Each year, the city of Tigard puts on a great fireworks show at Cook Park, just north of our house. This was Quigley's first experience with a big fireworks show. Earlier in the week, Quigley heard some bottle rockets from our street. He was relatively fine with the bottle rockets popping, as he was inside the house. The evening of the 3rd, Q was a bit more jumpy and barky when he saw the sparks and pops from some fireworks being lit in the neighborhood.
Well, the evening of the 4th, we went to a friend's BBQ for dinner, and watched a few fireworks being lit by them and the neighbors. Before we knew it, it was getting much later, so we decided to head home and make sure that Quigley would feel fine during the big show.
We got home with plenty of time before the show, so we gave Q his dinner, and then decided to go for a walk down the main street, away from any fireworks. On our way out, he jumped a bit again when the neighbors lit some fireworks. He'd hide behind the bushes, and jump when he heard a pop. Poor dog. We made it out to the main road and started walking towards the wetlands, since nobody would launch any fireworks there. We had a wonderful view of the show. Quigley was able to calmly sit and watch the night sky glow above our neighborhood. There were quite a bit of loud booms, and Q was alert during those, but he was mostly just looking in the direction of the echoes. Thankfully, we were far enough from it that he did just fine, and didn't seem too traumatized, if at all. =)
Maybe next time we'll get to be a little bit closer. If not, we'll figure something out. It was nice watching the show from where we did. Happy 4th!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
First Family Reunion!
Today was the first "family reunion" for Carmella's Pups! We all met at Creston Park in SE Portland. The weather was wet, but hey, it's Portland, and the puppies want to play! As Kath, Quigley, and I approached the group, we were greeted by Quigley's sister Charlie (Addie). I let him off-leash, and and bolted to the other siblings with Charlie.
The pups were mostly paired off, with Saylor playing with Ramsay (Digby), and Quigley playing with Charlie. Zora was sort of the odd-man-out at first, trying to get in with Q and Charlie, but she seemed a little unsure of herself at first. Eventually, she was able to get some direct face-time with Q and all the other pups. All of the pups were having a blast play-fighting and chasing each other all around the park. It was sooo cute seeing how different, yet similar, they all were. Mannerisms, attitudes, playing styles, and of course just physical looks. A little while later, Hudson arrived with his adopted brother Korban, the pug. Hudson and family had great timing, as the rain had stopped and the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds.
One of the memorable things that I remember inclued Saylor and Zora having a sort of stare-down with each other. A sort of sisterly rivalry, it seemed. Also, it was sooo cute when other dogs started coming to the park. All of the pups would approach in a line, and would all start barking, tails up (many with white tips). It was like a cute little family gang of puppies.
Can't wait for another get-together!
The pups were mostly paired off, with Saylor playing with Ramsay (Digby), and Quigley playing with Charlie. Zora was sort of the odd-man-out at first, trying to get in with Q and Charlie, but she seemed a little unsure of herself at first. Eventually, she was able to get some direct face-time with Q and all the other pups. All of the pups were having a blast play-fighting and chasing each other all around the park. It was sooo cute seeing how different, yet similar, they all were. Mannerisms, attitudes, playing styles, and of course just physical looks. A little while later, Hudson arrived with his adopted brother Korban, the pug. Hudson and family had great timing, as the rain had stopped and the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds.
One of the memorable things that I remember inclued Saylor and Zora having a sort of stare-down with each other. A sort of sisterly rivalry, it seemed. Also, it was sooo cute when other dogs started coming to the park. All of the pups would approach in a line, and would all start barking, tails up (many with white tips). It was like a cute little family gang of puppies.
Can't wait for another get-together!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Water Dog?
We planned on walking to Bridgeport Village to make some purchases at the Lucy store. On our way there, Quigley met a few nice dogs, including great golden retrievers. One of these dogs was named "Marley". Well, Quigley and Marley had a good time playing with each other, and like many dogs do, they got into the mud. No avoiding, Quigley seemed intent on getting dirty.
After getting all muddy, Marley's person had him go to the river for a swim to get some of the mud off. Quigley eagerly followed Marley down to the water, and gingerly dipped his paws, but that was about it. Quigley, aren't you supposed to be part lab? Maybe it just reminds him too much of taking a bath right now. =) Maybe later in the year we can try it out again, but at a pool, with a bunch of other dogs.
After getting all muddy, Marley's person had him go to the river for a swim to get some of the mud off. Quigley eagerly followed Marley down to the water, and gingerly dipped his paws, but that was about it. Quigley, aren't you supposed to be part lab? Maybe it just reminds him too much of taking a bath right now. =) Maybe later in the year we can try it out again, but at a pool, with a bunch of other dogs.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Doggie Dash is here!
The 2010 OHS Doggie Dash was today, and boy was it fun! We thought it would be absolute chaos, especially with our playful pup, but it was a blast! We made our way from our parking spot towards the waterfront, and dogs were everywhere trying to get to the park. We finally made it to the registration tent, and got into a line. That was the only chaotic place there since there were so many lines and so many people trying to meet right outside the tent.
We had planned to meet with Q's sister, Saylor, but we arrived a little later than planned and weren't sure if we'd get to see them. Then, I heard someone say, "Is this Quigley?" It was Lori Ann, Saylor's mom! What luck that she found us. We let the two siblings greet each other and play. It was so cute. Some people actually came by and asked if they were littermates. =) They sure played like it. Below, you'll see 2 photos of Saylor and Quigley (and some of their brothers and sisters) at the shelter on adoption day. Sooo cute! =)
And here's 2 pictures of them at the Doggie Dash. =)
Walking during the Doggie Dash was really not bad at all. We saw parts of the waterfront that we never saw before, and got to walk over two bridges, which we also have never done. Kath wore her "Quigley's Mom" shirt that Trisha gave her and I wore a shirt I made with Quigley's baby picture on the front and a small picture of him yawning on the back with the caption "Q-Ball". It was funny because at the registration line, someone behind us said, "Hi Q-Ball!". She must have gotten it from the shirt. Quigley was pretty well behaved the whole time. I think part of it was because we didn't end up walking with Saylor and family. If we had, my guess is that Quigley would've wanted to do nothing buy play. Instead, I think he had a little bit of doggie overload and felt kinda like he was in a gigantic pack-walk.
After the walk, we visited the many vendors that were onsite. Quigley scored yummy treat samples from various booths while we browsed the goods that were for sale. One of the neatest things that we got to see was the frisbee competition/demo that they had. There were quite a few great dogs, but the most amazing dog was a 3-legged dog. He only had one of his rear legs, but sat, lay down, ran and jumped as if he had all four of his legs. Truly amazing!
-- Picture Pending here --
All in all, it was a great day for the Q-ball. So many dogs = so happy!
We had planned to meet with Q's sister, Saylor, but we arrived a little later than planned and weren't sure if we'd get to see them. Then, I heard someone say, "Is this Quigley?" It was Lori Ann, Saylor's mom! What luck that she found us. We let the two siblings greet each other and play. It was so cute. Some people actually came by and asked if they were littermates. =) They sure played like it. Below, you'll see 2 photos of Saylor and Quigley (and some of their brothers and sisters) at the shelter on adoption day. Sooo cute! =)
And here's 2 pictures of them at the Doggie Dash. =)
Walking during the Doggie Dash was really not bad at all. We saw parts of the waterfront that we never saw before, and got to walk over two bridges, which we also have never done. Kath wore her "Quigley's Mom" shirt that Trisha gave her and I wore a shirt I made with Quigley's baby picture on the front and a small picture of him yawning on the back with the caption "Q-Ball". It was funny because at the registration line, someone behind us said, "Hi Q-Ball!". She must have gotten it from the shirt. Quigley was pretty well behaved the whole time. I think part of it was because we didn't end up walking with Saylor and family. If we had, my guess is that Quigley would've wanted to do nothing buy play. Instead, I think he had a little bit of doggie overload and felt kinda like he was in a gigantic pack-walk.
