Happy Holidays!

Elli is getting excited with all the decorations going up, and presents under the tree. Strangely though, she has never been too interested in all the changes in the house that come around holiday time. She barely even looks at the tree.

This will be her second Christmas. Last year she got soooo many treats and toys. But, this year I only got her a couple presents. She will be getting a new pink sweater, a few treats and raw hide bones in the shape of candy canes to share with her friends. I may pick her up a toy as well, but she really has enough toys to play with. She'll just be happy getting to spend time with her extended family. And, trying to sneak any turkey bits that may fall onto the floor.

Happy Holidays!!

Paw Nation

I recently came across the Paw Nation website. It is a site devoted to all things pets. There are main categories such as health, news, product reviews, and photo galleries. But, it doesn't stop there. There are tons and tons of categories that suit every animal lovers needs. There are links to other pet sites, pet horoscopes, advice for travelling with your pet, nutrition, and breed information (these are just a few examples).

The entries are short blog-style that are easy to read. I also thought they had some unique and interesting stories with cute pictures to go with them. The articles will make you love animals even more, and be even more amazed by their true stories.

Booties

We are in the midst of the first real snowfall in the GTA so I thought it would be the perfect time to write about a product I found last winter.

Elli loves the snow and we still go on walks even when the sidewalks are covered with ice and snow and that dreaded salt. I've looked at various dog boots and even tried a couple on Elli in the stores. But I never purchased a pair because I couldn't find any that would actually stay on, or that Elli would actually walk in.

Last winter I came across an inexpensive (less than $20) option that I thought I would try. The product is called  PAWZ the company site can be found here. The boots are made from natural rubber and are waterproof. They protect against chemicals used on snow, ice or lawns, liquids, sand, red clay stains, salt, fire ants, soil, swimming pool liner tears, hot pavement, and post-surgical infections.

The boots come in different sizes, I got Elli extra small. Twelve boots comes in a package and they are reusable until they tear then you can just throw them away and use a new pair. The boots are easy to use and slip on and off with a little pull, but most importantly they stay on when you want them to.

Last winter Elli only used one pair and they never wore out. They kept her toes dry and clear of ice and salt. She was able to walk normally and didn't seem to mind wearing her boots.

Here are some pictures of Elli in her PAWZ  boots. Her hair is so long here it puffs out the top!

Obedience Classes

For some reason I had always imagined that when I got a dog I would take her to obedience classes. I thought people who did this always had well-behaved dogs.

Even with those good intentions I ended up not taking Elli to a formal class. Sometimes I wish I had, but I truly think training a dog comes down to consistency. I decided against taking Elli to class because of the cost, I was also concerned that I would take her and she wouldn't really learn anything like some other dogs I know.

Elli knows tons of tricks. The problem is she really only does them consistently when there is a delicious treat in front of her nose. She also has a tendancy to get distracted. I need to take time to work on her obedience on a more regular basis. I know with a bit more consistent training she would be able to do anything I ask her to.

I have taken Elli to a couple free classes at the local Petsmart. She liked these and seemed to have fun with the other dogs. I also felt that her training was at least on par with the other dogs there (who most likely also did not take formal classes).

When I think about my next dog and if I would take that one to classes, I'm not sure. I think it depends on the type of dog. A larger dog would probably need better training since he would have the potential to do more damage. Anyway it's something to think about. In the meantime, I'm going to work with Elli and get her to do her tricks without a treat. That's the goal at least.

Tiburon Treats

Tiburon Treats is an all-natural gourmet dog treat company based out of Whitby, Ontario.  I purchased a bag of the Canadian Cheese Dreams treats for Elli last spring when I came across the company's booth at Pickering's pet fair. The treats were a good size and smelled absolutely delicious! Elli certainly enjoyed them. The bag also came packed so it was worth the money.

The treats are available in 12 premium flavours including: Buster's Ranch-Style Beef Cuts, Kiana's Peanut Butter Shortbread, and Shorty's Sniff and Bite Veggie Squares.

There is also a line of wheat/grain/gluten-free treats.

The products are all natural and are made without sugar, salt, additives, or by-products.

You can order online, or purchase the treats in select stores (listed on the company's site).

Cruelty Charges at Toronto Shelter

Today the Toronto Humane Society got a huge amount of negative press. Senior officials at the River Street location, including the president, chief veterinarian, shelter manager, manager and shelter supervisor, were all arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

This raid came as a result of a six-month investigation that started with the Globe and Mail and was executed by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The shelter was investigated because of claims by former volunteers and employees of poor living conditions for the animals including lack of fresh food and water, poor disease control, ignoring recommendations made by veterinarians, the shelter's policy of euthanasia, and mismanaging charitable donations.

