About a month ago, I was getting some bodywork done on my car. It was all through insurance so I had a rental car. I thought I would only have the rental for a few days, so I did not want to take Gunther in it because I know he would shed all over the cloth seats. I have leather in my car, so he can go anywhere in the car. (Yes, he should have a seatbelt on).
They called me to tell me that my car would not be ready for about another week. I thought I cannot not take him anywhere for that long. That night I decided to take him for a ride to get his nails clipped and to purchase his new RAW food. I put sheet on the front bucket seat and would not let him in the back. He was mad at that. Barked a lot all the way there. We went into the store and to make a long story short, the guy working there was making me feel really self consious about whether Gunther was going to pee, and then he started barking, so I put him in the car. I was only going to be another 10 minutes while I asked some more questions. We were in a plaza and I could see Gunther the whole time. Sometimes he was there, others not. I thought he was laying down. I should of known better.
When I got back to the car, I saw him in the driver seat actively chewing on something. The parking brake cover (vinyl) had tons of teeth marks. Sigh. I wondered how much this was going to cost. I just looked at him and told him it was very bad. Then, I went to put on my seatbelt and it wouldn’t click. He chewed the %$#& out of it. I was so not happy. I didn’t yell at him, I just ignored him the whole way home. I feel like he knew he did something wrong. He was very quiet.
I took the car back the next day because I couldn’t drive it with a busted seatbelt and granted, he did not even go near the new car. Marc thinks it was an intentional F-you because he was mad I put him back in the car. He was also pissed I wouldn’t let him into the back seat. He has been left alone in my car before and never any problems.
So anyway. I knew this was going to be expensive. To the tune of $519.73. Oh yes. Good Times. I guess we will take that out of his puppy allowance. LOL
Wow, it has been a long time since we have updated Gunther’s blog. I usually have the best intentions but when it is time to sit down and write, I just don’t. So….Gunther. He is great! He is coming close to 2 in the Fall. I cannot believe he has been in our lives for close to 2 years!
Gunther has been struggling with some allergies we think. He chews and licks his paws a lot, gets ear infections and infections in his folds, and he is still a few pounds overweight. After trying to figure out what was causing it all, we figured it was food related. We decided to try a BARF diet and he seems to be doing pretty well on it. He will pretty much eat anything but he likes it. The particular brand we feed is Mountain Dog Food. It’s not that expensive. We just bought some that will last 20 days and it was $35.00. It can get pricey, but we chose a cheaper brand. We’ve been really strict in not giving him grains. He still chews his feet a little, but as our breeder says it could be habit. For supplements we are giving him Kelp and an Omega oil. I’m not sure if it’s the oil or the kelp or the food, but his shedding has dramatically reduced!
Here is a video of our first dinner with his new diet. It’s kinda boring, but come on, it’s Gunther. He’s always fun!
Both of my boys could not sleep last night, and they both kept me up! Marc was sick and was trying to sleep for a good 2 hours. I kept waking up by Marc telling Gunther to lay down. He was so restless last night. He paced around for almost 2 hours. The noise of his nails on hardwood floor is pretty unbelievable! Finally we kicked him out of the bedroom at 12am. I felt so bad for the little guy (as I’m sure Marc did, but he was annoyed at this point). I got up and sat in the living room and Gunny and I cuddled in the dark for about 20 minutes. He layed in my arms and it was quite sweet. He obviously was having a bad night and wanted a little TLC. It was funny because I was just saying that day that he doesn’t like to cuddle anymore. I figured it was the “teenage” years! LOL. After a little bit, I placed him off of me and he layed down on the couch. I covered him with a blanket and went back to the bedroom and he stayed on the couch sound asleep. No more pacing. It felt nice to give him something he obviously needed that night. It makes me laugh though. I don’t need to have a child to know that is pretty close to some nights with kids! He’s not just a dog to us. He’s our little boy. Our puppyface.
Sunday morning, we took Gunther to the dog park, and it was really cold, but Marc got a few really cool pics! Gunther really likes the dog park. As soon as we get in the parking lot, he starts whining, because he knows where he is going! We didn’t stay too long, because mommy and daddy were freezing!
