dew claws = thumbs, really they do

Last night Mr Bugsy was driving me insane wanting something to do. I was busy and didn't want to play.
I know shameful!
So in a moment of inspiration I decided to wedge a deer antler in a kong ball.
Aha this will sort your busy butt out.
Oh and it did for a good few minutes. It was fascinating to watch him remove it.
His successful technique included using his dew claws extensively - his thumbs I call them LOL

Unfortunately for me, having removed it once when I put some peanut butter in the ball and blocked access by wedging the antler back in, he just took the antler out and ate the peanut butter.
Oh well have to find another idea.

I'll try to get some pics or video of it, kind of cool to see him work his magic!

Edit to add this picture - had the wrong lens on my camera but you can see the grip he has on the ball - with his dew claw!


Oh and last night for the first time since last week he didn't limp when he got up
:-)

those blasted squirrels

Hey this is Bugsy writing my own post for a change. My human is always talking about my knees, I DON'T CARE ABOUT NO STINKING KNEES, I have things to do!

Like...........keeping those squirrels off the feeders.

This is what happens when I am not out there doing my job



It is flat out crazy and makes me very mad.
If my humans let me out I carefully creep up on these furry little creatures and scare them!
bwa ha ha ha
They run and scramble real good!
That is fun but I can also keep them away from a distance. Its easy I just lay down in the grass and keep my eye on those bird feeders.
Mom says the birds are good but not ones called 'grackles' so I chase them too.

Back to the squirrels - this is the look I give the squirrels to keep them away

Feels like a lake day............

After another not very restful weekend day I have had Mr. Bugs doing nothing today but he is getting VERY antsy now. He was still a little stiff-legged last night but not as bad.
It is about 65* and sunny - the lake is beckoning.
Is it worth squeezing a trip in?
15 minutes or so of unadulterated fun?
Hitting the bank and gas station on the way home?

Oh I think it is

edit!
No it wasn't a lake day :-(
The lake was closed so poor B was all psyched up and no where to go.
Fortunately a friend and her daughter stopped by which was super duper exciting - he once again got more activity than I would have liked. We'll see what he is like later...........

a day of rest - not!

I thought that I would keep Bugsy resting today to see if that helped whatever is causing him to limp.
Well you know what they say about best laid plans............
First since it was so nice out he had to spend much time wandering the yard.
Then I thought I would do some training and have him do his cavaletti's (walking over hock high hurdles)to work his mind and see if that helped his gait. He did that but he whole time he was like, "we go walkies now?"


So I put him inside so I could go for a run.
Then when I got back he wanted out.
This is how it went all day. He was like a shadow for me - I think he didn't want me to slip out for another run without him LOL
Anyway he spent hours wandering the yard and pacing and looking and sniffing.
Tonight to finish his day he went out and caught a mole. This wasn't just any old mole. He had detected it this morning but it was just outside his range (e-fence) so he just stood there pointing at it and whining.
Poetic justice that he got it tonight!

please no!

We have been so happy to be able to do normal length walks (2-3 miles for us) day after day with no apparent soreness and then bam! The other night when he awoke to go out for his end of the night business, he limped.
Wait a minute, which leg are you favoring big guy? Oh no way not the left one - gulp.
So he rested the next day, seemed fine so he had an evening walk.
When he awoke for end of the night business, limping.
head down, please no, yup favoring the left leg - the good one.
I am desperately hoping it is just sore. I cannot in no uncertain terms go through another surgery at this point, nor can he. So send us some good vibes please?

Poor guy had finally got to play with his cherished stuffed duck again and we were preparing to allow him a short playdate.

Come on Bugsy be OK - you so need to get back to having fun!

we have made it!

Last week we reached the 16 weeks post op point. This is significant for TPLO dogs in that unless there have been difficulties dogs can now return to full activity.
Slowly of course but they can really start the return to normalcy.
Bugsy has been fortunate in that his recovery has been fairly smooth with a few scares and hiccups but nothing too extreme.
He has been building and building since the day he came home.
Yesterday and today he did 3 mile walk/runs and although tired is no worse for the wear. In fact he came home today and ran some zoomies post walk and continued to be silly inside including his very first leap off the stairs -GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
It has been nice to not have to remind him to not do that but clearly we need to stay on him.
I think next week we will have our first short play date.
So all in all we are real close. Now to work on his confidence as he is lacking in it for the first time in his life.
Its always something

Dublin Dog collars

Every once in a while something really neat happens, here's one instance:
A while back I saw (in a photo) a dog wearing a neat collar and being told it was a Dublin Dog collar. Never heard of them.
Fast forward to about a month ago I was in a TJMaxx/Homegoods and saw Dublin Dog collars. Wow they are really, really nice!
And in a rare fortunate moment I see they have XS and XL (clearly why they are in a closeout store). I look at the XL and wow it sure looks BIG. Real BIG.
The size says it starts at 23". Well 23" should be just about perfect, but boy this thing looks huge.
Sure enough when I got home it was ridiculously big. That collar did not start at 23",it was more like 26".
So I returned them - um yea they were so cool I bought two.
Then I went on to the dog forum I am a moderator for and complained about the sizing. The Large ends at 21" so there is a huge gap between them.

Well will you believe this - the founder of Dublin Dog collars joined the forum and responded that they were redoing the sizes and there would now be an overlap between L and XL.
Now that is customer service!
He also pointed out that they have a 'recycling' program which goes like this:
If you donate a collar to them (which they re-gift to a needy dog) they will give you 15% off the purchase of a new collar - how great is that!

Oh and should you decide to get a Dublin Dog collar - trust me you will love it!