A Bloody Mess

Two small dogs have taken occupancy in a neighbors yard. They are kept tied to a back fence that we share. The dogs do not like them, and this is especially true for Rudy. He jumps against the back fence and you can see scratch marks on it. He has dug under the fence line, and will bark nonstop at them or fence fight for lack of a better term. Is Rudy dog aggressive? Absolutely not. In fact, I will guarantee you that if you put those two dogs in my yard, Rudy would become fast friends with them. He doesn't like dogs that happen to be on the opposite side of a fence, is all. I think lots of dogs are like this for some reason.

On Monday while I was at work, Rudy dug under the fence and managed to get a paw in the neighbors yard. This must have infuriated the little mutts because he was bitten pretty badly. The blood loss was incredible. It could be found in puddles all over the yard, the deck and in the kitchen, bloody paw prints covered the entire floor. It looked as though someone had shot him. Rudy was stained with blood and mud but he was not limping from the paw wound. I gave him an oatmeal bath and dressed his wound, surprised that a dog bite on a paw could cause so much blood loss.

He's doing just fine now. Rudy got a rabies vaccination today so that he can be kenelled at the animal hospital for 2 days while we go out of town. I bought a bordetella shot and an 8 in 1 from the feed store that I'll give him tomorrow. I hate to give shots and I don't think rabies is needed every year but we do have lots of wild rabbits around here.

And what about those dogs on the other side of the fence? Well, Rudy is kept in a pen during the day now and at night he is kept in the house. We have cemented the bottom of the fence line, and I hope that the cement prevents him from putting his paws where they don't belong.

Also, I will be taking pics of him this weekend. My Mother asked that I send a bunch to her but wouldn't tell me why. Maybe it's something for my birthday. Also, I want to send a few to his breeder. I'll make sure to post them here as well.

October Update

Roo is doing fabulous. His leg is much better now (about 90%), and the muscle has started to come back. He's not a hyperactive dog, so the risk of reinjury isn't a constant worry. He hasn't been penned in over 2 weeks. There have been times where he has been a little gimpy on it, but for the most part he is doing well with it and not in any pain. Still, I know he will eventually require surgery.

The weather has been cooler and Rudy likes to snuggle up with me on the couch or in bed more often. Sometimes I'll put on Animal Planet and he'll watch it like he's a small child in wonder. Sometimes, he'll bark or growl at the TV and then calm down and watch an entire program. It's hilarious. I've been meaning to get video of it, but I haven't had time as my weekends have been very busy lately.

Tonight I plan to take him for a walk and practice heeling with him. I've got to remember to take treats with me this time.

One more thing, after a year of Canidae dog food, I have switched to Diamond Lamb and Rice because Rudy does better with it. I think he has some skin allery to the Canidae because his coat and health of his skin has improved greatly since the switch. However, he has lost a little weight.

TPLO

Rudy has been putting weight on his leg. I think it's been about a month that I have confined him to a pen 90% of the time. Because I could see improvement on his weight bearing, I took him for a walk around the block last night. It was very important that I didn't allow him to pull and to walk slowly, so we practiced heeling. Rudy caught on very well. He was heeling offlead at a slow pace before I made it half way around the block. There were many distractions, such as barking dogs and people doing yard work. Rudy never broke position. He was called a Pit Bull twice by other walkers but no matter. If he was a Pit he was well trained one, there is no denying it.
Today I called the vets office for a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon to get a TPLO procedure done. They rage in cost from $1500 to $2500. I just can't afford this right now. But it is something I will have to do eventually. I mean, he is just going to blow his knee out again and next time it may never repair and will cause him a hell of a lot of pain. We have to be very careful this doesn't happen anytime soon. At this point, I am just on borrowed time before I get him the surgery. I am also very nervous that he will have an adverse reaction to anesthesia. We all know he breaks out in hives with just a bug bite. How can I be reassured that he will be okay with all the drugs they will pump into him? I'll be wrecked with worry.

Rudy was full of energy when I got home today, putting a good amount of weight on it but I'm still keeping him penned up for possibly another week. Maybe more. And I will continue to take him for slow short walks around the block.

Leg Update

Rudy is recovering..slowly. He will put weight on his leg but not much. I'm still penning him.
I miss having him at 100%.
He is such a good boy. He never complains.

Injured

2 weeks ago, Rudy hurt his rear left leg while playing in the sprinklers. No one saw the injury happen, but when he came inside he would not put any weight on it. I've been penning him in the house ever since. Ever since he slightly injured it months ago, he has been a little tender on it but nothing like this.

