Abby: Rock n' roll! It's my turn!

Hello Diary, my name is Abby Grace. I am the only girl doggy in my family. That's me in the picture. Don't let my good looks fool you. I am quite smart. In fact, I'm rather clever - and very quick! Most of my days involve grabbing something I shouldn't, barking at a rather impressive eardrum-piercing pitch, or pulling Hobbit's tail. Lately, I've taken a liking to going after his leg. He's not too fond of this, but I find great joy and amusement in it. Mommy tells me  "No!," but I can only remember that command for about five seconds. This frustrates her, but what does she expect? I mean, I'm a dog, so I live in the moment! Another game I enjoy playing is sneaking out the front door. Mommy and Daddy come yelling for me and I just keep running and running. It's sooooo much fun! I know Mommy means business, though, when she gets into the car to come get me. I run straight to her and give her my best "I love you!" expression. She wants to get mad at me, but Dog Training 101 tells mommies and daddies that they should never, ever punish a dog for reluctantly coming after several attempts. Always praise, no matter how long it takes the doggy to respond. I think this is hilarious! It's a win-win for me. :) 

Well, that gives you an idea of my typical day. Always something to get into. Tomorrow ... game on!

Signed,

Abby

Hobbit: A long day

My brothers and sister say it's their turn to contribute to the Doggy Diary, but I had a really big day so I think I have more to say. I'm very tired because I spent several hours at the veterinarian's office. My mommy took me there early this morning because it was time for more blood tests. You see, I have been diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. My adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. I don't know what that means, but I know how it makes me feel. I am often thirsty. I pee a lot. I am hungry almost all the time. I get hot and pant frequently. It can be rather uncomfortable. On top of that, I have skin problems and my fur quit growing on my back. Anyway, I was on some kind of medicine called Lysodren and it wasn't working, so Dr. Sarah, (my veterinarian), put me on Trilostane. My blood work today showed that I am not responding to it either. She decided to double my dose. I heard my mommy ask Dr. Sarah what it would mean if it didn't work. I didn't like the answer. If this new medicine doesn't work, then there is nothing else that can be done. My mommy and daddy are sad. They have done so much to help me. I try to stay positive, though. I keep a nice skip in my step, wag my tail, and talk to them. I try to tell them that I'm happy and that I don't feel pain - just uncomfortable at times. That's the cool thing about being a dog - you just accept, adapt, and move on.

Things are a little somber around the house not only because of my health issues, but because my foster brother Huck will be going to his new home next week. Mommy and Daddy say it's bittersweet. They know they are doing the right thing for Huck because he needs to be in a home with fewer dogs, plus his new mommy and Huck are a great match. It's just that Mommy and Daddy will miss him. He really is a nice doggy. A bit excitable for me, but he's not that bad. Things will be quieter around here, but I think that's what our home needs. Gus, Buster and I are getting older and we can't handle too much activity anymore. Gus is 11 1/2, can't hear as well as he used to, and prefers to spend time alone upstairs on the bed sleeping with his stuffed toys Molly Meerkat and Sebastian Bunny. Buster and I are both about 9 1/2 and we're slowing down a bit, too. Buster is getting cranky these days and I'm sure it doesn't help that he has arthritis. That will leave us with Abby, but even she is starting to calm down. We hope she's coming out of the terrible two's.

Like I said, earlier, it's been a long day, so I'm going to go to sleep - my favorite!

Hobbit: Hello Diary. Please meet my family.

 

This being my first entry into the Doggy Diary, I suppose I must introduce myself. My name is Samuel Hobbit. Just call me Hobbit. (That's me on the top left.) I am most likely a mix of beagle and basset hound and I have one eye. It's okay, really. I don't mind. I've adjusted just fine and rather love my life here with my family. Well, I could probably do without so many dogs in the house. There's Gus, (Augustus McCray), a tall, skinny-legged tri-colored guy. He's nice, but God love him, he seems to have a few nervous quirks. The two of us get to sleep with our mommy and daddy. There is also Buster Brown Boogle Bear. Buster makes me nervous sometimes. He is big! He weighs nearly 85 lbs., but I don't think he realizes it. He's a mixture of black lab and coonhound, we think. Oh, and he slobbers a lot. And then there's Abby Grace. Let me tell you, there is nothing "grace"ful about her. We think she is a mix of poodle and terrier, or "terror," and possibly schnauzer. She's bossy and her bark can pierce a person's ear drums. My mommy and daddy tell her that it's a good thing she's cute, because she'd be long gone otherwise. (She's a bit of a diva.) Oh, and of course, I can't forget my mommy and daddy. I love them very much and they take very good care of us. They love all dogs. As a matter of fact, they are fostering an eight-month-old puppy named Huck right now. He's very handsome and appears to be a coonhound-shorthaired pointer mix. That's him in the picture above. I know, he's awfully big to be a called a "puppy." My mommy found him abandoned on the side of a road about five months ago. My daddy and she have had a difficult time deciding whether or not to adopt Huck, but they recently determined that he'd do better in a home with fewer dogs. (Geez, don't I know it.) Anyway, he is going to live with a wonderful new mommy and daddy in a couple of weeks. So, I guess that should catch you up, Diary. Now, on to me ...

Last night was a good night. I didn't pee on the bathroom floor, the bedroom carpet or even downstairs by the couch - all my usual places. This is a very good thing because I've been doing it a lot lately, and especially because my mommy and Poncho, (that's what I call my Daddy), paid $91 yesterday afternoon to have the carpet cleaned. It was money well-spent, and I am happy they did it because I was a bit embarrassed by the lingering evidence of my minor infractions. Well, there are still two yellow "places," (that's what we'll call them), and I'm hoping they won't notice. (They are next to the closet doors. Ssshhhh.) Anyway, I think the reason I didn't pee all night is because my Poncho took me outside to pee at midnight, and also because my Cushing's medicine is working. Yay! (I'll explain about my Cushing's Disease diagnosis another time.)

Right now I am in the garage waiting for my Poncho to come back from golfing. When he comes back he will come get me, carry me upstairs to bed and then cuddle with me while we watch the Mountaineers play. They are getting beat by Syracuse right now from what I understand. My Poncho better hurry up and get back so they can start winning again!

Oh, and the reason I call my daddy Poncho is because we used to rob banks together. Me Lefty, he Poncho. (That's a fun little story he came up with. He's very good at telling stories. Besides, I would never rob a bank. I couldn't move fast enough.) Anyway, we are compadres from way back. He nicknamed me Lefty because I have only the one eye - my left one. He also calls me Powerball, Hiram, Sugar Bear, and his KoochiKooBooBoo. My mommy calls me her little Pumpkin Cherub. Well, it depends on the time of year. At Christmas I am her Cranberry Cherub. In springtime I am her Tulip Cherub. You get the idea.

Okay, I am going to go back to sleep now and dream of my Poncho coming home to see me. :)

Signed,
Hobbit