Florida Morning

It's a cold Florida morning...41 degrees!  On mornings like this I love to snuggle under a blanket, enjoy a hot cup of coffee and watch some TV.  But it's a sunny morning, so off to the dog park I'll go to enjoy the nice crisp air with Ralphie.

I wanted to share these pictures that I took this morning...keep in mind, Ollie isn't all that fond of Ralphie...but when it's cold, it doesn't matter...

Love.

Run Ralphie Run

It's been months and I'm still suffering with plantar fasciitis which is putting a huge damper on my running.  I was so looking forward to running with Ralphie but right now I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  I thought after three months of no running, my heel pain would be gone.  But it's the same. :(

I realize as a puppy Ralphie can't run any long distances yet, as his bones are maturing.  So between my problem with my heel and Ralphie's growing body, we have been doing short 2 mile interval run/walks.  My gosh, Ralphie is fast!  Even at the dog park, I noticed Ralphie is doing less wrestling and more running.  I  look forward to the day I'm up to par and Ralphie is a big boy to possibly run a race together.  But in the meantime, I will continue to soak my foot in ice water, do foot stretches, try to find comfortable shoes and enjoy our short puppy runs.  Run Ralphie Run.

Last Christmas Memory

I have to share this last Christmas memory of Ralphie's first Christmas.  He's been a little frisky today...

What's this...a broken Christmas ornament?!?  Who is the culprit??

"Oh boy, I love playing with sparkly things that roll around!"

"Oh, Oh...it's Ollie's fault!

"Mama, truly I'm innocent!'

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!  Ralphie really enjoyed his first Christmas.  He definitely needs to learn proper etiquette and not hang, lick, and jump on my guests.  He has a lot to learn for sure.  I will be spending more training time with him after the holidays.  But overall, he's a great, smart puppy who I love so much!

Me, Ollie, and Ralphie...my two boys just hate having their photo taken. Haha

Lovin' my Ralphie!

Ralphie snagged one of his gift bags, ran under the table to open and eat!

Under the table enjoying his Christmas gift making sure Ollie has no chance on getting it.

Ralphie opening another gift...more treats!!

And another gift...a new toy bird. He destroyed his last one.

Playtime at the Dog Park

 Playtime at the dog park...

Ralphie meets a new friend at the dog park!

Oh boy, tug 'o war ..who's going to get it?

Tug, pull, tug, pull

.Ralphie gets his way again!! Tough little guy!

Let's Talk About Ralphie

I had many kinds dogs in my lifetime.  I've had several mixed breeds, English Bulldogs, Dachshund, Basset Hound, Poodle, Yorkie, and Vizslas.  I loved and enjoyed all my pets and enjoyed their personalities. But the Vizsla breed stands out with their most unusual characteristics.  Let's talk about Ralphie...

Life has changed for me since Ralphie.  Ralphie follows me everywhere.  He will follow me to the bathroom and sits and stares waiting patiently...talk about the lack of privacy.  It never fails when I take a shower, his little nose is peeking around the shower curtain.  I get out of the shower, he'll lick my ankles dry.  While relaxing on the couch, Ralphie needs to lay on the back of the couch resting his paw or head on my shoulder. Of course he needs to sleep in my bed. It never fails after brushing my teeth...there he is laying on my side of the bed with his head resting so comfortably on my pillow. So I move him over to the other side, turn off the light to go to sleep.  It doesn't end there, Ralphie starts to nudge over to my side again, tucks his head under my chin and snuggles up closer than ever and starts snoring away.  Along comes 3am or so, I feel a cold nose in my ear, then a lick, and more cold nose...I wake up.  Time for his potty break.  Back to bed all nuzzled up against me again. He needs to be touching me in some way even when it's not the most convenient situation.  For example, yesterday I spent hours in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies...Ralphie was there every minute.  He sat watching every move I made. When he had a chance he would lean against my leg...truly a Velcro dog.  Do I mind this abnormally clingy dog...absolutely not!  Vizslas are definitely a unique breed that no one would understand until having one of their own.  I LOVE every little thing about my squirrel chaser, my lizard hunter, my Vizsla puppy named Ralphie!!

Here's proof...hogging my side of the bed!  LOL

 Having fun today with his new Dalmatian puppy friend.

Mange Update #2

Ralphie is on week 3 of his medication for the mange.  Each week the medication is increased, now it's up to .5ml.  He seems to be handling the meds pretty well.  I don't see any difference in his behavior or appetite.  I just wish his hair would grow in faster.  He's very splotchy and very thin hair along the sides of his back.  Here are a few pictures I took today...

