Nails on a chalkboard...

Oh my lord...remember chalkboards? Remember to upset people, others (i.e. me) would scratch their nails on the chalkboard & people would cringe?? Well, my bully version of nails on a chalkboard is licking!! Lick, lick, lick, lick...aggghh! MAKE THEM STOP!

Doc is a paw licker (I think it's allergies), but has gotten better. Vivi loves to lick Howie, Doc & the couch...in no particular order. Howie was never really a licker...would lick Doc every once in awhile, but recently he's really become quite the licker & it's DRIVING ME CRAZY!!

We did recently change their food, I'm wondering if he's allergic to it? However, his folds have been much less yeasty??!! Of course! Sometimes it feels like I'm in a middle of a never ending science experiment.

Three Random Things

First, I've updated the site with some new photos in each of the bully's pages. As well as updating the show page with this past weekend's show summary & photos. Hope you enjoy the updates.


Second, The Cutest Dog Competition contest has changed so now you have to register to vote. I'm guessing it's because some photos had thousands of votes within a few days. I mean, maybe it's possible, but those dogs weren't the cutest in my opinion! Hahahaha! I hope you are able to register & continue to Vote for Vivi!


Third, the St Paul Minneapolis Bulldog Club is holding it's 2nd Annual Bark in the Park Bully Fest on Saturday, September 19th at Lakewood Hills park in White Bear Lake from noon-3pm.

It's open to all breeds & the cost is $10/family. There will be carnival games for the kids (2 legged & 4 legged), agility course, dog information station, kissing booth (from bullies of course), bully boutique & a food booth. There is also going to be a micro chip clinic put on by Inver Grover Animal Hospital as well.

This is all to celebrate Responsible Dog Ownership Month! Hope you can make it!


Thanks!

Proud BullyMomma Moment!!

Ahemm...just wanted to share that my bullies are going to be in a calendar!! It's a bulldog calendar put out by Bulldogs World & I couldn't be happier!! I know there were probably hundreds of great photos to pick from (so many that they actually put together 14 different calendars) so I'm just happy one of mine made it!! I wasn't even going to enter until a friend prompted me so I just quickly sent a few cute ones...or at least ones I thought were cute anyway! So thanks Jen!!

The bullies will be July in the "K" version of the calendar! This was the photo that was chosen!

It's funny to me because I decided I needed to have 4th of July photos on the 4th of July & quickly set up the "studio" (aka sheet for background) in the dogs room because it was too hot outside. I did the "shoot" with the dogs separately at first, using treats to get their attention & then added the props. Doc was by far the best model I had that day, but then I got brave & put all 3 in their t-shirts & viola! Got a few good shots!!

Anyway, just had to share my proud bullymomma moment!

Green Beans Work!!

This week Doc went to see Dr Jim for his annual check up. I was looking forward to see how much weight he lost since May. We cut back his food & added green beans as a filler. He loves the green beans, but we haven't done as much exercise as I had hoped we would...but I'm happy to report Doc lost 6 pounds since May!

Yay Doodle!!

We'll continue to have him eat green beans along w/his meals & incorporate as much exercise as possible in order to get those last 2 pounds off of him. Hopefully we'll be just as successful in the next couple months as we were in the last 3. It took 10 months for him to put those 8 pounds on, so I'm glad taking them off isn't taking that long.

Why not Doc?

Some of you may be asking, why I don't walk Doc every morning like I do Vivi (& will now have to do Howie). Well, it's simple really...he's not much of a walker! He's more like a dragger & honestly, that's not how I want to start my mornings & it's not how I want to have his experience with walks.


Plus, every road in our city is under construction & he has very sensitive feet. He doesn't like anything but grass or debris free roads under his feet. I had a very hard time walking him this winter when the roads would thaw & then refreeze...it was so painful for him.


So, Doc does get walks, just not in the mornings before work! Sometimes you just have to pick your battles & understand what your bully does/doesn't, will/won't do...and if that is not a quick walk in the morning, so be it! Afterall, he is a bully...and they can be (GASP) stubborn!!

