Oh My--it has been so long

I haven't kept up with chronicling hog dogness for the past few months, i.e. this summer. Partly because Matt has been home more, Britin came for his summer visitation, and my mother moved up near me. So, it has been quite busy, but Daisy and Boss have adapted wonderfully. They are learning a new environment to hang out in, my mother's new house, and have a regular available babysitter. Daisy is so adapted to us now so that I can't remember life without her and Boss just had his 2nd birthday! We were so busy we didn't get to have a big party like we had for his first birthday. :-( I am still trying to fatten Boss up and slim Daisy down--I feel like I have more luck with the second. Matt has really bonded with Daisy, and misses them both if he has to be away, and not just the Boss dog.

I have pics to put up, but until I get things more organized, here is a cute video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaDYeC6n42E

Bully Rain

It has been raining on and off all weekend and it really isn't fun being a bully when it does. Boss doesn't like rain much at all despite his love of swimming (similar to his disdain of baths I guess). I don't like them getting muddy, or smelling like wet dog. They both love to drink rainwater--which makes me uneasy because I just gave both of them a big dose of worm medicine and rainwater might increase their worm infestation. So, right now we are all singing rain, rain, go away....

Matt's summer has officially begun--and where is he? At work for a meeting, of course! So, the dogs and I are hanging out inside listening to the ucky rain. It reminds me of my childhood in Houston when it would rain nonstop for days at a time and it seemed so boring inside. Even if you don't go outside, raining seems to make the inside lazy, damp, and trapped feeling.

Pausing in the rainy dayness, here are a few pictures from the past week or so:

Doesn't Daisy look skinnier here? I have been trying to get her to a healthier non-blimpy weight at the same time I try to fatten Boss up more. I feel like I am having more success with skinnying Daisy...

I think Daisy looks like an armadillo in her new floatation device. I haven't found Boss's old one yet but I think it might fit her better.

Milo is starting to warm up to Daisy--a rare snuggle for the three of them!

Bully Biscuits Recipe

For a healthy immune system preventative of so many doggy ailments treat to welcome Boss home from camping (and after a super good bath) I have baked the bullies some yummy cookies:

Tablespoon ricotta cheese
2 crushed cloves of garlic
dash of cayenne pepper
2 cups rolled oats
half a carrot chopped
1 radish chopped
1/2 cup of milk

Mix, microwave for 1 minute
Bake for 10 minutes, 350 degrees

Girl's Night with Daisy

Matt with Boss and Daisy

The Dynamic Duo


Matt is off with Boss Hog Hurley camping tonight and so I am hanging with Daisy by myself. She acted confused for awhile because she has never been apart from her buddy Boss since we got her a couple of months ago. It was hard for me to see Boss go off with his Daddy, too!

Aftermath of Ironton Storm Bully Style

Last week there was a horrible storm that went through the Midwest and spawned tornados and hurricane force winds (and rains) in our area. I captured the aftermath and arranged the photos in a slideshow below. A couple show the dogs examining the collapsed trees and rising creek. As a result of this storm, we (including the dogs) are staying in a motel. Supposedly we won't have water or electric for this week. We survived two days without electric, but this week is finals week for Matt and sponge bathing and no internet just isn't functional for us during a work week. Anyways, the pictures demonstrate the intensity of the storm that went through much more than I can...one last thing, during the tornado warning, the dogs and cats and I sat in the bathroom as I watched out the little window as the flying (not falling) trees...

Everyone is okay as well, just a little tired and rattled...

Playful Bullies

I figured out how to capture some real-time playing with my computer. Daisy loves to play, she is a big where's your toy fetch type of dog. I never played this much with Boss when he was a puppy so he is trying to catch on and be part of this playtime. They slip and slide on our new pergo floors and I recycle old Boss puppy toys for them to tug of war with or play keep away. Here is a video showing this process a bit...ignore my doggy playtime voice!

Bully in Internetland

You can now see videos of the bullies, Boss and Daisy, on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/lissahoop



Also, I have found a few helpful sites having to do with music for pets. I used to have special music that soothed Boss, but Daisy seems to tend towards classical music and Boss liked Enya and other calming sounds when he was a puppy.

First is http://www.welovepets.com/dogradio.html
Then a little different is: http://dogcatradio.com/
This is good for humans too: http://www.soundsleeping.com/

Daisy really likes this one Dvorak CD, so we have been listening to it over and over--she likes the familiar sounds. It is soothing me as well....now, if I can find music to help me focus AND calm the dogs...then I will be set...

Bully in a Bath

Boss never takes bathes voluntarily--not since he figured out that soap was involved and it wasn't at all like hanging out in the wading pool. He will get in the bath, but grudgingly and he resists getting his face washed and jumps out --with suds and all if I let him--and runs around manic-like to get dry if I don't contain him in his crate. I have given Daisy a bath, but assumed she would find the process as irritating as Boss does. So, I let Daisy in the bathroom when I was taking a bath, didn't think anything as she tried to drink some water and get bubbles on her face in a cute way--Boss like bathwater too. Then, like a stealth overweight seal she slid into the bath before I could stop her. I didn't intend to bathe her at this point, but I got out and used the opportunity to clean her, soap and all--and she was fine with it. Afterwards, she even sat in a towel like she was ready to hang out--no wild running about like Boss would do. Boss seemed very curious about her whole process, like why are you doing this? I caught the aftermath in some pictures...

