Mya's Life

Keep Voting

2010-11-25T10:26:00.001-08:00

We are in 3rd but climbing up the list. We sure would love to have free pet food for a year. That would be such a finacial relief!

Click here to vote for Mya. Remember to do it daily.

http://www.redmoonpetfood.com/cast-your-vote.html?controller=PCPetProfile&action=votePage&pet-id=96ea75ddbcf0a702821a81c3d554cdb8976&uid=2cad8fa47bbef2821002badbb8de5374b894

www.redmoonpetfood.com

Please vote for Mya

2010-11-21T10:37:00.001-08:00

Please vote for Mya.

She can win free Redmoon Pet Food for a year.

The contest runs Oct 31st to Jan 31st, 2011

Please bookmark it and vote daily.

Click on this link to vote:

http://www.redmoonpetfood.com/cast-your-vote.html?controller=PCPetProfile&action=votePage&pet-id=96ea75ddbcf0a702821a81c3d554cdb8976&uid=2cad8fa47bbef2821002badbb8de5374b894

She loves our walks

2009-06-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

And why wouldn't she love our walks? She gets to run, swim, chase things and usually meet other dogs.

She was looking for ducks in the creek that were there earlier.

A quick dip in the creek always cools her off. Sometimes a puddle will do.

In the same spot as last year

2009-06-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

I took a picture of Mya in this same spot last year. I love these purple flowers/weeds.
She's watching for squirrels

Sniffing through the grass

Now that's a Mug!

2009-05-28T05:49:00.000-07:00

2009-04-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Starting our walk off at the park across the road from us.

Below: Sniffing the trails

Below: Running along a backyard fence. There's a dog on the other side. Harley following along.

Below: Checking out the squirrels in the yard.

Below: Exploring the scents

Strong, Healthy and so darn cute

2009-04-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sticks

2009-03-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

It's funny how a dog can be happy with just a plain old stick!

Should I admit it?

2009-03-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, here goes..... I'm a fan of Dog Whisperer!

I have to admit that I had heard so many negative things about this guy so I didn't even bother watching a show to gather my own opinion. I happened to be flicking through the channels and saw the show and thought I would see what it is all about. Surprisingly, it's a great show. He doesn't have "tricks" that he uses. It's based on what a dog should be in a pack.

I have used a few of his suggestions and they have worked for Mya. The first one was the control at the front door. When someone knocks, she goes nuts and I couldn't answer the door without holding her in one hand to stop her from running out the door while talking to the person at the door. With a few suggestions, she now sits back and waits while I answer the door. Big improvement.

I think with any show, it's up to you to decide what will work for you and to make your own opinion and not care what anyone else thinks.

Always in position

2009-01-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

She always seems to plant her butt in a place where a hand is within reach. Even during the World Junior hockey game.

Just hanging out

2008-12-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

2008-12-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

Mya and her Poppy
My, what big eyes you have!

Always ready for the camera

Twins

2008-12-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard that a pet will look like it's owner after a while or an owner will look like their pet. Here's a perfect example. Both Mya and Roddy have jet black hair. However, both of them have been getting grey in the beard lately. It's hard to see Mya's beard in this picture, but it's almost all grey now.

The stitches are out

2008-12-07T15:41:00.000-08:00

I brought Mya to the vet on Friday to have her stitches removed. They complimented me saying that I did an excellent job keeping her incision clean. I did clean her everyday and made sure she didn't run. That was the hardest part. They said that she healed perfectly. So yay, that is all done with.

The hair is growing back and she's back to her normal wiggly self.

Healing after the Spay

2008-11-28T16:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures taken today after Mya's spay surgery. It's a big long cut, but it is healing beautifully. There is no redness, no leakage and she is not bothering with it at all. I think she will be back to normal in no time at all.

Drop the Ball!!!

2008-11-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

Why is it that Mya doesn't obey when she is being video taped? Every other time she drops the ball and waits for the next throw. Honestly!!! lol

Running Alone

2008-11-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

Harley wasn't in the park today. We went out a little later than usual because of the cold. So, I brought Mya's ball with us so she could have a good "focused" run.

A Romp in the Park

2008-11-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Here is Mya and her female friend Harley. They get along great and love to run and explore together. Of course, here's a picture of Mya in a mud puddle. Her favorite place to be.

Here is Harley's Dad. Mya loves him and knows what pocket the treats are in!
Running at full speed.

Checking things out

Walking in the grass

A dip in the creek.

Run, Run, Run

The Month of the Spay

2008-11-13T14:04:00.000-08:00

Mya will be spayed this month. On November 25th. Nervous????? Yes!!!

My father in law is paying the majority of the bill and I'm paying for the extra IV and the blood tests. Without him offering to do that, I don't think I would have ever saved up enough to get it done. Or maybe, that was my excuse for putting it off.

