Two Tired Dogs

Lyndsey and I painted yesterday... and that means the 2 pups spent the day together... playing, being naughty, playing and playing.. they did take a little breather though- and I had to share...



Its so fun having a friend that has a dog that can play and keep up with Lena! She was so tired last night she went right to her kennel- and this morning was not interested in coming out- she just wanted to sleep! 

Lena and Friends

I feel like I should rename my blog to "Life's Adventures with Wiggle Butt"...
For those of you that have not experienced the Wiggle Monster- I apologize- I wish it on everyone! She can turn any bad day around.

So- yesterday was one of my fave fall days this year. I got off work and promptly leashed up Lena and out for our walk we went- when we neared the park in our neighborhood we saw Devon and Kingston playing with a beautiful Golden Retriever - now- Lena likes big dogs... she is not quite a fan of the little kids... so she instantly was ready to play. For nearly and hour Lena played with the "big dogs".... she ran and ran... she would take the stick they were all munching on and let them chase her. I like to call her my little hussy - she teases the boy dogs so bad... she will run up to them- wiggle her butt in their face and then make them chase her... such a riot!

Lena and her pal Kingston

It was a beautiful fall afternoon- leaves and sticks on the ground - I in my vest and scarf (who's shocked?!) Lena in her purple collar - we had the most wonderful time. She is becoming quite the social butterfly - again- who is shocked?!

After we got home last night- Lena munched on a rawhide and played with her toys for a bit  - but was out by 9 p.m. - sound asleep! Needless to say- we're going to the park again tonight!



For those of you that don't see if often- she does nap sometimes! And her napping with another dog was something I thought would NEVER happen!!! We've come along way in 3 months!

Lena and boyfriend Hank snoozing!

Happy Halloween from Lena

I am going to let the pictures speak for me today...
October is officially over...but it ended on a high note. Lyndsey and I dressed up our little Boston's for some Halloween fun...the trick or treaters loved them and everything they did was cuter while in costume! I wish you all could have seen the 2 hot dogs chasing each other around Lyndsey's house. It was so much fun. And for anyone wondering- (Aunt Barbie) - they left the costumes on for nearly 3 hours...neither one tried to get them off! So fun.
Thanks Lyndsey for letting us crash your house for Halloween and making yummy chili!!! Cheers!



Lena and Hank in Costume!

Climbing on the furniture in their costumes!

Too much Candy...errr playing for this girl!

This one kills me!

Such a sweetie...looks so innocent doesn't she!?

In her signature pose...

"I'm an angel!"

The kids playing... we had to have their leashes on so we could corral them when the kids came to the door!

Lena liked her costume so much she wore it on the ride home... she was a sleeping dog minutes later!

Bad Dog

So....
Last night I had a date - yes- a date. And before we talk about said date- we need to talk bout the aftermath!
Lena has been so good lately.. .so I thought- since I was going to be out for a few hours-  I would leave her out. Now- I have done this before and she has been an angel. But I have a feeling that she sensed my happiness and became fearful that I might be gone a few more nights... so - in her devious nature - I walked in to find my apartment looking like this:

Another look

Not sure if she went through my laundry- but that's my bedtime tank top... and a lot of stuffing...from her Tigger toy and she also managed to rip the head off a stuffed Halloween Black Cat my mother gave me... which is now in the garbage... sorry mom....

Here is the black cat: and the culprit...standing in her mess...

Lena is now relegated back to her kennel. You give them an inch and they take a mile....

and yes...there WILL be a second date- weather Lena likes it or not.

My Little Comedian

I got to thinking…this blog should be named “The Adventures of April & Lena” – I swear, daily she is doing something sweet, funny or otherwise picture worthy! So- as a proud mother  - I leave you with some fun pix of the hound!  

Miss Lena on the NEW Quilt

Little Sh!t was eating her bone on the NEW quilt while i was in the shower... BUSTED!

This gives new meaning to "Sit Pretty" (notice the pretty kennel cover! Thanks MOM)

Never a dull dog

Prety sure we could play with that thing all night!

She has this obsession with being everywhere I am... I was washing dishes- Exciting Stuff

Molly came to visit Aunt Ape and Lena and she took a liking to Lena's bed! :-)

Little Miss Lena

The summer of 2010 changed my life… I had made a decision that I was going to own a dog. I had been dog sitting for several friends and had made the decision it was time for me to get my own! Some wonderful friends, Lyndsey and Steve have a Boston Terrier, Hank- and he is an 11lb bundle of joy! When Steve and Lynds went on their mini trip to Florida – I stayed with Hank for a few days. Love at first sight! I knew I wanted a Boston. They were small enough for my little apt and had big dog play and personality. So I began looking. In the search I was directed to Mid- American Boston Terrier Rescue League. I signed up on their website. I was shown a few dogs…I requested a few dogs. But nothing panned out… I had then put it on a back burner…. But then it all changed…

… Miss Lena came into my life on Thursday, August 5^th at 9 p.m.