Yesterday he was let out into the backyard to do his business and encountered a few ants. The bites caused him to have a severe allergic reaction. He broke out in hives all over his body.

I took him to Creekside Animal Clinic about 8 hours later. The hives had not gotten any better. I wasn't so concerned with the allergic reaction as I was with his lameness. After 2 weeks, he will put his leg down but will not put weight on it. I was hoping it was just a sprain and it would have healed by now.

I asked for an x-ray of the hips and left leg. The x-rays were normal, although the films did not come out perfect because Rudy was not sedated. The vet said because Rudy was such a muscular dog, she would need to sedate him to be able to move his leg properly to diagnose a torn cruciate and get better films. She ordered another set of x-rays but wanted to hold until I gave permission to sedate. I asked for the blood test to determine if Rudy would have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia because he has never been under and I wasn't sure that his allergies were limited to insect bites. The vet explained they only give a liver function test prior (also called a CBC) and that there is no test to determine if a dog will have an adverse reaction to sedation. I was sure she was mistaken and would not allow Rudy to be sedated. I was not going to risk his life for a diagnosis that I was pretty sure I already had. I mean, if his joints and bones looked good, what else could it be? They took another set of x-rays (without sedation) just to be sure that everything looked good. He got a 2 weeks supply of Rimadyl (pain reliever) and the vet said I could give 1mg of Benedryl per every lb to relieve the allergic reaction to the bites. That came out to 4 pills because he weighs 101 lbs and they are 25 mg each pill.

His ears are also red and inflamed. I just cleaned them before the visit and used an earmite solution, which is what I thought was causing it but the vet said it was probably a yeast infection. I plan to get something to remedy that this weekend.

Rudy is really a mess. I feel so bad for him. Obviously, I will get him the surgery but only after I do my homework because there are several different types of surgeries that range in price and effectiveness. Most importantly, I want to make sure that whomever does it has experience and can assure me Rudy will not take a dirt nap because of the anesthesia. He is my baby and I can't risk it.

Needless to say, my plans of working Rudy in weight pull or any other physical demanding sport are over. I have been thinking about getting him certified in AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and then certifying him in as a therapy dog. He was such a good boy at the vets. He was extremely calm and gentle. I didn't even need the leash throughout the visit. He needs to work on his confidence a tiny bit, but that can come by exposing him to more situations. I had plans of starting the first obedience course this month but then the injury. It will have to wait for now.

Something else I am concerned about.. The vet said if one ligament is torn, the other usually follows. This is not only due to the stress on the opposing ligament but because both ligaments are usually weaker, genetically speaking. I just can't imagine how Rudy would get along with both legs affected. I would need a wheelchair! My poor baby!

All I can do is give lots and lots of love. I don't have any children so the cost of surgery is not of much consequence. What I want is for Rudy to be able to live a full and active life. I am confident that he will after the surgery and he has had time to heal. Until then, I will medicated him and rub aloe vera gel on his itchy body, give him lots love and do some research.

Cost of vet visit, meds and x-ray: $228.00

Fun Day

Weights were taken today at the vets office. Rudy is now 16 months old and weighs 101 lbs. (Kiyra, our spayed Dogue de Bordeaux weighs a whopping 140 lbs!) After the weigh in, we all went to Petsmart for knuckle bones and then to Fort Woof dog park. This was our second visit, our first time was last fall when Rudy was much younger. I knew Rudy would do well with other dogs because we occasionally board dogs temporarily in our home for our friends, and he's always very social and accomodating.

Rudy Roo!

Spider Bite II

Rudy was bitten on the inner right hock by a wolf spider last night. The suspect was found dead next to Rudy's bed moments after the injury was reported. His leg swelled twice it's size and became hot to touch. I put a cold compress on it and held him for hours. This morning, the wound started to drain puss and blood and remained swollen. The vet has him on Rimadyl for the swelling and Cephalexin for the infection. The swelling is not a normal side effect of a spider bite. It appears as though Roo had an allergic reaction.

He was bitten by a spider when he was just a pup too. He has a nickel sized bald spots his upper left thigh as a result. I thought it was just a fluke.

Some serious extermination is going down this weekend.

