Whiskey Camp, DOTW for 12/24-12/28!

Whiskey Camp is the DOTW for the week of 12/24-12/28! Whiskey is an 8-year old Bassett mix (or maybe a PBGV mix?) who's been coming to Dog Days since late 2006. Whiskey is quite a character - he's very playful, and loves a good game of tug o' war. As he's aged, he hasn't necessarily gotten less active - he still races around the play area as much as he ever did. He's not particular about who he plays with either; as long as someone in the play area will entertain him, he's good to go. He loves his human attention as well, and we always give him lots of loving when he's here. He cleans up nicely too, although most of our pictures of him are before his grooming. He's handsome, regardless. :) Congratulations, Whiskey!

Playing with Brutus and some of his other friends

Maggie Denks, DOTW for 12/17-12/21!

Maggie Denks is the DOTW for the week of 12/17-12/21! Maggie is a 9 year old Mastiff mix who's been coming to Dog Days since early 2009. Maggie is a big sweetheart of a dog. She mainly hangs out and observes all the crazy antics of the younger gang. She prefers her people, and we always make sure we shower her with attention when she's here. Maggie is one of those stable females that we like to use for interviews, because she's relaxed and comfortable here, and knows the ropes so well. Her imposing size always seems to bring the energy level down a bit in the playcare area too, which we always appreciate. Maggie, it's much deserved! Congratulations!

Mason Brown, DOTW for 12/10-12/14!

Mason Brown is the DOTW for the week of 12/10-12/14! Mason is an almost 7-yr old poodle mix who's been coming to Dog Days since he was only about 6 months old, in mid-2006. We've watched Mason grow from a fluffy white puppy who was a little unsure of himself to a fluffy white dog who's more confident. He has some good friends here - he likes Buddy H. and Brutus, and always plays well with them. We use him a lot for small dog interviews because he's a stable, friendly boy. We always enjoy Mason's visits, and are happy to make him DOTW this week. Congratulations, Mason!

What a nice smile, Mason!

Playing ball with Buttercup in the background

Mason, why so serious? :)

Kugel Blanscett, DOTW for 12/3-12/7!

Kugel Blanscett is the DOTW for the week of 12/3-12/7! Kugel is an almost 6 year old Vizsla who has been coming to Dog Days since early 2012, when he joined his brother Ivan (also a Vizsla), who had been coming for a few years. Kugel is a special boy - he is very social and playful, and couldn't be sweeter. He loves loves loves his people, but also loves to play with his brother. He's not a fan of being confined in any way, so he has been a bit of a challenge for us. But he's such a great dog, we overlook his drawbacks. We love you Kugel, and are happy to make you DOTW this week!

Hurry up and take the darn picture, Miss Joyce!

I know it's blurry, but what a sweet face!

Kugel (standing) playing with Ivan

Boomer's Story

As many of you know, I lost another dog on Monday, November 26th. How did I end up with an old, sick dog, after going through the pain of losing my old, sick Emma one short year ago? Here is Boomer's story.

Boomer was one of my very first clients at Dog Days. He was a big Golden/Lab mix - when he started coming to Dog Days, he weighed around 130 lbs. His mom traveled quite a bit, and started using us for boarding. Most weekends, Boomer came to stay with us. This was early in the life of the daycare, and sometimes, Boomer was our only boarding dog (we would have a few more daycare clients during the day). I remember many a Sunday afternoon, with me, Scott (my now husband), Emma and Boomer, sitting in one of our suites, watching football on the television. Emma and Boomer spent a lot of time together, and Boomer was afforded some special perks, since he was sometimes the only dog. His mom didn't generally bring any toys with him when he would board, so at one point, we found a small white and pink pig and just put it in Boomer's run. When he'd enter or leave the run, he'd grab that little pig and carry it around gently in his mouth. After that, we always saved the pig for him to have when he stayed with us. He, along with Emma, interviewed all of the new dogs that came in those early years.

After several years, we stopped seeing Boomer. We never knew where he'd gone, or what had happened. And then one day, his mom called and back he came for some boarding. His mom's personal life had changed, and she didn't need us to watch him as often, but occasionally, she'd bring him to board for a while with us. He looked older, but was still a really big boy. Then he dropped off the face of the earth again.