After the walk, we visited the many vendors that were onsite. Quigley scored yummy treat samples from various booths while we browsed the goods that were for sale. One of the neatest things that we got to see was the frisbee competition/demo that they had. There were quite a few great dogs, but the most amazing dog was a 3-legged dog. He only had one of his rear legs, but sat, lay down, ran and jumped as if he had all four of his legs. Truly amazing!
-- Picture Pending here --
All in all, it was a great day for the Q-ball. So many dogs = so happy!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Cooking With Dog
No, people, get your mind right! I ran across this interesting youtube channel one day, and just thought I'd share. =)
http://www.youtube.com/user/cookingwithdog
Below is their episode where they make Green Tea Ice Cream!
I have to try it sometime!
http://www.youtube.com/user/cookingwithdog
Below is their episode where they make Green Tea Ice Cream!
I have to try it sometime!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Sunday Stroll
We started our day with a nice stroll on our usual running route through Tualatin Community Park and Cook Park. Along the way between the two parks, we ran into Harry, a Springer Spaniel pup, around Q's age. They have played together there before, so no introductions were needed (not that Q truly needs any). Harry was on his way home, but couldn't pass up the opportunity to play with Quigley. One of Harry's people said "he's gonna sleep well tonight." =) That was surely a sign of things to come.
After playing with Harry, we looped up towards Cook Park in Tigard. On the way, I called my mom to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. Turns out, I called too early, and woke my mom up. Sorry mom, didn't mean to wake you. =p Finally, we arrived at Cook Park, turned around, and made our way home.
Remember earlier, when Harry's person said "he's gonna sleep well"? Well, he was right, Quigley did sleep very well....just in the middle of the day, instead. =) It was kind of a "pack nap". Lucky for us, Quigley is generally very relaxed and calm when we're all resting on the living room floor.
We were all refreshed and ready to enjoy the rest of the day after our nap. We picked up some food at the nearby Aloha Grill, and then drove to Atfalati Park after some miscommunication about going to Jurgens and Avery Park. Atfalati is a nice big park, with some playing fields, tennis courts, hills, and a playground. We walked up the hill to find a nice spot to sit. It was kind of tough with all the goose droppings everywhere. Finally we settled down and had our lunch. After lunch, Quigley and I played fetch a little bit. The funny thing is, he seemed to want Kath to play too! Instead of bringing the ball back to me, he would bring it to Kath. =) He always wants to play with EVERYONE, I tell ya. =) After getting a little tired, and from the heat too, I'm sure, we finally just sat down and rested. There were a few other dogs that came around too, but Quigley was pretty satisfied and tired to go running after them. If only every day were as easy to tire you out, Q. Here's a picture of Q trying to take cover from the sun with me under one of our beach blankets.
After playing with Harry, we looped up towards Cook Park in Tigard. On the way, I called my mom to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. Turns out, I called too early, and woke my mom up. Sorry mom, didn't mean to wake you. =p Finally, we arrived at Cook Park, turned around, and made our way home.
Remember earlier, when Harry's person said "he's gonna sleep well"? Well, he was right, Quigley did sleep very well....just in the middle of the day, instead. =) It was kind of a "pack nap". Lucky for us, Quigley is generally very relaxed and calm when we're all resting on the living room floor.
We were all refreshed and ready to enjoy the rest of the day after our nap. We picked up some food at the nearby Aloha Grill, and then drove to Atfalati Park after some miscommunication about going to Jurgens and Avery Park. Atfalati is a nice big park, with some playing fields, tennis courts, hills, and a playground. We walked up the hill to find a nice spot to sit. It was kind of tough with all the goose droppings everywhere. Finally we settled down and had our lunch. After lunch, Quigley and I played fetch a little bit. The funny thing is, he seemed to want Kath to play too! Instead of bringing the ball back to me, he would bring it to Kath. =) He always wants to play with EVERYONE, I tell ya. =) After getting a little tired, and from the heat too, I'm sure, we finally just sat down and rested. There were a few other dogs that came around too, but Quigley was pretty satisfied and tired to go running after them. If only every day were as easy to tire you out, Q. Here's a picture of Q trying to take cover from the sun with me under one of our beach blankets.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Sunny Saturday Doggie Day
On Saturday morning, Kath got her hair done in at Ad Astra on Belmont in SE Portland. While she had her hairdresser work her magic, Quigley and I went for a long walk around the neighborhood. We ventured along Belmont, made our way South, past Hawthorne, down to Ladd Circle Park and Rose Gardens, and then back. All in all, it was over 2.5 miles of walking. The weather was great during the walk, not too hot, not too cold, though you could tell it was a lot warmer than Quigley had been used to so far. He drank a few bowls of water along the walk, and as a result had to pee at least twice that I can remember. Once we finally arrived back at the salon, we got to see Kath's updated hairdo, which was wonderfully done, as always.
For lunch, we tried to find the dog-friendly Berlin Inn, once again. The last time we hunted for it, we kept going in circles, but never found it. This time, we were determined. Finally, we found it across the street from Edelweiss Sausage Co. & Deli on 12th Street. We seated ourselves in the corner of their relaxing patio. It featured nice, high walls, which concealed much of the area, and buffered much of the road noise from Powell Blvd. You'd never realize you were in the city, it was so relaxing. =)
For our lunch, turned breakfast, Kath ordered the Blue Brew Cakes, made with Hefeweizen and blueberries, and I ordered the Leberkaese, which was a slice of sausage loaf with eggs, and potatoes (I chose potato pancakes). We also shared their Porta Sticks, which are breaded and grilled portabella mushroom sticks. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmm! The food was absolutely perfect. I also had a refreshing Strawberry Lavender Lemonade, which was perfect for the sunny day. After lunch, our waitress brought out their dessert tray, which featured a VERY enticing selection of sweets from their in-house "Backerie" (Bakery). We selected their Cashew Cream Cake, which was very cheesecake-like, but without the cream cheese. That was the perfect selection for further enjoyment of the sunny day on their great patio.
After letting Quigley have a refreshing nap at home, we ventured out to Hillsboro for the library book sale, and then to the much mentioned Hondo Dog Park, right next to Hillsboro Stadium. This was a very large dog park, with a nice hill right in the middle. The layout and features of the park are great. My only qualm was the abundance of what I believe was goose droppings. I've been seeing that more and more all over town, so I can't really blame them since the geese go where they please.
