Cousin Camp

Well I must be getting better because they let me have friends sleep over. Well, maybe Kacie is not really a friend because she is family. She's my cousin from another city. As you can see from this first picture Kacie still has to wear a leash around our yard. She isn't quite as relaxed yet with all the people that walk by.

It is fun to have Kacie over but she sure is noisy. The Boss can get her to be quiet but when the Treat Lady says it's time to go in the woods you would think someone stepped on a cat. Kacie loves the woods because she doesn't have to wear a leash there. She gets to run free like we do because she always stays close to the rest of us.

At the end of a walk in the woods we are all on our best behavior. We make the Treat Lady look like the Dog Whisperer as she trots us home. All that being good is tiring though. I don't really mind sharing my bed with Kacie after a good run in the woods. I think the only one who is bothered by it is silly Cassidy. She is one rung lower in the pecking order with Kacie here. Boo hoo Cassidy. It's tough to be the runt. I still run things though unless the Treat Lady or the Boss or the Girl or the Boy are here.

The weather is getting better and the Girl is home again. She is always spoiling Cassidy by letting her on the sofa. Kacie learned quick that Cassidy is the only one allowed on the sofa. Boo hoo Kacie. (I'd make a laughing, smiley face here if I knew how to do that)

The Girl helped the Boss open the pool so now I can go swimming. I miss the Therapy Girl but nothing beats chewing on an old tennis ball soaking in the pool.

Kacie is afraid of the pool so far.

Ok, here is a gratuitous picture of the Treat Lady's tree peonies. We're not supposed to pee on these if you know what I mean. (Another laughing, smiley face here)

We are all helping the folks move mulch. All three of us like to see the weeds close up as the Treat Lady pulls them out. Sometimes we help move the mulch too by picking up big pieces and running around with them. Here we are after the Boss told us we could take a break from being such a big help.

Kacie doesn't have to wear a leash all the time now. She is getting much better.

Well, time to go see what we have for treats and go to bed.

Dreaming Again!

Some times when I am cooped up all day I dream about fun things I've done . . . . . . .

Made it through a long week

The weeks are really long when either the Boss or the Treat Lady are gone. This week the Boss was gone and we were cooped up during the days. The Treat Lady always takes us for good walks though.

At the beginning of the week I went in for my second therapy session on my right leg. I remember where to go and even found my way through the vet's office to the tank in the basement. I led the way with the Therapy girl and the Boss trailing. This time I went for twice as long as my first session and got to use the jacuzzi jets at the end. Those are really cool. I just sit down in the warm water and let them loosen up all that tension from having to deal with Cassidy.

You can kind of see the bubbles in this picture.
I didn't make em!

The Therapy girl said that most of the other dogs that had leg surgery like mine and at the same time are doing ok. Some of them had two surgeries like me too. They aren't doing as good. They still don't use their leg the way they are supposed to. I can. I do it right. She told me again that I'm number one! Very cool.

She also told me that I am handsome and that I look skinny. Wow, a perfect visit. I am looking forward to Tuesday!

Today I spent most of the day outside chewing on pine cones and sticks. I chased Cassidy a little until the Treat Lady yelled at me. Then I had to lie down for a while. I got bored with that so I went over and sat on Cassidy's head. I like messing with her. She just makes groaning noises and moves over.

After I tried to make Cassidy chase me some more the Boss made me go inside. Cassidy got to stay out there. Lucky dog. Now I'm really tired from all the fresh air. I better take another nap.

13 Days is bad luck!

13 days since my last surgery. Is that bad luck? You decide, I know I have my opinion!

I only have time for a short note tonight but let me start by showing you Cassidy up to her old tricks!

Here she is playing with Mia again in the park. Mia is now 5 months old and Cassidy acts like a mom to her. Mia just plays it up by licking her face and jumping all around Cassidy like she's all that. Lucky dog!

Now here is a picture of me playing with Mia. Just as you can see, I never did get out to play with her. So much for being fair.





I had to go to the vet today for my latest checkup. I really don't mind it anymore. They are very nice to me and I always get some good treats there. I am also still the biggest loser. I only weigh 68 pounds now. That is 10 pounds less than my fighting weight. The best thing about being so skinny is that the Treat Lady feels sorry for me every time I get weighed which gets me more treats that day. I think it is also because I look so skinny without any fur on my hips. I keep telling Cassidy that if she would shave her thighs she would get more treats too. She growls at me when I say that.

There is one thing I don't like at the vet. This is when the nice, smiley girl pulls out the thermometer. I know exactly what it is for and I go hide behind the Boss when I see it. It is not the kind of thermometer that they let me hold under my tongue.

The vet said I was doing great. My knee is healing well even though I have a bit of swelling. The bad thing is that both the vet and my rehab doctor say I am too active. If I don't stop walking around so much I might end up more bowlegged than I already am. They told the Boss to keep me locked up and on a leash forever! At least that's what I heard.

