bathroom fun

Today we went out to run errands and left Dash at home to recuperate.  Apparently his blood and urine tests came back normal, so it seems like the back injury may have been accurate.

Well...  When we came home Dash was right there at the door to say hello.  He was more energetic and perky, which was a huge relief.  However, our little mini Aussie puppy had something stuck to his foot.  That's strange, we thought.  Where did that come from?

 

OH.  That's... where it came from.  I guess we neglected to close the door to the bathroom before we left.  OOPS.  Dash had a field day tearing up the entire roll of toilet paper, then picked through the rubbish can and found an empty package of face cleansing wipes - hence the closure sticker on his paw.

We had him go back in to pose in front of his art project.  Doesn't he look genuinely proud of his work?  Oh my.  On the bright side, at least Dash is feeling better!

mystery ailment

A few days ago we noticed Dash was acting more mellow than usual.  He didn't tear up his pee pad while we were at work or toss around the couch throw pillows.  Then the next day we noticed he would just lie around and not get up to follow us around the house.  He had no interest in his toys and refused to jump on or off of the furniture.  Dash also had a very hard time standing up.  Although this mellow version of our mini Aussie puppy was a nice change from the typical active version, it was also cause for major concern.

 

Then today was a major scare.  I was the first to come home, and when I opened the door he didn't come to greet me or even move from his laying position.  Upon closer inspection he was trembling and tense.  When I coaxed him to stand he struggled but was unable to, then proceeded to urinate on himself.  It was an awful sight.

I called our vet for an emergency appointment and rushed right over.  Dash looked agitated, uncomfortable, and was panting.  After Dr. Henriksen at Balboa Pet Hospital examined him she was unable to find an obvious ailment.  The only clue we had was that Dash seemed to react slightly when she touched his mid spine.  In the end she prescribed him with pain medications and took blood and urine samples for testing.  The only thing that seemed to help Dash was a visit with Dr. Henriksen's two regular sized Australian Shepherds.

Since we got home he's just been sleeping it off and at least he's not quivering any more.  Hopefully the tests will tell us something more tomorrow, because we have no idea what could have caused this...

introducing julio

The Biggest Loser is one of our favorite reality shows on television and last season one of the most significant transformations was Julio, on the black team.  So naturally when our roommate gave Dash a new stuffed animal friend that was skinny and black, we named him Julio in honor of the show...

Hi Julio!  You look amazing!

crissy field

One of our favorite dog friendly spots in all of San Francisco is Crissy Field.  Before I had a dog, this is where I would go to lovingly "dog stalk" people and their adorable companions.  Papa Dash and I would intentionally route our run along the coastline towards the Golden Gate Bridge just so I could see all the dogs playing on the beach and in the field.  It was heaven!  Even though I didn't own a dog it was almost like I was living vicariously through the joy of others.

Then when we got Dash, we transitioned into one of those couples who brings their puppy to Crissy Field!  It felt so awesome to share in the happiness this park brings to so many.

 

On a sunny day, being here is so picture perfect.  I mean, playing with your dog on the beach with a clear blue sky and the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop...  It's pretty awesome.  The only problem is that our mini Aussie puppy is still not 100% on his recall ability.  This means when there's another dog or other people around Dash sometimes gets distracted and runs off.  Then it becomes a dance to try to get his attention again.

 

 This is why I prefer to play fetch in the fields rather than the beach.  There is much more space per dog and I personally think the sight of Dash running through the green grass is so wonderful.

art project

Oh Dash.  So cute.  So naughty.  What will we ever do with you?

 

Usually Papa Dash is so frustrated that he neglects to take photographic evidence.  However, this mess was so monumental that he just had to show me...

  

This was certainly Dash's worst mess ever.  While we were all at work our mini Aussie puppy pulled our roommate's hibiscus flower plant off the shelf and tore it to pieces.  Even the pot was shredded, because it was one of those organic types that could eventually be planted in the ground.  :(  The dirt was just everywhere!!!  EVERYWHERE.  We had to move all the furniture, sweep the whole living room, and take the rug out to thoroughly dust it.  To make matters worse, since the pot for the plant was destroyed I resorted to replanting the remaining stalk and roots into a spare rubbish can.  It was so ghetto.  Sorry roomie.

rain ready

There came a point earlier this winter when it seemed like every single dog in San Francisco started wearing a raincoat.  I'm not even exaggerating when I say almost EVERY dog was dressed for inclement weather.  So, of course Dash needed to step up to the occasion.  We made a quick run to Osso & Co and found this adorable red raincoat:

 Dare I say, he looks dashing???

christmas 2009

It seems like I'm almost caught up with posting old photos of Dash from life "pre-blog".  So, this seemed like an appropriate moment to document our Christmas weekend 2009...

