Weekend Update

A few pictures from the weekend

Playing in the creek with Mom

Hiking up to Cheese Rock


Visiting Mom's classroom

Playing with Brix

Relaxing at home

I also saw a dog fight...two dogs ganged up on my buddy Brix but luckily no one was hurt. I would have gone to help him but Mom grabbed me...I really could have shown those other dogs how it's done but I guess it wasn't my day. BOL! Really, I probably would have been running for my life. ;)

Then one of the dogs that participated in the fight decided to pee on me...HOW RUDE! So, I had to get a bath...YUCK! What kind of dog does that..doesn't he know I'm not a tree stump, a tire, or a fence post...SHEESH!

And I think that about covers it for my exciting weekend.

**For all you locals...we will be having Dog Dayz at the Farmer's Market this weekend so come and check it out! It is going to be PAWESOME!

Speed Racers!

My Dad and Uncle Joel did an adventure race today so Mom and I went to support them!


I was right there when they came into the transition area to bark at them and tell them what a GRRREAT job they were doing! And NO....I wasn't trying to steal Dad's food in the picture above...really, I'm not kidding, SERIOUSLY!!! ;) BOL...who am I kidding...in addition to my BARKariffic support I also tried to sneak a bite of Dad's Hammer Gel or whatever that stuff was! He was only racing for like 4 hours so I really don't think he needed it. ;)



There they go again...they have finished the biking and are now onto the trekking portion. I hope they don't get lost! OOPS...I believe Uncle Joel has forgotten his backpack....BOL...don't tell him I told you that but don't worry he came back to get it right after Mom snapped this picture. It's hard to remember things in a fast paced race when you are trying to get back out there as quickly as you can so you can win.



In the meantime...I waited and waited and waited and WAITED! I didn't think they were ever coming back and then out of nowhere.....




here they come.



And...they WON!!! WOOF! WOOF! Good job guys! Notice I also crossed the finish line with them so I like to think of myself as a winner too! BOL!

One last picture of me congratulating Dad....I am very proud of him!

Taking a nap...

Nala may actually think she is a human....

Horsin' Around

I met lots of horses today! When I say lots, I mean like 30...they were all grazing in a field near the school where my friend Brix and I met for a play date. :) They were sooooo BIG and shiny!




At first, Brix and I weren't sure what to make of them so we just stared at them for awhile....we wanted them to know they better not try any funny business.




Mom approached so I decided to get a closer look too.




I didn't really want to hang around too long though like my Mom....she wouldn't stop staring at them. GEES....hasn't she seen a horse before???

Brix was not going to let those BIG, shiny horses intimidate him at all...he barked out some orders but they all just stared at him. He even tried to herd them...I think he would make a champion herder!

In the end, we developed a mutual respect and just gazed into one another's eyes. ;)




Mom lingered by the horses for awhile so me, Brix, Anna, and Ken cooled off in the shade. When Mom turned around this is what she saw...notice Brix has his paw on my back...Mom thought this was very cute. We were horsin' around....BOL!...get it.... and just ended up this way.

Gettin' Rowdy with the Neighbor Dog

Meet Sadie. She is a Corgi, and she lives just down the street from me. Normally, she is walking with her human Dad when I see her, and she is on her leash. This time though, her Dad let her off to play with me for a little bit in my front yard. She is cute, huh! She is also very well-behaved! (just like me...BOL...most of the time!)

My tongue is almost as big as her...what a cutie!



RUFF!!! Don't, I repeat, DON"T let her cuteness fool you because this girl packs a punch or a bite or a bark...something, but her size certainly doesn't stop her! "I am NOT a sheep or a cow Sadie so you don't have to herd me!" My barks were useless as she was too caught up in the game to hear me so she continued to herd me until......

I turned the game around and chased her in circles around the little yard! OH, now this was fun! However, despite her being so low to the ground...Sadie had some speed! And boy, could she cut some corners like it was nothin'! Don't worry though.....



I caught her, and explained that as a Rhodesian Ridgeback I am a fierce lion hunter and that she really didn't stand a chance against my lightning speed and ability to use my paws like a "lion" and trap her to the ground! BOL! Well, this did not sit well with her and.....

she quickly wiggled her way out from under me and the herding began all over again! We had a tail-waggin' good time!

We are family...MY Rhodesian Ridgeback brother & me!!!

