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.