Seems like aaaaggges since we have posted new pictures and fun stories about our adventures! Here it is, FREEEZING cold outside and almost time for Christmas!
This time of year is a big adjustment for us....We definitely prefer the sunshine and warmth of summer...Our walks get shorter in the winter, cuz I don't really like the rain and being soaked and filthy...But we make the best of it and walk lots more on days when it's not wet outside...
Here I am on Thanksgiving day after feasting on some yummy stuff: carrots, sweet potatoes, and organic chicken! YUM!!!
Workin' a little puppy kong action! (Trader Joe's peanut butter treat inside!!)
Hangin' out with our friend Dennis for some lap cuddle...
Michaelangelo has friends and fans everywhere! This is his new friend Gilly, whom he loves to kiss! I do believe Michael misses his kitties he used to live with, Shadow, Rhaja, Pumpkin Pie, and Turzia, oh and there was Moochie Pon for a little while too...
I've been feeding Michael "real" food like chicken, sweet potatoes, eggs, for a long time now, and of course, he occasionally steals a piece of pizza, or sandwich or some other such "human" food item off my plate as to heartily annoy me for about 3 minutes. He knows what he likes, and I tell you, it's damn near everything!!
Going to a holistic vet, and having the tendencies toward more "health" food eating than "fast food", it makes sense to feed my animal which I consider pretty darn important, as well as I can, since dog food is mostly, let's face it people, crap....
My vet was telling me about what he feeds his dogs, and wrote some things down for me and told me to go check out "Meat for Cats and Dogs" and so I did. Michael of course went bananas when we went into the place! One of the guys there (whose name sadly is escaping me right now) gave me quite a lot of information about the raw diet idea for dogs, and talked to me about all my options since I was a newbie there. I finally settled on what seems like the best deal for Michael. He of course LOVES it and is doing backflips to get the food in the morning, and night. He's having nearly no dog kibble - which has been Innova for the past couple of years. When I recently found out Proctor & Gamble bought Innova in addition to other supposedly "higher level" dog food, I was pretty disappointed with that, even though they say "nothing's changed in the processing of the food"... I don't believe it's all that great anyway, and now, I'm seeing in just a few days how Michael seems more "cut" where the doctor showed me he wanted to see him a bit more "trim"....Hhhhhhmm. It's supposed to be perfect for them and their health in everyway. I'm pretty happy with it so far and I appreciate that I dont actually have to handle any raw meat myself personally as it's not something I've ever liked to do (even though I have grown up and do at times eat some meat). The food we're going with is Nature's Variety Instinct and comes in a super tight zip lock freezer bag, and you just take out the required amount (based on your dog's weight) for a dat at a time, leave in the fridge to thaw for a few hours, and they get real meat, real vegetables, and so, yeah! I'm quite happy so far and we'll keep on I do believe.
Check out this testimony from a Meat client who turned her pup's life around by changing the diet to raw!
Part of the fun of summer is all the people and dogs we meet out and about on walks and hikes! The kids, of course come running when they see Michael, and he goes running for them! They offer their treasured toys and trinkets to share with us, and they follow us half way down the street long after we've said our goodbyes! I love the little green disco ball christmas tree ornament and told her I had one just like it!
This sweet little group of kids we've met four or five times before, Michael never seems to forget anyone! He's friends with everyone, so we hang out for a while and visit, and the kids each talking to me about different things at the same time, it's hilarious. Next time, I will HAVE to get video! Their grandpa just smiled & laughed as he watched us all being silly/loud/funny/crazy for about 15 minutes or so but didn't really talk much. The children have a lot better english than their "grampy", as they called him.
Wow. This little guy! He's gonna be a truck driver, he says.... Kids really are fascinated with Michael and I think love him even MORE so because not only is he one really handsome and friendly dog, he's pretty small for such a powerful hunter dog!! Ah how we love to see our shadow...Thank goodness summer eventually comes!
Recently my mom needed to find a safe, warm, loving place for me to have a sleepover, because she and her friends had a film festival thingy to go to in Seattle, and pups had to stay home.
So my mom was calling around all over the place to find a puppy place that pups could spend the night. All she found were places with cages! And she found out that I was a little tiny bit overdue for my every-3-years Rabies vaccination. My mom is not a big huge fan of having me go through things I might not have to for the sake of western medicine and opts for holistic health care whenever possible (see her posts about our Hawthrorne Vets!) but Rabies is required by law, so off to get the Rabies we went...
