My LIFE with Dogs: Part One: Hair

I can't remember life without dogs. I grew up with dogs. They came in the house and were part of the family. There was always at least one dog in our home sometimes two but never more than that. We were not one of those families that had a certain breed of dog and we didn't pay a bunch of money for a dog. We went to the animal shelter and came home with whatever dog needed us on that day.

But it wasn't until I became a MOD (Mother of Dogs) I really began to understand what it means to LIVE with dogs, in particular, sled dogs.

First and foremost, it means HAIR!
Hair in, on, over, under and sometimes through everything. I eat hair, wear hair, and sometimes vacuum up hair (That is my cleaning guy's (aka Bryan) job).
At the Busch house we actually celebrate hair. Every time I brush Walla Walla I marvel at the fact that at one point in her life she was very sick and had very little hair. Even when she came to live with us she still had a very thin coat. Now she has a beautiful white and yellow coat. So here to HAIR!
Helpful MOD Hints for Dealing with Hair:

1. Make sure all the dogs are the same color.
2. Buy only clothes, carpet, and vehicles that match the dogs.
   
3. Always leave the sliding door open when brushing dogs so most of the hair will fly into the house. (The cleaning guy loves that!)
4. Get over it and move on. A little dog hair never hurt anyone.
   

Watch for: Part Two: Dog Proofing the House/Yard

Finally it is about DOGS!

Tundra walking on the Beartooth Pass

Hiking outside of Red Lodge. (Notice who has to wear the backpack.)

We are a lot happier when Kim takes us places. Kim is a lot happier when we are tired.

Drama, Drama, Drama

Notice: NO dog pictures!

Kim has been at her wits end the last two days. It all started when she went into the front yard to check her flowers (RL). She was gone for approximately 3 minutes. In that time, Puppy, got the bottle of chewable-liver-flavored Rimadyl out of the bag which was on the kitchen table and chewed off the top . Kim returned to find him running around with an empty bottle. She had no idea which dog or dogs ate them or how many they got. First, Kim ran around the yard hoping to find said pills. No luck. Then off to the store to buy big bottles of peroxide. Since she had no idea who ate the pills, we all got the "treatment". She pinned each of use in the corner of the kennel and poured peroxide down our throats. I have to say it was not fun.
I being of superior intelligence realized that the faster I puked the faster this would be over. I promptly emptied my stomach. (So much for that good breakfast.) The sled dogs did not seem to get that the easiest way to deal with the situation was to vomit and get it over with. Stratus who has been through the "treatment" before, never did vomit.
After almost two hours and a couple of vet phone calls, Kim and Stratus were enroute to the vet in Laurel. Stratus's bloodwork showed that he was probably the one who ate the Rimadyl. He spent the day at the clinic getting fluids through an IV.
That night Puppy came home. Of course, he had been given a few thousand milliters of fluid so he had to get up every few hours to pee. Oh, and did I mention Walla was getting up to vomit. (Once she got the idea, she really went with it.)
If you know Kim, you know she doesn't do the middle of the night thing very well.
Saturday, we thought all was well but Walla still could not keep food down. So this time all the sled dogs went back to the vet. (I stayed to guard the house.) About 4 hours later they all returned. Blood work and x-rays on Walla seemed fine but she doesn't get to eat for day.

Oh, did I mention Bryan was in Western Montana - eating steak with Kim's parents and buying a Honda 90 during this whole fiasco.

Today, she left for a two day conference in Helena. I heard her say something about not dealing with dogs and needing a vacation when she went out the door.

Kids, Kids, and More Kids

When I was reviewing Kim's photo from the weekend there was a noticeable difference, usually there is dogs, dogs, and more dogs, but this weekend it was kids, kids, and more kids. Kim's niece and nephew spent the whole weekend with us. Kim's friend, Marianne and her kids spent the 4th with us. There was actually some pretty good pictures even if they were of kids so I thought I would share a few.

Snow,snow,

and more snow.
Smiles,

smiles,

smile ?,
smile ?,
and more smiles!
Okay, I done my part and posted kid pictures. Next time it will be dogs, dogs, and more dogs.

The LOOOOOOONG Weekend

The sled dogs and I don't know how we feel about fireworks and big family gathering,

both are SCARY.

Finally, Sunday we spent time on the Beartooth Pass.
This was fun! There was snow, cool air, and animals.

The sled dogs and I went hiking with Bryan. Walla Walla, our huntress, discovered a herd of mountain goats grazing on side of the mountain. That was pretty exciting.
Later, everyone else showed up to go sledding.
Puppy (who is sooo spoiled) got to play with Silla and the kids.

Chase tried out his moves on the snowboard.
Ang and Kim tried it, too.
(I think they look like a couple of redneck chicks. I guess you can take the girl out of the country but can't take the country out of the girl.)
I think everyone had fun, even the sled dogs.

Family, Fireworks, Fun: Not Always in that Order

What do you get when you put 8 people and 6 dogs in a 700 square foot house?

Fireworks!

The Keele Family and Grammy and Grandpy Wildey spent the Fourth of July Weekend at our place in Red Lodge.

Red Lodge knows how to celebrate a holiday.
Three days of parades and rodeos, and fireworks like you would not believe.

The "real" Budweiser Clydesdales were in the parade all three days.

And the "Bud Light" team.

We had great seats at the rodeo. Don't I look like a "real" cowgirl?

Of course we had fireworks!
Sorry, my camera batteries died that afternoon.

I don't think the dogs really enjoyed the parade or the rodeo. Willow assures me that she has some things to say about this weekend so stay tuned.