Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Meds?

Hey everyone. I am shopping around for heartworm pills. They are crazy expensive, so I am trying to find a cheap price, but good deal. Petmeds.com is having a sale, and I was definately considering weighing in now. However, I am having a difficult time, and was hoping for some advice from others. They have a cutoff line for weight at 25 lbs. But...our lovable corgis toggle that line. Sammy literally sits at the 25-26-27 lb line. During the winter he was right about 27-28. Now that it has been warming, Sammy & I have been spending as much times as possible outside. Hiking, long walks, dogpark, or just sitting outside enjoying the warmth. He has definately trimmed up, even in the last week it's noticable. Anyway, one of my largest fears is Sammy getting a worm and us not being able to do anything about it! I was just wondering what other people used for their corgis? Is the 25 lb line that humongous of a deal? Should I get the 26-50 lb pill to cover my bases, or just consider Sammy a small dog and get him the 11-25 lb pill so it's not overwhelming? Or am I not thinking about it right, would a formula for a 26-55 lb dog be too strong or harmful to my little 25/26 lb corgi baby? Ah....didn't think this could be so hard!
Any thoughts?

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Nature Dog

I don't know about the rest of America, but today was beyond beautiful in Omaha! Just fantastic! Started out chilly, windy and cloudy but ended with sunny, no clouds and 60 degrees! Once the clouds cleared, Sammy went on a errand with us then to the dogpark! We were only going to stay for a little while to take the edge off of his energy for our walk, until.....another corgi came! We had only been there for a little while and Sammy had already greeted everyone, at least twice! By everyone, I mean every person and every dog! After about 10 minutes of his nonstop running from one dog to another, in came the second corgi, a tri color. Every other time we have seen a corgi compared to our Sammy, Sammy has always been the largest and the slowest. This corgi, named Jacks, was bigger than Sammy! And, the same age!! They had a lot of fun. They teamed up and began herding a couple other dogs! It was just so funny to see them doing what is natural for them! We ended up staying for an hour.
Originally we were going to grab subway and take it to our next destination and have a picnic before our walk, but we got too hungry! We grabbed a subway, stopped at home and ate. Filled up Sammy's water and hit the road. We went to Schramm State Park which is between Omaha and Lincoln. They have a fish hatchery there and nature trails. I am actually surprised Sammy could even keep moving. Apparently the nap in the car filled his energy though, because he just jumped out of the car as if he had been locked up for a week!
First we began by walking around the hatchery ponds where lots of geese were hanging out. These geese were bigger than Sammy, but there was no stopping his curiousity. That, and he believes they just want to be friends with him as much as he does them! Eventually they all just walked into the water and swam away. Surprisingly, Sammy wiggled over and almost jumped in the water after them!
Next we went on the trails! It was a very long trail through the forest, and Sammy has never done anything like that before. He was just so excited. Tugging and pulling as hard as he could, just what we went to the dogpark to stop. He had to sniff everything! Up and down the loess hills, across bridges through the woods we went! Anyway, I took a few pictures, so here is the newest little nature corgi!
































These are the scary snakes that ended our day!!!

Sammy can't wait to go back when things get green!!! Brown does get a wee bit boring after a while!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Sleeping Wonder

I am still amazed at how Sammy can sleep. I know I should be used to it, afterall he has been in my life for almost 8 months now, ...but I'm not! He sleeps in some of the most unusual positons. However, since he likes to know what is going on, he sleeps as light as a feather during his daytime naps. It is hard to sneak in a camera and get a picture of it. (That is why most of my pics of him sleeping are on my cell phone.) I got very lucky this time, though. I was uploading photos to my laptop, while sitting on the floor, when Sammy jumped up on the couch for a little pup-nap.

**I'm sure to anyone who looks into our apartment gets frequently confused as to why Sammy sits on the couch more than me. But I hate our couch. It's breaking and ugly! It was free, and we are poor. I will use the floor!**

I have realized that corgis are well known for making themselves comfortable on their backs, which is oh so adorable! But this time, with is neck hanging off the worst, most uncomfortable couch in the world, I just don't understand how he could be comfortable. Nonetheless, he napped like that for about 20 minutes. Until I disturbed him by opening my water bottle. Sammy awakened with a growl and a little bark to protect me from the impending noise. He is crazy protective when it is just the two of us! Protects me from every slight noise or movement! Cutie.