This year, Papa Dash and I wanted to get off the grid and spend some quiet time together.  No cell phones, internet, or even TV.  Just the simple life. Luckily, our Aunty and Uncle in Davenport just bought a gorgeous new property and allowed us to stay for the weekend while they were vacationing in the Caribbean.

It was a really secluded piece of land in the Santa Cruz mountains with a huge backyard, a charming rustic house, and sounds from the waves drifting up from the ocean views.  Within seconds of arriving, Papa Dash and I decided we should volunteer to become the housekeeper and groundskeeper so we could live there forever.  (Or at least wish that were reasonably possible!)

I mean, check out this backyard!  And this doesn't even showcase the grove of pine trees surrounding the whole property or the wide sweeping connection to the adjacent properties.  Dash was in heaven.  Watching him run with such a carefree attitude made it very apparent that we need to move somewhere with a backyard.  ASAP.

Dash seriously payed fetch for hours and hours and hours.  He did, however, take a break when we opened his Christmas present from Koa and Lehua, our Aunty and Uncle's lab and cat.  It was an adorable orange fish that made bubble sounds.  Dash is very infatuated with every new toy he receives, so "Fishy" has become his new fling of the month.

Overall, Christmas weekend was exactly what I had hoped for.  Peace.  Joy.  And Quiet!!!  Living like that for the weekend made me seriously rethink whether being in San Francisco is the best lifestyle for us.  Perhaps we should move off the grid permanently and live a simpler life...

I'm sure Dash would greatly appreciate the additional beach time so he can work on his perpetual hole to China!

need dog walker

Most days I'm not the first to get off work, so I'm usually saved from the horrors of coming home to our mini Aussie puppy and his "art projects".  At first we told ourselves it was just because of teething.  Now we're not sure when it will ever end!

Papa Dash has cleaned countless torn pee pads, chewed wires and shoes, broken wicker baskets, disheveled pillows, tattered DVD folders, dissected tissue boxes, mangled game controllers, shredded paper bags, gnawed furniture...  Even an unpopped bag of popcorn.  You think it, and Dash has probably chewed it up.  I realize in writing this it sounds like we're very irresponsible puppy parents who shouldn't give their unsupervised canine access to such things.  Nonetheless, it will blow your mind to know what this puppy is capable of in terms of ingenuity and physical agility!

We've been looking for a dog walker on and off for some time now, since we can't afford to send Dash to doggy day care.  Our rationale is that going out for a couple of hours to play will help burn off energy and stimulate Dash's mind, so that he no longer resorts to chewing.  There are also several great off-leash places where he could romp to his heart's desire and be nice and mellow when we come home from work.

At first we figured in a city like this, where there is the highest number of dogs per capita in the nation, finding a dog walker would be cake.  But, the crazy thing is that in San Francisco, where the entire city is about 8 miles by 8 miles, there are NO established dog walkers in our area!!  Our apartment is apparently too far into suburbia (or the avenues as the locals call it).  No in-demand professionals venture out here, since there is a higher concentration of wealthy people and penned up dogs to be had in the more metropolitan neighborhoods.

Until we find someone trustworthy and competent enough to handle spry little Dash, our daily surprises like this one will continue.  I used to keep a potted house plant on the side table next to the couch.  BADDD idea.  Papa Dash had a wonderful time cleaning this one up!  He was so (not) amused that he took a photo just to show me how hard he worked to get it clean by the time I came home.

So the search continues...  Perhaps the new year will bring new luck in the dog walker department!  Either that, or our living room will soon become void of anything even remotely chewable...

nap time

As usual, it's much easier to take a photo of our puppy when he's sleeping.  Here's Dash lounging in the bedroom.  For some reason he likes to lay down in this exact spot every time...

 

 Here he is helping with the laundry.  I thought the way he just rested his head on the pile rather than curling up on the whole thing was really cute.  As if he knew he shouldn't climb in the laundry, but maybe if it was just his head it might be okay...

neutered

Dash, our mini Aussie puppy, lost his manhood on October 10, 2009.  Rather than pay for a costly procedure at our private veterinary clinic we opted to make an appointment at the San Francisco SPCA instead.  Papa Dash even got a discount by bringing in his pay stub to prove we are average working class people.

