The perfect sailboat for our dogs

Sailing to Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX

So easy to sail, even I can take the helm.

Update: We changed sailboats to a 34 foot Catalina sailboat in May 2010, and loving the wind in my ears at Galveston Bay and playing with the dolphins in the ICW.

Bud on the Hunter 27

Beachside in Corpus Christi

We drove the six hour journey from my home to see my extended family in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bud and I were so excited to play on the beach and in the water. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Emerald--which is right on the beach of the Corpus Christi Bay. We ran up and down the beach. The hotel was close to the downtown area, so we could walk everywhere.

The room was on the ground floor that walked right out to the beach. On the first night the wind was blowing hard and I didn't get to play on the beach much. On the second day one of the family members got really sick (maybe from the mold in the room), so we left to go back home.

The beaches were clean but had broken shells all over it. So if you go, be careful of your paws. Petsmart is way down (5 miles or more) from the hotel-- make sure that you have good directions if you are not familiar with Corpus Christi. We loved the drive down Shoreline Drive. The family loved Pier 99 restaurant next to the USS Lexington-good music and food.

No official dog parks in Corpus Christi yet. But the city officials are looking into it. There was a great skate park which was packed with all ages of boys.

Journey East to Tennessee

Biltmore, the Cradle of Forestry

Pond on the Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore, Asheville, NC

Planning stages to the Smoky Mountain area this May.

I shall get four new states on my log of visited states (TN, GA, NC, SC). At least they all have humidity unlike the southwestern states. I itch way too much when we go west.

Where to stay?
Pigeon Forge is so congested with cars and development-maybe no.
Gatlinburg has tons of people filling the sidewalks-maybe no.

Our best option is Townsend, TN, called the quiet side of the Smokies. Prices are a bit more reasonable, but for some cabins the cleaning fees, booking fees, administrative fees, and doggie fees can end up being about 200 dollars more. Where do we stay without breaking my piggy bank?

At Wild Mountain Rose Cabins I have found a quiet, lovely log cabin, and owned by one couple not a management group. They do not charge extra for my brother, Bud, and me or any hidden charges. They are super sweet people on the phone and cannot wait to meet them. They even have a bakery; maybe they will bake me some biscuits.

Around Townsend there is the following: a four mile trail to hike, streams which I would love to swim (they said no), bears and animals to chase (they said heck no), people and dogs to meet and play (they nodded ok-but no red wolves). Beware of ticks; I have been warned. I guess that I have to get a tick check done everyday. Not many ticks in east Texas (at least around my home)- too many fires ants.

NO DOGS ALLOWED. No Snoopy it is not the hospital. It is the trails in the Smoky Mountain National Park. I can hike all day in the adjacent Cherokee National Forest or Pisgah/Nantahala NF. The same type of animals are in all three places. But the nice Park Rangers will give my family a ticket if they see me on the trails. Me: pet therapy trainees, multiple state explorer, calendar girl, movie star, golden girl extraordinaire. Their trees are mostly dying anyway (I know sour grapes).

They have caverns in Townsend too. I probably won't be able to go unless I am super sweet. How could anyone say no to me?

I could go canoeing or tubing with my family. Sounds so fun. Maybe help do some fishing. Ok ok I shall sit on the riverbank and watch my family fish for trout. Temptation maybe too hard to fight.

Once we stop by the Smoky Mountain Doghouse in Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg for a snack at The Heidleburg (rumored to be dogfriendly). Sightsee from the car of the Smoky Mountain National Park to Cherokee, NC. I have not decided to go back to Sevierville and head to Asheville or go through Cherokee, NC and Dillard. Which way should I go?

We are off to the number 3 city for dog friendly resort areas, Asheville, NC. Hooray, my family loves Asheville. We shall be staying at the Crown Plaza Resort, and I get to go explore the Biltmore Estates. I get to feel like Cedric Vanderbilt and walk the Bass Pond Trail or all the gardens where he used to play. We get to go to the dog parks before we head to Clemson University where the matriarch of the family graduated a decade plus ago. Not very dog friendly but still a beautiful place before we head home.

Protect the dog from the sun too

Playing in the Surf in the Gulf of Mexico (TX)

Pace Bend on Lake Travis, TX

Near Surfside, TX

Lake Travis, cliffs in Pace Bend County Park

Tanning Bad

Sun tan and Health

Protect yourself and your four-legged friend. Careful because I was burned by Helioplex sunscreen when done as a test.