Wednesday, March 24, 2010

My Little Helper Puppy

Last night I decided to make homemade, from scratch, blueberry muffins. I stumbled upon a website that had tons of muffin recipes ( http://www.muffinrecipes.net/ ). I really wanted to try hawaiian, honey rhubarb, or irish coffee, to name a couple, but I didn't happen to have those ingredients in the cupboard. But, I did have frozen blueberries in the freezer! I decided to give it a go. It made a little more than I thought it would, although super super easy! (& tasty, except I altered it a little.)
About the third tray of muffins going into the oven, Sammy was getting jealous of the attention loss. He came into the kitchen and whined a little. Then paced in front of the kitchen entrance. Then in a circle around me in the kitchen. I tried giving him a peanut butter treat, just so I could finish. Not only did he stick up his nose to a peanut butter filled bone, but walked right up to me and let out the loudest single bark of his life! I was almost done, in fact at that time, I was filling up the last pan full of muffin mix. I decided he just needed to see what I was doing.
This was probably not the smartest plan I have come up with, but I let him get up on the counter (the one all by itself, a sink between it and ANY cookware or food!) & let him watch. At first he was terrified (I think he is afraid of heights, but who could blame him, he is a foot tall, and not a good jumper!) but then kinda got into his height! It was probably like a whole new world for him! But when it was done, boy was he happy to be back on the ground.
From now on though, I think I will tell the story that he was reading me the recipe! Tell everyone I show the pictures to that Sammy is such a good little helper! Haha.







Monday, March 22, 2010

Sammy's Profile!

Did you know there is a website, MyCorgi.com? Well, I stumbled upon it many a-moons ago, about the time I started this. I patiently waited for the email. And waited. Then I forgot. This past week, I stumbled upon a link for it again, and then I remembered doing it! Haha. Except, I never got an email. I decided to try to restart, except it said I already had a profile. Long story short, I found out it went to my spam folder, and I have my spam folder set to delete immediately! I got the spam folder reset, got my password reset, and voila, presto Sammy profile!
MyCorgi.com is almost like a facebook for just corgis! I gotta say, that is a fantastic idea. In our dream world, Sammy gets to meet and play with other corgis. Thus far, he has only met one! I'm not sure there is a large population of corgis in Omaha, except we always get stopped by someone who knows someone with a corgi. At first it was awesome to hear that on walks and from classmates, etc. but now I wanna say, "Prove it! Doggie date!!" Maybe I will find a corgi convention near Omaha!
Well, now that I can log in, I am trying to figure the rest out. I am technologically defcient, so I am a little slow. Anyway, Sammy just wanted to tell others about this cool site! And, if anyone has already joined, any pointers? So far, I am somewhat confused! I am proud to say, I have figured out how to upload pictures!!! Lots of Sammy for the world to see! Sammy is proud of me, but I'm sure it was the tone in my voice, not actually that he understood my small feat!
Look for Sammy, the ADD corgi: http://www.mycorgi.com/profile/SammyStreitzSandberg

Visit MyCorgi.com

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Snow Blues

Yesterday, the eve of the Offical First Day of Spring, it snowed. The day before that, it was in the 60's. Gotta love Nebraska. Well, the midwest. I am a very, "Yay, SNOW!!!" I love snow! I really do. Snow is beautiful and magical. I love the way it blankets the ground and sparkles. Snow frosted trees and bushes. Ahh...it's a wonderful thing of nature. This is why when I am less than pleased about snow, it's kinda a big deal.
Sammy is also a fan of snow. He loves the way it floats down, and then moves when he walks. He tries to catch it. Then once he does, he eats it. Such a tasty treat. I wondered, with this being his first winter, if he would get tired of it. But he didn't. Even yesterday's snow he had a grand time eating and rolling in it. From inside he loved watching it fall and blow around.
....BUT, yesterday's snow was not welcome! Neither Sammy or I were pleased. Aside from the previous day being perfectly wonderful, in the 60's with lots of sun and blue sky, let me point out my biggest frustration with this snow. We just got Sammy to go to the bathroom in the grass again!
This may take some explanation. This is Sammy's first winter. It was a long winter. Snow came and stayed the whole time. Our 'yard' was like a glacier. Even once stuff started melting, we are on the North side, and down slope, it became an icy tundra. The grass has been buried for months. Once we began to get most of the grass back, Sammy sniffed and had a heck of a good time in it, but would not under any circumstances go to the bathroom on it! Maybe he thought it was sacred and would spoil it, but I lean more towards the idea that he doesn't remember it and only thinks he can potty in the snow piles. For a while, I aided him and we went to snow piles just for him. It became routine that upon opening the door, he would pull and tug to the nearest snow remainder. I thought, I can go along with this. After a day or two he will notice other dogs do it, so he will adapt. That is sooo not the case!
We were down to one snowpile around the building, and that was the ONLY place he would take care of business. We would stand in the grass for 15 minutes while both of us knew he had to go, and nothing. I would eventually take pity and we would round the corner and Sammy tugs right to that beautiful snow pile! Eventually, like all snow, it melted. There was no snow remaining. I remember this day well. Erik took him out in the morning and got him to take care of numero uno at about 7:30 am. I happened to have a 10 am test that morning, so when i left at 9 they went back to bed for a nap. When I came back at 11:45, they were still napping (they did stay up til 4 with me studying). I took Sammy out, we did a lap around the builing; No Potty. Erik went to work shortly after, then it was just me and the Samster. I had another test the next day (midterms, gotta love 3 tests the week before spring break!) so I drank a Mountain Dew and hit the next subject. Over that afternoon and evening Sammy whined and whined and paced and paced. We went outside ever 2 hours (at most) and he would not potty!! I went so far as to hold him in one spot where the snow pile had been (so he had pottyed there) for minutes trying to get him to go. NOTHING! He just couldn't do it. It wasn't until Erik came home at 9:30 pm that Sammy finally gave in. He held it more than 12 hours! I was minutes away from going to a petstore to get that potty spray they sell for puppies. I now refer to Erik as the Potty Whisperer.
Sammy came back in looking guilty as sin. Big sad eyes, ears back, no smile. I gave him a doggie chocolate chip cookie trying to tell him it was ok. We were not out of the woods yet. The next day it rained. It took his smells away probably making him more unsure of going to the bathroom as well as Sammy being terrified of being out in the rain. Water dropping on him as well as puddle just petrifies the pup. Erik got him to go once before we hit the road to his parents. Oh and, he made a little 1" size spot on the floor in his sleep next to me studying. At his parents, it's hard to keep an eye on him. They have a nice big yard where he and his doggie aunt can run without leash and collar. He has a wonderful time, but it's hard to tell when he pottys. Sammy ended up with an accident inside.
The next day he was able to be reminded, via his doggie aunt, that he may use grass. It was wonderful. No more problems. But now there is snow again. We have a fresh blanket covering the grass once again. It's not even above freezing today. How long will it take to get this melted? Will we have to reteach him yet again how to potty outside? I guess it's good that he tries so hard to "go" right, but I don't know how to tell him it's ok without another dog!

