Snow!

Alright! In celebration of this fantastic snow-fall we received in Winnipeg, i figured why not blog about dogs in the snow? I don't think it's only my dog, but Diesel was so excited about the snow. He likes to put his nose in it and blow air through his nose then lick it off his nose. Pretty weir but whatever makes him happy!

Something about the snow makes dogs want to run through it and rub their face all up in it. I think the icy ground feels good on their skin. That's all I can think of..

So for those of you who aren't very excited about the snow and don't have a doggy, maybe the dog will help you cheer up about the snow. I know every winter I get a smile on my face watching dogs in the snow. It's fantastic.

So to all of you who find humour in the animals in the snow, i posted a compilation i found on youtube of a bunch of different animals having fun in the snow. Also, I put a little bit of Diesel in there too. It's cuuuuute so get ready!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Woof.

Therapy Dogs and Ziploc Bags

To start off with something happy, this week was fantastic in the sense of dog. I bought a nail clipper for Diesel and he was happy as a cam to have his nails cut. I usually go to Petsmart but Petcetera was the closest thing around. It definitely wasn't as busy as my usual pet store but they had plenty of the same stuff and the girl was super helpful. I haven't cut Diesel's nails since we got him so I was new to the whole clipping scene. I was worried of hurting him but he was relaxing. I got a heavy duty clipper for only $15 and i guess that's good. Wooohoo!

Another awesome dog thing that happened was therapy dogs coming to my school for a couple of hours. One of the students put on something called MindIt at all of the campuses for mental health awareness. The dogs were cute, friendly, relaxed and well, they were dogs so obviously it was awesome. The dogs help people mentally but there is also a program called See Spot Read. These dogs help children to read by changing the environment. Rather than kids concentrating on learning to read, they are more concentrated on spending time with the dogs and reading to them. Very Cool.
 Dogs at school = Best day ever.

A little less positive, today my friend Cella showed me the most ridiculous story I have ever heard. A woman and her son put a puppy in a Ziploc bag in New Mexico. The puppy is ok but the mother and son were both arrested and charged with animal cruelty charges. They were trying to show how small the puppy is by having it in the bag. UHM HELLO, IT'S A PUPPY, OF COURSE IT'S SMALL!  I guess they thought it was fine to post on Facebook but someone forwarded it to local police and thats the last time they will get to see their puppy. I think this is similar to putting an infant in a grocery bag, they're not able to move their head for more oxygen so these people are dumb to think that this was not cruel. People blow my mind.

And back to the positive, good on ya whoever reported that image to police and right on for therapy dogs and their owners. It's great that people recognize that their doggies have that certain personality and use it to help others. I am going to look into getting Diesel into it because when I saw those dogs at school, they reminded me of how he acts.

Mr. Diesel's strange way of lying down/standing.

 These are a few of the fantastic therapy dogs.

High Maintenance!

So my boyfriend's family's dog Kyda is pretty ridiculous. I say all of this with a smile and my face and love for the doggie. She is allergic to wheat so she needs special food, she's a 'vegetarian' because every time she eats anything other than fruits or veggies she gets crystals in her pee which eventually turn into kidney stones. She's already had kidney stones once and it was over a thousand bucks to fix.

She's cute and I love her and I especially love how she wears little booties in the winter. I never realized how high maintenance Kyda is until I got a dog myself. I mean my dog is high maintenance but he's an affordable and easy kind of high maintenance. He's high maintenance in the way that he goes out and cuts himself up constantly so they need to be wrapped up. Kyda is the kind of high maintenance where you need to spend more than normal and make sure she's eating everything properly. 

I feel bad for the poor doggie and I do love her but all of these internal problems come from a tiny little thing. I can't help but giggle a little. Kyda is now 10 so I don't blame her for not being playful, but i'm so used to putting my face right in Diesel's and being up in his business and she doesn't like that. But just like every other dog, Kyda puts smiles on people's faces and I know her mama would be crushed if she didn't have her.

 Kyda after a fresh haircut.

Diesel decided to burry a bone in the gravel under the snowmobile this morning...