Lipiderm

Lipiderm was recommended by someone from my American Bulldog yahoo group. I've used it for a month now with spectacular results. Roo's coat feels like soft silk and he sheds about 90% less. It costs me $20.00 for 120 caps of large breed lipiderm which will last about a month because you give 4 caps per day. It's well worth the money.
Here's some pics of Roo I took about a month ago.

Rudy's First Birthday!!

Tomorrow is Rudy's Birthday. He'll be 1 year old! To celebrate, I baked Liver Brownies, Pecan Apple Bones and rolls.







Recipes:
Dog Brownies
1lb fresh beef or pork liver
¾ cup of wheat flour
1 1/2 heaping teaspoons of garlic powder
¾ cup fine cornmeal
2 eggs
1/2 c grated parm
Liquefy in a food processer.
In a bowl combine the flour and the cornmeal, then add the 'liquid' to the dry ingredients and stir, just until combined.
Pour the mixture into an 8 X 8 inch greased or lined with parchment paper.
Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for approx. 20-30 minutes.
Test like you would brownies.
Sprinkle top with parm cheese.
Remove from oven and cut into 2 inch squares, allow to cool.
Wrap and refridgerate. Put surplus in foil and freeze; thaw as needed.

Pecan Apple Bones
5 cups wheat flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pecans (chop)
In a bowl, mix all ingredient except chopped pecans together thoroughly. Set aside.

1 egg
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 small apple
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup water

In a food processor, add the above wet ingredients and blend together. When mixture is thoroughly blended, add to the bowl of dry ingredients. Combine and turn our on a lightly floured surface. Roll out dough to 1/4 - inch thickness. Use any cookie cutter or score dough into 4 by 3-inch rectangles. Sprinkle bits on a plate. Spritz the top of the rectangles with water and press shapes on a plate. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Rolls
Roll out dough to 1/4 inch think and sprinkle nuts on top. Roll up jelly roll style and slice in thick 1/2 slices. Pleace on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Iams vs. Canidae

Canidae® All Life Stages Formula™

1. Chicken Meal
2. Turkey Meal
3. Ground Brown Rice
4. Ground White Rice
5. Lamb Meal
6. Chicken Fat
7. Herring Meal
8. Flaxseed
9. Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal
10. Sunflower Oil
11. Chicken
12. Lecithin
13. Linoleic Acid
14. Rosemary Extract
15. Sage Extract
16. Yeast Culture
17. Vitamins/Minerals


Iams® Chunks

1. Chicken
2. Corn Meal
3. Sorghum
4. Chicken Byproduct Meal
5. Fish Meal
6. Chicken Fat
7. Dried Beet Pulp
8. Natural Chicken Flavor
9. Dried Egg Product
10. Brewer's Dried Yeast
11. Salt
12. Flaxseed Meal
13. Vitamins/Minerals

I picked up 40 lbs of Canidae at the feed store today for $32.00 and a 25 foot training lead for $12.00. I also stopped by Topline and bought 24 boxes of Scooby snacks at 2 for .99 cents-an incredible deal! That equals 36 lbs of dog treats for under 12 bucks! Rudy loves his Scooby snacks even though they contain animal plasma and there is more salt in them than meat. Or maybe it's because of the plasma and salts. Who knows, dogs are weird...

You get what you pay for

Last weekend, Rudy, myself, Joey and Kiyra stood in line for an hour outside a local feed store to get $5.00 rabies vaccinations. It was oppressively humid and the line was surprisingly longer than I imagined it would be. It just didn't help that everything in line with us was poverty-stricken and unkempt. There was a particularly scraggy looking white poodle that in addition to having a rabies shot also had a heartworm test which not surprisingly came back positive. I noticed the vet tell the owner (who said the dog was really his daughter's) that the treatment would be somewhere around $500.00 and sorry for the bad news. I again turned my attention back to the long line I was standing in that moved so. very. slowly. The dog in front of us was inflicted with a raspy cough and the dog behind us was "losing weight and I don't know why.." a direct quote from the person holding the lead of the skinny brown mutt. Needless to say that is the last time we'll ever do that. I believe a welfare office would be less depressive and perhaps, contagious.

Instead of continuing with the word "Speak" to elicit a bark, I have changed that word to "Protect". This way, if I'm ever walking him outside or if someone comes to my door at some ungodly hour, all I have to do is give the "protect" command (which is really speak) and the stranger will assume that I have a highly trained attack dog. I know, it's a brilliant idea... thank you.

