Welcome Home Henry

Happy Birthday, Henry!!!

2009-12-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

Henry turned one on December 13th, 2009! They say that after a puppy turns one, he's no longer a puppy, but I think our little Henry will always be a pup. Darcy and I flew in from Dallas, and Auntie Alison had left Henry a card and some great prizes! We celebrated with him the next day, where he got his birthday cake squeak toy (picture above) a raw hide edible birthday card, and an assortment of other squeak toys.

He is still the sweetest little boy ever. He loves to cuddle, dance, prance, jump, wiggle, spring, bounce and give kisses. He's an absolute doll. He loves to curl up with us when we sit on the couch, and he still lets us hold him like a little baby.

It's so cold and windy out this winter, and sometimes it seems like the wind is going to carry him away! On especially cold days, when Henry runs outside to go potty, he does an about face as soon as he feels the cold and tries to come right back in. It's so cute, but we remind him he has to go potty, so he quickly runs, does his business, and springs back into the house.

He spent Christmas with the Greniers, and while we missed him so much, he had a great time playing with Lexi, Colie, Kyle, Lil K and the B. By the time we came home, he slept for 2 days straight. He's not used to such excitement living with 2 old ladies. ;-)

In the morning when Darcy leaves for work, she puts him on the bed, and he curls up next to me, my little ball of warmth. Even as I type this, he just hopped up on the couch and nestled in between my leg and the couch cushion - little love bug!!!

He is as cute as ever, and I just think everyone should have a Henry at some point in time. He is the best!

The best boy in the world!

2009-11-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

This little guy is the cutest puppy in the entire world. I realize as he nears his 1st birthday, he won't technically be a puppy anymore, but I'm telling you, he'll always be a puppy. It's just who he IS.

Yesterday he was running around, getting all excited. I was sitting in the chair (pictured above), and he would run and jump up on the ottoman, jump off and run to the other side of the room, run back and come a little closer to me, and jump off and run away and run back. Every time he ran back toward me, he would get closer, and the last time, he had so much momentum, he lept up onto the ottoman, then onto me, and then flew over the back of the chair!

It wasn't planned, but it was hilarious!

He forgets that he only weighs an ounce, and when he gets going, he can't stop. It's truly hilarious.

Henry is the most cuddly dog I have ever seen. He just loves to be around us, and if we're watching TV or working or cooking, he is right near us.

He still loves to harass his older brother Miller. He thinks Miller was put on the earth to entertain him, and Miller couldn't disagree more. They have a funny dynamic, and even though Henry annoys Miller, I think he's glad he's there to keep him company.

It's going to be hard getting Henry enough exercise in the winter months, so we're thinking of sending him to doggy day care a few days a week.

I can't believe he's already almost in kindergarten! My, how fast they grow up!

Oh Hoodle, My Adorable Poodle

2009-10-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Henry is the cutest little pumpkin pie in the world. As he gets older, he gets even more cuddly! I carry him around the house in my left hand, perched up like a little bird. He doesn't mind - in fact, I think he likes it because he doesn't squirm to get down.

At night when I'm watching tv (and I put my computer down long enough), he curls up and just cuddles against my neck. Also, he still lets me hold him like a baby while he makes little baby cooing sounds.

I took him for a hike again yesterday, and he got so excited that I had to keep carrying him so he could rest and catch his breath. I'm truly convinced he'd run until he collapsed if I let him. I need to work up his energy, though. I bet his endurance could be strengthened.

He still lets us dress him up, and I know that's a pet peeve for some, but how can you not - it's soooo cute. LOL

Right now, he's on the couch next to Darcy, napping with his head tucked under her side. At night before we put him in his crate, he curls up on the bed next to me and chews his bone.

I love my quiet time with him, but I love my play time with him too. We play chase all the time. Sometimes I chase him, and other times he chases me. I don't do a great time of catching him, but he loves to catch me!

He is a fun little boy, and I can't imagine not having him. :)

Hiking with Henry

2009-09-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

I took Henry for a hike by the house, and boy did he love it. He ran and ran and ran, and finally when he was heaving like an asthmatic, I finally picked him up and carried him like a baby as he collapsed in my arms. He became a perfect rag doll. It was soooo cute. He has NO idea at all when to stop.

He would have kept going until he fainted, I'm pretty sure.

We're having a lot of fun taking Henry around in the golf cart, and Darcy likes to have him run along side of the cart while she drives it down the road. Our neighbors make fun of us, rightfully so.

I can't believe we had to leave the baby again, but this time it was only for a few days. I know he's having a blast with Baxter and Zoe, and we'll see him on Saturday!

Henry, down!

2009-08-18T07:11:00.002-07:00

What a good boy. Henry still gets SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited when it's time to do his tricks. This morning, he saw me grab one of his treats, so he FLEW across the floor, and flipped over the couch trying to get in front of me. LOL, hilarious!

Henry is the most lovable little thing I've ever met. He is getting older, so he cuddles even more, and he still lets me do whatever I want to him - dressing him up, making him dance, posing him in anyway...I think he likes the attention.

I just took him for a short walk (one mile), and it was so hot out, the poor thing collapsed on the hard, cold floor when we got back into the house. My poor baby!

He loves drinking water out of Miller's bowl - probably because he knows it's not his.

He has been sleeping much better through the night lately, and almost never has any accidents in the house...finally!

He and Miller are pretty much fine with each other now. I still see him mounting Miller like a lion would his prey from time to time...just waiting for the chance to suck Miller's face off like he would to one of his toys. Miller is so lethargic, I'm not sure if Henry realizes he's alive yet.

Henry still LOVES his mama. When Darcy leaves the house, he runs all around looking for her. They haven't spent much time apart, so it should be interesting when Darcy goes back to work eventually. He'll be fine.

He actually sleeps a lot, and he likes spending time in his crate.

He is a precious baby, and I'm so glad he's here!

Henry, down

2009-08-18T07:11:00.001-07:00

Where's my Henry???

