Christmas Collar Hike: Getting in Shape for Christmas Cookies

To be sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells:"

Dancing through the snow

on four of my little legs

Over snow fields we go

barking all the way

snow on pine bows bright

making snowflake noses

what fun it is to bark and run

a snowfield adventure song tonight

oh jingle bells jingle barks

jingle all the way  Ruff Ruff Ruff

Ruff Ruff Ruff   Ruff Ruff Ruff Ruff Ruuuuuuuuuffffffffffffffffff

Is Santa Going to Forget Me? I think I have anxiety about it...

 I did jump up on to a kid at the dog park yesterday to steal his hot chocolate....

Day Two of the Awards!

     I am so grateful for receiving this award from Basset Momma!  I love reading about Fred and Gloria's adventures every day.  Okay, well, I do miss SOME DAYS.  BUT when  I am online I ALWAYS GO AND VISIT THEIR BLOG.  They are sooooo cute and they are a little SASSY like I am.  Thanks for the award Basset Momma! 

  I have to share ten things that you don't know about me and pass this award onto six other dogs! 

  Okay...I may blush, but here goes....

1.  When Mom and Dad drive on the interstate, I duck when the car goes underneath an underpass.  WHAT?!  I COULD hit my head!

2.  One of my favorite places to sleep is on a towel next to the bed at a Super 8.  I also like drinking out of the hotel ice containers. 

3. I have had giardia fifteen times in my life.  I had it as a puppy and have no immunity to it. I catch it everywhere!

4.  I have rawhides once a month to take the tarter and plaque off of my teeth.

5.  I have bad allergies in the spring and have to take two benadryl pills a day!

6.  I finally became brave enough to do one of my fifty tricks at the Dogtoberfest this fall!  I did my figure eight without any hesitation.  Mom was proud.  I WASN'T IMPRESSED.  I didn't even get a ribbon for third.  ?! 

7.  My favorite game involves my mom shutting all the lights off and hiding in her closet.  She calls my name and I creep in really slowly to find her.  She shouts, "BOO!!!!" and chases me around the house for ten minutes.  TRY IT...IT'S A LITTLE SCARY, BUT A RUSH!

8.  I have to suffer through the application of plum foo foo spray daily.

9.  When I get a  new collar, I beg for it until it clicks around my neck. 

10.  My human mom wears an "I heart my dog" ring.  I've literally got myself wrapped around her finger....WAIT A MINUTE?  BOL!


The six blogs I award this award to are: 

Cowspotdog   I found this blog trhough Scrappy at Yorkie Tails, but found the writing style and stories to be great! 

Corgionmymind  A new blog I just checked out, but am seriously enjoying reading. 

Sheltiebeauties  I found this blog through Scrappy as well.  Great photos and lots of genuine barks and barkouts on this one!

Love of Chester  I always love it when I find another lab that blogs like I do!  Here's to my chocolate look alike and some great blogs! 

Gospel of Goose  I secretly admire your jingle tail.  Ruff!  You put up great pictures! 

Given to us by Yorkie Tails!  Thanks Scrappy!  We LOVE your blog!

Liebster Award

These are the rules for the Liebster Award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to them.

2. Reveal your top five picks {with less than 200 readers} and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favorite up-and-coming bloggers and keep it going!

It is SO hard to just pick five, but I tried to give the award to some blogs I have been following for a bit and some of the newer blogs I just started following. Here are my five picks (in no particuliar order) for this award:

1. Doodling Dogs  I love all of the useful information and the articles presented!  The pictures are fantastic too! 
2. Brando and Bogart I love the wordless Wednesdays and the photo blogs!  This blog makes my tail wag!
3.Brown Dog  I love Hawk's posts everyday,  however, we are unable to comment on the page!  He was my first follower and we WANT TO COMMENT every day, but don't know how to.  I  hope Hawk sees this award!  Can someone please let him know on his blog...?  I can't tell him he received it!  Thanks!
4. Bringing up Bella  I love this blog because this blog is MOTIVATED AND ALWAYS MOTIVATING!  Check it out!
5.Hood's Happenings  Ms. Mindy has an awesome blog.  We have to visit everyday we are online to check out what is up!  Check it out...it's totally pawsome!

Congratulations and I can't wait to see who you PAY THIS AWARD FORWARD to! 