Dogs need their own kind of sunscreen in the high Texas Sun. Our yellow Labrador, Bud, loves to lie out in the sun, and he needs his own type of sun protection. Whitley wears her life jacket which helps protect her from the sun rays.

Remember to eat your cooked tomatoes to protect from the sun.

Little preparation for the Cold dry desert with stickers and snow

Jump in with booties and winter jacket is the way to go when your family travels across the Southwest in late December.

We drove to Stonewall, Tx and stayed the night in a nice tuscan style cabin with heater and woodburning fireplace by the bed. (absolute charming B & B) They lent us an extra dog bed that Bud loved and and I used the old bed. As the fire burned, the logs moved during the night and I got scared. I asked mom to move my bed next to hers and then I felt safe that nothing would fall on me. I made some new friends, Sophie, a standard poodle at the owner's home, and two dog friends next door.

The cabin had a little kitchenette to keep our food and they gave my family quiche and fresh fruit for breakfast. The bathroom had a jacuzzi tub which my mom and dad enjoyed.

The next morning we were off to Marfa, TX through the Fort Davis mountains. Tell the TX DOT to put real grass or stepping stone in the pet rest area; we both got stickers in our paws that hurt my parents when they pulled them out. Once in Marfa we walked the streets with our family and looked at the Galleries. The temperature was warm and the wind was still. I played with some new dogs at the Arcon Inn B&B, and met many dog friendly people around town.

We headed out of town to Valentine, TX to see the only Prada store around. It was closed; it is always closed. They call it art. But I did not see anyone named art around.

We drove on to Truth or Consequences, NM and I lay by my parents who were soaking in the hot springs. It is too hot for me. We left the desert and headed into the mountain and played in my first snow. It was cold, fluffy, and perfect. I rolled and dove in the snow. We met another dog who came to play in the snow in the middle of the National Forest. Wild time.

On the way back to Texas after Christmas we drove the northern route through Sedona, Flagstaff, Winslow, AZ, and Santa Fe, NM.  It was getting cold and snowy.  In Santa Fe we rented a house for New Years celebration.  I love the snow and rolled in it every chance that I could get.  I could plunge my head in the snow, eat the snow, and even catch the snow as a ball, but it broke apart in my mouth.  

My momma found some pet friendly snow trails for us to go snowshoeing or cross country skiing with dogs (5K trail in the Enchanted Forest), but we did not have a 4x4 vehicle and the volvo had little clearance in the snow.  We did not get to go.

We walked around the square in Santa Fe during New Years Eve.  There was an ice sculpture of Santa's sleigh and eight reindeers.  Don't lick the ice sculptures.  The streets were still lit up with Christmas lights.  

Bud and I both wore jackets, and Bud had dog boots.  He hated the cold.  In the morning he refused to walk in the snow and only pottied under the porch cover with no snow. 

When we were walking back to the casita from the square, one of Bud's four booties fell off.  He refused to put his bare paw down.  Momma had to go back down the street at night and find Bud's missing booty.  Thankfully she found it and wrapped it tightly around Bud's leg.  I can imagine seeing them carrying Bud back or him limping on three legs four blocks back home.

We stayed at the warm house as our parents ventured out to celebrate the changing of the year.  Not many places available or the prices were too high.  All they wanted was a drink and dinner.  So they went to one of the most expensive hotel close by and sat at the bar.  They meet a Flamingo guitar musician, Daniel ?, at the bar who was playing at the restaurant.  He was from NM and a famous musician to many, but not to us.  He gave them a CD for free, and they stayed at the bar until the new Year started, and walked back to our casita.  They had a wonderful time.

Why is the one who does not like water wet and I am dry?

We visited Houston again this weekend and stayed at the Holiday Inn Select on Southwest Freeway, pet friendly with one high paw ($50 one time fee for Bud and me). The hotel workers love me and pet me. Maxey off leash dog park is two doors down which is great for an early morning run and bathroom break. I always hold it until we get to the dog park. We met two Great Danes that were almost as tall as my mother. We played in our favorite dog parks and got to see all of our favorite sites.