Yes- I remember the date and time. I remember everything that led to that wiggle worms arrival to my life.  I was driving home from a friend’s house on Wednesday- the night before, and stopped at Target. While cruising through the aisles I received a call from a gal named April (first clue). She was a foster mom for the Mid-American Boston Terrier Rescue League… she had a puppy named Roma that she had fostered in her home for a few days. She saw my app and gave me a call. We talked for nearly 2 hours about me, my home, and Roma. When all was said and done- I felt pretty confident I might have the chance to meet Roma. Well- 7 a.m. the next morning, the phone call came… Roma was mine if I wanted her! I said yes- of course! Then came the better news… a group of people were traveling from Lincoln, NE (where Roma was fostered) to the Ozarks- and they could bring her that very same night if I wanted! Wow… fate was stepping in. I was so excited. A trip to Pet-Smart, to Wal-Mart, to my friends up in Liberty to use their crate (sized for an English Mastiff) and then the task of puppy prepping my apartment. At 8:40 I left my apartment- drove up to north KC and met the young couples and my sweet little Roma. There in the Casey’s parking lot on 169/435 I met the sweetest dog on earth! She walked right up to me and I was sold!

I put her little knitted blanket April had sent with her on the passenger seat and away we went. Together – for the first time. On the ride home- she snuggled up and was a peach…calm and quiet. I asked her what a good name was… I went thru the list I had created…but then I asked if she was a Lena and the instant I said it- the naming process was over! No longer Roma- she is a Lena!  We then arrived in Quality Hill…took a stroll and got used to the new surroundings. Then to the apartment…. She wasn’t very interested in much. But she did eat a little and snuggled right up next to me on the couch. It was soon bedtime. In her crate she went. Not a sound, not a peep, not bark… all night long she slept…even though I did not… I was awake all night- waiting for her to cry, bark or yip. She could sit, lay down, stay and was crate trained and potty trained. Never an accident in my house…she was the holy grail of rescue dogs.

Can you resist this face?!

Never having a dog before… I had a lot to learn. I turned to none other than Lyndsey Higgins and Cesar Millan. Both experts in the field of dog raising. Lena got me on the track of walking every single, solitary day. Morning, noon, afternoon, evening and night. We go for short walks, and long walks.  Lena got her very own backpack- thanks Cesar for the suggestion… she wears it on our long walks…she carries my keys, her potty bags, and 2 cans of tuna.  She walks with a purpose and gets a great work out! She is my little backpacker!

Carrying her backpack on our walk!

Our first road trip took place the second weekend I had her… we traveled up to Lincoln, NE for the Zobel family reunion. She rode perfectly in the car. She was so excited to meet the crazy clan! After about 3 hours of fetch in Kevin and Michelle’s basement- we took her to the pet friendly hotel. Here was the test… a new crate, another new place and all new smells.  She played with “Grandma and Grandpa” Zobel… and then was a tuckered out girl. She went in her crate and slept all night long! What a delightful puppy. A weekend in the hotel was a success. Road trip home was equally as peaceful.

Sleeping Lena

Over the past few weeks Lena has met some new friends. Hank of course is her boyfriend… they play hard to get and sometimes they play a bit too nice and “easy” if you catch my drift! She also has a new friend in Devon’s boxer, Kingston. He lets Lena walk all over, around an on top of him! She is learning to be a good puppy with other dogs…

Lena and her pal, Hank

Then there are her people friends. She of course loves Devon, Lynds, my mom and my brothers… but I am pretty sure her 2 best friends are my co-worker Andrew and my Dad. Andrew plays with her for hours…and she always comes back for more. Then there is my dad… he walks her, he plays with her Tigger toy they bought her- and he even does the Tigger voice! She snuggles right up next to him. And her protector is my mom… whenever she is in trouble she runs right to “Grammie”…and always seems to get a treat!

Lena and Tigger!

She is the greatest addition to my world. She has changed my life. I walk/run every day. I have a wiggle worm that’s beyond excited to see me when I walk in my apartment. She is the greatest travel partner and has introduced me to new people and experiences.  And I must admit- she is quite the wonderful snuggle partner when she is worn out!

Better Together!!!