When Boomer returned the next time, I was shocked at how he looked. His front end was still really huge, but his back end had very little muscle mass, and had wasted. In addition, his spine was showing. He also had lost a lot of fat on his head. I took one look, and knew he wasn't healthy. I tried to baby him when he stayed with us, and told Scott that he needed to come see him, and probably say his goodbyes, because I didn't think we'd see him again. It made me very sad - he was still the same dog, but was so obviously sick. It broke my heart.

One day in late July or early August 2012, Boomer's mom stopped by the daycare, without Boomer. I immediately assumed the worst. But she told me that he was fine, but that she needed to rehome him. By this time, he was almost 12 years old. I was dumbfounded - how do you rehome a sick, 12 year old dog? The rescue she'd gotten him from 11 years earlier was no longer in existence, so she was going to take him to the shelter, but thought she'd ask me if I'd take him first. I started crying, told her to do nothing, and that I'd talk to Scott. I knew what I was asking - that he agree that we take in a sick, old dog with incontinence problems for however long he had. Scott, bless his heart, said that we couldn't possibly let him go to a shelter, and to bring him home. His only requirement was that we have our vacation (planned for the week before Labor Day) before we bring him home. I called Boomer's mom the next day, and told her we'd take him in early September.

Boomer's mom brought him to the daycare in early September, and before even getting him home, I took him to our vet. I wanted to get him checked out, so at least I would know what I was dealing with as far as his health. I had suspected that Boomer had laryngeal paralysis, and the vet wholeheartedly agreed. She also said she thought he had cancer - wasting along the spine doesn't often happen without some serious disease like cancer. We decided to just start him on some supplements for the LP and for the nerve damage to his back end. He occasionally knuckled under, and didn't seem to always be aware of where his back legs were. We planned an ultrasound for a few weeks out to take a look at his organs.

Boomer slowly settled in and got used to our routine pretty quickly. Because he couldn't do stairs, he had to stay on the main level. We cleared our dining room, laid down rugs and a rubber mat, and set up his crate (which he really liked). He'd sleep in there, and when we were gone, that's where he stayed. That way, if he had an accident, it was just a tile floor and could be easily cleaned up. Boomer did some barking at first (he didn't want to be left alone) but that slowed down.

Getting Boomer to the vet for an ultrasound was a nightmare. He wasn't very mobile, and was far too big to pick up like Emma. So we bought a ramp. Even getting Boomer up the ramp wasn't easy. The day I took him in for his ultrasound, it was raining, and Boomer hadn't pooped on our short morning walk. When I put him in the SUV, he pooped (although I didn't notice at first). I turned my back and started pulling up the ramp, and Boomer jumped or fell out of the SUV behind me onto the garage floor. He seemed okay, but it completely freaked me out. When I got him back in the truck, I noticed the poop, and had to clean that up. I finally got him to the vet, and left him for a few hours so they could do the ultrasound. The ultrasound showed us that, while most of Boomer's internal organs looked okay (at least from what Dr. Chau could see), he had a metastatic liver, meaning he had cancerous tumors on his liver. It wasn't liver cancer, but instead was cancer from somewhere else in his body that had metastacized to his liver. Dr. Chau said that his liver enzymes were still okay, so that was probably not going to kill him. At that point, Scott and I had already talked about when we would make the decision that it was time for Boomer to go to the Rainbow Bridge. Because of his size, we decided that if he got to where he couldn't walk, that would be the time. I spoke to Dr. Chau about it, and she thought that was probably the best indicator that it was time. Boomer was obviously not going to be getting any better. He was still at 89 lbs, so carrying him was not an option. We used Emma's old Help Em Up harness - both the front piece over his shoulders, and the back piece, over his hips. He stayed in that harness 24/7 once we put it on him. We couldn't have managed him without it.