The last day Dad dropped Mom, Bud, and me off at Danny Jackson Dog Park so he could drop off his car that he borrowed and pick up our wagon at the shop. Meanwhile Bud and I chased balls and met new dog friends at the dog park. Mom would not let me go passed the water fountain since she knew that I would make a bee-line for the pool, and she had no towels to dry me off. It is amazing how she can read my mind.

It was a little rainy but it finally stopped. Bud ran down to the pool with the other dog friends, but made me stay with her. She knew that Bud would not get in the water unless someone threw the ball in the water, and no one was throwing balls. Bud ran around the pool and played keep away from the other dogs. Then some woman with a little dog walked over to Bud and took his ball and threw it in the pool. My momma yelled out NOOO! Too late Bud jumped in after the ball. All wet and stinky with the ball in his mouth Bud came running back to us. Mom talked to the lady later, and she said that he needed to get his feet cleaned off because of the pebbles. What? Now I have to ride two and half hours back home with stinky Bud.

Daddy came back and asked why the water loving dog (me) was dry and the water hating dog (Bud) was wet, and mom pointed to the ball and the lady outside the gate that caused the problem.

Puppy Pool Party in Austin, TX

We traveled to Austin, Texas in the second weekend of October. Bud, my parents, and I swam for hours every day. We stayed in this great house with our own private heated pool near UT campus and was next to a leash-free park called Upper Shoals Green Belt. We played until we passed out.

Austin Vacation House 512.481.2816, info@austinvacationhouse.com

Mom would wake us up at 5:30 am, and we would swim and play until 8:30 am, and next breakfast, and then sleep. After the nap, we awoke and swam some more. Over 50% of my day was in the pool.

At first, Bud was scared and would not jump, but I was fearless, leaping high and long into the pool. When Bud was swimming, I leaped on top of him from the side so that he would not get the toy. Down Bud would go. Then I would be in time out for dunking Bud. I would save my mom and dad a few times when they splashed too much, and take them back to the side.

Our last day mom bathed me and blew my hair dry (which I love), and dressed me in my Texas flag Bandanna. We went down to the pool and she said that I want to stay clean a little bit longer for my photo shoot.

A car pulled up and ran to greet the photographer, Kurt, who has two goldens. He used a bunch of different cameras, and I posed and smiled. Finally I was told to jump in the pool. Hurray my favorite part of the photo shoot. I leaped and soared over the pool to get the toy. I tried to give the toy to Kurt, but mom always yelled for me to go to her. 

I had a great time, and I will be the month of June 2008 for the Gold Ribbon Rescue Calender for Austin Golden Retrievers.

Traveling back to H-town

We left my hometown a few weeks ago, and I sure do miss all my puppy friends. Finally my family takes us back and I got so excited when I saw the skyline. 

We stopped by my old doggy park, West Webster, and played with Maggie and Max. 

 My family stayed at Hotel ZaZa in the Museum district, and we were so excited until after we pulled up.

First the manager came back and said the two retrievers are not allowed (only one 20 pound dog). Daddy tells the manager that yesterday when he called the front desk he asked up if dogs were allowed. The front desk said yes with a $50/fee, and he said that we have two full size retrievers that are well behaved and travel everywhere with us. They said that is fine (retrievers are allowed). 

Now this mean man tells us that we can not stay. We have to stay outside with momma until all this is over. Finally the nice Concierge, Mo, comes back out to tell us that we can stay. 

Then the mean manager says that we cannot bring in our bag from Spec's outlet store and tells us that we cannot bring in outside food. WHAT? My dogfood is in that bag. So we put the food in a cooler and brought it in. Illogical and irrational. The room was okay, but no doggy beds or doggy treats. They did offer dog walks but with all the rudeness that we felt in the very beginning my family would not use it. We lay by the cabana doors watching my family play in the pool area, with five horrible childen jumping on all the cushions and hitting each other with noodles.  No one told their parents that they were too big.  Herman Park was so close, and we loved walking the trails.

Journey to Estes Park, Colorado from Houston

Camping in Las Vegas, NM (National Forest)

Palo Duro Canyon, TX

Pups Painting the Cadillac with Texas Mud

My Own Personal Cook!

My matriarch has been doing tons of readings about dog food and what I should be eating. She has now started cooking our own meals for us and boy are they good. Yesterday and today was cooked hamburger, brown rice, carrots, roma tomatoes, oil, and a cup of iams. It was so good and our wastes were so much smaller than with just plain iams. She chops everything so that Bud will not choke since he inhales his food versus chewing.