I bought a new collar from Target. It's a Boots & Barkley 1" x 17-28" black adjustable nylon with gray, white, black and red pin striping. His new tags look lovely hanging from it. I contacted Tarshay requesting the matching lead but I don't expect a response. I know it's not a coach but I refuse to buy one that he'll quickly grow out of. When you have a growing puppy, a stylish collar that adjusts from 17" to 28" for $5.99 cannot be beat.

The new command we've been working on is "Stay" I know I said I would wait until he was more mature for such an advanced command but he seems so eager to please and extremely easy to train. The training sessions are very short and usually only done twice a day right before feeding time. He'll practice down/stay for a 30 seconds to 1 minute before I put his food bowl down. Also, I'm buying a 25 foot training lead from the feed store next time I go.

I'm thinking about switching dog food from IAMS to Canidae. From the ingredient list, it appears much more wholesome and has 4 human grade meats instead of just one. The price is only a few bucks more and my local feed store carries it. I'll begin gradually weaning off IAMS in a couple of weeks. Right now I feed him dry small chunks IAMS once in the morning and again in the evening with raw steak chunks occasionally.

Rudy has been more expressive lately. If he wants something, he'll continually give me his paw and look lovingly into my eyes. This will happen sometimes if we're in my office and he wants to go downstairs or wants a treat. I know this behavior is frowned upon by some trainers but I don't mind it at all.

Tonight we go to my parent's house where I will bake enough brownies to feed 40 fellow officemates while Rudy plays with the beagle. Saturday, I have to pick up Rudy's heartworm med at the vets. I'll get it online once he matures. Right now I can only get a month supply at a time because of his weight changes.

Dog Tags

I bought 2 dog tags on eBay last night, but not the fancy .925 sterling silver that I planned to have engraved. I just got the military issue with rubber silencers. I figured this way I won't get upset if he loses one and it will be quieter because of the rubber guard. Also, they engrave for free and it was only $7.00 for 2 with free shipping.
This is what the tags will say:

RUDY ROO

REWARD IF FOUND

PLEASE CALL

XXX-XXX-XXXX

I NEED MY MEDS

No, he doesn't really need his meds but I heard it was a good idea to say that. If I had the space available for one more line, I would put:

INFESTED WITH BOWEL-RENDING WORMS

if it meant his safe and immediate return.

Crazy

Rudy has the shits

He shat once in the kitchen last night and 3 times this morning (they were more like shit puddles). His appetite is good and he's drinking plenty of water, so I'm not alarmed. I'm not even that upset that he shat on the kitchen floor since linoleum is easier to clean than carpet and he was kind enough to spare me that sort of living hell. Still, I spanked him lightly to show my disapproval and off he ran through the doggie door like he always does when he's been corrected. He'll sit on the patio at look at me through the glass door with those puppy dog eyes and before I know it, I'm calling him back inside so that I can give him hugs. Damn him.

His playmate went home last night after a 2 week dogsitting visit. He'll be missed. Rudy now just has the Keeks to play with. She's an old mastiff but will play like a puppy with him every now and then. It's good for her..

I read a comment on a catchdog forum yesterday and it got me thinking..

"Like my hunting partner always told me when I first got started and we were about to turn lose on a big boar hog track, you better rub fido on his head before you turn him loose because once you let go of his collar you may never see him again."-Broncobilly

As much as I've said I wanted an American Bulldog to hunt hog oneday, am I really willing to risk his life? I had to laugh at myself when last night after giving Rudy a beef basted pig ear I couldn't keep my eyes off of him, afraid he would swallow it whole and get a bowel obstruction or choke. I finally had to take it away from him before he could eat half of it. And I want him to tackle a 300 lb plus boar with enormous razor sharp tusks? Sure, I can let go of the lead.. riiiiight.

I'm so crazy.

A Proud Day

Rudy has got the "down" command!! WOOHOOO!!! See, he's smaht. Not dumb like people say.

To celebrate, we spent the day by the pool.

Doggie lifejacket- check
Sunscreen- check
Camera- checkity check, check!

Good times were had! Not only did Rudy avoid falling in the pool, he swam beautifully with the jacket on. I still had to push him in but he didn't freak out and swam more like a dog and less like a cat this time!

Look at that mug! Who could be mad at a face like that?! Only a monster, I tell you.


My niece really liked him. And Rudy was very good around the kids today. He behaved himself wonderfully.



I'm proud of my boy.

