Merry Christmas!

We celebrate our Christmas on Christmas Eve because Erica works on Christmas day.  Boy oh boy, it was an exciting time for Ralphie, Ollie, Diva, and Bubba!  Santa was very good to all of them!  But naughty Ralphie was stealing all of their gifts. LOL  He thought all the toys and bones were for him! LOL  I made some extra special homemade doggie bones for all of them.  By their reaction I would say they were delicious!

Merry Christmas from Ralphie, Ollie, and me!!

Homemade doggie bones!!

Merry Christmas from my little reindeer!

Beautiful dreamy eyes!

Ralphie's big bone gift!!

Ollie sporting his jingle-bell collar

Diva just hoping for a taste of Christmas Eve

Bubba enjoying the festivities

Christmas Day on the beach.

Grooming My Vizsla

One of the nicest things about a Vizsla is the minimal amount of grooming they require.   Vizslas are almost cat-like, keeping themselves clean.  Often I see Ralphie grooming himself; licking his legs and belly.  Vizslas do not have the doggy odor that most dogs have.  However, there is some grooming on my part....very little.

After an early run at the dog park this morning, I knew for a fact it's time to give Ralphie the grooming overhaul.  He was DIRTY where shampoo is a must.  I bathe Ralphie about four times a year, which is suggested by the Vizsla breeders.  Today is the day.

I would highly suggest, start getting your Vizsla used to a tub of water, nail-clipping, and brushing as a young puppy.  When Ralphie was a pup, I would always touch and play with his paws and nails to get him used to the feel thus he's not afraid of the nail clippers.  Ralphie really didn't love the tub of water as a puppy.  He would always try to jump out of the tub and I would have a little battle with him to keep him in the water.  But in time that has changed.  Today...it's a different story...he hops in the tub on command, stands there as I scrub him down, lets me wash his face and ears with a wash cloth, jumps out of the tub on command, loves to be dried down with a big fluffy towel.  He allows me to clip his nails without squirming and most of all loves to be brushed.  Ralphie's excellent bathing behavior started with early training and now it's a pleasure to groom him.  Then he ends his grooming session out in the warm sun, soaking up the rays to dry off....ahhhhh!

Salty Tears

This is the most joyful time of the year for many of us.  We're all preparing for the holidays that we celebrate...looking forward to all the festivities with our family and friends.

I love this time of year but I also have my sad moments.  Yesterday I walked Ralphie at night and was in awe over the beautifully lit homes dressed in white lights, colored lights and glitz and glamour.  We really enjoyed that walk.  The Christmas spirit was definitely in my heart.

After such a wondrous walk, back at home, I stretched out on the couch with Ralphie laying above me on the back of the sofa.   Then something just overcame me.  I felt this feeling of sadness; almost a feeling of loneliness.  Thoughts of Christmas pasts surged my head.  Although I know yesterday is today's memories, I couldn't help myself to relive all those past Christmases.  Christmas isn't the same now.  I am alone most of the time.  Now I find my own way to celebrate and be joyous during this season.  I don't have my mom and dad anymore.  I miss them so much.  I miss all the cookies I baked with Mom...now I do that alone.  I miss the excitement of going to bed as a child on Christmas Eve and hearing Dad's hohoho's as "Santa" arrives at our house with the Christmas tree and gifts.  I miss Dad's Christmas morning breakfasts after Mass.  I miss our whole family together on Christmas Eve with tons of food, laughs, gifts, and festivities.  I miss my brother, Tommy whose been gone for many years now.  He would make his grand entry at my sister's house with huge awesome fruit baskets for all of us...filled with fruit, pancake mixes, syrup and other goodies.  I miss sitting under the Christmas tree passing out the gifts to everyone.  I miss the beautiful handmade beaded ornaments my mom would make us each year.  I can write pages and pages of all my memories.  Our Christmases were very special with so much love.

As all these memories filled my head and the quietness in my home, I felt a tear roll down my cheek, then another, then another.  Oh, how I miss Christmas pasts!  Ralphie then plopped his paw on my shoulder, looking at me as if he knew how sad I was.  It was like he was reassuring me that everything will be okay.  He licked one of my salty tears, and then another, and another.  Then started wagging his tail, getting a little frisky and then kisses and more kisses!  How can't I smile now!  This most special, sensitive, loving dog knew exactly how to comfort me. (smiles)  LOVE.