Other Friends

2008-09-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

I didn't give him a name. He only arrived at the trailer in the last 2 days that I was there. Probably because Mya wasn't around for those days. He was a cute little guy. I hope he's there next year.

Ignoring Mya

2008-09-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

Have I been ignoring Mya? ..... No I haven't...lol

I just haven't posted to her blog in a long time. I just finished with her haircut and there's nothing like real daylight to see where I made mistakes. So, tomorrow is touch up day.

I am scheduling Mya to be spayed finally. And I have to tell you, it does scare me to have her go under. I'm going to be a wreck that day.

Summer Shave

2008-06-25T10:56:00.001-07:00

I have to shave Mya down for the summer. If I don't, she collects a ton of beach sand in her fur everyday. Wet beach sand! Then, as she's sleeping in my bed, she dries off and sheds all the sand for me. Not a comfy sleep. I learned my lesson the first summer.

Now, she gets shaved down and it is so much better. She may not look as nice, but I think she likes it for the summer. It's nice and cool and she can swim and chase frogs all she wants without being weighed down by wet fur.

By September, you would have never known she was a stick dog a few months earlier.

My New Clients

2008-06-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

The little black dog is Thunder.
And this in Lila

I am now a dog walker. These are my first clients and my little buddies!

My Girl

2008-05-23T14:16:00.001-07:00

False Pregnancy - Pseudocyesis

2008-05-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

"Canine false pregnancy is a term used to describe female dogs showing signs of pregnancy, nursing, and lactation, and yet produce no puppies; either there was no mating occurred or have any fertilized eggs. This sign usually occurs after her estrus stage is over (about a month or two), and it may last for two to three months depending in type and severity from one female to another."

Well, this is what Mya is experiencing right now. She was not near any male dogs so she is not pregnant. Also, she will be spayed this summer so there is not need to talk about that.

She is experiencing all the signs of pregnancy. Increased appetite, weight gain, enlarged teats, lactation and nesting. However, her tummy is not big.

It's quite the thing to see. I never knew that this condition would mimic a true pregnancy, all the way up to the end....less the puppies.

Here are some pictures of her belly and her nesting areas.

Belly

Nest 1
Nest 2
Nest 3

2008-04-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Feeding a Giant Schnauzer can cost a lot of money. Before I switched Mya to raw food, she was eating about 6 cups of dry kibble. Her bag of food was about $70 and it lasted a month.

With her allergies, I cut out kibble and switched to raw. I first tried the raw meat with veggies and oatmeal, rice etc. But after I did more reading on the subject, I decided to go to meat only. I am lucky that my parents own a grocery store with a butcher shop. They give me the meat that they would otherwise throw out because it is getting close to the expiry date. I don't get it all as I don't get up there every month. It's a 4 hour drive. However, what I do get really helps cut the costs. The only thing I have to buy is the liver to add to her meat. I also buy chicken legs, necks, turkey legs, lamb ribs, fish and almost anything I can find on sale or reduced. She does get bones everyday (in the chicken legs, lamb ribs etc)
Here is a video of what I use to make her mixture. I was able to get 14 1lb bags made today. She eats 2lbs of food a day.

2008-04-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have posted about Mya.

Here's a short video of Mya playing with her basketball. The bigger, the better.

Mojo gets a new look

2008-04-02T16:56:00.001-07:00

I would like to say Thank You to Cheryl at Gone with the Dogs in Courtice Ontario who groomed Mojo free of charge. It is people like this who make it all worth while.

Mojo is still available. He is currently living at his home, but his owners are looking for a new home for him. If you know of anyone who would be interested in owning Mojo or fostering him, please let me know.

P.S. Sorry Cheryl, I didn't mean to cut your head off in these pictures. It's my lack of photography skills that are to blame!

Mojo!

2008-03-04T19:01:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Mojo and some videos. The videos are very dark as they were taken in the house at night. Mojo's owners are looking for a new home for him. He needs obedience lessons and someone who will spend a lot of time with him burning off his energy.

I really like this dog. He is just a typical Giant teenager.

If you want more info on him, send me an email.

A Poem

2008-03-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

by Sandi Thompson

My family brought me home cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm.
They played with me and laughed with me and showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys.
The children loved to feed me, they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them - all snuggled in the sheets.
I used to go for walks, often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash, I'm very proud to say.
These are the things I'll not forget - a cherished memory.
I now live in the shelter - without my family.
They used to laugh and praise me when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn't know the difference between the old ones and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bedroom rug.
They said that I was out of control, and would have to live outside.
This I did not understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn't time.
I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely, in the backyard, on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to the shelter but were embarrassed to say why,
They said I caused an allergy, and then they each kissed me goodbye.
If I'd only had some classes, as a little pup.
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle when I was all grown up.
"You only have one day left." I heard the worker say.
Does that mean I have a second chance?
DO I GO HOME TODAY?

