A Lazy Dog Blog

Palmer turned 7!

2011-09-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

Palmer on Camera!

2011-08-10T09:21:00.001-07:00

Palmer from Kimberly Ma on Vimeo.

We have a new Canon 7D at home and here is one of our first HD videos.

Sleepy Saturday

2011-04-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

We just came back from a hike, were relaxing on the couch, and I snapped a picture of our sleepyhead! His favorite spot is cuddled up next to the arm of our loveseat.

An oldie but goodie....

2011-03-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

For a rainy day

2011-02-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

...a dogbrella

Taken by Uncle Brandon

2011-02-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

My brother is taking a photography class during his last semester at USC and this pic was from one of his assignments... lovely subject!!

2010-12-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Johnny and I learned an important lesson last night. If you are a dog, these two can easily be mistaken for one another.....

The night we put up our Christmas tree, we noticed Palmer curiously sniffing the ornaments but we foolishly thought nothing of it. He accidentally knocked an ornament out of my hand but what we didn't realize was that the playful little dog thought it was a toy.... a ball! While I still wasn't convinced that he wouldn't mark the tree, I left work a little early to check on Palmer and came home to this...

Palmer was able to get 4 ornaments off the bottom of our tree and smashed them all to pieces. Here's the guilty pup sitting in the middle of the crime scene. I checked his paws thoroughly and looked for blood on our furniture and Palmer's blanket. The good news is that there were no signs of injury and luckily Palmer didn't hurt himself whatsoever.

Our solution? Move all the ornaments to the top half of the Christmas tree so they are far from Palmer's reach while we're gone. Hahah -- after the initial shock and cleaning up the mess, it makes us laugh to think about how much fun Palmer was having with his toy 'balls' while we were gone. He's just a silly little dog trying to have a good time.

Yes, it's yours, Palmer...

2010-12-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

...no need to mark your territory.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-12-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of our beloved Palmer on Thanksgiving morning... BEFORE the turkey!!

Sleepy Palmer

2010-06-29T17:12:00.000-07:00

I sat at home waiting for AT&T for 3 hours only to wait another 3 hours for them to fix the problem. I think our internet is fixed now but this is a picture of Palmer from today -- my sentiments exactly!!

Licking

2010-06-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

Johnny sent me a Wikipedia link on Dog Communication and asked me to read the section on 'Licking'. I read it outloud and my heart immediately melted because it describes what Palmer does to Johnny and me all the time...now we finally know what he's been trying to tell us! Read for yourself:

Dogs like to lick human skin not only for the salt from the sweat, but also as a form of greeting, such as by briefly licking a person's hand after sniffing it. Licking is also used as a social bonding analogous to primate social grooming and stroking. This can indicate intimacy. Such licking is longer and slower, as compared to the brief licking of faces during a greeting.

Freshly Groomed!

2010-06-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

We finally got around to bringing Palmer in for a grooming and I have to say, he's looking quite handsome! Check him out:

Schmie

2010-05-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

I miss my dog. I have been stressed out lately (can you say audit?) and he must understand how I'm feeling because this morning, right when I needed it most, he jumped into bed with me, curled up, and gave me loving doggy kisses. After the kisses were done, he nestled his precious little head on my side and in that moment, I was reminded of his unconditional love. I love him!

A bed for my baby

2010-05-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

So, Palmer has this bad habit of tearing apart his toys. He will tug and tear at anything that is made of soft material or rope and well, the other day he took to poor doggie bed and wreaked havoc. What you see here is the damage done to the insert and stuffing... after I threw the cover away!

I decided to pull out the sewing machine that my brother gave us for our wedding and sew a cute little seersucker cover for my doggie baby! I'm embarassed to say that despite the very simple design (all of the sewing was in straight lines!), it took me about 2 some hours to finish.

Though it took a bit longer than expected, I'm sure my mommy will be very proud! She's the one who taught me to sew! Here is the final product and the happy dog. The top portion is red stripe seersucker and the rest is just red cotton/polyester blend. He jumped onto it after I finished the last seam and started dozing off immediately.

Caught!

2010-04-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Palmer clearly took advantage of Johnny's parents when they were over for dinner last week. Here's Mom feeding the Palmerpie some bread. What a lucky dog!

Wedding Dog

2010-04-01T23:03:00.000-07:00

Johnny and I finally sent our photographer our comments on the wedding album predesign. As we were picking pictures, I came across the most adorable picture of me, Johnny, and the Palmerpie. This picture was actually taken the day after the wedding. Johnny is in his tuxedo, I'm in my reception dress, and Palmer is sporting his fancy bowtie.

