Merry Christmas!!

Happy holidays from my furbutt to yours!

Always be a Lady!

So I gave Miss Skadi her bully stick this morning, and she promptly laided on it, crossed her legs and began to chew.

You can hardly see the bully stick It's like she's saying "no matter how badly you want the chew, always, always be a lady!"

Oh the GUILT!!!

We got Skadi spayed this week. I have been hit with a serous case of "momma guilt" the evening we brought her home. She cried and cried and cried. When I phoned they emergency clinic they suggested that it might be disorentation and not pain. That made sense so we tried to make her comfortable and after a while she did join us in the living room, crying all the while.

When I went to bed, we thought it might be a good idea to put the collar on her. That didn't go so well. Here is some video of her removing it :)



She hasn't worn it since and is fine!

She is finally eating and drinking like a good pup, but is still a bit slower to run around. She will go out to the bathroom but then won't walk back to the house so poor DH has to carry her.... is she playing him???? Good question.

At least she will never need to do this again!

And the Poop Flies By

Oh my, what a crazy couple of weeks. As you can see by the title, we've been dealing with a bad case of doggie diarrhea. Skadi has been battling it since we got home from our trip on the Sept long weekend. Boy, it’s been a long road.

I am happy to say that

• the tests didn’t show anything wrong in the stool
• we’ve had 2 whole days of solid poop this week.

Who would have guess that my life would have turned into daily poo talks with my darling DH?

Doggie Daycare

Today was a big day for me and Skadi. Today was the first day of Doggie Daycare for my little baby.

She was great when I dropped her off, she even discovered a cat. Skadi got a nice hiss out of her (that might teach her not to stick her nose in everyone's face). Once I was done with the paperwork, the owner took her and said "can you find the puppies" and Skadi was off. She didn't even look back.

I was told that I can phone at any point during the day to see how things are going. I might just have to do that.... It's going to be a loooong day.

http://www.divinek9.org/

Message from Skadi

Iz been haven some problems with my hooman momma but I thinkz I finallyz got it all worked out.

Problemz 1: I don't wanna be locked in my kennel everz! But momma keeps putting yummer foodz inside.

solution = Stretch!

Problemz 2: Momma takez the fooder away after a little whilez but I wanna snack alllll dayz long!

solution = Dump!!

Not so easyer to clean up now, hu Mummer!

Another video

Here's a new video of Skadi just being silly.

Enjoy!

I could have sworn....

that I got a puppy with front paws!

She does this all the time in the kitchen and on wet grass, just folds everything underneth herself and lets us drag her around.

First time at the River

So we took Skadi to discover the North Sask river last night. It was sooo cute. She attacked the water but the water "attacks" back (splashes her). She was running and jumping and just making me laugh.

Here's a video for you to enjoy!

Barking and the Spray Bottle

Anyone in the world that says that Kees are not as smart as little whips needs to come and watch the pumpkin routine at my house, espeically last night!!

Skadi has become quite the little barker. Not at passerbys, or robbers or anything else that might be considered important (she doesn't even notice the bunnies that like to visit the yard). She likes to tell me and DH off, every night at least once. And usually it stems from the nightly pumpkin routine.Well, I'm tired of it, so I got myself a spray bottle and filled it with vinager and water (as was suggested on a great website) and yesterday the first time she barked (she was mad that she was in the kitchen and DH and I were talking in the hallway), SQUIRT, I nailed her. She looked soooo suprised, it was hard not to laugh.

Fast forward to prep of the pumpkin meal. I usually take a bit of her evening kibble, mix it with pumpkin in a second bowl and then put it in the freezer for DH to give her right before he sits down for supper. She immeditaly gets to lick the spoon off but has to wait for the rest. As per normal, she figured I'm preparing the golden pumpkin and BARK, SQUIRT, I nailed her again. She goes under the table to lick her nose (and her pride).

I go over to the feeding spot with the spoon and the bottle and over she comes. Normally I make her do a routine of sits and downs before she gets the pumkin and she does it, but barking all the while. Well, tonight she takes one look at the spoon and the bottle and does what I ask of her, with NO BARKING!! Just little 'ttide yelps.

DH was soooo amused, he walked around with the bottle for the rest of the night.

She has learnt after one evening though, that if she barks and then RUNS AWAY, she can avoid the sprayer.

oh well, if even the pumpkin can be fed in peace I will be much happier!

Muddy and Happy

It's a bit of a heat wave here, Alberta style. At 31 degrees we are sweating up a storm.

Skadi discovered that getting her paws wet in her new wadding pool and then digging is a GREAT way to stay cool

Here are some pictures of the mud queen

Better Late than Never

So I finally got the video done of picking up Skadi and bringing her home

Pickup Video




Video of The First Week

Happy Neighbours

Our neighbour dog, Link, and Skadi have discovered an area under the fence that they can both reach on their tethers and at least get their heads under. These two can spend a LONG time just playing with each other's heads :)

Pants On Fire

So I finally got the video downloaded to the computer. Here is a video of what we affectionally call "Pants On Fire". Most Kees puppies do something like this. They run around like their pants are on fire for a few minutes.

