In Memory of Bolt, Our Super Loving Dog : 2012 - 2021

 Rest in Peace Bolt.  May 30, 2012 - June 19, 2021

Today was a tough day for my family.  We had to put one of our fur babies to sleep.  He started to get sick around  January and we didn't really think anything of it until mid February when he first started vomiting.  We brought him to the vet and he just prescribed him some medication which it didn't help at all.  We brought him back there again and this time they did  some blood work done.  He tested positive on Lyme's disease.  They gave him four  kinds of medications and we were hopeful that he will get better but he just went downhill.    He lost his appetite and every time he would eat, it would just come out few minutes after.  I felt so bad because he loved to eat prior to getting sick.  It was hard watching him withered away.  He lost half of his body weight and he looked so thin already.  

I talked to my husband when his vomiting got frequent and he is no longer the lively dog  that we had.  I told him that we need to decided whether to prolong his life in agony or end his suffering all together.  My husband was still holding out hope because Bolt was his favorite dog.  Bolt chose him to be his human although I was the one who picked him.  My husband cried so hard, we all did, but I think it impacted my husband very much.  Bolt would always wait for him by the window when he is coming home from work.  My daughter had so many videos recording of him getting so excited when she tells him that "Dad is coming."

During the last few days,  he was still dong stuff with us but you can tell that he was in agony.  He never failed to sit beside my husband on the front porch and he was able to go with us on a long walk a couple of times.  These last few days though, we tried to take him for a walk and he only made one block and he couldn't go on so we just turned around and came back home. 

It's so sad to see somebody (even for a dog) not being able to do the things that they love.  Bolt loved walking, he was very passionate about it and to see him not able to complete his journey was heartbreaking.    I feel so guilty putting him to sleep but we didn't want him to suffer anymore.  

As we were driving to the vet this morning, he made a couple of whimpers,  I started crying because to me it was like him telling us that he did not want to go yet.  We told him were very sorry and that we didn't to see him in pain anymore.  

The vet offered cremation but I told my husband that I want to bury him in our backyard that way I could visit him every time I am out gardening.  He wasn't my gardening buddy but he could watch over me when I a  out there doing my thing.  We buried him underneath the red bud tree.  I made a little grave marker for him and put his collar around it and attach it to the tree.

It was May 30, 2012 when we adopted Bolt, he was one of the six puppies from our neighbors.  I picked him because of all the puppies, he was just sitting on the corner watching his siblings play and I thought, he will be a perfect companion for our super hyper Jack Russell Terrier, Champ.  He was always observing other dogs which attracted me the most.  His mild demeanor was what drawn me to him.  

Things that we will miss about Bolt ;

Best Walking Buddy

We are going to miss him terribly especially on our walks.  He love to go on a walk, he was official my partner in walking.  He knew where the leash was.  When hears the words walk, go, leash, or let's go, he gets so excited.  We love taking him on a walk because he never bothered anybody.  He won't bark unless he feels threatened.  

Best Family Dog Model

When we would take family pictures, he would always pose in front of us and it was like he knew.  We always thought that maybe he was a model in his previous life.  Our Jack Russell doesn't really get the photo shoot thing but Bolt was always on it.

Best Porch Sitting Buddy

My husband loves to unwind in the front porch after a long day at work and Bolt was always with him.  When my husband is outside and he is inside, Bolt let us know that he wants to be with Dad.  I feel bad that this Father's day will be one of his saddest, we be able to celebrate it with his buddy.

Best Hugger

Bolt loved to hug, he would hug us every chance he gets.  He woke me up last night and was just sitting in front of me so I got up and went down the bed.  I just hugged him tight and rubbed his belly until he fell back to sleep.  This last few days was the worst he has been.  He couldn't get comfortable.  He would walk around the bedroom and woke us up.  Sometimes he would throw up and most of the times whimpering.  I will miss his side hugs.

Great Judge of Character

I mentioned earlier that he is the most mild and well mannered dog.  He doesn't bother anyone but from time to time, he would let us know not to trust someone.  They say, dogs can always  tell whose bad and whose not.  He got along with all of neighbors except one guy, which says a lot.  We're not judging, we just thought that Bolt was warning us about him.

Quirky Things He Does

He always protects his other paw when he laid down.  He doesn't want this left paw be held either.  I always admired how he always put his two front paws like this.  

Another thing I will miss about him is his "Happy Tail", it was always wagging when he is with us.

Farewell Bolt, watch over us and thank you once again for all the memories you spent with us.  You will be missed greatly but glad you are no longer in pain.  We love you Buddy!

Bonding with our Guinea Pig, Georgina

 Three of our pets passed away last year.  Our male guinea pig, Dunkin, died during the summer season and two of our rabbits Molly and Rosco)  died in the fall.  They were very good pets 

When Dunkin died, we paid close attention to Gigi (short for Georgina), we didn't want her to feel lonely not having somebody with her anymore.  The kids were always busy with school stuff so they seldom  bond with the remaining pets.  I am glad they played with Gigi for a while.

