Poodle Days

Gypsy is loving having the warmer weather here. That means the Sandi and I are outside the majority of the day and Gyp is obviously with us. We all get our work in and then usually just hangout and enjoy the yard. Gypsy will divide her time with us, Dino, and a bone or two.

Gypsy loves it when we spend the day outside with her. We call it a "Poodle" day.
Everything is all about me!!!
This past weekend was really the first nice weekend we've had this spring and it was perfect for a Poodle day. Gyp has always been the life of the party when it comes to outside play time although I couldn't help notice that she is starting to show some signs of age. Slowing down a bit.

She spent a big part of the day taking naps. She finds a sunny spot and enjoys the sun as much and we do.

 

 

 

After a nap or two on the grass, she usually finds her way to the comfy sofa on the deck. this is the only furniture that she is allowed on and I think she likes it. It's OK if she is slowing down a step or two. We'll keep having our "Poodle Days" I think I like them as much as Gypsy.

Easter Bunny?

 I have mentioned several times on Gypsy's drive for little furry things. Bunnies in particular.  She hates bunnies more than Elmer Fudd. We have an abundance of rabbits in our neighborhood and they all seem to come out when we take our walk. No matter in the morning or evening, it is like the bunnies line the street, taunting Gypsy. She always has her head on a swivel, looking for them. We have had a few close encounters in the backyard but never on the street.

We were walking along and I remembered to take my camera, hoping to get a picture of Oscar the pig that lives down the street. He sure did get big over the winter.  Gypsy saw this bunny way before I did. It was up in a yard munching away on the flowers the home owner just planted. The bunny then turned and charged us.
Come on Bunny, make my day!!!
I have to admit that it startled me. How many times do you get charged by a bunny? Anyway I was able to take this picture. This bunny had a look of determination on his face right? Gypsy lunged at him at the last minute. Had she not been on the leash she would have been eating rabbit stew for lunch.

Gypsy seemed to scare the bunny back into reality as it turned and ran away. Gypsy lifted her tail and high stepped it all the way home.
OK, did I date myself with the Elmer Fudd reference?

Another Ram Update

I thought I'd give everyone another Ram (formerly Rim) update. Sandi's Cuz sent this video of Ram practicing cuddling. I think he is catching on pretty fast.
We brought Ram home from a great breeder, www.crossbrookpoodles.com. Our thought process was that maybe having a male around the house would somehow put Gypsy at ease. She has always been a bit nervous and on edge. Ram was an adorable puppy full of love and ready to play at the drop of a hat. Gypsy somehow didn't see that side of him. As Ram grew, and brother he grew fast, Gypsy seemed to get more and more nervous around him. After much debate we decided to re-home Ram.
If you go back and check out the blog titled "Forever Poodles" 4/30/13 you can get more detail. All I can say is that Ram is proof that sometimes rehoming a dog is a good thing. Not only good for Ram but also good for Gypsy. Ram has graduated from "Canine Good Citizen" school and seems to be on his way to becoming a therapy dog. In the video Cuz is working with Ram on the head in lap move. Very sweet indeed.

I sometimes feel that Ram found Sandi and I for a reason and that we just helped him along to the place where he was meant to be. things always seem to happen for a reason.

Post Beauty Parlor

Gypsy was looking like a homeless poodle recently. She gets that way between trips to the beauty parlor. It's mostly my fault because I don't groom her like I probably should. I'll work on that this spring.
Hey, look at you...you have a goal!!!
Yes, that will be a goal of mine to keep current with your grooming needs.
Anyway we've been taking her to the same girl for years. Her entire life. I'm not going to tell you she enjoys the entire grooming experience. She always hops into the car in the morning thinking we're going on a road trip. She loves it. Then when we arrive, she hops out sniffing and excited that we are visiting someone.  And then we go into the beauty parlor.
Crap, not this place again!!!
Her tail drops and suddenly she is depressed.

