Frannie & Callie's Blog (53)

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that I think Callie is the greatest thing since sliced bread. One of the reasons is her "go with the flow" attitude.

Yesterday, we had quite a day planned...early morning walk, haircut (for me - Callie got groomed on Friday but she is a welcome guest at my salon), tennis match, then we were both invited over to a friend's house to visit (me with their new baby, Callie with their dogs). Callie was a dream through the whole thing.…

Wilbur's new daddy drove all the way from Ohio to Atlanta on Friday. He and I spoke during the week to plan the big meeting (I greatly appreciated this - I am a planner and don't really like to fly by the seat of my pants!). We decided that he would come between 12:30 and 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

I had it all planned out (naturally)...Wilbur's going away party was Thursday night, I set my outlook to remind me to print out all the adoption contracts at 4pm Friday, take the…

Wilbur will now be picked up by his family this coming weekend. Sadly, there was a death in his new family and the memorial service was Friday 4-23.

Callie and I get to enjoy the Wilbs for one more week. Wilbur is thoughtfully easing the transition by being super naughty! I now I have to keep the kitchen doors shut because he pulls everything off the counter and he ate my very favorite pair of summer shoes (while I was sitting on the sofa right above him. Note to self - don't…

(sorry for posting two blogs in a row, but it's been an eventful doodle day!)

Wilbur, aka "the Wilbs", aka Callie's partner in crime will be leaving us next weekend. His new mommy and daddy live in Ohio, and are driving down to come and take him home.

I'm really excited for Wilbs - his new folks are an engaged couple in their mid-50s. They have an 8 year old corgi named Gryffyn and they recently lost their silver standard poodle name Clay (Clay and Wilbur look…

One year ago, I got the call from the Dekalb Animal Shelter telling me that I could pick Callie (then named Pen 310) up. The second I got that call, I grabbed my purse and left the office, so anxious to have her with me. I actually took her straight back to the office, so that everyone could meet my adorable new furry monster (and because I didn't want to get fired). I was in love. Before the close of business that day, most of my office had fallen under her spell (we stopped being able to…

Callie went to the vet on saturday to get her shots and yearly exam. I took Wilbur along to weigh him (ok fine, to show him off!). Since I got Wilbur, he has only gained 3 lbs. Callie on the other hand has gained 4 lbs.

Not so good. She is officially overweight.

I've tried feeding them separately and that doesn't seem to work. If anything, Callie is MORE active with Wilbur around.

I'm going back to trying separate feedings and hope for the best. I…

Wilbur got neutered this past Thursday, and was pretty mopey until Saturday morning (evidently, me making him a bunch of chicken didn't really make up for me having his testicles removed!). We had a pretty normal weekend, with one exception...Wilbur figured out how to break out of the kitchen. To be fair, it is closed with french doors and a few good solid jumps will open it. Wilbs had just not attempted this previously. He's been such a good boy, that I really didn't fret over it too much.…

Spring has officially sprung here in the ATL. Here are some highlights of the good: It is truly gorgeous...bright green grass, flowering trees, and brilliant yellow forsythia (a favorite of mine) everywhere you look. Thirsty Dog Tavern (a bar where you can bring your dog) has at long last opened and I can't wait to take Callie...they will have milkbone hunts and a kibble menu (how cute is that?). The weather has been lovely, and Callie, Wilbur, and I have been going on marathon walks…

Yesterday, it was two weeks since I picked up Wilbur in Athens. I can't believe it's just two weeks! He's just not even the same guy he was back then (and I'm not just talking about his smell!)! While I can't claim that he's become a happy, playful doodle, he as DEFINITELY become less wary and his confidence that he will regularly get food, water, attention, and affection has grown by leaps and bounds. He is a very mellow boy who probably won't be playful like Callie (Callie's just super…

Wilbur Foster Doodle is making great strides! He is eating a little bit more (not as much as I would like, but more), drinking normally, and is having pretty regular "eliminations". He's still a super snuggler, and he and Callie have come to a bedtime understanding (the understanding is if they both want to be there, they have to deal with the other one!).

Wilbur things that make me laugh:

- Monday night I was getting ready for bed. I heard the unmistakable sound of…

These are all post grooming... (they may be a little blurry - I took them all with my phone)

Wilbur saying "if Callie can sit on the sofa, I can too!"…

(mostly) Good news abounds with the Wilbert. First - he responded to neither "Wilbur" or "Orville", so I have offically decided to go with Wilbur. He has no secondary skin infections that require treating. The groomer (the Pet Gallery in Atlanta - oh how I love them!) did a WONDERFUL job grooming him. They said he was a super sweet boy (which he is). They were able to work through some of the hair on his head, so he looks very poodle-ish right now, but his body is cut to the skin (the hair…

I found out from IDOG this morning that the Athens shelter had all of their paperwork mixed up and that I actually have ORVILLE, not Wilbur. However, if he doesn't respond to "Orville", I'm renaming him "Wilbur" - I think it's an adorable name! I wondered about this, as this dood looked nothing like the one from the Athens shelter! Below is a picture I took of him yesterday at the vet.

Orville/Wilbur spent a comfortable night at the vet. The great news is that he is heartworm…

This morning, I drove up to Athens, GA to pick up Wilbur. I had agreed to pick up Wilbur when they opened at 8am today, so I got an early start. I got to the shelter before they opened - can you say anxious and excited? The shelter really put the fear of G-d in me with the amount of space they had available and I felt bizarrely worried that if I got there late, I'd be too late (I know that would be unlikey, but I had the angst nonetheless!).

Once the shelter opened, they let…

I am picking up my first foster doodle (through IDOG) tomorrow morning in Athens, GA. I am beside myself with excitement! His name is Wilbur and he's a beautiful chocolate dood (at least I think he will be, once he's had a good bath!).

Of course, this could be a disaster, but I'm just really excited!

Nearly a year later, I found the magic recipe for completely wearing Callie out!

6 hour trial day at a new doggie day care

4 mile walk (with lots of new dogs to meet and grass to sniff)

30 minutes of throwing the tennis ball down the stairs (sorry neighbors!)

Do the steps above in rapid succession. Let doodle get a good night's sleep. Follow up with a 30 minute morning walk and a 2 hour trip to the dog park. You should end up with a well-done dood…

Yesterday, our guest dog Scout had a series of accidents, of both the pee and poop variety (she went to the vet this morning - she has a UTI, got some antibiotics, and she will be fine...poor little girl!). I evidently missed an area in the guest room where Scout had diarrhea, and only discovered it because Callie jumped in my lap and started lavishing my face with poop-scented kisses. I just didn't know what to do first...scrub my face or wash Callie's mouth (she's given to wandering around…