Quigley eagerly found a few dogs, but found he was not fast enough to keep up with them. When he wasn't looking he was practically stampeded at one point! Being the tough dog that he is, he stood right up and found a few dogs closed to his size that actually seemed to want to play with him. One of the dogs was quite vocal, and at one point seemed a little aggressive, but Quigley held his own without stirring any trouble. They were all playing much better after Q showed he could stand his ground. Not long after, Q was even playing with a tiny little MinPin. Quigley was easily 5-times the size of this dog, probably even more! Quigley was so eager to play and let this dog know he'd be safe that he lay on his back to play with him. Quigley, we're so proud of you. You've learned and matured so much. Such a good dog. =)
For lunch, we tried to find the dog-friendly Berlin Inn, once again. The last time we hunted for it, we kept going in circles, but never found it. This time, we were determined. Finally, we found it across the street from Edelweiss Sausage Co. & Deli on 12th Street. We seated ourselves in the corner of their relaxing patio. It featured nice, high walls, which concealed much of the area, and buffered much of the road noise from Powell Blvd. You'd never realize you were in the city, it was so relaxing. =)
For our lunch, turned breakfast, Kath ordered the Blue Brew Cakes, made with Hefeweizen and blueberries, and I ordered the Leberkaese, which was a slice of sausage loaf with eggs, and potatoes (I chose potato pancakes). We also shared their Porta Sticks, which are breaded and grilled portabella mushroom sticks. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmm! The food was absolutely perfect. I also had a refreshing Strawberry Lavender Lemonade, which was perfect for the sunny day. After lunch, our waitress brought out their dessert tray, which featured a VERY enticing selection of sweets from their in-house "Backerie" (Bakery). We selected their Cashew Cream Cake, which was very cheesecake-like, but without the cream cheese. That was the perfect selection for further enjoyment of the sunny day on their great patio.
After letting Quigley have a refreshing nap at home, we ventured out to Hillsboro for the library book sale, and then to the much mentioned Hondo Dog Park, right next to Hillsboro Stadium. This was a very large dog park, with a nice hill right in the middle. The layout and features of the park are great. My only qualm was the abundance of what I believe was goose droppings. I've been seeing that more and more all over town, so I can't really blame them since the geese go where they please.
Quigley eagerly found a few dogs, but found he was not fast enough to keep up with them. When he wasn't looking he was practically stampeded at one point! Being the tough dog that he is, he stood right up and found a few dogs closed to his size that actually seemed to want to play with him. One of the dogs was quite vocal, and at one point seemed a little aggressive, but Quigley held his own without stirring any trouble. They were all playing much better after Q showed he could stand his ground. Not long after, Q was even playing with a tiny little MinPin. Quigley was easily 5-times the size of this dog, probably even more! Quigley was so eager to play and let this dog know he'd be safe that he lay on his back to play with him. Quigley, we're so proud of you. You've learned and matured so much. Such a good dog. =)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Grilled Cheese Grill and Quigley the Co-Pilot?
We went to North Portland tonight, and ate at Grilled Cheese Grill. Since we were unsure of their policy on dogs (they have outdoor seating), we left Quigley in the car, just a few feet away. As we left the car, Q was surveying the area around hm, and then peeked over the backseat with his puppy dog eyes watching us leave the car.
Kath ordered "The Morton", which has meatballs, marinara sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheese on Italian Sourdough. I had "The Moondog", with provolone, hard salami, pepperoni, chopped olive and pepper tapenade on grilled sourdough. Mmm, mmm, GOOD!!! Especially when combined with their creamy tomato soup. =) We sat in their "indoor" seating area, which was a converted schoolbus. The interior had some great artwork all over the bus, booths on one side, and a long counter spanning the other side of the bus. Trivia cards furthered the nostalgic experience inside the bus. All-in-all, it was pretty fun, and the food was great.
When we returned to the car, Kath found quite the surprise in her seat. Quigley was curled up and relaxed in he passenger seat! He only gets to sit in the passenger seat in my car, as it has two seats, but tonight we had Kath's car. He knows he's only allowed in the back of her car. Silly dog, trying to ride shotgun. Q was good, though, as it didn't seem like he'd tried to get into anything that he shouldn't have, other than the passenger seat, anyways. =p Good boy, Q.
Kath ordered "The Morton", which has meatballs, marinara sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheese on Italian Sourdough. I had "The Moondog", with provolone, hard salami, pepperoni, chopped olive and pepper tapenade on grilled sourdough. Mmm, mmm, GOOD!!! Especially when combined with their creamy tomato soup. =) We sat in their "indoor" seating area, which was a converted schoolbus. The interior had some great artwork all over the bus, booths on one side, and a long counter spanning the other side of the bus. Trivia cards furthered the nostalgic experience inside the bus. All-in-all, it was pretty fun, and the food was great.
When we returned to the car, Kath found quite the surprise in her seat. Quigley was curled up and relaxed in he passenger seat! He only gets to sit in the passenger seat in my car, as it has two seats, but tonight we had Kath's car. He knows he's only allowed in the back of her car. Silly dog, trying to ride shotgun. Q was good, though, as it didn't seem like he'd tried to get into anything that he shouldn't have, other than the passenger seat, anyways. =p Good boy, Q.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Double Doggie Dash Donations!
Try saying that three times fast! =)
Donations of $20 of more received between today and May 14th will be matched by the generous Doggie Dash Sponsors! Donate today if you haven't already!
Donate at least $20, to be matched by Doggie Dash Sponsors!
BIG Thanks to the following donation-doubling sponsors:
Lithia Subaru of Oregon City, Banfield the Pet Hospital, Sergeant’s, Fred Meyer, Pedigree, Witham & Dickey, and boly:welch
Donations of $20 of more received between today and May 14th will be matched by the generous Doggie Dash Sponsors! Donate today if you haven't already!
Donate at least $20, to be matched by Doggie Dash Sponsors!
BIG Thanks to the following donation-doubling sponsors:
Lithia Subaru of Oregon City, Banfield the Pet Hospital, Sergeant’s, Fred Meyer, Pedigree, Witham & Dickey, and boly:welch
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Doggie Dash 2010! - Team Carmella's Pups
Help join Team Carmella's Pups raise funds for the 2010 Doggie Dash event on May 15th! This event is to raise funds to support the Oregon Humane Society in it's mission to find homes for our fabulous furry friends. Each year, many pets are unable to find homes while staying at other shelters, and as a result are euthanized, rather than transferred when time or space runs out. OHS has no time limitations on how long an animal can stay there. As long as the animal is in good health, and it's behavior is good enough to be adopted, it can stay at OHS. OHS takes in animals from all over the Pacific Northwest, from various shelters and agencies, and also rescues animals, as you may have seen in the news recently.
Our wonderful pup, Quigley is a shelter dog. While we adopted him from Home At Last Humane Society in The Dalles, the goal is still the same: To help loving animals find their forever home. Please help in this cause. Many animals depend on this help from shelters, and we wouldn't have Quigley if it wasn't for the help of Humane Societies like Home At Last H.S. and the Oregon Humane Society.
All that I ask is that you:
A) Join Team Carmella's Pups (Carmella is Quigley's Mom, she had 11 other pups in Q's litter.)
B) Donate just $5 (I have many more fundraising events this year, though you may donate more.)
or
C) Join us in spirit. - Your support means so much!
P.S. - Carmella is still looking for a home. Call the Home At Last Shelter @ (541) 296-5189 to ask about her.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
March of Dimes March for Babies 2010!
We walked in the March for Babies 10K in Salem this Saturday. It was a lot of fun joining Team R.E.L. and walking with a bunch of good friends. The weather started out iffy, but in the end was beautiful. It was a nice walk through neighborhoods and businesses, and we saw quite a bit of Salem. We walked by the Waterfront Carousel, the State Capitol, and even right by the Governor's Mansion.At first, all Quigley wanted to do was play with the other dogs. Not long after the start, he laid down and rolled in the grass so that I couldn't pull him any further and so that the dogs behind could catch up. =) He did that a few times (to rest, maybe), so we had to run afterward just to catch up to the team. Quigley did pretty good once the walk really started going.
Together, Team R.E.L raised $765 for the March of Dimes to help fund research and programs to help mothers have full-term pregnancies. Go Team!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Teeth
So far, we've collected 5 of Quigley's teeth. The first one we found was a small, flatter tooth. Then on 4/19, we found two more teeth. Another time Quigley looked like he was chomping on something on the floor, and Kath found a tooth on the floor. Another time, he looked like he was chomping on something on the ottoman, then stopped, left, and went back to look at it twice. Turned out that he'd lost a tooth and dropped it there.
