Cousin Daisy Mae

Explain to me how a dog can be adopted as a pup and then left behind when the family moves - in the winter no less - and without care.  Daisy Mae is now Henry's new cousin.  Her owners left her behind. 

As it happens, Daisy Mae is a most lucky pup!  She fell into the hands of Roger and Karrie who live on the Toutle River near Mt. St. Helens.  Daisy is still feeling pretty hyper and disoriented, but when she settles down she will realize she has discovered her gold mine.  Talk about two softies!  This is one lucky pooch.

Miss Daisy has now been chipped so she will find her way home no matter what.  She has her shots - and has an appointment next week to go in for surgery.  Shhh.  She has not heard the down side of responsible adoption.

Roger says that Daisy Mae has a thing for the fireplace.  I'm not sure what that means,  but she certainly looks large enough to block the heat output very efficiently.

Contest Awards Announced!

The competition was fierce and at times cutthroat for Henry's first  Trivia Awards trophies.  The pressure on the judges was incredible.  They were inundated with shameless bribery attempts and insults.  It did become a true test of the judging panel's character.

Examples?  "I hereby place my answer and self at the mercy of the Most Distinguished, Learned, Quite Good Looking members of the Judging Panel" and "Awarding points to those who find errors of mine is in tremendously poor taste."

The judges worked into the night (cutting through the bribery and shameless flattery) to determine the contest winners thus allowing the blog to announce prizes today.

Thundering into First Place due to "first entry" points and "creativity" points are Hunter's Parents!  Congratulations on your great balancing between insults and shameless bribery.

Examples of creativity that impressed the judging panel:
6)  That one is a little tricky to answer.
13) Escapades with a disguised opera fan.
18) Same movie that stars a car built by the owner of the Logan Manuf, Co. makers of the USFS owned LMC 1500 Snowcat.
20) A rover is trying to prevent them now.

Following very tightly in Nearly First Place are Billy and Momo's Parents!  They came up with some scholarly  and "going beyond" the basics responses.

Examples of their "going beyond"  that impressed the judging panel:
5. Laika--which stinks since she died up there
6. Nixon. Dog was also famous for saying "I am not a biscuit crook!"
7. Fluffy. Nice fluffy. don't eat the children
12. Zorba the English Mastiff. However the real longest dog 203.8 meters but is of the type only served in a bun.

Congratulations to our winners!  Plaque carving will, of course, slow delivery - but they should arrive in your mailbox by the end of the month.

As promised:  The list of correct answers.

To all of you others who did not win a mantle award, I give you the Henry's Paw certificate.  Just drag the Henry's paw photograph to your desktop and and place it in a Word document.  Copy and paste the following to the picture:

Henry's Doggie Trivia Contest
Very Special Paw Award

For Thinking About It And...

Not Actually Entering The Competition
Congratulations!

Foxy Photo

Several days ago Henry and I took our Uptown Whittier walk.  Here Henry is posed with the fox sculpture on Greenleaf Avenue -- that is after his initial reaction which was startled to say the least.  Maybe his "start" is Henry's  unvoiced excuse for doing his business in the busiest intersection crosswalk again.  That boy.  His sense of timing is exquisite.

Today is the Day!

I have separation anxiety.  We have done all we could to prepare for the event...and perhaps Henry is ready.  I am not.  Leaving the little guy behind at the groomers  while he tried to follow me out the door was really difficult.  I did the pre-school thing.  One hug, walk out, don't look back.  Henry was dropped off with Jessica at 9 a.m. and it is now 9:47.

Here is the before picture.  Handsome devil isn't he?  I'll add the after later. To the right is the after.  And I thought he was a puff ball before!  He is currently in the back yard attempting to remove the "finish."

One of my childhood memories is a trip to the doctor.  I must have been four or five so it has been 60 years - so you know it was a "big deal" memory.  After visiting Dr. Rutherford and getting a painful shot, Mom took me around the corner to a variety store and bought me a reward.  It is a memory because even then I knew I got the treat because Mom felt bad that I had a painful experience.  So, in memory of my Mom and ready for Henry -  a gorilla that makes gorilla noises!  So cute.



To collect the highest amount of dirty prior to our grooming trip, Henry and I revisited the Fullerton Pooch Park yesterday.  It was a great experience - even better than the first trip.  A really nice bunch of dog owners hang out there with their furry friends.

I do understand Whittier's hesitation in  fostering a dog park.  Liability, maintenance and allocation of a space would be high on the list of objections.  On the other hand, there is a huge percentage of the city households with dogs.

I'd be one of the city council's best friends if they would accommodate my little buddy.

