Pod puppy

November 5, 2009.

At the Filtration Plant

Today after work, Steve and I took Chica to the Filtration Plant park. I had forgotten to bring a ball, so we walked around the circumferance of the park and tried to say hello to a very active Standard Poodle puppy named Lucy. I tried to interest Chica in a stick, but no go. Another dog arrived and was having a great time playing fetch while Lucy chased him. Chica came across an old Gatorade bottle someone had left behind and made it known that she wanted me to throw it for her. I kicked it instead of throwing it and she had a great old time chasing it around and chewing on it. If anyone was paying attention, I was thinking they would say, "poooor doggie, no one buys her any toys, so she has to play with garbage." She had a really good time and carried the beat-up bottle out of the park just about as far as the trash can.

Nose

After a little too much zealousness on my part to get a nose print, Steve has been ragging on me that Chica's nose is now pushed-in. You be the judge.

I think the nose looks fine. (but I still feel guilty).

Fall

Lots of leaves on the ground and I wonder if Chica enjoys walking through them; sometimes it seems as if she does.

Today after work, we drove over to the Filtration Plant. With the days getting shorter, it is nice to have somewhere to go on the way to the nurse and not far from work. Too cold to take a dip in the river, of course. A number of other dogs there - two feathery black dogs, two puggles jumping all over each other, and several others. We walked over to one corner and played ball for about half an hour. We were there about 45 minutes in all. Chica was getting more and more tired, but still plunking the ball down at my feet. I teased her with the ball in the flinger and she was jumping and snapping to get it. As with the cats, I spun around with her chasing it.

It was a very nice day - the weather was great, the sun was shining.

Chica in her glory

Chica is staying at Debbie, Michael and Maeve's house this weekend. She is having a wonderful time, getting lots of hugs and kisses, going out into their backyard whenever she wants, watching all the squirrels from the front window.

We forgot to send one of her beds with her, so Debbie made one up and had barely got it in place when Chica crawled on and laid down. She knows her beds!

This morning, she was called up into the bed to get her usual morning belly rub and cuddle. She got a nice long off-leash walk in fields near their house.

Tonight, she will get a treat of a little turkey with her supper.

Chica at the 2009 Wiggle Waggle Walkathon for the OHS

Here is a photo taken of Chica at the 2009 Wiggle Waggle Walk for the Ottawa Humane Society.

Chica at B.A.R.K. in the park

Today, after an appt., Chica and I drove over to Bruce Pit. It was super to find out that today was BARK in the park! There were lots of dogs with the nice weather and we bought raffle tickets at the sales tables. Also got a photo done of Chica, so will be posting that soon.

Summer

Chica has been pretty busy this summer. She has had several opportunities for swimming in the rivers around here, though I am still looking for more places. The Jockvale boat launch was a big disappointment. We like going to the Filtration plant dog park on the little island in the Ottawa River near Parkdale. There, she can run around, chase a ball and cool off in the river as well.

She had a sleep-over with Spice a couple of weeks ago. There were no rows. It is difficult to walk the two of them together since they go at such different paces (and directions - Spice likes to wander off the beaten path).

She is not seeing her friend Gorby much this summer as G. is getting quite frail and Chica is still rambunctious.

When we see Duke, the black lab, out in the yard, I take her over to him. Unfortunately, she wants to play with him and he just wants to play with his ball. Wanting attention, she begins to bark, and we have to leave.

She seems quite used to staying in the basement while I am at work. Mornings, I tell her to find her Kong and direct her to the basement stairs. She comes back with it proudly, usually dropping it just at the top of the stairs where it tumbles and falls back down the stairs again. I fill it, top it off with some peanut butter and put it in the freezer to solidify the p.b.

When I'm ready to leave, I get it out and she is right at my side. She rushes down the stairs and plunks herself on her bed to receive her Kong. I turn on the light and the TV and close the gate.

She has only escaped once and that was, I believe, because she was having a stomach upset and did not want to dirty her room. She dirtied the guest room instead. Luckily, it is a nice wood floor and easy to clean! On that occasion, she shredded a box that I was using to prop up the gate in the doorway.