Man of the house

Rigby usually sleeps in the living room on his mat, but with Todd gone he's started something new: he follows me into the bedroom at bedtime and curls up on the floor next to the bed. 

Maybe, since we've started camping in the Casper apartment, he's used to sleeping with us in the same room.

But I also wonder if the lil' boy is being kind of like a protector.  Without the regular man of the house around, he's steppin' up! 

Easy rider

Rigby, in true doggie fashion, loves riding with his head out the window.

His ears flap and his nose wiggles out of control as he takes in all the smells coming at him.

He's just too cute.  A lot of times we let him have his way for a little while and I just turn up the heater to keep from freezing as he enjoys the ride.

Scrub-a-dub

We gave Rigby his first bath tonight. We've been wanting to do this for a while since we don't know where he'd been before we got him.

Really, he did pretty good! He didn't mind the scrubbing as much as he did the shower head. And Todd got only moderately wet while I sustained a minor claw wound to the thigh.

But, now he's puppy fresh!

Open and shut case

We had to leave Rigby for about seven days with friends while we were in Wisconsin. When we got him back Tuesday night it seems our little boy had mastered a few new tricks...particularly the art of escape.

He's been so good about staying in the backyard and we didn't believe he had any way to get out. But this is a case of a puppy gone bad. A puppy addicted to the thrill of "getting out."

The perp (can you tell I watch a lot of Law & Order?): Don't be fooled by that cute puppy face. This is a hardened criminal...


A dark alley. Because every good Law & Order episode has one...


The scene of the crime. A simple swinging gate...



The fixer. Don't mess with him - you'll be swimming with the fishes...


Case closed. Looks like it was an open and shut gate, um, case.

Bird watcher

Todd took Rigby with him over the weekend to check pheasant hunters and came back all excited: we may have a natural bird dog.

I think that's pretty cool too, even though I don't sport any blaze orange.

Apparently, Rigby flushes birds and retrieves them - this from a dog who looks completely bewildered when we try throwing a stick for him to fetch.

Todd thinks, with a little work, Rigby will be really good in the field.

Here he is hot on the trail...


I love this picture! He's just so darn cute here...


What a proud puppy! Good boy!

Too many doggone choices

I had to buy dog food for Rigby yesterday and what an experience!

There's a million different kinds it seems for puppies, healthy weight management, skin and coat formula, vibrant maturity 7+ senior formula...

And this was just in the dry food aisle.

What ever happened to the days of some simple Purina or Ol' Roy? I know, I know food science is ever evolving. And yes, I want to make sure Rigby eats healthy, but really, does he need a lamb and rice or salmon based food?

No.

So, he'll be eating a regular formula, but I still chose Pedigree. It's got to be good and delicious with a name like that, right?

Heart breaker

Rigby just broke my heart!

Usually, he goes for a walk with me in the morning then goes to work with Todd in the field all day.

We had to leave him home once last week because Todd had to be in the office and couldn't take him. It was cold out, so we kept him in the shop, which is nicer, really, than some dogs get - the shop is heated.

He has to stay home again today, but fortunately it's supposed to be really nice. So, being a dog, he needs to stay outside.

Only I'M the one who had to leave him last this morning.

He seemed panicked to follow me, pawing at the gate and trying to fit himself through the part that's not flush with the house. And the sounds he made!! Oh! I've never heard him be so vocal! He was whining like he was desperate to have me not leave.

I know he needs to get used to being left alone. And he needs to be outside more, being a dog 'n all. But I think we're going to have to do this in baby steps. He needs to trust and understand that we're coming back and he's not being dumped again. We really need to focus on this because we have to leave him with friends for a full weekend in November so we can go to a wedding.

So, Todd and I are going to come home periodically today to check on him and show him that we do return.

He'll be fine. Be he still killed me this morning!

New roomie!

It's no secret how badly I've wanted a dog.

Well...

I've got one!

A few weeks ago my mom found a little black lab on the side of the road. She did due diligence - posting fliers, checking with the local vets and animal shelter to see if anyone was missing a pup - and nothing.

So, last Friday I drove to Omaha, Neb., to meet my mom at my sister's house and do the pick up.

He is SO sweet, and cute, and well-mannered! Someone taught this boy how to behave before they dumped him.

He's gotten in trouble a couple of times - once for eating a package of sliced cheese off the counter - and he doesn't listen worth a darn when there's another dog in sight, but overall he's pretty darn perfect!!

He's spent every day working in the field with Todd, and I take him for runs in the morning - which is awesome for me since I've fallen off the running bandwagon lately.

Without further ado, meet the newest addition to mine and Todd's home - and topic of discussion on the blog...

Rigby!