2009-07-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

MISSING: Cute little puff ball doggy, answers to the name of Henry, Henwy, Stupit and Henrietta (post op) - loves to dart around the house and slide into home base (AKA whatever stops his full body slide across the floor), jump on top of Miller, and a big fan of chair dancing.

Darcy is trying to pawn this little thing off as Henry, but I know better!

Seriously - who is this dog???

This new puppy is very cute, and very handsome, and boy does he feel pretty...but I'm just not sure who he is and where my Henwy is.

I miss my little dust mop!

Little Drowned Rat

2009-07-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Henry went swimming a bunch yesterday at cupcake island! He seemed to have a great time, and he looked so funny with his hair all wet.

He rode over to cupcake in the kayak with Darcy, and he just loved sitting on the top and feeling the breeze. He looked like he was going to just about to jump in a few times, but he didn't.

He had so much fun playing with all the people and the dogs, and everybody loved him so much. I think he's the greatest little dog that ever lived, but when other people tell me how much they love him and how special he is, I love it. :)

Dogcation

2009-07-11T06:44:00.001-07:00

Henry is having a nice time on his dogcation so far...although isn't his life a vacation??

We brought him to lunch with us to an outdoor cafe, and he sat under the table like a good boy while we ate. The waitress went crazy over him, but of course, he's used to that.

After lunch - he started his shift as lifeguard at the pool:

He met some Portuguese waterdog friends, and they looked just like him, only much bigger! It was so cute seeing the three of them together.

Henry has made a lot of friends at the resort, and it's true what they say - looks go a long way! This cute little puppy quickly worms his way into even the crustiest of hearts!

After a relaxing afternoon by the pool, Henry suited up into his bathrobe and got ready for the lightweight puppy boxing match:

We feel so bad leaving him in the cottage alone, but he's fine. Lexi didn't end up coming up with us after all. We left Henry for 3 hrs last night for the lobster bake, and he was fine. We also left him this morning when we went out to breakfast and did a little shopping downtown. He sleeps while we're gone, but BOY is he glad to see us when we return.

I'm busy typing away, and Darcy is puttering around doing what she does, and he keeps running between the two of us, jumping up for attention from whoever will give it to him.

Too Cute!!

Bubble Boy

2009-07-08T07:31:00.001-07:00

Our little baby is definitely on the mend. He was really tender yesterday morning, and he acted like he wanted us to carry him around, which of course I would have, because he never acts like that. Darcy knew best, though, and she coaxed him to walk with a trail of ice cubes, and after a few steps, he was flying all around the house just like the old Henry.

Now, I don't exactly want him flying around with new wounds, but I am glad he's feeling better! He's been extra cuddly lately, and it's so sweet. We let him come into bed with us in the morning after Darcy takes him to go to the bathroom, and he usually just plays in the end of the bed between both of us, but for the past few nights, he's curled up right next to me - soooo cute.

What a little love. I can't wait to take that bubble necklace off him, but the second we do, he goes right for his wound, so he's going to need to wear it for a while.

It is finished

2009-07-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

My poor little puppy had his little cherries removed yesterday. For some reason, they didn't think he'd need a collar, but as soon as he got home, he was licking his wounds - thankfully, Krissy loaned us her blow up collar that Lexi's used.

He was lethargic last night, still coming out of the anesthesia, but it didn't stop him from leaping off the couch when he saw the cat walk by. I think that hurt him, as he only tried it once. Every time he takes a step, it bothers his incision. He takes a little step, tries to lick himself, can't because of the collar, and repeats.

We're a sick household - me with pneumonia, Darcy with a bad cold or flu, and Henry in recovery. We went to bed at 9 last night. Henry woke up at midnight, 4, and 7. Other than that, he's been sleeping straight through for the past 13 hours.

I tried to bring him out of the bedroom with me, but when I sat him on the floor, he didn't want to move. It was so sad, because that's so unlike my prancing little puppy!

***********

It's been a while since I wrote, but I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Krissy and family for taking SUCH good care of our little monster while we were gone. It's not easy caring for a puppy full time, but he had a blast with them, and it was so nice knowing he was in good hands while we were gone!

Darcy had the hardest time of all, poor thing, but after the first few days we were away, she was okay, as long as I didn't mention the "H" word.... I don't know how we're going to go to Italy anytime soon. LOL.

Krissy and co had the big 4th of July party this weekend, which I missed from being sick, but I heard Henry was the belle of the ball. Everyone loved seeing him prance around the lawn and spring from side to side...and his tender moments too when he was tired and he'd nuzzle into your neck...he's such a sweet little petunia blossom. ;-)

I can't wait for him to feel better. I feel bad that we are taking him away this weekend already. We have an all weekend wedding in Maine, and we rented out a pet friendly cottage nearby. I'm glad we'll have our own place. Lexi is going to stay with us to, and I'm glad Henry will have company while we are gone - of course, if his wounds are still healing, we'll have to leave him in his crate, but even with him just knowing Lexi is there with him, he'll be happier than he would alone.

I'll take some more pictures of the recovering pup today.

Oh yes we did

2009-06-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Darcy and I bought Henry his first bathrobe! LOL - How funny is this???!!

Here is the proud mama with her pup:

He's such a good sport, wearing all these silly clothes for us, but it's so cute one him!!

I can't believe we're leaving our little boy for 10 days! Darcy keeps crying every time she thinks about it. Poor thing...Darcy, not Henry...Henry's going to be JUST fine. He's staying with Krissy, and he loves hanging out with her and Kyle and Colie and Lexie and the B.

He thinks Krissy's house is an extension of his own home. He'll notice we're not around (well, at least Darcy not being around), and he'll be happy to see us when we get back, but he will be perfectly happy and content playing with his friends next door. We are so lucky to have such a happy, well adjusted puppy!

He's getting bigger and bigger, but he's still a light little fluffy thing - he still loves to prance around the house and try to fly. He loves to cuddle, and he still lets me hold him like he's a baby.

He's an adorable little baby boy, and we love him so much. See you soon, little buddy!!

Goodbye puppyhood :(

2009-06-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Henry has an appointment to get "fixed" in 3 weeks. Darcy is so sad her boy is growing up so fast!