Because Dr. Chau thought he might be having some arthritis pain, we started him on Tramadol and Gabapentin. His little cocktail of meds and supplements was working pretty well. He was taking 3 short walks a day - one of us would come home at lunch and take him out for a spin then eat lunch with him during the week. We walked him separately from Leeloo and Murphy because Boomer couldn't go very fast or very far. So we swapped out each night - I'd take him one night, then Scott would take him one night. I took him every morning. The routine seemed to do him a world of good - he was eating well, walking pretty well, playing a little bit with toys around the house and really seemed to enjoy just hanging out with us watching TV. He almost never had any accidents in the house - I can only remember 3 instances until that last day. Then he started barking. He didn't want to be left alone, and he didn't want to be blocked in his room. So if we were in the house, but for whatever reason he had to be in his room, he would bark. He wouldn't stop, and it could go one for many minutes. He barked one night for an hour and a half. I was losing sleep and getting terribly frustrated.

In October, I decided that the Benedryl we were using to calm him and keep him from panting and barking (because of the LP) had stopped working. Dr. Chau and I decided to try Doxepin, an anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drug that is sometimes used for LP dogs. The Doxepin worked great for Boomer - really settled him down and quieted him. It did make him a little sleepy, but he was so much more comfortable. The panting and barking pretty much stopped. Finally, we had found the perfect combination of drugs and supplements. The rest of October and November went well. Occasionally he'd have a bad day, where his front right shoulder would seem stiff, but after a day or two and some pain meds and NSAIDs, he'd be back to normal.

UNTIL the year anniversary of Emma's death, November 25th. That was a Sunday this year, and when I got him up in the morning, he didn't want to move. I could get him standing, but walking, no way. I managed to kind of drag him out to the backyard, and he peed. But he wouldn't walk around the yard at all. He ate normally, and I went for a run as usual. When I returned, I put his leash on him to take him for his walk, and again, he kind of just stood. I was able to get him to walk down a house or two on our street, but it was obvious he didn't want to go. He kept stopping and looking at me. I was very upset - I knew that look and I knew what day it was, and I was not ready for this to happen on this day with Boomer. I got him home and walked Murphy and Leeloo as usual. When Scott got up, I told him what I'd seen. He took Boomer out to potty, and we started talking about what to do. We decided to carry on as usual (as much as we could) on Sunday, and if he was no better on Monday, we'd take him in to Dr. Chau. He was no better as Sunday wore on - he wouldn't walk, so he didn't poop. I woke up at 3:30 Monday morning, smelling poop, and spend 45 minutes cleaning up the carpet and Boomer's rear end. He'd pooped, not realized it, and laid down in it, pressing it into the carpet. I knew in my heart it was time. Monday morning was the same as Sunday morning - I kind of had to drag him outside to pee, but he ate well. I went to work early in the morning as usual, and Scott stayed home from work in case I was able to get an appointment in the morning with Dr. Chau. I set the appointment for 11:30, and told the tech that I wanted Dr. Chau to take a look at him and let me know what she would do if he was her dog. Scott and I got Boomer into the car. We got him to the vet, and laid him down in the exam room. Dr. Chau examined him. As she was manipulating his front shoulder (pressing into the bone) he kept turning toward her (a sign of pain). She thought he was in pretty bad pain (and this was with the Tramadol, Gabapentin, Doxepin and Metacam, an NSAID). She agreed with us that he was in pain and it was probably time. Boomer was always pretty nervous at the vet, so Dr. Chau gave him a sedative to quiet him before she injected the euthanasia drug. When she gave him the sedative, he stuck his head between my arm and my ribs (I was sitting on the floor in front of him) and laid his head on my lap. He fell asleep with his tongue sticking out. Then he went to the Rainbow Bridge.

