At DogDaz Zoo, I try to control the amount of food that any animal eats in a day based on their size and energy level. I parse out all kibble in the morning into containers and then give a portion at each feeding, making sure that there is some left over for evening in-house play. The dogs have several toys to chose from (1) a large feeding cube (mostly used by Sofie), (2) a medium feed ball (which was too big for Charles, too little for Lulu, and Sofie doesn’t like it). So I got, (3) a little feed ball (for Charles, who can’t figure it out), (4) a big rope jug (that Louise LOVES), and (5) a spinner (currently only Sofie’s survived because Louise ate hers – bottom is rubber).
Everyone waits, impatiently, in the evening for play time. I used to wait until 8 PM or so to do this, but now they have started demanding play time earlier and earlier. Sometimes, I give in and they have playtime only 30 minutes after dinner. What’s the difference, it’s all their food anyway.
Charles gets a special treat in a puzzle bowl with some kibble, because he is either too lazy for the feed ball, or just doesn’t want to lower himself to work for it. He loves a teeny tiny Busy Bone (r) and will gobble it up as soon as he finds one under the kibble.
We have lots of food fun at the Zoo. What kind of mischief did you get into today?
When K8 was taking photography in High School and learning how to process pictures in the dark room, she took this wonderful black and white picture of Gertrude. Gerty passed over to the great meadow in the sky in 2007 at the age of 15 (you can see all our past sweethearts on the Angels page). She was the sweetest girl and lived in my office for most of her days. Shy with most people from the day we adopted her out of a garage full of flea bitten kittens (with her outspoken sister Alice), Gerty was patient and quiet and loving. ❤
Have a colorful Black and White Sunday!
This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
Happy 9th birthday, little man. Though you’ve only been at the Zoo for 7 months, you have turned our world around. You have made us little dog lovers in a big dog world. Even the cats like you sometimes (especially Noel). Thank you for adopting us and letting us be your final forever home. I guess you had to bite your way through many homes (at least 5) until you found your perfect place with us. Here’s to the next 9.
DogDaz friend, Jeanne Bellis, is doing outstanding work taking hard to place dogs and helping them socialize and reintegrate to new homes. Here is Part 1 of the Socializing Waylon series. Waylon, a catahoula-cattledog mix, was in a bind. His owner, a US Marine, was being deployed overseas and Waylon, a dog aggressive, fearful mess, had only one hope – Bellis Boot Camp. Follow Jeanne as she socializes Waylon with her pack. It’s amazing what patience, smarts, good training and love can do.
When I am not home and there is a thunderstorm, Sofie tends to eat through the laundry room door. I have rebuilt the door 3X now. You would think I would just remember to leave it ajar when I go out so this doesn’t keep happening. But, No! I close the door because the cat litter is in there and I don’t want the dogs playing in it. That is why the laundry room door HAD a cat door; which is where I think this eating that particular door all started for Sofie. She first ate the cat door.
Anyway, I have gotten very expert at hollow core door repair, so I made you this video to share my fixing magic, including adding back a cat door. Hope it helps any of you that have to repair a similar chewed situation.
Turn on closed captions in video to read instructions.
You know the look. When your dog gives you that ‘side eye.’ Looking at you like ‘what could you be thinking, human?’ or ‘you want me to do what?’ Hahahahaha. Charles is the master of the look. Maybe it’s a PomChi thing.
Have a great Black and White Sunday.
This is part of the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop. Thanks to Dachshund Nola and Sugar for hosting.
The big dogs were away on a play date so Noel decided she was going to come into my offices and sleep on Louise’s dog bed. She has never done that before that I recall. When she is in the office, usually she hides in the supply closet and sleeps on the boxes of paper.
Louise was a bit confused when she returned from her date to find Queen Noel in her bed. But Louise, being Louise, did not roust her or do anything the other dogs around here would do (like chase her away or nibble on the pillow very close to her to scare her away).
The Honorable Princess Lulu, laid down quietly next to her bed, with Queen Noel in it, and went to sleep. Noel the Queen of the Zoo and her court.
Yesterday was 4th of July and you know what that means – FIREWORKS! Not only was it going to be a stressful evening but when Mom was walking us to get us tired before dinner THUNDER rolled in. Mom was not sure how we were going to do this evening with all the rumbles from Mother Nature and the crackers used to honor our Forefathers (a double whammy). It didn’t start well because Louise didn’t want to eat all her dinner because of the thunder (though Sofie decided it was OK to finish it for her before Mom caught her).
Mom played nice smooth jazz music for us during the storm. It always helps distract us from the noise. She thinks it is more soothing than classical (which can get quite raucous). And after the storm, we played our evening games. She tried to take us out to potty before it got dark, but as soon as we got in the yard we heard pop pop pop and ran back inside.
Once it got dark, everyone was watching TV and it drowned out most of the crackers and, as you can see from the pictures, Louise and Sofie were able to snooze right through the ‘1812 Overture.’ I was a little concerned but managed to see myself through until I could go ‘night night’ in my downstairs kennel, with the curtain down, and the music up, and some extra treats.
We hope your celebration was quiet and peaceful and full of treats. – Charles, the Mugwump
This is a Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop. Thanks to BlogPaws for the hop. Head over there and see what they are blogging about.
Fireworks are legal to buy and shoot off here in Maryland. People start celebrating at least a week before the 4th of July and for a week after. It is crazy noisy for hours every night after dark. Mom makes us stay inside with the curtains closed and the music on. We don’t even want to go pee before bed because every time we step out in the yard we hear another ‘boom boom!’ Why do human’s think this noise is fun? We just don’t get it.
To balance the evening noise, Mom gets us something special (we think it is deer antlers or bully sticks this year). This will keep us busy after dark. And we also take a nice long walk before dark so we are tired. All these things help us through the evening celebration.
Have a wonderful super duper day and stay safe at night. Hope you get a special treat too!
I am not sure Mini knew that she was the focus of attention when she chose to hide behind the front door this morning. Sometimes I wonder if the cats know that their tails are sticking out under things when they hide. At first, when I saw the group hovering, I freaked. On occasion, Black Rat Snakes have found their way into the foyer and I thought that was what they were all looking at. On closer observation, it was too fluffy and moved slowly (which the snakes don’t do when they are in the house).
Mini must have felt all these eyes on her tail because she started to pull it back behind the door with the rest of her.
No animals, or tails, were hurt in the moment. Thank goodness.
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