Hery's 13 week "portrait"

Hery's 13 week "portrait", originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

Henry is now 13 weeks old ! He's learning and growing so fast !

That's what I get ....

IMG_2934, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

Just yesterday I did my blog post about being happy it was Hannah that went to the vet and not me. I'm old enough to know better than to say things like that....it will always come back to haunt you.

In case you didn't know already, I have something called lymphoma and there isn't really anything anyone can do for me. I'm just enjoying soaking in every last minute I can with my family.

I guess both my mom and dad noticed that I've started to pant very heavily and last night they got very worried about me. Next thing I know..... I'm off to the vet this afternoon !! I thought I was done for at least a few more weeks. But mom was worried and decided it was better safe than sorry.

She hugged and kissed me alot before my appointment and there were lots of tears. I licked her and tried to tell her it wasn't my time yet just yet. I don't think she can understand my tail morse code after all these years !!

There was no needles or ultrasounds at the vet today HOORAY !! He mostly sat on the floor with mom and I.

He told her that my lympha-jiggers (what are those?) are swollen and making my throat a little tighter. That's why my bark sounds lighter now, I don't like to eat hard food and my breathing sounds a little harder.

He also said no more hard food for me - VETS ORDERS !! I have a rare allergy to animal protien so I'm also a vegetarian ( hardee har har - let the jokes begin). There are very limited dog foods out there that are vegetarian and the canned ones could be saved for 100 years and not go bad ! So mom gets to cook me home cooked meals !! The vet man gave her some recipe sheets. I can't wait for some pasta, carrots, pumpkin and yogurt to name just a few.

Do you hear that friends ?! No more dog food for me - I'm going to eat like a king !! maybe the vet isn't so bad after all. What took him so long to make that decision ?! I should have acted sicker last time I went if it meant yummy meals !

The vet is going to help mom and dad decide when I need to go to the "bridge". He estimates 3-4 weeks at most. I'll take it ! I need lots more hugs and kisses before then ! I know it makes my family very sad but I've been a good boy and will remember how much they loved me and took extra special care of me !

Until next time furriends ! I'm off to make sure Hannah is behaving and Henry is peepeeing outside !!

Poor Hannah

Poor Hannah, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

Doesn't she look pitiful ? She had to have her big girl shots. Two in her hip and one in her shoulder. I didn't go with her to the vet. When she came home she just wanted to sleep next to mommy for the rest of the evening and not move. She didn't even want to be touched it was so sad just to look at her.

Luckily she is back to her herself now and getting into lots of mischief. Even though she drives me crazy sometimes with her bouncing around I couldn't stand to see her sad.

 I felt so bad for her but don't tell anyone -  I'm very glad it wasn't me that had to go to the vet. I've been way too much in the past few months ! It was nice to have a break and have someone else go instead !

The PeePee Progress Report

Supervising Playtime, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

Yesterday we went outside to enjoy some playtime. Mom was working on teaching Henry to fetch. He thinks that as soon as he catches it you lay down and chew on it - he has soooo much to learn !! I'm trying to teach him how important it is for Goldens to always have a ball in their mouth or near them at all times.

Hannah might be small but don't let that fool you ! She is faster than both Henry and I ! She is a little speed demon.

Henry is also learning to peepee outside. I'm such a proud big brother and just keep patiently showing him how it's done. He knows now that the minute mom or Dad come home he needs to go straight to the back door and sit. I don't think he has had an accident in a couple of days but we keep a pretty close eye on him just in case !

Hope everyone is having a weekend full of tennis balls, belly rubs and treats !! Bark ! Bark !

The Invisible Dogs

BOL (Bark Out Loud for those new to my blog). My new friend Hailey over at her blog shared this video this morning as a Saturday funny. This made me howl out loud and thought it was too good not to share myself !! Thanks Hailey !!

A group of 2,000 people walk their "invisible" dogs to the curiosity of others around them.

Protecting us from the Zhu Zhu Pet

Playing with the Zhu Zhu Pet, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

My girl child got the famous Zhu Zhu pets for Christmas. I don't know what to think of them ! They are fast and crazy. They run around like they're real but have wheels on the bottom and don't smell real. I still keep a really close eye on them just to be sure though !!

Why is the considered a trick and not cruelty ?

Learning to leave it, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

Do you see the treats my mom has laid out on the floor in front of Henry and I ? She says she is working on "Leave it" with Henry and I'm a good example.

I've always wondered about this so called trick ?! It's cruel. Why take my favorite things, put them right in front of my face and tell me not to touch them ?