When we took Boomer into our home, we knew we only had about 3 months or so. We weren't sure if he'd make it to Thanksgiving; once he made it to Thanksgiving, we weren't sure if he'd make it to Christmas. He seemed to be just plugging along, not doing badly until he went downhill so quickly. We loved Boomer - we'd known him for so long, 8 years. Although we only had him in our house for 3 months, he was a part of our lives for much longer. He'd fit himself into our lives and into our routine as if he'd always been a part of it. Scott even taught him (at 12 years old!) how to beg at the table, just like Murphy and Leeloo. When he'd be in a playful mood, we'd laugh at his antics. He'd get excited when Murphy and Leeloo would chase each other around the yard, grab a ball and throw it then kind of pounce on it. Once he met Issy, one of the dogs who lived in the house behind us, he loved walking up to her at the fence and give her kisses through the fence (and she'd give him kisses too). One of the ways I knew he didn't feel well was that on Sunday, when Issy was outside, he didn't go over to say hi to her. I knew it wouldn't be easy - both to take him in and take care of him, and to send him to the Bridge when it was time. He touched us very deeply, and we are so happy that we could provide him with a few months of happiness and warmth in our home. I hated having to be the one to make that horrible decision to send him to the Bridge but also knew that it was time. I am glad that he was such a good boy and was so appreciative of what Scott and I did for him. He knew I think how much we cared for him, and I hope that it gave him some peace and pleasure in his last months. He's left another hole in our hearts, and although he was only here for a few months, the house seems very empty with him. I hold out hope that Emma met him at the Bridge, and they're together again, waiting for me to join them someday. Rest in peace, big Boomer. We loved you very much.

Dexter and Chloe Forth, DOTW for 11/26-11/30!

Dexter and Chloe Forth are the DOTW for the week of 11/26-11/30! Dexter and Chloe are long-haired dachshunds who've been coming to Dog Days since 2006. Dexter is 8 years old, while Chloe is about 10. Although Dexter is younger, he's also a little more reserved with the other dogs, while Chloe is a bit more playful. They play quite alot with each other, but love to snuggle with their people the best. We always enjoy having them come visit with us, and are happy that their parents continue to trust us with their care. Congratulations you two, it's well-deserved!

Dexter

Chloe

Dexter sniffing Nittany while Chloe looks on...

Quality of Life Scale for Pets, or How Do You Know When It's Time?

Unfortunately, I recently had, for the 2nd time in a year, to make that horrible, gut-wrenching decision to send a beloved dog to the Rainbow Bridge. I will write about Boomer in another post, but I thought it might be helpful to point everyone to the quality of life scale that I used for both Emma and Boomer, when I had to make the decision for them.

If you have a pet in your life, you know that someday, you're probably going to have to decide when it's time for them to pass out of this life and into another. Sometimes, the pet is in pain, and perhaps the timing of the decision is not as difficult; other times, the pet is just old, and slowly losing the ability to do the things that he or she has enjoyed. Then the timing of the decision becomes very hard. Regardless of the situation, it is NEVER NEVER NEVER an easy decision to make. Having made it twice fairly recently, I can honestly tell you that I second-guessed my decision both times, although they were pretty different situations. And it's always painful. What a horrible responsibility - to have to decide when to end a pet's life. I personally would rather that my pets always die in their sleep, and therefore remove me from the equation. But it hasn't happened yet. If you own a pet, it's one of the many responsibilities you accept, but not one you often think about until too close to the end.

I have found a pet quality of life scale that is quite helpful in judging when it might be time. Of course, these things are completely subjective - each pet is different, and only you, the owner, can know how much joy your pet still gets out of the things he loves to do the most. If taking walks is really important to your dog, for example, the mobility question, in my opinion, becomes weighted more heavily than some of the other questions. If your pet loves to eat, then the hunger question is obviously an important one. So you have to answer these questions with your own pet in mind. I'll post it below. You can always search for it on Google with "pet quality of life scale for dogs."

The other rule of thumb I use is: is there any chance the pet will feel or get better? If the answer to that is no, then you have to decide if you want the pet to continue living as they are for more time. And if you think your pet isn't ready, I think it's only fair that you question if indeed your pet isn't ready, or if perhaps you're not ready. As much as we want to keep them alive, in the end, if they're suffering, that's selfish. You have to keep your pet's quality of life in mind, not yours. No one wants to lose a pet, but sometimes, it's the most loving thing you can do. You can send them off with dignity, and you can be there for them as they begin their journey.