We took him for a nice walk in the woods last week. He loved it, but Darcy cut it short because she was worried that he was going to get attacked my ticks since he needed an updated frontline treatment, so we cut the walk short.

Henry still has the cutest little personality, and he loves to prance around the house and gallop to retrieve his toys when we throw them.

He gets more daring with every day, and he thinks nothing of leaping off high surfaces and landing on the ground. I hope he doesn't hurt himself!

He needs to get groomed. He looks like a mop. I think Darcy's making an appointment for later this week.

He's still harassing poor Miller, but at least the two are starting to get along sometimes....rarely, but it's more than it was!

We are leaving Henry in Krissy's capable hands when we leave for Nashville next week. I will probably need to sedate Darcy when we leave. It was one thing when we first got him, but now that it's been 3 months, she's sooo attached to him, I don't even know how she'll ever manage to go back to work having to leave him all day long!

We are trying to do leash training with Henry, and some days he's better, and other days...not so much. Sometimes I take him out without a leash to try to train him to stay near me and to come when I call.

The other day I took him out without a leash, and I clearly picked the wrong day to attempt this. He darted off into the road, and I called after him to come, but Jimmy saw the scene from his kitchen window, so he started calling Henry even louder. Henry couldn't find Jimmy, but he kept running in the direction of the sound.

Every time I would just about catch up to him, Jimmy would scream "HENRAAY!" out the window, and he'd dart further away.

We live in a neighborhood where this is not a ridiculously dangerous game to play with a puppy, but still, he needs to learn to come when he is called!

Much like his mommies, he is a work in progress, and we are enjoying him so very much.

Our boy

2009-06-03T18:19:00.001-07:00

We brought Henry to Krissy and Bruno's Memorial Day BBQ. He was a big hit with his argyle sweater, let me tell you! I think he may be embarassed that we dress him in high fashion for each event, but let me tell you - the boy has some fans!

All of the kids in the neighborhood are always dying to see him, but he is actually hoping to play with them even more!

Darcy always says, Henry loves EVERYONE, but in this order:

1. Other dogs

2. Any other animals

3. Kids

4. Adults

He goes CRAZY when I come home from work, but it's nothing in comparison to when he sees the adorable pug Lexi from next door, or Lexi's siblings (children) Colie and Kyle.

My little Henry is the love of my life...and Darcy's. He loves to play and run and be lots of fun, but when he's tired, he's the biggest cuddle bug ever! I can't wait until 10PM each night because I know he'll be flopped upon whatever surface he lands on last, and I can just cuddle and cuddle him without him squirming away or looking for a way to pounce on the cat...poooor Miller....

I love our boy, and I can't wait to see him every morning when I wake up. It's such a bright point in every day!

Swimming!

2009-06-03T18:17:00.001-07:00

Here's the little drowned rat climbing up the steps. He did such a good job swimming, and we were so proud! He took to swimming like a Portuguese water dog. That's my boy!

Yup, that's what he's doing...

2009-05-23T03:57:00.000-07:00

Oh Henry, it's time for the snip snip, my poor dear. Miller has been defiled for the last time, and if we don't have you surgically altered soon, I think Miller may do the job for us. LOL

I know it's very naughty for dogs to be all humpy, but I can't help but laugh when I see the little Henry puffball go to town. He just looks like such a baby and such a stuffed animal...it's just wrong on so many levels...

Henry changed so much while I was gone. He grew, he can go down the stairs now, he jumps up and down from the couch with no problem, he lifts his leg to go potty all the time now, and I swear his tongue got longer.

It's so funny when he lifts his leg. He's so puffy and so much of a furball, you can't even see where his leg is going. It looks like it's contracting into his body, and there's just a stump of fir that remains. I'll try to capture a picture of it, it will be hard to see. Either way, it's *very* funny.

I was so happy to see him, and he is such a fun dog to have. He has a very cute, and very funny personality, and he loves to cuddle too. He's little, so he's very portable, and I can't imagine a more perfect puppy.

Certainly not perfect behaviorally, but just as a puppy package in general...

He's going to his first big BBQ today, so he should be more than overstimulated, and I'm sure he'll sleep for the next 2 days straight when it's all said and done...tired little boy...

It's 7:20, he's slept long enough. I'm going to take him for a hike now!

King Henry, the Cute!

2009-05-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

I asked Darcy to send me pictures of Henry because I missed him so much!

She's having entirely too much fun with her iPhone - LOL.

I can't believe how much I missed the little guy. He's just a dog! haha

One night, I couldn't sleep and I was so tired and annoyed that I couldn't sleep, so I pulled up his blog and looked at all the pictures of the cute little baby boy.

Last night, I couldn't sleep, and I thought about how great it will be to walk in the door of my house when I finally get home, and see little Henry darting toward me with his peculiar sideways run, and how fun it will be to see the little guy!!

I'm coming home soon, baby!

Henry's first boat ride!

2009-05-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

He's so handsome in his life vest.

LOL

He was a good boy in the boat. He liked the wind in his hair, but all in all, I don't think he was either impresses or fazed.

He slept through most of it!

I can't wait until he goes swimming.

Henry the Handful

2009-05-10T05:01:00.000-07:00

They say this part of the puppy's life is like their own version of the terrible twos. I can see the similarities! Henry gets into everything! He has 2 speeds: naughty and asleep. LOL There is no middle ground with our little boy.

Pictured above, he's drinking from someone's cup that must have been unattended for a millisecond.

He still isn't great on the leash. Yesterday, he saw a neighbor's dog, and he started to dart towards him while I stayed in place. He maxed out the length of the leash and tried to keep going at full speed, and ended up doing a COMPLETE flip and landing flat on his back.

It was absolutely hilarious, and I couldn't stop laughing. I'm glad he didn't hurt himself!

He is a clumsy little puppy. Sometimes he jumps off the couch, and lands face forward, unfazed. We worry he's going to really hurt himself because he has no fear, and he doesn't seem to have a memory of pain.

I'm dying to go swimming with him, and I think that will happen very soon.

