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!

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.

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. 

Critters Beware!

Ray has a new way to torment our backyard visitors. She loves to jump up to the feeder platform, whether critters are up there eating or not, and has started biting and hanging from it temporarily. She almost got a squirrel by the other day, it just barely got away. Here's the tree climbing/jumping video as promised:

In other news, Ray slept on the bed with us almost all night last night! So exciting, even though I got almost no sleep! She hasn't slept with us since the first night we brought her home and she slept with me on the couch.

Ray's still terrified of the crevasse between the bed and wall. I don't know what she thinks is in that dark abyss, but she still stays far from the edge. We invite her up on the bed regularly but you can't move too quick or she takes off. And she typically only stays a few minutes. Last night was a treat but not one I'll be too quick to repeat.

In not so fun news: Ray's a little obsessed with the dog behind us. We're teaching her not to bark at it (wish our neighbor would do the same) so instead she whines. And bites the fence. I was looking the other day and the privacy fence has bite marks all down a lengthy section of it at various heights in the Ray reach. I see fence repairs in our not so distant future.

And the Beat Goes On

Tried to get a new selfie with Ray and had to settle for this one. At least we're both in it.

Raylene managed to lose her fancy name tag and rabies tag. Guessing they came off somewhere in the yard during a wrestling match with Magi. Scoured the yard a couple of times but they've yet to turn up. Now's our chance to turn her loose!

If she continues pleasuring herself in the manner she recently discovered, Sillybutt may have to go elsewhere anyway. Just kidding! But seriously, what's with the masterbating dogs?!

Rosendog Family Field Trip

Very rarely do we take all four dogs anywhere together. A quick trip to Sonic for half-price shakes provided the opportunity to take the girls for a short trip with the boys as company so we loaded them all up and headed down the road. Everyone did really well! Ray had a blast hanging her head out the windows with the boys and looking at everything. Magi did pretty well too although she stuck it pretty close to us. But there was no crying or puking so I call it a win!

Ray brought a stick in yesterday through the dog door. I told her that sticks need to stay outside. She promptly went over, picked the stick up and headed back outside with it. I know she didn't understand everything I said, but Ray shows us everyday just what a smart dog she is.

Rosendog Athletic Department

Huge news! Ray caught the Frisbee twice tonight while I was playing with her. It's the first time she's caught it for either of us and two times no less! We were super excited!

Here's a video of one of our other athletes. Lieu loves to "play soccer" and will push a ball around the yard until he's about to collapse, so he doesn't get many opportunities.

Pain, Patrols and Rights of Passage

Ray's a big girl now. Yesterday she passed that all important milestone for modern bitches-getting spayed. I hate to put her through it but I also feel strongly about the importance of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. There are far too many animals in need of homes and too many irresponsible pet owners. Sorry, off the soapbox.

Since they were putting her under anyway, we went ahead and had that last baby canine tooth removed. Add in the microchip and Ray had a full day of poking and prodding. Oh, the price of being a Rosendog.

Poor baby had a long day that started with her routine being thrown out of whack. She couldn't have any breakfast or water and wasn't allowed in the backyard to do her morning patrol. Ray's outside more than ever now that spring has arrived. We rarely see her inside unless it's time to eat or take a nap. You can see her weigh her options when we call Sillybutt in the house for any but the afore mentioned reasons. She's sure there's something more important that needs her attention. But I digress.

Ray cried all the way to the vet, again. It makes me sad that she hates riding in the car so much. But I was happy to hear that her weight is up to 36 pounds. Her surgery went well and I was able to pick her up at the end of the day...after a thirty minute detour to reach the clinic due to an accident on the highway. I was really glad though that I didn't have to take the detour with Ray in the car, she really would have hated that. She threw up on the way home just the same. Luckily the seats were covered.

My sweet baby topped off the day by nipping my hand when she snapped at Speck for getting too close to 'her' water. She wasn't happy about being denied free access to the backyard either. Lucky for all of us she's already feeling much better and back to her usual hijinks. I'm sure surviving Ray's teenage period will prove to be a challenge, but I'm glad to have this right of passage behind us.