I wonder how she would feel is I brought home some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and waved them around her face while telling her not to touch them !!! I bet she wouldn't last very long playing the "leave it" game !!

Anyway, eventually I did get the treat but had to wait for Henry to understand what was going on and he was being a little wiggle worm !!

Wordless Wednesday

Making homemade Kong stuffing for the dogs, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

I *LOVE* fresh air !

Chandler enjoying a little fresh air, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

Usually this time of year it is way too cold to have the windows down enjoying the fresh air ! The weather lately has been so nice and mom even rolled the window down for me ! I love the wind blowing in my face !!

A (muddy) visit to the dog park

Do you notice a theme going on here ? My last post was about Henry deciding to play in the mud and getting his first bath !!! Today mom and dad took us to the state park and it was like one big mud pit ! We live in Colorado, where it is normally pretty snowy this time of year. The last week the weather has been unseasonably warm in the 50's and 60's. All our snow is melting away and we have lots of mud and puddles. I LOVE mud and puddles but mom and dad don't share my excitement for it.

We all headed out around noon. This is a state park so there are no fences. Mom and Dad don't quite trust Hannah and Henry just yet so decided to keep them safe and sound on their leashes. They said we would see how they do at the fenced in dog park.

I can't remember the last time I had this much fun ! There is just something about the wide open space to run. I have a backyard, but it just isn't the same as exploring someplace new !

I ran and played with the other dogs along the path like I was a young pup again.  I really wish Henry and Hannah could have run along side of me so I could show them how it's really done but I don't want to lose my brother or sister !

Mom and Dad kept laughing at me because I would find every muddy tennis ball along the path. All the other dogs would drop them when they got too muddy.  A tennis ball is a tennis ball to me - muddy or not !! I wasn't letting go !!

Dad was working on leash manners with Henry and Hannah along the way. To get a treat they both had to sit and be patient. Hannah does well but Henry has a long way to go still !!

By the time we left, we were all exhausted ! That was enough exercise for me ! When we got home it was time for baths and rest time. I don't think I wanted to move for the rest of the day I was so tired !!

Henry's first bath

Crazy little Henry decided yesterday it would be a good idea to play outside in the mud ! He wasn't very excited when dad told him it was time for his first bath ! I layed in the hallway and stayed out of the madness in the bathroom.

He was less than thrilled to be taking a bath. I tried to warn him that was going to happen. Dad tried to tell him to get used to the water because most Golden's love water. I guess dad just doesn't understand there *is* a big difference between romping in puddles and a BATH !!

Hannah sat on dads toilet to supervise. She was getting a little worried she was going to be next and she didn't even get into the mud in the backyard.

We caught Hannah kissing up to dad just to make sure she didn't have to be next. She's such a little sissy sometimes !

Poor Henry ! Even though he looks miserable he made it through his bath safe and sound. He even got extra cuddles from dad all wrapped  in his warm towel after his bath !!

Henry

Henry, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

This is Henry. He is the newest edition to the family. With me being so sick everyone thought it would be best to add the newest addition sooner rather than later. He sure is a bundle of energy. I've been a great supervisor and have been teaching him and pottying in the backyard and not the house.

Henry and Hannah would run around in the backyard all day long if mom and dad would let them. I like to watch them from inside where it is nice and warm. Crazy young dogs !

Hannah

Hannah hanging out for Christmas, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

This is my sister Hannah. Like I said she is a 7 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She is really a mommy's girl and her favorite place to be is in someone's lap.

I taught her that one of the best things in life is a tennis ball and now she's faster than I am at getting them !! My arthritis doesn't let me run like I used too !

We get along really well as long as she isn't trying to steal my treats ! She's still working on her basic commands but she's really smart. Mom keeps saying she thinks she will make a wonderful therapy dog one day.

My first post and an introduction

Chandler trying to get geared up for the morning, originally uploaded by Mssslaydbug.

My name is Chandler and this is my blog. I'm an 11 year old golden retriever. I live in Colorado with my mom and dad. I have 2 human kids. Austin my kid boy is 12 and Ella my sweet kid girl is 5.

I also have two younger canine brother and sister. Hannah is a 7 month old King Charles Spaniel and Henry is a 12 week old Golden Retriever. Our house is full of the most important things. Love, hugs, belly scratches, babies ( my stuffed ones), tennis balls, treats and lots of wagging tails.

I've recently been diagnosed with lymphoma. This makes my humans sad but I'm going to use every last minute to enjoy their company and show them how much I love them. I also have so much to teach Hannah and Henry - they are both so young and have so much to learn.

I hope you will enjoy our blog !