On the positve side. The dull day put Sammy in a funk. You know those days you just can't wake up and you just want to curl up and read a book or watch TV 'cause reading takes too much work? That was Sammy yesterday. We went to Walgreens and they had this giant Loofa Dog on sale for $5. I got him it to cheer him up and I think he was quite pleased!
"Oh thank you Mom!!"

"A squeaker in the head and belly?!?"

"How cool is this, it's as long as me!"

"I can't let him get any ideas, I'm boss!"

This is Sammy pulling individual fibers 'til they ripped out!

"What else do ya got? That was easy!"

Needless to say, it pulled him out of his funk. Well worth the $5!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010

Vote For Sammy!!!

Please, please, please help Sammy and I in our quest to win MVP in Bissell's contest!! I have submitted Sammy in this week's voting period, March 12- March 18!! If he wins, he will be on the Bissell boxes for their Pet Products. Also, the winner gets to choose a charity to donate to! We are looking into corgi rescues, so if we get there I will be asking if anyone knows about corgi rescues (we don't have one in Omaha :(  ). Also, if Sammy wins, we would also recieve a vaccuum, which is quite exciting as the one we have is borrowed!

He is number: 1001900 Voting period 10 with link below:

http://www.bissell.com/mvp_PetDetail.aspx?id=8590111132

PLEASE VOTE FOR SAMMY!
Thanks so much!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Rain

Yesterday we actually got rain! I guess spring really is coming, I almost can't believe it. Sammy has loved this! He has been able to go on walks again, and we were able to take him to the dogpark! He loved it. He was even able to play with his very first corgi! They just bonded instantly. They ran and ran in circles nonstop. This is when I learned that Sammy is slow. I also learned he is skinny for a corgi! Haha. The other corgi even taught him how to jump up on the picnic table. It was adorable. The other corgi would jump up and look down at Sammy like, "C'mon!" Sammy couldn't figure out how he did it, his jumping skills are that great. And, Sammy is a bit of a chicken. I think it's partly his hip and joints, but that might have been how it started and now he is just a chicken. Anyway, so the other corgi took to leaning down and barking at Sammy as to instruct him how to get on top of the table. This backfired big time! Sammy just got impatient and went in circles around the table, looking for a stair case probably. Then it got real tough when a little dauchsand just jumped right past Sammy up to the top of the picnic table! Poor Sammy. Well, the other corgi jumped right over. Like a drill sargent, just barked and barked right at him until Sammy was able to make it to the top! I was so proud of him. I probably embarassed him right in front of his new friend since I came right over and tried to hug him and tell him, "Good Boy!"
Anyway, those sunny 50 degree days have passed. Yesterday was rainy. And cold rain drops at that! I'm not sure if Sammy remembers anything about the few rainstorms we had in the fall after his homecoming, but nonetheless, he was petrified. He was pacing and panting. He was in between Erik and my legs. Once it began to rain harder he ran toward the door, without getting too close and barked at it! He whined and whined laying right between us on the couch. I don't know what about the rain he is so scared of. Erik had to practically pick him up and plop him outside, and once out there Sammy gave the puppy eyes and stayed as close to the building as corgi-ly possible!
The worst part, was it was just a light spring rain! What is this little guy going to do when, dare I say storms come! Or just harder rains. Poor thing. He must not remember much before the snow. The rain has helped remove most of the snow in our "yard." He seems to being going through a crisis with that now today. He be-lines for the snow. He won't do his business anyway but the snow. Sammy seems perfectly content with the grass, but unsure of going to the bathroom on it. He tugs for it, and his little paws barely hit the snow before he is "going." This is his first spring, and I knew it would be interesting to see what he thought of the re-emerging grass and when flowers and bugs came. But I'm beginning to get the feeling it is going to be a hard transition. At least he LOVES the dogpark!