News reports showed animals with lesions on their bodies, severe dehydration, and even a cat whose skin peeled off when officials tried to pick it up. 

How could people work for The Humane Society but treat animals in such a cruel manner?

Pawsway Pet Discovery Centre

A 3500 square foot indoor-pet park just opened at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto. Pawsway Pet Discovery Centre offers free general admission and welcomes all dogs. There is a Canine Code of Conduct, which is fairly basic but a good idea to check out before going. The fall hours are listed as Wednesday to Sunday. During the week the centre opens at 4pm, and on the weekend it opens at 11am.

There is a full events calendar that includes off leash times for both big and small dogs, agility, doggy dance fit classes, even special cat-friendly days.

There are also many pet-themed exhibits such as how dogs and cats see, the benefits of pet ownership, pet behaviour, or you can take the healthy hug test. The current featured exhibit is 41 years of the Purina animal hall of fame.

The centre also boasts a Williams Coffee Pub that has a dog-friendly eating area. This is something I would be interested in, since so many times I go out and wish I could bring Elli with me.

On December 5 and 6 the centre will have pet photos with Santa. The sittings will be $10 with renowned photographer Garth Gourlay.  

Crates

When I first got Elli I planned on crate training her since I had heard it's a good idea. I got her a crate, guessing which size would be best. There were some things I loved about the crate and there were some things that didn't go according to plan.

I put the crate in the laundry room on the main floor of my house. This was the room Elli would sleep in, or be locked into when everyone was out. I only kept Elli in her crate at night. I heard that you really should put your dog in their during the day as well when you're home to better train them. But, whenever I tried to put her in if I was home she would cry and scratch to get out. So I let her out. I wanted her with me as much as possible.

Having Elli in her crate through the night worked great in that she never had an accident during the night. It was also reassuring to know exactly where she was, and more importantly that she wasn't getting into trouble. I left a nightlight on in her room, and closed the door only part-way.

There were a couple times when she cried a bit at first, but for the most part she slept quietly through the night.

Well, that is until a family member of mine started to go in to see her throughout the night. You're supposed to ignore her cries as you would a child and the dog will settle down again. Or, if the dog really does have to go out, you're supposed to just bring the dog right out and right back in again. Nighttime isn't for playing. But, you can't always control what family members decide to do.

Once Elli learned that she would get attention if she caused a fuss she began getting louder and doing it nightly. This was frustrating for me. Elli was my dog but people weren't treating her how I wanted them to in terms of training.

Eventually the crate moved up into my bedroom because we were painting the laundry room so Elli couldn't be in there anymore. Of course, once in my bedroom Elli did not settle into her crate and I couldn't resist having a cute cuddly puppy snuggling me all night. So that was the end of her official crate training.

I still keep her crate in my room with the door propped open. And, on the rare occasion Elli will go in there to sleep.

Overall I'm glad I did the crate training, although there are some things I would do differently next time. I think I would start the crate in my bedroom right from the beginning so that I could have more control over who interrupts her during the night. I might also do more daytime training, even though I'm still not sure how I would do that.

Fancy Dishes

When I first knew for sure I was getting Elli, I was all excited about all the doggy accessories I would have to buy. One of the top things on that list was dishes.

I was surprised at how much they could cost, and by all the variations available. I liked the ceramic dishes, but at the time I wasn't sure if they would break easily. So I ended up buying a pink set of dishes that were in a plastic holder to keep them steady. I paid $20 for these, an average price. I was suprised at how much you could spend on dog dishes.

When I got them home, I wasn't in love with them. They just didn't seem quite right. I ended up returning them. Instead, opting for Elli to use little plastic tupperware dishes for the time being until I found what I really wanted.

This worked great. Well, until Elli started chewing them up, and running around the house with her tupperware on her head like a helmet. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I assume she hurt herself playing this way. Because one day she decided she was scared of her tupperware dishes. I resorted to dumping her dog food directly on the floor for her to eat. She wouldn't go near the tupperware.

I knew it was time to get real dishes.

One Saturday, I went to the Royal Doulton sale with my mom. There we came across a nice set of dog dishes with an elegant rose pattern on it. They were only $25, which is actually quite cheap for dog dishes, believe it or not. So we bought them for Elli. This wasn't exactly what I was imagining for Elli's dishes, but they worked and were quite nice.

