Feeding five dogs, with video

Hi Everyone! No, we didn't fall off the face of the earth. Mom has had a lot of work and little free time for posting. She sure takes a lot of pictures though and she made a few videos too. Special Thanks to our furry friends that stopped by to check on us.

Our weather is warming up, although we just went through two full days of rain with cold wind so we slept a lot. You can even see green patches of new grass coming up in our yard, a sure sign that spring is just around the corner.

Mom was able to check in with many of you, but hasn't commented because it took time. She hopes to have more time to blog soon, but she is thankful for her work. We are all do for our annual check-up and shots, plus Mom may have the mobile vet come again to check if Darlin' is free from heartworms. We sure hope so!

The OP Pack gave us our first official blog award! They named us! It's the Showing Some Love Award! Our Mom's heart just swelled up with love! She's a sensitive type and we are still kinda new to dog blogging so that meant a lot to her. Thank you so much Phantom and Thunder for thinking of us and making us feel warm and fuzzy inside as you spread your love throughout dog blog land. We love you both and your Mom!





Please copy the image, save it to your computer, and add it to your blog. We would like to show our love by offering this award to everyone that stops by! Our friends deserve the special attention! That's you!

To kick off a new week and hopefully a few more posts during February, Mom made a video of dinner at our house. Some nights are quieter (a lot quieter) in the kitchen than others, but this is our routine.

In the video Mom was mentioning what she feeds us. She has changed our food since the first of the year. She always free feeds dry, which we graze on a little if we get hungry. You know we don't eat much dry because a 20lb bag of dry lasts almost 6 months. At dinner Mom was feeding us two large cans and one small can of wet food divided up between five dogs, with portions adjusted for the size of each dog.

Mom boils chicken at least once a week. She saves all the broth and tears all of the chicken off the bones. We get chicken and broth over our canned food for dinner, but just a little to enhance the scent and flavor.

Recently our Mom decided to switch things up a bit. She now puts a thin layer of dry in each bowl and pours some broth on top to help moisten it. That has helped to cut back on one large can of food, saving about $38 a month. We'll go through more dry now, but the dry food will go further. We don't mind. We still get the chicken and broth and it adds a little crunch to our meals which is good for our teeth and slows down Sam and Chloe a bit, the two dogs that eat the fastest.

Mom was really disappointed in some beef pizzle she bought last fall. She bought 12 lbs and if you've ever bought pizzle you know how expensive it can be. Well Mom put it in a Tidy Cat plastic container with a lid. Last week she wanted to fill our treat jar and the pizzle smelled awful, more than it usually does. It was full of bugs! They were probably in the pizzle when we got it, not from a bucket in the pantry, we don't have any bugs in there. They were weird looking too, similar to a furry rolly polly. Somebody at the dump may like it, but Mom was disgusted and said that she doesn't care if we're dogs, she's not giving us treats that had bugs!

Here are a couple of videos from dinner time at our house. Watch the mean ole' cat we have slap Toby in the butt! Poor Toby, it happens when he's not looking!

We'll try again tomorrow on the second video, blogger is being difficult.

Post Christmas

Hi Everyone!

Wow! I knew it had been weeks, but just realized it’s been a month since I’ve posted. Between work, my house, the dogs, and family the month has flown by. My husband gave me a new laptop for Christmas and I didn’t put my hands on it until last week! If anyone uses Windows Live mail let me know, I’m a fan of Outlook which is no longer available. I’m totally disappointed about Outlook because I have email folders full of saved emails, links, pictures, recipes, and animal rescues going back more than four years.

The month in review with pictures!

This was the first time I hung stocking on the fireplace. My daughter used glitter glue and put the dog’s initials and a paw print on each. She also fussed because Toby’s had a pattern and looked different than the others. I guess Ill pick up a solid color when I see them next year.



The dogs had a good Christmas. They got lot's of stuffed toys, all of which Toby took within a minute of passing them out. We don't wrap for the dogs because they play while we unwrap our own.



Toby is selfish with toys. I've thought about what it must have been like for him at the pound and it's heartbreaking to think that he had no toys or someone to hold him. His happiness comes from being held or playing with a toy.




Toby came running in the room with this stuffed dog. Apparently he found it in my son's room. If it's stuffed, he thinks he can have it.



Sam spent Christmas guarding the presents.



He got a new tie. I don't think anyone could wear it better than he does.



Toby got a new sweater.



The other dogs don't care for clothes, they are too shy or active.

