tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82782931207512903522024-03-05T16:35:10.341-08:00Life with Blind LouieI'm Lanni, this is Louie. Louie is a dog. He is blind. This is our story.Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-89158122527059812202017-09-23T18:17:00.000-07:002017-09-23T18:17:18.356-07:00Louie's Last Day<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
A Couple of Photos Leading up to, and The Story of Louie's Last Day </h3>
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This first photo is with Todd at Fountain Vet on the day he was diagnosed with cancer.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie with his buddy, Dr. Todd</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This second pic is Louie enjoying the warm and sunshiney porch in June.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie in a sunny spot, June 2017</td></tr>
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My son Dario is incredibly empathetic for only being three (almost four). He has been so sweet and gentle with Louie, and very kind to me as I have been coming to terms with Louie's cancer diagnosis and the difficult decision to put him to rest.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dario pets Louie 'so gently'. 9/22/17</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It's okay Louie, I love you." 9/22/17</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resting in the sunny car on the way to the vet 9/23/17</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSMVHxVFhzZfpJB5s4dsXGgeAr4ca0t7DDzqkRUQKMsy7lS2pNooMLpuwfsMbuM1apBMTNYWyYWAHABwaHKJQmIlZb5Nyw8P8Wzj_YMI6_d4agX_Oc7K4_sGdq7FgYHMMKPNsMOpFgEg/s1600/IMG_4992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSMVHxVFhzZfpJB5s4dsXGgeAr4ca0t7DDzqkRUQKMsy7lS2pNooMLpuwfsMbuM1apBMTNYWyYWAHABwaHKJQmIlZb5Nyw8P8Wzj_YMI6_d4agX_Oc7K4_sGdq7FgYHMMKPNsMOpFgEg/s400/IMG_4992.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last car ride. 9/23/17</td></tr>
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<h3>
Louie's Last Day </h3>
Louie's car ride to the vet today was so bitter sweet. He still loved getting in the car with me, but it was so hard for him to lay down with the gigantic tumor taking up all the room. I laughed as Louie sniffed around to find two stale old lost french fries on the floor of the car. He had just settled in when I saw his nostrils begin to flare. He flopped himself onto the floor or the car to sniff around. This guy never lost his appetite even with all his pain and discomfort. You just can't hide food from a blind dog.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb4DG9i8F9DNyHyOJivkwXWT1X0IKQ7f4jMNdKfUEtGo6fvlw1zIVDR-OQGPSmyfxE1izd10UkI2Jqjp8s5W3tn_CeHR1Tnc9BcQJjXseJpK5o0vJmZFFkh9YJwsz-VR6VJLKfilUhgc/s1600/IMG_5001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb4DG9i8F9DNyHyOJivkwXWT1X0IKQ7f4jMNdKfUEtGo6fvlw1zIVDR-OQGPSmyfxE1izd10UkI2Jqjp8s5W3tn_CeHR1Tnc9BcQJjXseJpK5o0vJmZFFkh9YJwsz-VR6VJLKfilUhgc/s400/IMG_5001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still excited to arrive at the vet! 9/23/17</td></tr>
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This photo of Louie standing in the car really shows the size
and scope of this tumor. We really let Louie go on as long as he
wanted, and he was so tough. He had joy and happiness right up until the
last day or two, and even those days were not without joy. They were
just sprinkled in between being exhausted and uncomfortable. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH15I1L4F-sksJmAVPvOKuu_YOWLuxebIRAb4GQHDfkIL8EFnqrG-Ly7epYCy40xDglKkl6D_lqQGYeU3cdWY0wTKpaN58lXusuPeZAyc0KfIBoNzxyJ6Zv6rsyzsDTArsc8AkVPTnIQc/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH15I1L4F-sksJmAVPvOKuu_YOWLuxebIRAb4GQHDfkIL8EFnqrG-Ly7epYCy40xDglKkl6D_lqQGYeU3cdWY0wTKpaN58lXusuPeZAyc0KfIBoNzxyJ6Zv6rsyzsDTArsc8AkVPTnIQc/s400/IMG_5006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So exhausted from the journey from the car into the building.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0i4pWtE1PkmpKIS7xs_s6DjLLOCaOM_5iyceqkUeaYSPHtIekclsfTMViXXqbuRXbE9tvxaUSVxF_4seXpsDiUOmbXWMYZr3lYeFPG3m7mfN2mgSO9oPRcwfCT-a2XDYzmVRUb9Z5O8/s1600/IMG_5009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0i4pWtE1PkmpKIS7xs_s6DjLLOCaOM_5iyceqkUeaYSPHtIekclsfTMViXXqbuRXbE9tvxaUSVxF_4seXpsDiUOmbXWMYZr3lYeFPG3m7mfN2mgSO9oPRcwfCT-a2XDYzmVRUb9Z5O8/s400/IMG_5009.JPG" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full snuggles.</td></tr>
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Louie was so relieved to finally get in to the vets office after it took
him 10 minutes to limp up the wheelchair ramp. People kept stopping and
asking me what was wrong with him, was his leg broken? Does he need
help? Do you want me to help carry him?<br />
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I sobbed and could barely answer. I couldn't look up. I have no idea who these people were. I stood in the sun outside that building as tears streamed down my cheeks. "He has cancer. This is our last walk together and I just want him to be able to take his time."<br />
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I knew he would be scared and uncomfortable if we lifted him. He had to do that on his own and at his own pace, like I have let him live his whole blind life. He did it on his own, and I was proud of him.<br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last fish lip shot. 9/23/17</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCfURq6zEshyphenhyphenPpB8jIhmi6MDzuU54KhEtCdunLj_9xDXTCw6gBNzEOw2EKIboR-VAGaC4WJZort9ZXE6MdrvaHPetYq8fNg7seGOZfPGWGwe_nA-o96Mhozu1PXrbeJecLZa46plOJMw/s1600/IMG_5018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCfURq6zEshyphenhyphenPpB8jIhmi6MDzuU54KhEtCdunLj_9xDXTCw6gBNzEOw2EKIboR-VAGaC4WJZort9ZXE6MdrvaHPetYq8fNg7seGOZfPGWGwe_nA-o96Mhozu1PXrbeJecLZa46plOJMw/s400/IMG_5018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind him breaking my knee with his love. and jaw bone.</td></tr>
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When we got inside Louie immediately collapsed on to the floor. He was so worn out from just getting up the ramp and inside. He let go as soon as he felt carpet under his paws. We staying the waiting room for a few minutes until it was our turn.<br />
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I got a hug from a perfect stranger who could see why we were there and had felt that pain before. It was so nice for someone to reach out in such a personal way, even though we had never met.<br />
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When we were called back it took a long time just to get around the corner and into the room. Inside there was a pad and a soft blanket lying on the floor. I started to cry again as I guided Louie with verbal cues to find the blanket and lie down.<br />
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I sat on the floor with my legs crossed at the ankles and Louie leaned against me. He put his head across my legs as he often did. I took a few more last pictures of him before putting my camera away and waiting for the doctors footsteps.<br />
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I held his heavy square head in my hands and kissed his velvety face a few more times. Our vet talked about how there are only a few dogs in his career that will always be with him, that he will always remember, and Louie is one of those dogs.<br />
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This remarkable dog thrived against the odds and did it without ever even considering if the odds were in his favor or not. Louie is an inspiration and has made me choose a better path than I would have found had I never met him. I am forever grateful for the teachings of the Tao of Lou.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last photo before the vet comes in. So peaceful and so tired.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-73145362219680646982017-09-21T20:42:00.001-07:002017-09-21T20:42:37.707-07:00The Big Sad News<div data-contents="true">
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<h3>
<span data-offset-key="3ln4p-0-0"><span data-text="true">June 6th, 2017 </span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBBtLHZDH_NuZZWwpJE18SWMSYx-obsZ-OeB6W8KCDu5ZD3eZG1CU4IzsnE2QAXeTDOfBQpFEuICcqWknVcLZCmc_gl0NHECCV9zvS-bMuM9UwQ0BtwOFHZOpNWyS5H5mY-AdjAA6bAs/s1600/lillou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBBtLHZDH_NuZZWwpJE18SWMSYx-obsZ-OeB6W8KCDu5ZD3eZG1CU4IzsnE2QAXeTDOfBQpFEuICcqWknVcLZCmc_gl0NHECCV9zvS-bMuM9UwQ0BtwOFHZOpNWyS5H5mY-AdjAA6bAs/s320/lillou.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie, about 7 weeks old.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span data-offset-key="3ln4p-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span></h3>
<span data-offset-key="3ln4p-0-0"><span data-text="true">This has been a hard post to write, and as I begin, I am still not sure how I am about to say this, so bear with me as I tear this opened:</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="7cbal" data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
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<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Louie has a birthday coming up. He will turn 11 on June 23rd, 2017. Louie has been my dog for all but the first 6 weeks of those 11 years, when he was still just his mommy's puppy.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">In those 11 years spent with Louie I have learned and grown so much as a person. So much has happened, so much has changed. I have Louie to thank for helping me develop such a strong resolve and a positive attitude, even when life gives me </span></span><span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">lemons.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPBXqDzrdrZitcCzanzxRzKY62AIjp08iu9GpWaX3CP9lpUu3I4LtBZop7czJ71sPYfxD1knZjt3_tdzoisimXDIShyoMSJSEAQ4eHPqjoaz8h1DpL_C68zZJWQeEkhk3VWPdavhUU0U/s1600/midlou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPBXqDzrdrZitcCzanzxRzKY62AIjp08iu9GpWaX3CP9lpUu3I4LtBZop7czJ71sPYfxD1knZjt3_tdzoisimXDIShyoMSJSEAQ4eHPqjoaz8h1DpL_C68zZJWQeEkhk3VWPdavhUU0U/s320/midlou.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Louie before his eye surgery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Blind
Louie has an inoperable cancerous tumor. We found out today, June 6th,
2017. There was a lump at the top of his front left leg. In his armpit
really. It started to grow quickly and began interfering in the way he
was walking. We took him to our vet. Louie's longtime friend and veterinarian.
The one who suggested the gentamicin injections to save his eyes from enucleation and stop the pain of glaucoma (Read about that <a href="http://lifewithblindlouie.blogspot.com/2012/10/surgery-part-i.html" target="_blank">Here </a>and <a href="http://lifewithblindlouie.blogspot.com/2012/10/surgery-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Here</a>). Todd changed our lives that day and we
are forever thankful.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Today Dr.
Todd said Louie has a cancerous tumor. It can't be removed or stopped.
It might grow very rapidly, we can't be sure. He may only have a few
weeks. I don't know how to handle this. I don't know how to talk about this. I don't know how to write about it either.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">September 21st, 2017</span></span></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkU8zKI08JejBz1icF5mmkzj08IK7arsT_yZEpMP45JASDMt2oEgo9Q0QEfJTfaHcSeXCOjU9kCD8F1h6R-nFaouDefw8s1QDgK442tsGpULggPtiL4Jx3P9yrC69YkgYgFCVr5f0SMk/s1600/P1090918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkU8zKI08JejBz1icF5mmkzj08IK7arsT_yZEpMP45JASDMt2oEgo9Q0QEfJTfaHcSeXCOjU9kCD8F1h6R-nFaouDefw8s1QDgK442tsGpULggPtiL4Jx3P9yrC69YkgYgFCVr5f0SMk/s320/P1090918.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie's adorable fish lip, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Louie
stayed happy and content for months after his diagnosis. Some pain
medicine at night helped him sleep more comfortably. Anti-inflammatory
drugs seemed to shrink the tumor some at first, but just for a week or
so. The tumor continued to grow. Louie limped more and more until he
couldn't move his paw, it just drug on the ground. One day in August, my
dad called me crying saying it was time. I went next door to find Louie
sunning himself on the porch. When I approached he started wagging his
tail and 'looked' at me, he got up and licked my face. He was happy. He ate
food, drank water and could walk himself outside and down the stairs to
go to the bathroom. I didn't think it was time. He still had joy. I
talked to my husband and my parents and said I would know when the time
came. I would know when we needed to give him permanent relief from his
pain and suffering, but it was not that time yet.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">The
last few days, the tail wagging is so gentle it barely moves. He
doesn't lick me. His paw is raw and bloody from dragging on the ground
and his back legs are now weak. He is skinny, although he is still
eating. He is sick and so very tired. My heart aches for him. I keep
telling him it's okay to go. I'm hoping that he just leaves us in his
sleep. I don't think he will. He is too strong willed. With everything
he has been through in his life. Living with constant pain is something
Louie has always known and accepted. I just can't see him giving up.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Now
it is up to me to decide when it is time to let him go. This is one of
the hardest decisions I will ever make, I'm sure. I love Louie more
than I ever imagined I could love a dog. </span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnygzzWGLIvOCNJ3hRMrEO6TORuNIAEKE0Qfut0yOqhwC4pspczunOSRrEMDbCqV3RWQJN5EWqcjf1VPm3lsNJAisNj_sEeiPbAE19TbZ5jFA9MmiD2nF4DV71a9ZyUXnlEc_hhRZ7j3U/s1600/P1090894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1151" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnygzzWGLIvOCNJ3hRMrEO6TORuNIAEKE0Qfut0yOqhwC4pspczunOSRrEMDbCqV3RWQJN5EWqcjf1VPm3lsNJAisNj_sEeiPbAE19TbZ5jFA9MmiD2nF4DV71a9ZyUXnlEc_hhRZ7j3U/s320/P1090894.JPG" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie's Thank you card after surgery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank You </span></span></h3>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">I want to thank Michael Nichols (<a href="https://dogguy.net/" target="_blank">The Dog Guy</a>)
for teaching the one and only training class Louie ever took. He taught
the class that Louie and I attended in 2012 that earned Louie his AKC
Canine Good Citizen title. I was so proud of him when he passed that
test, blind as a bat and still the leader of his class.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">I also want to thank Todd at Fountain vet for always treating Louie and I like family, and for thinking of a creative way of treating Louie's condition. We are forever grateful. </span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thanks
to my husband, Paul for accepting blind Louie as his step dog when we
got together and always loving him like his very own pup pup.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">And