Check in with me tomorrow to see the generous award given to us by Basset Momma!  ...and to read about some dog park agility park adventures! 

Hike with you soon,

        Kootenai

Back in Big Sky Country

    Hey furiends!  I am back in Big Sky Country, and I have already made myself feel right at home.  I have received a couple awards this week and am so THANKFUL for the recognition and CAN'T WAIT to give one of the awards to five other people.  The other award involves letting you pups know some stuff about me that you don't already know.  BOL!  You are in for some surprises!  Watch my posts over the next couple of days to see what I mean! 

     I convinced Scrappy, my BIG sister (BOL) to go on a snow hike with me!  Kansas doesn't even have snow yet, so of course, the first adventure we did had to have snow!  We wandered out into the deep woods where the trees were draped in snow to play a great game of CHASE!  I really DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT, but Scrappy is faster than I am.  She chases me, barking in her little bossy voice.  It makes me so excited that I whine.  I LOVE playing chase with my sissy.  I have missed her and the family so much when we have been in Kansas.  It is so nice to be home for Christmas.  She has NO IDEA what I am giving her for Christmas.  I bet it's so good that she'll blog about it!  Here is a little pic blog from our first Montana adventure!  Thanks again for the awards!  I will blog about them soon.  Hope all my furiends are starting their bark-downs to Christmas!  Ruff!

Chase

My new style for Christmas

My people

You're it!

Wahooooo

Wow, I've missed this place.

I think I will become a snow bunny

Hiking again in Montana with loved ones,
   Kootenai

A Great Recovery

Happy Monday everyone!  I am a happy girl with a growth that has completely dissappeared!  My limp is gone and I am getting hot compresses...THAT I FIND TO BE LIKE A DOGGIE HOT TUB...three times a day!  I am almost done packing to go home in a couple of days!  What a blessing to be better by the time I go to see my family in Montana!  Thanks for all of the  good words and the bark outs!  I won't be writing at the end of the week because we will be starting our 23 hour drive to the Great Western Big Sky Country.  My adventures next week will be unlimited!  Maybe Scrappy and I will do a post together! 

Back from the Vet

    I went back to the vet last night.  They drained my growth on my tummy and I have a check-up in another week.  If the growth is back, I get surgery.  We are going to get another opinion over the next week to make sure that Mom is making the right decision.  I am also on an antibioitic because of the infection inside the growth.  Thanks for all of the suggestions that everyone made for me.  We are looking into all of them.  I will keep you updated.  As of now the vet thinks it will all turn out fine.  Lots of barkouts! 

Sick Day



      Sorry I haven't been writing lately.  I have had a lot of stuff going on with my little body and my mom is really worried about me.  I started limping about a month ago, so my mom took me to the vet.  They did hip x-rays, a back x-ray, and knee x-rays.  Everything seemed okay, so they sent me home with some Rimadyl and called the injury a pulled muscle.  After two weeks rest, which was ABSOLUTELY AGONIZING, I was still limping around.  I started to get a bad rash on my tummy.  Mom took me to the vet AGAIN.  The vet found an infection in my mouth that couldn't be treated with anything.  I just have to sit it out until it goes away.  They said I could get snappy because it hurts a lot.  I can't imagine myself getting crabby about anything.  My tail is always wagging, even when I am hurting. 

     The vet said the infection on my stomach was a staph infection and gave my mom some shampoo to treat it.  Mom started to use it right away. It's been a week since my mom has used the shampoo and I now have a big cyst on my tummy.   Last night I saw my mom crying after she felt it.  She tried to hide the tears from me, but I know that she is VERY upset about everything that is going wrong.  She called the vet again today to set up another appointment.  I was wondering if any of my tail wagging friends have any suggestions as to how to find out what is going on with my little body.  I need to get better for my mom.  I have to stay around to hike with her and make her smile.  I'm going back to the vet tomorrow.    PS.  I am only two years old.  Maybe that will help with the suggestions.  Thank you! 

Hopefully hiking again soon,
     Kootenai

"I'm Going Out With My Boots On"

       I'm packing up to go home to Montana to see Scrappy and the family.   We are leaving in less than two weeks and I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!  This is the first item I decided I would definately need:

Can you say YEEHAW!?