Appreciation for the Pooch

Many people who have dogs understand the joy a dog can bring and those people probably love being able to come home everyday to a dog that is beyond excited to see them. People love dogs but what I would like people to know and understand, is that dogs make a difference in this world. Whether it's putting a smile on someones face after a long day or Helping someone who's blind get around in their day-to-day routine.

I was on the bus last month and there was a blind woman with a guide dog sitting at the front. The way the dog sat between her legs, looking like he was guarding her, made me so happy! The dog seemed to be so content and the woman seemed to be as content as she sat there and pet this beautiful dog. I couldn't see her eyes so I wasn't able to tell how she felt by seeing her emotions, but on this 20 minute bus ride, she didn't stop petting the dog once. It's hard to explain to someone who wasn't there, but I felt so glad for her and her dog that they seemed to share such a special bond.

Dogs help humans with dementia by reminding people to take their medication and to wake up in the morning. Of course, police have the K9 Unit that makes a difference in our police departments. Dogs are used in the everglades to hunt pythons, on farms to herd cattle and the list goes on and on.

Because it's Remembrance Day weekend, I would like to juts shine light on the fact that dogs fought alongside soldiers. I found an awesome web page called Remembering Our 4 Legged Soldiers and it shows a timeline of how dogs have been used in war or conflicts throughout history.

Not to take away from the meaning of Remembrance Day, but this weekend when you have you moment of silence to remember our soldiers, take a couple of seconds to remember their awesome sidekicks. And next time you see a dog that is helping someone or making a difference in someone's life, appreciate what the dog is doing and smile.

Picture from kovudarkside

The tired doggie

Maggie

Just over a year ago the Dufault family got a Newfoundland dog named Maggie. Sweetest girl ever. She's a gentle giant, awesome snuggle buddy, and has the most glamorous eye lashes I've ever seen on anyone or anything.

Maggie lived with a family in Altona for I'm assuming the whole six years of her life. Her brother was hit by a car and Maggie started acting out and not working out well with the other dogs. The family decided they needed to get rid of her so it was either find her a home or put her down.

Well, let me tell you something, there is no better family that Maggie could have gone to than the Dufault's. Even without a dog, they were so loving and when a big fur ball got thrown into the picture, they were even more loving. Now don't get me wrong, I love Diesel more than any doggie and he's really good, but Maggie is an awesome dog. She knows who her owners are and she sticks by them. She will be at the lake and there's Diesel, jumping off ten f

oot decks chasing boats, and Maggie is sitting there, sunbathing, looking at us like what the hell is this guys deal?

Recently, Maggie was diagnosed with lymphoma, a kind of cancer. They noticed her neck was starting to swell and her eyes looked not right. They were petting her one day and noticed some lumps around her neck. The vet noticed more lumps and she was then given the diagnosis. The vet told them she has about three months to live with minor chemo. With the full out chemo, it would be very hard on Maggie's body and it would only add a few more months on to the initial three.

My step-mom had met one of the Dufault's on her walk and heard about it. She got home and my heart broke for the family and the dog. Maggie isn't gone yet though. I'm positive the Dufault's are loving her and snuggling her more than ever. Even though it's tough, when it's her time, she will leave happy and I'm sure the Dufault's will be happy that they got to have such a wonderful girl in their lives.

This is Maggie. See those eyes? Right? So pretty.

And can't forget about the Dies-Man..

 Happy Halloween from the stinky dog!

Good Dogs

Today at the dinner table, my family and I discussed dogs that have reputations to be vicious. (Shepherds, Rottweilers, Pitbulls, Mastiffs, Dobermans) you get the picture. We started to discuss how these dogs get a reputation that's undeserved. Considering I have a dog that has more than one of these 'bad dog' types in him, I completely disagree.

When I ask someone who has never met Diesel if he can come with me to their place, they always ask what kind of dog he is. I always say a Rottie Shepherd something and they always look at my like I'm nuts. I always have to assure them he isn't a crazy vicious machine and when they meet him they're blown away.

