Life with the Three Crazy Dogs

This is Chase, the crazy fetching nut. Any stick on sight, he will pick it up and run it to me to throw for him.  But what I want to say is….

….I still think he is on the heavy side…in other words, fat. But the master said he is just nice for the winter. He needs the extra fat to keep warm, he said. I think the temperature is not that cold now.  20’s Fahrenheit is decent.   I understand if the temp is in the teens and single digits but when it reaches 20’s I find it kinda warm too when I go for my walks with a jacket on.

The last we weigh him he was 92 pounds and that was probably 6 – 7 months ago. I once cut his food down to 2.5 cups a day his ribs were sticking out and he was constantly begging for food and the master said he was too thin. I forgot to ask the vet what his ideal weight should be which i assume he will tell “as long as you can feel his ribs”. Well, I can sorta feel his ribs but can’t see them now.  Honestly I have to walk them twice a day but it’s tiring to walk 4 times a day – I still walk Chase and Cooper separate from Ranger.

The fetching fool

This post is long long overdue. Back in October or September (so long ago, I can’t even remember!), I notice there were a lot of red bumps on Chase’s jaw, right at the bottom of his chin. DB look at it and he thinks it’s NBD (no big deal). So I thought nbd, nbd lah. Took a picture of it but memory card spoiled. That is why no picture up here. He said nothing to loose our sleep over this. Cooper had them before but then back in 2001, Cooper was a year old and being first time dog owner we sure brought him to the vet. Vet of course prescribed medication. But for Chase….more chin-chai.

So, I left it be for 2 weeks, DB already left for TX. The red bumps became boil like bumps. So what I did, I put my acne cream on them which became the best acne treatment in my book for Chase’s acne!!! They dried up within a day and some in two days.  Moreover, I used a sterilized needle to bust some of those boils.  Not an easy task coz that fella was squirming around trying to get away (who wouldn’t, right?) and just me trying to hold him down with my legs.  Now he is acne free.  I searched the web and it is very common for dogs or even cats to develop acne from the oil in the food, dirt and bacteria.

I think we have to take Chase to pay a visit to Dr. Mitchell again.

I took the boys to the field and woods this morning.  Of course, all three were happy, running off, free leash, and playing with other dogs.  Chase is the only one now that comes back to my side when I’m laggin behind.  Lagging behind because Ranger is strolling around after a while.  So half way through the woods, Chase as usual was snooping, running, back and forth between me and whatever he found to snoop, I heard some “pop” sounds.  I thought the sounds were from Chase’s collar, but at closer investigation, the “popping” sounds came from his rear.  I’m guess the sounds came from his knees or hips.

As soon I heard that sound, I cut short the walk and got back to the truck.  Gave them water and hauled them into the truck.  I had to help him get up the truck and he is not light either.  I think he is about 98 lbs coz he is heavy from just lifting his backend up the truck.

Chase is now laying in the sun enjoying the sun and cool crisp morning.  The poor boy can’t really walk – he is limping and the “popping” sounds are not so distinct.  DB said we have to take him back next week to check him out to make sure nothing is misaligned.  I hope he is done growing now.  This boy’s chest has widened and like I mentioned earlier, he is so much more heavier now.

Dogs. I’m so broke paying the vet! I’m glad Cooper is not giving us that much of a problem. His are all minor stuff – ear infections but we deal with that with some herb solution and it’s done. Ranger and Chase are now the two that are squeezing the dough out of us. And don’t forget, heartworm and flea and tick prevention are on the list for them. Dogs, I love you boys, too. :)

Something smells good, I think.

What you looking at??

That’s Chase.  He got so big.  He is all muscles.  We last weighed him, he was 93 lbs (2 months ago) and we think he is heavier now.  It seems like he is still growing.  His back end is now higher than the front which makes him look weird when he walks.  He is not limping but is cautious when he wants to sit or down.   Bathe him yesterday.  Hah!  I can’t believe I said this, the shower stall is too small for him and I in it.  Oh, and I incorporated teeth brushing into his daily routine and all I can say is, he hates the finger brush but of course, the peanut flavored toothpaste is what he looks forward to each time he sees me at 7:30 p.m.  Yes, that’s the time I brush all three of their fangs.  And yes, I’m trying to save $150/dog for dental cleaning at the vet.  Economi meleset!

Anyway, the yard is Chase’s favorite place to hang out now – the sun and a lot of sticks to pick and choose for him to chew to pieces.  Yes, the ground is all dry and no snow in sight!  But wait, tomorrow will be white again.  I’m hoping we won’t get any, that it will go north of us! :)

Cooper is our first dog and of course he came gets all the attention from me and DB.  Coops is loving only if he wants to.  He is an extremely dominant male Lab.  He will tell you he does not like it if you give him impromptu pats.  Yes, he will come to you if he wants his pats.  When I play rough with him, he doesn’t mind it but when I put an arm across his shoulders, he will tell me to buzz off!  Gurrrrr!  That is how he sounds.  I know I’m not suppose to piss him off when he does that sound, but here I am, imitate his growls and fire him up in which he thinks I’m playing with him.  He will get into his playful mode but some days he will ignore me and give that “don’t bother me” look.  I call it the “cold shoulder”.   This dog has his moments.  Yeah, moody.  I don’t quite like his personality, honestly, although he is very protective especially when we go for our walks and of course in the house.

Then comes Ranger.  We adopted him when he was three years old.  He was neglected and left alone in the back yard with his bucket of food and water by his first owners, previously from Minnesota but moved to Detroit, Michigan.  So you can imagine how big Ranger was: like a barrell, that was what the breeder told us.  His breeder brought him back to Minnesota when he was a year old and got him back to tip top shape after a year.  Ranger has his rules set when we got him: loves to eat, does not like human and other dog interactions.  But after seven years with us, he still loves to eat but he loves the human contact now, although he still prefers to be alone some times.  He is a very docile dog.  I can use him as a pillow, put my arm around his shoulders, rub his ears, pat him, and massage him, he will not budge, he will let me.  Needless to say, he became my favorite!  The only thing I cannot shake his bad habit is nibbling and grab a hold of our hand.  He loves to nibble at us when we rub his belly and when we play with him. His tail will go 200 mph but that nibble and grip on his mouth feels like 600 pounds.

Since Chase came into our household last year, periodically and became permanently in June, I have to admit, I’m being bad! :(  Yes, kick my butt if you want to.  I favor him more.  Why?  Coz he is very loving.  Too loving and loves human contact from day 1.  He will come to us for pats, lay his head on the sofa or on our thigh and even when it bed time, he will come to us, lay his head on the bed (where my face is), look at us with those puppy eyes.  He has a very playful demeanor, no one sign of aggression when we give him “hugs”.  The only one thing we both do not like about is Chase loves to lick every damn thing in sight which drives us crazy.  No matter how much you tell him NO, he still does it.  How to stop that habit??  I can’t carry the bottle bitter apple with me all the time.  But I still don’t mind him.  Maybe it’s new broom sweeps well? 

I noticed since Chase is with us permanently, Cooper is giving both of us lots of “cold shoulders” but he still comes to us for pats which I give him freely.  And he always is the first to get his food, treats and every thing else because he is, after all, the resident dog.