The Fun Police

Around our house, I don't think it's that different from most other homes with dogs.  The girls have a touch of cabin fever.  It's too miserable and treacherous to do anything outside besides quick potty breaks, so occasionally, playtime breaks out inside.  I imagine last night's scenario as a conversation between the girls that went something like this.

Blueberry:  Hey, Bunny, I may be eight, but I can still beat you!

Bunny:  Pshaw!  You could never beat me!

Blueberry:  Afraid to put your milkbones where your mouth is?

Bunny:  If I win, you have to stand back and let me get all the petting I want from Mom for a week!

Blueberry:  You can name any bet you want, since I'm going to win!

Bunny:  You're on!




Lilac:  Dammit!  I'm trying to sleep!  Knock it off!

Bunny:  Okay!  Ha ha!  I got the bed while you were busy barking because I'm the fastest!

The funny part is that they both think that they won! 

Birthday Party Pictures

I thought we'd share a few pictures of Blueberry's birthday party.  It wasn't terribly lavish or spectacular, but we did celebrate with a nice party at home.  I think that's really her preference anyway.  No matter how old she gets, I think that Blueberry is still one of the most stunningly beautiful greyhounds I've ever met.  I might be biased on that, since she does grace our own couch, but I was smitten with her beauty even before I thought there was a chance she could be ours.  Despite the fact that I nearly broke my knee, we had a nice little party for her!

Bring On The Cake

We're taking a break from Wordless Wednesday today because it's a very important day for us.  On this day in 2002 a very special blue brindle puppy was born.  She grew up to be our our Blueberry and we couldn't be happier to have shared her life's journey with her.

I can remember when I first saw her.  She arrived on a haul of dogs with her mother at a house just down the street from us.  We were there to help unload them and the minute I saw her I was impressed by her beauty.  However, there were a lot of dogs to unload and I was busy for a while.  She was whisked off for a bath, as were the others and then they had a crash course in going down the stairs to the crate area.  I was supposed to bring Blueberry home with me that night as a foster dog, but life had other plans for us.  A couple there had recently lost a greyhound and they wanted to foster a greyhound with intent to adopt.  This means, they'd take her home and see if she fit in well with their family and other greyhound and then decide if they'd keep her or find another greyhound who was a better fit.  I'm not sure what happened, but she didn't end up being fostered by them.  She had a bit of an unusual life before she came to live with us seven months later.

Greyhound puppies are notoriously terrible.  They are called landsharks, and for good reason.  Most people will tell you that raising a greyhound puppy is extremely difficult and they are right.  We won the jackpot with Bunny, there's no doubt about that.  Blueberry came to us as a wild and willful two-year-old.  She was not a dog for inexperienced owners and we quickly realized that.  I can't even begin to imagine what she was like when she was even younger!  I have little doubt that she was a terror, but like most greyhounds, she bloomed into a beautiful and perfect companion. 

I credit her a great deal with helping me to survive the inital loss when Treat passed away.  While Hawk and Lilac gave me space to lick my wounds, Blueberry took it upon herself to be my watchdog.  She was brave enough to curl up in that empty space on the other end of the couch and she did her best to entertain me with her funny little canine jokes.  I've never met a dog with a better sense of humor than Blue.  She knows what she's doing is funny and gives you an irresistable grin when she does it.  Even our trip back to the kennel to choose a new member of our pack had Blueberry's stamp of approval.  An experience that became more and more stressful for me as we met dog after dog who just wasn't the one was an opportunity for her to show herself again as my protector and spirit-lifter.  When one of the males that they invited us to meet, ironically named Try, got fresh with her, Blueberry didn't just tell him no in no uncertain terms, she chased him down and made sure that he got the message  loud and clear.  When Bunny walked in the room, she wasn't crazy about her, but she didn't dislike her, and surprisingly, it didn't bother her that Bunny walked up to me the way she did.

Blueberry is the intuitive alpha in our pack.  She's confident in her place with us now and she knows that she's loved.  She isn't the hound who always wants to be up close and personal, but she is always the one who will "just be" with you on the couch after a rough day when nobody else wants to come near you.  When she wants attention, she will come to you to get it, and she always does get it.  Whether she's fluffing her bed, playing with Bunny, stealing our food or just being perfect, she does it with style and class. 

So, please join us in wishing our supermodel hound the happiest of eighth birthdays!  We hope that she will be long lived like her mother, but even if she isn't, the quality with which she has enriched our lives has already earned her a special place in heaven and in our hearts.  We love you, Berry Girl!

Shopping -- The Perfect Cure to Cabin Fever

Bunny here, writing about my lastest adventure.  We've been cooped up here way too long with all this cold and snow.  To make matters worse, Mom went back to work last week and that left me with even less to do.  Fortunately, since we needed supplies for Blueberry's birthday party, we took a trip to My Dog's Bakery and got a little cure for our cabin fever. 

Hmmm... I think I need to taste these!  Quality control, you know!

Blueberry thinks we need some of these, and since she's the almost birthday girl, you'd better get some.

I really need some new toys!  You know, most of mine are getting worn out.

Oh, and my bed is really getting worn out! 

Surprisingly, there was only the girl working in the store to pet me!  That was a bit disappointing.  Of course, when we got back to the van, we were supposed to smile for the camera.  I will let the next few pictures speak for themselves about what happened.

Honestly, you just can't take some dogs anywhere!  Lilac waits in the van and makes Blueberry and me do all the shopping, then she eats the treats!  What's up with that?  Mom says that she gets away with it because she's an old lady.  It sounds suspicious to me.  Still, it was nice to get out of the house and the treats we got smell delicious!  They say we can't have them until the birthday party, though.  I can hardly wait!

Oh, I hear somebody coming!  I have to go!

A Girl's Got To Have Stylish Boots

The girls have some greyhound fans in Minnesota who have great sympathy for them with the cold weather.  They sent the girls each their own set of boots to wear when the weather is really cold on sensitive greyhound feet.  Of course, as soon as we got them, we had to open them up and have a look. 

We put them on Bunny, who walked around like she's worn them all her life.  She handled wearing them like a pro.

Lilac mostly laid down for her fitting, but she did manage to get around pretty well in hers.

Blueberry wasn't quite as graceful, but Bunny did try to give her some pointers.

I think that once they get the hang of them, they will keep their feet more comfortable for those bitter cold turn outs and probably for the walks Bunny and I plan to start taking.  The girls all send nose kisses to Max and DJ for their thoughtful gift!  They also requested pictures of the boys wearing their boots.  I can't imagine why they'd ask for such a thing!