She's been using these fancy dishes now for about a year, without incident. It's become sort of a joke now that Elli only eats out of the good Royal Doulton dishes.

The night Elli was sick

Last fall I had a terrible scare with Elli.

She was fine the entire day. I took her out for a quick walk around the block because we were going to someone's house for the evening. On our walk it became apparent that Elli was straining to go pee. She kept squatting every few steps. I was concerned, but not really sure what was happening.

We came back in the house, I left Elli for a few minutes and when I returned I noticed a wet spot on the living room carpet. I was annoyed since we had just been out, but at the same time she was still just a puppy at the time. I cleaned up and then packed Elli in the car.

When we got to our friend's house, I set Elli on the grass on the front lawn. She once again looked uncomfortable and tried to pee. Now, I was worried. I put a call in to her vet's office. They were booked and closing in an hour, so I made an appointment for the next day as I tried to hide the crack in my voice.

I still was uncertain what to do. So I picked Elli up and we went in the house. She sat limply on my lap, and soon started shaking. This scared me more than anything. I didn't know what was wrong or what to do. Tears came to my eyes.

My friend looked up emergency clinics as I debated if I should take her or not. I wasn't sure what to do, and I had been told emergency clinics were ridiculously expensive.

We decided to take her, if nothing else then to just set my mind at ease until she could see her regular vet the next day.

As we were on the way out, Elli had another accident on the floor.

Luckily when we got to the clinic we were the first ones there, so the vet could take us right away. I shakily explained Elli's symptoms as the vet did her examination.

The vet told me she thought it was a bladder infection. But, since Elli was so young she was concerned she could have some chronic kidney problem, which would mean she would get sick like this occasionally. The vet gave me two options. She could give Elli some pain medicine that would get her through the night and I could take her to her regular vet in the morning. Or, Elli could stay overnight in the emergency clinic hooked up on an IV, since she was a bit dehydrated, and the vet would run a blood test. The second option would cost over $800.

I decided to take Elli home with me. The medicine she was given made her drowsy, and when we came into our house she just slumped and didn't move. Even her ears were hanging low.

I tried putting Elli in her crate for the night, but she really didn't want to stay in there. So I let her stay in my bed. She must have peed in her sleep. I woke up in the night after hearing Elli jump off the bed, and felt a big puddle. I cleaned everything up and gave Elli lots of hugs and kisses because I could tell she felt really bad.

The next day we went to our regular vet. He put my mind at ease, by telling me it probably is just a bladder infection and they didn't need to do the blood test unless the infection wouldn't go away or happened again. He gave me some antibiotics and I left the office feeling better.

Elli improved over the next few days, and luckily she hasn't had any other infections since.

I think anytime your pets get sick it's scary. You never know how serious it is or what you should do for them. I was happy I took her to the emergency clinic, and that it wasn't something that couldn't be fixed.

When something like this happens it makes you think about how much you would miss your animals if anything were to happen.

The Truth about Petstores

I recently came across a report by CBC's Wendy Mesley for the show Marketplace that details the horror of where pet store puppies are coming from. I think most people have heard that it's not a great idea to purchase a puppy from a petstore. They often have behavioural or health problems. The biggest issue being that you don't know where that puppy is really coming from.

Petstores will mislead consumers saying that the puppies are from reputable breeders, when in fact, they could be coming from puppy mills that are sometimes located in the U.S. One such puppy mill, talked about in the report, produces around 90,000 puppies per year and ships them around the world. These dogs could have been subjected to inbreeding, and come with genetic issues that are not easily fixed.

Canadian standards state breeders need to provide clean drinking water, a clean environment and space to move around freely. It's pretty sad that many puppies are living in conditions that don't even meet this basic standard.

The report also reveals that large petstore chains are paying people to keep quiet about their complaints.

When there are so many lovely dogs in shelters that need good homes, why go to a petstore that will over charge you, lie to you, and provide you with a dog that will have major issues.

Dress Up

I have to admit it, I'm one of those people who think it's cute when dogs wear little sweaters. Elli has a small collection of clothing that inlcudes a sweater, a winter coat, Christmas t-shirt, raincoat (she hates this one), and two Hallowe'en costumes. She doesn't often dress up, but every now and then I can't resist.

Last Hallowe'en Elli looked adorable as a bumble bee.

