*Does* music soothe the savage beast?

Sometimes Elka is whiny and anxious for no reason that we can tell. Sometimes it's something we can do nothing about at the moment, like ice falling off the side of the house (note to self: insulation).

She can be distracted, and sometimes consoled, but the same thing doesn't work all the time. A peanut butter Kong only does so much when you stop licking it periodically to mohawk up and grumble around the first floor. I think it's worse for her if we know what the deal is, because we can't make her understand. Sometimes "leave it" just isn't good enough. In a way, this is a "willful disobedience" sort of situation; we're telling her, "it's okay, get over it", but she's like "no, for serious, THERE'S SOMETHING DANGEROUS WHY DON'T YOU CARE??!!?!?!"

Product Review: Kurgo Skipping Stones

I had the opportunity to review Kurgo Skipping Stones, and as I'm always on the lookout for a durable thing for Elka to gnaw on, I leaped at the chance. The Skipping Stones themselves are designed to be fun water retrieval toys, and I did make them aware that I was interested for Elka's chewing purposes, not for water retrieval (especially not this time of year!) 

Doberman Rescue Alliance Wisconsin fundraiser for Lily's surgery

I posted about Lily with Doberman Rescue Alliance Wisconsin back in July. They were fundraising then to get her some expensive diagnostics, to figure out what was wrong with her back and why she couldn't walk. They didn't raise enough for an MRI but did get a CT scan. Here's Lily's page on the DRAWi site, detailing some of what she's gone through.

Well, Lily has been diagnosed with disc herniation with spinal instability, and surgery can allow her to walk again. Currently, DRAW, inc has a sponsorship page set up for Lily where you can make a one time donation, and are also having a t-shirt sale (21 days left!) wherein all proceeds will go to Lily's surgery.

Lily has been receiving regular therapy, and you can see her motorin' with some wheels in this Youtube video (I love watching her little tail nub go!):

But what does a leash really mean?

This bit of mischief does not involve Elka, as I was work.

Somebody came into the library and said there was a brown dog running around in the park with no owners in sight.

So I grabbed my phone and went outside, figuring I could assess whether the dog was approachable and then either catch the dog and call the owner (provided said dog was tagged appropriately) or call the police to come and do their dog wardeny things.

Wordless Wednesday June 11 2014

Happy 5th Birthday, Elka! And many more!

Our Elka V is now 5! I don't know how that happened. It seems like it can't be all that long ago she was an itty bitty puppy, peeing on the floor and chewing on the kitchen wall and falling asleep on our laps in a warm bundle of puppy brownies. Well okay, I guess she still does the lap bit.

Humpty Dumpty, with Illinois Doberman Rescue

Perhaps this is a "too soon" kind of joke, but Humpty Dumpty is a 4 1/2 year old cropped and docked black male Doberman with Illinois Doberman Rescue. He was hospitalized for a full month when they first got him, poor guy!

(image from IDR+ web site)

Cheyenne, in Texas, looking for a home

This pretty girl is Cheyenne, though I guess her original name was "Soda", because she knows that one. Either name is kind of fun, isn't it?

(picture from Last Hope Doberman Rescue Facebook page)

Cheyenne is 3 1/2, and is currently in Texas with Doberman Rescue North Texas. She has natural ears and a docked tail. Cheyenne can be shy, but it sweet with people, and jogs well on a leash. She would do best in an only dog home. You can read more about her on the Doberman Rescue North Texas web site, under available Dobermans, or view her Petango page here.

(picture from Doberman Rescue North Texas)

If you are interested in adopting Cheyenne, or any of the available Dobermans through Doberman Rescue North Texas, you can view their online adoption application here, and view their adoption contract here. If you have any questions about Doberman Rescue North Texas, you can see a phone number and other information on their Contact Us page.

Wordless Wednesday October 30 2013

Yeah, the heat's on now. I held out as long as I could. And I don't get tired of Doberball pictures. Really I don't!

Wordless Wednesday September 25 2013

Goodbye summer! See you next year!

Juke Box, 5 year old female Doberman in Atlantic City, NJ

(I've never used the "embed post" feature from Facebook before, so bear with me.)

The Humane Society of Atlantic County is in Atlantic City, NJ. If you think you might be interested in adopting "Juke Box" (not a bad name for a Jersey Girl, I guess!), the dog pre adoption application is here. There is also some information here about their adoption fees, and the fact that you need to bring state ID and paperwork pertaining to your residence (i.e., if you rent, you must bring your permission to have a pet).

To contact the Humane Society of Atlantic County, their phone number is 609-347-2487 and their email address is info AT hsacpet DOT org.

Post by The Humane Society of Atlantic County.

Black and White Sunday September 8 2013

A  happy park picture, taken with my Droid. I always forget my "real" camera when we go to the good park!

Black and White Sunday, August 17 2013

Wordless Wednesday August 14 2013

Wordless Wednesday August 7 2013

Wordless Wednesday July 31 2013

I think this look says "I'm sleepy, you took my collar off, and you're taking my picture? Seriously?"

I guess Elka's used to the new couch?

So, Elka's on the red couch more and more. Which is fine; as I've stated over and over, we are a Dogs on Furniture household.

What's funny to me is her habits with the couch, the pillows, and her toys. Most of her proclivities, I find pretty adorable, and it's always interesting to me to see what habits and preferences she'll develop (as near as I can tell) on her own.

dogIDs bison leather collar and leash: product review

I was approached by dogIDs.com to do a product review, and after having a look at their offerings, I just had to say yes! I selected a deep red bison leather collar, which was personalized with an engraved nameplate, and a matching deep red bison leather leash. I told Elka what I'd done (she listened, anyway) and we eagerly awaited the delivery.

Rescued Doberman sticks with Lost Owner

Duchess the red Doberman (called "brown" in news sources, but I forgive them), is a rescue. She's been with her family for 3 years, after having been adopted from the local shelter.

(not Duchess; photo from Wikimedia commons)

Wordless Wednesday July 10 2013