Nero calms down

Posted by ColorificIG, Sep 24 2008, 12:42 PM in Mom's Blurbs...

Nero came to meet baby Yadon... he leaps onto the bed, bows a few feet from the new addition, and sniffs. Then he crept closer while studying my reaction to his approach. Perhaps the dogs can visit baby Ya more often.

Welcoming a new man to the house...

Posted by ColorificIG, Sep 17 2008, 11:54 AM in Mom's Blurbs...

Nero and Grigio have had an interesting month... with Mommy and Chi home for the summer, they have had full days in the newly-fenced backyard. They have watched construction crews begin to build the townhomes directly behind our lot. They have dominated over poor Bleu who just doesn't have the Iggy spunk (or leg height) to be in charge. And most recently, they have welcomed a new squeak toy into the house.

Admittedly, they have no idea what to make of the tremendous loads of diapers, baby products, and other necessities that entered the house. They sensed something was up when we left for the hospital and Oma came to care for them. They smelled something different when we returned three days later with a surprise. They freaked out when the surprise began to cry and whimper, and added their own peals of agony to the soundtrack. Then they began to attempt to sneak into the downstairs "baby domain" to see what the squeak toy looked like, and to smell and taste him. Were they more mild mannered pooches, they'd have been invited right in and welcomed into the room... but every noise from the newcomer sent both boys into a hysteric tizzy .

So this was the distant introduction of Marques Yadon to Nero and Grigio. He arrived into the world on August 28, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. just barely 6 lbs. 1.9 oz.

We came home on August 30. Since then, the boys have been allowed supervised visitations, but have otherwise been kept separate from our little man. Perhaps in a few weeks the introductions and family time will expand... but for now, mommy feels much safer with "baby domain" K-9 free.

Fenced in

Posted by ColorificIG, Jun 14 2008, 06:29 PM in Mom's Blurbs...

It has been far longer than we expected...

Yesterday the yard got its fence. We're the first on our block to enclose ourselves in and the HOA approved a lot space larger than the usual 10 foot privacy fence allows. We expect the town homes behind us to be built in the next few months - if they sell a single lot, it means full speed ahead on construction. We desperately needed the security and safety of the fence before the workers broke ground.

Admittedly, it's not a huge yard, but the color boys have enjoyed their two days of scenting, hunting , and chasing leash free.

Grigio immediately sought the exit point and stood at the locked gate trying to figure out how to unhook the latch. Bleu spent awhile walking the perimeter, occasionally barking to claim the new space. Nero was surprisingly nervous to be out in the new space, and he stayed pretty close to me with his ears in helmet position.

I'm pretty pleased with the enclosure too. It means Laura has a safer play area. And of course, it means I'm not being pulled in three directions or being tripped and tangled in leashes. I can do solo walks around the neighborhood and allow all three to play outside (under hawk alert security, of course)! Couldn't come at a better time, with summer break starting and our newest boy is scheduled to arrive late August- early September.

No cure for the hairless

Posted by ColorificIG, May 28 2008, 03:10 PM in Mom's Blurbs...

For several months now Grigio has been losing the hair down his spine and up to the base of his tail. I suspected it was an allergic reaction to my cleaning supplies... Lysol? The anti itch shampoo? We stopped using everything, but the hair did not return. A few suggestions for a cure were proposed, but it turns out Gri is a classic case of some dilute disorder known as Color Dilution Alopecia.

According to the IGCA,

CDA is characterized by loss of hair from dilutely pigmented areas. Coats are normal at birth, and onset of hair loss usually begins between six months and three years of age. Hair loss usually begins along the dorsal midline (middle of the back) and often spares the head, tail and limbs. The pattern seems to vary from breed to breed. The hair loss may be total or partial and any remaining hairs are usually sparse, rough and easily broken or removed. The skin in the affected areas is usually scaly and may occasionally develop bacterial infections. Pruritus (itching) is usually absent, unless a bacterial infection has set in.

All that's left to confirm the condition is a final skin test. But as we've resolved issues of malnutrician (Nero eats the same diet, same amount and is healthy), it doesn't seem like the balding is coming from anything else.

AKC, Class and Pregnancy

Posted by ColorificIG, May 21 2008, 03:15 AM

This is from the both of us...

Mommy made us official with the AKC people. We don't know what that means, except she was real proud to get these paper things in the mail. Didn't look like much to us.

Nero is in puppy obedience class... and mommy doesn't think he's doing well. Weeks 1-4 were great, with Nero quickly learning to sit on command and mastering the stay (so long as mom maintains eye contact). Then the command was "down" and Nero doesn't do that. For anyone. At anytime. Never. Nope. No treats worth it.