Hopefully his teething doesn't last too much longer. Teething puppy breath is stinky, I mean wonderful. =) We love you, pup.
Hopefully his teething doesn't last too much longer. Teething puppy breath is stinky, I mean wonderful. =) We love you, pup.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dog Parks x 4
What a lucky dog Quigley is. With the nice weather we took him to the equivalent of 4 dog parks this last week. On Thursday, we took him to Hazelia Field Dog Park off of Stafford Rd. This was a nice park, with bark for the dogs to run on, and a few obstacles and trees. Quigley had a blast running and playing with the dogs there. One dog in particular was a boxer who was 10-months old, I think. They enjoyed wrestling with each other, and she (the boxer) was impressive with the use of her paws and body to take Quigley down. Her owner was very nice as well, and engaged in conversation with us discussing raising a pup, and other dog parks in the area as well.
On Friday, I took Quigley to Memorial Park in Wilsonville. It was a beautiful afternoon that day, and there were a TON of dogs there. One dog in particular was a GSD/Lab(?) mix named Koda that Quigley enjoyed wrestling with. She was quite a collar-grabber, but after a few corrections from her human, she seemed to get the idea that she shouldn't do that. Another one of the many dogs he met was a 5-month old lab(mix?) pup. She was very shy and submissive, though, and didn't seem to want to play with Quigley too much. Poor girl, she must've been kinda intimidated by him, with his energy and wanting to play so much. At least he eventually understood, and went to play with other dogs after.
Saturday's dog park selection was the dog park at Mt. Tabor. This was technically "taking him to a dog park", though I didn't let him off leash there. My friend Vince and I were on a mission to get his daughter Benecia to the playground at the top of Mt. Tabor. Quigley didn't seem to mind, though. He got to play with his friend, Hass, earlier. Quigley didn't quite make it all the way up Mt. Tabor. Luckily Benecia wanted to be carried in her pack, so that freed up the stroller, which Vince offered to Quigley. One of these days you'll make it all the way up there, Q, one of these days. =)
On Sunday we took Quigley to Puppy Romp in Hillsboro. It's more of a private, indoor dog park just for puppies 6-months and under. Quigley had fun playing there, and we had fun watching all of the cute puppies. I think it's more geared towards younger pups so that they can learn how to play with other pups eventually bigger dogs. Quigley has had a bit of experience already, so I think he just thought of it as yet another playground. We saw that he had a little blood in his mouth when we left, so we got a little scared. Turned out, he knocked one of his bottom teeth loose, but it didn't get knocked out. Hopefully it isn't causing him too much paid or anything.
So that's that. 4 "parks" in 4 days. Hopefully he doesn't start demanding this from us. I think we'll be OK though. He seems pretty tired still. That walk up Mt. Tabor is tougher than you think, especially if you're a puppy that's used to flat ground.
Rest up, Q-ball. =)
On Friday, I took Quigley to Memorial Park in Wilsonville. It was a beautiful afternoon that day, and there were a TON of dogs there. One dog in particular was a GSD/Lab(?) mix named Koda that Quigley enjoyed wrestling with. She was quite a collar-grabber, but after a few corrections from her human, she seemed to get the idea that she shouldn't do that. Another one of the many dogs he met was a 5-month old lab(mix?) pup. She was very shy and submissive, though, and didn't seem to want to play with Quigley too much. Poor girl, she must've been kinda intimidated by him, with his energy and wanting to play so much. At least he eventually understood, and went to play with other dogs after.
Saturday's dog park selection was the dog park at Mt. Tabor. This was technically "taking him to a dog park", though I didn't let him off leash there. My friend Vince and I were on a mission to get his daughter Benecia to the playground at the top of Mt. Tabor. Quigley didn't seem to mind, though. He got to play with his friend, Hass, earlier. Quigley didn't quite make it all the way up Mt. Tabor. Luckily Benecia wanted to be carried in her pack, so that freed up the stroller, which Vince offered to Quigley. One of these days you'll make it all the way up there, Q, one of these days. =)
On Sunday we took Quigley to Puppy Romp in Hillsboro. It's more of a private, indoor dog park just for puppies 6-months and under. Quigley had fun playing there, and we had fun watching all of the cute puppies. I think it's more geared towards younger pups so that they can learn how to play with other pups eventually bigger dogs. Quigley has had a bit of experience already, so I think he just thought of it as yet another playground. We saw that he had a little blood in his mouth when we left, so we got a little scared. Turned out, he knocked one of his bottom teeth loose, but it didn't get knocked out. Hopefully it isn't causing him too much paid or anything.
So that's that. 4 "parks" in 4 days. Hopefully he doesn't start demanding this from us. I think we'll be OK though. He seems pretty tired still. That walk up Mt. Tabor is tougher than you think, especially if you're a puppy that's used to flat ground.
Rest up, Q-ball. =)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Lunch on Hawthorne
On Saturday, Quigley and I met the Hale family and the Rinehart family in SE Portland, near Mt. Tabor Park.It had been a few months since we'd all gotten together, so it was really nice to see them again. It was also nice to see how much the young ones had grown (2 girls, and Quigley).
We started off by letting the dogs play with each other for awhile. Quigley played with Hass, about the same as way as he did 2 months ago, but now he was maybe twice the size. =) After a bit of crawling, chasing, and play-biting, we drove to Hawthorne for lunch.Our original destination was Apizza Scholls, but it turned out that it was closed. Luckily, ¿Por Qué No? was bustling with a crowd, so we decided to get in line for the taco goodness that they serve there. Turns out the wait wasn't very long, and it was pretty easy to get a table since they make you order before getting a table. I had "Bryan's Bowl" with Carne Asada and tortillas. Oh man, soooooo yummy. I definitely have to go back there. =)
When we returned to the car, Quigley and Hass were waiting patiently. It was good that they played earlier. There wasn't a whole lot of space for the two of them to really play in there. Maybe they had some interesting conversation? =) On the way back to Vince's, Quigley was exposed to yet another noise, a crying baby. Thankfully he didn't start barking or seem too worried or nervous. Hopefully he continues to do well with kids, as he's been very impressive around them for the most part. Good boy Quigley, you don't want to make kids cry, or they won't come and pet you. =)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
March for Babies!
 | Help join Team R.E.L. raise funds for the March for Babies event on April 24th! This event is to raise funds to help moms have healthy, full-term babies. This cause is very close to me, as I was born 2-1/2 months early. My parents know firsthand how important a full-term birth is, and I want to help ensure that all babies have a good chance at a healthy life, without having to put up a fight just to live. All that I ask is that you: A) Join Team R.E.L. B) Donate just $5 (I have many more fundraising events this year, though you may donate more.) or C) Join us in spirit. - Your support means so much! |
Monday, April 12, 2010
Graduation!
Quigley graduated from Puppy Class today! Yay Quigley! During the class, there was an "obstacle course" which we took the longest, sorry Quigley, that was probably more my fault. =) He impressed all with his "Puppy Pushup" (Sit, Lie Down, Sit), and then his "Sit-Stay" lasted a whole second due to his excitement with all the other dogs, and my nervousness. Lastly the "Leave It" was a piece of cake, since he has no interest in plastic cones. LOL!Another thing Q took home was the title of "Fastest Tail Wagger". All of this was due to carrots. No, I'm not sure how much he actually likes carrots. (None were harmed in the making of this blog.) But rather, we all had to get our dogs excited by saying nothing by the word "Carrots". It was a close match, Quigley must've edged out Patchy by a wag. =)
All-in-All it was a great day, and Quigley got his cap, certificate, and even a bowl of vanilla frozen yogurt! Good job, Quigley!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Veris' Birthday!
