Christmas Photos!

Last night we took bunches and bunches of pictures. My mom was determined to get at least one good shot for our Christmas cards.  Mom and dad wore matching PJ pants (ha! ha!) and tee shirts. I didn't have to wear anything except my cool bandana. We have Deer Park colors on - maroon and gold. 
Mom and Dad liked 2 of the pictures so mom picked out a card where she could use them both. Pretty neat!

 So what do you think? 

Note from Mom: Nothing like trying to take a picture of an almost 80 pound 2 and 1/2 year old! He did so good while I was setting the timer but every time I would sit down he would want to turn around and look at me. We were wrestling with him to turn around in about 25 takes. Finally we decided to just let him do his own thing and ended up with these 2 great shots of him. He is so cute when he throws his head straight back to look at us. He does this all the time so it is so him.

He looks huge in the photos!

Just Me and My Dad

My mom made a trip to Arkansas so just us guys hung out. We had a lot of fun, but I was sure ready for my mom to come home. It just isn't the same without my mom. Me and dad played ball, frisbee and hung out in the garage a lot. He bought me some goodies from Walmart that mom wasn't too happy about because she says they are junk food. I don't know, they tasted pretty good to me! She likes for me to have healthy, organic treats that we get from Barkbox every month. (They do have mighty good stuff!!)

Note from Mom: I left on Thursday morning very early and then came home Saturday evening so it was a pretty short trip. Brad bought him some of those nasty jerky type chew strips that are nothing but by-products and terribly unhealthy. I am sure Opie thought they were great. It was like giving a kid a bunch of candy at one time and calling it health food, but he felt sorry for him because he wasn't eating and he was moping around after the first day when he realized I wasn't coming home that day. I know Brad takes good care of him but no one can take care of the baby like the mom, right?

 

Home Alone Again

Well, my mom has gone back to school (work) and I am home alone all day. She comes home from 11 - 12 but she leaves at 7 a.m. and doesn't come home until 3:30. I really don't mind - I get to stay in her recliner and stretch out and sleep all day. 

Note from Mom: I realized that he has not been limping the past 5 or 6 weeks and I have decided it must be because I have been home and he is more mobile. He goes up and down the stairs with me a lot. When I work he does sleep all day and he stays pretty much in my recliner. I am thinking that because he sleeps and lays around that he is "stove up" more and that is why he limps. So - I am just going to have to make sure he is active every evening. It is just too hot right now for walks. Being a bulldog, he can't take the heat for very long. 

Today was my first full day back to work - I will miss being home all day with him. I want to be a stay at home dog mom!

Houston Dog Show

My mom and dad went to the Houston Dog Show last week and they didn't take me! Mom says that I would be overwhelmed with all the people and dogs and smells and stuff, but I think I would have been just fine. Maybe next year.

Anyway, when they got home I sniffed them all over and oh boy! they smelled like heaven to me. I could smell dozens of other dogs of all kinds. I really wasn't too happy with them petting and talking to other dogs, but they sure did smell good!

Then they brought out my surprises. Of course they bought me stuff. I got a new Jolly Ball! This one has a handle on it and I can just grab it up and toss it all over.

I got 3 HUGE treats! A femur, knee cap and some tendons, too. That made it all worth them seeing the other dogs. 

Note from Mom: I just love the Houston Dog Show. Every year we talk about letting Opie go - but we always back out. Then we regret not taking him, so we buy him a bunch of stuff to make up for it. LOL

Singing Tomorrow

I like to sing. Bet you didn't know that. I do and I have some songs of choice that I really like.

Note from Mom:
There are a couple of commercials that Opie watches that he howls as loud as he can and he sounds so pitiful! He also howls when Young & Restless comes on and they play Nadia's Theme.

I don't know what it is about this one commercial, tho. I can't figure it out. It is a commercial about preventing heart attacks and they are singing "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'll Love Ya, Tomorrow" and he will watch it and throw his head back with a horrible howl! I had to video it and I put it on Facebook, of course. Maybe  he is just singing.

Then there is the commercial about abused animals. I understand his howling at the sad, abused dogs.  That one makes me want to howl. But the heart attack commercial?

Maybe it is the sad sound to the songs. I don't believe it is hurting his ears or even irritating him. Music is pretty much in the background of everything on TV. We watch Dancing With The Stars - never has howled. He never howled during American Idol or The Voice. 

Opie singing to Tomorrow

Company Gone!

We had a great time! My grandma and niece were here for 2 weeks! Lilly and I played frisbee. I did all my tricks for Brooklyn. 
Here are some pics of my and Lilly. she is 9 years old. I miss her already.

