Various good times (pictures added)
Yesterday, I took Chumley to the schoolyard and she playfully chased after 2 other dogs. She looked so happy to be playing! She's been eager to greet everyone - people and dogs - on the street and after the evening walk, she likes to sit on the front lawn on the tie out to watch people go by. Sometimes, our neighbor Baggins joins us and it is sweet to see the two old-timers hanging out together. Baggins is an adorable 9yr old portuguese water dog that knows how to open his fence gate. I took Maggie to the dog park with a pond. It was a hot day and Maggie loved going in the water and would wander out deep enough so that she could paddle around. It was so cute. She is a very calm swimmer. She would sometimes fetch the tennis balls that were in the pond. Later, I was looking for her and I didn't see her running, but then I noticed far in the distance were four legs in the air pumping and wiggling ecstatically. 
Both Maggie and Chumley have been enjoying climbing down embankments to sample the water from local ditches running with fresh mountain run-off. Lately, Chumley insists on jumping down out of the car herself. Landing on her two front legs is something that she never would have done before. I can't even believe it when I see it. She is even managing to get herself up on slippery floors. She is so determined! Perhaps her healthy diet is contributing to her continual improvement. Here's Chum enjoying a salad 
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We should choose an OES mascot each year ...as a fur-hero to all. ...and I totally nominate Chumley!!!!!!! What a inspiration. I mean... she's even eating salad on her own and it doesn't even have dressing on it!  
Glad Maggie is loving Boulder too.  |
| How wonderful, Val! I'm so happy you guys continue to do well. That looks like a good snack. Maybe I'll try it with my guys. I just worry about giving them veggies. One time I gave Annie a small carrot and she walked around hacking all night. |
| Thanks Leanne! That is so sweet! There are so many that inspire me that I would hate to choose. . .
Stacy -- it is funny about the veggies. Lately, Chum has really started to enjoy them. She LOVES tomatoes, stringbeans, beets, cucumber, broccoli, sugar snap peas, cauliflower. She only sometimes eats raw carrots though. She likes them canned. Sometimes, I stuff kongs with chopped veggies and they both love it. I think it is weird. The salad was just leftover end bits from a salad I was making but Chum was looking so desperately at it that instead of putting it in the trash, I put it in her bowl and she thought it was a special treat. |
Here is a picture of the farmer's ditch that runs throughout the area. In some areas (like this picture), it is really pretty like a garden and in others it looks like a canal or a creek.
The water is moving very quickly so I have to be careful to hold onto the dogs. There are very scary looking wide grates and tunnels in various spots and if a dog slipped past them, I don't know what would happen. |
Chum looks so happy! The salad picture cracks me up, when we had Flash he would pick out every miniscule bit of lettuce from his food and lay it next to his bowl  |
| It sounds like this move was the best thing for all of you What a beautiful place to live!
It's wonderful to hear how great Chum is doing |
| Great update on Chum! I'm happy to hear how well she is doing! I love the picture of the canal/creek/garden, it is beautiful! |
I decided I needed to take some pictures. Can't resist. 
Here's Chum approaching some neighbor dogs: 
Lying in the front yard, under the tree (her favorite spot): 
Maggie watching the world go by: 
Maggie's beautiful collar. Unfortunately, right after this picture, a neighbor came by to say hi and Maggie lept from the porch and the collar split along the seam. Bye bye collar. I might try to get it fixed but clearly it is not meant to restrain a flying sheepie.
More Maggie -- see -- she's not ALWAYS dirty: 
Maggie guarding the house: 
Chum still enjoying the grass: 
My favorite picture of Chumley: 
Here's alittle video of Chum barkingat neighbor Baggins -- look at her hula butt wiggle! People watching is exhausting!  |
| Great pics! |
| Those are too cute. I love seeing dogs outside on a porch just "enjoying life." |
| I love your pictures Val! Thank you for sharing. Chummie looks like a different dog with a total new lease on life. Maggie is adorable as usual. When I played the barking video, both China and Violet started barking and went outside looking for Chummie. lol |
| I can just picture myself on your front porch, nice wine in hand, scratching Maggie's ears, listening to Chummie bark at the neighbors and watch Boulder go by. |
| thanks for sharing Val, they are great photos of two beautiful sheepies and yep Chummie would be a perfect candidate |
SheepieBoss wrote: I can just picture myself on your front porch, nice wine in hand, scratching Maggie's ears, listening to Chummie bark at the neighbors and watch Boulder go by.