Today we will put our boat in, so I'm sure Henry is about to have his first boat ride. Let's hope he doesn't jump out!

Henry goes kayaking

2009-04-26T04:17:00.000-07:00

Henry and I had a grand time kayaking yesterday. He had his life vest on, and he sat in my kayak, right between my legs. He wasn't shaking or scared at all. He just kept sniffing the air, because there were so many new smells!

I only took him out in front of the house, because I wanted to get him used to the life vest and the experience before going on a big trip. I think he'll do just fine!

I can't wait until the water is slightly warmer so I can take him swimming!

My poor dog

2009-04-26T04:14:00.001-07:00

Henry is about due for a hair cut. He had so much hair in his eyes the other day, Darcy put his hair up in a scrunchy (pictured above). This poor little dog is going to be tortured by us, because he's just so little and so darn cute!

Not the sharpest tool in the shed

2009-04-24T04:12:00.001-07:00

...but a tool nonetheless... ;-)

Henry is a little bit...slow...shall we say... Don't tell Darcy. She thinks he's perfect. Don't get me wrong, I think he's perfect just the way he is too! I find it endlessly amusing that he thinks he's a guard dog but only interprets noises on the TV or noises that we make as intruders that need big doses of barks to scare away, and when an actual person or animal comes to the house, he is completely unaware. He's charming like that!

The ceramic dog, pictured above, was at one of the guest houses where we stayed last week. Henry growled at it when we would pass it. I put him up next to it, and he started sniffing it, and circling it, thinking it was a real dog!

Henry is very protective of Darcy. He likes to follow her and guard her wherever she goes. I'm not sure what he would do if she actually needed his protection, but he'd be there for her in spirit for sure!

I'm only teasing my little boy. He's actually pretty bright...sometimes. He can do some really adorable tricks now, but he's taken some steps back with his potty training since we've been doing all this traveling. He is so young - he needs more consistency.

We don't have any plans to travel for a while now, so he will get back into his routine, and hopefully I can walk the floors of my house, not in fear of stepping into a pint sized surprise, in no time!

You tiny, tiny dog

2009-04-24T04:07:00.000-07:00

Henry met a lady friend named Coco, and he was so full of himself, after finally finding a dog smaller than him. He puffed out his chest, and was actually a bit gentle with her. Normally, as soon as he sees another dog/child/human/shrub he jumps all over it excitedly. (Yes, he's so well behaved - LOL)

With Coco, he got an air of pride, as he sniffed her and walked by her calmly. I think he was a bit smitten with the pink sweatshirt and pretty little face.

Coco was not that interested in Henry. She found him to be rather juvenile and unkempt, but to Henry, Coco will always be the one that got away...

Driving Lessons

2009-04-20T18:24:00.001-07:00

We took Henry out for his first driving lesson today. At first he was very nervous, and really stuck to the 10 and 2 steering wheel rule. However, after just a little while, he looked over at Darcy and told her he owned the road:

Tough day at the office

2009-04-20T18:22:00.001-07:00

The splits

2009-04-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

Where's Mommy??

2009-04-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Henry just loooooves his Mommy. Today, he's been extra needy, and I think it's because he's met about 100 dogs, and was with us for hours of walking and shopping in downtown Provincetown, but every time Darcy left his sight today, he would get very anxious and look all over for her. I tried to calm him down, but he would just look for her until she returned.

We decided to stay another day, and we rented a different place in town. Darcy left to run to the car, and Henry watched out the window for her. He also went around the place, looking for her everywhere. It's very cute, but I do worry that he's going to be a big Mama's boy. I want to talk to the vet to make sure we're not setting him up to be a big baby. LOL

Henry goes to Ptown

2009-04-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

Henry has had a very busy weekend on the Cape! He's been doing a lot of shopping with his mommies, and he's met LOTS of new friends. This is how he likes to greet them:

Dirty boy.

I wanted to take a picture of just him with the sign below, but Henry has to be with his Mommy every minute, or else he gets very anxious! Darcy set him in the middle, and told him to stay, but he darted toward her when she walked away.

Henry got to meet one of the local artists in town. I really love her work, and I bought one of her pieces. She just loved the little guy!

We stayed right on the ocean, and Henry liked going down to the beach, but really, he's just happy whenever he can be near his Mama:

Henry showed his playful side, posing for wacky pics with his friends:

After all of the days' excitement, he didn't care where we slept - I think he actually fell asleep mid step - LOL:

You have to be pretty tired to decide to sleep on a coffee table!

He's such a sweet boy, and he just loves meeting new friends, whether they are puppies or people. We can't walk a block down the street without being stopped by people who want to pet him or just talk about how cute he is. I can't blame them!

He's the cutest little boy in the whole wide world.

I heart Henry

2009-04-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Poor baby!

2009-04-15T16:51:00.001-07:00

I haven't quite figured out how to eat with a dog in tow yet. There aren't a ton of dog friendly restaurants out there, as you can imagine. After we went to the beach, we were hungry, and I found a little coffee shop that was open.

We left Henry in the car (it was warm in the car, I promise) to run into the coffee shop to order a quick breakfast to go. Of course, the drama queen had to stand on the seat and peek out the window, yelping for us as if we'd just sent him off to war, with not so much as a hug goodbye.

He can be so independent, and he can also be such a little baby boy. I'm glad he's still young and tender sometimes. Those are the times I get to hug him and cuddle with him. :)

We were back to the car within a few minutes, but it was enough time for Henry to leave us a steaming pile of objection to the abandonment. Henry 1, Mommies 0.

Thank God I have pleather seats. ;-)

Henry's first visit to the ocean

2009-04-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

We brought Henry to Short Sands beach in York, ME this morning. He didn't know what to make of it, and it was COLD. At first, he just looked at his Mama, wondering what he was supposed to do:

He sniffed around in the sand for a while, which probably would have provided him with hours of amusement (so many new smells and textures!!), but he was cold!
Darcy put his little pink hand-me-down coat on him, and they cuddled up for a photo by the water:

He darted toward the water, but as soon as he hit the wet sand, he jumped up at my legs so I would pick him up. This little baby does not like the cold! I can't wait to bring him back when it's warmer - I know he's going to love it!