Skadi does it between 9 and 10 every night. This night she included attacking her kibble in her random running.

Enjoy!

Puppy Training

So last night DH, myself and Skadi went to our first puppy training class. What a crazy experience. Skadi was in heaven and DH and I had no idea what was going on

I had missed the first class as we were suppose to start this friday, but there weren't enough people signed up so she canceled it. I did get a refund for the missed class as well as 10% off for having to change nights. This meant, however, that we hadn't completed the clicker homework during the week and had NO idea what was going on.

Oh, and their was another baby Kees at the class. Skadi and he were obsessed with each other and hardly played with anyone else. It was so cute! Of course, Skadi was cutier, but he was not to bad. ;)

At the end of the class, we had "target practise" where the first 4 puppies to hit the target 10 times got a prize and... WE WON!!

Yaaay! Such a smarty pants.

Hopefully next week DH remembers to take pictures.

houdini

So Monday was my first day back to work after my wonderful week off with Skadi.


I left home early as my boss has allowed me to modify my hours for the summer. This will get me home earlier and leave Skadi alone less during the day.I left her in her playpen happily eating some cookies. DH was still in bed (the lucky ***)


I got a phone call later that morning from DH.

"Where did you leave the fuzzbut?"
"in the playpen"
"where did you find her"
"under our bed"

I guess a little bit of newspaper was chewed, a couple leaves off of some plants were spread around and a little wet spot was discovered in the hallway.

??!!!!!!??


I now have extra tall baby gates on order (as she also escaped the kitchen this morning to join me in the dressing room) but until then, I guess she gets to stay in the kennel when we aren't watching her with eagle eyes.Ah the joys of puppy-parenthood


Houdini in the act...

Small dog or Large Hamster????

You decide :)

Good Day

We actually had a not to bad night last night, once we all went to bed. Finally figured out that Skadi does NOT like any kind of blanket or padding in her kennel. We put a piece of tile in instead and she seems to like that. She slept until 4:30 then had a good pee and slept again (in the kitchen) until 6:00. I feel so much more human today.

We went for a car ride yesterday and today. Boy does she hate the car. Howls the whole time! She was sooo good when we got to where we were going though. Last night we went to see DH do speed walking for Corporate Challenge and she just sat, or laid next to me and watched all the people.

Today I took her into work. She was a huge hit. I must say, if they want stress reduced at work, they should allow puppies in the office :) I'm sure it will never happen, being a gov office and all, but everyone I saw was so happy to see a puppy. It was a good visit.

Now Skadi is soooo tired and so am I so I think we're both going to try and nap.

Sleep

I'm sooo tired, so very very tired.

I miss sleeping through the night. I miss going to bed when I feel like it and staying there till I want to get up.

Good thing she is soooo cute!!

Pictures

Here are some pictures of the little scamp.

Sleeping in the Car

At Home ready for TROUBLE :)

WE'RE HOME!!!

I did pick a new puppy yesterday.


The trip started with a 5:30 wake up call. We were on the road at 6:00 (thank heavens for Starbucks). Made it to 100 Mile House just before noon.


Then I got to have a 8 puppy pileup cuddle!! How cool is that!!


I had a cuddle with Wee Girl and the breeder and I talked some more and I knew it was the wrong thing to try and take her. She was sweet and adorable and everything else


Then I met the 2 that I could chose from. Yellow collar or Green collar. Oh how does one choose that???? Unfortunally, my Mom had allready promised dh that she would ensure that I only took one puppy home. Dang, I do have to choose. The breeder and I talked about it, and they seems fairly similar in temperment. I ended up picking Yellow collar or Silver Girl.


She was slightly smaller boned that then other, and lighter in color. She just seems like my girl.


So, puppy picked and paper work out of the way we head out. She is not overly impressed with the car but was not to bad. About 20 minutes into the trip I thought "wow is she antsy" so I mentioned to mom that she might want to pull over. She did (right away) and voli, first pee and poop outside on a leash. What a good good girl.


To make a very long trip short, she did amazing. We stopped about every 2 hours. She ate some food twice. Pooped twice, peed at every stop.


Won over my mom in a matter of the first pee and poo. No accidents in the car, no car sickness and didn't really start whining until we hit a thunder shower.


Got home around 1:30 last night. Bed at 2:30. Cried most of the night. Got desprate and put her kennel on the bed and opened the door, she then slept half in and half out with her nose on my pillow.


DH and I however, no sleep.Started getting antsy again around 6. Have feed, watered, pooped and peed. Played outside for a while.She is now passed out in the play pen. And I am going to try and get some more sleep.