 The hair that Ralphie lost around his eyes seems to be growing in.

 You can see his neck and chest are bald, well actually it was worse. His hair is growing back very slowly.

 This picture shows his thin hair and some bald spots on his top neck. (sigh)

His legs are very splotchy, doesn't seem to be growing in yet.  :-(

 But Ralphie is a beauty no matter what!!! So sweet.

Training Time

I really need to start training Ralphie more.  My biggest problem now that he's getting bigger is walking without pulling...loose leash walking.  I saw this video along with several others.  They make it look so simple!  I'm going to get my fanny pack of treats and start working on this for sure.
But I am proud to say Ralphie sits on command and today I was teaching him how to shake hands.  He picked that up quickly.  He also knows "go to your bed", meaning go in your crate.  He goes into his crate freely and on command.  
So right now my goal is to teach him how to walk with a loose leash...no pulling, no tugging, no darting at squirrels, no biting and pulling the leash.  I believe Ralphie will have this mastered in a couple of weeks...Smart Ralphie.

Fun With Ralphie

 Silly Ralphie full of fun and play!

Sweet Ralphie...trying to calm him down.

Nope, still wanting to play...full of kisses.

Finally, my baby boy is calm.  Love.

In My Eyes...

Just an update on Ralphie's mange that he's been battling...poor guy has a lot of bald spots.  I don't see any hair growth yet, actually seems a little worse from when he was diagnosed.  He's in good spirits, no itching, and no open sores.  Just bald.  I increased his dosage of his medication to .3 ml.  Each week it goes up. He's handling the medication pretty well.  He has a great appetite and certainly not depressed.  I'm using a topical cream called Nu-Stock that I ordered online.  This stuff is supposed to make his hair grow back faster.  I've only used it twice so far, every 3 days.  This cream has an odor to it, like menthol. I can smell Ralphie a mile away. LOL  I put it on all his bald spots, it's sticky with a yellow tint.  Let's put it this way, it's not very attractive on. LOL  My poor little boy is not too handsome right now in the eyes of strangers, but in my eyes he's the most adorable, cute, handsome, kissable, smoochable, lovable little boy ever! 

 Can you believe it...Ollie and Ralphie sleeping together??!! Brotherly LOVE.

Reindeer Ralphie

Ralphie had a good day at Erica's place.  He loves going there while I'm at work.  He went to the dog park in the morning...ran and ran, of course with the biggest dog at the park.  Then Erica took him on a shopping spree at Petsmart.  She got him some holiday lollipops and a Christmas jingle bell collar.  Ralphie tried on the reindeer antlers and by the look on his face, he was not happy with these strange things coming out of his head...LOL

F in Conduct

Ralphie seemed a little mellow this morning before leaving for work.   He threw up in the car while driving over Erica's to drop him off for the day.  So I thought he was going to be 'sick' today from his medication.  Well it all turned around as the day progressed.  I picked him up at 5pm and got the report from Erica. Truly an F in conduct today.   He pooped in her apartment while she was in the shower.  He escaped the gated kitchen while Erica ran errands.  Ralphie must of felt that he was in heaven ... he discovered freedom to have the whole apartment to himself.  He dumped the garbage, shredded paper towels everywhere, and oh, Erica's beautiful Christmas tree was invaded my Ralphie's little red paws and puppy teeth.  Luckily he didn't hurt himself, but I can probably say he sure had a lot of fun!

O Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is up looking so beautiful.  Ralphie has been very interested in this tree.  He's thinking, "What is a tree doing in my house and there are so many toys hanging on it!"  "Is this all for ME!?" 

This all brings back memories of my last Vizsla, Jazz around Christmastime.  It never failed, Jazz managed to knock the tree down each year.  But I'm smarter now...Ralphie doesn't have a chance at this tree...well at least I thought so.  He already decapitated a cute angel ornament, he pulled Santa out of another ornament, he gnawed on another ornament, and lovin' the garland.  No Ralphie these are NOT toys!

  If you notice, I tried to strategically leave the bottom of the tree bare so Ralphie isn't tempted to play with the "toys" hanging on the tree.  But no stoppin' Ralphie, he's discovered Christmastime!

Mange Update #1

Today is the 3rd day Ralphie has been on his medicine to clear up the mange.  He seems more tired than normal, but still in good spirits and has a great appetite.  He's been taking more naps.  He actually went into his crate earlier today to be alone and sleep.   He has more hair loss, more bare spots, and thinning along his back. He's pretty much bare along his neck and belly.  His face has a few bare spots and behind his ears is bare as well.  From what I've been reading it may take three months for the mange to clear.  I feel sorry for my poor little guy.  :-(