Saba, Swimming and Slate

Maeby got to visit another canine cousin over labor day weekend. We went up to the Finger Lakes where my brother and sister-in-law live. Her cousin Saba is 11 years old and has just one good leg - she has two torn ACL's and an injured front leg from jumping out a second story window to get away from the noise of fireworks over the Fourth of July -- as such, she didn't seem to enjoy having a young whipper-snapper running around her territory and chasing her tennis balls, but there wasn't much she could do. They did have words though when Maeby landed on Saba as she was trying to catch a ball, there was much growling and snapping, but no blood was drawn and we got them separated. Most of the time they were cordial to each other. 

A little info about Saba. 

Saba is a rescue dog, we're not sure exactly what her heritage is, but she looks kind of like a tall Corgy. She is named after the Dutch Caribbean Island and is a allergic to most dairy and meats, so she eats vegetarian dog food. She is a really smart dog who used to take care of  a cockatiel (that's a bird, not a bluish green cocker spaniel), until she passed away -- her duties included waking the bird, Dulce, up in the morning by removing the blanket on the cage and watching her intently when she was out of the cage. 

Maeby also has a feline cousin who lives with Saba, Chico, but he stayed away from Maeby, they met once, but only long enough to sniff each other, then Chico took off into the garage.

Some Pictures of Maeby and Saba being cordial with one another:

Maeby decided to give Saba's vegetarian lifestyle a try and had her first taste of corn on the cob.

Maeby taunted Saba for a little while by running circles around her. Saba just growled and tried to snap at her, but was always a bit too slow.

Maeby also got to go down to the lake for some kayaking and swimming

Here she is checking out the water

Most of the time she just seemed a bit wary of our kayaking skills. She always thought the other kayak would be safer. 

Action Shot!!!

Then on another day we took a hike up a nearby gorge. It was a beautiful hike and the slate stream bed was amazing. Then we walked back along fields of corn, alfalfa and soy. 

Maeby trying to get dry - it was a losing battle

Maeby looking out contemplatively (is that word) over the fields of green

In this one I think Maeby looks like a frog. Her legs are too short to be able to run through the alfalfa, so she had to take a series of leaps to get through the field. In real life she looked more like a bounding deer, but this one is all frog - or maybe toad.

Yorkies Gone Wild

Yesterday was Maeby's first birthday, so to celebrate we invited some of her dog friends to a puppy party at the Shirlington, VA dog park. Her Italian Greyhound friends, Rocco and Mia, were not able to make it, so it was a Yorkie parade with Romeo, a Morkie (maltese/yorkie), Jack, a full blooded Yorkshire Terrier, and of course Maeby, a Yorkie Poo (yorkie/toy poodle). The Shirlington Dog park was great, there was a stream for them to run and swim in, lots of other friendly dogs, and most importantly, complimentary pooh bags. After the park we took the canines to the Dairy Godmother where they were treated to puppy pops (frozen yogurt, banana, peanut butter) while we humans got frozen custard. It was good day!

Jack and Maeby wrestling in the back of the car. Actually it was more Jack trying to give Maeby some birthday kisses.

Below is Romeo looking over the back seat as if to say, "I'm too old for this." He is 2 years old, while Maeby is just 1 and Jack is 6 months, plus Romeo is a mommas boy. So, we relented and let him ride on his mom's lap on the back seat. That of course meant that Jack and Maeby had to come up to the back seat too. Good thing Suz was there to help with them all, while I acted as chaufer with no one riding shotgun.

At the dog park Maeby took off straight for the water, with Jack following close behind. We knew that Maeby was an ATC (All Terrain Canine) but we weren't sure about Jack.

Maeby is such a strong swimmer, most dogs only know the doggie paddle and a few can freestyle, but a very small minority know the butterfly stroke. And here is Maeby doing the basic dog paddle.
Jack poised and ready to jump back in, even though he just got dried off to keep him from getting too cold, while Romeo just stands in the water, he seems to be indifferent to it.

And Maeby, asking if it is really time to go already. She has so much fun in the water, but she looks like a wet rat afterward.
They weren't too disappointed for having to leave the dog park because they were soon treated to some Dairy Godmother signature puppy pops. Below, Jack and Maeby can't seem to get enough of them. With each lick the cup inches away, so they are constantly licking and walking around the sidewalk.

Maeby enjoying her puppy pop. Jack enjoying his puppy pop, but what's Romeo doing there in the back?

Romeo wasn't too interested in the peanut butter and banana frozen yogurt, I guess he's watching his weight because he decided he'd rather have the salad. Now for a series of cute pictures:

Maeby

Romeo

Jack

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____

Group picture time:

Romeo, Maeby, Jack

Jack, Romeo and Maeby
It was a long day, and Jack could not stay awake on the ride home.
In addition to all the fun, Maeby got a few presents.

Romeo gave her some bling, a pink collar with a bling encrusted M.

Her Aunt Makaria gave her another of the Dairy Godmother's specialties, homemade barley malt squirrel cookies, made just for dogs (on left), and all the dogs went home with a bag of treats from PetCo's treat bar and a squeeky toy(on right).

One of her new chew toys, Crocodile.









And another new toy, Mr. Hedgehog. She is loving the little snorting sound that this hedgehog makes, as are we, it's quieter and not as harsh as a regular squeek toy.

Do I feel a little silly for having thrown a birthday party for my dog? Sure I do, but I had fun, our friends had fun, and the dogs seemed to have fun, so I will probably do it again. Besides, we like to celebrate, it gives us a chance to eat frozen custard.