Friday, April 9, was my birthday. The big 3-0. To celebrate, and also to introduce Quigley, we had a bunch of friends over on Saturday. Nothing big, just a gathering of good friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in a bit.
My biggest concern with throwing a party was how Quigley would do. Would he be a rascal? Would he be over protective, since he didn't know all of these people coming into the house? Would he be overly excited? Would he bark the whole time?
Fortunately, the answer to all of these was "No". At first, Q barked quite a bit when the first guests arrived, my brother Jo, and our friend Antonette. For some reason he just barked more than normal. But after that, he didn't really bark a whole lot once he realized that people would be coming in, and that it was OK.
We kept him in his crate for the most part, as I didn't want him to cause too much trouble, especially with some young children and their LEGOS in the house. He didn't seem to mind at all, though, and he seemed content to be in his crate. I let him out early in the party so he could have his dinner. He carried on as normal, and did a few of his commands with me, without seeming too distracted. After eating, he went back into his crate to relax. The next time out, was to go potty. Surprisingly, he didn't try to pickup any LEGOs or completely stop to say "Hi" to everyone. He knew exactly what I wanted him to do, and he did very, very well.
Another thing we're happy about is how well he does with kids so far. One of the kids there, Rubie, seemed very excited to see Quigley. She gave him treats, and wanted to let him out of the crate, though I didn't think it was such a good idea right away. My god-daughter, Evie, was afraid of him at first. After seeing her older sister, Rubie, taking such interest, and seeing that her younger brother Lucien was fine, I think she warmed up to him. =) She even asked me if she could say "Bye" to Quigley before she left. How cute.
After the kids left, I let Quigley out briefly. I passed out treats to everyone to give to him, and had them make him at least sit before giving it to him. I think he liked it, since he got to meet people and get food. What a better combo!
Overall, Quigley was absolutely wonderful during the party. I don't think I could've asked for a better behaved dog that day. =) Good boy, Quigley.
My biggest concern with throwing a party was how Quigley would do. Would he be a rascal? Would he be over protective, since he didn't know all of these people coming into the house? Would he be overly excited? Would he bark the whole time?
Fortunately, the answer to all of these was "No". At first, Q barked quite a bit when the first guests arrived, my brother Jo, and our friend Antonette. For some reason he just barked more than normal. But after that, he didn't really bark a whole lot once he realized that people would be coming in, and that it was OK.
We kept him in his crate for the most part, as I didn't want him to cause too much trouble, especially with some young children and their LEGOS in the house. He didn't seem to mind at all, though, and he seemed content to be in his crate. I let him out early in the party so he could have his dinner. He carried on as normal, and did a few of his commands with me, without seeming too distracted. After eating, he went back into his crate to relax. The next time out, was to go potty. Surprisingly, he didn't try to pickup any LEGOs or completely stop to say "Hi" to everyone. He knew exactly what I wanted him to do, and he did very, very well.
Another thing we're happy about is how well he does with kids so far. One of the kids there, Rubie, seemed very excited to see Quigley. She gave him treats, and wanted to let him out of the crate, though I didn't think it was such a good idea right away. My god-daughter, Evie, was afraid of him at first. After seeing her older sister, Rubie, taking such interest, and seeing that her younger brother Lucien was fine, I think she warmed up to him. =) She even asked me if she could say "Bye" to Quigley before she left. How cute.
After the kids left, I let Quigley out briefly. I passed out treats to everyone to give to him, and had them make him at least sit before giving it to him. I think he liked it, since he got to meet people and get food. What a better combo!
Overall, Quigley was absolutely wonderful during the party. I don't think I could've asked for a better behaved dog that day. =) Good boy, Quigley.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Home Depot 10K
We took Quigley on a nice long walk to workout some (a lot) of his energy. Since we had an item to return, we walked to Home Depot, which is about 3 miles away from our home.
During the walk, Q did fairly well. He was well behaved, and as usual, was very happy to be out and about, especially with the two of us. It must've been nice to explore a new route for him.
Home Depot is such a great place, especially since they're dog-friendly. Quigley had actually been to this location a few times before with me, but we'd always driven. It was a little different walking there. He was much more tired. =)
I returned a handheld shower attachment that I intended to use when giving Q a bath. It had an attachment that went inline to my existing showerhead, but since it was a cheaper plastic, it was not very durable.
We went back to the bath section and found a relatively inexpensive handheld shower head that had a "pause" feature, and also picked up a diverter valve. It was a pretty busy section, so it took a little bit, but Q was so pooped, he just lay down and waited patiently. He loved it there, he got a good amount of attention, especially from the workers there.
The rain had actually started on our arrival to Home Depot, and when we left, it wasn't any better. Fortunately for Kath, I'd told her to wear her rain jacket. I just had a sweatshirt, and she let me use her hat. Q didn't have a dog jacket, but he didn't complain. He's got a full body of fur!
Since we had a 3-mile walk home in the rain, we stopped every so often under some cover to temporarily escape from the rain. This made the walk home quite a bit longer than our way out. But what really made the walk longer was that Q had to bite his poop bag, and my hand just had to get poop on it. What makes you want to bite a bag of poop, Q?!? I just don't get it. Anyways, we finally got to the Bridgeport Village area, and decided to stop at the R.E.I. so that I could wash up. It also gave me a chance to take a quick gander at their dog toy selection.
When we finally arrived at home, we found that Kath's "rainjacket" wasn't so waterproof anymore. There were puddles of water in the pockets of her jacket. =( Guess we'll have to find the wash-in water treatment for her jacket.
Not long after our entry into the living room, we were all lying down, resting. Especially Q. He had quite a restful afternoon that day. =)
During the walk, Q did fairly well. He was well behaved, and as usual, was very happy to be out and about, especially with the two of us. It must've been nice to explore a new route for him.
Home Depot is such a great place, especially since they're dog-friendly. Quigley had actually been to this location a few times before with me, but we'd always driven. It was a little different walking there. He was much more tired. =)
I returned a handheld shower attachment that I intended to use when giving Q a bath. It had an attachment that went inline to my existing showerhead, but since it was a cheaper plastic, it was not very durable.
We went back to the bath section and found a relatively inexpensive handheld shower head that had a "pause" feature, and also picked up a diverter valve. It was a pretty busy section, so it took a little bit, but Q was so pooped, he just lay down and waited patiently. He loved it there, he got a good amount of attention, especially from the workers there.
The rain had actually started on our arrival to Home Depot, and when we left, it wasn't any better. Fortunately for Kath, I'd told her to wear her rain jacket. I just had a sweatshirt, and she let me use her hat. Q didn't have a dog jacket, but he didn't complain. He's got a full body of fur!
Since we had a 3-mile walk home in the rain, we stopped every so often under some cover to temporarily escape from the rain. This made the walk home quite a bit longer than our way out. But what really made the walk longer was that Q had to bite his poop bag, and my hand just had to get poop on it. What makes you want to bite a bag of poop, Q?!? I just don't get it. Anyways, we finally got to the Bridgeport Village area, and decided to stop at the R.E.I. so that I could wash up. It also gave me a chance to take a quick gander at their dog toy selection.
When we finally arrived at home, we found that Kath's "rainjacket" wasn't so waterproof anymore. There were puddles of water in the pockets of her jacket. =( Guess we'll have to find the wash-in water treatment for her jacket.