When we arrived in the morning, I found it reassuring to know the facilities were well maintained and there were many varied types of owners and dogs there.  It made it seem more legitimate than just a cheap shelter operation.  Dash made friends with a few other puppies that morning, including a chihuahua mix owned by a fellow Hawaii transplant.  It's such a small world!

At the end of the day when we arrived to pick up Dash, it was quite an interesting outtake procedure.  The dogs would be brought out one by one and basically 20 other dog owners would watch you pick up your dog, like a show-and-tell.  You knew which person owned which dog plus the amount and type of pain medication they purchased, if any.  When we stood to claim Dash, we were one of the few who did not buy medicine.  We figured Dash was so high energy he probably wouldn't even notice he had surgery.

And we were right.  Dash was somewhat groggy at first, but he quickly recovered and was back to his usual antics in no time.  It was so comical to watch him attempt to grab his toys with the cone on.  However, words of wisdom for future reference: You won't be able to bathe your puppy for a week after the procedure, so think ahead and give them a bath!

davenport beach

Our only relatives in the immediate Bay Area are Papa Dash's Aunty and Uncle in Davenport.  We love visiting their sleepy little beach town because it's a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.  One of the most exciting parts of each weekend trip is the beach excursion across the street with their 8-year old labrador retriever, Koa.

I enjoy the beach at Davenport because it's so secluded.  If you drove past it on Highway 1 you probably wouldn't even know it was there.  And, even if you saw cars parked across the town on the side of the road you still probably wouldn't know it was there.  To access Davenport beach you have to climb down a 15-foot rock ledge, cross a railroad track, walk down a hill, then climb down more rocks.  This picturesque beach is pretty much surrounded on all sides by cliffs, which makes it a perfect spot to let your dog run wild!

When Koa and Dash get together at the beach, you can barely tell there is an eight year age gap between them.  Both dogs could play fetch FOREVER!

Dash loves the beach, but is still getting the hang of the ocean and the waves.  He won't run into the surf, but he is willing to run into the back wash to grab the ball.  Koa tries to be a good role model by jumping in to get the ball, but so far Dash remains a skeptic.  I suppose it's not in a herding dog's nature to swim like it is for a labrador retriever...

Here's Dash, all sandy and wet from another rough day at Davenport beach.  I wish we could make the 1.5 hour drive over more often, but with everyone's busy schedules it becomes hard to coordinate.  Luckily, Dash doesn't know the difference.  Whether it's been a few hours or a few weeks, he loves going to Davenport beach exactly the same amount every single time!

golden gate bridge

Since we moved from Hawaii to San Francisco, Papa Dash and I have tried our best to make the most of our Bay Area experience.  One of the things we've always been meaning to do was walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.  I often laugh to myself at all the crazy tourists trying to get their Golden Gate Bridge experience despite the frequent cold, wind and fog.  But, that's exactly what we're trying to avoid!  Becoming complacent and taking our beautiful city for granted!

So one fine August afternoon Papa Dash and I decided to finally take the journey across the bridge.  I'll spare you all the scenic shots, but basically it was warm, sunny, and just awesome.  Now I understand why all the tourists flock to this landmark.  When you stare up at the towers and all the wires, it's incredible to think that mortal men built this wonder, and people all around the world recognize these bright red arches.  Even Dash enjoyed it (probably from all the oohs and ahhs he got from the passersby).

The one really interesting thing I learned that day: more people have committed suicide at the Golden Gate Bridge than anywhere else in the country.  There are even crisis phones lining the walkway as a last resource.  To understand more fully, Papa Dash and I rented "The Bridge", a tragic documentary by Eric Steel.  Sadness and disbelief - that's all I can say.  It's hard to think such an iconic and monumental structure could also be a beacon for so many lost souls...

half moon bay

These are some of my favorite pictures of Dash when we went camping at Half Moon Bay State Beach Park in August.  They don't really need captions, since I think the progression is what most puppies go through when they have fun: crazy excitement and curiosity, then calm, then exhaustion!

mount diablo

After going to Yosemite for Papa Dash's birthday, we spent my birthday weekend in July going camping at Mount Diablo.  We booked a camp site at the highest camp grounds on the mountain, and although the sites were first come first served I think we found the prime spot.  It was on the corner on the edge of a cliff with a perfect view of the sunset.