Doggie Trivia Contest

Contest Rules:
Answers must be posted in the blog comment section.
First contest response earns five points.
Each correct question response earns one point.

1. Rin Tin Tin was adopted during which war?   
2. Where the Red Fern Grows  contained what truly noble dog breed?  
3. In which 1986 movie did Rottweilers chase the school principal? 
4. The longest lived dog was an Australian Cattle dog living to be?  27 years 11 months or,  29 years 5 months or, 30 years 1 month.
5. First animal to be put into actual orbit on sputnik II was named __________.
6. Checker’s belonged to which American president?
7. What was the name of the three headed dog cared for by Rubeus Hagrid? 
8. What dog breed lived with the Thin Man?  What was the dogs name? 
9. What was the Pug’s role in Men in Black?  
10. The name of the Grinch’s companion is ______________.
11. What is the title of an Areosmith song that refers to a dog?
12. The world’s longest dog – weighing in at 343 pounds, is how long?  6 feet 5 inches or 7 feet 3 inches or 8 feet 2 inches?
13. What 1938 movie starred Boots, the Wonder dog?
14. The original Parent Trap featured a German Shepherd.  What type of dog played that roll in the second Parent Trap? 
15. John Steinbeck wrote about his travels with his dog.  What was the dog’s name?
16. The comic book Superboy’s pet dog was a white Labrador retriever named ____________. 
17. What type of dog was in War Games?
18. Einstein the Mutt was in what 1985 hit?
19. White Fang and Black Tooth were in which children’s TV show?
20. What movie had a head swapping Chihuahua? 

The contest closes on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012.
The incredibly dorky prizes will be awarded on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 when responses are counted and scores tallied.

Correct answers will be posted on the 16th with the winners awards.

AS PROMISED:  THE CORRECT ANSWERS

1. Rin Tin Tin was adopted during which war?   WORLD WAR I
2. Where the Red Fern Grows  contained what truly noble dog breed?  RED COON HOUND
3. In which 1986 movie did Rottweilers chase the school principal?  FERRIS BUELLERS DAY OFF
4. The longest lived dog was an Australian Cattle dog living to be?  27 years 11 months or,  29 years 5 months or, 30 years 1 month.
5. First animal to be put into actual orbit on sputnik II was named __________. LAIKA
6. Checker’s belonged to which American president?  RICHARD NIXON
7. What was the name of the three headed dog cared for by Rubeus Hagrid? FLUFFY
8. What dog breed lived with the Thin Man?  What was the dogs name? wire-haired fox terrier Asta
9. What was the Pug’s role in Men in Black?  HE PLAYS THE ALIEN, FRANK
10. The name of the Grinch’s companion is ______________. MAX
11. What is the title of an Areosmith song that refers to a dog?  SICK AS A DOG
12. The world’s longest dog – weighing in at 343 pounds, is how long?  6 feet 5 inches or 7 feet 3 inches or 8 feet 2 inches?
13. What 1938 movie starred Boots, the Wonder dog?  THE ADVENTURES OF THE MASKED PHANTOM
14. The original Parent Trap featured a German Shepherd.  What type of dog played that roll in the second Parent Trap?   golden retriever
15. John Steinbeck wrote about his travels with his dog.  What was the dog’s name?  Charlie
16. Superboy’s pet dog was a white Labrador retriever named ____________. Kripto
17. What type of dog was in War Games? golden retriever
18. Einstein the Mutt was in what 1985 hit?  Back to the Future
19. White Fang and Black Tooth were in which children’s TV show?  Lunch with Soupy Sales

   20.  What movie had a head swapping Chihuahua?  Mars Attacks

The First Prize!

I won!  After weeks in doubt -- not really believing it could be true -- but always hoping, I was officially notified and my 1st and only place prize was delivered.

This is a momentous event in my life.  I would like to thank all of you who did not submit entries.  Your lack of initiative gave me the opportunity take the top and much sought after prize.

The "Hello Kitty Exclusive Limited Edition" duct tape roll arrived Friday and of course the celebration here was so extreme that I really did not have time to tell my blog friends until today.  As you can imagine, Henry's house rivaled the after parties for the Oscars.

For those of you out of the loop, this prize was awarded by Travel the USA by Movies.  Such a creative and innovative contest - and so difficult and demanding!  Such an honor to have won.

Upon inspection, Henry decided that the excellence of the top prize should motivate me to offer a contest of our own.  You are forewarned.  There will be a challenge from Henry's blog to equal the difficulty of the Travel the USA site contest.  Prepare your skills!