so much thanks to my mom and especially my dad. When we moved next door
to them Louie decided he liked their porch and house better after we had a
small human crawling around the house. My folks never even questioned
letting Louie spend so much time there the last few years as he has
aged. He went everywhere with my dad and his dog Budde. I appreciate
everything they have done for us over the years.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV99kVqMKj-H7-4m_Z-pDci3M1hThOXYckpFySujSh-r9f91BC6oQjhtxBsnVldufkbu-X8Pdksd1hQOLRNExI2QnkQwY5JnNZicVz27UNIEbPiGGAe7nmNiGyOY34ak7Is_LJubcNFl4/s1600/loumeat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV99kVqMKj-H7-4m_Z-pDci3M1hThOXYckpFySujSh-r9f91BC6oQjhtxBsnVldufkbu-X8Pdksd1hQOLRNExI2QnkQwY5JnNZicVz27UNIEbPiGGAe7nmNiGyOY34ak7Is_LJubcNFl4/s320/loumeat3.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie meets Meatloaf, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank you to my good friend Meegan, who carefully convinced me to adopting a puppy when her 2 awesome dogs had a litter. Best.Decision.Ever.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Lastly,
to fate who allowed me to pick the puppy with the 'blue' eyes who had
the best personality. Unknowing that his eyes were not blue, but riddled
with glaucoma and rapidly going blind. </span></span><br />
<h3>
<span data-offset-key="a1rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank you to blind Louie for
showing me that life is beautiful no matter your circumstances. We can
all choose to be happy.</span></span> </h3>
<h3>
Thank you, Blind Louis Bernard Swift Waschke.</h3>
<h3>
I love you, now and forever.</h3>
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCgL76pD2XtUqp6V43jYt66MVZcL5xJOdglUp2SKLG9iHcwlMwzuzyEKOpRpLWyZyelMm1jz59hZ4GmuGHSLjXuCke441Lxs8si2nEPk6qm0-mNg19J9bEZSDnf3tebjabARoPnQ5iuY/s1600/loupromosample.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCgL76pD2XtUqp6V43jYt66MVZcL5xJOdglUp2SKLG9iHcwlMwzuzyEKOpRpLWyZyelMm1jz59hZ4GmuGHSLjXuCke441Lxs8si2nEPk6qm0-mNg19J9bEZSDnf3tebjabARoPnQ5iuY/s320/loupromosample.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most handsome and shiny blind dog contest winner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Through the years we have helped a lot of people who just discovered the adorable puppy they had adopted had glaucoma and would be blind. Through this blog I was able to reach people all over the country and beyond and spread the word that there was another option for treatment of glaucoma in dogs other than removing their eyes. While this treatment did not stop the dog from going blind, it stopped their pain and discomfort.<br />
<br />
For most dogs, being blind is no big deal. It's always harder on their humans. Louie has taught me, and hopefully the readers of this blog as well, to take everything in stride. To do your best with the circumstances you are given and be thankful for every moment you have.<br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQnEwZfn-aNdibeB1lz6uwzQjYrmuBg2nvMb4ObJAzv73xX4KBMixOZE8UGVEHaToy51mpSQ1oaq6lvypi6nl2kJrPouS3ftgeVedT_OQY2mJifrp8ESLfTAxp03FMlPBxUhel55kYRo/s1600/P1000903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQnEwZfn-aNdibeB1lz6uwzQjYrmuBg2nvMb4ObJAzv73xX4KBMixOZE8UGVEHaToy51mpSQ1oaq6lvypi6nl2kJrPouS3ftgeVedT_OQY2mJifrp8ESLfTAxp03FMlPBxUhel55kYRo/s320/P1000903.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie being gentle and patient for his 1 year old buddy, Dario. 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-2626300606238111952015-06-12T15:51:00.002-07:002015-06-12T16:12:03.841-07:00Walking a Blind Dog and Pushing a Stroller<b>This morning my son Dario, Blind Louie and I walked to the post office to drop a letter in the mail box.</b><br />
The letter was just an excuse really. We all just wanted to get out for a walk. Louie spent the night next door at my dads house. He was pretty excited when he came outside and heard me getting his leash and harness ready. I was actually surprised he was awake. He usually sleeps in and it was just before 8:00 am when I showed up. I was sure he'd still be under the covers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIXJokVW9qs70wUq2MQr_waagopgreticjf2aLj-PfvBuID5rydCfObl5eXqgmiBJ0feoY50RDgZAcPbL7ZiRQdQixNHJ-Q6vqXsFybYh-j_jmkJJJesmt9KxNRUHLNNIWXi-NMyUox8/s1600/IMG_8414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIXJokVW9qs70wUq2MQr_waagopgreticjf2aLj-PfvBuID5rydCfObl5eXqgmiBJ0feoY50RDgZAcPbL7ZiRQdQixNHJ-Q6vqXsFybYh-j_jmkJJJesmt9KxNRUHLNNIWXi-NMyUox8/s320/IMG_8414.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Using the white line as a marker for me, and the grass as a marker for Louie.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>We haven't walked much at all with the stroller.</b><br />
I wasn't sure how Louie would do walking next to this big thing. The stroller doesn't make much noise, which is good and bad for Louie. If it was really loud, he might not feel comfortable walking next to it. Being silent is tough too, more likely to veer off and bump into it.<br />
<br />
Usually when I walk Louie, I keep him right at my side. No sense in the blind leading the sighted right? When he walks by my side he will periodically brush against my leg, then swerve out away from me until he feels his leash start to tighten and back and forth again and again. I decided that when we walked with the stroller that Louie would have to still stay right next me because his swervy walking just wouldn't do if he was bumping into the tire. <i>Well, I was wrong.</i><br />
<br />
<b>When we took off I tried to keep Louie by my side, it was hard.</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGwXf8eZZhTQzb9ZGxn_47O1VbjOJmX7T_T2OZoGH6fqDLwXstvtJAINLm6rS45JyNrGk7Dm2k1ANmIir2CoUsV5JlIB2gWkBNI8E6ql4SL0wTkQCeuu4POiaqdunwm5asRpp-taJbkU/s1600/IMG_8420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGwXf8eZZhTQzb9ZGxn_47O1VbjOJmX7T_T2OZoGH6fqDLwXstvtJAINLm6rS45JyNrGk7Dm2k1ANmIir2CoUsV5JlIB2gWkBNI8E6ql4SL0wTkQCeuu4POiaqdunwm5asRpp-taJbkU/s400/IMG_8420.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie 'looking' at the chatty baby on wheels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He could hear the stroller tires on the pavement just ahead of him and he really wanted to settle in next to Dario in his chariot. I slowed down and coaxed Louie back. When we took off again he bumped into the back of the moving tire. As I struggled to push the stroller, hold the leash, stay on the side of the road, keep Louie from getting tangled in the spokes and move my own two feet a thought occurred. <i>"I'm making this too complicated".</i><br />
<br />
I relaxed my shoulders and jaw, took a deep breath and loosened the leash. I focused on walking in a straight line. I used the white line on the side of the road as a guide. I think Louie liked being on the border of the pavement and grass. He knew to stay on the pavement and if he touched grass then scoot back over.<br />
<br />
<b>This worked wonderful! Dario talked to Louie through his little side window and Louie stayed right along side him.</b><br />
<br />
<b>
</b><b>
</b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsD7P-C4fOcQlUDN-LwmZNfEJJzNp9KhRrNjOg-rrHxmVDWshmVSdFZpKUV4YQ8K9wvn0nxDc33wY0QjP9H6FAnLKvYb6RmXX06DbKatoamKBQlgcfxWCw6wvVVBOIR8OuPQTf4dDqnns/s1600/IMG_8421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsD7P-C4fOcQlUDN-LwmZNfEJJzNp9KhRrNjOg-rrHxmVDWshmVSdFZpKUV4YQ8K9wvn0nxDc33wY0QjP9H6FAnLKvYb6RmXX06DbKatoamKBQlgcfxWCw6wvVVBOIR8OuPQTf4dDqnns/s320/IMG_8421.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dario repeats 'stay' after hearing me ask Louie to sit/stay. Louie responds with a tilted head.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Leaving home to go anywhere means we have to cross the railroad tracks.</b><br />
Often, when walking across the tracks I get the vision of a scene from a movie. I don't remember which one. Some young man gets his shoe stuck on the railroad tracks. Of course as soon as you notice his trapped shoe you see the train coming right for him, which for some reason you did not hear coming at all before that very moment. Even though the train is just a few feet away now. I have that same scenario play out in my head, only it's with Louie's stuck paw. So I'm careful to communicate with Louie when a step is coming. I say <i>"step up"</i> every time we move over a track. There are two sets of tracks. So saying <i>"step up"</i> four times on the way to the post office meant hearing Dario on the way back telling Louie <i>"up, up, up, up!"</i>. Good job both of you!<br />
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<br />
<b>Now, what did I learn today?</b><br />
I learned that walking with a blind dog and a baby in a stroller can be relaxing and fun if I let it. I also learned that it's pretty hard to take pictures while you are walking with a blind dog and a baby in a stroller. Maybe I can hire a photographer to follow us on our next walk for more proper documentation. Nah. Sounds expensive.<br />
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<b><i>Do you have any tips on walking a dog and pushing a stroller at the same time? With a blind dog or a sighted dog this can present a challenge. We'd love to hear your thoughts!</i></b><br />
<b><i>Leave a comment here or find us on </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b>!<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie</a>Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-54782328760274781292015-03-09T08:13:00.002-07:002015-03-09T08:44:15.994-07:00Cookies For All!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSj1HznYtOEUmExISBzf5zl2eiEIu8i7ZlH7nwTVp79jziYgTrUz5gNThFsb51M8ykY9uEHxs5E3zQkPAT9HY7nAmq3JXBsgsMJeH-aSE-kgp-waVdG_2azppHeb8jzZxlCegrtIBCJu0/s1600/P1000911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSj1HznYtOEUmExISBzf5zl2eiEIu8i7ZlH7nwTVp79jziYgTrUz5gNThFsb51M8ykY9uEHxs5E3zQkPAT9HY7nAmq3JXBsgsMJeH-aSE-kgp-waVdG_2azppHeb8jzZxlCegrtIBCJu0/s1600/P1000911.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie asking Dario "Pretty please can we share?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It has been an unusually sunny start to March here in the Pacific Northwest. Although it has still been chilly, we have been enjoying and taking full advantage of the great weather. We live in a place that gets so much rain that it is pretty common to see folks out in short sleeves and sandals at the first sight of the sun, even if the temperatures are still around freezing!<br />
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So, with a fair afternoon at hand I decided we would take Dario's snack time outside to find a sunny warm spot to enjoy a few nibbles.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4TZYAaudZtEzZPYLH1DOFt_fwtg-IiQ5H9jPPW_SCFbJSrfxb7MH2a9J_r5Ihljr0fZEw-8GFU0tUjGHk-T3zR8mDR6_qFJmu9-QeaLkEzGqlz3fgd1z92O6Sqh1feAtSKMnSQr-I_s/s1600/P1000903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4TZYAaudZtEzZPYLH1DOFt_fwtg-IiQ5H9jPPW_SCFbJSrfxb7MH2a9J_r5Ihljr0fZEw-8GFU0tUjGHk-T3zR8mDR6_qFJmu9-QeaLkEzGqlz3fgd1z92O6Sqh1feAtSKMnSQr-I_s/s1600/P1000903.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full concentration from both</td></tr>
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Of course, there was Louie! He was already ahead of the game. Blind Louie found the warmest sunniest spot, as he usually does. He was just lounging, soaking up the rays. I took advantage of this chance meeting for Dario and Louie to both practice calm and good manners with their food.<br />
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Dario's snack is a <a href="http://www.bbcookies.com/" target="_blank">Baker's Breakfast Cookie</a>. It's a little less cookie and a little more portable bowl of oatmeal. It's an okayed-by-mom snack for a toddler and is okay in moderating for Louie too. I couldn't say the same about my (not really) world famous chocolate chip cookies!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh76Y0xvA-nk6d1A_BADN797WtAYNLg808Rld79a_L4zoL9Ybyk8jB67RDoZQbSbBDmKWg8yS0kKkBX1Ff89NFrLSisRryoffQIMhFKdodI7DVWoTwcHpYXv57s2-J6sotNAuGFWRhvAU/s1600/P1000901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh76Y0xvA-nk6d1A_BADN797WtAYNLg808Rld79a_L4zoL9Ybyk8jB67RDoZQbSbBDmKWg8yS0kKkBX1Ff89NFrLSisRryoffQIMhFKdodI7DVWoTwcHpYXv57s2-J6sotNAuGFWRhvAU/s1600/P1000901.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
I snagged a piece off of the cookie and asked Louie to sit, stay and wait. I made sure Dario was waiting too. No touching Louie at this point please. I placed the piece of cookie on his nose and moved my hands away slowly. I handed back the cookie and wrapper to a very excited Dario so he could dig in. There they stood next to each other, Louie as still as a statue and Dario way more interested in a tasty treat than in whatever that 'Roo-Roo Goggy' was doing. Success.<br />
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After a minute or so and a few quick pictures I turned to Louie and said 'Okay!'. He flipped the cookie up and caught it in his mouth! Bam! Flawless. What a talented guy he is. I wish I had the camera rolling. Dario was pretty impressed too.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7QEqK_dC_HsqZvEJJ7GXroiTXspmFhOCZEUM5KZ_XXz3E4UiPumB_Q3kuzYGreaxVAkBGBUjVsocfXe1arQGGvGA5OfgbX2h6sxAx4VKQfqYSTk5ZYl7EHHrlEtqsU_eh1-sidcnACw/s1600/P1000925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7QEqK_dC_HsqZvEJJ7GXroiTXspmFhOCZEUM5KZ_XXz3E4UiPumB_Q3kuzYGreaxVAkBGBUjVsocfXe1arQGGvGA5OfgbX2h6sxAx4VKQfqYSTk5ZYl7EHHrlEtqsU_eh1-sidcnACw/s1600/P1000925.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Grandpa feeding the pigs some Breakfast Cookies</td></tr>
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My husband works at the <a href="http://www.bbcookies.com/" target="_blank">Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods</a> factory. They make those handy, healthy and portable breakfast cookies I mentioned in several different flavors as well as a few types of granola too. Our hogs get to eat as good as we do because Paul brings home the scraps from the factory. It makes perfect hog feed! Whole grains, chia seeds, nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter and more. The piggies absolutely love it! Here is a few photos of our six hogs enjoying their bounty.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjipy7Iem7jtGgXQE_ApNJdsCIIFT-8CoChrUkfQRM1zkmjhtJ2FNvWMMA5wZwC2SnmAyKkXqmUs6slXzbwczf2pgHgcCVp6Q0-msl1XjJvonPUKN7Azv4Q75IikAzVSjd-zA8GsnfDkQ/s1600/P1000935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjipy7Iem7jtGgXQE_ApNJdsCIIFT-8CoChrUkfQRM1zkmjhtJ2FNvWMMA5wZwC2SnmAyKkXqmUs6slXzbwczf2pgHgcCVp6Q0-msl1XjJvonPUKN7Azv4Q75IikAzVSjd-zA8GsnfDkQ/s1600/P1000935.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We wouldn't feed them anything we wouldn't feed our family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Read More About Blind Louie and Pigs in Our Previous Posts <a href="http://lifewithblindlouie.blogspot.com/2012/10/pig-happy-family.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://lifewithblindlouie.blogspot.com/2012/10/goodbye-dry-autumn-days.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C6njLbukerKRE5ggPWyq0HaiH6Ahb_FeXDj7v-Pi9PwZaU0EgKax2M-FlziEkT5E1SngWHCy0cbNC7l3o1vGofsQWpev3HsOms5j6Sb31uamP_ukIggxBzGnspe05TuHAPtNyTSzQ3I/s1600/louiend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7C6njLbukerKRE5ggPWyq0HaiH6Ahb_FeXDj7v-Pi9PwZaU0EgKax2M-FlziEkT5E1SngWHCy0cbNC7l3o1vGofsQWpev3HsOms5j6Sb31uamP_ukIggxBzGnspe05TuHAPtNyTSzQ3I/s1600/louiend.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blind Louie practicing calm next to 2 month old Dario, 12/13</td></tr>
