Visiting Dave and Alice

The other day, with my torn-up paw, I had the great blessing of visiting Alice and Dave, and Nanny Lydia. We couldn't play too much because it was raining, so we stayed indoors mostly.

Dave looking at the camera, while I try to distract him out of my favorite dog bed, under the dining table.

Dave's big black nose.

Even with my torn up paw, I was still keen to play. You can easily pick me out from the crew, see my paw in the bootie? Airedales have been known to tolerate pain very well, we would not show signs of distress easily and we can go on and on in spite of pain or sickness. We behave like everlasting puppies. Even Alice who is 10.5 is still behaving like a pup.

Dave and I smiling for the camera. Dave is one of my all time favorite Airedales. We get along like peas and carrots. Our temperaments gel well together because I'm very easy going, and although Dave is more of an alpha dog than I am, I'm cool with that too. I never take any dog seriously. I always give everyone else the benefit of the doubt. We can avoid wars this way.. if only humans could do the same thing.

Hugs,
Kimi

The Tricky Business of Cats

I did not have any cats when I was very young as a pup. But now that I'm 3.5 years of age, and I'm living with new people in the country, I've got 3 cats as my housemates. I've got to get used to them. In the beginning, I didn't know them, and I wanted to charge at them whenever I saw them.

I didn't want to eat them, or hurt them, but I wanted to get to know them, at first I thought, what strange dogs, so anti-social of them to stay away. But Mum and Rob made sure I didn't ever get too close to them. They'd say, "No Kitty" as a command to stay away from them.

Now we've been living together for 6 months, and I'm getting used to having them around. They'd walk to and fro in front of me, and I've learnt to stay on a down, and it kept them calm. They are not very sociable cats to begin with, and I'm the first dog they've ever seen in their whole lives. No wonder, they keep to themselves a lot.

That's Dozer over there. He is the most adventurous of the 3 black cats. They are all black with amber colored eyes. Once, he was on the couch by the window sill, and I didn't see him. When I did see him, we scared each other and he scratched my nose when I got too close to him. Ever since then, I've been more respectful of the cats, but they are still scared of me.

The other cat next to Dozer is Snuggles. He has a single white whisker coming out the left side of his face. He is less hairy than Dozer, but supposedly more clever. We're all getting used to seeing each other now and they actually spend time out in the living room more and more. Its a good thing I do not have a strong prey drive.

I think other airedales like Dave and Alice would have killed them. I'm not really interested in killing anything.. Yet.

Hugs,
Kimi

My Torn Paw Pad

If you look closely at the front left foot, you'll see that my paw is wrapped with vet wrap.

I've been out of commission because my paw pad got torn up at my recent clamming expedition. My mum cleaned out my wound, put antiseptic on it, and then superglued my paw after it tore open again and refused to close. But guess what? As crude as it may seem, the superglue worked.

I didn't know it, but Mum got these rubber soled booties from Ruffwear, and she put them on me. I refused to move and just lay there.

Mum, you can't be serious about me wearing these booties out into public? We're going clamming again?? Mum said that she won't allow me on the beach shore without the booties because the rocky shore is filled with razor sharp shells of all sorts of sea creatures. Oysters, Clams, Geoducks, you name it, we've got it.

So I stood up, and tried to get used to these odd things on my feet. They have thick rubber soles, and a thin mesh at the top, just perfect for the rocky beach. I looked at my feet and just stood there, not moving. After a while, Mum and Rob started loading the car with the usual tools needed for clamming and I didn't want to be left at home, so I motivated myself to get out.

Hi Mum, I walked all the way out to the front porch on my boots. Do I look like a fool?
If it weren't for the razor sharp barnacles and shells, I wouldn't need to wear these things.

Taking my odd steps. I walked like a strange duck or something. You could say I looked like a marching Russian soldier.

Rob said I looked cool, so I tried to believe it. It didn't take long to get to Penrose Pt for clamming again. A lot of people looked at me, and said "hey, look, a dog wearing shoes!". I will be honest and admit I felt a bit shy and I knew people were giving me amused looks, but I tried to ignore them.

But these booties sure helped to keep my paws from being torn open again.

Hugs,
Kimi

Loc Aire Visit with Bro

Its been a while since I last posted, please excuse me for being MIA. I am very behind in my posts, as I injured my paw at a recent clamming trip on the beach. I was chasing the seagulls just for the heck of it, and I tore my paw pad open. I didn't really feel it when it happened, but when we got home, Mum was shocked to see the car bed stained with blood. Upon investigation, we found my paw torn open, and I had to be "restful" for many days. So nothing happened during this time - hence lack of activity on the blog.

But before I had my paw mishap, I had the great opportunity to visit LocAire Kennel with my brother Ruffian. He and his mum came to visit me so we could drive together. This blog entry shows the first time he ever came to my house. What a change. I bet he likes the country life too. Lots of trees and shrubs to pee on.

Ruffian and I peeing on bushes and trees. We're also taking turns marking over each other's pee spots.

Investigating each others pee scent, and associating the scent with each other. Umm... so this is what you had for dinner Ruff.... can you smell my dinner too?

Me looking over at Ruffian while he overmarks my spot. Ruffian is getting ready to go to California for another big Dog Show. I hope he wins more points at this show, and this time, I won't be able to go and support him.

Ruffian half peeing and half pooping at my apple tree.

When we got to Loc Aire, the property was sited very beautifully on the water beyond the cliffs. The sight was beautiful. We could hear many Airedales in the kennel, but we didn't get to go into Jan Mell's house. Jan Mell is the owner of LocAire Kennel. What I did like about her property was that she had this bird bath drinking station. I thought it was cool. I loved it.

See my glee? I love water drinking stations for the birdies. They take baths in these things too. My nanny Lydia has one in her garden as well, and I loved drinking from it too.

I'm gazing at the beautiful cherry blossoms on the tree. Poor Ruffian on the other hand was being groomed and primped.
For me, I was just exploring the pretty trees, hiding in the bushes, and having fun, just as any Airedale would.

Finally, Ruffian was done with his primping and grooming, and had time to come explore with me. We sniffed trees, played a bit of chase, and peed.

Ok, we're ready for the drive back home. Let's go.
In June, Ruffian heads to Long Beach for the dog show ring again, I wish him all the best of luck, and I hope he shows the judges what he's made of. Go Ruffian!!

Hugs,
Kimi