And hello again!

Winter's in full swing and the doggies are restless inside the house. My treadmill is my best friend and our 20-something recent graduate is theirs. Jono takes them out for runs and plays fetch with them at the schoolyard.

Spike went to a happy home 1.5 years ago: we traveled for the summer and our friends fell in love with him. So... Bella - whom we call Missy -  needed company. Purebred, stocky Ziggy came along.

Ziggy joins the family. Ready for his
second grooming to turn him
into a poodle

He had the strangest haircut and I wasn't sure that he was ever going to look good. But our groomer Yvonne is a treasure, and Zig now looks like a poodle. He's friendly, outgoing, barks when people come to the door ... and adores Missy and me.

Dog wrestling while I study

Ziggy has a different temperament to Missy. She's the twirling princess. The ballerina.

He's our linebacker, our always-up-for-a-chase 6-yr-old toy poodle. Ziggy grew up with a grandma and grandson on an acreage. When grandma had knee replacement surgery, she had to rehome the instigator of trouble in her pack of 5 (German shepherd, lab, and 2 other big dogs). She was afraid that Zig would get hurt when she couldn't keep her eye on him: he loved to run up and down the opposite side of a chain link fence to be chased by the big dogs.

Eager for a treat: Missy and Ziggy in January 2013

Long story short - Ziggy became ours in October 2011. He and Bella sleep in the same crate, play tug-of-war and other games, and groom the yuck from each other's out-of-reach places like their tear ducts. They're great mates.

On the coupler, ready to go

Our granddaughter loves to take them for walks, too. Good doggies!

A one-year-old, ready to go with the dogs

Of course, I check in with Spike regularly. He lives in a walking suburb and his people adore him and have spoiled him to death. Life is good in doggie-land!

Better and better

The past few days we have had no trouble on walks. Bella behaves like a lady, ignoring passersby. Spike trots steadily alongside with 2 smallish stones in his Outward Hound jacket pockets. Working dog? He thinks so.

I've left them on the enclosed sun porch a few times when I've had appointments. It has more room to roam than their crates and they stay warm with coats on. Their toys are played with (they're crazy at tug-of-war) but they're happy to see me, waiting at the door when they hear me get back.

After their morning walk, Bella pounced on Spike and wouldn't leave him alone. They got into a snarling match which I quickly put a stop to. She instigates their tussles - he's pretty laid back but let her know she stepped over the line today. She was surprised, yipped, and ran away.

They gulped chicken breasts for lunch today: the lucky dogs got the raw meat because a cooking date with a friend got canceled. They hopped in their crates when the sun went down and went to sleep without fussing. Good doggies!

Boxing Day

We're back from a 3-mile, 1-hour walk. Bella's energy matches Spike's since we've been feeding raw. Some mornings I wish dogs didn't need walking! Last week, I was moaning about it while leaving my 6 - 7.30am exercise class. "Oh, I'm already sore, and now I have to go home and walk the dogs!" (We walk 1.5 - 3 miles every morning. Photo: noses facing)

"What!" said the teacher. "You're walking after this? I'm not working you hard enough... Now you know why I have a cat." HA HA Wouldn't trade that "we-hafta-walk-doggies" for 10 cats!

The dog full-raincoats arrived from DINODirect a few days ago. Spike ran away the first time I tried to get his hind legs in. Bella immediately lay down with the hood almost over her eyes and wouldn't move. They got the hang of it once we were walking. They were cleaner and drier than usual after our trek in the pelting rain.

Christmas Eve, Bella was not happy with my brother's Russel Terrier Jack, who came for a visit. Bella growled and retreated everytime he came near, refusing to play. I finally put her into her crate at supper and she felt safe. Spike and the very relaxed Jack got along just fine.