Grigio shows promise with his down and his bow, but he's not in the class. He doesn't want to sit, so mommy couldn't pull a switch and pass. So much for "Canine Good Citizen" awards in this family.

Oh, and mom is really testy these days. She's fat too - hates for us to greet her by bouncing on her rotund belly. She's tired all the time and doesn't want us in certain parts of the house anymore. Our other mini human Laura says she's getting a brother, but we don't think there's any room here for a fourth dog. Wonder what's so important about the end of August that makes these two leggers so crazy...

Mommy beat us... this time...

Posted by ColorificIG, Jan 10 2008, 06:37 PM in Grigio Gossip

Gri here

Ma thought she had something to prove. Came home today from an extended game of peek a boo she plays everyday, and called us boys to go outside. It was raining! And, it was sooooooo cold outside. I guess she didn't think we needed one of those pop up things with the spikes that stops the cold water falling. And as soon as Bleu did his business, she cheered "Good Boy" and ushered him inside. I tried to slip in too, but she held my leash and stopped me. Then to make matters worse, she kept telling us to "Go poo". I've no idea what that means, but she says it every time we go out. Next, Nero got his "Good Boy" and I realized I'd still be getting wet if I didn't find my spot soon. I tried so hard to shake real bad, to crouch low for warmth, to pounce on her to make her go inside (she does that quick when my feet are yucky and she's in her fancy stuff). Nothing was making her let us inside. But as soon as she said, "Good Boy Greeee geeeh ooooo" she almost ran to the door to go inside. Guess she got us this time.

Christmas HOWL'ling

Posted by ColorificIG, Jan 1 2008, 12:30 PM in Mom's Blurbs...

I'm all for a nice Christmas carol. Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful... these are all excellent choices. But Nero and Gri know none of these. Instead, they serenaded guests with a chorus of moaning and yelps that reverberated through the sun room they call theirs. There's not a door separating them from the house guests, and so the pitiful protests about being kenneled created an ear-shattering backdrop to the usual holiday gift exchange and conversational festivities.

Truthfully, I'd have loved them to have free reign of the house... but they tend to jump on people and furniture (despite protests) and a few members of the extended family aren't amused by their desire to be amongst the "pack".

Better luck next year, I guess... Maybe if they go through obedience boot camp I'll have my whole family free to enjoy family affairs.

This spot is mine

Posted by ColorificIG, Dec 22 2007, 05:54 PM in Nero knows

Naughty, naughty Bleu... he thought he had the real estate market cornered. So what if he's almost three? I deserve my own scented adornment in my yard... and he'd BETTER keep off it. It feels good to hunt out a place and to watch him huff as I cover his mark. A few more weeks of practice and I'll get this down to an aiming science - - and maybe I wont fall over as often either... I love being a boy.

That smelly girl...

Posted by ColorificIG, Dec 13 2007, 06:16 PM in Nero knows

Dorado the defiant is going to the doctor's on Sunday. Oma (that means Mom's mom) said it's time to get her "fixed". I didn't know she was broken... she just smells all funny... and not at all like us boys. We kinda thought that all girls smelled funny. Isn't that normal? Anyway, I hope she does okay with the doctor. She'll see Dr. Bakanas, and Mommy says she's really nice. But nice or not, when someone says it's time to "fix" me, I don't care how nice she is. I'm not broken, and I'm not gonna cooperate with that!

Nero the Great

Brother Bleu is sick...

Posted by ColorificIG, Dec 13 2007, 04:24 AM in Nero knows

It's been about 4 days now, and Mom is getting worried. Bleu has been suffering from something that makes it impossible for him to go "outside." Instead of exploring with us in the yard for the perfect blade of grassiness, he just goes wherever he is. I know it must be bad now, cause though Mom's clearly upset, she hasn't scolded him.

She's keeping us away from him now. I miss playing with the short fella. He's stuck in his hideout under the stairs and looks at us from behind the gate. I jumped in to see him yesterday, but Mom rushed me out saying something about him maybe being "contagious". I've not heard that word before, so I don't know what it means, but she said it kinda shrill like I was bad. I jumped back out quickly and busied myself with Grigio.

I feel bad for him. He hasn't played with us for almost a week. He just runs back and forth in his space and barks at us. I hear his feet scuffling on the tile and sometimes I hear him fluff his new bed linen. Mom tossed the huge bed we used to have, cause Bleu messed it up on accident.

What is this thing she calls "dia..." rama? rrea? dinamo? I don't ever want it!