Trained Guard Dog Within

Temptation is in the works!  Today sections of the fascia on the house are being removed and the boards replaced.  A stranger is in Henry's yard doing the work.  Just imagine Henry going wild in his desperation to get out and attack the invader.  Just imagine….because that is all you are going to get.  No barking - even when the removal hammering was making a huge racket.

Now, when the doorbell rings it is another story.  Henry charges the area. Not that dangerous attack mode you might be envisioning – rather his rush to lick.  The startled gentleman was cleaned up by a four legged mop hopping up and down to reach more lick-able surface.  

Dog Park - part two

                                 

The trip to the Fullerton Pooch Park was a success!  Henry was obviously a newby - as the short video demonstrates. 

Repeatedly he investigated other dogs then, startled, raced back to his human to study whatever was under the bench.  Must have been pretty neat down there because he kept coming back.

While the other dogs checked out all the pups, Henry hung  back unless one was alone or unless one came over close to my bench.  He was the only fluffy pup in the bunch of about 15 that cycled through while we were there.  Maybe he felt fluffy out of place in a short hair world.

There was no argument when I headed out.  If he sticks to me like that for confirmation, he will be officially a "companion dog."  That won't happen of course.

Panting and tired, he was ready for a drink then the drive home.  He is such  cutie pie.  I wonder if he knows it.

It was worth the 11.5 mile drive.  We'll be visiting often - unless he starts picking up bad habits from his cohorts. In the big dog enclosure there was a doggie-difference of opinion and in the  small dog enclosure one inhabitant thought a passing bike was fair game to fenced in aggression.

Henry, however,  was a perfect gentleman throughout.

He was very ready for a nap when we got home.  The last shot is Henry sprawled on his back asleep on my legs - dead to the world for over an hour.  Didn't even awaken when I took the opportunity to comb out his tummy fur.  One tuckered pup!

Needing a Dog Park

Henry requested a dog park trip - so I am searching.  Henry loves to be with other dogs and he deserves this treat.  Understand that Whittier is not a dog friendly city.  There are a couple of eateries with outdoor tables, but no outdoor ordering or serving, which means you must leave the dog on leash unsupervised.  Not such a hot idea.  That doesn't even begin to address the park situation.

Even on leash no dogs allowed - no matter how cute or well behaved. We've been booted so we know.  All of us Whittier dog owners need to bond and create a dog park.  I know there are a lot of us because Henry and I hear dogs barking at probably 1/2 of the houses we pass on our walks.

So, we are searching.  It looks like this is the closest.  It has good reviews and is 11.5 miles from home.   Tomorrow is Thursday.  I think I feel a visit coming on!

Pooch Park:

• Open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Wednesdays.
• Closed every Wednesday for maintenance.
• Open on all holidays (unless they fall on a Wednesday)

The Pooch Park can close, without notice, due to weather conditions.
To verify park status call (714) 738-6575.
The Fullerton Pooch Park is located next to the Hunt Branch Library at:
201 S. Basque Ave. Fullerton, CA 92833. (View Map)

Houdini Henry

Last night just before midnight I was awakened by a rather shrieking dying motor sound - followed, before I managed to get out of bed, by puppy nails clicking down the hall to our bedroom!  I don't know how he did it but Henry got out of his indoor doggie yard and came to visit us in the bedroom.  Tail swishing, he was delighted to find me getting up.

At night,  Henry sleeps in his 6 1/2' wide x 9 1/2' long x 2' tall play pen in our TV room.  The gate is open all day, but it is fastened at night.  It comes complete with his crate, food dishes, his nightlight and overflowing toy box. Given last night, I have now developed visions of Henry planning his escape and moving the furniture around to make it happen - somehow involving his fountain in the plan as a sympathy ploy.

Trudging up the hall and through the living room to his space, Henry and I unplugged his water fountain - and surprise, the screaming sound stopped!  It really must have scared the little guy.  We bedded down on the couch to settle the pup down and reduce his heart rate a bit.  My plan was 30 minutes tops.  He is a bit of a fluffy, cuddly, warm bundle - so at five I awoke with Henry snoozing by my side with his head tucked on my shoulder. 

We will see what tonight brings.  Do you think his escape will be repeated?

Nightly from here on out:    ____
Once was enough.  Done:  ____

Following Karrie's Advice

Henry has had a lovely Super Bowl morning.  We walked the Whittier College campus, and I showed him all the off leash dogs.  When I explained why they could be off leash and he could not, he was a bit disgruntled - now he just needs to think about whether it is worth coming consistently when called.  

