Laura (Cady and Koda's mom)

Happy Birthday Jett! I love her expression peeking out from behind that toy.

I'm another one of those that had to take the bell away. They learned it FAST!! Then it was being rung just to go outside. I started ignorning it sometimes if they had just been out and my oldest would ring it and turn around and look at me, then ring it again, harder. It did have the side effect that if they really needed to go out they were persistent, so once I took the bell away they just asked in their own way - pacing, whining, barking - depending on the dog. So I guess in it's own way it was good as it taught them that they really needed to let me know in some way rather than just standing there or peeing on the floor.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's never easy, even when it's right.

Hold those memories close.

God speed Nikita

My Koda is a red dog....

I also have a black/white and a blue tri - they get mistaken for aussies all the time. My black and white girl is very tall and lean, the boys are stockier and heavier, plus the blue tri has a curly coat - so that throws people off too. Doesn't matter to me, I know what they are.....mine.

I have this one on my truck....

Hoping, as others are, that no news is good news.

Our hearts are with you here in Florida....

My mom and I were travelling on the interstate in Baltimore one year waiting in traffic to go through a toll and tunnel - we were following an Explorer that had a bunch of ostriches in the back. We laughed at them until we had tears running down our faces. Each bump movement of the vehicle their long necks all swayed in unison. Every year when we drive on vacation we talk about the ostrich sighting!

Only just now catching this....

So glad hopefully (sorta, maybe) everything will be alright.

Sorry about the diet though - I have two boys that need the same - plus their mom (me)!

So sorry for your loss. I'm glad she's in peace now.

So sorry for your loss. Godspeed old girl....

Poor baby. I'm glad she's home and now can be on the mend. I'm sure she'll love having you home with her and will be manipulating you in no time - "Gee, one sad look gets me a Cookie? Hmmm..."

Hope you all get some rest and Skye's feeling much better soon.

So sorry for your loss. He fought a good fight.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your Fergus.

Thank you for sharing your story. It must be hard, but accidents do happen and maybe by sharing you will have saved another.

Hugs from the other side of the world to you and Kirra.

So sorry to hear about Ben....he'll be waiting with many good dogs....

So sorry to hear about Nell. Hugs to you. You've given her a great retirement, even if not long enough.

Sorry to hear that. Hugs and chin scritches from us....

So very sorry for your loss.

I hope someone can learn from the difficult lessions learned that you posted bringing something positive out of your terrible loss.

God speed Zia.

I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Godspeed sweet girl....

At eight weeks, Koda's eyes were a murky green

Now they are a golden-brown, not quite as light as amber

(excuse the yucky ball, it was like a kid's security blanket and hard to replace)

So sorry to hear about the old boy heading to the bridge. I loved following the story of the move and Buddy adapting to being an inside family dog. He was lucky to have you all. His story would make a nice tribute to adopting an older dog.

God speed Buddy....

I'm so sorry. Know that many are thinking about you and yours.

God Speed Briggs.

I'm so sorry to hear RD is so sick. I'm a frequent lurker here and on your blog.

Just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you, RD and the rest of TWAAW and sending good vibes from Florida.

You could also try belting the dog in a seatbelt. I found that the less mine have to stabilize themselves in the car, the better. Ginger did help a little, dramimine didn't. My first dog would get sick as soon as I started the car even if we were just sitting in the driveway. Same thing, drool, puke. Each of mine has outgrown it, somewhere between 6 months and a year. They each were reluctant to go for rides anywhere when they were getting carsick, now that they've all outgrown it, they LOVE to go for rides.

We've gone through quite a few soccer balls around here. The best so far (2 years this Christmas) is a youth size soccer ball that I got at Toys R Us. It seems that since it's smaller the dogs can pick it up better and don't tend to puncture it as quickly. It didn't start to get soft until the pieces began to come off and that has only been in the last few months. It's going strong still, other than a quite ragged look.

Jolly balls are a big favorite here too, but they are not indestructible. Koda always has one with him, even doing his business. They seem to last about a year. Koda likes to squeeze it in his mouth instead of holding it by the handle.

Baloo has just about eaten a handle off. A friend's beagle chewed the handle to bitty pieces in an afternoon.

Notice the raggedy soccer ball in the background:

They will get new jolly balls and soccer balls for Christmas....

I have a black and white girl and also a blue tri boy (plus a red/white boy). I saw both of them when they were young, the blue tri when he was only a week old. The different color was very obvious when they were next to eachother. There were several black and several blues in his litter. The tri portion was harder to tell when very young, but by about 5 weeks it was pretty obvious in my pup. The breeders on the board maybe can tell you more about that.

This was part of my blue tri boy's litter at 3 weeks

(from the left black, blue, blue, black, blue, blue)

My blue boy did get a few lighter hairs as he got older, but other than the tri showing up more, he's basically still the same color.

Has your pup been in the sun more or swimming? Just a thought.

Not sure this helps, but that's my experience....