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Adding a baby to our 2 human-2 cat-2 dog household has shaken things up a bit, but not too much. Just enough to make things interesting. Louie
and little D get along swimmingly now. I just make sure the baby in
polite and uses gentle hands and Louie loves that another person is
giving him attention. It was a different story when Dario was a newborn.<br />
<br />
Louie just wasn't sure what to make of this tiny baby, but he was determined to figure it out. It was challenging to keep Lou from crushing the new baby while trying to deep smell him and lick him at the same time. They just had to be separated most of the time. Louie got his baby visits with a chaperone giving complete and undivided attention to the situation. Soothing talk with words like 'slowly' 'gentle' and 'wait' helped Louie contain his enthusiasm enough to be up close and give the baby a good sniff. <br />
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During the first six months of being a mother, having my parents living next door was a really big help with Louie. He usually spent nights next door and got to spend tons of time with Budde the Puppy who is not a puppy <i>at all</i> anymore. It is also a fact that Louie absolutely loves my dad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc8O-u68wSvWOZLyNAkvsITuoyAjKinTCsw-bAEGLtYEt51kvyivUfLaxWQKbGDIEOwCcSvookvteGwU0XllRIY4H8g5VS8evLVzK1I99_aYvQO6pp_qk_B_3lokgfPTMhFUW8fqX-8k/s1600/IMG_7111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc8O-u68wSvWOZLyNAkvsITuoyAjKinTCsw-bAEGLtYEt51kvyivUfLaxWQKbGDIEOwCcSvookvteGwU0XllRIY4H8g5VS8evLVzK1I99_aYvQO6pp_qk_B_3lokgfPTMhFUW8fqX-8k/s1600/IMG_7111.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie walks along side one year old Dario, 11/14</td></tr>
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As Dario grew and started vocalizing, he became less mysterious to Louie. I think when the only sound the baby made was crying, Lou was a little confused by him. Now that Dario is walking and getting sturdy on his feet, let the fun begin! Louie does so well walking next to people and follows voice commands amazingly, this makes walks with blind dog and baby in the yard are super fun and easy. If Louie is going too fast and heading right for the baby I say 'Stop', and he stops and waits for me to catch up and lead. All these years of working with him have really paid off. Now, as for training this baby of ours. That is proving to be much different than training a dog if you can believe it, but just as fun!<br />
<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-57952577743467363822013-10-09T06:46:00.003-07:002013-10-09T06:46:37.986-07:00Getting Ready to Meet the New Family MemberHere we are, it's October already. I haven't posted any updates since just after we moved in July. That is a long time! Funny, looking at the blog now, this will be our 100th post. Pretty neat. 100 posts in just over 1 year.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OUa2EGNV4HbWUdMNEu2kl5XILej3-ZuRryyGYS3tdZ7cEDDnJy2tSrcTxK31pJshULzQU6oh8kCAAlv6DXcD9ShoDliGHFNXc_6LaSP2YW5wrk-VuL8nNiWivyBSTnzBcAXiSW64B4M/s640/blogger-image--1736235142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OUa2EGNV4HbWUdMNEu2kl5XILej3-ZuRryyGYS3tdZ7cEDDnJy2tSrcTxK31pJshULzQU6oh8kCAAlv6DXcD9ShoDliGHFNXc_6LaSP2YW5wrk-VuL8nNiWivyBSTnzBcAXiSW64B4M/s320/blogger-image--1736235142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie's favorite sleep spot in our bathroom</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As you may know from previous entries, we are expecting. Expecting what? A baby! In October... oh wait, it is October now. I've been saying that for so long now, we're due in October. Now I can say, we're due in 8 days! Wow. Louie still has no idea. He knows we got new furniture in the extra room in the house. He knows that the new giant dog bed we put in there for him mistakenly has some sort of cage around it so he can't get in, and he knows that I walk slower than I used to. He is a very observant dog, that Louie.<br />
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Snorp on the other hand seems to get that something is up. He is a very sensitive and intuitive dog. He watched us move things into the baby's room. He watched as Paul assembled the crib and other furniture. He's found his favorite spot to sleep is on the floor next to the crib. I don't know if that's just because he is enjoying his own private room or if he is waiting for something to appear there. He is more gentle and loving towards me than ever. I have a hunch that he has a hunch that something is happening, but he doesn't know what.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8JaaoWDjk6KJTPViNDcNqc8yX1W4oEkYrGt6ui4OZ5BsysucbmbTmckv4jr5qfFjxsmSTEtvL1GRisxzOUx2Y6V_AQt18agR0zh2gwcQ6AaqMl_ta8-9KEFFTmDQLevocYDgAuVxyWk/s640/blogger-image--289285712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8JaaoWDjk6KJTPViNDcNqc8yX1W4oEkYrGt6ui4OZ5BsysucbmbTmckv4jr5qfFjxsmSTEtvL1GRisxzOUx2Y6V_AQt18agR0zh2gwcQ6AaqMl_ta8-9KEFFTmDQLevocYDgAuVxyWk/s320/blogger-image--289285712.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie enjoying the dog bed on the porch</td></tr>
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I've put a lot of thought about what it will be like having a newborn with two big dogs in the house. I know they will be curious and excited with a new being in the home. I have a handle on how to introduce our seeing dog, Snorp, but I'm struggling with Louie a little more. Louie does not understand the 'personal bubble' as Snorp does. Snorp can sit across the room and evaluate the situation with his eyes. He also works great with non verbal commands. I can reach my arm out and put my hand up, palm out and he will stop in his tracks. This will keep him away and let the baby continue resting. Louie is different. He wouldn't see my hand until he bumped into it.<br />
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Louie is also pretty excitable with kids. He loves them. He wants to get right up there and snuggle and lick faces. They taste all salty and like milk! When he met a friends 3 month old, it was typical Louie. He licked her face and wagged his tail like crazy. When we told him he'd had enough he still wanted to sit right next to us and be as close to his new friend as possible. When I am tired and just learning how to juggle a newborn and a million other things, I'll have to be careful not to trip over the big dog that is under my feet. Again, Louie won't get out of the way because he sees me coming. That will be my job.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TpfLSrqwLEHi3bqGQ9jwicsE_SUEsVD41GFtuV-fiIeq9MBKYesca85i32wzWsCBOmcCDv6cDmt9G660ETRc64P6WFeZ58QfQ8lz4yDtF-ulR3CmPbHoLS9UHr2sv_69KffOymgXaZY/s640/blogger-image--514320001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TpfLSrqwLEHi3bqGQ9jwicsE_SUEsVD41GFtuV-fiIeq9MBKYesca85i32wzWsCBOmcCDv6cDmt9G660ETRc64P6WFeZ58QfQ8lz4yDtF-ulR3CmPbHoLS9UHr2sv_69KffOymgXaZY/s320/blogger-image--514320001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie and his cat Halford on our bed</td></tr>
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I know like so much of life that this will be a learn as I go experience. I have read a lot. I have worked with Louie a lot and I have put a lot of thought into it. After all, Louie is a certified Canine Good Citizen. I know he is trainable. We have already set some limits and he knows very well basic commands. Now I just have to take the time to use them, staying calm and happy. I also cannot forget that Uncle Louie was here first, and he'll still need my attention and love too.<br />
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After this dog training comes the task of training a baby human. I do have pretty good experience with puppies, but I have a feeling this may be a little more challenging. Once they are old enough to crawl around and grab things one of the first important lessons will be how to treat and respect a dog and a cat. With all parties on board we can live in a peaceful and safe household.<br />
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<i>Any of our readers have tips or suggestion on this issue? Read any good articles? Please share them here in the comments section or on our Facebook page</i> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lifewithblindlouie">www.facebook.com/lifewithblindlouie.</a><br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-15952262499803635472013-08-04T08:38:00.001-07:002014-12-14T20:01:09.689-08:00Moving to a New House!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie enjoying his sunny new porch in the morning.</td></tr>
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So, we're moving. Not far away by any means. We're moving right next door actually. We'll still be next door to my parents and Budde the Puppy, who's not such a little puppy anymore. We're moving to a house with two bedrooms, instead of the one bedroom we've been in. We are making room for the baby that should be arriving sometime in October.<br />
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The Dogs love the new yard and huge back porch. We let Louie come over and check the place out before any furniture was there. That is something I haven't really done before. Usually, I prefer it if he stays away until we have furniture arranged where it will be staying so he can really map out his new surroundings. This time it was a little harder to keep him away since we were walking back and forth between the new house and our old house and he was following right along of course.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie trying out the new couch as a possible sleeping home base.</td></tr>
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Louie seemed to really enjoy checking out the empty house. He softly bumped into some walls and followed right along with me while I showed him around. Then it was time to start moving boxes. I was going to put him inside at my dads house so he would be out of the way, but Louie decided that he'd put <i>himself </i>on time out. We had moved the dog bed's first and we set them, temporarily, on the back porch. Louie found his dog bed and made that his home base. As we moved things he enjoyed his dog bed in a new location.<br />
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Louie is slow moving in the new house when he first wakes up. This is a good thing. Sleep for him hits some kind of reset button. In the old house he had only 3 places where he would sleep: on our bed with us, on the living room dog bed or on a chair in the living room. The house was very small. Now there is much more room to fall asleep, and much more space to get lost in (but there is still not enough room on our bed Louie, scoot over!) The fist night in the new house, Louie fell asleep with me on my bed. When Paul came to bed and had Louie move from his spot, we took the time to show Louie we weren't in the old house anymore. We helped him jump down and get his bearings. When he was finally settled he chose a spot on the carpeted floor at the foot of the bed. Our dog Snorp was sleeping just a few feet away. That was perfect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyqqHrecZC-H68Df7zC0yoar-irDL0S104ftXFqgQs_TyWFSfJY67IYPEtpXoZPnlITyRPfhFtmxINYg8YIC9opwC4_kCttBuSvZfKMrrAjobPaEiltmhrxYouMydqXTbKbeNhB6Y2pA/s640/blogger-image-1425942995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyqqHrecZC-H68Df7zC0yoar-irDL0S104ftXFqgQs_TyWFSfJY67IYPEtpXoZPnlITyRPfhFtmxINYg8YIC9opwC4_kCttBuSvZfKMrrAjobPaEiltmhrxYouMydqXTbKbeNhB6Y2pA/s320/blogger-image-1425942995.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All three dogs, fast asleep in the new backyard.</td></tr>
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When I woke up the next morning, Louie was no longer at the foot of the bed. Where did he go? I checked the living room, the kitchen, the hallway and the still empty baby-to-be's room. Nothing. Finally, I went to use the bathroom and there he was. We have two bathrooms in this new house and one is in the master bedroom. Louie and I have never experienced such luxury. The strange thing is, this bathroom is carpeted. Weird, I think. I have never lived anywhere with a carpeted bathroom. I think this dates the house and shows it has not been remodeled in about forty years. It is pretty awesome looking overall, but the bathroom carpet seems wrong. I guess Louie thought so too. I don't think he realized he was sleeping in the bathroom because he was still in the room with us and there was still the same carpet. Louie was fast asleep on the bathmat.<br />
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Louie likes throw rugs and dog beds because it's an easy marker to where he is in the room. I'm sure he thought of the bathmat as his new dog bed in our room. I think it really confused him when I started to brush my teeth right near where he was laying! What!<br />
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All in all, this has been fun. It has been tough for me in that I can't move things like I usually would due to my 'condition'. I'm 7 months pregnant already! But this has made me realize and appreciate that my husband is such a good guy and a hard worker. I packed some, and unpacked, but he moved just about everything. Louie, not so much. He just 'watched'.Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-46677781882557872912013-07-14T08:43:00.001-07:002013-07-14T08:43:10.875-07:00Interview Magoo, Love is Blind Photo Contest First Runner Up<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Here is an interview with Magoo's owner, Julie. Magoo was the first runner up on the Love is Blind Photo Contest on the Life with Blind Louie Facebook Page.</b><i><b><br /></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>How did you hear about Life with Blind Louie? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I heard of Life with Blind Louie from the <a href="http://www.blinddogsupport.com/">Blind Dog Support</a> group. Other members
had already liked <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lifewithblindlouie">Blind Louie's Facebook page</a>, and shared. Being a new owner to a blind
dog, I like to hear of others experiences and seeing that their dogs are
still out there being dogs."</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad, Magoo and Gus.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>When did you have the pleasure of meeting Magoo? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My mom and dad adopted Magoo from a MI
shelter. I did see Magoo but not on a daily basis. He was already losing
his sight when they adopted him, but he was still a very feisty fellow.