As much as I love my amazing doctor I didn't want to have any more anything done after my teeth cleaning recently!! But it went just fine. My mom is a bit of a wimp, though. She had one of the vet assistants come in and hold me while Dr. Yale administered the shot.
My mom found this lovely lady and her family in Seattle through a friend of a friend offering a warm cozy place for pups to camp out for the night!! I could not believe my luck!! I got to go stay with a big sweet pup called Riggs, and Bridit, her husband and their two super fun kids who played with me for hours and wore me out! (here's a picture Bridgit sent my mom of me zonked out!) My mom made a really cool video of her and her friends' trip to Seattle, she loves taking pictures you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/littlemississues#p/u/0/i3RuxgXMQE8
I love bumping into a group of kids in the park!!! My mom says "kids" and I just run for 'em! Kids like to cuddle and they seem to giggle a lot when they get to pet me! I take all the lovin' I can find!!
and here's the big, the bold, the beautiful Katey, who recently saved Jeff here from these two bullies attacking him in our park here...She's our hero!
Always fun making new friends! and My mom is a little behind on posthing but has more photos and a really cute video of me and all my friends is in the works! So come back soon!
I LOVE this catalog! I get them in the mail and look at them online...they really have some great things for dogs!! Check them out!! In the Company of Dogs has things you wouldn't believe! From the usual, but better! From cool, different types of leashes, bedding, car & traveling seats and things to agility kits, treadmills, all kinds of stuff!
Michaelangelo and I didn't get much excercise yesterday, since it poured rain for it's entirety.
And apart from falling asleep on the couch at 6:30 pm and waking up at 3am, not much going on around here!!
This morning, since we were awake very early, we got out on an early walk as well. I could tell he needed it, and I certainly needed it. And shock of all shockers!! The ground was relatively dry at 7:30am...so we made our way round the block in the quiet sleepy neighborhood....
As little horses often do, they pull you where THEY want to go, regardless of what it is YOU were thinking...YOU, you know, the PACK LEADER?!?! My little horse thinks he runs things out on our walks. And to be honest with you, sometimes? He does!!
This morning he was DETERMINDED to get us to the park, but I thought it a little early yet, even if a little bit light already - after what we know happened some days ago at the park he loves to chase unsuspecting squirrels in!! So he ends up dragging me toward the park and I relent, thinking I'll steer him clear once we get upon it, we'll go the other way towards home.
As we were about to make that turn away from the park, Micahel sees a beautiful dog off in the distance, which I first thought was a smaller Irish Setter, with a silver haired lady in tow...So, I give him the go-ahead and off we ran to meet our new friends...
Mattie is unbelievably 16 years young!! Her grandma, Pat told me how Mattie was her daughters' dog, and her daughter died on Christmas day two years ago...My heart was immediately gripped for this woman, and tears sprang to my eyes...She said Mattie probably thought I was her daughter, Terri, who kind of looked like me in height and hair...At that point, watching beautiful Mattie jump and romp around like a little puppy, could not help but drop tears. They fell out of my eyes like an overflowing glass, and I said some little prayers for Mattie, and her grandma Pat. I told her how sorry I was to hear it and I also miss my father every day quite a lot of the day, so I sort of understand....and she said, "It's really hard, sometimes - moreso than others. I just get through 24 hours at a time."
We walked with them through the park and I shared with her to take care in and around the park and school as thugs are accosting people with fists and knives in the quiet dark of the morning. She agreed to pass on the warning to other people she knows come to the park as well. I told Pat I'd love to take her and Mattie's portrait, but sadly, did not exchange info with her. I just know that they are in my neighbhorhood. I was kicking myself wishing I'd carried some cards with me to give her, so she could contact me and I could perchance have the opportunity to visit with her and Mattie and make some lovely portraits of these two beautiful ladies...I cried all the way home.