Gigi is not as social as Dunkin so when you first try to pet her, she runs away.   I miss Dunkin because he actually greets you when you go to their cage,  

Gigi was very small when we got her but now she's bigger.  Her hair is multi colored and they grow very fast so I have to keep trimming it so it won't get tangled.  

She doesn't like her nails cut but I do it anyway because if you let it grow, they curl up and it looks painful.

During summer time, I give her a good bath but during colder months, I don't as I wasn't sure if that would cause some health issues.  

I can't wait till the weather gets warmer again so she can run around in the yard.  I put her in the backyard when I'm gardening so she could eat fresh grass.  She seldom eats the fresh grass but its good for her to  exercise her legs by running around.  Most of the times, she stays in a hidden part of the garden.  I think she's scared of the dogs.

Guinea pigs are cute little animal to have as a pet.  They don't require much time to take care of.  Their food is a little expensive on the side but like I said, they're cute pets especially if you have little kids.  I think my kids are gradually staying away from getting excited with these pets anymore.  They do love our dogs though.

Last year, we let a family adopt Gigi but they returned her after a day.  She said, their daughter was too rough to have a tiny pet.

The  only issue with having pets is when you travel, you have to find a place that can take care of them for the time being that you are away.  It can be a pain in tush when  these places are full, you don't get to go.  I remember one summer, we didn't book the kennel early in the Spring, we just focused on reserving our travel reservations so when we finally  call the place, there were no available space for our dogs so we had to  cancel our previous plan and adjust the time that we can go.  

I would love to live in a farm  where the animals can freely roam around and not get cooped up in a cage.  Living in a city is tough especially if you want to raise  some livestock like chicken.  We tried to have chicken before but it did not last.  I miss having the fresh eggs in the morning and it's awesome to have  chicken, they are friendly animals.  We had one that we kept as long as we could but she disappeared one day, I am not sure if a bird or any type of animal got to her but I definitely miss having Blue (that's what we name her).

Anyways, back to our guinea pig, Gigi is such a gentle soul.  She isn't vocal like Dunkin was, she only make a noise when she doesn't have a hay anymore.  She love her Timothy hay.

What I like about Gigi is that she's beautiful to photographed.  she's one of my favorite subjects when it comes to taking photos of our pets.

The hair on top of her head gets very long and it gets n the way of her eyes so I trim it constantly.

We've had Gigi for a couple of years now.  Dunkin only lasted  few years with us and then he died.  The hard part oif having pets is when they passed on.  You get used to having them and when they passed, its like  part of you gets so numb.

Rabbit House for our Four Lion Head Bunnies

When we got  the two lion head bunnies back in  January, we didn't anticipate that we will have new babies five weeks after that, whew.  Pippin (our doe bunny)  actually had four kits but two did not survived.  

I am not sure if it was the first time  she gave birth but we assumed  it was because  she seemed to not know  what to do.  She took care of them really good though and we did what we can to help  her out.  We named the two that lived, Lilo and Stitch.  A month after giving birth to the first babies, she got pregnant again and gave birth to two kits but they unfortunately died.

LILO and Stitch are getting bigger. They are now 7 weeks. #bunnies #rabbits #pets

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Apr 19, 2017 at 4:54pm PDT

Since we have four now, we thought it would be  appropriate to make them a proper house .  My husband and daughter  built a new house for them.

We used to have two bunnies at the old house  so we also built them a house but it was smaller than this one that they newly built.  We tore it down when our bunnies died and  thought we will never have bunnies again because losing them was painful.  However, when we saw the lion heads, we couldn't resist.

The good thing is, these two love doing projects together so a house for them isn't a problem\.  It is just a little challenging to keep them inside during the winter but  our basement is  pretty big so they will have room.

It took a while before the project got done but it eventually got finished.

We couldn't figured out what to put underneath at first so I  used  some cardboard to trap all their waste.  Then we went to Home Depot and found some of these Utility tubs and thought it was  a perfect size  to  put under their shelters.

The cedar wood chips  helps in killing the odor of the  urine and  poop.

So now, cleaning their  waste is  easier with those  utility  tubs in there.

We used a thick  plywood for the roofing because  we didn't have  shingles.  We treated it  so that when it rains, the water  will roll off.  Whenever there's a storm, we  put a tarp over it so they won't get wet.  Now that our fence project is almost finished, we let them run around inside the backyard which they love.  They also love to nibble on my vegetable garden lol.

Embracing The Pet Lover's Countryside Dream

Don’t you dream of a happy family, in a large house in the countryside with a dog, quietly playing in the garden? We are no psychic: The dream of a countryside home with a pet is a common one. This could be because most individuals unconsciously feel that a dog needs a lot of space, and therefore assume that a countryside home would be the best place for a furry companion. Or maybe people have an inbuilt image of happiness to aspire to, and it includes a happy dog running into the open space.