Although it's hard not to be intimidated by some of these dogs because they're brutes, it's not the dogs that are vicious, it's the owners. The dogs shouldn't get the reputation the owners should. My friend has a pure bred Rottweiler named Cleo and she is the biggest baby I have every met. Aside from Diesel.
Although yes, if some of these dogs got a hold of a little Chihuahua it wouldn't be good at all, but the fact is, most of them don't want to get a hold of little dogs. All they want to do is be lap dogs.

Those little dogs are the crazy ones! Thinking they run the show, they're hilarious. Diesel recently ran away from two Yorkies on our walk. Ridiculous. SO next time you see a dog that you think would kill you or your dog, give the doggie a chance. It's probably the best cuddle buddy ever.

 This is Cleo. The big baby.

And here is your weekly dose of Diesel.

Best Dog Stuff Ever

I've discovered this website called Bark Post and it is absolutely fantastic! Maybe it's well known to many but today was the first time i stumbled upon it.

It has great tips for dogs owners, he cutest and funniest pictures and so much awesome stuff. I looked at some of the pictures and my heart melted. If you are a dog lover you NEED to visit this website. You won't be let down.

I also stumbled upon an adorable story when I was doing my daily dog browse. This story is from the end of September and it's about a man in LA who discovered the stray dog he had been feeding for the past months on the street view of google maps. The article is called Google Maps Inspires Dog Rescue
and I highly recommend everyone to read it.

It made me smile and made me glad that people all over the world no matter your gender, age, or religion, we can all find a common interest in our doggies.
And here is my weekly doggie picture. What a stinker.

You're Never too Furry to Dress Up!

So I would like to dress Diesel up for Halloween because i've never had a dog to dress up ridiculously. My family thinks I'm cruel, but the way i look at it, it's the exact same as when parents dress their little kids up in the tackiest outfits ever for Halloween. The kids have no control over it. So Diesel is going to be my Halloween child.

And on that note, I want to know where i can buy a sweater for a big dog. I want to get him a wardrobe for every holiday ever. Maybe next Valentine's Day i'll get him a cute little diaper and put a bow and arrow on his back and he can be cupid.

My boyfriend's mom has a little set of bells for around their Shih Tzu's neck and legs. Every time they put them on her she stands there, totally embarrassed and won't move.

So for Halloween I'm thinking maybe we'll dress Diesel up as a truck, since he's a diesel.. It only makes sense. Also, if he lets me put socks on him to prevent him from licking his paw, he's going to love dressing up! Anything that get's him more attention, count him in.

I found this web page that has the most ridiculous dogs and other pets dressed up. Guaranteed to make you smile.  http://3113.com/cute_pet_costumes/cute_pet_costumes.html

This is just a sample..

Vet Bills...

So ever since Diesel jumped out the window, he has had some problems. His nail fell out of his foot a few weeks ago and we figured it would just heal regularly. Also, he's developed a swollen reddish/purple bump on his lip.

The bump has started getting bigger and we've been putting Polysporin on it but I don't think it's getting better. As for his nail, he stopped putting weight on the foot and he's bleeding everyday.

Today Diesel stopped putting weight on his foot so he needs to go to the vet tomorrow. Fortunately, my parents are able to help out with the vet bills but if I was on my own I would never be able to afford it.
I don't understand why vet's prices need to be so skyrocketed when everyone has a high demand for them. Majority of people in the world have either a cat or dog or some kind of animal which eventually need to go to the vet.

I understand procedures and medications are expensive but why is it fair that if we can't afford the vet that these animals need to either suffer or be put down? It's not fair. I love my doggie more than anything and we shouldn't have to decide if we can afford to get them better or even take them for a check-up. It should just be more affordable for everyone.

Wiener Mania

If you want to experience wiener dog insanity, you need to go to the Barker's house. They have three wiener dogs and they are all different types of mini dachshund.

The eldest of the three, Harley, is your regular smooth haired, Oscar Mayar wiener looking dog. They call this one Weeny. She's the grandma of the three and definitely the favoured one.

Next, you have Trooper. He's got wiry hair and he's the scared one of the three. He loves his fetch and can be rambunctious but he won't hesitate to pee.

