Essex's Eight Year Barkaversary

Me and Dog Dad are sitting looking at each other.  Eight years ago Dog Dad got in his Ford Explorer and drove to the Fort Lauderdale area to bring me into his life.  We are reminiscing me crawling up his arm as he left Holmhaven. I was scared to leave Holmhaven.  I have to admit that I made a good choice in my Dog Dad.  We have been through many things over those eight years.
 
We have seen many dogs and people come and leave Angel Paws Dog Park and Key West.  I was there to comfort during several Rainbow Bridge crossings.  Grand-Maw in 2008, Grand-Paw in 2010 and the crossing of my nephew Deacon in 2011.  I helped him keep it together during the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, which flooded most of Key West.  We had happy visits to Ohio together and shared the immense joy of having Sherman come into our lives.  Dad tells me I did an amazing job training Sherman the way of the Collie.

Essex's Holmhaven Puppy Picture - 2003

Checking Out the Neighbors Yard -  January 2004

Hopefully, the three of us will have many more years together.

Dog Speed,

Essex

Essexmas 2011

We hope all of you had a pawsome Essexmas.  We received plenty of stuff and enjoyed ourselves.  Dog Dad got a painting of Deacon on slate, that caused him to get a little misty eyed, he still misses his Collie Ambassador when he thinks about it.  He does love Sherman too.  So here are some pictures of our Essexmas presents for our pack. 

Dog Speed,

Essex, Sherman & Dog Dad

A Blanket from Dog Dad

A Toy From Stevie-Grrr-Wonder



A Present from Dog Dad Sister Marge



A Sqeaky Toy, Pawsome

A Cookie Jar and Treats From Santy Paws

Collar, a leash and a Throw for our Couch

Presents from Marge & Becky

A Treat Jar

Rawhides from Bev in Virginia

A Pawtographed Copy of Joel Walton's Book

Essex Opens Marges Rawhide Treats

We Got Dad a Tote Bag for the Park

Brudder Steve's Present to Dad



Some Cards from our Cyber Pals



Essexmas Eve

Sherman is so excited.  Essexmas is almost here.  Sherman can't wait to see Santy Paws.   We have been extra good.  Essex has trained her great nephew the way of the collie.  We put up with silly red hats.  Santy Paws, please be good to us.

Dog Speed and Merry Essexmas to all,

Essex & Sherman

Ticks

Dad is not a happy camper right now.  He found a tick on Essex and then found over twenty on Sherman.  Dad is guessing Sherman is picking them up at the dog park.  In the eight years Essex has been with Dad, if he picked off two from her or Deacon in year, that was a lot.  He has went several months at a time without finding a single tick.  This @#&*#) twenty, that is a lot and it going to make him extra vigilant.  .

Now, we were due to get our medication on the 24th, but it will be a bit early this month.  Essex will get hers tonight and Sherman will get his tomorrow.  Dad needs to get him weighed at the vets office first.  He doesn't want to put to much on Sherman because he is afraid he'll get sick. 

As for the @#&*#)  ticks.  After removing them, Dad boils them in water.  Kill the little @#&*#) is what Dog Dad says. 

Essex & Sherman

Essexmas Baking 2011

We want everyone that Essex is doing pawsome.  She is eating regular and that nasty giardia bug is leaving her alone.  Sherman is growing like a collieweed.  He is now taller than Essex.  Things have been kind of busy for Dog Dad.  He has been doing Essexmas baking.  When he does that, we just chill out.


Sherman & Essex chilling out



Sherman is getting tall

Walnut Rounds

Petticoat tails

Pecan Delights

Mazurki

Czechaslovakian Cookies

Anise Oil Cookies

Angel Food Cake

Flan

Placzek



Giardia

Dog Dad was worried about Essex this weekend.  She barked four times Thursday night-Friday morning to let her outside.  When he came home after work she had thrown up twice and he noted some dark liquid stool on the floor.  She wasn't hungry Friday night but Dog Dad doesn't get excited if she doesn't eat her food.  She does that now and again.  When she didn't eat Saturday and Sunday but she still seemed to be in good shape running around Angel Paws Dog Park.  Dog Dad was concerned and confused, but he knew he was going to the vet.  

Essex not feeling well

Dr. Wadell looked at Essex.  She looked in good shape and Doc took a stool sample.  Essex didn't like getting the probe stuck in her rear end.  Doc looked at the smear and noticed this parasite called giardia.  The giardia bug causes an upset  tummy and diarrhea.  It can come from drinking contaminated water or from animal feces.  We got some medicine for Essex.  Sherman is taking the medicine as a preventative measure.  Dog Dad decided that Essex won't be visiting Angel Paws for several days as he doesn't want to spread the parasite to other pups.  Sherman, that lucky pup, will able to go though.  The best news is Essex will be fine. 

Sherman the white nosed collie

A nice white nose

Here's barking at you

Sherman in the meanwhile had fun around the yard.  He was digging in the sand where the pool used to be.  Dad had to take some pictures of Sherman with his sandy white nose.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Sherman

Thanksgiving 2011

We hope all of our friends in the US had a pawsome Thanksgiving.  After Dog Dad came back from visiting friends, we got to spend a long time at the Dog Park.  Sherman played with Gibbs.  Those two really like each other. 