My heart went out to her so much! I am crying even now, as I write this an hour later...I can't express how much I can feel for other people, and have agonized over the pain in the world. Pat and I agreed how much of a difference it makes to have a dog. Mattie took to me and stood happily glued to me for my loving hugs. I was thankful for meeting her today, and I know Michael enjoyed Mattie, too. To see that bounce and playful show of happiness to us, yeah, that sweet old Golden made our day...I so hope we see them again and I vow to start taking my photography cards - and my camera out on our walks with us for when we meet such beautiful folks that they must have be captured and remembered this beautiful forever...
notes: The beautiful Mattie pup. Here is where we are meeting and just starting our walk with Pat & Mattie. I'm sorry my voice is so loud and Pat's is so low.
This was given to us by friends we see at the dog park!
Michael currently gets baked chicken, sweet potatoes (really good for their skin & coat!), carrots and a bit of egg yellows along with a sprinkling of Innova dry food. I have always been concerned about the food that is put out there for dogs, and what people buy to feed their pets! This really came to light for me when I was hired to promote Eukanuba food and learned through their training more about dog foods. This has led me to add a lot of this information on this blog and finding other information that while sickened me ( like here, and what's "really" in the dog food), made me better equipped to decide if what I'm feeding my dog is worth the "savings" (the reason SO many people gave me for feeding their dog total CRAP when I was promoting Eukanuba). You can get some great information at the Whole Dog Journal and here is the Raw Dog Food Book to check out as well!
This blog actually started when Michaelangelo was having some severe reactions to flea bites. I didn't want to put the "frontlines" and all this on him, I thought it was dangerous! And my research shows IT IS! And a showdown with my vet - who only pushed steroids to treat Michael, then yelled at me when I dared question him about there being another way - led me to the Hawthrone Vet Clinic where Michael is treated at his visits with not only love, but herbal remedies and accupuncture if needed. Since we use Comfortis for flea control, Michaelangelo has never had another allergic reation where his skin turns brrrrright red and he scratches holes into his lovely soft skin!! I'm SO thankful I found my vet clinic, and urge you too, if you are not in a bigger city where this might be available to you to do your research and figure out how to help your pet be as healthy as possible for a long, loving life as your "kid"!
Some of my 'raw food friends' on facebook were discussing healthy raw diets for dogs, and has gotten me thinking about doing away altogether once and for all with any dry food for Michael. Our pup doc even said to just do away with it if possible. *************************************************
DOGGIE MENU = 4 cups daily (this menu was based on a 65lb dog ADD 1 chewable childrens' vitamin every other day)
Preheat oven to 325 Pam sprage large roaster pan Mix rice - water - turkey - beaten eggs in roaster pan Bake 1 hour then Stir well Bake 1 hour more Mix mixture with raw shredded carrots in big bowl
Freeze in daily portions or refridgerate for no more than 3 days!
Michael and I like to visit with our park ranger whenever we see her... and we saw her today!! Today she told us that our park friend Katy, a gorgeous Golden Retriever actually helped save the life her owner after two men attacked her owner in the park at 7am!! One of the men punched her owner in the face, knocking him down to the ground, while the other pulled out a six inch blade and screamed for his money. Katy obviously sensed the danger, and jumped up and bit one of the men on their behinds!!! Then went for his face! Katy's owner-dad pulled her off of the men and they ran off, leaving them both - thankfully - unharmed!!
This has given me something to think about, as I am always on alert while walking, I'm super alert when it's dark and we of course don't go inside the park at dark... Anyway, here is Katy, the beautiful Golden who saved her dad from harm! And here is our park ranger feeding one of her squirrel friends by hand!! Be extra careful out there!!!!
Michaelangelo loves to travel and got to go to Mt. St. Helens back in March of 2010! Now that's not really winter anymore, but we were in a winter park for snow hiking and playing! And yes, we had fun! Michael appreciates snow much, much more than cold rain, so you can see his glee at being a snow pup!
Now that is such a handsome pup I had to make some works of art out of his fabulous portrait! Is that a handsome pup or what?
Being the true Jack Russell that he is, Michaelangelo is an undercover pup and sometimes I catch him with his nose or his toes sticking out from under the covers!!
I've always been a pretty conscientious pet owner, especially with my Michaelangelo, and it's gotten more so over time as I researched more and more and learned what my alternatives were for his care, from the food I feed him, to the vets I chose to use. I used to clean his teeth really regularly...then I got really slackey about it and then suddenly realized, hey! These teeth are looking a little narley!! I started back on the brushing track again, but by this time, and at his age, which is believed to be around 7 - 7.5 years - yeah, it was time to go get them cleaned "for reals"!!