 

I drop her off in the morning and Sandi picks her up in the afternoon. She acts like the most grateful dog in the world when Sandi picks her up.
Thank you for breaking me otta this joint!!!
She always comes home and takes a long nap, happy to be back in her world. I know she isn't keen on the groomer visits but I think they are will worth it.  Just look at her.

Sunday Morning Walk

 

It is a beautiful spring morning today and Gypsy looked forward to taking a walk. It's her most favorite thing to do. You can see the big smile on her face. Thus the nickname "Smiley" We went out to the field behind us and she was able to do some running.

She can still scoot pretty good given her age. She did some "birdin" while we were in the field. Keeping us safe from the enemy big black birds.
I hate those things!!!

Between running, birdin, and sniffing, she had a big morning. When we come home from the field she is totally worn out and happy.

Thanks for the fun morning!!!

Spring has Sprung

At long last! It appears that Spring has finally SPRUNG... Things are starting to grow, I need to mow the lawn, Sandi is planting things in the garden. No veggies or flowers yet. More importantly, Gypsy went shopping for a new Spring time collar with Sandi. This is the latest of an extensive collection of collars for this poodle. I like the wide collars because she has such a long neck. This one is very light weight and perfect for spring.
Hey, I like my flower collar too!!!
Yep, when things start to bloom we'll put that one on her.

 

It was a long, cold winter. It looks like the cold weather killed a few of our plants. Not only that, Dino (Gypsy's all time favorite toy) spent most of the winter buried under a blanket of snow. Or, during a brief thaw, laying in a pool of mud. I'll have to clean Dino up today. The winter is behind us now. Our Farmers Market opens today, I have a long list of outside things to do, and we are riding our bikes more. It's great to be back outside.

Friends

I just can not figure Gypsy out. Her typical behavior around other dogs is pure excitement. She gets nutsy crazy when we first  go to a dog park. She gets the happy feet thing going and is beside herself wired. When I walk her and she sees another dog she gets really excited. Recently she has started an excited bark at other dogs while we walk. I'm not very happy with this behavior and not really sure how to correct it. I think she'll be OK once we are out more that it is warming up.

Recently Gyp was introduced to this little boy in the photo above. Sandi and her friend decided to meet at the park and walk a bit and let them run some in a nearby field. I was at work but thought that Gypsy would be her typical crazy self. I get a text from Sandi, "Gyp loves him!" She walked with him, side by side, polite and reserved. They played at the park, running and playing tag until they were exhausted. Gypsy can still run with the best. After play time she came up to his side and rubbed up against him.

What is this all about? What in the world would make her so comfortable around him and not other dogs? I more I try to figure this quirky poodle out, the more confused I get.

Blog on Hold?

I know it has been over a month since I've blogged. My handful of readers are in an uproar. I have plenty of excuses that I wont bore you with. Computer issues and all the other things that happen. I think the biggest thing that happened to me that brought my blog to a stand still was winter. Like most of the country it has been cold and wet keeping us from doing all the things we do outside.
Hey, I like the snow!!!
Yes, Gypsy does like the snow. The picture above is from one of the first significant snows of the year. She jumps outside and does a snow dance. Jumping and twirling sideways always with a big smile on her face.

Nothing better than a fresh snow!!!
Yep it is pretty and you sure are a good dancer. But Gypsy even became sick of the snow and cold and wet after so long. We had over 12 inches of snow in the month of March. When will winter end.

I think we were all in a winter funk. House bound and bored. It was too cold to even go for a walk most of the time.

The cats, on the other hand, thought it was great that we were inside and they had our undivided attention. The birds joined the party, coming up close to the house for seed driving the cats nuts.
Now that we are seeing signs of spring, we'll get back outside and hopefully find a few things to tell you about. Sandi and her friend have been busy in the backyard planting things already so, spring has to be here.
Hey dude, take me for a walk!!!