Vivi's Page

VIVIAN
Ahhh our little girl!  Vivian is in every sense of the word, a princess....but still a bully at the same time.  She easily can hold her own with her 50 & 65 pound brothers!  She's the first girl in our home and we're definitely learning from her.  We were hoping to get another boy and instead we got this snow monkey!  I found out I was getting her on my birthday in December while on vacation in Disney World.

Vivi graduated Puppy Kindergarten in March 2009; she grew so much in those 6 weeks!  What a transformation!  From shy puppy to confident puppy, it was amazing to see the change.  Vivi had her first all-breed show in early April & her first bulldog specialty show in May 2009.  

Vivian continues to make me have fun in the ring & in the summer of 2010 picked up points towards her AKC Championship title!



                                                                       Vivi's Pedigree

 

She Makes Me Giggle...

Overall, Vivi is a pretty laid back bully.  She loves to snuggle w/her momma, doesn't like to start trouble with the boys (unless Howie walks by her when she's sleeping--it's the weirdest thing) & is content to sitting in a pile of clothes.

That's why I find it so funny when she gets possessive of things.  It's usually only things she can carry in her mouth...you've seen the photos, the stick, the ribbons, the ball...well the other day I gave her an empty paper towel roll.  You guessed, she puts it in her mouth, her tail goes straight back,

she marches quickly into the other room, finds shelter under a table & just sits there.

She doesn't gnaw on it or eat it or play with it...She just sits there, with the roll in ther mouth and a look on her face that says, "MINE & I LOOVE IT!"

"I'm not sharing Momma!!"

Until I do take it away from her & then she's sad....

 and sulky....

Awww...Poor Vivi...but I bet she made YOU giggle too didn't she??

First Show of the Year!

This weekend Vivi has her first show of 2010, right here in town at the Xcel Center in St. Paul!  The Land O Lakes show has FANTASTIC shopping in case anyone is interested!!  Thankfully Vivi's staph infection has cleared up & she didn't lose any hair patches at all!

This week we will continue to work on her stacking so she'll be all set come Saturday morning.  We show both days at 830am...just in case any of you have nothing else to do that early on a very cold weekend morning!!  Vivi would love to see you there!

"Yes, blog friends!  Come see meeeeeeee!"

"I soooooo cute in person!"

"Momma says I have whiskers like a kitty in this photo!"

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!