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Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

Shake Paddle and Roll 2009

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

You know Spring is here when it’s the Annual GRR Shake Paddle and Roll Fest comes around. Rather then explain what it is, I think I’ll just let the photos do the talking this time.

: It’s best to get a little food while you and the dog are still dry…

: Hey Buddy!

: That’s not a Golden!

: My lovely girls

: Golden Retrievers!

: More dogs…

: Throw it!!!

: What ‘cho lookin’ at?

: Would you put something like that in your mouth?

: Flying black dog

: Throw the ball so I can go get it!

: If I give it to you, you have to throw it again.

: Mine!

: Mud, Dogs, and Girl

: Who wants a ball?

: Got it!

: I got what I came for

: He actually cought this one…

: Mmmmm, muddy dogs.

: When the ball doesn’t make it all the way back…

: Dog play

: Dog play

: Weeeeeee

: What ‘cha doin?

: I’m tired…

: … time for a nap …

: … I think I’ll just rest for a minute …

: … so tired …

Dog Toys

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

With all these running posts, I’ve fallen behind in my quota for posts about dogs…

Gracie and I were home alone a couple weeks ago, and didn’t really have much to do. For me, this means that I sit at my desk sorting through bills and trying to clean up what I can around the house. For Gracie, this means sitting in the sun in the back yard.

In a particular hour of this particular day I happened to notice that Gracie had come into the house several times and then shortly returned to the back yard. Normally I would assume that she was just trying to decide between cold hard floors and warm soft grass… but she seemed to be a little more deliberate than usual. I decided I needed to investigate the strange behavior.

As usual, Gracie welcomed me to the back yard with a smile and an exposed belly (ripe for petting):

However, if you look in the background, you’ll notice that Gracie has decided that most all of her inside toys really belonged outside… about 10 feet away… in a big pile…

I guess she figured that her toys needed to come outside and enjoy the sun and have a little tea party. And being the good mom that she is, she decided to let them enjoy their party by themselves, but close enough to provide any assistance if needed.

Tags: Gracie
Posted in Austin, Pets | Comments Off

Shake Paddle and Roll 2008

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

We just got back from this year’s Shake Paddle and Roll Swimfest 2008, and man is Gracie (the dog) tired. For those who haven’t had the good fortune to experience the event in the past, it’s basically a whole bunch of Golden Retrievers swimming after tennis balls and then shaking on all the owners. Throw in some mud and a couple wading pools, and there you have it.

It’s always a blast to got to these events, and I have to thank Rudy’s, Upper Crust Bakery, HEB, Starbucks, and PetSmart for helping to sponsor the event.

Here are a couple select photos, but be sure to check out the rest of my photos and photos from other people as well.

Tags: Gold Ribbon Rescue, Golden Retrievers
Posted in Austin, Pets | Comments Off

Swimming at Bull Creek

Monday, April 28th, 2008

This past Saturday Gwen, Gracie and I met up with Sarah and Evie to go to Bull Creek Dog Park. The rains from the previous night promised to swell the usual trickle of water to something worth swimming in… and since neither Gracie nor Evie had actually been into the water past chest deep, maybe they would have more luck learning to swim together.

Getting the dogs in the shallow end didn’t seem to be a problem. And even though Evie liked to hang on Gracie’s ears as much as possible, she did find some other dogs with a bit more energy to play with too. For the most part, Gracie was just her usual Zen-like self, just wading around looking for people to pet her.

We then went a bit upstream to find a deeper part of the river to try out swimming. Unfortunately, swimming didn’t come naturally at first, and since Gracie was the taller dog, she also became a raft for Evie…

But, with a little encouragement (read: carrying her into the deep part), Evie pulled out a vigorous doggie-paddle technique which was moderately effective. There was a little wasted energy spent making huge splashes with each stroke, but that’s about how I swim too…

$Evie\'s first "swim"$

As one might expect, the swimming lessons completely exhausted both dogs. But, being dogs, they got to sleep it off the rest of the day… Ah, the life of a dog…

Be sure to check out the rest of the photos from the outing too.

Tags: Bull Creek Dog Park, Evie, Gracie, Swimming
Posted in Austin, Pets | Comments Off

Bessie Arrives

Monday, January 28th, 2008

My parents came to visit us on the way to their romantic getaway in Jamaica. I’d like to think they they came over just to see me, but really they were dropping off their dog for safe-keeping while they were gone.

We had dinner at Ichiban on Burnet the night they arrived, and then met up with Angel and Paulina for Breakfast the next morning at the Omlettry… Mmmmm…

I admire my Mother at dinner

The gang after breakfast the Omlettry

One thing that you can always count on is my father needing an internet connection when he arrives. This time I was prepared with a wired connection to avoid any wireless / password / protocol issues. And it was a good thing, his wireless card was on the fritz, but the wired connection worked (almost) the first time.

A happy internet user…

To make sure that she was comfy in our house during the trip, Bessie brought along her hidy-hole to camp out. Not only is it familiar territory, but there’s not many animals (canine or human) who want to bother trying to fit into such a small space. Oh, and the fact that it’s dark and quite helps too…

Is anyone home?

Can’t hide from flash photography…

Even with the hidy-hole, there’s something about human beds that are still quite aluring. Bessie seems to split her time evenly between her hole, the couch, and our bed.

Who me?