                                                              














She wasn't thrilled about the hood of her costume, but she wore it to greet the trick-or-treaters. Another shih-tzu came to our door dressed in a homemade costume-very cute. Elli loved seeing all the kids.

Last year I made the mistake of waiting too late to go buy Elli's costume. She is a popular size and there wasn't much left. This year I decided to go two weeks before Hallowe'en-same problem! There was a very limited selection left, although I did get her costume discounted at 50% off. Originally I wanted a cute pumpkin costume, but decided that would have to wait another year until I could get the proper size. So I went with a devil. These are the pictures of Elli trying on her new costume.

    This time the hood is seperate from the cape. There is also a devil's tail on the cape that can't be seen in these photos.

Mobile Grooming

It's just about time for Elli to go in for her last haircut before the winter. I originally took her to the local Petsmart for grooming. They did a wonderful job for a fair price. The last time I took Elli to a little petshop with grooming services close to my home. I wanted to support the smaller business. They also did a great job, for the same price. I'm most likely going to take Elli to the small shop near my house for this haircut, but I thought I would look into a business I've seen around my neighbourhood a few times.

It's a mobile pet grooming van. I've always seen it while driving so couldn't really take down the number or even catch the name. It just caught my eye. However, I can't seem to find it on the internet. I tried different searches but I don't think I've come across this particular company, plus there really isn't much choice for where I live. I would really like to see that van again, and this time I'll take note of the name and contact so I can at least post a link here. I haven't heard of anyone using this service but it would be a good idea for owners who aren't mobile themselves. I might try it out one day if the price is reasonable. I just need to find that van again!

*I got Elli her Hallowe'en costume, more details and pictures to come!!

Banning all dogs

There has been a lot of debate recently about allowing dogs to run free on Toronto's beaches. The plan presented to city council yesterday stated that dogs should be banned from all beaches, even if they are on a leash! The argument is that removing the dogs will improve the water quality for swimming.

Another suggestion was to only allow dogs on the beach from November-April since no one would be swimming then anyway.

Of course the hundreds of dog owners who live and play in these areas are outraged, and rightly protesting this plan.

I don't understand how this could possibly pass. The Beache is a community that loves their dogs. I remember going there even before I had Elli, and it would seem like every person owned a dog there. I love bringing Elli there since it is so dog friendly. Plus they have a section fenced off for the off-leash area.

As for making the water cleaner, what are they proposing to do with all the wild animals that use the beaches? I really don't think people should be blaming the dogs for pollution when people are the worst contributers.

I do agree that dogs should be on their leashes, with the exception of the designated off-leash areas. And, people need to be responsible for picking up after their dogs.

But, a beach without dogs just isn't the same. I'm trying to picture it and I see sad people and crickets in the background.

On a side note: Elli finally made it to the off-leash park in our neighbourhood. She had a great time! I'm so proud of her and a bit surprised. She only got a little scared once when a big lab ran at her, but quickly made friends. She even played with golden retrievers, a dog she is normally terrified of for some unknown reason. Her freshly clean feet became caked with mud. But, she stayed relatively close and used her selective listening skills well.  I'm looking forward to taking her again.

Happy Thanksgiving

Yesterday I took Elli to my aunt's house for Thanksgiving dinner. She has two malteses. Elli's met these dogs a few times, so I knew what to expect; Elli would want to play but they wouldn't. Thankfully, Elli behaves herself very well when we're at other people's homes. She really wanted to play with her two friends, but as usual they weren't really interested in her. One dog is really easy going, and pretty much a white ball of fluffy hair. The other dog is the boss. She tells everyone what to do, including Elli. Luckily, Elli lets her be in charge and is quite submissive around her.

Even if they weren't running around playing together, I'm happy they got along for the most part. The Boss nipped at Elli a bit, just telling her to back off. But, that was it. No barking or growling or fighting.

Like I said, I'm pleased with how nice Elli is while visiting. She didn't go exploring the house by herself, or beg for food at the table. She showed off how cute she is, and was friendly with everyone.

Of course, the second we got in the car to come home she fell right to sleep.

This morning while my mom and I were cleaning up the backyard in preparation for the winter, Elli was having such a great time. She got covered in mud, and sprayed with the hose. She loved it. She was running around like crazy. She was so dirty the sink wouldn't do it, so right into the tub she went.

After all the excitement Elli fell asleep curled up in blankets on the sofa.

Having a dog changes the holidays. She provides entertainment, something to talk about and can remove tension in the room. Elli also made me feel really proud of how good she behaved and what a nice dog she is.