Gibbs and Sherman playing

We have plenty to be thankful for.  Angel Paws Dog Park, a good home, pawsome cyber-paw pals, friends and extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Essex is thinking

Dog Speed,

Essex & Sherman

Dog-ter Strange Tooth

After an extended stay Lady I finally left to go back home to Georgia.  Her Mom stayed in a hotel, while Lady I chilled with us.  We sure enjoyed having her around.  Lady I and Essex told me tall tails about the Dog Park and other Key West adventures.  Sherman enjoyed having Lady I around that he tried to stop her from going.

Lady I at rest

Sherman tries to make Lady stay with us

Lady's Mom gives Essex a kiss goodbye

Dog Dad has been calling Sherman, Dog-ter Strange Tooth the last four days. One of Sherman's canine baby teeth hasn't fallen out yet.  Dad says it looks funny that one adult canine and the baby tooth still there.  Dad isn't worried because the baby tooth is loose and he figures it will fall out soon.

Red arrow points to baby tooth

Last Saturday Sherman was weighted.  He is now 41 pounds.  Hard to believe how much he has grown.

Our boy, Sherman

 Dog Speed,

Essex & Sherman

11-11-11

We hope that everyone had a pawsome Veterans Day.  Dad did some yard work and house cleaning today.  We always enjoy having him around, instead of at work. 

Originally  Veterans Day was called Armistice Day in memory of the signing of the Armistice that ended the First World War.  That ended that War at the 11:00 AM, 11 November 1918, or 11-11-11 (11th hour or the 11th day or the 11th month.  President Woodrow Wilson had us celebrate 11 November 1919 as Armistice Day.  Then in 1926 President Calvin Coolidge signed every 11 November into a holiday.  In 1954 President Eisenhower had the name changed to Veterans Day.   

New York Times, 11 November 1918
From Wikipedia

 Sherman is growing up quickly.  He is just a bit smaller than Essex.  He is a brave lad.  When a Great Dane came to visit, he calmly walked right up to it.  He is quick to roll on his back, but rarely does Sherman tuck his tail.   He is becoming a great collie.  We think his late Uncle Deacon would have been proud of him, just like his Great Auntie Essex.

05 November -Gibbs and Sherman Playing

Gibbs Getting After Sherman

Essex Nearby but Watching Her Fence

07 November - Sherman & Leo Wrestling

11 November - Sherman

Hey, Red What Do You Have?

Sherman is Growing Up, He is about Red's Size

Bat Dog and Saluting a Hero

We got a picture from Ohio.  Our friend Gracie Lou got dressed up as Bat Dog this Collieween.  We say the picture and had a major howl.  She sure looks pawsome in the picture.  Hopefully, we can convince Dog Dad to travel north sometime next year.


Bat Dog - AKA Gracie Lou

In the news today we read the story of a heroic boxer named Duncan.  Duncan was a 3 1/2 year old Boxer that woke up his Dog Dad to a smokey room.  Duncan lived in Georgia near Atlanta and perished in the fire early Tuesday morning.  If you want to read the story you can click on the following link:  Hero_Dog_Duncan.   We know the pain Duncan's Dog Dad feels, so he is in our thoughts and prayers.  

Dog Speed,

Essex & Sherman

Collieween 2011

Dog Dad had a pawsome Collieween 2011.  Lady I, her Dog Mom and a friend helped hand out Collieween Candy.  Dad went through fifteen bags of candy.  As the children just came non-stop this year.  Lady I was out meeting the kids, Sherman got to visit outside for awhile but was a bit to barky.  Sherman then joined Essex in the back room.  Essex just goes bonkers with so many strangers visiting.

The last couple weeks have been busy.  We got to go to the Angel Paws for several hours on Essex's barkday.  We had lots of fun.


Essex at Angel's Paw

Sherman chilling at Angels Paw

That weekend it started raining.  On Monday the 17 October, it rained so hard the water was up to Dad's ankles on the side walk.  We refused to go past the neighbors house.  Dad drove through some flooded streets.  It rained the next day and really hard on the 19 October.  We had a short walk that morning as cloud to ground lightning kept us home.  Then the rains came forty minutes before Dad left for work.  The streets flooded again and one of the guys Dad works with car blew an engine rod.  

17 October - A Wet Sherman

Essex is Wet Too



19 October - Heavy Thunderstorms - Weather Channel

We went to the vet on the 24th and Sherman weighed in at 37 pounds. 

On 27 October, Lady I, her Mom and a friend came down to visit us.  We had a lot of friend and enjoyed the extra company.  They did some fantasy fest stuff.  Dad said no, saying that he is too old to put up with drunk obnoxious people.  We spent time at the dog park.  They took poor Sherman to Duval Street, but he was so scared by the noise and the crowds that they had to carry him part of the way.


Lady I

Sherman and Lady's Dog Mom

Sherman is a Shy Butterfly

The Collies Display their Fantasy Fest Beads

Dog Speed,

Essex & Sherman