Pillow Talk

2008-03-02T06:04:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter where a pillow may be, Mya will always put her head on it. I can stick it anywhere on the couch or floor and she will position herself to sleep with her head on it. I can't figure out if she does it because it is comfortable or because she saw us put our head on it and she thinks that is what she has to do?

Food

2008-02-23T08:37:00.000-08:00

Mya got a great treat today. I went to pick up her food order from Sheila. She has some nice lamb ribs, offal, turkey necks and chicken frames. I stuff the chicken frames with hamburg and freeze them.

I also got some free food from my brother, so I am making up little baggies of mush. They have beef hamburg, ground pork, ground chicken, chicken giblets and liver in them.

She's good for another month!

She thought she was alone

2008-02-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

Mya was outside by herself. I video taped her from inside the house. She didn't know I was watching. This is what she does when she goes outside. Usually there is barking in there too.

Geez

2008-02-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know what the heck is wrong with her, but she will not leave me alone today. She's sticking to my side, pawing at me, smelling me, jumping on me. She's sticking her head underneath my arm and tossing it up in the air so I will pet her. One word to decribe her today "Demanding"!

2008-02-03T16:03:00.000-08:00

Mya Entering The House

And those snowballs don't come out very easily! They stick in there like glue. I'll still take the snow over the mud anyday.

Pumpkin Please!

2008-01-31T06:23:00.000-08:00

Mya was out of biscuits so I put an order in with Sara at

The Barking Biscuit Company.

She loves these Pumpkin Please biscuits. They have no grains in them, so they are perfect for my little girl.

Say "Pumpkin Please!"

Grrrroooowwwllllll

2008-01-29T07:45:00.000-08:00

As we were going out for our walk yesterday (at the end of our driveway) the water meter man came by. He said "Oh, what a beautiful Giant Schnauzer". Not very often people know what she is. Then he said "Is she friendly?". I said jokingly "Oh, most of the time". He went to pet her and the low growl came out. He moved back and she moved back. He laughed and I apologized. I put her back into a sit. I don't know if it was the uniform?

There are some men that she just isn't happy around. I wish she was friendly with everybody, but is that a behaviour that has to be corrected or are we just too trusting of people.

Shake your Bootie

2008-01-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

Mya can handle the cold very well. What she can't handle are snowballs stuck under her feet and salt from the sidewalks. Usually a few times on our walk she stops and gives me her paw. I pick the snowball out and we keep going.

Today, I remembered that I won a little pair of boots at our Giant Schnauzer Grand Slam. They were from our game "The Laundry Line". They are not fancy in the least. I wanted to get a pair of Muttlucks in the auction but I had run out of money by the time they came around.

So I put these little boots on her and off we went. First, she walked like a dog in high heels. It took a minute for her to get used to them. They were great! They didn't keep her feet very dry, but they kept the snow and salt out.

They came from Komatik Outfitters in Ottawa: http://www.komout.com/

That's Right

2008-01-26T08:55:00.001-08:00

We have been practising our right turns on our walks. She's starting to get the hang of it. I think I will get that one perfect before I start left turns.

Relaxing

2008-01-22T07:46:00.000-08:00

I always put Mya in the centre of my pictures. I was just watching a little photography show and they talked about putting your subject off to the side. I think I like it. Maybe I should have planned the background a litte better (ie, cleaned my house first!)

Cold

2008-01-21T06:34:00.001-08:00

It's to damn cold to go out for a walk with Mya. I can't handle this cold. But she seems to enjoy playing in the backyard with her toys even in this cold.
Did I tell you I hate winter!

I am walking...je marche

2008-01-19T08:55:00.001-08:00

Decided that I would bring Mya out for a walk without first checking the temperature outside. I knew if I checked the temperature and it was cold, I wouldn't go out there!

I made her walk over a manhole cover today. It didn't bother her at all. But the next one we approached, she walked around it again. Next time I'm going to make her sit on it.

Today, a squirrel decided to run right beside us. Mya HATES squirrels. They are the mortal enemy. She went wild. Even with the pinch collar on, she was hard to control. Even grabbing her head and body and trying to put her in a sit didn't work. Once the squirrel was out of site she was fine. But I wasn't fine. I was mad at her.

Manhole Covers

2008-01-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

On our walk today, I payed attention to what Mya did when we approached a manhole cover. She didn't even look down at it, she just walked around it.

I was thinking that she probably sees it as an object on the sidewalk. She wouldn't step on an empty chip bag, so why should she step on this.

I guess it's not fear. Tomorrow, I'm going to make her walk on one and then later, sit on one.

