Thank You

Darby - RIP 12/9/2011

       We just wanted to take a chance to say thanks to everyone that wished us well in the tough time. Losing Darby to bloat was very difficult. Bloat is a scary thing, something every single one of us Weim families fear. It's tragic and quick and that's want makes it even worse. One minute they're fine, the next they're in distress.

We did everything "anti-bloat" by the book with our weims since losing Kam. We had scheduled feeding, drinks, relax time, diet, all that stuff. On the morning of Darby's death she was fine. She was sick and vomited a few time during the day but she also layed with Amy and slept as well. In the middle of the night she started going downhill quick. We made the call to the vet down the street at 1:00am but they were in surgery and could not take Darby in. We found another emergency vet 45 minutes away but by the time I got there it was to late and I was forced to make a decision that I didn't want to. I came home that night by myself.

No one knows exactly what causes bloat. Amy and I were fortunate enough to run into one of the best vet's in the country this past weekend (Dr. Robert Hutchison) and we had the chance to discuss bloat with him. His office (actually his son - Dr. Randy Hutchison ) is one of the few doctors in the country that performs a non-invasive stomach-tacking that prevents torsion (or twisting) of the stomach during bloat. Once your dog starts to bloat and the stomach twists the surgery will cost you $5,000!! That's right, 5-grand! lot's of zeros. For about 20% of that you can be proactive and have this surgery performed and save your pet's life. If they bloat and you get to a vet they can tube the dog and release the gas....the dog won't die that horrific death which is commonly associated with bloat. you can contact them below - I wanted to share this info.

Animal Clinic Northview

36400 Center Ridge Road

North Ridgeville, OH 44039

Ph: 440.327.8282 Fax: 440.353.0331

Emergencies: 440.452.7743

Email: repro@northviewvet.com

It seem to me that $1000 is worth the investment.. after all, I took Darby to the vet and came home without here for $500... You do the calculation.

Also, I should mention that we are in the process of overhauling this blog to bring something special within the next few days or week....or so.... So stay tuned and see what's next.

Just another Crazy Day



The joy of cell phones!

Once nice thing about cell phones is that while I sit at work my kids often send me little video clips of what's going on in the house during the day. Isabel sent me this funny clip of Darby as she attacked the "Oh So Mean" vacuum?? She does this every single time you try to vacuum around the house... she just hates that thing!

Thanks for sending me this video Izzy!

Just a few pictures

Wow, how long are those legs!!!! 

Treat?

"Don't even THINK about making eye contact with me" - Darby

What did I tell you, get the camera off of me! - Darby

Nothing but Darby

    Amy brought up a good point the other day...I post too many pictures of Bailey and not enough of Darby. Well, Bailey is much more photogenic while Darby on the other hand... want nothing to do with pictures. Like clockwork, when I pull out the camera and aim it on Darby she turns her head! EVERY SINGLE TIME! Bailey on the other had, well she's a diva!

If you have any pictures of your pup's bed, furniture, or unique sleeping arrangement send them to me!

Shark Eyes

Darby with "Shark Eyes"

     Is it just Darby or does your Weim get what we like to call "shark eyes" when mad? I call it shark eyes because her pupils get really large and coal black. If you get in her space while she's laying down, look out! Or in the case of the pictures above Bailey was getting on her nerves so Darby turned into JAWS!

Anyway, that's all I got today... C'mon Susummertime!

Ho Ho.......OOOoooooH!

Darby Eating Snow - Get's A Santa Beard!

   What a crazy pooch! Darby finds it neccessary to eat as much snow possible on her trips outside... We give her pleanty of water throughout the day and she'd been on the exact same schedule for almost 3 years... Guess she's just extra thirsty, or just playing?

 The good thing is winter is here! We love this time of year, the dogs love this time of year, and the kids love this time of year... So, we're all happy. :)  There's a big snowstorm going to hit Cleveland on Sunday night so we hope to get out and get more snow photos soon and have a little fun.

Now, let's get a closer look.

Shuffle Your Feet, Lose Your Seat!





Really Darby? An ottoman?!?
The Extremes That Darby Will Go To!