Note from Mom: He is so good with kids. He really loves them. I am always watchful when ever he is around kids, but he has always been perfectly fine.

Company Comin'!

My grandma and 2 of my nieces will be coming for 2 weeks! Brooklyn and Lilly! yea!! I will have some kids to play with. I hope they will want to get in my pool with me. Last year only grandma came, but we still had fun. 
Brooklyn is 14 and Lilly is 9. I hope they let me sleep with them, too. I am so excited!

Lilly 

                                                                Grandma & Opie
Note from Mom: 
Brooklyn has never met Opie yet, so she is pretty happy to finally get to see more than pictures. Lilly met him when he was still a pup - so she is going to be really surprised to see how big he is now. Last year he sat in the chair with grandma quite a bit, but he is pretty much too big for that now. He will occasionally sit with me, but not too often. He prefers my recliner all to himself and gets in it every chance he gets.

                                                                         Brooklyn

Mom's Home for the Summer!

This is my mom's last week to work and she is off the whole summer! We have lots of fun things planned. Trips to Petsmart and Petco, walks, and my grandma and 2 of my nieces are coming for 2 weeks the end of the month! They are 10 and 14 so they will be lots of fun.
Mom bought me a sprinkler thing that you hook up to the water hose and it sprays water and I can play in it. She says she is going to let me try it out next week. Dad is going to clean up my wading pool, too. I love summer time!

Note from Mom: I am so ready for my summer off. I plan to do all the things Opie wants to do, but I am also planning to try my hand at creating my first Reborn Baby. We are also excited about my mom, Brooklyn and Lilly coming for 2 weeks. I am sure Opie will stay worn out. The worst part of summer vacation is leaving him all over again when I go back to work when school starts in August. :-(

Meeting My New Baby Brother

I have a new baby brother  - his name is Benjamin Wyatt. I am still not too sure about him. Mom says I will get used to him. 

Note from Mom: He was too funny. He wants to see him so bad. Since the video, he keeps going to Benjamin's bed and looking at him. He smells  like baby powder which is a new smell for Opie.

I Have A Baby Brother

Mom brought home something today that I was not expecting! A baby brother! He doesn't do anything but sleep. I like to watch him sleep. I keep trying to get him to do something but he just lays there. At first I was a little scared of him. I wanted to see him but I just wasn't too sure. I have never seen a baby that little bitty before. His name is Benjamin. 
Now Mom tells me I am going to have a little sister, too. Her name is Sally Jane. Mom says she will be here in a couple of weeks. Wow - but Mom says I am still the baby. I am just now a big brother, too.

Note from Mom: I got my first Reborn Newborn today. Benjamin Wyatt arrived at 1:30 p.m. weighing 5 1/2 pounds and 20 inches long. (If you don't know what a reborn is - google it) His sister will be coming in a couple of weeks. Isn't he precious?

Happy Mother's Day

Tomorrow is Mother's Day but dad and I celebrated with mom early today. We got her some beautiful big roses. They smell really good, too. She was really happy. My mom loves flowers of all kinds. Tomorrow she and dad are going out to eat somewhere but I have to stay home (not fair!) I hope they bring me something home!

Note from Mom: What a beautiful surprise they were! I do love all flowers, but roses especially. These are enormous roses, too. He did good! He is so funny how he has to smell them. Love my Opie! 

My Mama's New Tattoo Redo

My mom got the coolest tattoo today! She says it is in honor of me. You know that means I am really special. She didn't put my name on it, but she still says it is because of me.

Note from Mom: Many years ago I got a hummingbird and a yellow rose tattooed on my shoulder and after too much time in the sun when we had a pool without sunscreen, no less, it had faded pretty bad. You could barely even tell what it was. It no longer had yellow in the rose or green and red in the hummingbird. So I asked an artist if he could redo it with something new. (Honestly, I would preferred to have it removed all together, but that is very costly, takes many many trips to have it removed and you still never completely get rid of it)

So when I got to his studio he had drawn up what he thought would look good. All I knew is I wanted a pawprint included. 

So here is the before picture and the after picture. I like it!

My X Rays

My mom got all my X Rays from the first orthopedic surgeon I went to and they are pretty cool pictures. (They don't look anything like me) She says she isn't too sure she likes this first surgeon and wants to take me to another for a 2nd opinion. 
I still limp a lot even though I take my medicine. I like to run and play and then when I do I hurt for a few days after. 



Note from Mom: According to the orthopedic surgeon, he sees hip dysplasia and suggested Opie have left hip replacement. I am not sure I agree with that. I still think it is his knee. It won't hurt to get another opinion. I don't want them operating on him if it isn't absolutely necessary. 