Terrified

Yesterday Elli went to play with her best friend, Kane. He's a 6-month-old lab who can be quite pushy trying to play with Elli. She reacts by growling at him and not being very friendly, but in a strange way I think this is how she plays with him. I even catch her smiling, especially when he gets in trouble for biting at her. And, it does go both ways, Elli instigates as much as Kane does. She'll even stick her face infront of Kane's inviting him to bite her! She's really not like this with any other dogs!

Kane had another friend over, a husky named Buddy. Poor Elli was terrified once she arrived and two huge dogs came running straight at her. I wasn't there to comfort her or witness the event. But, I was told she went inside the house to seek refuge and was just shaking so bad. She even goose honked a little. The only thing that calmed her down enough to go outside to play was a special treat just for her.

Once she built up her courage she ventured outside, growled once at Buddy to show him she's the boss, then they were friends. Luckily Buddy isn't like Kane, when he gets growled at he backs off. Kane on the other hand doesn't take the hint and continues to pester Elli. I hope they grow out of this game soon.

Of course all this playing, growling and trauma have exhausted her. She has been sleeping ever since she got home from her play-date.

Senses

Sometimes I doubt that Elli can smell or see or hear like she's supposed to. It just seems she's a bit slow to react or notice things.

I'm thinking of this because last night on our walk Elli was busy sniffing a clover patch on the corner. Another puppy, one that she has met before, was approaching from down the street. She didn't even look up or appear to notice him. That is, until his nose was touching hers, which of course caused her to jump in the air startled. Luckily this is a puppy she is friendly with and within seconds was wagging her tail and saying hello.

After I stopped laughing at poor clueless Elli, I wondered how she couldn't sense the puppy approaching her. Sometimes when she's playing or another dog is coming toward her I say "Elli watchout!" This seems silly that she needs a warning.

The other thing that makes me doubt Elli's senses is a little game I play with her. I'll hide her treat, usually just under a piece of fabric, and usually she sees me hiding it. Then I tell her to find it. She sniffs around everywhere until I eventually have to reveal it to her.

Don't get me started on when Elli drops a treat, she'll never find those bits on her own.

Trapped Inside

Walking Elli I've come to know many of the neighbourhood dogs. I usually walk Elli around the same times every day, but sometimes it varies.

What I'm surprised to notice is the amount of dogs in the neighbourhood that don't get walked regularly. Sometimes there are reasons, maybe the dog is old or the owners aren't well. I can even see some of the small dogs that don't require much excerise not getting out much.

But, what about the big dogs? I've noticed a few that look out their front windows as Elli and I pass. I have never seen those dogs out. And, I'm a bit concerned why not. Houses in my neighbourhood have fairly small backyards, certainly not enough room for a large dog to run and play. I have even seen ads for dog walkers, but I don't recall seeing anyone walking multiple dogs as a dog-walker would.

This is just speculation on my part. I hope these dogs aren't trapped inside all the time. I'm sure their owners love them and take good care of them. I also think walking your dog creates a sense of community. I know since I had Elli, I've met many neighbours who I otherwise wouldn't have.

Hanging on

I take Elli for three walks a day. Everytime we come back in the house there are remnants of the outdoors that come in with her. There is a big pile of towels I keep by the door to wipe her dirty feet or wet hair. I also have to watch for twigs and leaves sticking out of her hair. Grass clippings seem to come out of her all over the house.

But, there is one strange thing that she brings in with her that I didn't expect. Slugs. Last year she would get big ones, slimy and bunched into her hair. I had to cut these out.

This year she usually gets a couple small ones stuck to her. At first you might think it's a fleck of dirt, but on closer inspection you see it squirming slightly.

I have to be careful to check her over when we come in the door. Or, I'll get a nice slimy surprise when I go to cuddle her.

Habits

I think Elli is perfection.

But, there are a couple things she does sometimes that I don't want to become bad habits.

She has always been really great about sleeping through the night, even when she was a puppy. But every now and then she seems to go through a faze where she wants to go out in the night. I don't mind taking her out if she really has to go. In fact I'm quite impressed with how good she is with letting me know. The problem comes in when she wants to get up just to play or see what's going on. This is where I get a little frustrated and a little worried that it will become a habit.

I've been trying to determine whether she really has to go, or just wants to play, by talking to her in a stern voice. Usually she will either settle back down, but if she really really has to go out she will quietly tap my arm with her paw. It's strange the way people learn to communicate with their animals. It's also facsinating how much can be communicated.