Of course, Dash wasted no time getting REALLY dirty.  Papa Dash and I were so busy taking photos of the gorgeous views that we didn't notice the vast field of weeds Dash was rolling around in.  I personally know I was focused on learning to use my new birthday present, a cute red point-and-shoot.  (Papa Dash wanted to get me some big, fancy digital SLR but I declined and asked for something more convenient.)

Once we looked down at our mini Aussie puppy and let the image process it was waaay too late.  Dash was completely covered in burrs from head to toe!!  Our vet had warned us earlier about some weed called a fox tail (that we never had in Hawaii).  She said it could work its way through Dash's fur and eventually get lodged in his skin, requiring surgery to remove.  We sort of knew what it looked like from her sample, and this field was suddenly looking a lot like fox tails!!

I FREAKED out.  We immediately dropped what we were doing and brought Dash back to the picnic table at our camp site.  I spent the next two hours (no joke) picking burrs out of Dash's fur.  I did NOT want our puppy to have surgery.  Surprisingly, even though I thought I did a pretty thorough job, we continued to find burrs in Dash's fur throughout the night.

Anyway, back to enjoying the view...  It is sort of a tradition for Papa Dash and I to watch the sunset when "on vacation" and this night was no different... or so I thought.  As we sat there under the orange red sky, Papa Dash told me he hoped I was having a great birthday and asked me to close my eyes because he had one more birthday gift for me.  Keep in mind, he had already given me a digital camera for my birthday, so when I closed my eyes I fully expected to open them to a matching camera case.  I opened my eyes... and HOLY COW there's my perfect engagement ring staring me in the face!

Papa Dash kept it simple with "Will you marry me?" and I gave a quick yes then a big, long hug.  The scene was perfectly suited to our lifestyle, the timing was perfect, and even the ring was exactly what I always wanted!  :)

We spent our first morning as an engaged couple taking in the views with Dash at the lookout point at the peak of Mount Diablo.  The camping, the proposal, the views, everything.  The whole weekend was just breathtaking.  I will never forget this!!

alpine lake

Even after countless hikes around the Bay Area, I still haven't mastered the art of photographing moving objects while moving myself, or keeping up with the group if I pause to snap a shot.  This means most of my hiking photos are blurry, or I'm always pooped from catching up.

However, when Papa Dash, our roommate, Dash, and I hiked in the Alpine Lake area in July the photos turned out surprisingly well!

The water was so still it was like glass...

I love the way the trees are reflected in the lake...

I even love this blurry photo of Dash.  Although it's a clear indication my bitty point-and-shoot is no match for a hiking mini Aussie puppy, to me it looks like a fancy abstract painting.  It also reminds me of how Dash can hike for miles and miles without giving up.  Thirsty, yes.  Hot, maybe.  Tired, NEVER!  (He will still be raring to play fetch the second we get home.)

This is one of my favorite hiking candid shots.  I was lucky to capture the precise moment when Papa Dash and our roommate were on the same footing.  Coincidentally, they're also wearing very similar ensembles from the back.  With the blue sky, trees, and little Dash, this photo perfectly captures the joy of hiking on a sunny summer day!

can i pet your dog?

It wasn't until we got Dash that I fully realized how annoying it can be when you're trying to have lunch outside a cafe and 20 people stop to ask, "Can I pet your dog?"  I was totally one of those people before Dash. There could be a dog three blocks away lying under a table and I would walk all the way over to compliment them and ask to pet their cute dog. Never again.

My friends have told me I should be appreciative people think so highly of my adorable puppy that they gravitate towards our table to smother him with affection.  If people would just pet Dash and ask one question that might be fine.  But they ALWAYS ask the exact same laundry list of questions.  At one point we almost had a shirt made up so Dash could just wear the answers on his back.  Yes he's cute, but sometimes I just want to eat my meal in peace.

Plus, I think Dash is getting a little big-headed.  Now when someone doesn't stop to fawn over him he turns around as they walk by, almost as if saying, "Hey!  Not even a glance?  But I'm the cutest puppy you've ever seen!  Sheesh."

yosemite: part 2 of 2

As I said in the previous Yosemite post, Papa Dash and I were born and raised in Hawai'i, so naturally we'd both grown up accustomed to the warm waters of our local beaches and rivers.  Going to Yosemite National Park with Dash was the first time we had actually experienced "mainland" swimming.  Before then we'd only stuck our fingers in the frigid Bay Area waters and gawked at how other people could brave the cold to take a dip.