Last year or half-so ago, I had a gal come to my home and clean Michaelangelo's teeth right here on my living room floor without the high cost of the actual office visit. It was still $150. I found her card at my vet's clinic and talked to them briefly about it. I decided to check her out and put off the "real" cleaning as long as possible. She came out, got Michael into her with a couple of yummy organic pup treats, then managed to swaddle him in a pup-sized blanket and clean those puppy pegs! Like, actually scraping on his teeth (she is a trained dental assistant and somehow she got into working on dogs) I guess it worked for that time, but yeah, it was now time, I could see from really inspecting those back canine molars that the proper Pup Doctor took a proper look-see for the proper assessment of the puppy pegs!!!
Well, had the pre-op blood work done last week and he's as fit as a horse! Strong, sturdy, happy, could stand to lose maybe one pound, trim up a teeeensey weeeensey right here! as the doctor gripped his little waist...I laughed out loud, as I somehow knew that would be the only thing the doctor said about my handsome Jack Russell! I explained our walk time gets cut down by about half during the rainy, cold months of winter, Michael could do without being cold and wet, and told him how he sits happily to be blow-dried. He laughed out loud then too and said it's true for many of the vet's animals! The walking part, not the hair dryer part! Then my mind went to that "Doggie Treadmill" I found in an everything-and-anything-ridiculous-you-could-ever-dream-up-for-your-dog catalog and then I laughed out loud again as I quickly envisioned Michael and I on treadmills side by side...I swear, he and I are destined to spend our winters walking Venice Beach....
I had to make the appointment out a few days, until Thursday of this week...I get nervous leading up to when I am ever going to be put under anestheisia - just knowing that for anyone - human or animal alike - it's a risk. So I kept blocking out the scary things that kept trying to creep into my mind, and I just kept singing about how fresh and so clean his teeth were gonna be. I'm sure he was like, "Mom, you are faaalliiipppiiin OUT!" I do wonder what he thinks, but I DO know that he loves me!
I waited occasionally anxiously - even though I was keeping busy with projects - for the vets assistant to call me to let me know how he was doing. I did not hear from them so I knew it was good news that he needed no extractions! Thank god for that! Can you imagine a pup's tooth having to come out?! Bless the pup, he has two front teeth missing due to a certain monster that was in my life for a little while - the horrifying details of which I won't talk about now...I did get a call and found that Michael has a peridontal disease and his gums receeding a little bit, and at what we guess is about 7 years or so of age, it's a bit early for that. So, he's on some herbals for this week, and I have a little gelly concoction to put on his gums for a week or so as well...And as soon as the swelling goes down, we will get back to our regular peggy brushings, the vet said it does help....but there still comes a time when they need to go in and have it all properly done, under anesthesia. I'm really glad I went in and had this done, regardless that I'm broke and had to do it on credit. I'd rather be working on his need -and this one is just as important as any other - and keeping him with his teeth till he's an old, old man!!
Brush your animals teeth, peeps and get them cleaned when they need it! You can get some natural paste at the cool pet places, like Portland Pet Supply on Hawthorne. Could save your pets teeth and avoid other health problems that could be worse, and very expensive!!
And by the way, I LOVE our doctors at the Hawthorne Veteranary Clinic! They ROCK and Michael really loves Dr. Yale! Check them out, they are holistic, and Michael had accupuncture also while he was there! Holistic health for your pet is COOL and will prolong their life!
Hey! Do you ever dress up your pup?! I do!! And guess what?!?! He likes it!
I don't believe hats are fun for him for too long, he does funny little sideways walking and backwards scooting which seems funny for a few seconds, but it makes me think I'd better get that off him! Michaelanelo has a super cute "Little Devil" costume with a little disco in it, and he's had it for a couple years, he's worn it for a total of about a half hour! lol! We wore it to an animal Halloween party which he was most popular at! And then for photos! It's early yet for Halloween, but once in a while, can't resist!
Some people come up with some pretty creative and funny costumes for their pets!! If you know anyone that does, or if you have some cute pictures of your animal dressed for Halloween, please send them to me at pmichelletaylor@gmail.com and I'll put them in my little "Dress Up Your Pup" video I'm already started on! Thanks, I'll look forward to seeing your photos!!
