Splish Splashin'

We've been thinking of getting a little wading pool for Abby and Samson to enjoy during this crazy heat that won't seem to let up. We were worried that they wouldn't like it, though, so we hadn't bought one yet. Luckily for us, we happened upon a discarded wading pool that somebody had dumped on the curb in our neighborhood. FREEBIE!

So we filled 'er up and here's the results. :)

Oscar Tries the Nip

Gave Oscar some catnip for the first time. Well, technically it's not the first time, but it's been years because the REAL first time I gave it to him, he was a kitten and seemed completely uninterested. He enjoyed it pretty well this time around. :)

WWHHYYYYYY???

I had originally intended to post an update on Samson's bum knee, but Abby presented me with a more upbeat topic:



"Why???" I ask. "MOMITWASSOMUCHFUN!" Abby says in answer.

She got a serious bath afterwards. It was so hard to lather up her fur with all of that gritty mud in it. It took almost a whole bottle of dog shampoo! Thankfully she's all clean now.

As for Samson, we think that we're starting to see some improvement in his walking. He's using his right leg to scratch more often now, so hopefully that counts. He still has a very prominent limp, but we think it might be getting a little bit better.

Checkup at the Vet

Samson Stats: 5 years old, 128 lbs.
Abby Stats: 1.5 years old

Samson's birthday was August 31st! Happy birthday, Sam! <3

I took Samson to the veterinarian today for a mini checkup so that we could get more refills for his prednisone (used to treat his allergies during the summer months). I came home on an early lunch break to load him up in the car and take him to the vet. I didn't make a big deal out of it, but Abby knew we were going somewhere and she got pretty excited. Unfortunately, she wasn't coming along. When I walked out with Samson and without Abby, she started barked kind of frantically as though she didn't want to be left alone. I felt so bad for leaving her, because after thinking about it for a minute, she's never been alone in the house --Samson has always been there with her -- so I think she didn't want to be left behind. I imagine she was also a little jealous that he was getting to go out and she wasn't. lol I don't know how long she barked after we left, but I don't believe she did it for very long; it's just not really in her personality to do that. By the time I got back from the vet, she was quiet and excited to see Samson. After a little while of greeting and loving on Sam, she noticed that I had come home, too.

As for the vet visit, Sam did ok. The vet is not his favorite place. Though he liked going when he was little, I think that all changed on a particular visit during which they clipped his nails and hit the quick a few times. He never enjoyed going there after that. And really, who could blame him?

Other than the anxiety he was experiencing, he behaved relatively well all things considered. He didn't try to bolt out the door or anything while we were in the waiting room, but he wasn't waiting calmly either -- lots of panting and restlessness instead. The vet finally came to weigh him and give him a good once-over. He weighed 128 lbs, and she said he looked good. So yay! New Rx of prednisone! :D

In other news, Abby likes to climb up on the couch a lot these days. She'll crawl up there usually when Travis is there on his laptop and she scoots close enough to him so that she's sure to be touching hm. It's pretty cute. And yesterday, she decided to just sit up there by herself for a little while. It was pretty funny:

Oh, She Knows "Sit"

The proof is below. She does this pretty regularly now. lol

Goofy Puppy

She's not inebriated, I swear!

Is that really comfortable?

Abby stats: 9 months old, 80 lbs.

Abby sleeps in variations of this position all the time. Ellie used to do it a lot, too. lol

Abby Loves Playing with Sam

Abby messes around with Samson like this all the time. She has really taken well to him. Samson on the other hand, just sort of puts up with it. lol

Ellie Remembered

Here's the shadowbox that I made and a memorial video as well.

Play! Play! Play!

Playing a lot with Samson. Biting lots!

Ellie's First Night

Our first dog's name is Samson, and he is a Great Pyrenees (that is to say mostly Great Pyrenees - we think he has some Labrador in him too). He is a great joy to us, but after a couple of years with him alone, we decided he would do well with a friend.

And so we brought Ellie into our lives.


Ellie Stats: 8 weeks old, 18 lbs., born December 28, 2008
Brought home at 10:30 pm by Anna. Feels skinny. Very standoffish and scared. Cried throughout the night.

Peanut Butter = Happiness

We bought this toy for Samson that we can put peanut butter inside. Fun times ensue.

Thunder is Scary...

Samson has always been afraid of only a handful of things: falling broomsticks, fireworks, and thunder. One day I came home and found him hiding during a thunderstorm. The result is hilarity considering he was WAY too big for his hiding spot.

Meeting a New Puppy

We had family visiting from out of town and they brought along their new addition: Maggie, a 12-week-old Boston Terrier. She had great fun playing with Samson, and Sam did a great job of not squishing her flat in the process. haha

Samson and Oscar - BFFs

Samson and Oscar play like this all the time. Oscar will squeal and squeal when Samson chews on him, but then he'll turn around and just rub up all over Samson as if saying, "Do it again!" lol

Samson's First Snow

We don't get a lot of snow in Mississippi, so we were excited to get a nice little flurry back in February. I look a bit like a goober bouncing around in the snow, but Samson enjoyed it. :)

Samson Turns One Year Old

Happy birthday, Sam! Best dog ever!

Teaching Samson Tricks

He's so smart. :)

OMG LASERS!

So I bought a little laser pointer to play with the cat, but it turns out Samson is a fan as well.

Had fun making this video. Sam is about 9 months old in this one.

Sam's First Real Car Ride

Samson joined us as we drove to visit my father-in-law recently. It was his first real trip: 2 hours long! He did fabulous, though. So fabulous, in fact, that I decided to debut him on youtube. lol

He's about 8.5 months old in this.