Dog Park Woes

I've been going to this awesome, new dog park in my area.  I really like it ... it's clean, it's landscaped nicely, just the right amount of dogs go there, playful dogs, friendly .... well......up until yesterday.

Ralphie and I go to our local dog park almost every day of the week.  Ralphie made a lot of 'regular' friends there.  It seems like the same group of us meet at the dog park each evening before dark to give our pups the last run for the evening.  Yesterday was a typical day.  There were about 8 dogs there.  They all played so well.  It was a good evening until two girls arrived with their pit bull dogs.  Ralphie greeted them in a very friendly way at the gate entrance and had a great run with one of them.  For some reason Ralphie lost interest in the pit.  So he came strolling by me sitting on the bench.  I was sitting with the owners of the pit bulls just watching the other dogs play.  Then suddenly one of the pits aggressively went after cute 10 month old Bailey, an Australian mix.  The pit pinned Bailey down in a mean way with his growl and teeth.  The owner of both dogs were able to separate the two.   I really didn't think much about that 'little' attack.  I just thought the pit was exerting his energy.  With Ralphie still sitting next to me, we were just relaxing, continuing to watch the other dogs.  Then it happened...the two pit bulls got in a brawl with three other dogs...yep...a big dog fight!  Luckily a couple of owners were able to break it up.  However the pit owners continue to sit on the bench and watch.  I overheard one girl say to the other, 'it's the others' fault; it's not our dogs'.  I just couldn't help myself and I had to say something!  So I said, "well the dogs were playing nice until your dogs came in". OMG...these two nasty girls blew up and started swearing, calling me every name in the book.  I comeback in a normal way and just said, "there weren't any problems before".  Again they blew up at me.  Gosh, I thought they were going to attack me!  LOL  Needless to say I left and everyone else was leaving as well.  I found out the dog owners can be as vicious as their dogs!!

The one thing that amazed me was no one supported me, they all just watched this nasty spat between the pit owners and me.  People are very strange ... no one wants to get involved, even if it's involving their dog.  This incident really makes me think twice about dog parks...how safe are they?  I felt attacked as much as those dogs.  But I like it because Ralphie can socialize and run as much as he wants.  I guess I'll continue to go and if those girls with their pits show up, I'll just leave.

Ralphie at our local dog park.  King of the mountain!!

Ralphie's Favorite Things

It's that time of year ... the holiday season is here.  Many of us are out there doing the holiday shopping hustle-bustle...a tie for dad, perfume for mom, a rattle for baby, a bicycle for the toddler...but what do you get your most loyal, lovable pup?

Here are Ralphie's Favorite Things...

The Chuckit Amphibious Bumper Dog Toy.  Ralphie absolutely loves this toy!  I can honestly say it is the most durable toy out there!  This toy has been thrown, pulled, tugged, buried, weathered and it's still good as new!  Highly recommended!

The good 'ol Milk Bones...Ralphie LOVES them!!  I truly believe these are candy for dogs.  It seems like all dogs love these!

The Chuckit Launcher Dog Toy.  Holy cow this is the best ball thrower!  Ralphie really likes this because that ball flies far and high! He's beginning to catch the ball on a fly now.  I always take this toy to the dog park and all the dogs actually love it.  Just to mention this was a lifesaver for my sore shoulder.

Homemade beef marrow bones. Ralphie sits in front of the stove drooling when I'm cooking these.  I buy these at the grocery store, cook them up, and store in the refrigerator.  A package of 6 cost about $3.00 ... low cost, wholesome, and delicious! 

The Chuckit Paraflight.  This is Ralphie's favorite keep-away toy.  That's right he doesn't play the normal 'frisbee' game with this; he just loves being chased by the other dogs with this toy hanging out of his mouth.

The Lupine Harness. Well actually this is my favorite thing and I'm sure Ralphie's favorite thing as well.  This harness makes our walks and runs more pleasant for the both of us ... no pulling.  I highly recommend this harness if you have a pulling dog.  It's the BEST!