Manassas Battlefield or something....

As the weather is turning cooler, Annabel and I are more comfortable running around outside. Seeing as we are both uber furry and black, we tend to get really hot when it's warm out, so we aren't actually a whole lot of fun. Now that it's getting fall like, we are out exploring a lot more. Suzi and Auntie Kelly took us out to a HUGE park . They kept talking about it being a historical site or something. All we know, is it was a great day!

a year is a long time!

Bow WOW!

It's been over a year since anything was written!

So much has happened.

Let's try to catch you up!

1. There are two of us now! Colt and Annabel! We are inseperable!

Here is us being a little silly at our grandmother's house.

 2. Our mom and dad got married!! We got to spend a week on Cape Cod playing at the beach and then spent 2 more weeks with our Auntie Kelly. She spoils us rotten!

Ok, I guess that doesn't doesn't look like a whole but, it really is a whole lot. Mom and dad have been very busy but they always have time for us. Now that things have calmed down, we are going to try and start writing again. 

We are looking forward to the cooler weather, and going out more often!

Beach!

Since Suzi couldn't figure out how to sleep, she took me to the beach. I LOVE THE BEACH! It was so great! I ran around, and then ran some more, then I dug, and then I ran, and then I dug, then ran, and dug and ran, and finally, I went SWIMMING!!!!! It was SO GREAT! Then I had to go back inside and take a bath. It was a great, great, great, great, great morning!

Meeting a Small Human

Did you know that not all humans are big? This past weekend I met a small human. Colt had to stay inside because he gets a little bouncy with company. Suzi and Ken's present day for their wedding was today, and then they had a bbq afterwards. I love bbq's because I get to hang out with lots of new friends, I get loved on, and I get food, lots of food. Anyways, usually I only hang out with big humans, but, on this day, I met a little one. He was squishy and fed me grass, which was not so yummy, and he pulled my tail a lot, which hurt but he did let me lick him. It was such a fun time.

New Use for Old Toy

box bigger then me?!

I could fit in this huge box!

Colt can rake!

Ken & Suzi took us to visit Grandma & Grandpa this weekend. The have a big grass patch in their backyard and it is really fun to run around in. This time, there were a lot of leaves on the ground. While I just thought it was fun to run in them, Colt wanted to help clean them up.  He's so silly.

update

Holy Pupperoni! 

So much has changed and so little has been updated! Give us a few days and we'll get back on track and out of the dog house!!!

Snow Day!

This last picture is with Auntie Kelly. She likes to take pictures of me.

we had lots of fun!

whoops...

suz is not so happy with me when she came home today.

i was really bored.

sorry!

HIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i helps K make dinner!

what are you doing cat?!

umm, cat. why are you eating out of my bowl?

i iz a cat?

those cats are wearing off on me, i think. the top of the couch really is a

comfortable place to lay. now i lay on top of the Suz.

got lost in those lazy dayz...

sorry we've been gone for so long... lots of new stuff is going on in the house. Suz got a new job, we're moving to a townhouse that has a yard, there was christmas, and thanksgiving and lots of traveling.... let's see where to start....

September - I learned how to swim in a pool. My friend Folly-dog came to visit for a little while and we went to the dog park. Suzi visited her friend's apple orchard and then made me the most yummy apple treats!

October - VERY busy for everyone. We visited Harpers Ferry and went hiking. Then we went camping at Sky Meadow, and that was really fun. For halloween, i dressed up like a bee. We went to a dog expo and met a lot of other dogs. I didn't win the costume contest though. Apparently little dogs dressed like bumblebees are way cuter then big ones like me. There's always next year, right? I also spent some time with my friend Roxy-dog while Suz and K went to a few weddings.

November - I got to travel! We went to Massachusetts and met one of my grandmas! There I got to meet my cousins, Sam, Molly, Amelia, and Faith. It was so fun to play with them. Then we went to Alabama for Thanksgiving. We went through what Suz called the Great Smoky Mountains. I got to ride around with my nose out the window, i loved it. Then in Alabama, i met my other grandparents and played in their backyard, which was wicked awesome.

December - Suz had been saying she was excited for this stuff called snow... well, it snowed, and it was awesome! I got lots of presents for Christmas. Then we visited Suz's friends in Maryland and played in the yard.

swimmmmingggggggggggg!

The Dogs Today Think Tank: Searching for an Annabel-proof toy

The Dogs Today Think Tank: Searching for an Annabel-proof toy: "Our seven-month-old chocolate Lab/ Golden Retriever mix is a chewing machine! The first day we brought her home she seriously chewed through..."

goose poop; nom, nom, nom?