Los Feliz

2010-03-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Johnny, Palmer, and I went to visit Cher in the wonderful city of Los Feliz. I find this area of Los Angeles to have so much character and charm -- a brief walk away from where she lives, you'll find a string of restaurants, a classic movie theater, and several vintage clothing stores. Everyone we passed was nonchalantly hip and (in my imagination) was reading a movie script or writing their next song. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant that kindly allowed Palmer on their premises and on our walk home saw a sign that was perfectly fitting of Palmer's blog! The House of Pies for the Palmerpie!! Yum!

Colitis

2010-03-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

For the past 3 years, Palmer has been house trained. He is on a bathroom routine and his only accidents were when we first brought him home. It wasn't until a few days ago that I knew something was wrong... Palmer had 3 accidents (of the number 2 kind) within one week. I wrote off the first accident as an off-day... the second accident I thought was an indication of dominance... but when the poor guy couldn't even hold it in overnight, I brought him into the vet right away. When we were in the waiting room at the vet, we saw a Great Dane!

After a checkup by the vet and a few lab tests, Palmer was diagnosed with colitis or inflammation of the lower intestine. Luckily, after a few days on doggie meds, our Palmerpie is back to normal!

I miss my mommy...

2010-03-01T23:25:00.000-08:00

...and my mommy misses me!via JohnnyCam

Coyotes

2010-01-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

Earlier this morning, as I was driving to gym, I spotted two coyotes only a few feet away from where we live. At first I thought they were just stray dogs roaming the neighborhood but as I approached them, I quickly realized they weren't. They had high, pointed ears and a long tail that could not have been mistaken for a dog. I've heard horrible stories of coyotes attacking small children and pets and immediately became concerned for Palmer's safety. I called the Pasadena Humane Society and the Pasadena Police Department to report the sighting but am not quite sure if any action will be taken. I diligently google'd the topic and found several reports of coyote attacks not only on small children and pets but also on adults who were innocently walking their dog or running in their neighborhood. Here are just a few examples of how dangerous coyotes can be... be careful and guard your loved ones!!

Man walking encountered 4 coyotes, which crouched, circling him, attempting to attack. Fought off with walking stick, hitting one square across the face
Coyote scaled 6-ft wall into yard, attacked and killed small dog in presence of owner; in melee, woman kicked coyote, then fell and fractured her elbow and was attacked and scratched by coyote
Boy walking family’s 2 dogs attacked by 3 coyotes; one dog was killed and the other injured; rescued by father
3-yr-old girl killed in front yard by coyote; massive bleeding and broken neck
Coyote approached couple walking dog, attempting to snatch dog out of man’s arms; left only after being kicked

Granted, these are all incidents reported over several years but it clearly shows how vicious these animals can be when in search for food. The Pasadena Humane Society recommends the following if you see a coyote:

Be aggressive, yell, throw rocks, or spray a hose at the animal
Make yourself appear large and back away slowly
Never turn your back or run away

Rainy Dog

2009-12-07T22:16:00.001-08:00

Several days into the month of December, we received the first big rainfall of the season. Temperatures have dropped, clouds have formed, and our walks with Palmer have become quite soggy! This morning was the first time we pulled out our doggie's raincoat since last winter and I was immediately reminded of how adorably silly Palmer looks. Thanks to Auntie Alyssa and cousin Oreo for the raincoat as last year's Christmas gift.

on 3 photography

2009-12-07T10:03:00.001-08:00

A few weekends ago, Genessee took some pictures of us around Pasadena. They were mostly of Johnny and me but this morning, she emailed me a preview of this adorable picture of Palmer.

Genessee does great work and if you're interested in her services, visit her at http://genesseequizon.blogspot.com/

Still a lazy dog...

2009-12-03T23:28:00.000-08:00

When we first adopted Palmer, he had a relatively low-energy and slow demeanor. He never barked and never jumped and always seemed to find his way to the corner of the room to sleep. We thought he was just a lazy dog and that was that. Fast forward to today... 2 years after his adoption. We have since learned that his behavior during the first several days at home was really only a transition and that soon enough, his true personality would shine! Today, we know Palmer as happy-go-lucky, silly, cuddly, sweet, mischievous, a food monster, a major lovebug.... all of that... and also still, at times, a very very lazy dog. Here are some pictures to prove it:

I walked into our bedroom the other day and this is what I found. I promise.

