wonder will be over before we know it. I want to enjoy every bit of life that she brings to our world and love that I'll have Ray of Life to look back at this time in the years to come.

Ray & Magi: Making Friends Pt. 2

It was just a couple of days before Magi warmed up to her new playmate. Watch the dam break after Jason slides Magi across the floor and Sillybutt Ray practically explodes with excitement at the opportunity for a play session with her new big sis. Even ol' Speck gets in on the fun.

Magnolia was so lonely after Betty died in December. She played with the boys some but nothing like the way she and Betty use to play. It was great to see that Magi will have another gal to pal around with. She's only a couple of year's older than Ray Ray so they have years of fun ahead of them!

Ray and Magi: Making Friends Pt. 1

Little Raylene really wanted to figure out her place in the pack and especially with Magi those first few days. Magi, Speck and Lieu have all done incredibly well for having a whirlwind with barracuda teeth thrown into their midst. But of course they had to set and test boundaries.

Raylene's First Week as a Rosendog

It's been a crazy week in the Rosendahl household as we've welcomed a new member to the pack. A little over a week ago, Jason and I headed out in several inches of snow and bitter cold to rescue a little blue heeler mix puppy from a bad situation at a "home" about 40 minutes away (in good weather).  Our little adventure brought the puppy that would be Raylene and her sister to new lives with people that will love and take care of them -- forever.

Ray on her way to her new life.

Ray is about 3 months old and full of energy,  amazing how quickly I forget that all puppies that age want to do is chew, chew, and chew, and sleep.  She completes a pack of four with her other dog siblings ranging from 2 1/2-10 years. More about them in the future, this post is about Ray, as everything is these days.

Raylene is a smart, ornery little pup and I look forward to a wonderful life with her. Poor little baby was terrified every time we took her outside for the first few days, probably thinking we were going to leave her out there after having enjoyed the comforts of a warm house. But she's only had one accident the entire week, knock on wood.

We've had several adventures already, including the vet, two pet stores and visits to friends and family. Ray was amazed by the big dogs at the pet store and is scared of almost everything, everywhere, but always curious to check things out, especially with her mouth -- no surprise there!

Our first selfie on the way to the vet.

Sillybutt (one of several nicknames) wiggles sideways and flip-flops all over the place when she is excited and I know all dogs like to be pet, but I've never seen the intense bliss that Ray experiences, you can see it wash over her like a wave and it makes my heart so happy that we could give her the opportunity to feel such love. Even after she threw up all over me in the car after the pet store.

We've lost two beloved pack members, Gypsy and Betty, in a little over a year and while Ray can never replace them, she has definitely helped fill the gaping hole in our hearts. She bears a close resemblance to Gypsy, a fellow blue heeler mix, and I know she will grow to be just as amazing as the sister she'll never know.

 The amazing Gypsy Rose on her first day at home. Raylene has big paws to fill.

Thanks for reading about Ray's first week as a Rosendog. I hope to use this blog as a way to share her adventures along with the rest of the Rosendogs. And get myself back into writing outside of work. We hope you enjoy the journey as much as we will.