After my dad passed and my mom started traveling more, she brought up
re-homing Magoo. I didn't want him going to just anyone so she agreed to
let him come here for me to look for a new home. I knew in the back of
my mind he wasn't going anywhere. My dad adored this dog and I just
couldn't let him leave our family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>When did you guys start to notice Magoo was going blind? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bringing Magoo home I could see
that he was not seeing. We went to a specialist where we were told it
was <a href="http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/pra.htm">PRA</a> (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). At this point, Magoo was not seeing anything. Again it being
new I had lots of questions and did a lot of reading up on it. I can't
say I felt pity for him. I was watching a dog that still was having fun
everyday. He is feisty and loves to wrestle, play with his flirt pole
and fetch. The biggest adjustment was doing these things a little
differently. Loud jingle ball really made playing fetch easier. Little
scented oil on the flirt pole helped. We learned to walk together and
teaching him his words. "careful", easy" and then just brushing up on
general commands. Magoo does extremely well getting around. Our first
visit to my vet and the vet tech was surprised he couldn't see. He
walked around that place like he owned it. It was more of me and him
getting in sync.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvJesXtPn25X94CAoMcnZ7TsgMsmTNYu_Guk7APc2KHaqE5wlgmkX2LDgsQIz_w6IuL8EK9zARjS0B1XEJuHN8uCDljlAce8e4jLR-M3o171NncXU-rxZvXnxiPVN4FlBJhhnFZbT1CY/s640/blogger-image-1057848333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvJesXtPn25X94CAoMcnZ7TsgMsmTNYu_Guk7APc2KHaqE5wlgmkX2LDgsQIz_w6IuL8EK9zARjS0B1XEJuHN8uCDljlAce8e4jLR-M3o171NncXU-rxZvXnxiPVN4FlBJhhnFZbT1CY/s320/blogger-image-1057848333.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magoo and his sister, Sassy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Do you have any other pets in the house? Kids?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Magoo lives with Buddy(pit bull) Sassy(toy poodle)
his side kick. They love to play and to cuddle together. I also had to
teach Sassy to look out for him, so keep her from getting run over. He
tends to follow Sassy around outside a lot, which is not always a good
thing. She is always into mischief. Sassy and Magoo also like playing
tug together. This I have to watch closely because of the size
difference. Magoo also lives with 2 cats. The cats are not fond of him
as he gets to close and excited and they get scared. That is still a
work in progress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Does Magoo get around pretty well without being able to see? </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Magoo continues to amaze me daily. He gets around
like any sighted dog and just continues to live his life like any normal
dog.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br />I know from my experience with Louie, that it is very difficult sometimes dealing with medical problems and their cost. Both financial and emotional.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Taking Magoo I knew there could be high medical costs, it was
worth it knowing that I was still taking care of my dads dog. Can't put a
price on love.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWKVdTc6oTddN7OCcAzC38HZG2u1kvpySBGT1TvfWgAFXnNsdPj_WSVu9uDslJ0dP8iq-nZC5Ngw2uSU-iUrPTjDCP52K976aSWXx4Hsz1fUV_rZQLeaEe8eYlCSCejMv72orAyq7Hbc/s640/blogger-image-166490934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWKVdTc6oTddN7OCcAzC38HZG2u1kvpySBGT1TvfWgAFXnNsdPj_WSVu9uDslJ0dP8iq-nZC5Ngw2uSU-iUrPTjDCP52K976aSWXx4Hsz1fUV_rZQLeaEe8eYlCSCejMv72orAyq7Hbc/s400/blogger-image-166490934.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody LOVES tug!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I would see dogs needing homes that were blind, I
always felt bad but didn't think I could give a blind dog everything
they needed. This was the biggest lesson Magoo taught me. You just give
them everything every other dog wants, a home, unconditional love and
Magoo says lots of toys. : )</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>I love that! I would have never thought I could care for a blind dog either, and then there was Louie. He surprised me in so many ways. I had no idea how well a blind dog can carry on with life. Sight is more of a luxury now when I look at a dog, not a necessity by any means.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>This is why I wanted to write about my life with Blind Louie. I wanted people to know that there are good dogs out there, great dogs, that just can't see. I wanted people to know that these dogs were keepers, they are worth our time and energy. If your dog is diagnosed with a vision problem, it is not the end of the world. There are ways to help them and help yourself and there are a lot of other people dealing with the same thing to help with tips and tricks and support. That is why I'm glad to write about Louie and why I'm glad I found web resources like <a href="http://www.blinddogsupport.com/">www.blinddogsupport.com</a>.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. We all love Magoo too! Also, little known fact: Blind Louie's nickname has been 'Mr. Louie Magooie' since he was diagnosed with his glaucoma and I realized why he was bumping into everything. I was a big Mr. Magoo fan growing up.</b></i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you say spoiled!? Look at all his toys!</td></tr>
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Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-60842573978980643272013-07-02T12:34:00.001-07:002013-07-02T12:34:56.057-07:00Interview with Contest Winner: Misfit the Blind Dog<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Here is an interview I did with Misfit the Blind Dog's mama, Dana. Misfit's parents, Dana and Morgan have had Misfit since he was a little puppy. Misfit is similar to Louie in many ways. Louie has never had all of his sight and went blind at a very young age. Dana is pretty sure Misfit was born blind. They are both dogs that were never dependent on sight, therefore, never let their blindness hold them back. Even the look of Misfit's eyes reminds me of Blind Louie. Right down to the difference in size, shape and shade between the left and the right eyes. I wish we could meet Misfit outside of the internet, but here we are in the Pacific Northwest and Misfit is all the way in Maryland. Please be sure to find Misfit on Facebook for more photos: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MisfitTheBlindDog">www.facebook.com/MisfitTheBlindDog</a> and while you're at it, make sure you've liked the </i>Life with Blind Louie<i> page too! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LifewithBlindLouie">www.facebook.com/LifewithBlindLouie,</a> </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Hi Dana, Thanks for taking the time to tell us a little bit about your story. How did you hear about Life with Blind Louie?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We were contacted on Misfit’s Facebook page by Louie to enter his “Love Is Blind” photo contest."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>When and how did you meet your dog?</b> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"It was actually a very unexpected and unplanned introduction. Morgan was
looking to adopt a dog, and her sister’s boyfriend’s dobies had just
had a litter of puppies. Morgan’s sister knew she was looking for a dog,
and offered her one of the puppies. The mother of the puppies killed
two of her blind pups (6 others were sighted puppies and found homes as
well) When Morgan picked out the blue Doberman she had no idea he was
blind."<i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><i><b>When and how did your dog’s eye problems come about? What were some early signs and observations?</b> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Well, Morgan first noticed he was blind as soon as she had him in her
car to take him home. He started bobbling his head as though he could
not focus on anything, so this started some suspicion. Then when she got
him home, he would walk timidly and as though he had no idea where he
was. When he started to walk a little more freely she noticed him
running into anything in his path. Also, his eyes were oddly colored…a
very pale bright blue and he had no pupils. At the time we thought it
was just a “puppyism” because he was only 7 weeks old (she got him this
early because Morgan’s sister feared the mom may turn on him as well)
The first day Morgan picked him up was October 13th, 2012. Needless to
say, Dana was not fully in the picture at this time. Within 1 month she
became completely involved."<i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><i>Have you had to do any surgery's or treatments?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We
have not done any treatments as of now. The blindness does not interfere
with his everyday life. He still plays with toys and other dogs, runs
around the yard and cuddles as though he is a sighted dog. Unless you
either look at his eyes or are told, you cannot tell he is blind. We
have decided to take him to an ophthalmologist, which is an eye doctor
for dogs. We are hoping they will be able to tell us what caused the
blindness and what complications/treatments may come about."<i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><i>Do you have any other pets in the house? Kids?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"We do have another pet! We have an American Short Hair kitty cat. His
name is Willis and Misfit can track him down in an instant. He uses the
bell on Willis’ collar to find him! It’s amazing how easily he can chase
him even though he can’t see him. They never harm each other, they just
get on each other’s nerves (or more like Misfit gets on Willis’ nerves)."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeZnGmOyt29_WwYo4Z_fmueiSA8EBBz_nb6nMXN2y8nsWfskUZAY9pQ2SD_IzEOFx402kQBHOgCHM-D6w3KFdHJEJJNsabjBPbPR-N-iCKGX9B21K6AX88Y0M6oIe9d6rUaktGR71xqs/s640/blogger-image--911895855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeZnGmOyt29_WwYo4Z_fmueiSA8EBBz_nb6nMXN2y8nsWfskUZAY9pQ2SD_IzEOFx402kQBHOgCHM-D6w3KFdHJEJJNsabjBPbPR-N-iCKGX9B21K6AX88Y0M6oIe9d6rUaktGR71xqs/s640/blogger-image--911895855.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>How did Misfit deal with vision loss?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Since he was born with his blindness he adapted amazingly well, almost
too well. He is such a picture of inspiration and perseverance. He does
not fear things; he walks into all new experiences with such trust in
himself and us as his guide humans."</span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>How does Misfit get around without being able to see?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Very well, perfect. He can hear us walk and can follow us by the sound
of our footsteps. The only time he has problems is in crowded and
fairly unknown places, such as the dog park. There are people there that
move around and change places on him so he cannot have the placement of
obstacles memorized since it does changes, so every now and then he
will run into people full force."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Can you tell us one story of a time you were really impressed with your dog’s navigation ability?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"There are so many times he has navigated so well that we were amazed.
It is almost impossible to pin point one. But to give you one instance,
he used to live at a house with a pellet stove. Morgan did all she could
to teach him that he could not go near it for fear of him burning
himself. One day she did not have it barricaded off, but still as soon
as he walked up onto the tile the pellet stove was on, he immediately
turned around and walked away. Also, sometimes when he is running around
the yard he will get so close to running into something, but as soon as
he gets about 2 centimeters away from it, he stops, backs up and
chooses another path."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Are the risks and struggles involved in having a blind dog, both emotional and
financial, worth enduring? What are some things that make it worth it?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"There is nothing that could cause us to not want to take
care of him. I believe we love him so much that we would sell the
clothes of our back to make his life comfortable. What makes us so
passionate about him and him so worthy of love is the small things he
does during a day. Such as the first time he discovers that he can stick
his head out of a car window, or the first time he encounters snow and
wants to eat it or even getting in the pool for the first time. Being
able to be there for every single one of his “firsts” is what makes him
worth every struggle there is."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEufQLf6lmi7vG3bNIE-6GjKjyW5RvccIKYYsjBdqFr62fbFYnlR2vWCCqED0bltRJakODbyGe3Crt2_ANb5GW5KJPRYFvbO1QBqizE4sKslzvY5YprF6UcR63CyapHc5Iuvybu2FqwM4/s640/blogger-image-1508529534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEufQLf6lmi7vG3bNIE-6GjKjyW5RvccIKYYsjBdqFr62fbFYnlR2vWCCqED0bltRJakODbyGe3Crt2_ANb5GW5KJPRYFvbO1QBqizE4sKslzvY5YprF6UcR63CyapHc5Iuvybu2FqwM4/s400/blogger-image-1508529534.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tell us about your site and where we can contact you and follow your story?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our site is on Facebook. The link is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/misfittheblinddog">www.facebook.com/misfittheblinddog</a>.
You can follow his daily adventures and help us spread the word that
disabled animals are just as loving and lovable as “normal” animals on
his Facebook. In order to contact us you can personal message us on his
Facebook or send us an e-mail at misfittheblinddog@gmail.com. We also
currently have a fundraising project going on. We are raising money for
the Blind Dog Rescue Alliance. Our current goal is $200. If you would
like to donate you can send a donation of $3-$5 to
<a href="mailto:misfittheblinddog@gmail.com">misfittheblinddog@gmail.com</a> on <a href="http://www.paypal.com/">PayPal</a> or go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gofundme.com%2Fmisfitsmasterpiece&h=aAQGxLRe0&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.gofundme.com/misfitsmasterpiece</a>. For each donation we will be sending a “pawtographed” photograph of Misfit to the person who donated.<i> </i></span><br />
<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-64754773060626044622013-06-21T14:27:00.002-07:002013-06-29T07:09:41.457-07:00Love is Blind Photo Contest Winners!<span style="font-size: large;">We had a very successful photo contest on the Life with Blind Louie Facebook page and boy did we have fun! I was introduced to many amazing dogs, all thanks to the internet. Over the next week or so, I will be doing a series of interviews with the winners of the contest:</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
First is Mistfit the Blind Dog!</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Winner of the Love Is Blind Photo Contest.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Check out Misfits Facebook page! Click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/misfittheblinddog">HERE</a> </h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXBScmTUX9PX_t29OT_t09SA7zRVPckqETB5FVz-r3pbGFzCS6CFsQNJ5UK4YumnEXbptUQUDQVnXuaLQeylVEUWhDVvj50yCq7hOduofOa04-jYCNo1QylJnfXCgxHZ437TvR76LqvQ/s640/blogger-image-1290640986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXBScmTUX9PX_t29OT_t09SA7zRVPckqETB5FVz-r3pbGFzCS6CFsQNJ5UK4YumnEXbptUQUDQVnXuaLQeylVEUWhDVvj50yCq7hOduofOa04-jYCNo1QylJnfXCgxHZ437TvR76LqvQ/s320/blogger-image-1290640986.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
First Runner Up: Wiebus! from the Netherlands.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
He's famous. Check out his <a href="http://wiebus.webnode.nl/">website</a>. I can't read it, but the photos sure are great.</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11-JJN3bFSylUzgdLIZwwKLh0dDR6myVD2HT0aX2rL9eOGnDn3wu127jkiyB3BP3eJzG4Iq675K7U_WB6G_FcloEY0_e1G3FBvb3npgz8uHipRvzjEk3yOQ4eTdOgcCJzNfRMFq58W9A/s640/blogger-image--13951646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11-JJN3bFSylUzgdLIZwwKLh0dDR6myVD2HT0aX2rL9eOGnDn3wu127jkiyB3BP3eJzG4Iq675K7U_WB6G_FcloEY0_e1G3FBvb3npgz8uHipRvzjEk3yOQ4eTdOgcCJzNfRMFq58W9A/s320/blogger-image--13951646.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Second runner up: Magoo!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibwt8PGh4XWUK9-QP76m01ZuxcsqjuLAqzHwN6P9MOa0MJWKHp2_CqjIreqRVrLyMHMp0INgn7oC-IxzlH88GoS0_Lxmu4Zw1NKmitug4QJe0QsrD6eDRZsJsNkL4MGRuYQ2VOltdLX0/s640/blogger-image-2008151493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibwt8PGh4XWUK9-QP76m01ZuxcsqjuLAqzHwN6P9MOa0MJWKHp2_CqjIreqRVrLyMHMp0INgn7oC-IxzlH88GoS0_Lxmu4Zw1NKmitug4QJe0QsrD6eDRZsJsNkL4MGRuYQ2VOltdLX0/s320/blogger-image-2008151493.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
and the always adorable<br />Third runner up: Vinny!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz9Rh4kOOJPu7jRfdzRbhUxxCxsjQ0qq90va2-spIIyTRlckFb3QGvRJX5yGGFyk0hvIhSbY0kkXuM2Jt0IQL8QxDcgBpSdaTi9NiRQJYCRAyhQ-72eiAg76H4mSMk0VubzC9pG66XUc/s640/blogger-image--1312608055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz9Rh4kOOJPu7jRfdzRbhUxxCxsjQ0qq90va2-spIIyTRlckFb3QGvRJX5yGGFyk0hvIhSbY0kkXuM2Jt0IQL8QxDcgBpSdaTi9NiRQJYCRAyhQ-72eiAg76H4mSMk0VubzC9pG66XUc/s320/blogger-image--1312608055.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Check back for the interviews!</h3>
Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-68029073346592876002013-06-14T21:17:00.003-07:002013-06-14T21:17:39.690-07:00Sick Snorp Update<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTknXE2Nb5dOVaqTT-RWXYqb-Fh4KioxwPufDv8pzd5sfPulYmn3BoWowP8YINdJhB6FyY_7mI0er7_NrMo4GrgVNBmzIev5NfpDcrRq1eNDQPNO3qjohvUUOXRsE0E6iQECaUFsH1mo/s640/blogger-image--2129804194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTknXE2Nb5dOVaqTT-RWXYqb-Fh4KioxwPufDv8pzd5sfPulYmn3BoWowP8YINdJhB6FyY_7mI0er7_NrMo4GrgVNBmzIev5NfpDcrRq1eNDQPNO3qjohvUUOXRsE0E6iQECaUFsH1mo/s320/blogger-image--2129804194.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy car dog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm happy to report that Snorp has made a seemingly full recovery from his unfortunate <a href="http://lifewithblindlouie.blogspot.com/2013/06/whats-wrong-with-snorp.html">poisoning incident</a>. It was slow going for a while but he's back to his good old wagging self.<br />
<br />
My husband and I decided that Snorp could use a vacation. Well, actually it may have been a bit more selfish. We did have ourselves in mind as well. We decided to take 3 days off of work and head out to the Washington coast, Snorp included. We came to the conclusion to leave Louie with my parents and their dog Budde. I know Louie will be happier and have more fun in a familiar place than he will on a long car ride that includes a ferry. Louie didn't know he was missing out on anything. He was blissfully unaware that Snorp, Paul and I were having the time of our lives without him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PoH1xkCBMC_mXh083uXTj8NW61rMN0KuuGQWKRJBY8PbchXy1lgkRRdUekjgy40Xh7T0uxAZjdP1XibrX9Lgic_0nrOzYZlRtd0x77iw1fgsIVQ_1W0XrFP6FG7jyh6DMlgVtLmbIsk/s640/blogger-image--1892782243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PoH1xkCBMC_mXh083uXTj8NW61rMN0KuuGQWKRJBY8PbchXy1lgkRRdUekjgy40Xh7T0uxAZjdP1XibrX9Lgic_0nrOzYZlRtd0x77iw1fgsIVQ_1W0XrFP6FG7jyh6DMlgVtLmbIsk/s320/blogger-image--1892782243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snorp escapes the waves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Snorp really enjoyed the alone time with his favorite humans. He was such a good boy in the car and at all our stops along the way while on the leash. When we arrived at our destination, a small cabin in La Push Washington, Snorp enjoyed smelling and marking every tree a pine needle, tail wagging. We walked the few feet to the beach and watched the waves beat against the sandy shore. Snorp was so excited, but cautious. There was no way he was going to let a single tiny wave catch him. Even if we threw his favorite stick out on to the wet sand. It was pretty cute.<br />
<br />
After a long few weeks of Snorp recovering from his ER stay it was good to see him so happy and active. I was really worried that we would never see that Snorp again. He was so sick that he couldn't walk when we took him home from the hospital. It was another day before we saw his tail wag and another two days before he licked my hand in the morning to wake me up like he usually does. It was a full five days before he could easily take the 4 steps up on to my parents porch, but slowly and surely he has recovered. We are lucky.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZGEa7yakL2so73goCy30X359492zLRzpxfeZSWAQyYnc1PIw2uW99AkKH02C3gJCRMxUUYO1uiXHcDq8qaCxQyNELfzJ5qIuKKPHqDyyEY_5gvvNiBZUpC9zEpOqM_Jq2HNGZviVsjM/s640/blogger-image-1808478839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZGEa7yakL2so73goCy30X359492zLRzpxfeZSWAQyYnc1PIw2uW99AkKH02C3gJCRMxUUYO1uiXHcDq8qaCxQyNELfzJ5qIuKKPHqDyyEY_5gvvNiBZUpC9zEpOqM_Jq2HNGZviVsjM/s400/blogger-image-1808478839.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy beach dog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-84120222144666837632013-06-01T09:29:00.002-07:002013-06-01T09:29:07.666-07:00What's Wrong with Snorp!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSR09u-UMbwbFTrLyHsXj1ES_63Rr_xZpLMjV1gDhhBXQ4OBGZHMB9crfp_xBauiKaKB5sCvQXresZ4lPqbiTGWigCWow1SegzKUWa5l67yPMrBzZnZHXMXORTYJ21iBczFBBxgew0cY/s640/blogger-image-1517253003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSR09u-UMbwbFTrLyHsXj1ES_63Rr_xZpLMjV1gDhhBXQ4OBGZHMB9crfp_xBauiKaKB5sCvQXresZ4lPqbiTGWigCWow1SegzKUWa5l67yPMrBzZnZHXMXORTYJ21iBczFBBxgew0cY/s320/blogger-image-1517253003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snorp and his favorite kid friend, Ethan March 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Alright. The topic of my blog usually revolves around my lovely Blind Louie. Today we are going to talk about Louie's stepbrother, his best dog friend and seeing eye dog. Snorp.<br />
<br />
Snorp is an amazing dog. He was my husbands dog before we met. Now he is our dog. I love him as much as I love Louie. Read all about how we met Snorp by clicking this link to an older post in our blog: <a href="http://lifewithblindlouie.blogspot.com/2012/10/snorp.html">Read More About Snorp</a><br />
<br />
Wednesday night, we had the scare of a lifetime. I want to share this story because I know I have a lot of readers who have dogs, and who love their dogs like they were family. I also bet that like me, a lot of you don't know about some dangers lurking right in your own back yard.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, I got home from work about 6pm. Snorp and Louie were inside and greeted me enthusiastically at the door like most days. I gave them both a good petting. I asked my husband Paul if he had already fed the dogs. He had. So I let them outside to go to the bathroom. A little while later they found their was next door to my parents house. My brother was there and he let the dogs in to see their puppy, Budde. Snorp found a spot on the floor to nap. About a half hour went by when Snorp stood. My brother, Hunter, looked at him to see if he needed to go out and noticed his back legs were flexed and rigid. He thought Snorp may be sick to his stomach so he walked him outside and observed. Snorp didn't try to find the grass. He just stood on wobbly legs and looked concerned.<br />
<br />
Hunter brought Snorp back home where Paul and I were inside. When Snorp walked in, we knew something wasn't right. It was 8pm. By 8:30 there was no denying we had an emergency on our hands. Snorp could barely stand, every muscle in his body was contracted without his control. He began to drool and pant and he looked terrified. We thought maybe he had been buzzed by the electric fence we have way out back by the pig pen. This was different. Was he having a seizure? It looked a lot like that. Then I said, "Do you think he could have been poisoned." No. He's not throwing up and he doesn't have diarrhea.<br />
<br />
I called the Animal Emergency Clinic and explained the symptoms as Paul loaded Snorp into the car. It was so hard for him to walk by now. We drove the 20 minutes the the ER and it was getting progressively worse. The nurses and doctors began to ask us questions. "Do you have Slug Bait in your garden?" No. "Does anyone in your family takes drugs for ADHD?" No. "Do you have rat poison with strychnine out?" No. "Do you have a compost pile in your yard". No, but I think our neighbors do and Snorp goes over there to visit their dogs often. What? Compost? Compost is poisonous to dogs?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2011/02/is-compost-poisonous-to-pets/">Compost Poisoning in Dogs</a><br />
<br />
Yes! Compost can be poisonous to dogs. I had no idea. It can be deadly. Snorp's temperature was already 105 when we arrived and he was convulsing violently. It was impossible to put and IV in for fluids so they had to sedate him first. After 4 shots of heavy tranquilizers and Paul and I holding him still, they go the IV inserted into his back leg. The vet said that he had to be sedated for a very long time. They had to monitor his temp and heart rate and keep him hydrated. If we would not have brought him in so quickly he would have certainly died. He would have continued to tremor until he cooked from the inside. Horrifying.<br />
<br />
Snorp stayed at the ER overnight. We got back home at about 11:30pm and we were distraught. We were told we needed to pick him up at 7:30am to transfer him to our regular vet at 8 for daytime monitoring. He would not be ready to go home by morning. So we woke early and picked him up. He could not walk at all anymore. We lifted him by placing 2 towels under his belly and using them like slings to lift him. It was really hard seeing him like that.<br />
<br />
After the long task of getting him settled at the new hospital and going over his chart with our regular vets he was hooked back up to fluids. They have him charcoal on food to help absorb any poison and sedated him. We got a call that afternoon that he would be ready to go home by time we got off of work that day. Almost 24 hours in the hospital.<br />
<br />
This day, Thursday May 30th was something my husband and I had been looking forward to for months. It was my 20 week ultrasound appointment and we would hopefully find out if we were having a boy or a girl. So quickly it turned from a happy day to a day of worry. It was comforting to get the call that we could take Snorp home just a few minutes before walking into my doctors appointment. It made it much easier to focus on the amazing task at hand knowing we'd be seeing Snorp again just after.<br />
<br />
When we picked Snorp up we were given some more charcoal fluid to mix with his next meal and told that he would still be stiff and sore for a few days. It is now Saturday and Snorp is still having a hard time getting around. It seems like every muscle is sore. I bet is it after having a Charley horse in your whole body for hours and hours. Poor boy. But we are lucky he is alive, and he is happy to be home.<br />
<br />
The next morning, Friday, when he woke up from about 12 straight hours of sleep he wagged his tail gently for the first time since this all started and he licked my hand gently. Snorp was back, I think he's going to be okay.<br />
<br />
So, I didn't know all the things that can make a dog sick. I knew the obvious, rat poison and antifreeze. But compost? <a href="http://beingstray.com/dogs/eating-horse-manure-dangerous-to-dog/">Horse poop</a>? <a href="http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_metaldehyde_poisoning">Snail Bait</a>? The more we know the better parents we can be and we have to share with each other when something like this happens. So we went and told all our neighbors with dogs and now I'm telling all of my readers.<br />
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Thanks for reading. Oh, it's a boy. :)Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-20779113705386745292013-05-19T07:07:00.000-07:002013-05-19T07:07:11.185-07:00"Love is Blind" Photo Contest Details<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_iJqekBz1eGvLk0sGsJTFj2VRcP6_s111yAI2uXwOMEY7b55Ns_ePF4CGmrXEbHvaFBMKxmVoY2IJtoBVOd0YpGYa6rWRG47WZFkTOsENF3vZ4U91ezKRMIYs0OIfN-2hOQ-FRPJceQ/s1600/photo(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_iJqekBz1eGvLk0sGsJTFj2VRcP6_s111yAI2uXwOMEY7b55Ns_ePF4CGmrXEbHvaFBMKxmVoY2IJtoBVOd0YpGYa6rWRG47WZFkTOsENF3vZ4U91ezKRMIYs0OIfN-2hOQ-FRPJceQ/s1600/photo(7).JPG" height="353" width="400" /></a></div>
We're having a photo contest on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie">Life with Blind Louie Facebook Page</a>. Here are some detail on how you can enter:<b> </b><br />
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<b>First, if you haven't already, Like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie">Life with Blind Louie Facebook Page</a>. </b>(You must be logged into Facebook to do this)<br />
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<b>Now send us a private Facebook message with the photo you'd like to submit.</b><br />
Please include any info you'd like me to post along with your photo ie. Dogs name, owners name, website (if any) you're promoting. Please include a short story about how you found your dog and how your photos works with our theme.<br />
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<b>Theme: Love is Blind</b><br />
The interpritation of the theme is left up to you so get creative!<br />
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I will be posting a few entry's a day for my fans to see. I will annouce the final deadline later, it depends on how many submittions I get and how quickly they come in. I will then narrow the photos down to a few and will open a poll for fans to vote on their favorite photo.<br />
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<b>The winner</b> will get some Life with Blind Louie swag and an interview that will be posted on the Life with Blind Louie blog.<br />
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<b>The runners up</b> will all be featured in the "Love is Blind" photo album on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie">Life with Blind Louie Facebook Page</a> and also featured in a blog post about the photo contest.<br />
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<b>Any questions?</b> Email me: lifewithblindlouie@gmail.com<br />
or go to our Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithBlindLouie">Click Here</a> or go to www.facebook.com/lifewithblindlouie<br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-49756768031899018542013-05-16T18:10:00.000-07:002013-05-16T18:10:19.037-07:00Spring Has Sprung<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuRAXWeqlevbwhtunoiLMqQ61EzmtrqgwNBKQGZUgj5RGmp28xYicvxFL9DHm8ue-T2n5x3TK6VqDx7vx3qM5nDXLWkQNfkvVpSA-Wq2v8coL2lr6fiXcTu7_uhQvwn_DHcqEY5iVP4o/s640/blogger-image-939781764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuRAXWeqlevbwhtunoiLMqQ61EzmtrqgwNBKQGZUgj5RGmp28xYicvxFL9DHm8ue-T2n5x3TK6VqDx7vx3qM5nDXLWkQNfkvVpSA-Wq2v8coL2lr6fiXcTu7_uhQvwn_DHcqEY5iVP4o/s320/blogger-image-939781764.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving Louie a hug on a sun-shiny day</td></tr>
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Spring has officially sprung in the northwest. Thank goodness. We get a few days here every year that remind us all why we live here in the first place. The other days are to trick visitors into thinking they shouldn't move here. Have guests from out of town for a visit and it will surely rain the entire time they're here, but there are always tiny reminders of the beautiful area we live in.<br />
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Somedays, like today, I can see Mt. Baker huge in the sky. If I'm on the right hill I can see the whole Fraser Valley to the North. Blue sky, mountains, rivers, lakes, streams, creeks and ocean. There is nowhere else in the world I'd rather be. Louie especially loves it when the sun comes out.<br />
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The forecast for this weekend looks great. Everyday in the 70's. We don't get that here everyday, not even in the summer. To see the 70's the first week of May is pretty special and you can tell people here are excited. Louie included. Before the sun is even out people are out in their shorts, tank tops and sandles. It might be raining now, but they have faith in the weatherman that something better is on its way.<br />
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Louie has been lying in the driveway on the hot black pavement in the direct sunlight again. I have to go and force him to wake up and move inside or into the shade on the porch after a few minutes. I know from past experience that he will not make this call for himself when he gets overheated. We discovered that when he was very young.<br />
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It was hot at our cabin on Reflection Lake in eastern Washington. Louie was less than a year old. We were playing down by the water, Louie was swimming in a shallow spot while I sat on the dock with my feet in. Louie got out and lay down on the dock while I threw my fishing pole in the water a few times. It was only about 11am but it was already about 80 degrees. I woke Louie up to follow me up to the fire pit to start breakfast after about a half an hour. Louie followed me up and then lay down right next to the fire in the dirt. When I turned around and saw that I told him to scoot over right away. He was almost in the fire! He was slow to respond. He stood up and looked at me dazed. Just then as he stood there, he started peeing. He was not squatting, he did not lift his leg. This was very weird. "Louie just peed his pants?" I thought.<br />
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I started to panic. I felt his nose and it was dry and hot. Louie started to sway and stumble before falling down. Oh, crap! This is really bad. I was a 30 minute drive from a paved rode and another 30 to a hospital or town that might have a vets office. That would be an hour ride in a hot dusty car for a dog that was already obviously overheating. I picked Louie up in my arms and carried him down to the lake. I set him in the shallow water on the shore in a shady spot. As he woke up I encouraged him to drink. He lapped at the water lazily as he lay in the shallow water.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ybkBZ0A2VEMQgYD_QAbJKfs_Xr803vphmGtIuIwQE79-16mQFXV9gszQoQwTd5ylqBiVtoMz8ouUN6dRhx1b1E4f96U6oB3WHVTkJ3ZRrA1FJRcyYaW4HEmMukeLFo5wxTXyBML9ycE/s640/blogger-image--954254892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ybkBZ0A2VEMQgYD_QAbJKfs_Xr803vphmGtIuIwQE79-16mQFXV9gszQoQwTd5ylqBiVtoMz8ouUN6dRhx1b1E4f96U6oB3WHVTkJ3ZRrA1FJRcyYaW4HEmMukeLFo5wxTXyBML9ycE/s320/blogger-image--954254892.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louie in Reflection Lake, 2009</td></tr>
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I sat with him on the shore for a while. He fell asleep on and off. I kept talking to him, telling him he was a good boy. His panting slowed to more of a normal breath. I grabbed a beach towel nearby and soaked it in the lake water before bringing Louie back up the hill and into the cabin where it was shady and cool. I covered him with the wet towel until that started to warm up and I removed it. I set a bowl of water next to him. I watched him sleep. I didn't get much fun in the sun that day at all.<br />