I am a member of a Facebook page called Orthodogs and I shared these X-Rays on there and every person posted back agreed that a 2nd opinion is needed and they see no signs of hip dysplasia. There are people who are vets, vet techs & even orthopedic staff,,so makes me wonder!

Hip Dysplasia

I was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia earlier in the year and the plans to have a hip replacement are in the works for June. BUT mom and dad have decided to try a few things first to see if we can make things better and avoid the surgery.

1. I am going to go on a walk every day - but just a short one.
2. I am taking Fish Oil
3. I am taking a high dollar glucosomine tablet with Omega 3 and Green Lipped Mussel
4. Daily Massages 
5. Probiotics
6. Rimadyl (anti inflammatory Rx)
7. Grain free Diet
8. Organic treats
9. Decrease exercise outside of walking

Note from Mom: We have pretty much done all of these things to some degree but we are now going to diligently try every single one together daily and see if we can note any improvements at all. The muscle mass is what we are most concerned about and want to see if we can gain some of that back through the daily walking and eating better.

If there is any possible way to avoid the surgery or even be able to put it off a year or two - then I would like to. If we do not see any change at all over a 2 month period then we will go ahead with the surgery.

We have also decided to get a 2nd opinion. I plan to make an appointment next week for a different specialist to see him. We will update after that visit.

Mom's 1st unOfficial Client

I have a new friend. He came over this week and spent the whole day.  He was over so mom could work with him but we played a whole lot, too. His name is Samson and he is a one year old Goldendoodle. We had so much fun. He is bigger than I am, well, taller. I have a lot more muscle, tho.

His mom brought him over to our house and 6:45 in the morning and he stayed until 4:45 in the evening. By the time he left, I was limping like crazy! I was so tired! Mom says she was tired, too. We stayed outside the whole day. It was such a pretty day - not hot at all. It was just right! You should see Samson leap right over me like a frog!

Note from Mom: Samson is a pretty hyper pup, but he is just one year old and full of energy. We worked on sit, down and stay. We worked for about 10 minutes ever 45 minutes the entire day. On breaks he and Opie played until they dropped and needed a few minutes of down time. It was a lot of fun working with him. However, his mom messaged me today and has decided to rehome Samson. I was really sad to hear that. She just doesn't feel like she can give him the time he needs since he is a high energy dog. I know he will calm down in a few months and he is so smart and will make a great companion. I hope someone will want him and love him the way I love Opie. He deserves that. I was really looking forward to working with him and having him over for playdates.

My Mom's Business Cards

My mom is getting so legit! Aren't her business cards pretty? Well, how can they not be with MY picture on them? Right? I look pretty good if I do say so myself. I think the colors are pretty cool, too.

Note from Mom: I was a little worried I was jumping the gun but then decided what the heck - they were only $9 for 500 cards. Now that they are here, there are a couple of things I would have added but too late now. Maybe next time.

I also got a tee shirt, too. 

 

My Mom - The Dog Trainer

My mom has been working hard on trying to get her dog training business going. She finally has a name. It will be called Smarty Paw Dog Training. There is a lot more for her to do, though. She keeps getting frustrated and wants to throw in the towel but dad and I are encouraging her. She finished her school training last year. It is time to get going with it! I am going to be her model. She has MY picture on her business cards that she is having made. Since I do so well with my training, she says she can show potential clients all the things she has taught me. 

Note from Mom: It is very frustrating. I keep running into road blocks. Picking a name was bad enough. I narrowed it down to 3 and then finally to Smarty Paw Dog Training. I had several offer a name or two, but none that I liked as well. 
So much to do! I didn't think there would be much work to getting this going since I planned to use my own backyard  for the most part - no building needed - no overhead really. No employees - mostly word of mouth (I hope) and One on One. I can do a Facebook page, a website - business cards are not too expensive. But - - -besides picking a name and making sure it is not taken - and filling out the paperwork, having it notarized and mailed in to the county clerks office - with payment - there is still the question of insurance, brochures, how much to charge, business bank account, tax forms,  etc.  So so much!

I want this to be fun! Maybe I should just do this as a hobby...ugh

My Visit to the Orthopedic Surgeon

 

This is me patiently waiting to see the Orthopedic Surgeon.