Suz, K and I went for a walk yesterday. I love when they take me on long walks or hikes in the woods. The track we do is about 1.5 miles with a quick walk through our apartment complex, then down a street, past a pond (which I got to go in last night, well, I don't know that I was SUPPOSED to go in, but I went in), through some bushes, then to another parking lot to a field where we get to play with a ball or something that Suz or K brings, and then we start our trek home.

Last night, when we went to the field, it seemed like there were treats, ALL OVER. There were these black, green and white little tube like treats all over that field... and obviously I started to eat them, I mean, weren't they there for me to eat? K said No, and then told me to "leave it alone", and then told me we'd have to leave the field if I didn't stop... but I was so confused! Why would they put these yummy treats out if I wasn't supposed to eat them. And then Suz, well, she seems really mad. She kept yelling my name, and while it did distract me a little bit, I kept on eating those yummy treats!

We left quite soon after that... I guess they were done playing.  I still don't get why they would put out those treats if I wasn't supposed to eat them.... All I know is, I hope I get to back there tomorrow!!!

Favorite Toy...

I spend a good part of my day just chewing on things. I really like it. Sometimes I chew on things that maybe I'm not supposed too, but for the most part I behave.

When I was little K bought me a small, tennis ball looking toy that I chewed on and it squeaked. Last week, it stopped squeaking. They said I put a hole in it or something. Supposedly this toy lasted a good while, or so they said, I've had it since I was brought home. So they left the house and when they came home, they got me a NEW one and it's even bigger and louder and awesomer. I love it. I love it a lot!

busy...

Suz and K got me a new yummy treat the other day. It's called a busy bone and it was soooooooo gooooood. I gobbled it up in just a few minutes! I think Suz thought it would last longer, but it did keep me fairly busy, and I really did love the taste of it. She said something about it being expensive, but good thing we got to try it for free. I dunno, I wasn't listening too well, just playing with my noms!

 Here are some pictures!

There is also one of Suz being funny and hanging out in my house with me! She's so silly!

Hot Dogs are Not Happy Dogs (so says the American Red Cross...)

The following is the second in a series of American Red Cross Dog Days of Summer stories to promote pet first aid. During the month of August, take the necessary steps to protect your pets and save their lives in the event of emergency.

Friday, August 13, 2010 — As we enter the final leg of summer, temperatures across the country continue to soar. Many Americans will flock to the beach, others might host a picnic in their own backyard. However we spend our summer days, pets are often included in the trips and festivities. The American Red Cross is using the Dog Days of summer as an opportunity to promote pet safety, and encourage pet owners to learn how to prevent and treat heat stroke in dogs, especially during the hot summer months.

Heat stroke (hyperthermia) occurs when a dog severely overheats- most commonly in the spring and summer months- when the weather turns warm. The good news is if the heat stroke hasn’t advanced too far (with body temperature of more then 104◦F), you can help your dog recover.

It is important to know if your dog is predisposed to heat stroke which is true of dogs with short snouts such as bulldogs, pugs and many other breeds. Other common causes of heat stroke include: a previous episode of heat stroke, dog left in a parked car, excessive exercise in hot humid weather (this may be exercise that your dog can usually handle but not in warmer weather), lack of appropriate shelter for an animal outdoors, thick-coated dogs in warm climates and underlying disease such as upper airway, heart of lung disease.
Never leave your pet in a parked car! Even with the windows cracked, your pet can quickly suffer heat stroke – and even die. Temperatures can exceed 120◦F in parked cars.


Unlike humans, dogs do not have sweat glands, so they can dispel heat only by panting and through the pads of their feet. Make sure your pet has plenty of cool water and shade during the hot weather.

Signs and symptoms of heat stroke include: collapse, body temperature 104◦F or above, bloody diarrhea or vomit, depression stupor, seizures or coma, excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, salivation.

If you suspect heat stroke:

• you should get your dog out of direct heat check for shock
• take your dog’s temperature
• spray your dog with cool water then retake temperatureplace
• place water –soaked towels on the dog’s head, neck feet, chest and abdomen
• turn on a fan and point it in your dog’s direction
• rub Isopropyl alcohol (70%) on the dog’s foot pads to help cool him but don’t use large quantities as it get be toxic if ingested take your dog to the nearest veterinary hospital.

During a heat crisis, the goal is always to decrease the dog’s body temperature to 103◦F in the first 10-15 minutes. Once 103◦F is reached, you must stop the cooling process because the body temperature will continue to decrease and can plummet dangerously low if you continue to cool the dog for too long.

Even if you successfully cool your pet down to 103◦F in the first 10-15 minutes, you must take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible because consequences of heat stroke will not show up for hours or even days. Potential problems include abnormal heart rhythms, kidney failure, neurological problems and respiratory arrest.

The American Red Cross offers Dog First Aid classes and materials for purchase. Visit http://www.redcross.org/ to contact your local chapter.