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After a few hours, Louie seemed more normal. It wasn't until the sun started going down that he wanted to go back outside. I was glad, because I wouldn't have let him go out earlier anyway. It was cool outside and there was a little breeze. I watched Louie and felt like we have survived something very scary, but he was okay.<br />
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I'm glad survival mode kicked in and I kept a level head. I would have been easy to panic. I love this dog. I was happy I hadn't skipped over the emergency care chapters in my dog training books. They all included parts on heat stroke. If it wasn't for that, I might not have known what was happening or what I should do.<br />
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I have always watched Louie carefully on sunny days since then. His love for the heat and his skill at finding the sunny spot even though he can't see has me instructing him to move every few minutes and it also means that on some really hot days he just stays inside until the sun starts going down.Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-56259002238156307542013-04-27T14:58:00.003-07:002013-04-27T14:58:54.717-07:00Don't Rain On Me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_25A-nepxXJxY31GJgbkCY5hYhVbDJKkBRShqCJPu9eGw32Q6SkUyat8wLl9m1dj8b_Ef0tIX9WOwb5kfGOexhTWmwFmE8OyOKVoyqBkhDJOV5w1wiA7mdhPwuXNDn5DoNmYyOay0vs/s640/blogger-image--1977432356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_25A-nepxXJxY31GJgbkCY5hYhVbDJKkBRShqCJPu9eGw32Q6SkUyat8wLl9m1dj8b_Ef0tIX9WOwb5kfGOexhTWmwFmE8OyOKVoyqBkhDJOV5w1wiA7mdhPwuXNDn5DoNmYyOay0vs/s320/blogger-image--1977432356.jpg" width="320" /></a>Today is a rainy spring day. It's Saturday. This rain comes after an almost full week of glorious sunshine. The weekdays were gorgeous, I enjoyed the sun through my office windows while at work. Today, my day off, the weekend it rains. That's is the joke here in the Pacific Northwest: it only rains on the weekends, and often on weekdays too. If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes. That's another phrase heard again and again. Today if you wait, it would still be raining. Louie doesn't know if it's a weekday or a weekend. He only knows there are days I leave in the morning and some days I stay with him. He also knows there's no way in hell you're going to get him to go outside when it's raining.<br />
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You'd think Louie was from some warm climate, some tropical paradise where everyday was at least 80 degrees. Then he was suddenly ripped from his home while snoozing on the beach and teleported to Alaska in the dead of winter and left outside to fend for himself. He hates the cold and the rain. But he's Pacific Northwest born and raised. Shouldn't he be used to it by now?<br />
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Louie cannot see water. He cannot see the rain falling from the sky but he knows, yes he does.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeGdix7Y5rOx4WTIxY_kOw1TtuQfDtz2FP4ODytEWuQNnuHySN2A6GSr33dspMxLSgQRe3DQqftyzVZKGB2UHjFXY39f1THEwa5ZZB8dFG8NQZiPEocPOp_kLDqT3ody2R0c3j765RK4/s640/blogger-image-283891337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeGdix7Y5rOx4WTIxY_kOw1TtuQfDtz2FP4ODytEWuQNnuHySN2A6GSr33dspMxLSgQRe3DQqftyzVZKGB2UHjFXY39f1THEwa5ZZB8dFG8NQZiPEocPOp_kLDqT3ody2R0c3j765RK4/s320/blogger-image-283891337.jpg" width="320" /></a>In the morning when I wake up, it's like I have a blind furry weatherman lying on my bed. If it is wet outside, Louie will not get up. He will not get up when Snorp asks to go out. He will not get up when the cats jump on him and he will not get up when I am getting ready to leave. How does he know? I think he can smell it. He can hear it. He can taste it. If you close your eyes and think about it, you can feel dampness in the air. In the spring time it's like a clean, fresh smell. You can hear the sound of the rain on the roof, or when it's windy, against the window pane. You don't need eyes to guess what the weather is like outside. You also don't need to get your ass out of bed apparently either.<br />
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So Louie's day consisted of sleeping in as long as possible. Running out the front door and up the set of steps to his grandparents house to have breakfast. Then napping on their new fluffy dog bed they got for Budde the puppy. Louie is happy to help break that new bed in. After a nap he ran outside to the closest corner of grass to pee, so fast and hard that is splashed up onto his front feet. Louie then ran back to his house for phase two of the rainy day nap. He lays down near the front door. Listening to the rain. If I open the door for him and ask him if he wants to go outside, he just turns his head and 'looks' at me: "You're kidding right?"<br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-1099878944640976362013-04-20T08:36:00.000-07:002013-04-20T08:36:38.669-07:00Nip & Tuck: Budde's 5 Months Old<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf37A9WOb1UwwGPL967r6Y8ZmK-yjX-tZRQ1SA-CfOsvyjJbX6usuF17OJfflb6Tp7Vu3IUbX5D97mqS24Rjf2nHVwKiCzUJPHBje4hPKa4vNlOcrQhZ5i-6FyutZPhJ0ulT4GGA0OuA/s640/blogger-image--1482678064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf37A9WOb1UwwGPL967r6Y8ZmK-yjX-tZRQ1SA-CfOsvyjJbX6usuF17OJfflb6Tp7Vu3IUbX5D97mqS24Rjf2nHVwKiCzUJPHBje4hPKa4vNlOcrQhZ5i-6FyutZPhJ0ulT4GGA0OuA/s320/blogger-image--1482678064.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Good sit and stay<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> with <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Blind Louie.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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4/13/13 <br />
Budde the Puppy is five months old!<br />
Budde is officially five months old and he is crazy. Goodbye docile puppy that sleeps 20 hours a day. Hello crazy, rabid, clumsy giant-pawed creature that's running full speed through the mud to jump up on me as I'm about to leave for work in my favorite white with black polka dot dress. No stopping Budde now.<br />
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Poor Snorp is taking the brunt of it. It seems like Budde has confused Snorp for a moving couch or maybe a horse that he should be riding on, because he won't stop jumping up on him. Snorp tries diligently to knock him down again and again, it looks exhausting. Snorp runs, and there is Budde, running with only his back two feet as his front are up on Snorp. Wheel barrow!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijm-1jsDGwMg2AIoXhzLDWIIPaGObnT1UN6zaH0jViPsgfueGMEG58-cjGcBi7kTpsUW1TV2478N9q-guVWqDvu0abOITqfuCoe_XZNbdRpxnNkzrz-79IKGZ82tABAIiHufDnTKrEqQ/s640/blogger-image--1343547554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijm-1jsDGwMg2AIoXhzLDWIIPaGObnT1UN6zaH0jViPsgfueGMEG58-cjGcBi7kTpsUW1TV2478N9q-guVWqDvu0abOITqfuCoe_XZNbdRpxnNkzrz-79IKGZ82tABAIiHufDnTKrEqQ/s320/blogger-image--1343547554.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">B<span style="font-size: xx-small;">udde's 5month Birthday, he shows of his lay<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> down and stay skills.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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And then there's the humping. That's right, I'll admit it. We have a humper on our hands, dang it. If Snorp is too tired to fight him off, Budde will stand with his front paws on Snorp's shoulders and start rocking his hips back and forth. It's still innocent, he's not, (ahem) aroused or anything. He's not even facing the right direction. It's actually pretty hilarious, BUT DON'T LAUGH! You're just encouraging him, this is BAD puppy behavior.<br />
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The look on Budde's face when he starts humping Snorp is priceless. He tilts his head back, nose in the air. His eyes relax and close partially. He just gets this smug, satisfied look on his face. He looks relaxed and proud of himself... and then we knock him down. Oh, Budde. Bad dog. (snicker).<br />
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That brings us around to the next part of the story. Budde went in for surgery Monday April 15th. Neuter time! I took him in on my way to work. I dropped him, unsuspectingly, off at the vet. The surgery went so well I was able to pick him up before 3:00 that same day. I was standing in the lobby at the receptionists desk paying for the procedure and waiting for the nurse to bring him out. From down the hall I heard a knocking sound and somebody said "Wow, watch out for that tail!". It was Budde. Running down the hall like a drunken sailor, slamming his wagging tail into the wall as he went. He was so happy to see me. It was like nothing had happened, except he was a little wobbly on his feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlOexdLFsHXQ85A4Uij-7_GRhpNGbKtSd55Uz6fvxDcX4ZvJYWQGCvij8QnM5ix3JFd6z1Kwcg5DSSHU4aOZLiR_bEn4iHj6UOYnNEU2mbJHo9rYoM1U589dMZypnLKCgrXTqKn0-Ijc/s640/blogger-image--924213517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlOexdLFsHXQ85A4Uij-7_GRhpNGbKtSd55Uz6fvxDcX4ZvJYWQGCvij8QnM5ix3JFd6z1Kwcg5DSSHU4aOZLiR_bEn4iHj6UOYnNEU2mbJHo9rYoM1U589dMZypnLKCgrXTqKn0-Ijc/s320/blogger-image--924213517.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The 'tiny' puppy snuggles with his Papa after surgery</span></td></tr>
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We hopped in the car to head home. I was going to surprise my dad by bringing him home early, he didn't think I would be back until after 6:00. I opened the door quietly. My dad was sitting in his armchair facing away from the door I entered in. I let Budde go first. Dad didn't know we were there until Budde was right at his feet asking to get on his lap. My dad was so excited!<br />
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I left them for a little while, when I came back a few hours later to check on them, Budde was in his favorite spot. My dad said about his groggy, drugged up puppy "I wish he would just stay like this for a while." As he held him and kissed his head. I told him to cherish it because when he woke up all hell would brake loose. and it did. But I'll save that story for another time.<br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-35818218507884358442013-04-06T20:35:00.002-07:002013-04-06T20:39:03.548-07:00Finally the Big News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8RlM1Ni_0mxHbEYcUxB-am1mYShuu9uUXnE6ZzygX0332ZiDi2sCWGAReWU7LYvZkocA2RarlItrsJKr4IOF0PrkeTWk3DCgP1PX8MfqThw764dp66KSfqC12A3rb0l2GypQldMMuL4/s1600/photo(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8RlM1Ni_0mxHbEYcUxB-am1mYShuu9uUXnE6ZzygX0332ZiDi2sCWGAReWU7LYvZkocA2RarlItrsJKr4IOF0PrkeTWk3DCgP1PX8MfqThw764dp66KSfqC12A3rb0l2GypQldMMuL4/s1600/photo(5).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
There has been a void on the Louie blog. Posts have had more time in between. I have been snapping fewer photographs and sleeping a lot more instead. There is some big news in Blind Louie land and our family farm. We will soon be adding to our happy gaggle of animals. This time it won't be another pig, or a chicken or even a puppy. This time we're going to have a baby!<br />
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Louie doesn't know yet. I've told him, but he doesn't understand. He just tilts his head from side to side, 'staring' at me. "Louie, are you going to be a big brother? You going to have a new baby in the house?" He eagerly wags his tail. What a good boy. He has no idea that our world and routine is about to be turned upside down.<br />
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My husband Paul and I knew we wanted to be parents 'someday'. If you always say someday, then someday may never come. Sometimes you just have to let go and see what happens. Like when I brought Louie home. I knew I wanted to get a puppy someday, but my house wasn't perfect, I worked a lot, I had crappy roommates. But then my friend's wonderful dogs had puppies and I knew they all needed a responsible home. I had love to give, attention and responsibility. I couldn't help them all but I picked one out and took them home. I put a lot of hard work and care into raising Louie and it was worth every second. Even when I'm cleaning dog diarrhea off the carpet, I love him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzgqaUpfKjSRDg206mlkK9sc-MU1V2af5GTvntC5RWrcoD0p3XdFGsCW3WqA3bJd7bgWxCIbO72sh6sJRT4mIDfb7l1auDytJ0g_It7Ue1Q9zzOQy5-CaJwaZvHtJ61v0XSoIx6DFOpw/s1600/WASCHKELanniM20130401154249851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzgqaUpfKjSRDg206mlkK9sc-MU1V2af5GTvntC5RWrcoD0p3XdFGsCW3WqA3bJd7bgWxCIbO72sh6sJRT4mIDfb7l1auDytJ0g_It7Ue1Q9zzOQy5-CaJwaZvHtJ61v0XSoIx6DFOpw/s1600/WASCHKELanniM20130401154249851.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>I think that is what it will mean to be a mom. I will have love, I am caring and I am <br />
responsible enough to take this on. This time, going into this I also have an amazing partner. I was a single mom for the first three years of Louie's life. I did it, it was hard but I did it. Now I will have a baby, it will be twice as hard and complicated as raising a puppy but now I have someone to share the responsibility with. Someone truly amazing. Paul is much more patient than me, much more gentle. His sense of humor keeps me laughing even through life's difficult moments. This is what we will need to live a happy, healthy life.<br />
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So this blog has taken a backseat to my new blog, a humorous pregnancy blog I've created to document this crazy journey (<a href="http://www.myuterusismagic.blogspot.com/">My Uterus is Magic</a>). Now that I've told everyone that we are expecting, it will easier to write for Life with Blind Louie too. A lot of what I'm thinking about is how a blind dog and a baby will learn to live together. Louie is very trainable, a day old baby, not so much. Life with Blind Louie will be a place I can brainstorm training ideas, and then after the baby is here, a place where I can share stories. I know Louie will continue to amaze us with his adaptability and is intelligence, his kindness and his clumsiness. Stick around, things will get interesting.<br />
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Check out my new blog at www.myuterusismagic.blogspot.com !! Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-56508514484362283302013-03-24T17:31:00.000-07:002013-03-24T18:10:06.386-07:00We Made Sausage, and Louie 'Helped'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD-v6YRFXxVwgDu3tsxY4AafeY62sXqKi_rHRXMnBUxhQp2rO3JUeCxAQWtUM0YjE1pLE_MKHxBNq0xr5q9ZWUa4Lsid_He9ovRGycuFG7Qg3YhEOyKKdYna_acCB2cggOQ3QqlqHyiM/s640/blogger-image-1400660122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHD-v6YRFXxVwgDu3tsxY4AafeY62sXqKi_rHRXMnBUxhQp2rO3JUeCxAQWtUM0YjE1pLE_MKHxBNq0xr5q9ZWUa4Lsid_He9ovRGycuFG7Qg3YhEOyKKdYna_acCB2cggOQ3QqlqHyiM/s320/blogger-image-1400660122.jpg" width="239" /></a>We made sausage and Budde the Puppy is 17 Weeks Old.<br />
We, however, did not make sausage out of Budde the puppy. Phew, good thing because we like having him around. Today we made sausage with the lovely pigs that gave their lives to be food for many families. They lived happy, healthy, simple lives. I love making sausage with my husband Paul, he is a pro for sure. After losing a small part for our little cast iron sausage stuffer, we borrowed the big stuffer from Paul's work instead. Quite a amazing peice of machinery. A hand crank device who's technology has stayed about the same since the early 1900's. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.<br />
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As always, Louie was getting in the way while we were in the kitchen. I tell him to get out and sit and he does. He somehow slowly sneaks back in after a while, we are working away and don't even notice until we are tripping over him. He sure loves the smell of raw meat, what dog doesn't right? He has no idea of spatial boundaries like some dogs. While Snorp lays on the floor in the dining area, carefully watching us to see if we drop anything that we need him to clean up for us, Louie stands inches away for the sausage stuffer. He knows not to grab anything, but he still will be as close as he can get just listening.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplXe_K8JHNPBZppnkwUg0zuUcRbRrB9uTizrIfttaJ5dH2C-PqjTajIJ3pBfw0hIDbimM1v5tRCZ1JL5VSm8bV8T_z8X2J4b-t1Xf-zwhld9CPb3MYMWrW6BhmPMOaK13s4FfC5DX3Jw/s640/blogger-image--45640139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplXe_K8JHNPBZppnkwUg0zuUcRbRrB9uTizrIfttaJ5dH2C-PqjTajIJ3pBfw0hIDbimM1v5tRCZ1JL5VSm8bV8T_z8X2J4b-t1Xf-zwhld9CPb3MYMWrW6BhmPMOaK13s4FfC5DX3Jw/s320/blogger-image--45640139.jpg" width="239" /></a>We made breakfast sausage. Just pork, spices and lamb casing. No filler or weird preservatives you can't pronounce. It feels good to make things for your family from scratch. Yesterday I roasted and peeled eggplant and made some killer babaganoush. Louie wasn't nearly as interested in the roasted eggplant. I guess raw pork is more apitizing for a blind dog, who would have thought?<br />
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When my dad came over with Budde, things got a little rowdy for a minute. Budde smelled those same delicious smells that Louie was already savoring, but had no social filter, manners or self control. He did not watch and wait across the room like Snorp, nor did he sit close but patiently nearby. He wanted to climb into the bin with the sausage. This was stopped before it happened and then we got to practice good manners. Oh, Budde. You are a puppy afterall. <br />