Whatever the reasoning, when you love dogs, it is difficult not to picture yourself owning a comfortable house with a large garden and a few trees. But do you know what it takes to embrace your countryside dream of a pet?

Is a Bernese mountain dog your ideal pet?

Choose Your Furry Friend

When you think of a big house, you automatically want a big dog. A small dog breed in a large garden would make no sense. But, it can be difficult to find the perfect dog if you don’t have the necessary large dog breeds 101 knowledge, so to say. Indeed, from a Bernese mountain dog to an Alaskan Malamute, there is a plenty of choices! So what do you really need to know about large dog breeds? For a start, large dogs can weigh up to 90 pounds when they are fully grown: In short, you may want to invest in sturdy furniture too! Large breeds also have common health risks, such as hip dysplasia or enlarged heart, that you need to be aware of as soon as possible. They have a lot of energy, so even with a big garden for them to run freely, you still want to plan regular playtime and walks together. In the end, the best way to choose a breed is to know about each of them.

Train Your Dog Like A Pro

Large dogs are synonymous with big damages if they are not properly trained. Indeed, you want your dog to be well-behaved and to obey your words. So when you begin to train your puppy, it’s important to establish the rules. You are in charge, and the dog needs to respect your authority. Additionally, most dog owners tend to train by maximizing punishment. In reality, you will obtain better results if you reward good behavior.

Sit and stay

A Big Dog Needs A Big Garden

Finally, if you have already made up your mind about the kind of dog you would like to adopt, it might be time to be on the look for a spacious country home. A large dog breed needs plenty of space to play and run, as it is important for their health. Additionally, your dog will rapidly feel depressed in a crowded environment. So, your countryside dream is only a real estate agency away. Don’t consider adopting a large dog is your current home doesn’t offer sufficient comfort for your pet.

Actually, Should It Be A Dog?

Last, but not least, is an important question. Is your countryside dream about a dog in a large house or is it a large house with a large pet? If this is the latter, you may consider other large mammals, such as a dairy cow or even a pony. After all, you can have fun with all sorts of pets so why limit yourself to dogs?

How To Make The Most Of #PuppyTraining Classes

If you’ve got a new puppy, you may have already decided that they need training and obedience classes. Puppies are balls of boundless energy, and they need to learn how to behave and control their exuberance. It’s fun to play with puppies. But it’s not so amusing when you come home to scenes of carnage. Are you eager to keep your sofa intact and your slippers in one piece? If so, here are some tips to make sure you get the best out of puppy training classes.

Image from https://pixabay.com/en/photos/cute%20puppy/

Register early

Puppies can start training and obedience classes once they’ve had their immunizations. In some cases, you may find that sessions get booked up in advance, so register early. If you’re not sure which classes to attend, ask friends or colleagues for recommendations. It’s likely that your vet will be able to make suggestions too.

Lay the foundations

Training should start long before your pup bounds into their first session. Start basic training as soon as you bring your puppy home. Be strict, but fair. It’s important that they know the boundaries, and that they gain respect for you. Start with simple commands like ‘sit’ and ‘wait’. Encourage them, and give them a reward, such as a chew, when they display good behavior. If your puppy is used to authority, they will respond well to classes. If they’ve been allowed to rule the roost for weeks beforehand, they may struggle to adjust.

Stick with it

If you’ve signed up for a course, make sure you attend all the sessions. There’s no point in going to the first class, and then having a few weeks off. Puppies need consistency.

Image courtesy of http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=14263&picture=dog-obedience-class

Use your trainer’s advice at home

It’s essential to reinforce your trainer’s actions and requests at home. Your puppy may behave well during the session. But if they’re allowed to do anything they want at home, they’re likely to exploit this freedom. Practice commands and exercises with your pup when you’re out for walks or he’s waiting for dinner. You can also continue training between sessions with dog training online. Practice makes perfect. If you keep going over the drills, your pup will pick them up in no time at all, and you’ll notice changes immediately. Always reward good behavior. When you’ve finished your sessions, continue training at home. Don’t let things slide just because you’re no longer attending lessons.

Image via https://pixabay.com/en/photos/cute%20puppy/

Ask for advice

If you’re struggling at home, don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Contact your vet, or have a word with your dog trainer after the session. There may be additional exercises you can try or different ways of addressing your pup.

Encourage exercise

Between sessions, make sure you keep your puppy busy. Pups tend to stray off the straight and narrow when they get bored. Play with them, take them for regular walks and show them love and affection. If you go out, make sure they have plenty of toys to keep them occupied.

Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obedience_training

Puppy training classes are fantastic for taming unruly pups and teaching puppies to interact with other dogs. If you have a new member of the family, follow these tips to ensure you make the most of training sessions. Hopefully, you’ll have a perfectly behaved pooch before you know it!