Daisy in a towel after the bath

Boss trying to understand Daisy's willingness to take a bath--and be in a towel

Boss: No Towel Dry like a dog!

Get off me you brute--I like my towel!--Daisy

Of course, I have no idea what was actually being communicated, if anything. Boss might have wanted to play and saw the towel as a barrier! Since this incident they have been sparring nonstop--I often think that changes in our routine throws their power dynamic into a tizzy and they have to fight out the dominance issue again. They have taken to biting each other's hind legs, like they are taking a chunk out of a turkey leg...and their mouths are raw and pink from biting. Yesterday we got our mattresses out of storage finally and they also seem to be fighting more at this change....I can hear their heavy breathing and snorting and occasionally bully yells (a cry unlike any other!) They make noises like warped Muppet's.

100 days of bulliness

Actually, it has been much more than 100 with Boss and less than that with Daisy, but I felt in a 100 day mode, considering it is the 100 days of Obamaness and the 100th episode of Lost. I could do a list of 100 things I love about my bulldogs, but that seems a little excessive in itself. I am sure there are 100 poops in the yard, in fact, many layers of poop-I am sure. Many more than 100 licks and 100 times I had to say, "No." Probably many more than 100 times I could be a better dog mommy, either too permissive or too strict, or too oblivious, lazy or ignorant. Probably more than 100 times they loved me anyways, 100 moments more of bully adoration on my side (and Matt's as well). 100 times at least that people thought I was too obsessed with my bulldogs and many more when we thought our dogs were too good for other people. Many hundred "pettages" and so many hundreds of morsels of dog food. 100 plus of discoveries and lessons, like sit, jump, don't eat the cat poop or cat food, take turns, don't fight, eww, where is the air freshener, open a window, and the best lesson of all--don't leave the remote where bully teeth can get it. And the phone must of rang hundreds of times, but we still remember the one time that Boss decided to answer it. We had to get a new phone. I am sure there will be hundreds of more experiences like this, hundreds more to record, but there won't ever be hundreds more of Daisy and Boss.

Bully Bully Sunday

Keep in mind that it wasn't that hot today--maybe 85, but to a bulldog, that probably feels ten degrees higher and we don't have any airconditioning right now. So, here are some pictures of the bullies coping with the "heat." Daisy has never experienced heat, having been born into airconditioning and living through a Missouri winter. Boss lived through Michigan heat where airconditioning doesn't exist and got to be an old hand at laying in the shade, standing in his wading pool, taking cool bathes, eating ice and anything else cold he can get his jowls on...


Daisy is here eating a pedialyte popcycle with a cold microfiber rag on her back. Boss looks on with approval.

Daisy walking along trying to find a cold spot.

Boss is such a cool cucumber.

Daisy found the bricks quite nice and cool and poses cutely.

Bully Hugs and Kisses

I got some snuggle love from the bullies--and Matt was hear to capture a little of it. My glasses broke today and I have them held together with painter's tape--problems with my glasses always makes me feel vulnerable...I don't even feel like I can wii without my glasses flying off. We did more gardening today and the dogs got to have more offleash fun. I still need to get Matt to go to the lake with me and get some footage of the dogs playing, but today got away from us and it started raining before we could go over there. I am going to get some doggy proof summer proof glasses next week and then I will be up for lots of activities! I have had the same glasses for over four years during which time Boss ate two pairs of new glasses--hopefully he has grown out of that fetish. I did catch Daisy chewing on bricks (doing it no real harm--it is a brick afterall) because of teething. Having dogs, especially bullies really changes your life so that I hide my glasses every night in my dresser drawers. It is nice having Matt home and he is out of the shower so I am going to spend time with him now...

Floatation Device

I can't wait until I can take the dogs out to swim in the lake. I need to get Boss's life vest out of storage and get Daisy her own personal floatation device off the internet like below image (and that isn't one of my bullies in that picture, just an image from amazon.com). Bullies need to wear life vests because their heads are so big. Boss can swim without a floatation device, but it helps him in case he runs out of steam and just wants to float. He was so cute when we were floating down the river last year and he pulled me along while I held his leash. I am not as sure with Daisy since I have never seen her in deep water. But, she did get in the wading pool a few times today--it was so hot and it made me want to get my bathing suit out (which is also in storage).