This is my brother, Bodhi! Well, he is my half-brother to be exact...we have the same sire, King Khufu of Giza. Get this though, his Mom's name is Naala...same as mine but spelled a little differently...cool, huh! You will never believe this but yesterday my Mom and his Mom, Heidi, scheduled a play date for us!!! It was the best time ever! We are both the exact same color, we play alike, and my Mom thinks we kind of look alike too. Even though I just met him...I WOOF him so much and can't wait for another play date! Isn't he so handsome with his perfectly dark, nice ears. He also poses quite nicely for pictures with his head held high looking straight ahead.

Thanks for coming to play with me bro...can't wait to see you again!

Hugs and Kisses

Check out Bodhi's perfectly flat ears and MINE looking like I'm about to take flight! BOL!

Me and Bodhi visiting with my Mom & Dad. Bodhi liked to nibble on my Dad to make sure all the fleas were gone...don't worry he was gentle. I do this too sometimes to Mom & Dad!

Aren't we so in sync!!




Love ya bro!! You are the BEST Rhodesian Ridgeback brother a girl could have!

Weekend at Nanny's

I got to see my Nanny this weekend.....I can't even begin to tell you how much I LOVE her!!!! There is a picture of me and her below. She is the coolest Nanny ever...she plays with me a ton, and she even lets me sleep on her couch. (not many Nanny's would do that) Also, every time I come over to see her she gets me a new toy and treats! Am I spoiled or what!?? I WOOF you Nanny, and I can't wait to see you again!

Well, as you can see above I had a great time at her house playing in the yard. Check out my defense in the game of basketball and the game of golf...is there supposed to be defense in golf?? Oh well, I am the best golf defender ever...those soft, nerf balls didn't stand a chance getting past me. ;)




Here I am hiding out in the Rhododendron...it was a barkin' good time! I would also run under it and then jump over the rocks....in the jumping picture above I got distracted by my Uncle Joel so I had to turn my head in mid-jump to see what he was doing. :)

Aren't the blue flowers pretty...my Nanny has a GRRReat garden! Don't worry Mom, one day yours will grow this pretty too! ;)

Visit to nanny's house

How to Take Canine Photographs..or not

As many of you can tell, my Mom goes a little overboard with the picture taking. (especially with pictures of me) I wanted to share with you her strategy for getting my picture...she thinks I don't know about it but I DO!

First, she leads me into an area that she thinks will make for a nice photo. Normally, she gets a high-pitched voice and calls me over, sometimes running and playing with me to get me into the area. Once there, of course I have to investigate and smell all of the interesting new smells!

She snaps a few pictures from her location...enjoying every minute of it! Little does she know, my Uncle Joel is taking pictures of her taking pictures...BOL! Then, once she is ready she calls me over to her again using her high-pitched voice. ;) Then, I am off like a bolt of lightning, and I head straight for her! She only has a brief moment to get a few good pictures before this.....

She scrambles to get out of the way so I don't flatten her like a pancake...umm, pancakes would be tasty right now...oh wait, back to the story. Look at her face...isn't that hilarious! I wouldn't really run into her but it's fun to make her do a little dance to get out of my way and see the funny expressions on her face. BOL!

On that day, this is the picture that came from that little episode! So, now you all know how to take canine photographs but the most important part is using a voice that your canine responds to...in my case, the high-pitched voice that Mom has trained me to or so she thinks. ;)

Ridgeback on Red Top

My family has decided that every year on the 4th of July we are going to go on a hike! This year we went to Red Top Mountain and it was Bow Wow Beautiful! I saw pretty purple lupine, red Indian Paintbrush, sunny Balsamroot, pearly white Queen Anne's Lace, and Sulphur Buckwheat among many other flowers! Also, the mountain views were BARKariffic...we could see the snowy peaks of the Stuart Range. I was off leash for most of the hike as I am a good girl most of the time ;) but my Mom got a little paranoid when we were on top near the edge of the cliff so she made me put my leash on and stay close to her...I guess it's a "Mom Thing"! We had a pawesome time! Check out a few more pics from the trip below!

My Uncle Joel came with us too....I WOOF him!