Doggles!

2009-04-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

I ordered racing goggles (called doggles) for Henry. You can't see in this picture, but there are racing flames on the top and sides. They are sooo cute and funny! He should be just fine when he's sitting on the boat with the wind and water flying around. Plus, he's a cool dude.

Growing boy

2009-04-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

Henry keeps growing! He's already up to 6 lbs! The life vest that Alison got him a few weeks ago that was so big on him at the time, now fits him!

We had a play date yesterday with Baxter and Zoe. Baxter and Zoe played fetch with one of Henry's toys, and Henry tried to play along, but he didn't really understand what was happening. He's just still learning how to play fetch.

Stephanie would get all three dogs around her, and she'd tell them all to sit. Henry and Baxter would sit right down, and Zoe would stare at her blankly. Henry and Baxter sat patiently while Stephanie tried to get Zoe to sit, to no avail. Finally, Stephanie would throw the toy, and Zoe and Baxter would dart after it. Henry would run to, but not in the direction of the toy. He didn't quite get that part. When Baxter and Zoe ran back to Stephanie, Henry would run back with them.

Alison and I took Henry for a walk yesterday, and he ran into Jimmy's dog Cooper. Cooper was not impressed with our little puffball, but I'm sure they'll be good friends by summer.

Henry was not in the mood for a walk. It was cold out, and he does not like the cold. He kept sitting down on the ground, and I'd have to drag him to get him moving. When Alison would get ahead of us, she'd call out to him in a high voice, and then he'd dart forward, but as soon as we caught up with her, he'd sit again. He can move pretty good for such a little guy, though!

We put Henry up on the boat to get him used to it. LOL - I know he won't remember, but it's more for me. I can't wait to get the boat in the water! I suppose I should take it out of the shrink wrap before putting it in the water. :)

The kids are working on getting better with each other. I can't believe I got a shot of this because this kind of cuddling only lasts 1 second:

Look - they are kind of like ying yang:

We are taking Henry on his first overnight tomorrow to Portsmouth, I hope he's a good boy, because I want to be able to travel with him!

Henry and Miller

2009-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

The kids are getting along a bit better, but not as much as I would have liked by now. Henry is just sooooo hyper, and Miller is a very lethargic senior catizen. Miller wouldn't mind Henry being around if Henry would just lay near him and rest, but Henry is a ball of fury, and he explodes in the direction of anything that moves.

Every time he sees Miller, even after a month, he darts toward him as fast as he can and jumps all over him. Miller tries to ignore him, but Henry just doesn't lose interest. He'll keep jumping all over Miller until Miller bats him away. He has no idea how much Miller loathes him.

Miller opens his mouth wide to bite Miller, and Henry tries to stick his tongue down Miller's throat. He's just a lovey lover, and has no idea that Miller's attempts to swat him away and bite him are out of dislike for him. His playful innocence is absolutely adorable.

Sometimes they sleep together on the couch, so that is definitely progress. I know when Henry gets older, he'll calm down a bit, but I just don't see it happening anytime soon. I'm sure Miller will get used to him, and just give up at some point, but I'm hoping he gets to the point where he can enjoy his little Brother.

Helpful Doggy Hints from Kitty - thank you!

2009-04-08T17:06:00.001-07:00

Dr. Karen Halligan, Veterinarian was on the Bonnie Hunt show this morning. She said 5 macadamia nuts can kill a dog. YIKES!!

20 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Pet
From "What Every Pet Owner Should Know" by Dr. Karen Halligan

1. Bones
2. Ham
3. Chocolate
4. Raisins/Grapes
5. Potato Peel
6. Apple Core/Apricot Pits
7. Alcohol
8. Moldy Foods
9. Avocado
10. Caffeine
11. Mushrooms

12. Tuna
13. Liver
14. Fat
15. Dough
16. Milk/Cheese
17. Macadamia nuts
18. Onions/Garlic
19. Tobacco
20. Rhubarb and Tomato leaves/ stems

We're back!

2009-04-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

We missed our Henry while we were gone, but he had a BLAST with his surrogate family! He just loooooved having Arthur as a playmate, and Arthur was a saint. Henry followed Arthur around wherever he went, running underneath him, jumping up on him, humping him, you name it... Arthur was very understanding.

Henry was a handful for his new family! He only slept a maximum of 6 hrs a night, and he didn't take any naps during the day. By the time we got him back, he slept for about 2 days straight! He also seemed to have gained weight in just one week. He ate constantly, I hear.

Henry had his first ticks while we were gone, poor baby. He's so low to the ground, the vet says he's very prone to getting them. Brooke was a hero and got the ticks off all by herself. We owe her BIIIIG.

Henry misses his new friends. When Brooke stopped by yesterday, after she left, he stood staring at the door waiting for her to come back. It was so cute! He loves her so much!

She took a bunch of cute pictures of Henry and Henry with Arthur, and she emailed them to us throughout the week, with hilarious captions. I'm going to try to post them.

Henry is back to his old antics - still doing all he can to get his paws on Darcy's slipper. Every time we look the other way, all of the sudden he comes prancing out of the bedroom with her slipper in his mouth. It's still so funny, because it's almost the same size as his body!

Henry was tired earlier, and he decided to take a nap on the floor with his monkey:

He is an absolute sweetie pie, and we don't want to leave him again, any time soon.

Bye Bye, Henry

2009-03-31T05:04:00.001-07:00

As much as we wanted to take the little love with us in the suitcase, we had to leave him behind. :( Darcy was upset, but she wasn't weeping, so I think she did pretty well. He is in SUCH good hands! We sent him off with a novel of instructions, as well as more outfits than we brought with us on our trip. I think he'll be all set! ;-)

Before we left, we gave him a bath, and he looked like a drowned rat, but he was such a good boy!

He looked so skinny and little with all his hair wet. He's would be a funny looking rat if he ever went bald, although Darcy will probably hit me in the head for saying that. LOL - Don't worry, we'd still love the little bald rat dog!!