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Little Budde sat close by watching the sausage fall out of the stuffer into the bin, smelling the smells. He showed tremendous self control. It must be hard for the little guy to sit so close and not take a bite. My new job became puppy wrangler and I just kept the dogs away from the food and took a few cute pictures. I let the dogs sit close just for long enough to snap a few shots and then I asked them to move out into the dining room to sit a safer distance away from all the action.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFeHrdhKyJbwM4E72K62ingrXMxDv4hS5VG4vOkepXvVyi2WD0uhuPTumeK2lS2CzdX6uW-VNmLxrVKG4yyg94lxpaZ4WMFT31rwobjfTKw2bRZleyk4yqSeHuyBnXvpLlt71gkHs77U/s640/blogger-image--1210950064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFeHrdhKyJbwM4E72K62ingrXMxDv4hS5VG4vOkepXvVyi2WD0uhuPTumeK2lS2CzdX6uW-VNmLxrVKG4yyg94lxpaZ4WMFT31rwobjfTKw2bRZleyk4yqSeHuyBnXvpLlt71gkHs77U/s320/blogger-image--1210950064.jpg" width="239" /></a>Now we have a freezer full of breakfast links. Next time we'll make bratwurst and maybe we'll put up the baby gate to keep our furry little helpers out of the kitchen. Louie is cute, but it's hard not to trip over a 100lb dog who's trying to follow your every move but can't see a thing. He doesn't exactly know how to get out of the way.<br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-51629436407107697032013-03-17T19:10:00.002-07:002013-03-17T19:10:19.687-07:00Budde the Puppy is 4 Months Old<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE4pb7SY3owRNSczBEsk_0EOjuqolM0qMVHhBWSqeBvRFERPoKbtjRSGJ8ACmnQNgFANo_CWorXDvudZsAd_HB42o9TWeKKIBCpG69wW8kSo1Uw0IubeNt-ONWjyOS145_ouMvE66Jvo/s640/blogger-image--1140310737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE4pb7SY3owRNSczBEsk_0EOjuqolM0qMVHhBWSqeBvRFERPoKbtjRSGJ8ACmnQNgFANo_CWorXDvudZsAd_HB42o9TWeKKIBCpG69wW8kSo1Uw0IubeNt-ONWjyOS145_ouMvE66Jvo/s320/blogger-image--1140310737.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Budde, smashing my legs.</span></td></tr>
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Budde is already 4 months old! I say it every week but, sheesh, time is flying and he is growing fast. Saturday we went to the vet for some shots. My dad stayed home with Louie and my mom and I took Budde and Shotgun the cat in for their shots. My mom drove and Shotgun got the VIC (very important cat) Crate. Shotgun rode shotgun. Me and Budde got the backseat all to ourselves. <br /><br />
Budde and I have only been in a car together once. It was the day we brought him home. I drove and my dad held him. He was tiny and nervous and slept most of the drive. Budde is not my dog, he's my neighbor and my dad's dog. That means he's never taken a ride in my car. I've never walked him on a leash, and we've never been to a park together. This was our first outing together.<br />
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Budde seemed to like riding in the car. He was completely unaware that he was crushing my legs while he decided to sit on my lap. He climbed around until he was comfortable. He squirmed and changed positions. He tried to climb out the window. I decided he is still learning his car riding etiquette. I tried to encourage good behavior on the ride into town. This involved lots of correction. I didn't mind. Budde is so cute.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LpbM8TCqhCJzWSOElQS4qHqW_PdnzKWYnv1Zv_1TA2AIxLepqcCmVULE2b0h2rwbkbdcn25RVtOvhFs95i9csF0a7Zuc3B1JPo-wkwqHM4N9hzFujW5X2szKWozmC9TDuR_frFXyUBo/s640/blogger-image-1093086294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LpbM8TCqhCJzWSOElQS4qHqW_PdnzKWYnv1Zv_1TA2AIxLepqcCmVULE2b0h2rwbkbdcn25RVtOvhFs95i9csF0a7Zuc3B1JPo-wkwqHM4N9hzFujW5X2szKWozmC9TDuR_frFXyUBo/s320/blogger-image-1093086294.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">VIC? or Cat Trap?</span></td></tr>
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Shotgun on the other hand, was not a happy camper. She did not enjoy the VIC Crate. I told her it was only for very important cats, but she did not listen. She meowed and howled from the crate on the floor by the front seat. I don't think it helped things that she was also stuck in a car with 'that puppy'. She is not a Budde fan, that is for sure.<br />
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Budde got a little whiny on the ride to the vets. It's not a short drive, about 20 or 25 minutes in the car can be an eternity for a puppy. Between the Shotgun kitty and Budde there was quite the serenade. No need for the radio to be on. When we got there, Budde was more than happy to hop out of the car. He enjoyed all the new smells. My mom carried the crate with Shotgun inside to get checked in as Budde checked out the grass out front. It was a too person job, that crate was heavy and Budde isn't a flawless leash walker yet, so I was glad I could be there to help out.<br />
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Budde did pretty good on the leash. He seemed happy to follow along. That was the case until I opened the door and walked inside to the clinic's waiting area. There were dogs and people and cats OH MY! He struggled and pulled back. I walked back and circled around him and walked forward again. Everytime I did this we made a little progress until we got to the scale. After I got him in the right spot I asked him to sit, and he did. About 3 people in the office said "Awww, what a good boy.". How sweet it is to see such a young guy behaving so well. Good dog Budde.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1vsN_vboAFk6lzDr3-ZJLPXR0uEG4rL1xtUCkALUHm4n8l5YV0LCp6NuhS1E0utA_5qrvKWyPKOccrPGSv_cCHmY3u6fXV4yUCJTLDtzzht5_pyEkG0F0QQ0iIMxQl_3T-jQR-A5yS4/s640/blogger-image--1413487220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1vsN_vboAFk6lzDr3-ZJLPXR0uEG4rL1xtUCkALUHm4n8l5YV0LCp6NuhS1E0utA_5qrvKWyPKOccrPGSv_cCHmY3u6fXV4yUCJTLDtzzht5_pyEkG0F0QQ0iIMxQl_3T-jQR-A5yS4/s320/blogger-image--1413487220.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Relaxed<span style="font-size: xx-small;">, dozing off <span style="font-size: xx-small;">on the way home from <span style="font-size: xx-small;">th<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e vet.</span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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Shotgun had gained almost 4 pounds since my dad rescued her, that is a ton of weight in cat pounds. She was so sick and skinny when we brought her home, she has really come a long way.<br />
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Budde is already 38 pounds, no wonder my legs were sore from him standing on me in the car. He was such a good boy when he got his shots, she didn't even notice, he was too busy being happy and trying to get treats. The ride home was much more peaceful. Budde was tired from all the excitment and probably from the vaccines too. He snuggled up next to me and fell right to sleep. I don't get Budde quiet time very often. He doesn't sleep at our house and anytime I come over it's an exciting event. It was nice to have some puppy snuggle time and just get to pet him with out all the wiggling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pOyKtDJzzwQCfsYcwQMTiz-3u7C6jqdAgmipVkeGeYkb1oYx-WWEkic8QZjFTku6yBnRHueIs559UzXkMcUSMIqCAQmz6L_lNpyiJySYpsvKSPkDhO19Ub5X1wn827B_q9EV5Q6AvoM/s640/blogger-image--1131945722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pOyKtDJzzwQCfsYcwQMTiz-3u7C6jqdAgmipVkeGeYkb1oYx-WWEkic8QZjFTku6yBnRHueIs559UzXkMcUSMIqCAQmz6L_lNpyiJySYpsvKSPkDhO19Ub5X1wn827B_q9EV5Q6AvoM/s320/blogger-image--1131945722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute Louie in the Sunshine</td></tr>
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When we got home, Louie was outside waiting for us with Snorp. Louie was enjoying the sunshine we were having and I snapped this cute picture of him<br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-32624473166125825652013-03-10T08:15:00.001-07:002013-03-10T08:15:34.442-07:00Budde the Puppy is 15 Weeks Old<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGY38ZAPXOujb8Z3UE1VaOBvT624B1Er4_NQgJQv-xJOeKO0NyGLDg63q0wtRvpbQmK-oYGqGDC8JtufYShvF1Ta6FGhTAROYm3FRlEK_7IF_D8N4NOVjc27i_m3JWQ3mw9hUZWJdmEhU/s640/blogger-image--688955851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGY38ZAPXOujb8Z3UE1VaOBvT624B1Er4_NQgJQv-xJOeKO0NyGLDg63q0wtRvpbQmK-oYGqGDC8JtufYShvF1Ta6FGhTAROYm3FRlEK_7IF_D8N4NOVjc27i_m3JWQ3mw9hUZWJdmEhU/s320/blogger-image--688955851.jpg" width="320" /></a>This puppy is becoming a little dog! Growing and growing. Budde is a good dog, we are happy to have him in the family. We're having success in training this little guy, he knows how to sit and to speak. New this week is the combo pack. If you ask him to sit, he will bark once and sit down. If you ask him to speak he will bark once and sit down. I think he's not sure which is which and the words do sound the same. It's like he's just covering all his bases to make sure he's pleasing us. However, it would be nice of him to sit without yelling at us every time. It looks like we have some work to do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0VWj-rzwKCMXVeEI23KHB4jrU53w4pgeY7CTF-lcXHdaTf3tll2vpj4ghDRo4BRFYjrRnaqUUAuPETc6S6BZJSr9nBqSraCKnZIOVlEzbd-PZhb_RGnxAV12ABG5EbEXy9f2c9bOUXs/s640/blogger-image-2080832384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0VWj-rzwKCMXVeEI23KHB4jrU53w4pgeY7CTF-lcXHdaTf3tll2vpj4ghDRo4BRFYjrRnaqUUAuPETc6S6BZJSr9nBqSraCKnZIOVlEzbd-PZhb_RGnxAV12ABG5EbEXy9f2c9bOUXs/s320/blogger-image-2080832384.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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If you read our last post, Louie and I have taken the 50 sits a day challenge. We will practice 50 sits everyday for seven days. When we are practicing in the same space a Budde, there is a lot of barking going on. Every time I say sit, Louie sits and Budde speaks and sometimes sits. Maybe with all this sitting practice Budde will get the idea from Louie's example of the silent sits.<br />
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The best this this week is the ongoing Snorp and Budde wrestling tournament. Snorp always lets Budde think he's winning. Snorp will roll over onto his back and pretend to struggle as Budde tires himself out. Then Snorp will quickly flip back over and snatch away whatever toy is in the mix and run from Budde.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2226bV_IM3i3nLntoNh538l9hjgue2BlhkotHYRfdxi_adYmqfaTYcjY19UpAtU-XhiXBEHfKw4cTjO8k5A76VKZxAeSgUIwG2ttB0DysT9fI2dTacTGMwozVMyh7qiT8lT_EQjcELo/s640/blogger-image-522053909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2226bV_IM3i3nLntoNh538l9hjgue2BlhkotHYRfdxi_adYmqfaTYcjY19UpAtU-XhiXBEHfKw4cTjO8k5A76VKZxAeSgUIwG2ttB0DysT9fI2dTacTGMwozVMyh7qiT8lT_EQjcELo/s320/blogger-image-522053909.jpg" width="320" /></a>Louie is getting along better with Budde everyday, although Louie is still not his biggest fan. Louie is no longer very jumpy around Budde and they sleep together nicely. All in all we're raising a very happy dog family, and everyone is getting along okay with the cats too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireBxIMEb5_2tNCMQtybvgK5QmYdsTQ6JiAz7doK7fmQeYa9-y5JGJfwluNKe_-fZhKC_o3NQtsua7rojBoqpe6aWwf_uKLgCvBj5IhNp2nfFlO6QuFzuBDXrgieYhbW2-DVZzv8ESTyQ/s640/blogger-image--1790770281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireBxIMEb5_2tNCMQtybvgK5QmYdsTQ6JiAz7doK7fmQeYa9-y5JGJfwluNKe_-fZhKC_o3NQtsua7rojBoqpe6aWwf_uKLgCvBj5IhNp2nfFlO6QuFzuBDXrgieYhbW2-DVZzv8ESTyQ/s320/blogger-image--1790770281.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-135450541922948522013-03-08T10:26:00.002-08:002015-12-04T08:06:12.697-08:00Sit, Sit and Sit Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89iY97AJfVASc6SZUnhd98LMz0u_CTkJMSoMDwSSdlqt5ckaxrsnKHTo0RtS7grmoSJmlVbeJRkNfvoaN92gVPQKf1olf0s7iORzK0_D1dBzf3OKRjA4OhZ2fS1VUpy7XwIf-YoA3c8w/s640/blogger-image-1064042349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89iY97AJfVASc6SZUnhd98LMz0u_CTkJMSoMDwSSdlqt5ckaxrsnKHTo0RtS7grmoSJmlVbeJRkNfvoaN92gVPQKf1olf0s7iORzK0_D1dBzf3OKRjA4OhZ2fS1VUpy7XwIf-YoA3c8w/s320/blogger-image-1064042349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A good example of a studious sit.</span></td></tr>
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Louie is a dog. Blind or not. He sometimes has bad manners. Sometimes he's too pushy, too whiny. Sometimes he doesn't listen well. When I ask him to do something he decides not to listen for whatever reason. That is frustrating at times because we've worked together so much. We've trained together since he was a tiny unruly puppy. When I ask him to get out of the kitchen and he doesn't move immediately, I am annoyed. I expect more from him.<br />
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Let's think of something we do everyday. Something people ask us to do and we do without even thinking, like say, talking. Someone says hello to us and we respond "Hello.", "Hi", "How are you?". What if we were removed from that entirely, for years. Like, stranded on a desert island for twenty years. If a random person suddenly appeared before you and said hello, I think you might just stand and stare, or maybe even panic and attack! Now, this is a very far off comparison, but what I am getting at is: if you don't use it, you lose it. Like our math teacher's always said.<br />
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If I don't practice with Louie EVERYDAY Louie will not understand me as well as he did the day before. If several days go by without working together, he will understand me even less. Instead of getting frustrated with your dogs lack of response to your command, practice with them, and make it fun while you're at it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2 for 1 Special! Say sit once and have two dogs sit.</span></td></tr>
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I must admit, I've fallen off the wagon. Louie and I aren't training together everyday. He has taken a backseat to something else that has come up in our lives. I still love him, we still snuggle on the bed together and I've never forgotten to feed him, he will not let me forget of course. But still I find myself thinking, how can I help Louie and I have a better relationship and live happier and healthier lives together?<br />
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I came across a post on the The Dog Guy's Facebook page. That page is run by Michael Nichols, the instructor that taught the Canine Good Citizen class Louie and I took at Tails-a-Wagging in Bellingham. The post suggest practicing 50 sits a day, everyday. While this might not be the most fun and exciting thing you've ever engaged in, it is incredibly helpful in keeping the dog and owner ready for whatever. Think of this as your primer. Your breakfast.<br />
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It also might sound like a lot of work. Fifty sits!? FIVE-ZERO?! Like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6....FIFTY! So quit your whining and get to work, self! You'll spend more time thinking about how it will take too long then it would take you to do it. Especially if you split it up into 3 rounds of 16 or 17 sits instead. Just watch the video of Michael and Rudy showing off there speed sitting skills, and the video is sped up too so it takes even less time to watch it.<br />
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So I will take the 50 sit a day challenge. Louie and I (and hopefully Snorp and Budde) will try 50 sits a day for seven days. I will report back to you on observations. How can this simple and boring thing improve our daily lives? We shall see.<br />
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Watch Micheal's video below and check out his awesome rott, Rudy.<br />
Find more about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dogguy.net/?fref=ts" target="_blank">The Dog Guy on Facebook</a>, or on<a href="http://www.dogguy.net/" target="_blank"> www.dogguy.net</a><br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-30572507982661504862013-03-05T07:05:00.001-08:002013-03-05T07:05:55.779-08:00Budde the Puppy is 14 Weeks Old<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKutZOrlm0nbYgWuny8sr6Nqi63d6cSqRuG_Ie-ZNtM5NWKsbUTKRVyjtBrSgzKnZnb1QwIJT3f16wzLbGVjCVoAuFzzlpwBcmN-o045CFJXMMz7rH-0PsTlheYW-CUXVvzIoMDEYvbi0/s640/blogger-image-684019463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKutZOrlm0nbYgWuny8sr6Nqi63d6cSqRuG_Ie-ZNtM5NWKsbUTKRVyjtBrSgzKnZnb1QwIJT3f16wzLbGVjCVoAuFzzlpwBcmN-o045CFJXMMz7rH-0PsTlheYW-CUXVvzIoMDEYvbi0/s320/blogger-image-684019463.jpg" width="320" /></a>We got a new computer! I haven't had a chance to write anything in over a week since our laptop bit it big time. I've thought of a million ideas and subjects and hilarious little quips to write about, and they have all just come and gone. Ha! I also had a really tough time getting any decent photos of Budde this weekend. He's one crazy mofo. Jumping, flailing about like a Tasmanian devil. Or at least like the Warner Brothers cartoon adaptation of the Tasmanian Devil. He runs and jumps and spits and bites and barks and snarls and and and... he just doesn't stop! Until he drops to the floor with a big sigh and falls asleep. Do not disturb the sleeping puppy or the process will begin again.<br />
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Louie is getting more tolerant of this mayhem everyday. He seems to understand the puppy's movements better all the time and Budde seems to understand he needs to be more gentle for Louie. So Snorp is taking the brunt of it. He gets all the fake fights and wrestle time. If Budde is bored I will sacrifice Snorp and 'throw him to the dogs' and shut the door, leaving Budde outside with Snorp to babysit so Louie and I can have a break. So mean.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Budde the Puppy, on the move<span style="font-size: xx-small;">!</span></span></td></tr>