First let me start off by saying that no matter what the circumstance, Darby must always be sitting or lying on something. It doesn't matter what it is really..... It could be an ottoman, blanket, or perhaps a towel, or maybe even IN the clothes basket (as long as there are clothes in it), or on a jacket the kids left laying on the floor, or a washcloth, tissue, napkin, or a single piece of confetti..... My point is, they will go to the extremes to lay on something besides the hardwood floors or their beds.

Darby looking much happier on the couch than on the ottoman!!!


You know we DO have cushy "doggy beds", that's obviously not good enough for queen Darby, but she needs a throne. It's like we're constantly playing a game of "shuffle your feet, lose your seat" or something around our house... I swear Darby thinks about two things in this world and two things only; food and couch. She spends her entire day watching, waiting, and planning the perfectly executed plan of attack to hop up on that darn couch!!

Every single night we 'dog proof" the house which is a two process system;

1. Put up the kiddie gate to quarantine them from going into the bedrooms. One thing I'm totally against is sharing my small bed with two dogs! Nope, not gonna happen!
2. "Dog proofing" the furniture... That's right, every single evening we have to pull all the pillows of the couch, put the large chest (which we use as a table) on the couch, put the large wicker basket up on the couch, and then pile everything on top of that.... just to prevent these crazy dogs from trying to get up there! At times, they have even pushed the chest off of the couch in the middle of the night or moved it out just enough to squeeze in!

Because Darby is "uncomfortable" with the situation of sleeping in HER own bed and the fact she has hip dysplasia, she's awake half the night walking back-n-forth throughout the house! Did I tell you we have hardwood floors?

Hardwood Floors   +   Doggie Toenails   =   CLICK

Now, add a click here.... and a click there...... and a click click everywhere is the equivalent of let's see.... thousand's of clicks!!! And now you have yourself going crazy listening to this goofball wandering aimlessly throughout the house in the middle of the night while you're trying to sleep... click, click, click, click....... UuuuuuuuuuuGH!

So I made a "game-day" decision the other day that seems to have made everyone happy... why not just let them sleep on the freakin' couch?! Now, this may come back to haunt us later but right now it's great... 2 full nights of no clicking! Yeehaw! Sometimes it's nice to compromise.

Yes, Darby WILL sleep sitting up!



A cozy couple...

 Bailey on the other hand, she never really displayed too much interest in getting on the furniture. She WAS perfectly content lying on her doggy bed and sleeping there throughout the night. At bedtime, we turn off the lights and she would assume her position for the evening on the dog bed.... However, looking at the picture above you can clearly see she is not complaining.
 

Bailey Enjoying Life on the couch too!





Tis The Season.....

Darby is ready for Christmas!

Amy just sent me this via text message and I just had to share it! Enjoy!

Falling Asleep while standing

Wow, it's been a while since we started this blog up but I think we're finally at the point to start actually using it. I've uploaded a few videos to YouTube on our new channel (don't mind the crappy quality, the videos were recorded on my iPhone).

Faces

C'mon in!

I thought this picture fit since we've been experiencing a rash of robberies around my neighborhood lately. I'd hate to be the person to smash my window and stare Darby in the eyes! That is for sure! There is no doubt in my mind that my pups would have a field day with a robber in the middle of the night... I pity the fool! Check out that crazy overbite!!

Lap Dog? NOT!

Izzy & Darby

I just love this picture which is actually about a year old.... go figure. I came across it on my iPhone this morning and wanted to get it posted because I'm sure everyone will enjoy this. The quality stinks but you get the idea. This is Izzy & Darby

I just don't understand those people that get these teeny little dogs.... However, Darby thinks she is one, apparently.

Cooling Down

Wow, what a warm weekend it was!! No better way than to hop in the pool and cool off for a few minutes! I gotta tell ya, both dogs absolutely love swimming! Darby never really showed interest in the pool, however she seemed to really enjoy being in there as seen in the picture above. Bailey on the other hand, she showed interest in the pool instantly. She likes to stand with her paws on the side of the pool watching us swim. I reached over and picked her up and she came in willingly, to say the least! I left her swim around for a few minutes and got her back out of the pool. She jumped back up on the side as if to say, hey.. get me back in there!

She took her second swim around the pool with me last evening and seemed to be just as excited to get in as she was the first time! I think we created a monster!!

Till next time!