She went to the big farmers market and bought tons of fresh vegetables for us, and even to a meat market for hamburger. Tomorrow she said chicken, brown rice, carrots, roma tomatoes, and steamed broccoli. Wow, I must have done something wonderful to get all this great food.

I am still scratching and licking, although not as much. So maybe it might take a few meals to help with my allergies. She has been mixing the new food with iams so that it will be a smooth transition. I wonder how she is going to cook for us when we go camping in Colorado. Any suggestions out there.

She still questions the raw meat diet (too scared about E-coli and salmonella to attempt, and not willing to shoot an animal for me).

Galveston Beach Exploration

We returned to Galveston for more Birthday celebrations and rented the same house as always on the Seawall (known as our beach house) with our family.  The house has a big kitchen to ask for treats, and a front porch to watch everyone walking, running, or biking by.  The steps down to the beach is right across the street with many friendly dogs to play with and waves to jump.

My Tail of Devotion for Whitley

Whitley is my inspiration and one way to make the world a better place. Her loving nature is ideal to help those in need. She and I hope to help children in the hospital with their recovery.

Whitley listens so well and is so patient especially when she wants to play. She loves to play with her soft toys and go swimming. If I am splashing too much, then she will swim to me and demand that she guides me back to the shore.

I am devoted to Whitley having a great quality of life, and she provides me the same.

Our dogs go everywhere with us, and when they can not one stays home with them. Our dogs bring us so much joy to our lives, and they feel the same about us. They are our family.

This is a special Tail of Devotion

Travel to Marathon and Marfa, TX for my Birthday

Gage in the daylight

Gage at night

Beautiful sunset in the TX desert

Dogs and a goat roaming the streets of Marathon

Porch watching in Marathon at Gage Hotel

my face was swollen, better now!

DON'T PANIC!!

Yesterday I was alone in my home when momma went to work. My face started to swell up and hurt. When momma came home, I ran to her, and she was very upset. I never had experienced anything like this before. None of the vets would let us see them, and told us to go to the emergency room for pets. She did not want to drive by herself to the emergency room with me being sick.

Momma said that I have angioedema from what I do not know. She applied cold compresses and gave me children's antihistamine. We still do not know what caused it. I had thrown up pieces of a tennis ball that I swallowed yesterday morning. Maybe latex (I need to be tested).

What do you think? My face has gone done now (24 hours later), and I am feeling better.

Angioedema is an acute condition, characterized by non painful subcutaneous inflammation and oedema in cheeks region, oral mucosa and around the eyes. This condition appears suddenly, usually within 20 minutes to allergen exposition.  The dog can be variably itchy, nervous, and sometimes laryngeal inflammation can cause severe respiratory distress. Should cardiovascular system be affected by this allergic reaction, the dog needs emergency help to avoid fatal consequences.

Which is the best treatment for a dog with angioedema?

Main treatment goal is stopping inflammatory reaction by using corticoids. We administer methylprednisolone intravenously. This is rapid-acting glucocorticoid that interrupts inflammatory reaction very quickly and effectively.

Three course dinner at the Canyon Cafe to benefit Humane Society

My family took me out to a nice restaurant. The waiters brought me my own bowl of water, salad, beef and vegetable stew, and a peanutbutter pupsicle. It was so good. There was nothing left except the bones from the stew. The waiters were so nice and everyone else brought their dogs too. I was so excited. My compliments to the chef. It was so TASTY!!

My family said that the cost of my meal all went to the Houston Humane Society, which has been providing help to many animals hit by the hurricanes. I can tell you first hand why I feel so lucky to have such a loving family to protect us from the bad weather, and that it did not hurt my home.

Canyon Cafe, a excellent mexican restaurant, is doing the meals next weekend, too. Give it a try if you are in Houston.

Do not like hurricanes!!!

Bud and I were happy and playing around our home in Houston. My family pulled out suitcases and putting their clothes and my toys in their bags. I get concerned when I see the luggage out because normally that means someone is leaving us or we have to go "camping" at a kennel. We all went to sleep Thursday night, and then suddenly in the middle of a good sleep I heard a bunch of commotion. My backpack was placed on me and we walked to the car. I was so tied and passed out in the car. A few hours later we were still driving and we had to go poddy!!