The last thing I have done, when making this decision, is look into my dogs' eyes. With both Emma and Boomer, the light went out of their eyes a few days before I made the decision. They both seemed...tired. They were willing to do whatever I asked them - get up and go outside to potty, eat, and take their medecine dutifully. But neither of them seemed to have that spark that I see in Murphy's and Leeloo's eyes - you know, the "good morning, what are we doing today? I love you Momma" spark. Although both Emma and Boomer were still happy to see me, the tail wags were rare those last few days. I have pictures of Emma the day before we sent her to the Bridge, and she looks tired in those pictures, nothing like in any of her previous pictures. She looks like she was done with all of this silliness and was ready to go. I saw that in Boomer's eyes a few days before we made the decision.

Only you can know when the time is right, but just make sure you're keeping your pets' best interests at heart, not your own. It's the greatest gift we can give them, after having helped them live in this world, to send them to the next when they're ready to go. I have always heard of people who feel they've let their pet live too long when they should've said goodbye sooner. I've not yet heard of anyone who, looking back, thought they said goodbye too soon. I did a lot of soul-searching, especially with Emma, with that very question. Could I have done more? But in the end, I knew I made the right decision at the right time. She was ready, and so was Boomer.

I still tear up when I think of both Emma and (obviously, since I lost him only a few days ago) Boomer, and I probably always will. Each of our pets touches our hearts deeply and in so many different ways. I am blessed that I was able to share my life with them, and this was my way of expressing that gratitude.

The following quality of life scale has been really helpful for me. It is written by Dr. Alice Villalobos. You rank from a 1-10, with 1 being poor and 10 being great. Over 35, according to the scale, then your pet is probably still able to live a decent life. Less than 35, it might be time to start thinking of letting them go. Obviously, it's not cut and dried - if your dog ranks a 34, according to the scale, then their quality of life is compromised. But again, you have to take your own pet into account I think, and weigh the appropriate questions more or less heavily, depending on how important they are to YOUR pet. I hope you find it as helpful as I have, when the time comes.

Quality of Life Scale

By: Dr. Alice Villalobos

Quality of Life Scale1 The HHHHHMM Scale
Pet caregivers can use this Quality of Life Scale to determine the success of pawspice care. Score patients using a scale of 1 to 10.
Score	Criterion
H: 0 - 10	HURT - Adequate pain control, including breathing ability, is first and foremost on the scale. Is the pet's pain successfully managed? Is oxygen necessary?
H: 0 - 10	HUNGER - Is the pet eating enough? Does hand feeding help? Does the patient require a feeding tube?
H: 0 - 10	HYDRATION - Is the patient dehydrated? For patients not drinking enough, use subcutaneous fluids once or twice daily to supplement fluid intake.
H: 0 - 10	HYGIENE - The patient should be brushed and cleaned, particularly after elmination. Avoid pressure sores and keep all wounds clean.
H: 0 - 10	HAPPINESS - Does the pet express joy and interest? Is the pet responsive to things around him or her (family, toys, etc.)? Is the pet depressed, lonely, anxious, bored or afraid? Can the pet's bed be close to the family activities and not be isolated?
M: 0 - 10	MOBILITY - Can the patient get up without assistance? Does the pet need human or mechanical help (e.g. a cart)? Does the pet feel like going for a walk? Is the pet having seizures or stumbling? (Some caregivers feel euthanasia is preferable to amputation, yet an animal who has limited mobility but is still alert and responsive can have a good quality of life as long as caregivers are committed to helping the pet.)
M: 0 - 10	MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD - When bad days outnumber good days, quality of life might be compromised. When a healthy human-animal bond is no longer possible, the caregiver must be made aware the end is near. The decision needs to be made if the pet is suffering. If death comes peacefully and painlessly, that is okay.
*TOTAL=	*A total >35 points is acceptable for a good pawspice

1.Adapted by Villalobos, A.E., Quality of Life Scale Helps Make Final Call, VPN,
09/2004,for Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology Honoring the Human-Animal
Bond, by Blackwell Publishing, Table 10.1, released 2006.

Big Black Norman, DOTW for 11/19-11/23!