   I'm bringing my dancing shoes for the dog rodeo races that happen during the Whitefish Winter Carnival.  Mom says I may get to race this year if I'm really good.  Last year I was slightly distracted by all the other people and dogs at the race.  When the races started I watched, muscles twitching,  on the sidelines.  This year IT'S ON!  Watch out puppies!  This year I'm racing and I'll run your socks off!  "I'm going out with my boots on!"

      If you think you have a faster draw then me, you're wrong.  I'm the real deal dog-migos.  Are any of you going anywhere exciting for Christmas?  If so, what can't you leave home without?  Y'all take care now.  Ruff!

Wordless Wednesday: "I Had the Time of My Life and I'd Do It All Again..."

Billings, Montana 2010

A Memory of Nordic Skiing: A PHOTO ARRAY

   Last Christmas my mom took me nordic skiing for the first time.  We were all newbies.  You see, my mom and dad had never gone nordic skiing either.  They bought themselves an early Christmas present of new gear and we went EVERYDAY over Christmas break. 

Round Meadows, Whitefish, Montana 2011

     The area we go to is an off-leash nordic area that is groomed every couple of days by snow mobiles!  Sometimes I see them coming at me on the trail and I hide behind my dad's legs.  I am only brave when mom and I are by ourselves.  Dad is strong.  He'll take care of her.  I'm off duty then.  I must say that, right off the bat, I was significantly better than my dad was at nordic skiing. 

Battle wound 1

  It really shouldn't matter that Dad received the wound because he swerved to avoid landing on me.  I would have moved.  He is a little OVERPROTECTIVE.  I kissed away the pain with my tongue and off we were again to be a happy fake pro-skier family. 

Fake nordic pro photo 1

   My mom laughed a lot as she tried to mangle her way down the few steep hills.  She made fun of Dad's battle wounds and gave me lots of peanut butter treats.  We would occasionally run into a few other families that were nordic skiing with their pups.  I made sure the prance by them with an extra little bounce because I was quickly becoming their competition.  WATCH OUT!  Okay, well... we could still take nice photos. 

Epic

   After a nice four mile loop and what seemed like hundreds of potty marks later...we found our car.  I couldn't wait to go nordic skiing again.  When mom took her skis off, I sat on them.  Are we really done?  I could go forever.  Dad had to lift me into the car because of all the running I had done on the four mile loop.  Mom said I went at least triple the distance.  I was so ready to go again...I....I.....YAWWWWNNNNNNN.

I'm still excited...it just is shown in a different way

   It was a great trip.  I remember every minute of it, well, except for the ride home.  Small detail. 

Ski with you later!

Sunbathing Amidst a Frigid Kansas Morning

   It was twenty three degrees when I woke up this morning.  I went outside to go to the bathroom and I felt my hair standing up in chilled goosebumps on my back.  I tucked my tail between my legs to run in a quick circle. Dad laughed and called me a baby, but he's the one wearing the North Face coat.  BABY? 
  I went back into the house to bask in the small amount of sunshine creeping through the shades.  My mom opened them all the way to let in the LIGHT.  I thought back to the first time I felt the sun's warmth.  
   I was nine weeks old when I got to go sun bathing for the first time.  The sun absorbed into my black coat like light absorbs darkness.  I was becoming so light.  My mom spread out her towel and told me my newest command.  Which I DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND FOUND UTTERLY BORING.  The laydown command was awful.  It meant stay down until I tell you to and I hated it.  But this time it was very relaxing.

Relaxation

 The sun was massaging me and the water was rocking to to sleep on the dock.  When my mom called me to go with her up to the house, I stayed put.  I didn't want to leave this dock.  It became my favorite place at the lake house. 

Sunbathing 101

     Thinking back to my puppy days is always fun.  The sun in the house is relaxing too.  The patch of sun doesn't do justice to the lake, but it is a piece of peace amidst a frigid Kansas morning.  I'm going to take a nap, but I'll see you tomorrow!

Oh so Thankful! Woof!

Whew

We are still resting up after Thanksgiving!  I'll start writing tomorrow!  We had some great company and some really fun adventures!  Bark with you soon!

Great Northern: The best hike in Montana

     Two July's ago I went on a hike that I will never forget.  I think it was the first time I saw a mountain goat and the first time my legs shook from fatigue after a hike.  The climb itself is only four miles, but the first mile and a half you gain almost two thousand vertical feet.  My hind quarters were burning as I climbed the trail in front of my family.  Mom kept me close because the grizzlies often used the trail to travel up and down between the summit and the river that weaved its way to Hungry Horse Reservoir below.    After we climbed the two miles we came out of the trees and I knew that the whole day was going to be unlike anything I have ever done before.  It was stunning.  