Rudy the Retard

Last night Rudy and I went to my parent's house for a visit and to help my Mom out with a few computer related issues. Soon after we arrived, the dogs went outside to play by the pool while my Dad watched them to make sure no one fell in. Well... Rudy fell in not long after we got there, right by the rock waterfall. His nose was barely above the surface and he was flailing his paws around wildly, much like a lead pencil about to sink at any moment! My Dad had to rush over and pull him out. You would think Rudy would learn a lesson but no. He did it twice more, falling in the pool in the same spot and each time requiring immediate rescue. He swam fine the other day with my help but when he falls in, he panics. I can understand that but why would he fall in 3 times in the same spot? My parents question his mental competence, now. "You know, dogs can be retarded too," my Dad said to me. It was agreed that Rudy will need to wear a doggie life jacket whenever he is near the pool (or any body of water)... and possibly a helmet.

After the third rescue, we all went inside. Rudy found the beagle's treat stash and gorged on pig ears and chewy bones. The beagle still wanted to play and when he got too close, Rudy would growl at him! This is a first for Rudy and I was surprised at his show of food aggression with the beagle. I corrected his behavior but he did it once more. Oy, what am I gunna do about this puppy? Make no mistake, if he should ever growl at me the punishment would be both impressive and violent. However, he has such a great temperament that I can't imagine him going there. He's a happy dog.. almost retardedly happy now that I think about it.

At lunch today I ordered an American Bulldog book at B&N titled "The Working American Bulldog" by Dave Putnam. It has great reviews and it should be a good read. I'm very interested in hog hunting and I've got the perfect American Bulldog for that task. Rudy is an Old Southern White bred for performance work. This was my intention- I wanted a dog that could do some amazing things. I can not wait until he is old enough to try him out on a wild hog. I just can't.

I like dogs that have a sporting or working purpose. I think it can make for a healthier dog genetically not to mention a much happier dog. But that's just me. I know there are Pug and Bichon Frise fans out there that would vehemently disagree. To them I say, I'm right and you're wrong. Thanks for stopping by.

Collar/Bling Planning

Yesterday was uneventful. I went to bed early intending on just a nap with Rudy. When he jumped off the bed at around 7 pm, I asked my husband to put him back with the others. I didn't wake up again until 6 am.

I like to feed Rudy twice a day and he eats Iams dry small chunks. I don't want to spoil him by adding canned food mostly because I think it makes feeding a dog a little more of a pain in the ass. I do give him lots of treats when he does a good job, like following me to my office and doing his business outside. He is almost always successful at both. We're still working on the down command.

I've been searching for the perfect collar for him even though I won't buy it until he's full grown and I have a collar size. It's unsure whether his size will be extra large (over 22" collar) or large (over 16"). I'm leaning more toward a black coach collar with a matching lead. At first I thought he would look best in a baby blue coach to bring out his eye, but after seeing him in black I've changed that opinion entirely. The black collar coordinates with his nose marvelously. However coach is expected to come out with their fall line soon so I may find something I like better. Here's the black collar. Isn't the bone charm perfect?!

For his bling I'm actively searching for a military shaped sterling silver dog tag that I can get engraved. After looking at several thousand dog tags, I decided on something a little classier than your average aluminum piece of shit tag. I called the jeweler I use on occasion to see what he had in stock and he quoted 55.00 for a dog tag that was thick enough to engrave. The engraving fee would cost extra. On ebay, I can find one for much cheaper. Well, you can't blame the guy for trying to make a living..

This morning after I fed Rudy, we went upstairs and played for a little bit before I had to get ready for work. He seems like his old self again. After I got dressed, I found him back under my desk. He really likes it under there. You would think he would enjoy my bed more (it does have an extra soft serta mattress and 600 count sheets) but the answer would be no.

My husband promised to fix the shed so that Rudy won't have access under it anymore. I'm drawing up the eviction notice to those freeloading rabbits now. Hop along rabbits, hop along or be trapped.