I snapped some pics from my iPhone last night of Gunther laying on me. I love this time of night when he is done playing! Below, Gunther also giving kisses! What a cute puppyface!
Gunther graduated his first obedience class last week. It was very cute. I enrolled him into Level 2-clicker training. That should be fun. I was bad at working at home with him because I felt he knew a lot of what they were teaching him, but I think with clicker training, I WILL need to practice because we know nothing about it.
Gunther is doing well, but his obedience instructor who owns many bulldogs and trains them, told me to watch his weight. I was a little devastated. I know we feed him too much extra stuff. He is probably no more than 5 pounds overweight, but I care about him, and don’t want it to hurt his joints and bones in the future. Eek. Now if only daddy would stop getting mesmerized by his puppy dog eyes!
We haven’t been back to the nursing home. I’m finding it hard to find a consistent time. I DO want to do it though. It’s hard too, because weeknights we need to go around 6:00pm and that time is hard for me. Sometimes I don’t get home until then. Gunther is doing good though, not so much jumping up.
It is snowing a lot here, and one of his greatest joys in running around in the fresh snow! The little guy loves it! He bolts around and goes nuts, and it gets some energy out. We were recently having a really hard time with him constantly waking us up at nights. I think it’s because he wants up on the bed. We were letting him up a little bit, but for a few weeks now, none at all. I like him up there taking naps with us on weekends and evenings, but it just makes things harder later on. Sorry Gunny!
Hey, Marc and I got engaged on Christmas Day. We already know we want Gunther at our wedding. Marc says he’s going to be “Best Dog”. I already have a tuxedo collar and cufflinks all picked out!!! LOL
Gunther’s second Christmas is coming up. He is looking forward to spending time with all of the aunts and uncles he doesn’t see all the time. Gunther is doing just fine! He is enjoying the new snow that has fallen. He goes crazy running around in it!
Last Sunday, Gunther did his first therapy session at a nursing home through St. Johns Ambulance. Marsha came with us, and she said he did wonderful. We weren’t there for a long time, she said she didn’t want to do overwhelm him and keep him there too long. He was very calm, and didn’t jump up too many times. We will be going next Sunday, and then we are on our own for the next upcoming weeks. I am looking forward to when Gunther gets his bandana and tag for his collar!
Gunther just finished his dog training class. Graduation will be in January. I am thinking of signing up for clicker training. I think that would be nice for him. I know he will like the challenge, and the treats! LOL
Below is Marc and Gunther last night. Marc’s co-worker gave Gunny a coat so we were seeing if it fit. You may be able to see in the picture it fits him a little too tight. Gunther looked like a stuffed sausage, and DID NOT like wearing it. He gave us the typical bulldog stink eye and basically stood still. He does not like constricting things. It was funny though!
On that note, Gunther hopes all his doggy friends have a Very Merry Christmas!! Woof!
I just love this picture of Gunther. Marc took it about 3 weeks ago of him sitting in the bedroom. All is going well with him. On November 30th, it will be a year since we brought him home. We had him at the vet recently and it turns our he has some severe skin fold dermatitis in his wrinkles in the tear stain area. Poor guy. He got a shot, and we have to wash it 2x a day with antibacterial soap, and then put a lotion on it. I hope it gets better soon. It looks painful and it bleeds. I guess all the common skin problems of a bulldog are coming out now. He is almost 14 months old. He is getting so big!
About 1-2 months ago, he was at the vet and he was 64 pounds. The vet said he could stand to lose a few pounds (Like 4). I started cutting his food back and this vet visit, he was down 2 pounds, and it was the evening whereas the other appt was in the morning. So he is doing well and that makes us very happy!
He is soon to be doing his therapy visits. I just have to get the vet form signed and he will be going. I hope the people like him, I know he will like them!
About a month ago, I was getting some bodywork done on my car. It was all through insurance so I had a rental car. I thought I would only have the rental for a few days, so I did not want to take Gunther in it because I know he would shed all over the cloth seats. I have leather in my car, so he can go anywhere in the car. (Yes, he should have a seatbelt on).