So here I am back at home trapped in the family room. At least they make Cassidy stay with me. We usually take turns pretending we're in jail. The doors are open on the crate and we just walk in, lie down and look as sad as possible. It was my turn tonight.
Tomorrow I get to go to my first therapy session Part Deux. I hope I can bring my camera.

Well I'm off to get a late night treat and then take a nap.

9 Days PS Part Deux

Well the Treat Lady says to me that I just have to write, but that is easier said than done. When the Boss leaves town he takes his computer with him. I can barely type. How the heck am I supposed to use a pencil. Every time I pick one up I end up eating it by mistake.

There are some good things about when the Boss is gone. Last night, Cassidy and I got to sleep on the the big, high, soft bed. The Treat Lady fell for the staring trick again. Both of us stood next to the bed and just stared at it. We did it for two nights in a row. Then when the Treat lady started to soften, we put our paws up on the bed. We had her at the paws and she had to help us up. As a reward we let her sleep later in the morning before stepping on her to get her to take us out.

I am able to walk much better now. I have the wobbly knee thing going on with my right leg now just like before. I'm sure it will stop doing that in a couple more weeks. I just have to be careful because it flops out and I tend to slip if where I'm walking is even a little smooth.

I can also go up and down the stairs again. Going down is easy. Going up I walk like the Boss after his Sunday soccer games. I can do it and that allows me to sleep upstairs again. No more camping in the family room.

I have a little bit of swelling in my knee too. I think I'm going to the vet tomorrow to have them look at it. I hope I get to go in the swimming tub again. Maybe I'll make another video.

Lastly, I had some good dreams while I was on my pain treats the last week. I am having trouble remembering everything so I will work on it and tell you about it soon. Maybe this weekend.

Well better see if I can get outside before going up to bed. With the Boss here the staring trick doesn't work. It will be the floor for us again. At least he can't stop the treats!

Day Two PS Part Deux

Before I tell you how Rooney is today I have to answer a question that has been asked multiple times about the picture of Cassidy from yesterday. "Was Old Pooh posed for the picture with Cassidy by the window?" The answer is no. While Cassidy was sitting on the stairs or anywhere else in the house on Tuesday waiting for her brother to come back, she had one of his Poohs with her. Above you can see her with New Pooh on the back stairs. She put Old Pooh down as she was looking out the window and he happened to land as you see him. Cassidy doesn't get to hold any Poohs for long when Rooney is home. It was interesting to see her carry one around the entire time that Rooney was gone.

Rooney today is feeling a little better. He seems to be coming back a bit slower from this surgery than his first. He barely touches his paw to the ground and has more trouble walking. His appetite is good and he is drinking lots of water. He doesn't seem to be in much pain. Just very tentative with his leg so far.

Cassidy of course was really happy to see Rooney come home yesterday. She would not leave his side. Here you can see her in the family room with her brother. She didn't mind at all being locked up with him for the day.


The Girl came home today and Rooney was really excited to see her. He then proceeded to get a really long neck and head rub from the Girl. No wonder he likes her so much.

Rooney had his Physical Therapy sessions at home today working on his range of motion. His knee moves smoothly and he has a pretty good range of motion when forced. He just doesn't seem to want to do it himself yet. We'll see how he does over the next couple of days.

The Girl wouldn't let me post any pictures of his knee or any video of him limping around the yard. She says it is too sad to watch. As he gets better I'm sure we'll see more of him.

Now he is resting nicely in his locked down family room. I'll bet he's hoping the Treat Lady sleeps in there with him again tonight.

Surgery Day Deux

On the way to the Vet this morning. Very hungry and not happy!

Well we got a call from the Vet about 30 minutes ago and Rooney's surgery went fine. He is again resting on his cot with his heater and doing well. His second knee had a little less acute damage and a bit more long term damage than his left. The meniscus was torn again and there was a bit of scar tissue and arthritis. Pretty impressive for guy who is only about three years old. His knee tightened up nicely with the "tightrope" procedure according to Dr. Jeff. We'll see how he feels when he comes home tomorrow.

The one this surgery seems to be taking the biggest toll on right now is his sister Cassidy. Here she is waiting on the steps for him to come home.

I was able to work at home today and she had been on this step (she can see the back door and side door from here) for more than 4 hours before I made her come into my office. After a while in my office she disappeared again. I tracked her down and this is where I found her.

I'm sure when the Treat Lady gets home Cassidy will be all fine again. She'll get to go for a long walk in the woods and get some banana. Lucky dog.

Back to Surgery

Well, we start all over again tomorrow. Rooney goes in to the vet at around 7 AM and will come home on Wednesday morning. He is having his right knee fixed this time. Hopefully all goes well.

Rooney was unusually rambunctious today. First thing he did going outside was to pick up a tennis ball and ask me to throw it. He hasn't done that in a long time. It pains us to put him through the rehab again, but you can tell he needs his leg fixed. He limps on it going upstairs most of the time and favors it when he is pretending he is fine.

His left leg seems to be healing very well. We'll find out how good it is on Wednesday when it is all he'll have to walk on.


We'll keep you posted.

BD