Spike was everyone's friend, including 2-yr old Maurin, who loves dogs but is rough with them. Spike tolerated Maurin tugging and petting him at the Christmas Eve party and moved away when he'd had enough. Bella lay down and growled quietly when he pulled her ear. I don't blame her, but quickly took Maurin away, and kept my eye on him. He's too pesky and persistent for little dogs. It's Bella's house and she respects people... but Maurin's mom was not making him mind. Bella is very snuggly, so kind people are all her friends! That said, she may not growl at anyone. "Flee!"-ing like Spike, is better.

Bella is still not secure around other dogs. Last week she broke her leash on our walk, straining to go after a pair of Akitas. I don't know who was more surprised, the Akitas - that a little yapper would take them on - or Bella, at breaking loose to run up to them. I picked her off their heels, scolded her, and fixed the leash. The Akita owner was NOT happy with us. The last few days, we've worked hard on not letting Bella fix her attention when dogs approach, and she's doing better.

We've also gone to dog parks a few times so Bella can meet various canines for socialization. With school and Christmas, it had been a while. W and I took the dogs to Warren Magnusen Dog Park late in the afternoon yesterday. It was dusk, a sleepy time that felt more like 8pm than 4.30pm. Hoards of people and their dogs were walking the trails and playing along Lake Washington. Our doggies were fine: they straggled behind or darted ahead, but always kept an eye out and came back for a treat or to check on us.

Bella surprised us. She is an amazing sprinter! All the walking, jogging, and her improved appetite has unleashed a very fast, fit, bouncy poodle. She raced past Spike several times, going far ahead of us, unlike the 'fraidy-dog she sometimes exhibits. She bounded through the grass along the trails more deer than dog, giving us a good laugh as Spike trotted along nearby. Neither of them were tired when we were done. They sprang into their car-boosters (CL finds), then wrestled toys and played for hours after we got home.

Spike had another poop incident, which W found in the hall upstairs. I let the dogs outside every 2-3 hours, but for some reason Spike can't grasp that I'd like to know when he needs to go outside OR he should hold it until the next time he is let out. He never messes his crate, so I know he can wait.

Ah, most of the time, GOOD doggies.

First wrestling match

It's been a cool wet week.  Ugh to Seattle winters. We get caught in a downpour on a bike ride yesterday. Both dogs have the animal print fleecies on under raincoats, but their legs are soaked.

I put Bella in the wicker basket after 2 miles. She isn't even panting, but the weather helps. Plus, we go a slow 4-7 mph for her. After she's up and out of harm's way, the pace picks up so Spike can run his mile at 8-10mph. He's a running monster for his size! When he stops tugging, we slow down to a gentlemanly 6mph trot.

He is happy all day long and she rests most the day. Bella walks off with Spike's toy in the afternoon. He's surprised and tries halfheartedly to tug it back. No giving in. She hangs on and keeps dragging it behind her (big long squeaky animal). He gives up in astonishment. Go Bella! He's always playing with her stuff, so I'm happy to see that she knows she can share his.

This morning when we get in from a short, cold walk (1.75 miles), the dogs have their first growling and wrestling match. No one is seriously dominating, so no one comes out on top. It's good fun, bouncing, tail wagging, "hey, buddy!" kind of play. Bella does her typical stomach-up surrender a few times, but Spike's sitting and lying down beside her most of the time, snarling wickedly as she barks at him. They don't even nip. Just bounce over one another, trot around the entry, and have fun. (like the photo below - not of them)

I am SO glad. They walked closer together today on a 20" coupler rather than the usual 40". I was too lazy to get the regular leash from the car. Yes, we walked by the car on our way up the driveway, but I would have had to take those keys, unlock the car, get the leash, relock the car, put the car keys back, etc. You get the picture. We walked past with our homemade solution.

I cobbled together my bicycling leg wraps (velcros that keep trousers out of the chain) and attached them to the dog collars and my leash; worked just fine. They trotted like ponies pulling a cart--me. And they walked beside me carefully on "Let's go for a walk."

They felt free to play around when we got back in. Now they're sleeping together in the next room. My office is very quiet with both of them snuggled on the sofa next door. There's a big smile on my face. Peace at last? Good doggies!