Next, after a walk to the Coffee Bean, we did some practice for the "long distance down" in Hoover Hall. Great on a Sunday morning.  The Hall is all locked up - low escape chance - and no distractions.  Here is my boy on one of his successful "stay" and "come" tries.  What a handsome fellow.

On the furry-matted-pup front - I've taken my sister, Karrie's advice.  Thank you Karrie! Keep in mind that Henry would not eat for a day and a half after his last encounter with a groomer. And that was just to check him out to tell me what grooming was needed!  He hadn't pulled aggressively on his leash for months but that certainly changed.   I spent yesterday just giving reassurance and TLC and allowing all kinds of puppy shennanigans.  He seems to be back to his sweet and normal self today.

So, Greg and I took the boy to PetCo and explained the problem to Jessica, one of the groomers.  I told her he was frightened and skitterish because of his last experience.  It was obvious he was nervous.  She was incredibly sweet and gentle with him. I mentioned that the last groomer said he was all matted but she said she could not find any after feeling and combing through potential problem areas.  

We set up a "gentle-grooming" appointment for him for Thursday at 9 a.m. - so check back!

Did Not Work Out Well

If you are following Henry's story, you will be interested to know that the trip to the groomer did not work out well. We did not even make it into the area beyond the swinging doors.

First, Henry was not fooled for a second.  I've told you he is a smart puppy!  The bather came out and scared Henry enough that he piddled!  (Not the bather - Henry piddled.) That's a first.  Poor baby.  He had just done his business outside, so I have no idea where that came from.  But, Henry does get skitterish when approached with too much enthusiasm especially from strangers.

When asked what Henry was in for today, I told the bather I needed advice about what services were needed. I described the small under-leg mats we've been dealing with. He brought a groomer out.  She felt Henry's back, checked for mats and said there were mats everywhere. Jeesh.

She tried to show them to me, but I couldn't feel or see what she was feeling.  On the plus side, she told me how to get rid of them and demonstrated.  Good grief.  Poor Henry.  She was pretty aggressive -- well, honestly, more than pretty aggressive.  Henry didn't growl and I was holding him -- but he did keep nipping at me in attempts to gain freedom.  The nips didn't hurt, but he has never tried to get away  like that!

We rescheduled for Wednesday next week so I will have time to remove mats in a less terror inducing environment before returning for a trim if we decide to return. I sure as heck would not return to have my hair done if the beautician was that rough.

When we arrived home, I got my stack of treats, the comb, the brush and started working on the boy.  I separated the fur all the way down to his pretty pink skin and I am finding no mats anywhere other than the 1/4" under-fore-leg mats.    I do need to know what I am trying to remove!  The picture to the left is of the puppy back the section where the groomer found matting.  I'm just not seeing it.

I think I'm going to start looking for a second opinion.  The groomer was pretty rough and I do not want Henry to have a bad experience so I'm thinking I will cancel the appointment.  Opinions are welcome!  Does this look like a normal grooming experience?

Seeking Professional Help

Henry is adorable.  Henry is talented.  Henry is smart.  Henry is developing mats.  Oops....what was that last one?

He sits patiently in my lap snoozing or attempting to lick my face when I brush him.  We do this every day, usually a couple of times.  It is a lovely time for me because he is warm and cuddly.  Working on those leg joint spots,  I've noticed small tangles forming and have focused in the under fore-leg area during the last couple of weeks. The mats are small - 1/4" wide and very flat.  I get rid of them on the right side and they seem to reform by the time I finish the left side.

I think Henry is getting displeased with my de-tangling performance.  He snoozes patiently while I do his back and ears, face and tail, but when I get to those little leg-pit mats, he lets me work for a couple of minutes and then politely removes himself to a less irritating environment.  Treats help, but he is not a dummy.  I guess I wouldn't like it either.  If you look in dead center in the close-up, you will see a slightly darker patch.  That is a mat.  There are not not more than four or five - and all tiny.

I've checked on-line. The mats will only grow larger and more problematic.  They will not magically disappear. So, we have an appointment.  I'm not telling Henry.  When we go through those PetSmart portals, he will think he is about to see Charlene and CC.  He will figure we'll be strolling the isles looking for goodies and toys.  When we veer to the right toward the grooming center, he will be confused, but will see all the dogs strutting their stuff and will be distracted.

I am hoping the experience does not leave Henry emotionally scarred.  Ah, the challenges of puppy-parenthood.

Henry took a bath yesterday after wallowing in a gooey mud puddle so you are seeing him (pre-professional help) at his most sparkling and sweet smelling -- not that he ever smells unpleasant.