10 Weeks in Rehab...

and what does Howie have to show for it?

-A special "space" in the living room, that still works very well for time outs & voluntary quiet time by all 3 of the bullies.
-A leg that the fur is still trying to grow back...he looks a little loppsided.
-A scar that actually isn't nearly as long/ugly as I was expecting.
-New toys from Momma & Daddy
-About 5 extra pounds!

Dear lord! I brought him on a walk this morning because he asked me to...he did. He went up to the door after I brought Vivi for her daily walk. So we walked. Not too far mind you as he's still rehabbing (longer walks everyday), but it was the first time in quite some time that he was in front of me...I know, I know..."who's walking who" right?

Well, he was excited to walk & he wasn't pulling, he was just in front of me...and that's when I noticed it!! His normally svelte (no really, for a bulldog he was svelte) body was no longer & instead I see this itty bitty butt & his barrel chest rolling from one side to the other!! JUST LIKE DOC'S!! YIKES!!

I didn't have time to weigh him this morning before I left for work, but I'm guessing it's at least 5 extra lbs on that boy of mine. Of course I don't want this extra weight on him & for a semi-split second I thought, "huh, he IS almost 2, maybe he's finally filling out like they said the English lines would!" But I know better! It's weight gain, not English lines!

So now, both Howie & Vivi will be getting morning walks before I leave. Vivi, to hopefully give her enough activity so that she isn't totally bored & wanting to eat something she shouldn't & Howie, to lose the weight....ah heck, both of those work for me too!

Swimming Bulldogs

I decided to venture out to my in-laws this weekend & take Howie & Vivi swimming in their beautiful pool. It would be great rehab for Howie & I was just interested in seeing how Vivi would do since she now likes to make "bubbles" in our little kiddy pool....plus, it was nice & hot & humid so what's better than swimming?? I decided not to bring Doc for a few reasons 1) He HATES to ride in the car & I didn't want to stress him out, 2) Last year he wanted NOTHING to do w/the pool at Grama & Grampa's, 3) I was going by myself & figured I could control 2 on my own, 3 would be a little more difficult & it was bad enough I was inviting myself & 2 dogs over, I didn't feel like asking my in-laws to dogsit while I was in the pool too (although I know they would have--they love bullies).

So off we went to Grama Judy's & Grampa Steve's pool! Howie & Vivi were quite excited w/our little field trip. When we arrived I set up my portable kennel. This kept the bullies contained when one was swimming w/me & again, didn't have to worry about anyone feeling like they had to dogsit AND more importantly, no bullies fell in the pool while not wearing a life jacket (we only have the one...will have to get another). Howie & Vivi didn't mind sharing the kennel at all & were very well behaved the entire time!

I took Howie in first because his swimming was more of a necessity, where Vivi's was more for fun. I didn't get any photos of Howie swimming this time...but I'm sure we'll be going again & I'll get some then. He did great & really used his back legs well...which is exactly why I wanted him to go swimming. He did jump in at one point to go after a ball & of course more or less sank, but I was right there to pull up on the vest faster than he would have floated up! He was a bit taken aback, but continued on his swimming ways!!

Then it was Vivi's turn...put the vest on her & brought her down by the pool. She wasn't so sure about the whole thing.

So I lifted her in & away she went!!

And away

And away

She just kept trucking along like she's been doing this her whole life. She was SOOOOO fast!! I just kept laughing the entire time because she just kept zooming one way & another!

I let her swim around for a couple minutes & then decided to give her a little break. Swimming can be a totally stressful situation for bullies. It's not a natural thing for them to just swim! So I wanted to make sure she was ok & had a little break. I helped her out of the pool & just let her settle down for a bit.

I thought she'd go running in the opposite direction of the pool. Instead she just stayed on the side & watched us. She obviously wasn't afraid or anything so that was good. She, too, watched the ball & eventually jumped right back in! Again, of course I was right there to help her float up, but she just went on her merry way & swam around some more!

Overall, both Howie & Vivi had a great time at Grama Judy's & Grampa Steve's pool! Vivi had such a good time, she kept walking around the yard w/the life vest on!