At the Wowona campgrounds there was a beautiful, lazy river lined with the most beautiful river rocks I've ever seen.  The water was crystal clear and the perfect chilly temperature to swim in on such a hot summer day.  One spot was even deep enough to jump in from the bank!  How much more idyllic could it get?  Geez, Yosemite National Park was just gorgeous.  Even more than gorgeous.  There aren't even words.

Dash was clearly overheating under the baking summer sun, so we decided to bring him into the water to cool down a little.  He was a very brave mini Aussie as he was tossed into the water then paddled back to shore.  In an act of serendipity, a random floating mattress came down stream for us to play with too!  I think aside from cooling down aspect, Dash totally preferred floating like a king to swimming through the river.

It wasn't long before our puppy was all tuckered out.  He curled up in my lap to take a nap... except when he stretched out, he didn't quite fit any more.  Rather than wake him or move him I just held my hand out to support him.  Our friends thought I was crazy as I sat there patiently with my hand under Dash's head, but to me it was one of those special puppyhood moments I will never forget.  In retrospect, I'm very grateful someone thought to take a photo of it!

What a perfect day.  Our baby mini Aussie learned to dog paddle, Papa Dash and I had our first "mainland" swimming experience, and we all enjoyed the awesome beauty of the river.  I can't wait to go back again next summer!!

yosemite: part 1 of 2

Ever since Day One we'd been counting down the time until Dash could truly begin to share our love of nature!  To celebrate Papa Dash's birthday and to make Dash's first outdoor adventure a grand one, we took a long weekend off with our friends and drove all the way to Yosemite National Park.  I remember my Grandpa telling me long ago that Yosemite was one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen (and he was far more well traveled than I will ever be) so I thought about this the whole way there. 

Once we finally stopped at a lookout... HOLY BANANAS!!!  It was the most incredible display of natural beauty I'd ever seen!!! (Even more breathtaking than anything in our home state of Hawai'i.)   Just staring into the infinite distance, blanketed in endless trees, surrounded by mammoth cliffs and waterfalls...  Words can't describe how moving the experience was.  I was even grateful there was no cell phone reception, since this way we were all completely immersed in nature.

 

Our friends had booked a campsite at the Wowona campgrounds, so after wiping our jaws off the floor we headed over there.  Being from Hawai'i, where there are no bears, Papa Dash and I paid very close attention to the ranger as he explained all the rules.  Would I be able to see a bear?  The possibility of glimpsing such a majestic wild animal was electrifying!

On the other hand, little Dash couldn't care less about bears and wasted no time getting thoroughly dirty as we set up camp.  As we settled in we were definitely glad we chose to stay out of the crowded, main village area of the park.  It was so warm and beautiful out that our roommate didn't even set up his tent.  He simply hooked up his hammock and slept under the stars.

I guess we should have researched Yosemite more before we got there, because the rangers quickly pointed out that although leashed dogs were allowed in the campgrounds, there weren't really any dog friendly hiking trails or activities.  No problem, we thought.  We'll just go check out the giant Sequoia trees for now (especially the one with the hole through the bottom).

Yosemite was ridiculously big, so we all had to drive over to the Mariposa Grove to see the giant Sequoia trees.  Unfortunately it was only once we got there and saw the signs that we realized there were no dogs allowed on the trail.  We were heartbroken!  What to do, what to do...

Hey!  Let's just carry Dash!  Our logic was that if we carried him, he wouldn't be making any impact on the natural surroundings and it would almost be like he was never there.  I'm a stickler for following the rules of the trail, so this was a very difficult choice for me to live with.  To make it even harder, we got quite a few stares as we walked the busy trail holding a puppy in our arms.  But, it was worth it.  Being in the presence of so many ancient, towering trees was again, just moving.

Okay.  You caught us.  We did let Dash walk on this one log when no one was looking.  I love seeing him experience new things.  He took to balancing along the round surface with ease, and soaked in all the smells for the few moments he was allowed to touch the log.

I think everyone should see Yosemite once in their life, and I am so happy to have shared this first with young Dash and some of the closest people in my life!