Last but not least, Lacey. She is a long-haired sweetie-pie who is a little more round than the average wiener.

This family loves their wiener dogs. Sarah, the older daughter, always comments on how she would love to have a wiener dog farm. She could just have a yard with a million wieners running loose. That what be winning the lottery for her. The dogs will beg for the whole meal and eventually, the Barkers will give in and put the dogs on their laps at the table.

With a cabin that's lake access, it's a particularly cold venture in the winter. These little dachshunds with their tiny legs don't really like waking in snow across a lake in winter. So they get a first class seat to the cabin snuggled up in one of the four family member's jackets.

Maybe it's just because I have a very low maintenance dog but I can't help but laugh at how funny these three wiener dogs are.

Their little stubby legs are what really get me.

From left to right: Lacey, Weeny, Trooper

Poor Pups

Well,  Diesel is recovering from his traumatic window leap. He still has a few raw wounds but he's back to himself chasing rabbits and squirrels.

Anyways, this week we got assigned to do an editorial on something that we had a strong opinion about and I chose to do mine on dog culls in some of the northern Canadian reserves. for anyone who doesn't know, dog culls are when people on the reserves go around and shoot as many dogs as they can.

The dogs are either dead instantly or left to suffer and it breaks my heart, especially because Diesel has shown me how affectionate and gentle some of these reserve dogs can be. A friend of mine got her dog from Norway House, a reserve north of Lake Winnipeg, not too long ago. The dog has scarred over holes in her thigh from being shot with a shotgun. Another loving, beautiful dog that was one of the ones lucky enough to be saved by someone.

If anyone out there is thinking of adding a doggy to their family anytime soon, please consider a rescue dog. There are many shelters in every city that have dogs of all ages and all kinds. This way, you can get a dog and feel awesome about it! If the dogs at the shelters are like Diesel, which I'm sure they are, you wont regret it one bit.

 Unless the dog jumps out your window and almost gives you a heart attack.

This poor dog is Trooper. He was shot in the face and found lying in a yard for days. Unfortunately his injuries were too severe and he died. Trooper inspired a nation-wide petition and will always be a reminder of what these dogs go through whether they're dangerous or not. Photo from the CBC website.

Meet Diesel, He's Something Else..

Before I write anything, let me tell you about my crazy awesome dog.

His name is Diesel. Two or Three years old, Rottweiler, Shepherd, and probably a few other things. He's 68 pounds of love and goofiness. He looks intimidating until he lies on his back, moans and give you a paw to hold.

My brother was working on a reserve in January, and someone was kicking this poor dog.

When we got him, one of his canine teeth was snapped off at the gum line and rotten, he still has a bubbled scar on his lip, and he had a big open wound on his back leg. My poor baby.

 Someone at the gas station there told my brother, "just take the thing" so he did. And I'm so glad he did!

He hunts squirrels, deer, rabbits, boats, fish and pretty much anything that moves. Sometimes when I look out the window I'll notice Diesel in the backyard with the bottom bow of a spruce tree in his mouth, trying to pull on it to get at the squirrel on the top of the tree. Ambitious.

So, now that you have an idea of who my doggy is, I'll let you know about our latest adventure.

Today, I was driving down a road near my house, doing 80kph, and a rabbit ran across the road. Diesel is in the back loving the open window and guess what? He jumped out. And I was going 80!

It was a slow motion situation. I saw the rabbit, I saw Diesel, I saw the open window, and it was all happening already. He jumped out of my tiny Corolla window and rolls on the pavement about six times! I threw my car in reverse and Diesel gets up, looks around and runs to my car.

He wasn't really whining, definitely shook up, but was still concentrated only on feeling the wind on his face. I got home and examined my Superman dog. His nails are ground down completely, he has road rash on his legs and paws, and a little bit on his bum. He's now sitting beside me cleaning himself up, completely fine.

Overall, I'm thinking that his couple of years living outside fending for himself and not having anyone to console him made him the tough guy he is. I figured what better way to show you who my dog is than sharing his story of jumping out a window at 80kph. Hope you enjoyed it!