I have been having a lot of trouble walking when I first get up and on some days I limp really bad. When I had X - Rays in November, my regular vet told me that I could possibly have some knee problems going on, but he couldn't be sure and the X-Rays didn't really show any thing. He gave me some anti-inflammatory medication and said that if I didn't get better then I would need to see a specialist. I was supposed to rest for a few weeks and see if I got better. I would get better for a day or so and then I would hurt all over again after running or playing too hard. I love to play frisbee and ask to play all the time. I love to chase the squirrels, too. It was hard for me to rest. Now I am on round 2 of medication.
So mom and dad decided to take me to the special doctor and he did more X-Rays and found that I have Hip Dysplasia. This is very common for large breeds like me. This means my hip bones don't fit right. Right now the doctor said my left side is the bad side. It also means that I will have to have a hip replacement soon. 
The doctor told mom and dad that I could do pain management for awhile, but he didn't want to wait til I was older and make it harder for me to get well. I am 2 years old now, so I am still pretty young. 
I am sure when I have my surgery I will get lots of goodies, but I am not looking forward to it at all.
In dogs, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic (polygenic) trait that is affected by environmental factors.

Note from Mom: Bless his heart - this was one of my worst fears! Back in November the vet told me he saw no signs of hip dysplasia so I was so happy about that - then I find out he does. Not what I expected to hear from the orthopedic surgeon. We looked at the X-Rays and they were very easy to see the differences in hip joints. 
The good news is - it is only one side right now and so far hasn't degenerated to the point where surgery is a "have to do right now" thing. We can do pain management until we are ready. Of course we can't put it off to the point that he can't walk or gets too old that it will be hard for him to get over it. Since it is about a 12 week recovery, I would like to have it done while I am on summer break. I certainly dread it, but I know we have to do what is best for him. 

Thank goodness we have Pet Insurance!!

 

Be My Valentine

I had a happy Valentine's Day. Mom and Dad got me some heart shaped treats and a new toy. Me & Dad got mom these pretty white roses. I am not sure why she likes them so much since they don't do anything, but she seemed happy about them. 
They went out for the day and I stayed home recuperating from my long day at the Orthopedic Hospital (more about that on another day) I was ready to just sleep the day away. 

Note from Mom: The sweet boy was really worn out after the day we had yesterday. We are going to blog about it tomorrow, so stay tuned.

2 Years Old Today!

Today is my birthday! I am now 2 years old. My mom made me pupcakes and I got to eat 2 of them. I also got 2 toys. One is a Kong toy that you can put treats in and the other one is a toy that mom put peanut butter in. I love peanut butter.

I am 77 pounds
I love to play frisbee.
I still like to sleep a lot and my favorite place is mom's recliner.
I like to lay in the sunshine.
I love peanut butter.


Here are some pictures from my birthday.

Note from Mom: I can't believe he is already 2 years old. He is still such a big baby. I laugh when people say how intimidating he looks because he is really such a pushover. Of course he does have a pretty ferocious bark. I am so glad he liked the pupcakes. I found the mix on ebay and it is pretty much your standard cake mix except of course for dogs. There are several flavors to choose from but since Opie loves peanut butter so much, I went with that. It includes a yogurt based frosting. I added a heart shape treat just for extra cuteness. The box says you can keep them up to 5 days in the fridge or you can freeze them. Of course he could eat them all in a day - but we are going to limit it to 2 a day.

 

Me and My Shadow

Look at this big boy that came out to play with me. I'm just teasin' - it's just my shadow.

Pretty cool, huh? 

Note from Mom: His shadow looks a whole lot meaner than he does!  I thought it was a pretty neat picture.

23 Months Old Today & a Stuffy Puppy

One more month and I will be 2 years old! That is pretty exciting. I wonder what I will get for my birthday?
Mom and Dad bought me a friend! He is a big dog that just lays around and doesn't do anything and I try and try to get him to play, but he just lays there. He doesn't make any noise at all. Mom is always telling me to play nice and sometimes she takes him away and puts him where I can't find him.
She doesn't like it when I pick him up and sling him around the room.

Note from Mom: I thought maybe Opie would like having this big dog to lay around and cuddle with but he gets a little carried away. I already removed the eyes and sewed them shut because I knew if he were able to get those loose then it would be a horrible choking hazard. Every time he starts playing rough I tell him to play nice and he will for a little bit. But if I am not right there watching he would have all the stuffing out in no time! I don't leave it out when we are gone to work. He only gets it when I am where I can watch him. It is about the same size as he is. I call him Stuffy Puppy.

++++UPDATE on STUFFY PUPPY++++ he only lasted one week. After removing an ear - that left a gaping hole for stuffing to come out and after about 4 huge pieces - Stuffy Puppy had to be trashed. I could have sewn him up again but decided it was useless. He is still not ready for stuffed animals. :-(