Going for a walk

2008-01-14T15:34:00.000-08:00

I have committed to bringing Mya out for a walk more often. Not only is it good exercise for me, but it allows us time to work on her obedience. I've been pretty slack with it and let her get away with things that I shouldn't have. So, today we start over, kind of like a boot camp.

I did notice a funny thing though. When we are walking, she will not step on a man hole cover. She will go out of her way to walk around it. Strange eh!

Always at my Feet

2008-01-12T15:12:00.001-08:00

When I am in the kitchen cooking dinner or doing dishes, you will always find Mya in this spot. Notice that she is right between the fridge and the stove. I let her lay there and step over her if I need something.

An Interesting Blog

2008-01-11T06:02:00.000-08:00

Everyday, I like to look at my favorite blogs. Someone told me about a blog about a lady who took in an orphaned Coyote. I had to go and have a look!

Her pictures are stunning to say the least. If you have a chance, go have a look at

The Daily Coyote

She updates the blog daily with the life of Charlie the Coyote.

Even if you don't agree with someone raising a Coyote in a human world, just have a look at the pictures. My take on it is that this poor little guy would have died without a human taking him in. I think when he's ready to go, he will decide when it is time.

A BIG Decision

2008-01-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

After giving this a lot of thought (and changing my mind about my decision everyday) I have decided not to host the 2008 Giant Schnauzer Grand Slam.

It is a lot of work and I really love doing it, but I would like to attend a large gathering of
Giants without being the one organizing it. I would love to talk to everyone and meet all the Giants, which is something I don't get to do when I organize the event.

I would still like to host the Grand Slam but only every second year.

I really hope someone else will step up and offer to host the Grand Slam this year (without the auction, penny sale etc).

It's a New Year

2008-01-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

I read something on a friend's blog that I thought was interesting. She asked us to take one word to describe 2007 and one word to describe 2008.

( I would link to her blog but I'm not sure she made it public yet.)

So, here is my shot at it:

2007 - Stagnant

2008 - Change

I'm not going to go into great detail, but when I look back at 2007, I see a lot of could have, would have, should have.

I have to make 2008 different. I have to change. I have to live. Heck, I'm going to be 40 years old this summer!!!

The Hair is finally Gone!

2008-01-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

I have been growing my hair for 2 years so that I can donate it to an organization that makes wigs for Cancer patients. It was finally time to get it cut. I had 11 inches cut off.

Before

After
The ponytail that I have to send in.

Ok, so it's Mya's blog so I thought I should include a picture of her in there too!

Video

2007-12-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

Run Free

2007-12-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

The Gingerbread House

2007-12-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

I have never built a Gingerbread house before. Avery wanted to make one this year so I thought we could do that Christmas Eve. So I bought a kit. It was $10 and had everything you needed in it.

Here is Avery getting the icing ready. Mya is pretending to look out the window.

They even have an E-Z Build tray. It holds all your pieces upright. That's pretty cool.

Here are all the sides put together. They said to wait 15 minutes before decorating it. So we did.

Well, as we were waiting, the roof slid off! Mya was just waiting to have her piece. There is nothing to support the heavy roof once the icing decoration was on.

So, we tried a few different things and nothing worked. Some pieces even broke! So we decided to decorate it and declare that it was hit by a tornado!

Well, so much for that idea. Next...... baking cookies!!!!

Montage of Mya

2007-12-23T10:33:00.001-08:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

White Christmas

2007-12-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

I saw Sara put a YouTube video on her page and I didn't know that I could do that. She had a great video of Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing Little Drummer Boy. It reminded me of Christmas when I was a kid. We always had a record playing of Bing Crosby at Christmas. Here is one of my favorites.

Christmas Shots

2007-12-20T11:46:00.000-08:00

Just some pictures

2007-12-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

Snow Card

2007-12-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

Another Card

2007-12-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

Trying out different cards

2007-12-18T06:53:00.000-08:00

Disco - Patient while it loads and then press play!

2007-12-17T16:44:00.000-08:00

Don't send a lame Starring You! eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Holiday Wishes

2007-12-17T07:34:00.001-08:00

Mya's Christmas Haircut

2007-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

When Mya gets a haircut, she goes a little wacky after. She runs around the house and fights with her toys. Then she settles down. These were taken in order after the haircut.

Mom, stop taking pictures of me!

There, are you happy? Yes, I now have eyes.

Why do I have to do this every year?

Ok, here's my head-tilt-cute-face!Do you think that she's thinking about how much she loves her new doo? Probably not!

Part 1 of my gift

2007-12-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, my parents send each of us money. Every year, I buy things that I wouldn't normally buy myself. The first thing I thought I would start with this year are new grooming scissors and thinning shears. The closest good dog supply store is in Oakville and I don't like driving out there unless there is a good reason, so I went looking for a hair stylist's store. I found this cool place in Whitby. Did you know that the industry charges more for dog grooming supplies than human grooming supplies? Actually, I'm not surprised at all.