Big Black Norman is the DOTW for the week of 11/19-11/23! Big Black is a six-year old Doberman Pinscher who's been coming to Dog Days since he was about 10 months old, in the fall of 2006. Big Black (we sometimes call him Big, or Biggie) has pretty much grown up here. He's more laid back now than he used to be, but he loved to play with several of our Goldens, like Cooper R. and Gracie C. He tends to be a "poker" when he plays too - whether it's with people or dogs. So if we feel a poke in the play area, we assume it's from him. He's pretty mischievous still, and we never know what to expect from him, so he keeps us on our toes. Congratulations, Big Black, it's about time!

Back when he was a younger boy

Hangin' with Baron

Frank Dahm, DOTW for 11/12-11/16!

Frank Dahm is the DOTW for the week of 11/12-11/16! Frank is a 1 year old Dachshund who's only been coming to Dog Days for about 6 months. But he's quickly wiggled his way into our hearts, and into the gang in the small dog area. Frank LOVES to play, whether it's tug o' war with one of the toys, or poking and chasing (and being chased by) another one of the small dogs. He has lots of friends, but probably his best friends are Ubu, Bowzer and Sushi. He has a lot of attitude in his little body, and he's all Dachshund. It's a little tricky getting a picture of him, because he never holds still! Frank is always entertaining and we love having him come visit with us. Congratulations, little man!

With his buddy Bowzer

Emma Verrocchio, DOTW for 11/5-11/9!

Emma Verrocchio is the DOTW for the week of 11/5-11/9! Emma is an 8 year old Keeshond who's been coming to Dog Days since early 2006. She is such a beautiful girl, and has the prettiest coat. She's always been pretty laid back, and definitely prefers her people. But she enjoys the socializing that goes on in the play area too. Emma has always been a stable, calm female who puts up nicely with both obnoxious puppies and pushy older dogs. When she's here, we often use her for interviews, because she's such a nice girl and gets along well with everyone. We always enjoy having her spend time with us, and are happy that her parents continue to trust us with her care! Congratulations, Emma!

Copper Kusler, DOTW for 10/29-11/2!

Copper Kusler is the DOTW for the week of 10/29-11/2! Copper is a 10 year old cocker spaniel who has been coming to Dog Days since 2009. Copper is a very pretty, gentle soul who loves hanging out with the people in the play area. She spends most of her time snuggling, but also does a little playing and socializing with the little dogs. We always enjoy having Copper come visit with us, and are glad her parents trust us with her care. Congratulations little lady! We love you!

Buddha Shaffer, DOTW for 10/22-10/26!

Buddha Shaffer is the DOTW for the week of 10/22-10/26! Buddha is an 11 year old Vizsla who's been coming to Dog Days since 2005. Buddha still has some energy for an old guy, but is generally a pretty laid-back fellow. He's gotten a lot more gray in his face since he started coming here, and we've enjoyed seeing him become a bit of an elder statesman. One of our favorite things about Buddha is his vocalizations. When you scratch him, he sounds like a car revving its engine. The rumble starts low and deep and then gets louder, sometimes ending in a bark. He also gets a good wiggle going. We love showering him with attention when he's here, and are happy to make him DOTW! Congratulations Buddha!

Watching the ball...

He's afraid the camera will steal his soul

Roxy Keesling, DOTW for 10/15-10/19!

Roxy Keesling is the DOTW for the week of 10/15-10/19! Roxy is a 7.5 year old beagle who's been coming to Dog Days since she was about 6 months old. Roxy, like most beagles, has a very prominent bark that she uses when she gets excited. She has beautiful almond-shaped eyes, which give her a somewhat exotic look (if a beagle can look exotic!). She will literally play with anyone who will play with her, and has mastered the art of the butt bump better than almost any dog in the small dog area. She always has a lot of fun when she's here, and we always enjoy laughing at her antics. You go girl! Congrats!

With some of her friends

Taking a break (with Jackson in the foreground)

Dakota Knecht, DOTW for 10/8-10/12!