Not long after our entry into the living room, we were all lying down, resting. Especially Q. He had quite a restful afternoon that day. =)
Sit, Quigley
Today, Kath told Quigley to sit. So he came to her, circled around, and sat..... on her leg. =) You just had to see it.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Dog Park!
After our visit to the veterinarian, we decided to take Quigley to the dog park at Memorial Park. I'd been wanting to take Quigley there, and we aren't always in the area with him, so we figured now was as good a time as any. The weather was fairly cooperative anyways, aside from it being on the chilly side.
When we arrived we read the rules, and one of the dog owners there was very friendly and encouraged us to let Q join in on the fun. We entered, and Quigley was greeted by his dog, Belle. There were a number of other dogs there, including an older Greyhound named Sadie, an English Bulldog named Omar, some labs, and a few other dogs. Later, a tiny dog (a chihuahua, I think) came around, and we were afraid she would get run over, especially by a running Quigley, but she held her own just fine.
Quigley's favorite was Omar, who had a blast playing with him. He reminded me of an American Bulldog named Ripley, from our training classes. Q loves playing with her too. Quigley was having so much fun, that we ended up the last ones to leave. We'll definitely have to bring Q back for more fun in the park.
When we arrived we read the rules, and one of the dog owners there was very friendly and encouraged us to let Q join in on the fun. We entered, and Quigley was greeted by his dog, Belle. There were a number of other dogs there, including an older Greyhound named Sadie, an English Bulldog named Omar, some labs, and a few other dogs. Later, a tiny dog (a chihuahua, I think) came around, and we were afraid she would get run over, especially by a running Quigley, but she held her own just fine.
Quigley's favorite was Omar, who had a blast playing with him. He reminded me of an American Bulldog named Ripley, from our training classes. Q loves playing with her too. Quigley was having so much fun, that we ended up the last ones to leave. We'll definitely have to bring Q back for more fun in the park.
Winky
We came home from work on Thursday to find a very winky, puppy. Q's left eye had some yellow discharge for the last day or two, and Kath saw this his eye was a little red after work. We took him to the vet, where he peed 4 times (last time was outside). They checked his eyes, and all seemed fine, so we got some eyedrops to treat his conjunctivitis. Hopefully all will be better soon, Q.
EDIT: 4/2 - Now his right eye is having the same symptoms... =( Poor Q.
EDIT: 4/2 - Now his right eye is having the same symptoms... =( Poor Q.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Kennel Cough
What a tough last few weeks Q had. We had boarded him at a location near the SouthCenter mall in Tukwila, WA, while we went to the Jake Shimabukuro concert in Bremerton on 3/13. Quigley seemed to have had a great time, with great reports from the staff there as well. Afterwards, Q visited his friend Hass, and they had a great time playing together.
It wasn't until later that night that he started coughing. It may amount to nothing more than a dog-version of a common cold, but experiencing it for the first time was somewhat terrifying. I took him to the vet on Monday, where he got checked up and put on antibiotics.
The first time I tried to give it to him, I put it in with his kibble. He found it, chewed it a few times, then spit it out. Then I wrapped it in his Gooberlicious treats, and he had no problem eating it then.
"Lucky" dog got 2 nice spoonfuls of peanut butter each day for the next 10 days. What was really tough though, was not letting him play with any other dogs. =( Poor guy. All he ever really wants to do is play and have fun. (and eat, of course)
Anyways, Quigley has been doing fine since last week when he finished his meds. His first day back at "school" was last night, and he got to see all of his classmates again, and even got to play with his friend Ripley a little bit before class. He was so happy to see and play with her.
I hope that his little bout with Kennel Cough has made him a more hearty dog, and hopefully he won't get too many more infections while growing up. Thankfully, this went fairly easily, and he's as happy as can be now!
It wasn't until later that night that he started coughing. It may amount to nothing more than a dog-version of a common cold, but experiencing it for the first time was somewhat terrifying. I took him to the vet on Monday, where he got checked up and put on antibiotics.
The first time I tried to give it to him, I put it in with his kibble. He found it, chewed it a few times, then spit it out. Then I wrapped it in his Gooberlicious treats, and he had no problem eating it then.
"Lucky" dog got 2 nice spoonfuls of peanut butter each day for the next 10 days. What was really tough though, was not letting him play with any other dogs. =( Poor guy. All he ever really wants to do is play and have fun. (and eat, of course)
Anyways, Quigley has been doing fine since last week when he finished his meds. His first day back at "school" was last night, and he got to see all of his classmates again, and even got to play with his friend Ripley a little bit before class. He was so happy to see and play with her.
I hope that his little bout with Kennel Cough has made him a more hearty dog, and hopefully he won't get too many more infections while growing up. Thankfully, this went fairly easily, and he's as happy as can be now!
Friday, March 12, 2010
New I.D. Tag!
When we adopted Quigley, I noticed that the humane society had an OSU Beavers dog tag in the shape of a bone with a little flashy orange accents on one side of the bone. I wasn't too sure how much I liked it, since I wanted his tag to be a little more simple. After some searhing around, I found a nice simple round OSU Beavers tag from CustomTagStore.com. They were great at responding to my emails and had a quick turnaround time. I ordered the tag, with engraving on Tuesday morning, and it was shipped to me the following day!
We were very pleased with the quality of the item and the engraving. It also matched well with his other 2 tags, and the color of Q's fur. Check out my pup stylin' in his new bling. LOL! Finally, a tag with your actual name on it, Quigley. =)
Big thanks to Jim at customtagstore.com. Click HERE to get your tag too!
Go Beavs! =)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Kath's Birthday
We started off the day with our 10K training run, with Quigley tagging along. This time we ran the path from Tualatin Community Park towards Durham City Park. It was a particularly good dog-day, as Quigley got to meet a number of great dogs while we were out there.
On the way home, we decided to stop at Burgerville to try their Rosemary Fries. They satisfied our French-Fry craving nicely, and as an added bonus, they gave Quigley a doggie biscuit!
We decided to work off those fries by taking Q for a walk around Tualatin. During our walk, we encountered even more "wildlife". First was a bunch of ducks at a "DUCK XING". From the picture above, you can see that the "X" is for "HULA HOOP". =) When we got to the Tualatin Commons, Quigley got to meet the kittens you see above. They didn't seem to want to play with Quigley, as they just sat there. =) Maybe another time, we'll be able to introduce you to some real kittens, Q, depending on how well you behave, anyways.
Later that night, Jay stopped by on his way back to Seattle. We all went to dinner for Kath's birthday at Hayden's Lakefront Grill, by the Commons, near where Q met the "kittens". The evening ended nicely with some wine and créme bruleé.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Saturday Market Opening Day
Our first stop was to the information booth to try and locate a food booth with wedgie fries that were so good last season. Sadly, they are no longer at the market. We also checked for a pottery vendor that we'd seen last year. The very helpful attendant recognized who we were talking about, but unfortunately, that vendor was not at the Market at the time. Oh well, maybe next time. =(
As we made our way into the crowd, Quigley was met by a few admirers, including a young couple who have a friend who is also named Quigley. =) As we briefly chatted, Quigley was apparently thirsty, and found some beer that had spilled on the ground. Geez Q, you're too young for that!
Even with the flow of people in the area, so many people noticed Q and either stopped to pet him or simply said that he was cute. It's amazing how much draw a puppy has, even when lying down in a very crowded area. =) Even with the attention he was getting, and all of the people walking past him, Q was always keen to watch for other dogs. He would get up to try and say "Hi", and on occasion was successful.