I cuddled with him in his blanket by the fire to warm him up. He was shaking all over like we haven't seen him do since the first day we brought the little pumpkin home. I know I look like I'm 5 seconds away from the grim reaper's tap on the shoulder, but I have pneumonia - sorray.

I miss Henry already. Normally, I get in bed and read a little bit while Darcy takes him out one last time, especially since I've been sick. When they get into the bedroom, Darcy puts Henry on the bed and he gallops over to me to lick my face good night and I squeeze and hug and kiss him and then he trots into his crate, sometimes needing encouragement, and other times on his own.

Last night, there was no furry little puffball sending me away into my sweet dreams, and I missed that! When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is run out to see my little Henry. He's usually curled up on the couch with Darcy, sleeping, and when I come out, he bounds up into the air and his short little tail wags so fast you'd think it was going to propel him into the air. I pick him up and he gives me kisses and gets SO excited. It's a cute little routine, and I missed that when I got up today.

I know it will be a nice break to not have to worry constantly about the puppy, but it will be really great to see him when we get back next Monday morning!

Good boy

2009-03-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Darcy has been busy teaching Henry how to sit, stay, stand, lay down, give her his paw, etc...He is learning quickly, and it's so cute! My favorite is when he stands on his hind legs. LOL

Poor Darcy started getting really upset last night thinking about leaving the BABY on Monday. I don't know what she's going to do!

We are sure going to miss the little guy, but I bet Darcy will like getting to sleep in! It's been a long time (3 weeks) since she's gotten more than 6-8 hrs sleep in a night, and I think her body is in shock. It will be a nice break for her, and she'll be all rested up for him when we get back!

Me and the baby

2009-03-26T11:47:00.001-07:00

Henry likes to give kisses - I pretend to want to kiss him too...I think it's gross, but adorable.

I love to cradle him in my arms. He's so calm for me when I want him to be.

He is mischievous! He hides his bones in the couch cushions, so that if Darcy wants to take away all his toys and treats, he has back ups! He was naughty last night, and she took all his stuff away from him, so he dug into a couch cushion and trotted away with a bone in his mouth! LOL - he's too smart for his own good, and he's certainly giving us a run for our money!

Dancing Henry

2009-03-25T14:41:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when Henry gets wild, I distract him by standing him up with his feet on my lap and his arms in the air, and I make him dance. It's such a riot, because he does whatever I want him to do. I was just puppeteering him to dance to "They call me Henry" to the tune of "You drive me Crazy" by Britney Spears. He really seems to prefer pop over all other genres.

He let's me sway his upper body from side to side, and it looks like his hips are moving. I twist him around and swing his arms over his head, and he just lets me do whatever I want. I'm not sure how this calms him down, but it does. I think he is just really a dancer deep down, and I'm freeing his dancing spirit! ;-) What else could it be?

Our boy is up a 1lb already! :( I want to stop feeding him so that he will always be a cute little puppy. Okay, okay, I'm not SERIOUS about not feeding him, but he's just soooo cute this size. I want it to last forever. He has been cleared for puppy training, so we're going to start him in classes as soon as we are back from CA.

I think I'm going to have to sedate Darcy to get her to release Henry to his temporary family. For real. He is going to have a blast with Arthur and all the girls! Poor Miller is going to be so confused. Actually, he'll just be thrilled to have no one bother him for a week!

What a loveable boy!

2009-03-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

The best dressed dog on the street

2009-03-22T11:12:00.001-07:00

You can't see it really in this picture, but Auntie Brooke bought Henry a Coach collar this week! He is so spoiled!! It's absolutely adorable. It's a size XS and it's a little loose right now, but soon he will grow into it. He can't wait!

Sadly, the dog has more expensive accessories than we do now. :)

He's a good little boy. He's getting really good with the potty training, and Darcy taught him to sit and stay and to stand on his back legs, which is hilarious. Some days he doesn't sleep much and other days he sleeps all day.

We brought him out to downtown Manchester on Friday, and everyone went crazy for him. He's just a popular little guy. Everywhere we go, people ask how Henry is. It's very cute.

Darcy took him to our vet this week, and she said we really can't take him out on walks until he finishes the last regimen of shots, which is this coming Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to that! It's getting nice out, and I want to take the little guy all around!

He still makes a cute little cooing sound when you hold him and he's sleepy. He's just a little baby, and he loves to explore outside. There is a lot to see and smell where we are! I'm looking forward to teaching him to swim, but I know that's a few months away. I hope he loves the water as much as I do!

Busy Boy

2009-03-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

Henry had a very busy weekend, and he got to meet lots of new friends!

Here he is with Gramma D:

And Grampa D:

And Uncle EJ, Aunt Kerry, and cousin Tia:

And Auntie Alison:

Here is a floatation vest Alison bought for Henry for the boat. Too funny!

Henry had fun opening all of his presents!

We were hoping that Henry and Tia would have fun playing together, but Tia wanted nothing to do with Henry. It's a recurring theme in his play dates. LOL. Tia is afraid of other dogs.

On another note, Henry stopped by to meet his future surrogate family, and Arthur had much more fun with him on his home turf. Arthur kept leaping over Henry, and they chased each other around the house. Henry ate all of Arthur's food (piggy!), but Arthur was a very good sharer.

Henry is a funny little dude. Half the time he runs sideways because he's just so excited and he's moving faster than he is really capable of. Yesterday when I took him outside on the back porch, he flew around in a circle, and almost flung himself off the steps!

On Saturday night, Henry was exhausted, and he slept all through the night for 8 hours without having any accidents! Yesterday, he slept all day, so he got up twice during the night. We have to remember to wear him out a bit more!

He is a happy little boy, and he just loves to sleep and play.

Precious Moments

2009-03-13T07:15:00.001-07:00

Henry gets more energy every day, so the times I get to cuddle with him are less and less. He sleeps a lot, but I'm working most of the time, so it's usually at night when I want to cuddle, and he just wants to play! I love playing with him, but I want to hold him too...he's only going to be this little puppy angel for a short time, and I don't want to miss out on it!