Now, with the rest of the money I want to get a new book and probably a new pair of black boots, oh, and maybe some new gloves!

I will be grooming Mya tomorrow and can't wait to try the new supplies out.

The Mud Beard

2007-12-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well, cosidering the ground was covered with snow, I was a little surprised to find Mya at the door with a Mud Beard! She was digging under the tree for something and seemed to be having a ball doing it. Needless to say she also had a nice bath today.

A Great Day (Non Schnauzer)

2007-12-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

We were invited to an event called Uncle Neil and Friends Annual Toy Mountain Show. We invited our friends and their son to come along with us. What a lot of fun it was. Great music and the kids loved all the activities. Everyone had to bring an unwrapped toy. In total, including all the corporate donations and donation dropoffs plus what was brought today, there were over 1500 toys!!! Imagine that.

Thank you Christie, Neil and Alex Haden for inviting us to come along. We will be there next year for sure!

Santa

Neil singing

Christie and Alex Haden
Me and Avery

The crowd at the bar

Dan and Sandy Clouthier

My husband Roddy with Alex Clouthier

Sandy

Avery

Who goes there?

2007-12-07T14:15:00.001-08:00

There must have been something in the backyard last night. She went on a wild sniff throughout the entire yard. Then of course, she had to play in the snow. And, she was digging a hole under a tree and then layed in it? Don't know what that's all about.

Christmas' Past

2007-12-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

When I go to Mattawa after Christmas, I'm going to go through some of my parents old pictures and scan them. There are some pretty funny pictures of me growing up!

Until then, here are a few that my aunt had.

(Below) This is me standing infront of my Nanny and Grampa's tree. I guess I must have been about 3 years old. Every Christmas day, we would have dinner there. I still remember the smell when walking in the house. The turkey and stuffing...yum! The tree was always full of tinsel and there was country Christmas music playing and the TV was usually on some type of sport. The kids would be running around (I was the 3rd oldest Grandchild) and the parents never told us to be quiet or to stop. What great memories.

(Below) This is a picture of Me, Uncle Andy (holding me) my sister Joanne and my brother Brian. Guy wasn't born yet. I was so tiny when I was young. Don't ask about the hair!

Now below, you will find a later picture. Yes, that's me opening one of my tons of presents I used to get. But....every Christmas eve I had to go to bed with those darn rollers in my hair. Boy did that hurt! But, I had to have nice hair to go to Nanny and Grampa's. If you look at the picture, you will see that we had nice green shag carpeting and look at the beer bottle! It was probably O'Keefe. That's my brother Guy in those funky pajamas.

There will be more to come after I can get them scanned.

My Dad's Birthday

2007-12-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

Happy 67th Birthday Dad!

I love this picture. It was taken 16 years ago and I don't think I would go with that style of dress now. Actually, thinking back, Roddy and I should have hopped on a plane and got married on a hot island. Why do we spend so much on weddings?

Avery's Sick Day

2007-12-05T07:22:00.001-08:00

I kept Avery at home today because he wasn't feeling well. He has a cold, runny nose but no fever. But if you could get a good look at his eyes, you can tell he's just pooped out. So, missing a day of Grade 3 isn't such a big deal. He's an A student and could use a day off to rest. But, there's always time for a photo op! I was playing with settings on the camera and still can't get it right. I want a new camera....hint, hint!

Oh yeah, really looking sick there! :) Mya was licking him.

Happy with a Pokemon card. It doesn't take much to make him happy. Of course, Mya looks at his cards with him. Not that she's interested in the cards, but knows that he usually has crumbs somewhere around him.

Lazy Day

2007-12-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

Well, whenever we get a snowfall, it seems to shut down the city. Maybe that's a good thing because there are a lot of people out there who don't know how to drive in the snow. We went out today and there were hardly any cars on the road. It was nice. After our little bit of running around, it's just time to veg in the house. Mya seems to like it better inside today. My son liked it better outside. He spent a few hours out there building forts and tunnels.

Taken from our front window, without even going outside! :)

One of those days

2007-11-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

Jasper

Every now and then, I have one of those days where I just miss Jasper so much! I guess today is one of those days.

Sometimes it's just a thinking of one of the many bad things she used to do or remembering how much I loved her.

Uncle Neil's Annual Toy Mountain Show

2007-11-23T11:30:00.001-08:00

Go to the website for all the great info!

http://uncleneiltoymountain.tripod.com/

I will be attending this year's show and bringing some friends along. I see the joy in my son's eyes Christmas morning as he opens his "way too many" gifts. I also have that memory as a child when I used to open all my gifts. Can you imagine what a Christmas would be like for a child that wakes up only to find that Santa didn't come this year?

