Keli's Korner ~ The Westie and The Wauzer

There is a video embedded in this post : Keli doesn't know how much fun she's missing! -- Penny

Previously: Week One , Week Two Penny was well enough to attend the third training class last night. We had quite a busy day before that -- in the morning we went to our vet for the second part of her Lyme vaccine. This time she was treated by Dr. Shea, who chooses to believe Penny is named for her and not the stadium, since she is a Yankee fan. (Penny's "official" name is Penelope Shea; we are fans of the Mets and wanted to honor the stadium's final season when we re-named her. During the visit I also learned that a certain manager of our favorite team brings his dogs to the same veterinary practice.) Before Dr. Shea was ready to give Penny the vaccine, her assistant noticed a tick had attached itself to Penny's neck. I don't know how I missed it -- I brushed her very thoroughly the night before. I was grateful they found it and removed it, because I know it would have been extremely difficult for me to do it, even if I had help. Then it was time for...

Previously: Week One A day before our second training session, Penny started have "accidents" in the house. We had been doing a pretty good job with house training up to that point; a #1 accident now and then but no #2's in a while. But this didn't look right either, so we called our vet and had some tests done. It turns out she had giardia . Penny tested positive for giardia when we first brought her home and she had been treated with one type of medicine for a week. We were a couple of days past the date for re-testing her when the accidents started up. This time she received another type of medication, and hopefully that will clear it up. We decided it would be a good idea if Penny stayed home for our second training class, since she wasn't really in control of herself and we didn't want to expose any other dogs. So I went by myself. And you know what? She isn't the only barker in class. I just didn't notice it the first week. For week t...

Last night Penny & I went to our 3rd training session. We really like our instructor and the other dogs and people in our class. I am sure that Penny has made an impression on them as well. She is the problem child -- the one who can't sit still, can't stop talking, and has to be the class clown. She barked so much last night she was sent to the "bad girl" room to learn to be quiet. It's lucky she's cute. I haven't gotten around to posting Penny's Introduction yet, but as background information, we adopted her when she was about 4.5 months old. Her original owners gave her up because she barked too much. And she spent a couple of weeks at a shelter before coming home with us. I don't remember her barking too much the first few days she was with us . . . but at our first visit to the vet, as soon as she entered the waiting room it was non-stop, ear splitting, excited barking directed at strangers and even worse, at other dogs. Penny needed...

Friends sometimes ask Donna what we like for treats and toys and stuff, so they can send us gifts sometimes. She doesn't always remember the names of things, so we decided to put together this wish list at PetSmart.com , to make it easier on everyone. There's some things missing from the list, because I guess some things are only available in the real stores. But lots of stuff Penny and I really like (mostly toys) are on the list. Oh -- and Penny says that gift cards for PetSmart are really nifty, too, 'cuz then we get to go shopping too! I forgot about that. She only knows, 'cuz she gets to go to training class there every week, but I have to stay home and guard the house. I wonder if Petco has wish lists? We'll have to check that out . . . Thanks for reading our blog, Keli

I've been playing with editing video with Windows Movie Maker because the original upload of Keli & Penny and the New Toy was incomplete. I think it had to do with some sort of compatibility issues with my Kodak EasyShare software. Anyway, I've learned to splice all the bits together without losing anything and have uploaded a new, longer version. Now that I've learned how to combine the pieces together successfully, I can start thinking about how to edit out the parts I don't want in the next video. You can view the new video in the original blog entry here or go see it at YouTube here . It's a little over 6 minutes long. It's not the best video ever, but it's not too bad considering I used my digital camera to record it.

There is a video embedded in this post. Penny likes to play with the big purple ball. She thinks she can get it in her mouth, but instead she just covers it with slobber. It's really gross, but she thinks its hysterical. She manages to get herself stuck in all kinds of corners and other obstacles, like the tunnel. Sometimes she gets a running start and tackles the ball, rolling over the top of it. Some day I'll get that on video and we'll show it as the sequel to this one. Keli and Penny both have new toys for Easter. Click here to see all their latest photos added to Flickr .

Quoted from the ASPCA web site : "Get Ready to Go Orange! Join Animal Lovers Everywhere and Go Orange for Animals on April 10 for ASPCA Day! On Thursday, April 10, cities all over the country will be going orange to celebrate the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals and the joy they bring to pet parents everywhere. Lend us your voice on April 10 by dressing yourself, your kids, your pet—even your school or company!—in ASPCA orange, and show the world you support the ASPCA and the pets we protect." Go to ASPCA.org for more information or click here . I think westies look good in orange . . .

The link for this video was emailed to Donna last week -- we Westies think it is pretty funny. Chien Danseur - Vidéo

Today I visited our local PetSmart to sign up for a beginner training class for Penny, which starts this coming Thursday. While I was there, I picked up a 3-pack of loofa dogs for our westie girls. I decided to hand out only one of them . . . Keli only likes NEW toys and Penny only wants whatever toy Keli is playing with; if I give them each their own identical toys, they run around and wrestle for just one of them. I happened to have the digital camera handy, and decided to try out the video button for the first time in five years. Here was the result - new and improved video below: The one making all the growly noises is Keli, and the noise in the background is the dehumidifier that cycled on and off throughout.

Note from Donna: The image below is from an old greeting card, printed in England; purchased on eBay from K9 Kards This weekend was my birthday -- I am six years old now. It was also Penny's "half-birthday" weekend, whatever that means. Oh, they say that means she's 6 months old. Well, it also means we had to do everything together. We didn't have a party -- we don't do stuff like that. But we went for two long walks, got special Ziggies treats in our Kongs one night and on Sunday, we got to share a special Pumpkin Crumble dessert . That was yummy -- I wasn't too hungry for supper, but I really liked the pumpkin! I hear I'm gonna have a "half-birthday" too -- when Penny turns one year old. I guess sharing is not so bad . . . as long as I get my share of the goodies! This is a picture of me from Christmas 2007 -- I didn't like any of my birthday pictures, but this one is pretty cool, so I'm putting it here.