Hungry Horse Reservoir

A view of the climb to come

    The remaining two miles of the hike were above the treeline.  I led my family on the trail that weaved in between boulders and overlooked rocky descents unlike anything I'd ever seen.  I watched as two mountain goats descended the vertical cliff without hesitation.  I glanced at my paws.  I could never do that.  These animals could survive up here eating the small amount of lichen growing between the crevices.  I was very thankful my mom had packed my dog food.  I decided to travel right in front of her on the trail.  I didn't want to be too far away if she needed me...or IF I NEEDED HER.

The last mile

    We got up early that morning because if we would have started the hike too late, the wind would have wiped us off the mountain like we were dandelion seeds.  It was only nine, but my stomach growled as if it were noon.  I gently nudged my mom's hand.  She said, "Do you want water?" but I didn't want water.  When the family stopped for a snack and I drooled for the sandwich, my mom finally understood.  She removed my red travel bowl from her pack and dropped in a cup of my Nature's Recipe.  I gobbled it down and then she filled it to the brim with water.  I was hungry and thirsty.  The elements take a lot of you, especially above the treeline. 

     An hour after snack we trekked up the rocky face on a narrow goat trail that followed the ten foot wide ridgeline.  My mom tied a rope onto my harness to make sure the wind couldn't blow us off.  I stayed dead center on the ridgeline, intending to anchor both of us in case of emergency.   Through a small hole in the mountain's side I viewed the glacier.  It swept below us engulfing the entire north side of the mountain.  It looked like it would be the most fun to play in, but I knew that once I touched the snow I would slide down into the rocks below and be unable to stop.  I am thankful for my instincts.  Without them, I am not sure if I would know just how to protect my family.  We summited three hours and forty minutes after leaving the car almost 3800 feet below us.  My mom helped me touch the summit post so it was official.  Our time at the summit was brief.  The wind pulled at my cheeks and slobber blew from my face.  I felt how tired my back legs were. 

My summit

     We snapped a few photos with my mom, dad, and I. 

Myself, Mom, and Dad 2010

Then my mom took some pictures with my grandpa.  I did a quick 360 turn to witness what I might never witness again.  I was a small dot amidst a great picture of wonder.

The glacier

  "It's time to go Kootenai," my mom tugged at my leash. 

    As I started to head down I was surprised to find the trip down was more challenging that the ascent.  The rock gave way beneath my paws and the wind pushed at my backside.  I felt as though the mountain was going to eat me.  I pretended I was a goat and my paws became more stable.  Four long miles of later, we reached the car.  My mom and dad kissed me and I knew that I was going to get a nice massage later.  They gave me a treat and lifted me into the car.  I was too tired to jump.  I will never forget that hike.  If you ever go to Montana don't miss out on this hike of a lifetime.  It will rock your world. 

Hike with you later,

    Kootenai

A Month Till an Exciting Bath Day!!

    Today I went to Brookside Barkery in Overland Park, Kansas and received my once a month (unfortunate) bath.  Since my mom is allergic to the pollen and allergens that stick to my coat...I am forced to be tortured.  Some parts of it aren't so bad though.  When I finish I always get a doggie garlic bagel.  YUMMY!  I drool during the entire drying process because I know what is coming!  Brookside makes the best bagels!  I also sleep really well the night after a bath.  I SNORE the whole night and my mom and dad laugh at me. My mom says my coat is shiny.  I guess it looks a little bit nice.

Shiny coat after bath day!

         My next bath will be next month....ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE I GET TO GO SEE SCRAPPY AND FAMILY!  Scrappy is my sister and I love playing tug of war and chase.  She is the top dog of the house and I am always making her a little growly, but I know I am just the annoying little sister.  She LOVES ME!  She just gets her whiskers bumped a little when she has to share her people with me.  I know she loves me because she SOMETIMES ON RARE OCCASIONS snuggles up to me on my bed and falls asleep next to her sister.  See you in a month Scrappy!  Love your sissy!