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The biggest, most noticeable change in Budde this week is, it seems that he has finally found his voice. He barks to ask to go outside, he barks when he wants back in, he barks at the cat, he barks when his dish is empty, he barks when he wants a toy he can't reach. All this barking can be really annoying. It's important for Budde to know how to speak, but he also needs to learn the proper etiquette. When is it good for him to bark and when is he being just plain rude?<br />
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This is why I like teaching the command 'speak'. If you teach them speak and the understand that word and what it means, then you can tell them not to speak or to stop speaking. Easy. Well, kind of. It still takes a lot of work, patients, practice.<br />
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Budde is also learning that he can listen to what is going on outside. He's trying his paw at investigative reporting. He hears me outside with the dogs and he starts barking at the back door. 'Look! Look! Dad Dad Dad!!! Something's out there, I think it's the big dogs! Look! Look!'<br />
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I can hear my dad inside telling Budde to 'Leave it' and 'No speak'. He'll quiet down in a second or two. But good for him, little Budde. He knows now that there is a world outside that exists, even when he is not there. A big step for a little guy. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Snor<span style="font-size: xx-small;">p winc<span style="font-size: xx-small;">es after a loud bark from Budde. (see top left corner for Meatloaf the Kitty <span style="font-size: xx-small;">sneaking up on the boys)</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-64453690463585435942013-02-26T13:05:00.000-08:002013-02-26T13:05:54.181-08:00Budde the Puppy is 13 Weeks Old<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Proof, He Sits!</span></td></tr>
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<b>Three months and one week.</b><br />
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This makes Budde our new live in buddy for six weeks now and times been flying past. Budde is officially, if he wasn't already, part of the family. My dad is in love with him. It was a slower start then some people with puppies, because my dad missed his beloved late dog Poncho. Budde had some big paws to fill. My dad is seeing now that he is smart and very trainable. I think he's finally realizing on his own, since he wouldn't listen to me, that a dog is how you raise them. Sure sometimes there are other factors, I can train Blind Louie all I want but I cannot train him to see. I can however, train Louie how to be a very high functioning blind dog, as I have and then we really don't even notice anymore that he is different from the rest of us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiVNhEjdfoAwIOnBIoscvDI1YpUs-nDq7fqNTBFVt17lzGM7kJpwIDqZrI9kQ89lVYbmwT7Lr0XGhM4IXCvClvOZfugWVj2zLi6FSEo6NAqWFqNReujL0wgtlkEMdy8CaxhXeTbcZlg4/s640/blogger-image--203229821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiVNhEjdfoAwIOnBIoscvDI1YpUs-nDq7fqNTBFVt17lzGM7kJpwIDqZrI9kQ89lVYbmwT7Lr0XGhM4IXCvClvOZfugWVj2zLi6FSEo6NAqWFqNReujL0wgtlkEMdy8CaxhXeTbcZlg4/s320/blogger-image--203229821.jpg" width="320" /></a>Everyday it's a little easier to pet Budde with out getting your hand chewed on. I ask him to sit for petting. If he gets up before I start to touch him we start over. As soon as his mouth touches my hand I yelp and move away. We start over again. Someday he'll get a really good massage without biting and having to stop and he'll realize what he's been missing all along. He's getting there.<br />
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Budde is getting big. He's eating more and having less in door accidents. The moments of quiet cuddle time with Louie are getting more frequent. Budde knows very well that he's not allowed to eat out of the dishes of the big dogs while they are eating. He happily bounds over but puts on the breaks a foot or so behind them and sits. He watches them eat. He waits. When they are done devouring their meal he scours their bowls for them, making sure they are nice and clean for their next meal. What a good boy he is doing the dishes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEC0Z9KfgjTo47I_3MbaBHU0eRKtDOVgJIFQg4Ns54QJVu4hoQz01Ti0o6foY4_XTmpc8MkZIiuPa0oUtzr-X0jTi0fgkI6GcKKTON7x-wX4iysGX9in2jsate582QNkwS0L9qG66AhD0/s640/blogger-image-112528892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEC0Z9KfgjTo47I_3MbaBHU0eRKtDOVgJIFQg4Ns54QJVu4hoQz01Ti0o6foY4_XTmpc8MkZIiuPa0oUtzr-X0jTi0fgkI6GcKKTON7x-wX4iysGX9in2jsate582QNkwS0L9qG66AhD0/s320/blogger-image-112528892.jpg" width="239" /></a>Budde truly is a bundle of energy, but also a bundle of joy. So much love and devotion in a small package. He is clearly still learning. He's still learning where we draw the line, how to hold himself, how to ask for help and how to play nice with others. It takes constant attention and gentle correction for him to understand. We cannot give up, we cannot leave him home and head out. Budde needs us around all the time, just like a baby. If we don't teach him now, he will not know how to act. Then soon enough he will be a big dog with bad manners and that is much harder to accept or ignore than it is in a puppy. So all day everyday, someone is with him. We take turns. He comes over and plays with us in the evening when my husband and I are home from work. My dad as him all day when we are gone. Dad also looks after Snorp and Louie so Budde has the big dogs for baby sitter's too.<br />
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Budde is lucky, we are lucky that we are in a position to give him so much attention. We know that is what it takes to make a great dog, and then he will pay us back in love and obedience ten fold. We thought ahead, what would it be like to get a puppy? We planned. We decided we had time, money, resources enough to take care of one and we had more than enough love. Then we adopted. I hope everyone who is thinking about getting a puppy takes this first part seriously. There are plenty of older, calmer, partially trained dogs that are up for adoption. They need loving homes too. So if the full time job of puppy rearing isn't for you, consider a more mature mate and adopt and adult dog. There is no shame in that at all, knowing your limits. We all know you can fall in love just the same.<br />
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Budde is taking his cues from the big dogs. When I ask Louie to sit, Budde looks over to Louie, watches him and copies him. He stays seated looking at Louie to wait for what's next. Louie doesn't know he's being watched, he doesn't know he's setting a good example. He can't see! He's just a darn good dog. Budde has some great teachers.<br />
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Snorp is the more patient and tolerant teacher. He will let Budde wrestle with him where Louie will not. Snorp doesn't mind letting Budde think he's winning for a while before he decides to quickly pin him to the ground. Good boy Snorp.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three amigos! Snorp, Budde and Blind Louie</td></tr>
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Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-11993415454926781742013-02-24T07:56:00.000-08:002013-02-24T09:54:53.481-08:00Writer's Block?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx9R-FzKMTRRIgrptvMziZlvkAdnAu9ogIrmBbhCdklgQM6q3eJjEyNAbnxWlL7GI__dVBy8ZvhGZGIuWbvx96euKZH7xzZ3lxnirrlv_8HvyVyaXY0jCyJcxqlQV-oF13SLguD-8d4Q/s640/blogger-image-1592908764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx9R-FzKMTRRIgrptvMziZlvkAdnAu9ogIrmBbhCdklgQM6q3eJjEyNAbnxWlL7GI__dVBy8ZvhGZGIuWbvx96euKZH7xzZ3lxnirrlv_8HvyVyaXY0jCyJcxqlQV-oF13SLguD-8d4Q/s320/blogger-image-1592908764.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Louie's favorite sleeping chair.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Writer's Block. </b><br />
I thought writer's block would be a small, cube shaped desk ornament that held your pens and pencils or something. I didn't understand how someone could not write. You just put your hands on the keyboard, thoughts pop into your head and you move your fingers accordingly. Then it happened to me.<br />
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I've been writing the Life with Blind Louie blog for about six months now. When I first started, I thought I would never, could never, run out of stories to tell. Louie and I have been together for six and a half years and counting. I met him for the first time when he was only a few weeks old, He hadn't even opened those eyes that would end up giving him so much trouble in the future. The playing field was still totally level with him and his litter-mates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZqDhXbFk849_JPjMVFbeblCRcSjeX1WADLWpRkIicAwJWtIYtVvT_MBGRbE5eXVHPYjCUpWj1AzVX-Fkx622rBp-s082Om31-orsZz01qQlHPVD0i0NAUKxMxe57bFj_O8hGkL0WuUY/s640/blogger-image-1340806222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZqDhXbFk849_JPjMVFbeblCRcSjeX1WADLWpRkIicAwJWtIYtVvT_MBGRbE5eXVHPYjCUpWj1AzVX-Fkx622rBp-s082Om31-orsZz01qQlHPVD0i0NAUKxMxe57bFj_O8hGkL0WuUY/s320/blogger-image-1340806222.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sorry, is my story boring you?</span></td></tr>
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We've been through a lot. I've learned a ton and I have so much to share. I've told a lot of Louie stories a lot of times. To friends, to coworkers, to our vet, to my family and sometimes, I'm guilty, even to strangers. Am I that 'weird dog lady'? Maybe? We no longer have eye problems. I do not think of Louie's blindness as a problem. I think of it the same as: I have two legs, he has four. I can talk, he can only bark and whine, I have thumbs, he has paws, I can see, Louie cannot. So there are no active eye problems currently, after so long. We have no scheduled upcoming surgery, no eye drops and no constant pain or worry of pressure spikes. Louie has gotten so good at navigating his way around without sight that we deal with far fewer accidents and missteps. It's been smooth sailing for a while now.<br />
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<b>Extra! Extra!</b> <br />
We took the CGC course and test and passed with flying colors. I started work on the Life with Blind Louie book, spending hours typing away feverishly late into the night after long days of work. I've got a good feeling about this book, even if no one ever sees it but me. The future looks bright for Lanni and Louie and our wonderful family. So why the sudden writers block? No more classes? A new puppy next door? Wintertime blues? Can't get the cat off the laptop? Maybe. Or maybe it's just because there's a bigger story brewing, something off in the horizon. Something that's not quite newsworthy yet. So I'm holding back, sure I could write about everyday Louie but there's something more. Something that involves all of us and I'm just not ready to tell the story yet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrahpm2RQ_Rj4pF20wOGRl0rwPO06D922Y2qXy-4F4tsQynGrxXrjWwH3Cg3ncpwzoRAbERGbPOuv_S8HvgUZFVG4cTmfGRcS677dhdwY_wqHO1DDXiGH8nKCtTri1du2eivTUqzWZz0/s640/blogger-image--1333951925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrahpm2RQ_Rj4pF20wOGRl0rwPO06D922Y2qXy-4F4tsQynGrxXrjWwH3Cg3ncpwzoRAbERGbPOuv_S8HvgUZFVG4cTmfGRcS677dhdwY_wqHO1DDXiGH8nKCtTri1du2eivTUqzWZz0/s320/blogger-image--1333951925.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blind Louie and his best cat friend, Halford</td></tr>
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So there will be Budde the Puppy weekly updates, as he is growing and changing faster than ever. There will be adorable pictures of Louie looking sleepy as I forcibly wake him up and make him go potty outside in the rain. There may be some fun springtime pig, cat, dog and chicken interaction coming up soon when the weather takes a turn for the better. I will try to share Louie with cats photos, because those are really some of my favorites. When I wake up in the middle of the night to ask Louie to scoot off my bed as I try to regain the feeling in my legs, it makes it just that much hader to kick him out when I find him spooning with our cat Halford.<br />
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Just wait for it, there's more soon to come! <br />
But first! Budde the Puppy is 13 Weeks Old.<br />
Thanks for reading! -Lanni<br />
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<br />Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278293120751290352.post-84219201976792629332013-02-19T18:43:00.002-08:002013-02-19T18:43:17.908-08:00Budde the Puppy is 12 Weeks Old<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fjf4kK6O0zSxIxlt_YxGGb3TpEo8Ipxa3te_5uuLaBCHA29vb2tartOlt-C64_RS-VJYb6LpZSJzhB9GGNkGpXWsfV26RvpgZKV_7FVXTuu8S0TLmxEUX2mxGW054XSTDm-QH2VhRGY/s640/blogger-image-229205293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fjf4kK6O0zSxIxlt_YxGGb3TpEo8Ipxa3te_5uuLaBCHA29vb2tartOlt-C64_RS-VJYb6LpZSJzhB9GGNkGpXWsfV26RvpgZKV_7FVXTuu8S0TLmxEUX2mxGW054XSTDm-QH2VhRGY/s320/blogger-image-229205293.jpg" width="320" /></a>A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words<br />
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Finally! It's been six weeks since we adopted Budde, and finally I have a relaxed photo of him and Louie to share. Unfortunately, I cannot take photographic credit. Louie and Snorp were over visiting my parents house when it occurred. After spending a few hours at my house wrestling around like crazy with three dogs, I finally gave up on trying to take any decent pictures and sent them over to stay with my folks at Budde's house for a while so I could have a break.<br />
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Ten minutes went by and I got this picture text message from my mom showing Louie and Budde snuggled on the dog bed together. I grabbed my camera and headed over. I was careful to step lightly on the porch as I approached and I tried to walk in quietly. It did not work, Louie sounded the alarm as soon as the door opened and all dogs and cats were at the door to greet me. Sigh, you cannot sneak up on a blind dog. One might think it would be easy, he can't even see you! Just walk right up to him, but no, he can hear you, smell you, feel you. Louie knows, and he will tell you about it and get all the other dogs up too. I call him an investigative reporter. He will listen and when he hears something, he's going to bark about it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMgubnjIzzyMR79xkETGpQOQCNmUIVPv2CNzIgGIl4qDh_ZK3CbR9zMceU94hKWbLwXlOelTVb_ofAZRprhyC4BHWykMJBvBPn1MXYyvx-aoLtmOuKtRdyUUC_Tmum1NfufejbpsiE6Y/s640/blogger-image--1542242094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMgubnjIzzyMR79xkETGpQOQCNmUIVPv2CNzIgGIl4qDh_ZK3CbR9zMceU94hKWbLwXlOelTVb_ofAZRprhyC4BHWykMJBvBPn1MXYyvx-aoLtmOuKtRdyUUC_Tmum1NfufejbpsiE6Y/s320/blogger-image--1542242094.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
So that, my friends, is why you have two blurry pictures of Louie and Budde on the dog bed. They were taken by my mother's cell phone. Even through the blur, it is still quite adorable.<br />
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No doubt Budde is growing. Like a weed in fact. Everyday is an adventure in the world of Budde. Everyday he can jump a little higher, run a little faster and bark a little louder. Snorp and Budde are the best of friends. Snorp makes a great teacher. If I tell Snorp to sit, he sits and Budde sits. If I tell Snorp to come, he comes and Budde comes. Easy. He's taking a lot of the work out of it for me by showing Budde what to do when he hears those words. My dad now calls him Uncle Snorp.<br />
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Budde is cute. That is a fact. It is also incredibly hard to take a still photo of him so I have included one where I have my husband holding him down. Budde is tolerating being held on his back and having his paws touched. Very nice.<br />
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These last three pictures are of the Louie, Snorp and Budde wrestle fest that was going on at in my living room before the adorable sleeping moment. This wore them all out. Snorp is quick to get down to Budde's level and play. He'll roll over onto his back, exposing his belly and mouth at him. They're noisy and drooly and adorable. Louie, however, doesn't lay down. He's always a little on guard with his escape route planned. It's understandable as he can't see and is never exactly sure what the next move will be. That Budde is known to nip at Louie's face, and Louie is not a fan of that at all.<br />
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Louie does like to get in on the wrestling in his own way if he can. He'll sit close and listen. He especially likes it if there is a human friend there to referee. In these photos, my husband Paul is sitting on the ground with them. Louie by his side, Paul sits with his arm around Louie firmly on his chest. Louie has a clear point of reference and it's much more fun to play. He makes sounds and mouths the puppy and Snorp. Sometimes he even gets the toy, but it's mostly by accident. Sometimes, I think Snorp passes it to him on purpose, just to be nice. <br />
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We have a very nice pack of boys here: Snorp, Louie, Budde and Paul. :)<br />
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Lanni Waschkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06831072737244401472noreply@blogger.com0