Many, many hours later through the heat, and poddy stops we were in our old old house in Naco which was fun. We ran around and played all day, but the next night was not so enjoyable.

The winds started to blow and there was a strange smell in the air. The rains and winds got worst throughout the night. My family made us move into the hallway. The trees around our house were blown in all directions and rains fell sideways down the road. The lights started flicking on and off, and then never came back on. We stayed huckered for many hours in the hallways. There was a lot of noise coming from the roof. I snuggled with my family and felt protected. Finally the storm was over. There was trees and debris everywhere which I got to bring it to the house. But these horrible things called fire ants kept biting my feet. I guess the storm blew them in and because we were not here yesterday. Bud and I are playing and trying to stay cool without A/C or power. Hopefully they will turn it on soon since we love A/C. We miss our home in Houston and ready to go back home!!!

Training for Animal Assisted Therapy test

I have nearly a week left to prepare for my test to go with Matriach to the hospitals. We train every day a couple of times a day. My family praises me for my progress but they are concerned that I do not choose to lie down when they ask me. I do not want to lie down and get dirty. I shall sit because it is more comfortable.

During the training session she will not even give me a treat. She just praises me and rubs on me, but if she gave me a biscuit, then I would lie down. I think if I stay strong, she will give up and give me a treat. Hope for the best for me.

Pet Partners in Galveston, Texas

Make room for Whitley

We went camping last weekend at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis, and we had so much fun. Bud and I ran all around and sniffed every plant. Beware of prickly pear cactus, they have pokers that hurt when you sniff them. We ran around all day and night. Sat by the campfire and could go to the bathroom when ever we had the urge. We met some other dogs and their families as we walked around the park. The water was a little chilly, but played so much that we didn't even notice.

At bedtime Bud and I had to sleep on the feet of our family. We didn't like that. We all got in the tent and my family wiggled into some bags, but never told me where to sleep. I just sat there, waiting for them to make me a bed. Nothing!! They finally told me to lie down and I rested my head on my mom's legs. She kept disturbing my sleep all night.  Bud started getting cold. He said that he was going to climb into one of those bags. He started shaking and Mom opened the bag and let him in. I can't shake like he does, so I could not get in.

I loved the camping, but the sleeping part needs to change. Bud kept running to the vehicle to go home to his bed, but I didn't complain and enjoyed Pace Bend.

Mardi Gras Krewe of Barkus

Beginning our first Parade...

My new Mardi Gras Krewe friend after the Parade

How not to ride in a car

Whenever I ride with brother Bud, he always gets into trouble. He is up and down jumping from window to window, barking, crying, and being annoying.

I love to ride in the car because I know that I shall be going somewhere fun. Mother asks me to sit and I do and just look out the back window. But when Mr. Bud comes with me, he won't stay on his side and keeps pushing me around. Only a few minutes into the drive we starts to cry because he misses home, and he will not stop crying no matter how much mom and dad try to calm him down.

We used to be able to sit right next to them, but because of Bud's behavior we have to lie down on the hard mat in the back of the vehicle. Plus they put bars up in the back so that Bud won't bother them.

He always enjoys when he get there but he just HATES to ride. I guess that I shall just suffer through it since I love to play with him so much.

Visiting the bars at such a young age

Last weekend we went to Little Woodrows in Midtown where I normally get to meet other dogs as my family sits and drinks this yummy stuff called BEER. But last weekend there were no dogs but plenty of people cheering and drinking yummy BEER.

As my family watched the glass box with people running on it, lots of people came up to me and loved on me, and even one gave me some BEER.  BEER is really good. I had tasted it before when no one was looking. But my family caught me and gave me the clear, clean liquid called water.

I warn you that not all clear liquid is the same. As a puppy, I saw this glass with ice and what I thought was water. It was NOT water. My family called it a martini and it was nasty; I shook my head and ran to my momma.

Back to the BEER the man let me drink lots of beer. My family kept telling me NO but I pretended like I didn't hear. Everyone kept loving on me and guy would sneak me some BEER. After awhile the beer and too much attention, I started getting scared. I hid behind my family's legs, and peaked out when it was clear. 

Finally we went back home, and I was sure tired and fell right to sleep. Be caution of BEER and overly friendly people. It can make you feel kind of funny.