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!

Ray Don't Care

"Ray don't care" pretty much sums up life at our house the past couple of months. And we expect to keep saying it regularly as our teenage terror of a puppy seems hellbent on continuing her current trends of disobedience and destruction.

You see those ears, right? Ray picks up every sound in a mile radius, I'm sure. So I know it's not her hearing when I call her to me from two feet away and she goes to Jason. She just doesn't care that I'm the one calling her.

The other day Jason found our little darling de-feathering our lonesome dove. She hadn't killed it mind you, just pinned it to the ground and proceeded to pull the feathers out of the poor thing's back. Jason was able to distract her away from it long enough for the dove to fly away. This dove has visited our yard regularly for several years and has no mate, so I'm very hopeful he has a full recovery.

That evening Ray punched Jason in the mouth after he made what we've started calling the crazy note while playing with her

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.

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.