Until then = have fun getting ready to have fun at Halloween! ; ) xo
We hope everyone has had a fun summer wherever you are! We in the Northwest have had a kind of weird off and on summer, but we are having the most beautiful Indian Summer! Even though it's been gorgeous & warm outside, the leaves are changing, falling and the mornings can be pretty chilly! It's funny that we are meeting more pups than ever out on our walks here lately!
Michaelangelo is defiitely a sun-loving, warmth-loving animal! We both seem to be much happier when it's warm & sunny! When the winter finally rolls round the rainy Pacific NW, we will be getting a little bit less walk-time, as sometimes I actually have to carry him OUT of the house to GET the walk in, whereas in the summer, I have to carry him out of the park and force us back home!
I found the coolest rain suits for pups and hope to be able to get one for Michael very soon! It's great for pups that live in really wet climates, or that maybe have a shedding issue! They are a bit spendy, but look really cool! I will review it when we finally get one here soon! Made right here in Oregon!
In the mean time, hope you're getting out there, getting excercise, and enjoying yourselves!
I was doing a little googling about "make your own dog bike basket" or something to that effect, to see if I could find any examples of people making their own cool baskets and not having to pay a hundred bucks for some snazzy thing from the pet store. I found THIS amazing woman, Kathy Schubert and her Miniature Schnauzer, Joey, (here is her home page, showing her as Elvis, and all their travels and fun around the world!!!) who were famous for traveling around to all kinds of biking events together! Check this OUT! Joey even got to go to FRANCE!!! Joey passed away in April 2009, but obviously lived a happy and adventurous life with her obviously happy, loving owner. I'm so inspired sometimes....and she even gives instructionto put together the cute basket AND the doggie HELMET her Joey went biking all over the world in!! I can't wait to make one for Michaelangelo!
Michaelangelo and I have yet to try scuba diving....but we really really want to!
And we can't wait! Our favorite time of the year to be out and about getting way more excercise than we do in the winter, that's for sure...I've come across some fun & useful doggie items and wanted to share our 'wish list' and the links, in case you find them helpful too!
I really like riding my bike in the summer, but find it's difficult to ride my bike and have Michael run along side....I have always wanted a little bike basket or something for him, and as he weighs in right at 20 pounds, this little bike seat would be perfect and I already have a back fender thingy across the back tire...I think I might need a fender though, also....under that to keep things cleaner...Hhhhmm.....I was thinking how fun it would be to put the bike rack on this summer and take the bike and Michael for rides out on the paths round and about....
I woke up on Saturday morning about 2:00am....I had been watching tv/sleeping on the couch for hours...The pup was asleep on his little bed the last time my eyes were open....Now he is not there....I get up to go potty and look for him, thinking it's awfully strange, he lately stays in one place....I went around the house, not seeing him....I went to the back door, figuring the boyfriend must have let him out for a potty, and I figured I'd find him shivering under the picnic table....
Still I don't see him, and he is not coming to my call...I step out on the deck go down the steps and peer around the corner to the gate area, making sure it's shut....I see him cowering in the corner...by the fence....sitting, shivering...I call him again, he just won't move...I go change out of my house slippers and put on a pair of shoes...I go over to where he is and he tries to get up and walk but it's obvious he can't really...Immediately I go into a state of andrenaline panic, rushing through my veins, I see now blood on his mouth and he's shaking so badly, he's almost convulsing...I don't remember alot, but I got him inside the house, I remember him crying out when I went to pick him up...I feel sick and faint, but know I have to get him inside safe and figure out his damage...I get him to the tub, and put him in, he stands there waiting patiently with a very sad look on his face....I see that he's missing two teeth in the front, and his belly has an abrasion there...I wash him gently as possible, his paws dirty dirty muddy and there's some black something on his back....what is that? And a big spot of blood, which the boyfriend was saying was his, from the gash on his hand that he got whilest working on the RV...I remember him getting that....I'm sort of spinning in my head about HOW DID THIS HAPPEN???? and WHAT THE BLEEEEEEEEEP HAPPENED TO MY DOG???????