Today I saw him napping on the couch, so I took a break from work to hold him. He makes these adorable cooing noises when he sleeps, just like a baby. It's absolutely adorable.

Henry is getting more independent by the minute! Today, Darcy and I were both downstairs and he bolted upstairs all by himself! That was a first. His potty training is coming along well. He hasn't had any accidents in a little while. He's getting to be much better about giving us warning when he needs to go outside, and then going when we are outside.

It's hard for him, because there's just so much to play with and explore outside! Since it's been cold out, he only gets to go out when it's potty time. Soon that will change. Darcy ordered a bell for him, so we will start the bell training shortly.

He seems to be fairly bright, and he is starting to learn his name, and what no means. His teething is very funny. He puts everything in his mouth! We think it's sooo cute, but we stop him. Yesterday, he dragged a pair of Darcy's pajama pants out of the bedroom. It was hilarious seeing this tiny little puppy dragging the big grown up pants around!

He is fun, but oh, so much work. I don't know how people have puppies if they can't stay home with them at first. I can't even imagine it.

2009-03-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Henry came with us to my new office today. He's so good about traveling in his faux coach carrier. I think he likes pretending he's rich. :) He was a very good boy, and we were gone for hours.

I walked him a few blocks, and everyone stopped to say how cute he is. They are right! He is SUPER cute. He gallups down the street, so fearlessly. He doesn't seem to realize that he's just a four lb puff ball!

I'm glad I have a pet friendly office, and it's good to know that when Darcy goes back to work, I can bring Henry with me some days - at least for part of the day. I think he'll like that.

More presents for the spoiled puppy!

2009-03-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

Henry had some visitors today! Krissy and Denise came by, and they brought him a very special bone and an adorable chew toy! Here they are with him, and his new toys:

Henry loves spending time with all of his friends, and he loooooves all of his toys!

Especially, his slipper toy - WAIT a minute! That's not a toy!!

He loves to drag Darcy's slipper all around the house by his teeth. It's so cute, and so hard to stop, but we do. Darcy bought him a stuffed flip flop toy today, so we're hoping he'll take to that. We keep all of his toys in a toy basket, in the hopes that he will learn that they are toys, and *everything* else isn't! :)

Henry is getting better about going potty outside. We are getting better to know when he needs to go, too! He loves to dart inside the house as soon as we open the door.

I couldn't believe how excited he was when I got home from work today. It was absolutely touching and just adorable. If I were a person that squealed, I would have squealed. :) He is just toooo cute, and I love him more and more every day.

XO, my cute little puff ball!!

Terrible tragedies

2009-03-10T17:05:00.001-07:00

Within the past few days, two kennels have exploded. One just last night at the Cape Cod Animal Hospital, and another last Friday in Pennsylvania, where Martha Stewarts' puppy, Ghenghis Khan, pictured above, passed away in the blast. What a cute little puppy, and how very sad!!! :(

It's scary leaving pets overnight in strange places, and now, it sounds terrifying. I can't imagine poor little Henry being caught in a blaze. The thought makes me sick.

Darcy and I are leaving for San Diego in 3 weeks, and we weren't quite sure what the plan was going to be for Henry. Today, Brooke volunteered to have Henry come stay with her and Arthur and her sister and Mom. What a generous offer, and HUGE relief! I know they are so good with puppies, and that he will love spending time with them and his new friend Arthur!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the mean time, my hearts and prayers go out to all the families who lost their beloved pets in these tragic fires.

Favorite Toys

2009-03-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Henry has lots of new toys, but so far, he has a few favorites. The poor creature in his mouth in the picture above is a fat little hippo that Arthur brought him yesterday. He likes to nibble the hippo's little nubby feet, and sometimes he tries to stuff the whole hippo in his mouth. The monkey next to him is another fave...really, he just chews it. He's a big chewer. I guess that's a puppy thing. ;-) He *loves* his nutrident edible dental brush chews - bacon and cheese flavor. Arthur was so generous to give Henry so many great treats!

We gave him some nylon bones to chew on, and he loves those too. One of them is a little big for him, so he picks it up, walks a few steps with it, drops it, and repeats.

Henry is very curious about our cat Miller, but Miller wants nothing to do with him. Henry thinks they should be playing together, and he keeps trying to be playful with Miller, but Miller is fat, and old and set in his ways, and he doesn't want a cute little puppy trying to be his pal. He ignores him, but Henry always persists, so Miller eventually hisses at him, like a big meany.

I predict within a few days, Miller will love Henry, and he'll take him under his wing like a little brother. Let's hope I'm right!

In the mean time, our little Henry has his toys to keep him company...and his loving parents! Come one...what's not to love?!!

Henry's first play date

2009-03-08T14:59:00.001-07:00

Henry had a nice visit with Arthur today. Arthur is a 2.5 year old Cockapoo, and he was an adoooorable little puppy before growing into the handsome boy he is today. He's great with kids and people, but for some reason, he's just not that into dogs. Henry chased Arthur all around the yard and the house, and Arthur was not havin' it. Brooke, Arthur's Aunt, seems to think it's because Arthur is a snob, due to his Coach collar...there may be something to that. We are clearly going to need to step it up with Henry's accoutrements.

Arthur is a good boy, and we hope he comes back for a visit soon. He was so thoughtful to bring Henry lots of new toys and treats! Thank you Arthur and Auntie Brooke!!!

We went shopping at Petco today, and everyone stopped Henry in the aisles to squeal over how cute he is. I think he may be getting a big head! :) He is so good with other dogs, and that makes us very happy!

Here are a pieces from Henry's new wardrobe:

A lovely, fashionable, luxury pet transport bag:
A slimming, striped turtleneck:

A shiny red bomber jacket:

And, of course, an argyle hoodie:

Henry loved cuddling with Auntie Brooke:

After all of the excitement of the day, Henry passed out in his new bed:

We took Henry back to the pet store today to finish all the paperwork, and they gave him a few more shots and a bath. He looked so cute with his fluffy, clean hair! They gave him Pucci puppy cologne too! The pet store people were so helpful, and we have a DVD to learn how to train him that should be helpful.