Decisions

Well, after a lot of thought (and talking and talking) I've decided to go ahead with another puppy. I fly out today, but instead of trying to pick one long distance, the breeder and I decided that I'll go there and have a puppy "pick me".

I may have to come up with another name as Skadi really feels like Wee One's name, but we'll see.

I'm even tossing up one of the boys, I'm going to try and not hold his sex against him :D


Oh, and if Skadi is ever well enough to be placed, I asked the breeder to concider my family. DH is thrilled with that idea (as that means two dogs) Heeee!

OMG

Just received an email from the Breeder

the pups went for their health checks, 1st vaccinations and microchipping yesterday. I'm afraid I have bad news about Wee Girl. The vet discovered she has a heart murmur. The vet diagnosed it as "Aortic Stenosis." She was the only one to have a heart murmur.

She shows no outward signs that anything is wrong - she's active, playful and has a good appetite - she isn't even the smallest of the litter anymore. To say that I am sick over this is an understatement... I am so sorry to have to tell you this.

What I would like to offer you is, a different female puppy. I shouldn't have told you which puppy you would get before the health checks and I'm sorry for doing so. I haven't bred a litter in over 15 years and I am learning/re-learning as I go.

I am planning on taking Wee Girl to another vet clinic for a second opinion and see what the outcome of that is. I really don't want to place her in a home without knowing more about the murmur.

Does getting a different puppy sound okay with you? Please let me know what you think.

At this point I don't even know what to think. I'm just waiting for a bit more information from the Breeder.

I'm also reading some information online. Concidering I leave tomorrow to pick her up... I'm not sure what to think, do, feel at this point.

If I say I want a different dog then am I saying that a dog that's not purfect is disposable?? Because that's really not how I feel.

3 More Sleeps!

Wow, only 3 more sleeps until I have a puppy again. What a scary, exciting thought.

Sorry I've been lacks in writing, but with moving into the new house and trying to get the apartment all clean, it's been a bit crazy around here. I also had some trouble at work with my application but that's a whole other story (or a completely new blog)

Anyways, the exciting news now is that I have now offically recieved pictures of Skadi. Here is what the Breeder said about her.

as promised, pictures of your new fuzzy girl. :)

We call her Wee Girl. She was the smallest of the litter, but huge in heart. She's sweet and loves to give kisses. Curious and outgoing as well.

Her big brother Rocky thinks he can boss the other pups around and they will back down to him... but not Wee Girl. She lets him know that he can't get away with that kind of thing.

So here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Outside Adventure

The puppies got to have an outside adventure this weekend. Can you believe they are a whole 5 weeks old!

Puppy Name

I've been doing lots of reading and thinking about the "perfect" puppy name. I'm not so good with the "regular" names (no spot or rover for me) and I really always loved Kaza's name (even though people liked to say it wrong).

Here is what I've come up with.

Skadi

Pronunciation: Kaw-dee

Her story: In Norse mythology, Skadi is the daughter of the giant Thiazi. It is said that Thiazi kidnapped Youth Goddess and while the God, Aesir came to rescue her, he killed Thiazi. Skadi wanted revenge for the death of her father.When she found Aesir, they agreed she would not kill him if one of the gods could make her laugh and that she could pick a god to marry. The first condition was met when trickster Loki made her laugh. To meet the second condition she was only allowed to look at the god’s feet to pick her partner. She was secretly in love with Balder as he was the most handsome god of them all, so she went for the cleanest, best looking feet and was disappointed to find they were not Balder.Instead she had picked the sea god Njord and not long after, married him. Their marriage was difficult and after a while they separated because he loved to live near the sea, whereas she loved the mountains. Later in life she remarried but there are conflicting stories of who she married – Ullr, the God of Skis or Odin, the God of War and Death.

Skadi ruled over mountains, wilderness, winter, revenge, knowledge, damage, justice and independence. (is a puppy named after a ruler of damage and independence appropriate or WHAT?)

When do you call upon Skadi? Call upon her when you need help moving from the dark into the light. (for those of you that know what I've been through the last few years, I thought this was more than appropriate)

Her image: She is often seen hunting while on skis or on a snow capped mountain. (A Kees with snow? Need I say more??)

Video!!!

I'm am the luckiest girl in the WHOLE WORLD!! I have a puppy video. What a wonderful breeder!!!!

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/codegirl/kees/?action=view&current=DSCN0427.flv

More Videos!!

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/codegirl/kees/?action=view&current=DSCN0433.flv

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/codegirl/kees/?action=view&current=DSCN0437.flv

Puppy Pick Up Plans

So, in true Codegirl fashion, I have come up with a complicated - but fun - way to pick up my puppy from the Breeder.