Me and my sissy

Mud Baths

      The best part of my mom and dad giving me a bath every month is that I have a full thirty days (in between baths) to make sure I get as dirty as possible.  My mom sprays me with perfume, so it doesn't matter how badly I smell when I come home from the dog park.  So if you are utterly disgusted at this point, or if you are the dog that rolls in another dog's poop...let me tell you that is NOT ME.  I like to roll in DARK STICKY GOOEY MUD that resembles poop, but doesn't contain any fecal matter.  Sometimes the water I choose to drink in ponds contains fecal matter and I end up with giardia, but my mom and dad are experts at treating that.  I prefer the nasty brown puddles to the nice ice water my parents pack for me while hiking.  Life's all about choices, ya know?

My first mud puddle.  Nine weeks

      Sometimes mom calls me sassy.  I don't know if I would classify myself as sassy, but perhaps classy.  When I go to the dog parks all the boy dogs follow me around like I'm the bomb diggity  (I heard  that while watching Animal Planet.) and I only tease the boys who can catch me when I sprint at my top notch gear.  The more mud and muck you have on you, the better for two reasons:  1)dogs are less likely to be able to latch onto you with their teeth because you are slippery and 2) all the dogs want to know exactly what you have been rolling in.  It's like nature's perfume.  I camouflage my dirt quite nicely because I am black.  Mom doesn't know how dirty I am until she wipes off my legs at the door and the red towel turns black.  I just wag my tail and run into the house displaying my paw art on their white carpeting.  I am a very talented artist.  Especially when I start throwing my muddy tennis ball around. 

    Got to go.  Mom is getting out the brush and the perfume.  It's only three days from my next bath so I am in a hopeless situation of perfume every day.  At least she brought some treats.

Hike with you later!

Big Sky Country: A Dog Poem

If heaven is a place

Big Mountain, Montana 2011

It's a place just like this.

If heaven is an idea
It's a freedom just like this.

On the top of this mountain
My paws can touch sparkling crystal sky.

On the top of this mountain
If I could choose the place, this is the place I would go to die.

In the place where mountain and sky meet
I hear the echoes of thunder in my heart. 

In the place where mountain and sky meet
I know I have truly played my part.

So as far as my dog heart may roam
So as far as my dog heart may roam

I always remember the heavenly view to find my way back home. 



Wordless Wednesday

Kissing a Snow Angel

Dog Dayz Hike

      Here is a great hike near Red Lodge, Montana for the dogs out there that want to travel to neat places.  Red Lodge, Montana is right outside of the Beartooth Wilderness about an hour and a half from Billings, Montana.  Rugged mountains surround you when hiking and a dog friendly ski town welcomes you for dinner when your paws are rubbed raw and worn out from your adventures.  The photos from this hike are from Quinnebaugh Meadows on West Fork Road.  It is an off leash trail that has such nice doggies to meet while hiking! 

Quinnebaugh Meadows, Red Lodge, Montana 2010

     My mom and dad brought me up here winter and summer.  In the summer we would hike near the rushing stream and in the winter we would nordic ski in the deep snow.  Sometimes we would go swimming in the beautiful crisp, cool mountain lakes.   I would swim after the ducks for hours as mom and dad skipped rocks on the shore.  (I miss the mountain lakes.)   One time I was nose to nose with a duck.  I didn't know what to do when he didn't fly away.  So I gave him a big kiss on the nose and he chased me like he was the dog and I was the duck.  I guess he was having a bad day or was in denial of his identity.  Stupid duck.  Anyway....  That's a tale for another day.  This is a picture of my dad and I. He wasn't aware I was going to be in it until the last moment.  Haha!

I always know where the camera is!

     My favorite part about this beautiful hike were the beautiful boulders I could climb to become Queen of the Mountains.  I love to be the highest thing around and there were more boulders than my mom could count.

 The hike itself follows a stream, so my mom and dad didn't have to carry a zillion bottles of water for me on their backs.  (When they aren't carrying water they are a little faster when hiking.  I always want to go faster!)  The meadow is about two miles up on the hike, but you can keep going a total of twelve more miles.  Several backpacking places exist for the avid outdoorsmen mom and dads!  My mom and dad love to backpack with me and my Ruffwear backpacking bed.  !    If you do take this hike, don't pass up driving the world famous Beartooth Highway and spending a day with the down home dog lovers of Red Lodge, Montana. 

Hike with you later!