Azriel spent all of his free time under the tree. I had to wash the tree skirt because there was a large black spot where he slept that was nothing but hair.



This was my favorite Christmas picture. The kids were opening gifts when I noticed the wrapping paper was piling up on top of Bonnie. She didn't seem to care.




Darlin' is a lot more comfortable these days. She even played with toys one night during the Holidays. That's huge for us because she has a hard time relaxing when my family is home.



And she laid in the floor like a dog and had a chew! That was a first for her, usually she has a small one lying next to me on the couch. This one she held between her feet!



Dad took some time off from work through Christmas. Unfortunately it means working around the house. Bonnie is always nearby to assist him.





We visited with my step-son and his wife. Their dog has grown into a real beauty! This is Lucy, a mixed breed they adopted from a rescue group at Pet Smart when she was a few months old. She had to stay outside during dinner because we had family there with a newborn baby and they don't care much for dogs. I think she's awesome looking! They said she stands there and looks in the window every time they have company over, but she lives indoors otherwise.





My husband recieved a Honey Baked Ham for Christmas. I've had Toby close to a year now and he's never been so interested in food. The ham scent must have been calling him.



Toby sits at our table a lot, although usually not during dinner. I thought this was so cute so I took his picture. I put my camera away, my husband wasn't watching and my ham dissapeared from my plate! We'll be watching closely from now on, especially when we have ham!



Toby went to the nursing home. We heard so many stories from elderly people about their dogs. While it was great to see their faces light up with Toby, it was hard because they would tear up telling us about their dogs. One man (not pictured) was sitting in the hall in his wheelchair and started crying so hard as we approached. Later I saw him again with his family and he was fine. I felt sure seeing Toby brought back memories of a dog he had loved.













He spent about three hours there and was worn out on the way home.



We have dog beds throughout our home, two or more in each room. This dog bed is Sams, but everyone seems to favor it because it has a thick mattress. No doubt we'll be getting another soon.











I walked in the kitchen one morning and found Baby like this. I was worried she was sick. She was keeping warm!



An unlikely pair. Two dogs rescued within three weeks of each other have a strong bond.



For some reason Darlin prefers to play at night - after my husband has gone to bed. He tells me he doesn't hear the dogs. I hope so because it can get loud with them rough housing.



Our weather has gotten warmer. Chloe, our Eskie, would lay out in the cold, she prefers cold weather, but Bonnie and Toby shiver. Bonnie has been happier since the warm-up.



Last week I convinced my daughter to transport some pit bull mix puppies going to rescue for me. I had therapy and couldn't make the trip. She called after picking them up and said, "Mom, don't do this to me!" I asked why and she told me that it makes her want to bring them home. I told her she couldn't because I have five, but she helped to save three lives. They were pulled from a high kill shelter and taken to rescue in Florida. I wanted one too!









Transport for rescues is one of the easiest things a person can do for those wanting to help rescued animals. There are cats, ferrets, and even pot belly pigs that need transportation. Sometimes it only takes an hour to drive a leg. If you want to help saves lives, please look up Animal Rescue Transport or get on a mailing list and help save lives without having to commit to a lifetime of care.

I hope everyone has had a good start to the New Year. We wish you all a year of good health, increased wealth, and many happy memories!

Dog days of summer

The dogs are looking forward to cooler weather.







Sam's favorite spot is at the front door.



Bonnie worked all summer. She's had some sunburn because nothing can keep her indoors.



A fly on the door frame...



She always has time for Frisbee or to amuse herself.



Darlin' is loving her new home and yard...



She learned a new line dance...



Chloe got a summer haircut. She's 6 years old now, this was her second summer getting cut. Alabama is awful hot for a dog with such a thick coat. It seemed to build her self confidence, but she had to fight off her nasty roommates. They kept mounting her that first week. Everyone wanted a piece of the new Chloe!



It's called the fox cut. Foxy Baby!





She still sleeps in her favorite spot. She and Sam both have a favorite vent.



Toby always finds a spot of shade or a lawn chair.





I can't blame him, that concrete gets hot!



This post was inspired by a poem I remembered from my childhood.

Sunning

Old Dog lay in the summer sun,
Much too lazy to rise and run.
He flapped an ear at a buzzing fly.
He winked a half opened sleepy eye.
He scratched himself on an itching spot,
As he dozed on the porch where the sun was hot.
He whimpered a bit from force of habit,
While he lazily dreamed of chasing a rabbit.
But old dog happily lay in the sun,
Much too lazy to rise and run.

— James S. Tippett

I hope your dogs are having a good summer.