Help a child by bringing a new unwrapped gift. Help make a difference. Come along with me!

The Birchmount

462 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough

Sunday Dec 9th

2-4pm

Dingbat Gone Wild

2007-11-22T06:59:00.000-08:00

It's the first snowfall. Not much snow yet, but there is suppose to be more to come.
Mya loves the snow. Even with a cm of snow, she's loving it!

My Girl

2007-11-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

Mya
Photo courtesy of Bob Hewus

A new protein source

2007-11-20T10:48:00.001-08:00

I will be introducing Lamb into Mya's diet shortly. I went to the raw supplier (Sheila) and picked up a bunch of goodies....and really cheap too!

I have lamb ribs and a lamb head. I will have to feed the head when my husband isn't around. I wonder if she will like it?

Computer Geek!

2007-11-15T06:35:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I wish I was a computer geek!

I changed my Blog a bit and somehow lost some information and now, I can't get it back because I didn't save the template. So, the blog isn't looking the way I want it to. :(

My new adventure will be to learn HTML code.

Fish...hmmmm....!

2007-11-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

I weighed the salmon fish head and it was 2lbs. So I cut it in half and put it in her bowl for her, then put it outside. She sniffed it for a while, licked it and then didn't know what to do. I left her alone outside and watched from the window. She picked it up gingerly in her teeth and carried it out onto the grass. There, she licked it some more and tried to take tiny bites of the meat. She worked at it for quite some time. After about 30 minutes, she started crunching bones and really getting into it. It took some time, but finally she ate the whole thing, eyeballs and all!

Quit staring at me!

2007-11-10T08:42:00.001-08:00

This is a Salmon fish head. It's Mya's meal for tomorrow. I asked the person at the fish counter if they sell fish heads. He said to go back on Saturday and they should have some. They only had one but it's a huge salmon head. I buy it for .99lb. Then I asked them if they had anything they were going to throw out? The gave me a big chunk of Halibut for .99lb too. Not bad!

Mya, Pumpkin Please Taste Tester

2007-11-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

This is a video of Mya taste testing The Barking Biscuit's new cookies. They are called Pumpkin Please! What do you think? Does she like them?

Sorry the video is really dark. It was taken in the house with my digital camera.

Nov 3rd Schnauzer Slam

2007-11-05T06:21:00.000-08:00

There were 9 Black Giants and 1 P/S Giant at our Schnauzer Slam on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful piece of property.

To see more pictures, go to my Dropshots page and click on Nov 3rd.

http://www.dropshots.com/mycozyhome

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

2007-10-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Let's go Slammin' - Sat November 3rd
Are you ready for a great day of walking with our Giants?

Then, come and join us for a Slam in a new location. We are making a trip out near Hockley Valley Resort, in a small town called Mono.

307635 Hockley Road,Orangeville ON.

North Side of Hockley Road between 3rd and 4th line Mono.

1 Km East of the flashing light (the only flashing light between Airport Road and Hwy 10) at 3rd line – the turn off for the Hockley Resort

Sat November 3rd1pm to ?

Wear walking shoes/boots and dress for the weather.

Parking is just a little west of the house. There will be a sign directing you where to park.

Why won't you share?

2007-10-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

Playtime!

White Hairs

2007-10-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

Stickle Hairs

These white hairs that can appear on a few giant schnauzers. Most giants do not have them at all or just have a few that is not a problem. If these are pulled fewer and fewer will come back as the hairs grow in.

(I have Mya's head tilted back to show her chin hairs)

Everyday I spend some time plucking white hairs off of Mya. She has tons of them. It was getting to a point where the top of her head was starting to look more white than black. She has some on her body but under her chin, wow, that's another story. Her beard is more white than black. I tried to take a picture of it, but the picture just doesn't do it justice. I'm afraid if I pull too many out, she won't have a beard left!!

The Skunk

2007-10-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

Scent removal
Removing the scent from objects or creatures can be difficult. Some home remedies suggest using tomato juice or vinegar. A more complex and effective remedy includes application of a mixture containing hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap. The thiols, which are responsible for the odor, are not water soluble, even with soap, but the baking soda catalyzes the oxidative ability of the peroxide, which oxidizes the thiols into highly water-soluble sulfonates. In an episode of the television program MythBusters, the hydrogen peroxide mix was found to be the most effective smell removal agent.
From Popular Science Aug. 1995, chemist Paul Krebaum provided the recipe for the bathing concoction. One quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, one quarter cup of baking soda, and one teaspoon of liquid soap. Bathe your pet in this solution and rinse with tap water. Krebaum warned that there is no way to store this potion. "If you put the ingredients in a bottle, the whole thing would explode."

Taken from Wikipedia

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-10-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

My Mom said I'm allowed to stand up at the table!
See, that's Mommy with me.