Frolicking in the lupine

The Tour

In honor of the 95th Tour De France, I put on my yellow bracelet and wanted to tell everyone to live strong! The tour runs from July 5th to July 27th and will cover a distance of 3,500 kilometres! Good luck to all of those biking in this year's tour. I think the competitors should hook up little wagons on the back of their bikes and bring their dogs along but that's just me...they need a little extra weight to carry up those huge mountain climbs..hehehe, but most importantly they need the loyalty and support that only we canines can provide. ;)

Now, if you humans out there aren't quite up to Tour standards and aren't competing this year, you can still get out and do something active BUT be sure to bring your dog along whatever you do! ;) Did you know that July is national Park and Recreation month...well, it is so go on a hike with your pooch, go for a bike ride, visit a local park and play a game of fetch, take a swim in a lazy river, (this one is not for me as I do not swim but for the dogs out there who do....have fun!) or go to the beach and run through the sand! There are a million things you can do but whatever you do just get outdoors and enjoy some time with your furry friends!

P.S. Don't forget to bring along extra water to keep you and your dog hydrated, a first aid kit, toys for your dog, and of course, LOTS and LOTS of tasty treats! Below is a list of basic items for a first aid kit that was sent to my Mom by Diana, who happens to own ApacheRidge Ranch where I was born! :)

1. Contact lens solution (Saline Solution) with no preservatives in it and thimerisol free, for rinsing out the eyes and to clean wounds. Pure, clean, sterilized water can be substituted, but it is not as comfortable for the animal.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide - 10 ml every 15 minutes to induce vomiting in animals that have ingested a non-caustic poison.

3. A small tube of antibiotic ointment for wounds. (not for eyes) (ie. Polysporin, Neosporin, for non puncture type wounds).

4. Rectal Thermometer - the digital kind works best. These electronic ones will beep when they are finished registering a temperature. They are also slightly smaller than the glass kind. They can and should be covered with a thin disposable probe cover to prevent the spread of germs and infections each time you use it. Normal canine temperature is 100.5 to 102.5F.

5. A small tube of a water based lubricating jelly, like "KY Jelly" to lubricate the thermometer for comfort.

6. Alcohol swabs to sterilize your instruments or small areas of skin. You can dip and soak your tweezers and scissors in the liquid isopropyl alcohol to disinfect them when you are at home.

7. Hibitane (Chlorhexidine gluconate) is a mild antibacterial soap for cleaning and disinfecting skin and wounds. It is an antiseptic preparation effective against a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, some fungi and viruses. Avoid contact with the eyes, ears, mouth, and mucus membranes.

8. Sterile cotton or cotton balls and cotton swabs like Q-tips can come in very handy.

9. Adhesive tape to secure bandages. Have both the non-stick tape and the water proof tape.

10. Blunt tipped scissors are necessary for cutting the hair away from wounds.

11. Forceps or tweezers and bandage scissors.

12. Splints. They come in a wide variety of sizes. Some people make home made ones.

13. Self-adhesive bandages.

14. Sterile Gauze Pads (the larger 4" size is more versatile since it can easily be folded or cut into smaller sizes if necessary). We have found that hospital pharmacies like Kaiser are reasonable on the pricing of many first aid kit items.

15. A few rolls of gauze or the cling gauze bandage for wrapping. 1" and 2" seem to be the most common sizes used.

16. A single sharp sided razor blade and or a razor can also be used to shave away hair and abrade the skin following a tick bite.

17. Some stretchy cotton stockinette to protect and keep a bandage on the leg or foot. It is sold by the yard and you cut it to the length you need. It is sometimes used on top of a splint also.

18. A few gel packs that can be used for hot and cold compresses. You can microwave them for heat therapy.

19. ASPCA - The Animal Poison Control Center - 888-426-4435. They charge you $60.00 on your credit card per incident. They have a team of Veterinarians on staff 24/7 to answer questions and help in case of an emergency.

20. I'm adding this last one...maybe bring along some Benadryl too in case of any bites from spiders and things that may begin to swell. HOWEVER, be sure to check with your vet first to get their professional judgement. Typically, only the plain Benadryl formula should be used and NOT the liquid kind. It is also important to check with your vet in case your dog is taking other meds that may not mix well with the Benadryl or in case your dog has a health issue that could interfere. The vet will also instruct you on the proper dosage for your dog. Again, always check with your vet first as it is not always safe to give your dogs "human meds" because some can be fatal or cause serious damage. The Benadryl will help with the swelling and pain. I actually got bit by something last night and Dad gave me some Benadryl in a piece of chicken and by bedtime the swelling had gone down a little and today it looks great! Below is a picture of my big, fat lip after the bite!

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone has a barkin' good time today! Keep cool, hydrated, and don't let the loud fireworks scare you, but if you feel the need to bark at them go right ahead and live it up! :)

Puppy Kisses,

Nala