As posted previously, I have to go to 100 mile house in BC to pick up my new bundle of joy. This would be about a nine hour drive each way to get the puppy. Instead I'm going to be flying. I'm sure you all think that sounds completely sensible.... BUT....

I'm going to fly to Abbotsford. Why you ask? Well...

My Mom is going on a cruise at the end of May. She will be leaving her car in Abbotsford at my Aunt's house. Mom will be returning to Abbotsford on the 1st. When is the puppy available, you ask? She will be 8 weeks old on the 1st .

So I'm going to fly to Abbotsford and then catch a ride with my Mom and her cruise buddy. We'll make a "pit-stop" to pick up the puppy and then drive the rest of the way home. It's a bit round about but should be very very fun. AND I'll get to here the cruise stories while they are still fresh!

My flight is booked! I'm committed (or is that, I should BE committed) (hahahah)

Puppy Stuff

So my order for some puppy stuff has arrived. It's becoming more real as things are falling into place.

I now have the crate (for all important crate training), a Sherpa Carrier (for the long car trip home) and a pet yard containment pen. The Pen can also be used inside to "contain" the destruction :)

I also bought a Puppy Cuddle Pad. This little pad is microwaveable so it's soothing for the puppy.

Here's some more pictures, to help you fall in love (if you haven't already :)

2 Week Birthday

Well, the babies are two weeks old today. I just had to share some pictures with everyone! (you can see the rest in my photobucket)

More Pictures

Isn't she the CUTEST little thing in the WHOLE WORLD???

Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted, but things have been busy. We're getting ready to move so that's taking up some time. For those that don't know, we bought a house and are moving in Mid May. Thus the yard for the dog :) We are doing the research on house projects to figure out what we want to do, what we can do and what we want to spend money on. So far it seems that landscaping and closet organizers are winning :)

I've also purchased the dog kennel and some other larger supplies that I"m having shipped to Mom's house. I figure that's easier than trying to stick it in the apartment just to have to move it again into the house. Mom had offered half a garage for us to store things in for the move, so I figure puppy stuff is the perfect stuff to store there.

Other than that, it's a bit quiet on the puppy front. I think I've found a place to take the puppy for training and I'm still looking at different brands of food (down to two choices). I've booked some time off work to be with the puppy too.

Only 6.5 more weeks!

Happy Birthday

The puppies are a whole 7 days old today. weeeeee

The breeder sent me the following in an email

"They are much more solid and have filled out a lot in just one week. Colours have changed and their markings are becoming more prominent.

Lexy continues to be an excellent mother and mama and babies are sleeping contently right now. "

Neat hu? Check out the new pictures in my photobucket account.

Background

I have been asked so many questions, that I thought that I would just answer them all here.

Bear with me, this might get a bit long :)

On saturday we drove 2 hours north of Edmonton to visit a breeder. I must say, I was not overly impressed. Besides the mess that was out at her place (which some would say is just spring mess), I didn't appriciate the fact that she didn't even recall what breed of dog we were looking for. This after multiple emails. Then she said that she would not do a waiting list for a puppy, but I would have to just keep emailing and if she had one when I contacted her then I might get one.

I understand that she could have a small litter and that she might not have one for me, but to not give me a place (like, I get the third puppy or something) really does not impress me. All in all it was a long drive home.

Once I got home I decided to email some other breeders in AB and one in BC. Suprise suprise, I got an email from a breeder that had just had a litter of 8 the day before. Now this means the puppies would be available almost at the same time that I move into my new house. I bit tight but I'll do almost anything for a Kees. The big problem is the distance, its a 9 hour drive to her town with no close airport for transport. oh well, I'll figure that out later.

I have been reading and talking with other Keeshond owners on a forum called The Keeshond Express. Well, on this forum is a breeder from down under(see her new litter here) . After hearing my story, she kindly offered to give me her opinion on the breeders. Oh, did I forget to mention that she use to live in Calgary :) Well, her opinion matched my own.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

true puppy love!

I am moving my blog from my-space to here to make it easier for all of you to view. See my previous posts below

_________

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
More puppy information
I have gotten more information about the litter from the breeder. I also put down my deposit so now I KNOW that I will be getting one of the squigglebums in my photo section.The Momma's registered name is Ch. Thistledees Lexus of Keehold. Mick's (the daddy) registered name is Maplekees Hurricane at Kozmic.
There are 6 girls and 2 boys in this litter. They were born on Good Friday, April 6

Boy, it's going to be a looong wait.

Puppy, puppy, puppy starts with P!!!!
So, I am excited to tell you all, that after years of missing my Kaza I have found a breeder and a litter of little Keeshonds!!They are currently 3 days old and cut as a button. I will be picking up one of these little angels at the begining of June. I thought that I would share my thoughts about the new puppy, pictures and once I get her, I will keep you all updated with her antics :)Enjoy my puppy blog!