Grandpa was talking, but I was just looking for food

Dat's my eyes!

Oh, scritch scratch, scritch scratch!!!! I love it!

Dog Tables for Sale

2007-10-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

My father-in-law is a great carpenter. He enjoys making dining tables for dogs. They are made from solid pine and include stainless steel feeding bowls.

If you are interested in purchasing one (great Christmas gift!) please let me know.

mycozyhome@rogers.com

He sells them for about $45 to $55, depending on the size. Mya loves hers!

A wee little bird

2007-10-05T07:33:00.001-07:00

This poor little bird flew into my kitchen window this morning. I knew I shouldn't have cleaned my windows!!!

It took him a little while, but he eventually was OK and flew off

She's a lady

2007-10-04T15:12:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but she likes to lay with her legs crossed.
Any other Giants do this?

I won, I won!!!!

2007-10-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

I just love to visit Sara's blog

http://www.barkingbiscuit.blogspot.com/

She talks about so many different things like her dogs, her business, her crafts and her life. Sara just recently introduced a new biscuit to her "The Barking Biscuit Company" business. She had a contest to name the new product and guess what....... I won! Well, I suggested Pumpkins Please and someone else suggested Pumpkin Please. They went with Pumpkin Please, but I think my suggestion was close enough! lol

These new cookies are grain free. Something that Mya needs. She hasn't had treats in 6 weeks and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new "Pumpkin Please" cookies!

Yum

2007-09-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few clips of Mya eating chicken legs. Yes, I know, it's not very exciting, but I'm still fascinated by the whole thing! :)

Chick, chick, chicken!

2007-09-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

So, today was the first day that Mya got raw chicken, bones and all.

I bought chicken thighs to start. I put 2 in her bowl. She looked at them, looked at me, looked at them, looked......(you get the picture! lol)

I picked one up and gave it to her. She tenderly put it in her mouth and proceeded to bring it to the couch. No, no, no! I picked it up and brought it back to her bowl. I guess she just didn't know what I wanted her to do with it.

She licked it, picked it up in her mouth and started chewing and crunching. Then it was time for the second one. She looked at me again, as if to ask, "do I eat this one the same way?".

She picked that one up too and munched and crunched.

Once she got the hang of it, she really loved it. I think she wanted more, but she will have to wait until tomorrow morning.

Now, my next challenge is to find all this stuff on sale!!

I guess she likes it?

2007-09-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is my first attempt at feeding raw. I thought I would at least try it. Whether I will stick with it is yet to be determined.

I started by blending beef heart, liver and kidneys. I also added ground hamburg and a can of mackerel. I measured out single portions and put them in baggies to freeze.

Then I combined cooked brown rice, cooked potatoes (skin on) and carrots. I pureed these and separated them into meal size baggies and froze those. So she will get a baggie or each for supper.

In the morning, I am going to try raw chicken, with bones. I will go out tomorrow and buy those. I also have oatmeal and other fruit and veggies to add in to change things up later. But for now, we will try this and see how it goes.

It's a Love/Hate Relationship

2007-09-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Mya just loves her little stuffed bunny. She actually has 2 of them, one with a dress on and one without a dress. As much as she plays rough with these things, she has never ripped one of them. However, they do have to get washed often.

Doing what I love to do

2007-09-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

It was funny, because I've been helping out a few Giants lately and I do it because I love doing it, no other reason. I don't expect anything back from it, it just plain makes me happy to do it.

Now, my husband on the other hand thinks differently. He reminded me that I no longer do rescue. He said that I should charge people for my time! Ha ha ha ha ha ha

It's funny how "non-dog people" think differently. He would do anything for his hockey buddies without thinking twice, so why is this any different? They just don't get it do they?

It just makes me laugh.

Mya's Heat

2007-09-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

First heat - April 2005
Second heat - Sept 2005
Third heat - Feb 22, 2006
Fourth heat - Aug 19, 2006
Fifth heat - Jan 13, 2007
Sixth heat - May 12, 2007

Seventh heat - Sept 26, 2007

(for my records)

It's grooming time again

2007-09-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

I just finished grooming Mya. I do it in 2 stages. Today was the inital grooming and tomorrow is the touch ups. I can't expect her to stand on that table for as long as it takes me to be satisifed with her cut. I wish I would get better at grooming! I guess I need some better tools. I need new grooming shears and thinning shears! I'm putting it on my list to Santa!

Before (yes the basement is creepy, but I have to groom her in the furnace room)

Where are your eyes?

After (the eyebrows still need some work)

Happy as a clam to be done.

It's too bad this shot isn't clear. She has beautiful ears.

That's my pretty girl!

Did someone say food?

