Couch Nap

I think 75% of the pictures I take of Mickey are when he is sleeping/laying down. It is just so adorable, I can't help myself! He loves to lay on the back of the couch or the arm to look outside the window. It is also just a comfy place for him to sleep when he isn't 'on duty' watching the courtyard. I like how completely relaxed he is, with legs flopping off the side and head warmed by the sun.

Where is your favorite place to nap? Do you like it dark and cool or warm and sunny like Mickey?

Halloween!

How did I miss Halloween??

We didn't get any trick or treaters at our door this year, but we did dress Mickey up for the holiday.

He was a dragon this year!

Grrrr, I'm a scary Mickeyasaurus!

Trick or Treat? Can I just get treat?

Oh good, there's a hood too. How to make this even more embarrassing..

That's it, I'm pooped. I'm going to just fall asleep now. Good night!

Abbey

I'm back with another adoptable doggie profile! Abbey was the second dog I helped transport this weekend.

She is a 6 month old puppy and is completely adorable. She weighs about 15 pounds and will continue to grow (but not too much more). She has that really nice soft puppy fur and loves to snuggle. She was very quiet with me, but I suspect she was tired from the long journey. I heard she is a pretty active puppy and needs lots of stimulation and play time to wear her out. She had to ride in a travel crate which she didn't really enjoy. She cried for about 10 minutes and tries to claw her way out of the crate. I tried to sing to her, but that didn't help calm her down. In fact, she didn't settle down until after I stopped! What a critic...

Her petfinder profile is available here:

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18521848

Puppy Bowl VII

We are having a party today to watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet !

The fun starts at 3pm (eastern) and features lots of cute puppies and a kitten half-time show. Pele will be here as Mickey's guest, so we'll get to observe our very own live dog show.

Seneca

Today I participated in an animal transport for Homeward Trails. You might remember that we adopted Mickey through Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. I decided to donate my time to help other doggies find homes of their own.

This afternoon I met up with a large passenger van that was filled with crates carrying dogs. Some of the transported animals will be taken as far north as New Jersey! There were probably half a dozen cars taking the dogs to various rescues in the area or helping take the animals further along on their journey.

Today I will tell you a little about one of the doggies I transported for Homeward Trails.

Her name is Seneca, and she is a beagle mix. She is two years old and was very sweet. As you can see, I had her restrained by a dog seat belt harness. She sat exactly like this, being very quiet for our entire 30 minute trip.

She was very friendly with the other dogs getting off the transport. She liked to sit on my lap and snuggle while we waited for her foster mom to come pick her up. If you would like to read her petfinder profile, it can be accessed here:

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18539805

After the hunt...

ooof... i'm just so exhausted from tearing apart this fox.... can't... keep..eyes...open.

Chilly morning

While I work from home, a certain little doggy curls up tail-to-nose.

Go Illini!

I-L-L

I-N-I

May 2009

September 2010

Always Illini

Puppy Professor

Jamal and I call this the "Puppy Professor" pose. Jamal will hold or sit Mickey upright. Mickey just looks around with a serious sort of intelligence. As if he appreciates this new perspective, but doesn't understand why Jamal and I are giggling so hard. Sometimes Professor Mickey will share insights on the day's events or observations on the human or dog experience. How did our dog get so smart? Well, he's been Puppy Professor for a long time...

June 2009

Tug of War Strategy

Mickey has developed a strategy for tug of war. Sometimes he will do the normal thing and hold onto his end and try to back up and pull it from your hands. Other times he employs a different strategy, one in which he hopes his opponent will run out of strength or room. Mickey goes entirely limp and will be dragged all across the floor. His back legs go completely limp and he does a little army crawl motion with his front paws to provide some control.

Naps

I don't always choose my napping spots due to comfort. I just sometimes find myself overwhelmed with tired feelings when I'm sitting around the house. I can fall asleep just about anywhere I can keep my chin up.

Memorial Day Weekend

I am very behind on my blogging! I also need to take more pictures of Mickey so I can do more than one post for a long weekend. Last time Mickey and I went out to Cape Cod, I stretched it out over several posts! This time, there aren't enough photos. We all know that a doggy blog post without photos is useless.

So I don't have documentation to show you:

-how Mickey was home alone when my brother came home and growled at him until he retreated out of his own bedroom.