Q followed Kath throughout the market pretty well considering how busy it was. Granted, I did have him on a tight leash, so that may have had something to do with it, but overall he did a good job of following. We stopped at a few locations, and Q did very well, just waiting patiently near the booth entrances with me. Of course, the puppy magnet was still active, and he pulled a few people in to pet him, while others spontaneously said "Cute Puppy" as they walked by. While shopping, we found out about the "Doggie Dash" on May 15. It's a big run/walk that supports the Oregon Humane Society where you can take your dog along and have a great time exercising and socializing. We hope to take part in it this year. Apparently there's also a pancake breakfast included. Bonus! If you're interested in joining our team, let us know. =)
Q was able to meet a few dogs in the more open areas, including a Yorkie and a Husky. The dog he spent the most time with was a little Shih Tzu who's owner was super friendly. They got to play a bit in the park, which Q seemed to really enjoy. It was surprising since he seems to take more interest in the bigger dogs, but I guess it all depends on the dog and owner, really. =)To end the day, we spent some time walking among and admiring the cherry blossoms. It reminded us of our trip to Japan last year. With the weather to great, the scenery so beautiful, it was the perfect way to end our day at the market.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Ballard!
After spending the Saturday in Seattle, I took our barker to Ballard where Kath was visiting our friends LeAnne and Rex. Quigley got to run around like he does in our house, but this time with the luxury of a backyard and patio. He surprised (and scared) me when he jumped from the bench on the patio onto the grass. He'd never been able to jump like that with us, and so I didn't know if he could make it. It was no sweat to him, and he landed it like a champ. If only we had a backyard that he could run around like that in. Oh well, at least with him running around our first floor, he doesn't have to get wet and/or dirty. =)
We had our 2nd 10K training session with LeAnne and Rex that day. Instead of 2 and 5 minute intervals (run/walk), it was 3/4 (run/walk). Q, however, had his own pace in mind. Parts of his pace involved weight-training for myself and resting periods for him.
After our run/walk, we decided it was time to chow down. We went to downtown Ballard to Zak's for some burgers and shakes. Q waited patiently outside with Kath, while we placed our order and then waited for the food to come out. He did very well meeting people and dogs during the wait. Once we got our food, we went to the park next to the Ballard Library. There were plenty of kids, younger and older, and some other dogs there. Once again, he did very well, even some skateboarders came by, he didn't seem fazed, unlike his usual scared-self around skateboarders.
Our final Ballard destination was All The Best Pet Care. This was an awesome pet store with very friendly people working there. I was interested in getting a toy called a "Bob-A-Lot", which is a wobbly, treat-dispensing toy, with the same effect as a Buster Cube. Q wasn't so successful with the Buster Cube (it's just too big right now), and I had no idea if Q would want to play with the Bob-A-Lot, so I wasn't sure if I should purchase it. Well, the pet store had the best thing ever... a toy testing area where your pup can demo various toys sold in the store! We tried to see if Q had interest in some toy, which he kinda did, but when it came to the Bob-A-Lot, it seemed to keep him interested, so that sold me on it. =) Q even met some more dogs while playing around. He tried to play-bite at an older dog, but didn't get too aggressive. He also tried to share the Bob-A-Lot with a more aggressive Golden Lab puppy, who barked, growled, and bit at him. I was happy about that encounter though. He backed away at the right times, but he stood his ground so that he could play with the toy as well.
That last stop was a great way to end our day in Ballard. Q got his new toy, and they actually gave us some different samples of pet food that we could try with it. We walked back to our cars, said our byes to LeAnne and Rex, and then made our way home. What an eventful weekend, Quigley. =)
We had our 2nd 10K training session with LeAnne and Rex that day. Instead of 2 and 5 minute intervals (run/walk), it was 3/4 (run/walk). Q, however, had his own pace in mind. Parts of his pace involved weight-training for myself and resting periods for him.
After our run/walk, we decided it was time to chow down. We went to downtown Ballard to Zak's for some burgers and shakes. Q waited patiently outside with Kath, while we placed our order and then waited for the food to come out. He did very well meeting people and dogs during the wait. Once we got our food, we went to the park next to the Ballard Library. There were plenty of kids, younger and older, and some other dogs there. Once again, he did very well, even some skateboarders came by, he didn't seem fazed, unlike his usual scared-self around skateboarders.
Our final Ballard destination was All The Best Pet Care. This was an awesome pet store with very friendly people working there. I was interested in getting a toy called a "Bob-A-Lot", which is a wobbly, treat-dispensing toy, with the same effect as a Buster Cube. Q wasn't so successful with the Buster Cube (it's just too big right now), and I had no idea if Q would want to play with the Bob-A-Lot, so I wasn't sure if I should purchase it. Well, the pet store had the best thing ever... a toy testing area where your pup can demo various toys sold in the store! We tried to see if Q had interest in some toy, which he kinda did, but when it came to the Bob-A-Lot, it seemed to keep him interested, so that sold me on it. =) Q even met some more dogs while playing around. He tried to play-bite at an older dog, but didn't get too aggressive. He also tried to share the Bob-A-Lot with a more aggressive Golden Lab puppy, who barked, growled, and bit at him. I was happy about that encounter though. He backed away at the right times, but he stood his ground so that he could play with the toy as well.
That last stop was a great way to end our day in Ballard. Q got his new toy, and they actually gave us some different samples of pet food that we could try with it. We walked back to our cars, said our byes to LeAnne and Rex, and then made our way home. What an eventful weekend, Quigley. =)
Seattle!
This weekend, Quigley visited Uncle Jay in Seattle. After feeding Q a relatively late lunch, his stay started off with a nice long walk with some good hills. First stop, of course was to go to the bathroom outside Uncle Jay's apartment. After that, Uncle Jay and I searched for our lunch location. During our "hunting adventure",.Quigley met a beagle, a mixed-breed with Whippet and Schnauzer, a really fluffy Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and a few other dogs. After passing various locations, carrying Q when he didn't want to walk, and meeting many people who melt at the sight of a puppy, we ended up at Dick's Drive-In for some burgers, fries and shakes.
Uncle Jay and I walked Quigley down the street to Cal Anderson Park, and found a bench by the water feature there. Q waited fairly patiently while we ate our lunch, and he met a few more dogs, including what appeared to be a Bernese Mountain Dog. After the Bernese Mountain Dog said "Bye," to Q, it went to the water feature and waded for a few seconds. Another interesting thing that was in the water was a photographer and the model he was photographing. It's crazy what some people do, as it wasn't warm or sunny, and that water must've been cold.
After we ate, we ventured further into the park. I put Q on his long leash, and found an open concrete area to try and get him to play fetch. Well, there was too much seeds and bark on the ground, that he had very little interest in his ball. We moved further in, and found a empty basketball court. We threw around his floating Kong, since it had a rope. Now he was playing fetch... sorta. It was more of run after after the Kong with Uncle Jay holding the leash, run past the kong and turn around to get it, then maybe run back to Dad, and if so, past him. Silly dog. Silly, Silly Dog. Q met a few more dogs, including a 14-year old Golden Retriever / Australian Shepherd mix, and a 12-year old dog before we finally made it home for his afternoon nap.
Later that evening, after feeding Q his dinner, we took him for a nice long walk. We started off walking a loop at Freeway Park. From there we decided to look for our dinner, so we walked down to Pike's Place. Since it was late, it turned out that nothing was open, so we headed back to Jay's apartment. On our way, we passed by the newly opened "Biscuit Bitch", which serves late night biscuits and gravy. While it sounded good, it wasn't exactly what we wanted for a late dinner, and we didn't want to have to wait another 10 minutes for it to open (10pm). While we made our way back towards Jay's place, we crossed a busy intersection. Then, all of a sudden, I felt a jolt on the leash. I looked back to see Quigley squatting to pee in the middle of the crosswalk! Poor guy, I had to pull him to get out of the street, and you could tell he just couldn't hold it any longer. =( Q, you need to give me some warning when we're walking, kinda like you do at home or in your crate. You did so well inside Uncle Jay's apartment, now we just have to figure each other out when we're out and about.