Bad Mood

Something was different about Rudy today. It was a subtle change but it hurt my feelings nonetheless. When I got home from work he seemed to be the same old Rudy Roo I know and love, but when I put him on the couch with me he jumped off! Now, Rudy has never ever done that. He has always been content to lay next to me on his spot on the couch. I figured he was just unusually restless and put him with the rest of the dogs in the back den for an hour. But when I offered him some cut up ham slices for a special treat, I was shocked to see Rudy unimpressed with swine. Hrm. He just didn't seem like his happy self at all and he acted dare I say.... spoiled! Later on in the evening, I went upstairs to my office and Rudy followed me as usual. However, he was very restless and instead of chewing on his bone or falling asleep under my desk, he paced the floors. And when my husband came in with one of the other dogs, he left me! He's never left my side before. Okay, I figured he wanted to be with canines tonight and tried not to let it hurt my feelings but when I came downstairs to the kitchen and discovered his piss on my kitchen floor not 8 feet away from the doggie door, I lost it! A few spanks on the ass and in the crate he went to think about his poor attitude and defiance. An hour later I let him out, gave him a treat and cuddled him. I just can't stay mad at him for long. He's too damn cute.

We have been working on the down position. I tell you, it's not that easy to train; "the paw" was far, far easier. I have to push down on his shoulders while saying the command "down". He doesn't seem to get it but to be fair this is only day 2 of the training. I also noticed that Rudy has regressed a bit on the "come" command. It seemed like it was a natural reaction for him to come to my voice (not necessarily because of the come command) but today... he stared at me like a cat! I will admit that I got up toward him and yanked him quickly toward me when not even a treat got the cat act out of him. Now I'm in the market for a long training lead so that I can pull him to me when he doesn't react to my command. I just have to praise like he did it on his own and have patience. Most importantly, I just can't take it personal. That's the hard part!

Perhaps he just wasn't feeling well today? I have a feeling he has been going under the shed where a colony of wild snaggly rabbits live. I sure hope not. Rabies shot next week for sure.
At any rate, I really think that one hour in the crate helped his mood. As I type this, he is asleep by my feet. And isn't everyone allowed a bad day once in awhile? Why not.

In other news, I called the Animal Companion Recovery costumer service and inquired about the expired microchip (July 00). The rep said not to worry, that it was guaranteed to last the lifetime of my dog and that the expiration date is meaningless. That's good to know since it's already embedded in my dogs neck.

The Pool

The pool party was a blast! Rudy played with my parent's beagle and everyone seemed to like him, especially my brother.

He hung out by the grill for part of the day:


And he got in the pool a few times. I can't say he liked it, but either my brother or I would hold him to relax him a bit.


He swam,


Hung out by the pool,


Played with the beagle,


And after all that action, he found a good spot to pee


He was one tired boy! He fell fast asleep when we got home!


I noticed he was pink on his face and butt. I will HAVE TO remember to put sunscreen on him next time for sure.

Rudy's Fall

Last night while I was at work, a strange thing happened. Rudy was laying on the couch next to my husband when suddenly he fell onto the floor. When my husband reached down to pick him up, he yelped! His eyes were open but he was unresponsive for a few moments. Then he got up and was normal again. Perhaps it was the shock of the fall? He is perfectly fine now.

Today we are going to my parents house and maybe Rudy will swim. It will be interesting how he plays with their beagle. Rudy can play a little too rough, and I don't want my parents commenting that he is a pit bull. But I have a feeling they will think that's what he is when I bring him over.

Rudy is trained to sit and give the paw. Next lesson is the down position. I really believe he will be a natural on the stay command but I'll wait until he is much older to begin training that command.

I also want to note that before the fall last night, Rudy went upstairs into my dark office and fell asleep under my desk. I wouldn't have thought he would go into my office without me but he does spend a great deal of time at my feet under my desk. Perhaps he was missing me? He seems to enjoy being under there with the fan's slight breeze on him.

One more thing, it has been discovered by my husband what Rudy has been doing in his water pail. He puts his paws into it and digs at the bottom of the pail, splashing water all over the floor while he does it. I think it's adorable but my husband doesn't like the mess he makes one bit. When he yelled at Rudy, Rudy took off for the yard and didn't come in for some time. Poor thing. I really need to get him a small childrens pool for the yard since he likes water so much. He doesn't like baths, but today he will be getting one for sure, he smells like earth!

A vet visit

Today Rudy went to see Dr. Moore to be microchipped and for his 3rd series of shots. The microchipped expiration says 2000, so I'll inquire tomorrow about that. He weighs 32 lbs at 16 weeks. The vet also said that his hair should grow back in a few months where the spider bite has healed. I could have gotten the rabies shot along with the parvo and it was included, but I told my husband not to let them give him a rabies with the parvo. I don't think it's good for the dog. I'll just bring him back in 2 weeks, he'll need some heartworm medicine by then anyway. The bill was $111.00

Rudy- 3 months old