Dakota Knecht is the DOTW for the week of 10/8-10/12! Dakota is a 6.5 year old beautiful red Vizsla who's been coming to Dog Days since she was only about 7 months old. Dakota is one of the sweetest dogs we have here, and she loves, loves, loves her people. She occasionally will play with other dogs, and her favorites are always the gentle ones, like Fenway. But she spends most of her time hanging out with her people. It's very tricky getting a picture of Dakota - we're not sure if she thinks the camera is going to steal her soul, or what. But somehow, we managed! She's a very gentle girl, and we love having her come visit with us. Congratulations, Dakota!

Look at me, Dakota!!!!

Smiling, and avoiding the camera

With her friend, Fenway

Pancakes Triano, DOTW for 10/1-10/5!

Pancakes Triano is the DOTW for the week of 10/1-10/5! Pancakes is a 5.5 year-old Cavachon who's been coming to Dog Days since mid-2008. Pancakes loves coming to daycare, and she's one of the best retrievers in the small dog area. She loves to play ball, and will play, non-stop, forever. She is also a snuggler, and loves people attention. She gets both ball time and snuggle time when she visits with us. Everyone here knows Pancakes, and we always enjoy having her come play. She gets along well with all of the little guys, but she's a dog who prefers her people the most. Congratulations, Pancakes - you deserve the title this week!

Waiting for me to throw the ball...

Stella Schantz, DOTW for 9/24-9/28!

Stella Schantz is the DOTW for the week of 9/24-9/28! Stella is a 3.5 year old Keeshond who's been coming to Dog Days since she was just a little thing (5 months old or so), in mid-2009. Stella has a lot of attitude, and makes sure everyone knows she's in the building when she arrives. She's very playful in the play area, but her best friends are probably Riley B. and Fenway. She seems to spend alot of time on her back when she's having fun, and does a lot of wrestling. Stella has become a regular here at Dog Days, and we always enjoy seeing her. Congratulations, Stella, woof woof!

Bode Hamby, DOTW for 9/17-9/21!

Bode Hamby is the DOTW for the week of 9/17-9/21! Bode is an almost 6 year old Dachshund (and possibly Beagle) mix who's been coming to Dog Days since 2007. He's always been a pretty laid-back, social fellow, even when he was young, but he always enjoys hanging out with Brutus and Milo H. Bode has a very distinctive hound bay, and when he wants to, he can really sing. When he barks here, we like to say that the Bode alarm system has been activated. :) He loves his people alot, and we love getting to spend lots of time with him. Congratulations, Bode, bark away!

Like most hounds, Bode always looks either sad or hungry. :)

Hangin' out with some of the small dogs

Would someone please rub my belly?

Diesel Schwalb, DOTW for 9/10-9/14!

Diesel Schwalb is the DOTW for the week of 9/10-9/14! Diesel is a 9 year old Lab who, with his sister Brier Rose, has been coming to Dog Days since late 2005. Diesel used to be a pretty nervous boy, and when they would board, he would chew his foot or his tail. However, once we started boarding the two in a fancy schmancy suite, the chewing magically stopped. He obviously feels that he wasn't being treated with QUITE the kid gloves that he so obviously deserves. :) He's always been a pretty laid-back fellow, and really loves his people the best (except for his sister, who he adores). Diesel and Brier play together quite a bit, even in the room, and it's always fun watching an old man bounce around like a puppy. We love Diesel and always enjoy his visits. Congratulations, Diesel!

Buddy Hohlfelder, DOTW for 9/3-9/7!

Buddy Hohlfelder is the DOTW for the week of 9/3-9/7! Buddy (often called Buddy Dammit by his mom) is an almost 2 year old miniature Schnauzer (yes, he's white!). He's been coming to Dog Days for about a year, and has quickly made a place and a name for himself in the small dog area. He's very playful, particularly with some of the Boston terriers - Brutus is by far his best buddy. He loves to play ball and is great with the young puppies as well. Buddy sometimes gets himself into trouble at home, and his mom often regales us with tales of his antics. But here, he always behaves as we'd expect him to. :) We love having Buddy come visit us. Congratulations Buddy! Woo woo!

Playing kissy face with his BFF, Brutus