Uncle Jay and I walked Quigley down the street to Cal Anderson Park, and found a bench by the water feature there. Q waited fairly patiently while we ate our lunch, and he met a few more dogs, including what appeared to be a Bernese Mountain Dog. After the Bernese Mountain Dog said "Bye," to Q, it went to the water feature and waded for a few seconds. Another interesting thing that was in the water was a photographer and the model he was photographing. It's crazy what some people do, as it wasn't warm or sunny, and that water must've been cold.
After we ate, we ventured further into the park. I put Q on his long leash, and found an open concrete area to try and get him to play fetch. Well, there was too much seeds and bark on the ground, that he had very little interest in his ball. We moved further in, and found a empty basketball court. We threw around his floating Kong, since it had a rope. Now he was playing fetch... sorta. It was more of run after after the Kong with Uncle Jay holding the leash, run past the kong and turn around to get it, then maybe run back to Dad, and if so, past him. Silly dog. Silly, Silly Dog. Q met a few more dogs, including a 14-year old Golden Retriever / Australian Shepherd mix, and a 12-year old dog before we finally made it home for his afternoon nap.
Later that evening, after feeding Q his dinner, we took him for a nice long walk. We started off walking a loop at Freeway Park. From there we decided to look for our dinner, so we walked down to Pike's Place. Since it was late, it turned out that nothing was open, so we headed back to Jay's apartment. On our way, we passed by the newly opened "Biscuit Bitch", which serves late night biscuits and gravy. While it sounded good, it wasn't exactly what we wanted for a late dinner, and we didn't want to have to wait another 10 minutes for it to open (10pm). While we made our way back towards Jay's place, we crossed a busy intersection. Then, all of a sudden, I felt a jolt on the leash. I looked back to see Quigley squatting to pee in the middle of the crosswalk! Poor guy, I had to pull him to get out of the street, and you could tell he just couldn't hold it any longer. =( Q, you need to give me some warning when we're walking, kinda like you do at home or in your crate. You did so well inside Uncle Jay's apartment, now we just have to figure each other out when we're out and about.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tin Shed Cafe
We had to head into Portland today to redeem some of our ticket vouchers for the Portland International Film Festival. Since we hardly head into town these days, we decided to take Quigley to the Tin Shed Cafe (http://tinshedgardencafe.com/) on NE Alberta. I'd read that this place was dog-friendly from PortlandPooch.com.
We arrived there, and entered into their "garden" area which was a nice, cozy, and warm seating area. We got to sit right next to the fireplace, which was a plus, especially for Kath. =) There was another cute dog there who was older and didn't really want to play with Q. Quigley of course was insistent on trying to get her to play, or at least to say "hi". Eventually though, she did come around, but we think it was more because we were hand-feeding Quigley, hehe. Overall, Q was well behaved, even though he barked a bit.
As far as dinner went, it was delicious. I had the "Salmon & Spice" sandwich, which had a tasty, perfectly cooked salmon fillet with a tasty chipotle sauce. Kath had the "Peter Piper Picked a Pesto", which was a tasty pasta with pesto sauce and mushrooms. (More complete descriptions are on the restaurant website.) Anyways, the food was great, the atmosphere was great, and being dog-friendly is a definitely a plus. We can't wait to go back again!
We arrived there, and entered into their "garden" area which was a nice, cozy, and warm seating area. We got to sit right next to the fireplace, which was a plus, especially for Kath. =) There was another cute dog there who was older and didn't really want to play with Q. Quigley of course was insistent on trying to get her to play, or at least to say "hi". Eventually though, she did come around, but we think it was more because we were hand-feeding Quigley, hehe. Overall, Q was well behaved, even though he barked a bit.
As far as dinner went, it was delicious. I had the "Salmon & Spice" sandwich, which had a tasty, perfectly cooked salmon fillet with a tasty chipotle sauce. Kath had the "Peter Piper Picked a Pesto", which was a tasty pasta with pesto sauce and mushrooms. (More complete descriptions are on the restaurant website.) Anyways, the food was great, the atmosphere was great, and being dog-friendly is a definitely a plus. We can't wait to go back again!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
First Day of School
Quigley started Puppy Training Class last night (Monday, 2/22) at PetSmart. Q had quite a few classmates, most of whom were purebreed dogs from breeders. They were all so cute. Quigley seemed to like Ripley, an American Bulldog, as they greeted each other when we were leaving, and also while we shopped the store after class. Naturally, Quigley was his usual loudmouth self. Marj, the trainer, had to give him a Bully Stick to get him to stop barking. Even though we didn't do a whole lot on the first day, that little bit seemed to help quite a bit, as we got a few great tips, and a new angle on various things that we'd read about in the past. We really look forward to the next seven classes. Good boy, Quigley, Good Boy.
Dog's First Day at the Beach
On Friday, Quigley had received his 3rd shot for Distemper, and also his Rabies shot. With the great weather, and Q fully immunized, we decided to take Quigley to the beach on Saturday. We picked up Uncle Jojo in Corvallis and then headed over towards Newport, and then up to Lincoln City.
The first stop in our itinerary was Beach Dog Cafe on the South side of town. It's a cute little place with limited seating, but apparently it gets pretty busy, so we expected a wait. We couldn't have arrived at a more perfect time. We parked right in front of the place, got there just in time to beat a rush of people, and were able to seat ourselves at their only outside table so that Q could sit with us. We had the stuffed french toast and the Coney Dog. Mmm, mmm, good! In all the times we've been to Lincoln City, why hadn't we discovered this place sooner?
Another thing that brought a smile to our faces, was the cutest little boy that Sonja, one of the owners, brought out to say hi to Quigley and a pit bull who had arrived not long after. He was sooooo happy to see the dogs. You had to see the smile on his face, it was truly infectious.
You can tell that they are very dog friendly there, as the walls are decorated with pictures of their patrons' dogs. (Picture of Quigley, pending, hehe) They also offered Quigley a delicious treat that we found out was available at Paws On The Sand, located on the North side of town..
Naturally, our next stop became Paws On The Sand, which was a great little pet store with very friendly people. We picked up a floating Kong on a rope, and a bag of the Darford holistic dog treats that Q had tried earlier. The people there absolutely loved Q, and gave him some more cute little treats.
After that, we made our way towards the beach, and introduced Q to sand. I'm not sure what he thought of it at first since he kept falling and shoving his face in it, getting covered in sand. It was so cute. Once he got to the harder, wet sand, walking became much easier. We let him sorta play fetch with his new frisbee (run after it and try to pick it up), chase after us, say hi to more people and dogs. We also did a little bit of training, doing sit-stay, come, and lie down, which he did pretty well for being in a new environment with so many new things all around.
After playing at the beach for a few hours, we drove south to Newport for dinner. We went to the Chowder Bowl at Nye Beach. While we waited for our food outside, Quigley met even more people, including some kids. He did fairly well with all the new people, even the kids, though he did jump up a few times, and nipped a little when he shouldn't have. Overall, though, he did a good job.
After dinner we finally made the long trip back to Corvallis to drop off Uncle Jojo and then bring our fun day to a close. It was a great trip for the four of us. Quigley seemed to have a blast exploring his new play area and meeting all the friendly people and dogs. The coast will definitely be a destination for us when the weather is nice again. =)
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