My second concern with Elli has to do with a common problem. Often when I walk Elli we will hear dogs barking at us through the front windows of their homes. Elli isn't the type to bark a lot, not even when people come to the door. She is the type who has taken to having naps in the front living room of our house. I think what happens is that every once in a while she will hear something or someone outside and it startles her awake. She has a very unique "scared bark" as I call it. She won't do it for long. Often I end up bringing her down to the basement where I'll be sitting. It's hard, but I'm trying to break that habit and not allow it to get any worse.

The Dreaded Flea

The summer of 2008 was my first as a dog-owner. Elli was on Sentinal for heartworm and flea protection. I didn't think much of it-until she got fleas!

It became a multiple-times-a-day ritual for me to inspect her for fleas. I would hunt them down and squish them between my fingernails. I know it's gross, but these things just won't die unless appropriately squished flat. I also tried other flea remedies including baths, natural products, avoiding the park and even a booster medicine supplied by the vet. The only reprive was when snow covered the ground.

In my research I found that almost every dog battles a case of fleas, that fleas live just about anywhere, and that they multiply like crazy. None of this was good news for me. I felt guilty that Elli had fleas, and couldn't seem to get rid of them. Fleas seem to be a problem that many deal with but noone talks about.

As you can imagine I was dreading this year's flea season. I took precaution and asked my vet for a stronger medicine. He provided me with Advantage Multi. I'm not sure if it was the new medicine or just a cool summer, but I'm happy to announce Elli survived flea season with only one tiny flea found. You have no idea how relieved I am that I didn't have to catch fleas and squish them between my fingers, or give Elli baths with flea shampoo. I was also relieved that I could take Elli to friend's homes without worrying about them finding out about our little secret.

Off Leash

I've always been nervous about bringing Elli to an off-leash park. She gets along with other dogs, but sometimes she gets scared if a big dog runs at her wanted to play.

Now that she has her best friend, a yellow lab named Kane, to protect her, I'm thinking about letting her go to the dog park with him. I want her to be able to run free and make lots of friends, so this will be good for her.

I hadn't even heard about this park until recently. So I looked online to see if there were other parks in the Toronto area that are designated as off-leash. I found this link that could be helpful to dog owners.

Elli was supposed to go to the park this week, but because of thunderstorms her play date was cancelled. She now has plans to go next week, I'll let you know how it goes.

Woof Portrait

I came across Tibi Hegyesi's artwork at Woofstock in June 2009. At the festival there were a ton of artists who did portraits of your pets. All were very good, but Tibi's stood out.

They were done on oversized canvasses and captured the expression of joy in the dog's eyes. He does the portraits in different materials such as oil, acrylic or pastel. What really stands out to me is that these portraits aren't done to look exactly like a photograph, they are almost caricatures, yet they are able to capture the soul and personality of the dog. I've never come across portraits using this technique.

I am tempted to order one for Elli, however they are about $500-$1000 so it is something I will have to save up for. But, from looking through Tibi's online gallery I think this cost is worth it. I can't wait to have one of my own Tibi originals taking up the wall of my living room!

Elli's Story

Growing up, like any other child, I always always always wanted a dog. But, I was never allowed to have one because of "allergies" on the part of my brother. I envied friends who had dogs and dreamed of the day when I could have one of my own. I dreamt of how cute she'd be, and sweet, and absolutely perfect.

Life went on and it was coming up to my 21st birthday. This was a special birthday. One that my parents wanted to get me a special gift for. They asked if I wanted earrings or a quilt. I chose the quilt seeing as I tend to lose earrings. It was in the months leading up to my birthday that I was thinking more and more about owning a dog. I had even looked after a friends shih-tzu the summer before for a few weeks, and it was everything I had imagined-except that she really wasn't my dog.

I kept telling my parents that I was looking for a dog and one day I might just come home with one. They laughed it off. Then I came across an ad on the website of a local paper. I took a chance and called the number. There was only one puppy left by this time. I decided to drive out to see her, telling myself I was just looking. Of course after seeing the cute ball of fluff I knew I had to get her. So I did. My parents wouldn't believe me. That was of course until the day I brought home my new puppy.

I named her Elli, it was a name I heard a few years earlier and thought was really lovely. She is a tri-colour shih-tzu, and was born January 4, 2008.

Ever since I brought Elli into my life she has been everything to me. I've been thinking a lot lately about what I'm passionate about and what I could blog about that shows my passion, and I've found my answer-Elli.