Yup! That's what my evenings are like. It is wonderful. Last night, my neighbor across the street was doing the same thing with her pet (a cat) and when the cat went in, she came over and joined us. It is a lovely place to live. This weekend, though, I saw the same annoying lady at the dog park both days. She was trying to play one on one with her dog and it was driving her crazy that her dog wanted to play with Maggie. She kept calling her dog back and trying to make it (a Weimeraner) fetch. Today when she saw Maggie, she started this chatter in a fake singsongy nice voice -- "aren't you the dog that was annoying me yesterday, aren't you the one that was bugging me. haven't we been through this already, now go away. . . " Every time her dog tried to play with Maggie, she would try to fake Maggie out by whipping her chuck-it ball launcher and when Maggie didn't go, she'd say "well, I guess you aren't THAT stupid." Then someone threw a mini-plastic basket ball -- Maggie's favorite toy -- turns out it belongs to her son and she asked the lab who fetched it to please not puncture it. Then she parked it in a tree to keep it away from the dogs. What a dope! The only dog she would encourage her dog to play with was another weimeraner. Anytime another dog was playing with her dog, she would use the chuck-it to shoo it away. Mean lady!  |
| Are you sure you didn't get a new dog?......Chum certainly does not look like the dog you had 6 months ago....she is amazing.....
Sorry to hear about Maggie's collar......guess they were really just for 'show' and not for hearty girls like Maggie! Thanks for the pics, it looks like you live in a beautiful place. |
| Ohh these are such wonderful pictures, it makes me so happy to see your girls looking so happy and peaceful! |
WizardMerlin wrote: Are you sure you didn't get a new dog?......Chum certainly does not look like the dog you had 6 months ago....she is amazing.....
Sadly, the crazy barking is the real give away. Ay yai yai my ears! I have a new trick. Jars of frozen baby food will keep her quiet for a few minutes here and there. . . We've been using it at her rehab appointments instead of a muzzle. If only I could attach a feedbag to her face. . . |
Valerie wrote: look at her hula butt wiggle!
That's one talented girl! The bum wiggle while barking has to be harder than rub your tummy and pat your head.  |
Valerie wrote: Mean lady! Invite her to your housewarming party. Valerie wrote: Sadly, the crazy barking is the real give away. Ay yai yai my ears!
I hate to ask, but have you considered debarking? |
| Val chum never ceases to amaze me, gawd let her bark away she is so full of life now and maggie, well she took my heart a long time ago. You all live in such a paradise now, I am on my way to visit you all LOL.
(well maybe one day when I can )
I love the salad girl wow lettuce alone mom
Gotta luv a healthy treat. |
Ron wrote: I hate to ask, but have you considered debarking?
No. Might make sense for some people who have to worry about neighbors, babies, etc. but that is not something I would choose for Chumley. With the car barking, the issue is more controlling her anxiety, not the noise. Speed seems to be a factor. When I drive about 10 miles per hour, she looks nervous and stimulated but I can coax her to stay quiet. But once we start really moving, she loses her composure. She almost seems like a kid on a rollercoaster. She's dying for the ride but likes to scream the whole way. With the neighbors, a quick "that's enough" followed by a treat is enough to get her to stop. I actually think it is endearing. And with all that she has been through, the fact that she has such a vigorous bark I take as a very good sign of her general well-being. |
| Val, the pictures and the stories were great!I can never get enough stories on both the girls. I love the picture of Maggie sitting on the porch with her front legs on the lower step. I love when they sit like that. And that sleeping Chum picture? So cute!
What's the personality of the Portugese water dog like? My brother is comtemplating one, but he's never met one, or met anyone who has one. |
barney1 wrote: What's the personality of the Portugese water dog like? My brother is comtemplating one, but he's never met one, or met anyone who has one.
I've known a number of PWDs and they are great dogs! I don't know what the breed books say, but they seem loyal, sweet, quiet, and mellow. There was a young one in Philly and all he wanted to do was play fetch but it was an even regularity rather than the sort of desperate enthusiasm of a lab. The older one would just sit at his owner's feet and let people pet him. He was about 5-6 years old. I've never seen them really play with other dogs but they also never pick fights or get picked on. They are athletic when young, but not jumpy or hyper or mouthy. They seem very trainable and obedient. They don't mind being petted, but you don't get the sense they are eager for it. They are kind of self-possessed, companionable but not needy dog. Our neighbor Baggins likes to come over and sit on the porch with us. He enjoys treats and a bit of scratching but mainly he seems to like the quiet company. He is completely adorable looking which makes me want to pick him up and squeeze him like a teddy bear. He wouldn't mind but he wouldn't really understand why I was being so silly. I would never describe a PWD as silly or clownish or even funny. They are also not fearful or timid. They seem very calm and happy going about their business. |
| Great pictures Val! It's amazing to see how much Chummie has improved. I'm so glad to see the three of you enjoying your new home! |
| Oh, Val, thanks SO much for posting these pictures!! Maggie looks regal as ever, bless her soul. And Chum!! I swear, looking at those pictures (especially the one that you say is your favorite) and watching that video, I'm convinced she and Drez were separated at birth!! (Give or take a few years!!)
Glad to hear everything is going so well in Boulder, too! |
| lol...maggie Does look nice and clean...what a tomboy...i love her pose on the porch...
I am blown away that chum will eat lettuce and veggies...wow....wish panda would, but brian has her spoiled with pretzels and chips...  |
| They could not be more special or precious. Glad you guys are enjoying your new residence! |
| Chumley- Our hero!!!
And what a sweetie that Maggie is!!! Thanks for sharing Val. |
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