Apparently, our dear boy is supposed to sleep for 18-20 hours a day for now. Oooops. The poor thing has barely had a chance to nap! I bet he's down for the night now, but I do hope he wakes up to eat at least. He hasn't eaten much today, but he hasn't really had a chance to either!

We love our Henry, and I just hope we don't become too obnoxious with all the outfits and toys and stuff. I want to spoil him, but I don't want him to be a spoiled dog. So far, he is an absolute angel.

Our first day

2009-03-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Auntie Stephanie and Carolyn had some hand-me-downs ready for Henry when we arrived last night. When we got there, they found out he was a boy, and they thought we wouldn't be able to use Zoe's hand-me-downs after all, but little did they know, Henry is totally Metro! Look at him pulling off this pink cape with all the flair of the spring line up!

Henry made it through the first night just fine. We weren't sure exactly what to do, so I did some research online that recommended that we put his crate within eye level of where we are sleeping so he's not scared. If he whimpers, put your fingers through the crate so he can smell you, and talk to him softly. That worked like a charm.

Around 4:30 AM, he woke up, and we thought he had to go out, so Darcy got up with him and brought him out, but he didn't go. He's still in the process of being puppy trained, so we're trying to figure out his schedule and how to get him to go outside. He went right back to sleep and slept until 7:30 this AM, so about 8 hours total. Not bad for a new born!

Henry has been on four walks so far. We want to make sure he's very active and comfortable with all of his neighborhood friends. He is very well adjusted, and he likes all the dogs, children and grown ups he's met so far, and they all love him too!

Today we started running with him to see how he would respond, and he ran right along with us. He doesn't really know how to be walked yet, and he keeps trying to climb up our legs when we walk him. We know he gets scared, but we will train him not to do that. He needs to walk independently. It's a funny concept for a 4 lb puff ball.

Here are some pictures of Henry's adventures this morning on one of his walks:

Henry running with Mum:

Henry with Auntie Krissy and "Uncle" Kyle:

Henry with his new buddy Pepper:

Henry with cousin Lexi!

(When they met, Kyle said, "This is my big dog, Lexi" as he introduced them. Very funny!)
Two friends taking a stroll:

Henry is a cuddle bug. I know he won't always be that way, but we are loving it while we can! He curls up on us, and loves to sleep and just be lovey with us. He's so gentle and he has the sweetest temperament. I think we'll keep him! ;-)

Look what the stork dropped in

2009-03-07T18:28:00.001-08:00

Meet Henry. He's 11 weeks old, and his birthday is December 13, 2008. He's from Arkansas, and he's a Yorkipoo. Oh, as you may have noticed, he's also A-DOR-A-BLE!!!!! We are in love. Darcy has wanted a dog for a looooooooooooong time, and I've been completely opposed to it. I don't want to have to lose the flexibility that I have in my life, and I'm not really an animal person. Also, I'm very allergic.

Lately, it's become very clear to me that Darcy wants a dog much more than I don't want one. Out of fairness, I told her she could get one as long as she was responsible for caring for it. With her 40th birthday just around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to finally give her the gift she has wanted for so long.

Today we saw the movie Bolt, and it was absolutely adorable. We decided to check out the dog shelters after. Due to my allergies, I need a poodle mix so that the dog will be hypoallergenic. I haven't really liked any of the poodle mixes I've seen, so we were kind of at a stand still with our search. The shelters didn't have many dogs at all, and non of them were poodle mix.

Darcy never planned on having a puppy. They are a LOT of work...I kind of wanted a puppy all along, though, if I was going to have a dog. I knew that was probably my best bet for falling in love with him or her. How can you not love a puppy?

We stopped by a pet store this afternoon, and I found an adorable little Yorkipoo. I loved the way he looked, and I immediately knew we would be leaving with him today. We spent a long time with him at the store, and a puppy isn't a good impulse buy (understatement), so we talked to the pet store worker, and he said we could take him home for the night, and if we didn't want him, we could bring him back tomorrow. If we want him, we can pay for him tomorrow. That sealed the deal.

Here is the proud mama with her new baby:

The name was a funny thing. I'm reading a book where the main character is named Henry, so on the way to the pet store, I thought to myself that Henry would be a cute name for a dog, but I didn't mention it to Darcy. When we left the pet store, Darcy said we needed to name him, and what did I think of the name Henry. What are the odds? It was meant to be, and Henry he now is!

Henry came home with us at 5:30, and he's had a very busy night! Talk about a tired puppy! We brought him to meet the neighbors, and he was quickly given the nickname Hank by Uncle Jimmy. Very cute. Auntie Lanie gave Henry some toys, and she begged for baby sitting rights. You got it!

We are VERY lucky to have pet loving neighbors, and if we ever go away, we will have plenty of people to help watch the pets. That will make a huge difference. We also have a very pet friendly neighborhood, and Henry is going to have lots of friends to play with!

After Henry met the neighbors, we brought him to meet his cousins, Baxter and Zoe. Baxter is a 2.5 year old Beagle mix and Zoe is a 1.5 year old Boston Terrier. They are very hyper, and much bigger than our little 4 lb Henry. We weren't sure how he was going to react, but he was great! The dogs loved playing together, and they had a blast. It was cute seeing the little guy trying to play tough with the big dogs. That's my boy!

Henry is a little love. He loves to cuddle and hug and give lots of sweet kisses. So far he is calm and very well behaved, but we've only had him for four hours. He has a very good appetite, and he ate almost a cup of food for dinner!

Unfortunately, Henry seems to have a cold or maybe even kennel cough, but hopefully not. We are going to make a vet appt for him ASAP, so that he can start off with a clean bill of health.

I know nothing about raising puppies, but I will very soon. He is Darcy's dog, but I plan to take his training very seriously. I will not be a pushover for his adorable little puppy dog eyes, or his cute little wagging miniature tail, as tempting as it may be. I want Henry to grow up a well adjusted, polite, energetic, healthy, loving dog.

I'm going to use this blog to talk about our adventures with Henry, as well as our training successes and failures.

Wish me luck! I will need it. :)