Ann’s Weblog

What can I say to explain three posts in one day? These are winter months; I’m doing my favourite job… taking care of pets. It’s my hobby AND my work, and I’m glad to be at the computer as well, sharing the experience with YOU fine folk.

Pictured above are canine friends who have been boarding with us more frequently in the last few months. “Chase”, on the left, is a petite malemute with some wolf breeding. The big girl on the right is a “Caucasian Mountain Dog”: her name is Taya.

Chase is a gentle old gal who makes friends easily. Taya has the breeding of guard and guardian dogs, and I’m going to try to post a link for breed information. (Perhaps I got the hang of it, posting my own site link earlier today). Taya and I are used to each other now, I can handle her and move around her in a matter-of-fact manner, and now neither of us feels threatened.

a Caucasian Mountain Dog website

Ayla’s owner just picked her up. I shared that I was about to load some pictures of the doggy guests on my site/blog, and my friend asked if I had got a good photo of Ayla. Of course, I explained that though the dog is photogenic, the photographer is not competant! Dear old Ayla is an easy boarder to have around… she doesn’t bark excessively outside, and when in the house, settles right down and does what many dogs do best… doze. Ayla’s eyeside is poor, so we can’t let her run around at will, but she seems content to wait for her owners patiently. I think this photo does Ayla justice: as usual, click it to enlarge or print out.

Winston is a handsome, large, chocolate labrador, full of great humour and energy. You might imagine, with my problems with the camera, I had a hell of a time taking a still picture of this guy. By accident, I got this fun shot of Win with his tongue up his nose… he of course isn’t shy about licking MY face any time it is close enough. Winston reminds me of the yellow lab in the book, “Marley and Me”, though Winston is more sensible. It’s the exuberance and love of life which shines through.

Winston almost didn’t live through the winter! While out on a fishing trip with his master and master’s son, he swallowed a fish hook! He saw it, he was going for it, and though his master was commanding, “NO! NO, Winston!”… the dog could not help himself. Down went the fishhook, still attached to the line, but of course there was no hope of getting the barbed implement back up Winston’s esophagus. Winston has endured surgery for fish hook removal, and has needed a special eating regime so that his gut can heal properly. Way to go, Winston! We’re so glad you survived.

Makalu has been a regular boarder here for a long time, and Shiloh, who has become part of the same household quite recently, is here with him. Shiloh is pictured on the top left, and Makalu on the bottom. (Click to enlarge.)

Shiloh has had the good fortune to be “stray” at the home of my friends who live out of town. Although they tried to find her “rightful owners”, no one made claim to her, and now she is “home”.

Makalu is a wolf hybrid who has been a family member at my friends’ house for a very long time. He has had two bouts of an intestinal problem which required surgery, and since he is quite elderly, we all hope that he doesn’t have any more trouble of that kind. He seems the picture of health now! Aren’t they both beautiful?

My website address on the last posting didn’t show up as a link. I’ll try HTML, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll assume that this is not available with the “free”version of blog.com.

My website link.

~ Ann

I’ve just spent a frustrating hour with the digital camera. The obvious and reasonable thing would be to go find the instruction booklet (I DO like manuals).

The problem that I didn’t need an explanation for was that the batteries were dead within a few moments of going outside to take pictures of the dogs. I had, minutes earlier, asked Gary, “Now WHY do you think they can’t make a camera that just plugs into the USB port, in the way that iPods are charged?”. He reminded me that iPods are one of the most notorious gadgets for “built in obsolescence” and that this is partly because of the ineffectual batteries within. Seems like THEY (whoever) should be working on this! I solved the problem by finding my rechargeable and recharged batteries.

This camera, which is Gary’s, behaves somewhat differently than mine did. (Do you remember? I left mine out in the rain and it now doesn’t function predictably at ALL!) There must be a different setting that I can use, because Gary’s camera takes “large” pictures which are good quality; however, for my blogging and website, I don’t need need big photos or high resolution. The photos take a long time to “register” on the camera after I push the button, and by the time the moment is frozen, the dog has moved. Sometime I take 7 or 8 shots to get one barely acceptable portrait for the ‘net. No wonder the batteries don’t last long… It’s all very frustrating: I invite comments (advice!).

I’m wondering if I can post a link in here; at one time it didn’t work, but perhaps things have changed. Maybe this feature is only available in the “paid” version of blog.com. This is my website link: http://www.annschwartz.com

If THAT doesn’t work, I will try using HTML to make a link. If I don’t get that done, you can copy and paste or type in that website addy.

~Ann

 Above, on the left is “Tucker”. A friend of his owner brought him for grooming, and the consensus was that he needed to be completely clipped down to about 1/4″ where he was matted, which was almost everywhere. The fellow who was babysitting the dog wondered why I hadn’t taken “before AND after” pictures, but the truth is, I don’t like embarrassing owners. This is just what I do… help the pets, and am not in the business of “shaming” anyone.

Truth is, Tucker, though he looks forlorn in his photo, was as patient and gentle as any dog of any age, and he is quite young. His owner now lives quite far from my little town, but I am hoping so much that I have the privilege of grooming him regularly. Once the “renovation” was complete, Tucker raced about the house, “breaking in” his new hairdo, rolling and rubbing on the carpets, and no doubt enjoying sensation where recently there had been none.

I also snapped a picture of Colleen, who is a regular guest here. She is looking over her shoulder, as I am saying to her, “Don’t move, Colleen, it’s okay, just stay.” while I am picking my path to my usual spot on the sofa, to her right. Both dogs (Lady and Colleen) are resting there, but if they don’t jump up, I can sit on the couch beside them.

 I just finished reading the book, “Marley and Me”, a Christmas present from dear daughter, K.. I recommend it: it is not maudlin, or as my husband might suggest, “schmaltzy”. It’s a well-written book about “life and love with the ‘world’s worst dog’ ” as the author describes Marley. It would be surprising, however, if the story doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, and I also laughed out loud at times.

The dogs which are boarding outdoors need their water refreshed, and so I’m on my way to get that done.

Thanks for reading my blog. Hope your year so far has been swell.

~Ann