Thankfully there is a 24 hour vet clinic less than a mile from my house, I bundled Michael up in a towel and went there directly....I told them what I knew, and they took him in back, and I started really shaking and spinning, just kind of in shock of what I was thinking....anyway...
I'm going to skip some other parts of that story....But the good part is that he seems to be doing "ok" other than his left food/leg area is still causing him to limp and hop around, favoring it. When we went on the hike, he amazingly went all over the place just fine....After the walk, he was limping and favoring the leg again....Hhhhmm. I think we need to go back to the vets for a check up. And we need to go out our vet anyway, the fabulous Hawthorne Vet Clinic in Portland.
We've been particularly blessed with lovely weather here in the Northwest this autumn! The skies are blue usually after a foggy, chilly morning...This was one day in particular that was sunny & very breezy. Beautiful. We love to walk on these days!!
I can't believe it's been SO LONG since I posted on Michaels Dog Blog!! Almost a year!!! That's crazy! I guess I took a break from all of my blogs - there was A LOT of stuff going on last year, which carried over into THIS year, and I'm now getting back on track with some of the fun things in my life...
We've been doing good! Michael especially! Hours and hours each summer day, spent outside on our deck in the back yard, chasing teasing squirrels around and around and up the trees...We do our usual walks and adventures...We're ALWAYS up for some fun & adventure....
The other GREAT news is that this year I discovered COMFORTIS at our holistic vets!! I have never been so happy to find a vet! These people are the bomb! Michael has not had ONE FLEA on him this year, so all that misery we suffered before - is now GONE with Comfortis...It's a natural flea remedy and will not hurt your animal. They make it for kitties too...Check out the natural way to keep fleas off your dog and not poisioning them slowly with pesticides!!
Michaelangelo got to go to a "play date" with a bunch of other Jack Russells, put on by a woman who has a ton of acreage AND a bunch of rowdy JR's!! We had a blast chasing lures, ratting in the hay cages, but we need a little practice on the go-to-ground aspect! Michael refused to stay in the tunnels, just KNOWING he could just go right over there where the rat is!!! haha, it was funny....He did pretty good on the lure racing, though at the end, he veered off course, again - Michael's pretty clever, and "Hey? Why run all the way over there, when I can plainly SEE the "bunny" is right here?!" Yes, we do need a little more practice!!
Hope everyone & all their pups are happy & well...We hope you had a great summer!
It's so hard to believe that summer went as quickly as it did.... Unfortunately, I missed a lot of it because I was shrouded in a grief process after my father passed on May 20th.... Been keeping busy though, with house projects, making things nice and pretty....Upgrading things for possibly selling up next year and moving on....or??? Keeping it, renting it out and going off on a little sailing and scuba diving winter adventure with T.... HHHHHhmmmmmmmm......Who knows what adventures might be around the corner??? The Big T has been working on some training with Michaelangelo....He also spoils him with the real food a good deal, and now he is deciding that he will cook raw food for Michaelangelo... Michael now responds when T points him "out" of the kitchen, so that's good.... Now Michael sleeps his nights on the living room couch under many puppy blankets...It was tough at first, Michael would come to the hall door and scratch....I would have to get up and take him back to the couch and go back to bed and do this two, three times a night.... Now, I'm happy to report he will spend the whole night on the couch, unless he is hearing a bunch of moving around in the middle of the night (me or T going to the loo, for example)..... So, our sleep is getting better..... Nightfall comes much quicker now....We started out on a little walk in daylight at our local park and 15 minutes later it was dark! It was a fun little adventure....I just have to remember to adjust my time with our evening walks..... I hope everyone has had a nice beginning to their fall....It is a fun time and my favorite time up to Halloweeen!
Happy September Friends! I can't believe how fast summer has been flying by!!! We have been keeping pretty busy round here this summer...Home improving projects...
and as always, of course, hunting.......
Being the mascot and general side - kick while keeping the troops in line....
I'm also into inspecting the jobs to make sure they're getting done right......
Workin' a little puppy kong action! (Trader Joe's peanut butter treat inside!!) 
Hangin' out with our friend Dennis for some lap cuddle...
As much as I love my amazing doctor I didn't want to have any more anything done after my teeth cleaning recently!! But it went just fine. My mom is a bit of a wimp, though. She had one of the vet assistants come in and hold me while Dr. Yale administered the shot. 