2007-09-22T18:49:00.001-07:00

In an earlier post, I explained how I'm trying to find the "perfect" food for Mya. What I mean is a food that Mya will do well on, not just OK.

I had her on Timberwolf Organics for 5 weeks. The eye guck went away, the stools were excellent, the dander decreased, but....she was still chewing on her legs. Now I realize that it happens to be the worst allergy season lately, so part of her problems could be environmental.

I thought I would try another food with no grains and no chicken. It's called Solid Gold Barking At The Moon. I've been wanting to try this for a long time, but was hesitant because it has beef as the second ingredient. With all the problems in the past with beef in pet foods, I just put it off. I have heard people talk about the protien level being too high in dog food, but if you feed raw, especially prey model, the protein level would be higher.

Solid Gold Northwest Premium Dry Foods"Barking at the Moon"Grain and Gluten-Free High Protein Dog Food TM

We are proud to introduce our new "Grain and Gluten-Free High Protien" formula for dogs. The low-carb movement has been taking the world by storm, and more recently, the idea that dogs can benefit from a similar approach has also been taking hold. Omitting grains from a dog's diet is also one of the major philosophies behind the "BARF" diet (which stands for "Bioligically Appropriate Raw Food") which is making waves in the contemporary world of holistic pet nutrition. High protein and high fat are two major components of nature's intent for canines. The diet of wolves in the wild is characterized by large quantities of meat and organs from prey, some vegetation and very limited grains. Our Barking at the Moon is an attempt to capture this natural (i.e. "Nature-Intended") diet and make it accessible to your dog in a way that is realistic for modern dog owners. Also with the recent probelms involving wheat gluten in the pet food recall, we are happy to point out that wheat is not used in any of Solid Gold's formulas and Barking at the Moon is entirely GLUTEN-FREE! For more on Solid Gold and the recall, check here. By the tradition of Solid Gold, Barking at the Moon is free of any added salts or sugars. It is free of all chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin. We use fresh wild salmon and hormone-free beef as our primary protein sources.

Ingredients: Salmon Meal Beef Potatoes Potato Protein Canola Oil Tomato Pomace Natural Flavor Salmon Oil Choline Chloride Taurine Dried Chicory Root Parsley Flakes Pumpkin Meal Almond Oil Sesame Oil Yucca Schidigera Extract Thyme Blueberries Cranberries Carrots Broccoli Vitamin E Supplement Iron Proteinate Zinc Proteinate Copper Proteinate Ferrous Sulfate Zinc Sulfate Copper Sulfate Potassium Iodide Thiamine Mononitrate Manganese Proteinate Manganous Oxide Ascorbic Acid Vitamin A Supplement Biotin Calcium Panthothenate Manganese Sulfate Sodium Selenite Pyridoxine Hydrochloride Vitamin B12 Supplement Riboflavin Vitamin D Supplement Folic Acid

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein, Min 42%Crude Fat, Min 20%*Crude Fiber, Max 4%Moisture, Max 10%Calories 465 kcal/cup

I keep track of this info for my own records, so I know what she has tried and what ingredients are involved. I also have a record incase they go and change the formula on me!

There's still 1 more waiting for a new home!

2007-09-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Dutchess

As of yesterday, Dutchess was still available. I see now that they have application pending on her profile. I sure hope that someone applied for her that can give her the life that a Giant Schnauzer deserves!

***APPLICATION PENDING***Can you resist my adorable face? Sadly, I was surrendered to the Shelter because I just couldn't get along with the other dog that was living in my previous home. So I guess it would be best if I went to a home that had no other dogs. I'm a smart, gentle and well behaved girl and I already know my basic commands. I need a family that will help build my confidence and give me all the attention I deserve. I would like my new family to bring me to obedience training because not only will that help to build my self confidence, but it will help me to become more socialized.

Casi has a NEW HOME!

2007-09-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Casi (the rescue Giant) has a new forever home! Yes, it gives me goosebumps to think of what a wonderful life this girl will have.

She was adopted today by Sara and John Harley. Sara is the owner of her own dog biscuit company called Barking Biscuit. Casi has 2 new furry sisters, Cinder (female Giant) and Mulligan (female mixed breed).

Casi was being held at a kennel that does Standard Poodle Rescue. After a bit of time, Casi warmed up to Sara and John and won their hearts. Then she was introduced to Cinder and Mulligan. Everything went great.

I recommended Sara and John to Morgan (who does Poodle rescue but had Casi) so the process went a little faster than what it normally does. I told Morgan that if I had to rehome Mya for any reason, I wouldn't think twice about placing her in Sara and John's home.

Avery (my son) and Casi

Cinder and Casi

Sara giving Casi a scratch

Casi, Cinder and Mulligan with Sara

Waiting for their Barking Biscuits
Sara and John - the new family
Congratulations Sara and John on your new addition!