-how Mickey went into several shoppes and behaved himself very well

-how Mickey saw me digging in Vic's garden and ran over to help

I'll just let Mickey explain the three pictures I have...

The sign said "No Dogs Allowed on Beach". So Grace took this literally and held me on her lap so I wasn't technically touching the beach.

I surveyed the area. Keeping a lookout for a shark attack.

Calm water, as far as the eye can see... but I think I hear something behind me....

Mickey at Work

When I travel for work, I miss the little dog back home. This is nothing new.

Even when I'm working at home, I try to spoil Mickey and let me do a little bit of my work with me. (if only)

Mickey at 6 months keeping me company while I work outside.

Mickey at 10 weeks keeping my lap warm while writing sql queries. awwww

Big Game Hunter

I don't just go duck hunting anymore...

I have graduated to big game.

I'm talking about....

ELEPHANTS!

mmmm

They are larger beasts, probably meant for a bigger predator, but I am fierce and show no stuffed animal mercy.

You have something on your face

yeah, right there.
no... a little more to your left...

no... more towards the corner of your mouth...

wait.. more to the front...

what? i don't chew anything...

Mickey and the Bunny

So, I figure I'll just sneak back on as if I never went any where and share more Mickey cuteness...

Back in June, Mickey and I took a road trip to visit my parents in Naperville and Marietta. My mom is in her new house in Naperville and has a huge backyard. Its completely fenced in and it comes with an extra surprise... bunnies!

The bunnies sneak in through small gaps in the fence and quicker than you can say "Mr. McGregor" they are under the fence and back safe and warm in their rabbit home.

I was curious to see how Mickey would react. He has seen squirrels around our neighborhood, but never really barks or lunges at them. Sometimes he wants to chase a bird, but that obviously doesn't make for an exciting chase. However, upon seeing his first bunny, that predator instinct kicked in big time and Mickey gave chase! He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, but of course the rabbit got away...

The bunny is so fast you don't even see it in the movie, so Mickey isn't going to be a bunny killer any time soon.
Here is the video on youtube

Mickey's Thoughts on Enjoying the Outdoors

You all get to hear from me so much on this blog, I thought I'd turn things over to Mickey today. He is going to explain how to enjoy the great outdoors to all of us. Take it away Mickey....

Hey! So you want to hear about how I enjoy the outdoors? Well, lets get one thing straight. No one enjoys the outdoors when its raining (except for those ducks), so make sure you pick a nice and sunny day.

Carefully look around and make sure there aren't any other dogs around trying to enjoy your outdoors. Remember, it might not seem like it, but your outdoor area belongs to YOU. Explain as necessary.

Now, here is the key. Close your eyes and take a nice deep breath. Feel the sun on your hair, the breeze on your face. Let the great outdoors calm your senses and find peace in nature.

Then hightail it back to the shade! Its hot out there! So much for the outdoors, I'm going to get me back into some air conditioning.

How can that be comfortable?

I caught Mickey asleep like this on the couch last week. He just loves to fall asleep with his chin resting on something. Our leg or hand, a pillow, a toy... or sometimes the arm of the couch.

Then and Now - Spring

March 31, 2009

Originally posted in Spring in the Alley

Well our weird and wild weather of the early part of 2010 conspired against having a duplicate of this shot. Notice how the daffodils and trees are all blooming at the same time? Well, that didn't exactly happy this year. I went out with my camera twice to get the two blooms that occurred two weeks apart!

Enough about the flowers, this is one of Mickey's favorite parts of the walk because he knows we're heading home. Also, the elevation is a little bit higher than the street in back, so he can see more of the action instead of walking blindly into it. Another thing he has learned to do is sit at the curb in the back and wait for me to give the "okay" to cross the street. Such a little gentleman.

Mid-March 2010

With the daffodils. I think the daffodils must have also shrunk in the last year...

April 1, 2010

Finally the trees are blooming! Mickey was having none of this photo business.

Then and Now - Playing with Nike

We went back over to Nike's house one weekend to enjoy the spring weather that has warmed the DC area. Both of the little dogs have grown up so much since the first play date in April of last year.

Mmmm that's some good water you serve up here, Nike.

The two dogs found a stick in the backyard and chased each other around alternating stealing is and tugging back and forth with it.

First Nike had it... and Mickey approached quietly to try and grab it...

D'oh, too slow, Nike got away!

Ah ha! Success!