Summer Moment

Off-leash fun wears us out

I have been remiss in chronicling the exploits of the bullies for awhile because my mother was in town. The bullies didn't get much special time either this past week so I decided to do something fun with them today. Today was a somewhat warm sunny day so I bought the bullies a wading pool at the dollar store and gave them some offleash time in our front yard. Last year Boss spent days playing in a wading pool with no water in the living room when we lived in Michigan and so he was ready to go when he saw this new wading pool--he is such a swimming dog so the water was an added benefit. Daisy seems to enjoy water but was a little unsure about the wading part--she mostly saw it as a giant water bowl to quench her thirst. Matt was at work so it will be even more fun during the summer when he and Britin can play with the dogs while I get some good shots of them frolicking...it is hard to be the photographer and the person telling them not to run in traffic or run off with other dogs, so an extra person will be nice! :-)

Fun in the wading pool

Calmbully

Today the dogs were hyper and I hadn't slept very well--so I learned online I could give chamomile tea to the dogs to calm them down. I mixed it with some ham stock I made for bean soup and it seems to be working.

Speaking of calm, here is my bully family sleeping one morning:

Easter Monday

It is the Monday after Easter--Saturday night I made scrumptious Enchilada Casserole, one vegetarian and the other with beef.

Veggie Easy Enchilada Casserole Recipe:

Can of enchilada sauce

Lots of Taco cheese blend

Chopped-Zucchini -Green Pepper -Onion

Corn Tortillas

Layer the above ingredients in pan, bake for 30 minutes covered, put fresh cilantro on top

for beef version, substitute beef for zucchini or anything else

Here are the bullies playing today...

evidence of good friday in the country

Bulldogs
Crocs

View from our porch

Wood to be burned

Our newly sowed garden

Closeup of real broken blue bird egg

Toolbox, egg, catnips seeds in dirt (in a bundt cake pan)

Lazy Daisy and Boss Hog Sunday

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

SNL Snuggle

While we watch Saturday Night Live, we snuggle...

Playtime!

Today is the optimal time to plant according to the Farmer's Almanac--and in bulldog land, it appears to be the optimal time to play. Boss plays so differently with another dog--bulldog specifically. He does tug of war and keep away, something he never did with us. And, his favorite, is what I call dancing, which is either a dominance thing or nature calling him despite his altered physical state. Today I took them near the lake--and after playing for quite awhile together, they both wanted to wade in the lake--if I hadn't had them on their leashes, I am convinced they would have swam in. It is too cold for that and they would need their floatation devices on, plus I would need to be in there with them to supervise. Eventually I will put a doggy pool in the front yard when it gets warmer...Boss is definitely a little water dog. Here are some older videos/pics I took when we first got Daisy but still illustrates their playfulness very well:

Boss is Sick

Today wasn't very much fun in Bullyland. Boss was sick and Daisy was lonely. Boss threw up multiple times--even all over his crate while napping. He also was shivering, which broke my heart--he hates covers but he even let me swaddle him in a blanket to warm him up. I took them in the car hoping it would cheer Boss up, but he ended up threwing up all over the car--and Daisy scared me to death by opening the window --I instantly put it on child lock. Luckily, I was stopped at McDonald's. They alway give treats so I am convinced Daisy opened up the window on purpose. Boss just huddled in the very back and didn't get his treat :-( He is keeping down food now and isn't shivering, but he is back in his cleaned crate. Hopefully he will pep up a bit when Matt gets home. If he isn't better tomorrow, I will take him to the vet. He has gotten sick like this about a year ago but it was like a 24 hour flu thing or something he ate. I feel bad because I am trying to fatten him up more--he seems so gangly and so unbulldog like in how thin he is, and his getting sick made him seem even more vulnerable. Luckily Daiy is peppy--she is cuddled up to me enjoying some one on one time--I realized she will never know us without Boss, like he is her big brother. I try to balance their time so there is no jealousy...all in a day of having a bully family!

Here are a few photos representing our mood today...

Monday Bulliness

I am hanging out with the two bullies on our porch amid the construction vestiges feeling the cool breeze this Monday morning. Boss and Daisy are enjoying their time outside, hanging out. Boss is scratching his back on the rough carpet on the porch while Daisy chews on a old rope toy of Boss's she found out here. Oops. She dropped in on the grass off the porch so off they went--Boss first to retrieve it. They have their leashes tied together so I can easily get to them--Boss has some issues with recall, and Daisy is still an unknown factor--and we live off a main highway. This morning I took them somewhat off leash (at least I wasn't holding the leashes) right next to the lake across from our house. There is a volleyball court area that they played in, playing fetch. Daisy is much better at the game, partly with puppy stamina and female focus. Boss plays for awhile and then sort of meanders off--almost to say, I know this game, it seems pointless, but this patch of grass is very interesting. Daisy seems to be a little better at the not pottying in the house--I am being VERY strict about the crate training but I am also being big on outside time, play-time and long walks. Probably Daisy is feeling spoiled by having all this attention and outside time and certainly it is breaking her out of her old routine. I keep reminding myself, remember when Boss was almost a year old. Two kids are on skateboards going down the hill in front of our house, making the dogs very curious...Boss more so, Daisy is back to the chew toy. It will be nice when this room gets closed in and the dogs have a nice room to sun in (and the cats too!)

Boss Babyness

Thinking about all the baby moments of Boss, keeping Daisy's babyness in perspective.