Is... he... really... sleeping???

He is knocked out! Take a picture with him!

Head on over!

2009-11-30T23:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, its true! We've posted a new entry to our personal blog... head on over. Do you remember the url? And because a post is always better with a picture, here is a picture of the Palmerpie on Thanksgiving morning.

Palmer's 5th Birthday

2009-09-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

Palmer turned 5 on September 8 and to show our love for the pup, I baked him a doggie cake and had guests over to celebrate! Menu was pretty simple for the dog... a cake made from dog-friendly ingredients and treats galore. For the guests, it was pizza and sammys to go with the cupcakes Ninang Cher made and Uncle Brandon decorated. Here are some pics of the celebration:

Palmer is such a blessed doggie -- he received so many gifts for his birthday, including one from his newest doggie (girl)friend, Cassie Maniago! I have to say, though, I've never seen him love anything as much as the gift Uncle Brandon gave him -- a rawhide bigger than Palmer's own head!! If we put it away, he will sniff every nook and cranny in the house to find it and if we tell him its bedtime, he'll drag the rawhide with him to bed. Thanks Uncle Brandon, I wuv it!!!

Updated: Wedding Blog

2009-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

For our dear friends and family who follow this Palmer blog -- we updated our wedding website with pictures from our most recent vacation. Be sure to check it out. [link not included for privacy]

Life with Daddy

2009-09-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Since we've been married, Palmer's quickly adjusted to having Johnny at home. Here are some cute pictures of him napping while Johnny plays some video games.

See? Hasn't changed one bit!

With Daddy

2009-07-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Since the last post was a picture of me and Palmer...I thought I'd add this ADORABLE one of Palmer and his daddy. We just got the rest of our pictures from our photographer and as I was skimming through all of them, this one jumped out at me! It's just before the wedding ceremony and it looks like they're praying together, doesn't it? So cute.

A Wedding Pic

2009-07-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of events and tomorrow, I'm back at work. I haven't posted on the blog since before the wedding so I thought I'd take the opp to post this adorable picture of me and Palmer. I'm so glad our photog captured this moment! Check out the rest of our wedding pics here: http://jnpstudiosblog.com/2009/07/kim-johnny-the-langham-in-pasa.html

Loving him!

2009-06-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

He is just so darn cute, I've been kissing and cuddling Palmer big time!! I will miss him so much when we're on our honeymoon!

Ready for the Wedding!

2009-06-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Even if Palmer wont' be walking down the aisle, he will be present for pictures and to greet all of our guests. We had to be sure he looked his best on our wedding day so I finally brought him in for his grooming. I asked for the Puppy Cut and made sure to specify that I wanted to keep the 'feathers' at his legs and on his tail. 2 and a half hours later, I took home the cutest dog in the entire world! (They forgot to keep the feathers on the tail, but I'm over it - still super cute!) Here is a before and after picture and a picture of him leaving the groomers. He looks sad in the pics because he always gets stressed from going to the groomers!! Poor pup. :(

In desperate need of a grooming

2009-06-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

We meticulously planned Palmer's haircut so he would look his finest on our wedding day and unfortunately for him, that meant a few extra weeks without his grooming. If you've seen him lately, you'll definitely notice he's a lot fluffier looking and even has a few knots because of how long his hair has grown. I think my entire family is looking forward to this Saturday when we finally bring him in for his 'puppy cut but leave the whispies on his legs and tail'. The best part of it all is when you are patiently waiting to pick him up after the cut and he comes rushing out from the back, all fresh and clean, with a red bow tie around his neck. So cute....can't wait!

Memorial Day BBQ

2009-06-11T01:22:00.000-07:00

I know Memorial Day was several weeks ago but I figure a late post is better than never! Johnny's family had a BBQ on Memorial Day and guess who joined us! Well, no...not really. These pictures were taken when I stopped by with Palmer in the morning. This was well before the BBQ was fully underway but because these pictures were taken on the same day, it counts! Haha. The weather was pretty nice that day, from what I can remember -- much much better than the past couple of weeks. I am depressed from all this June gloom and am keeping my fingers crossed for brighter days ahead...

Doggie Supervisor

2009-05-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Rach, Ann, and I were at Janet's house this weekend working on a wedding project. We used her handy-dandy gocco to customize a few things for the wedding that I would like to keep a surprise (in case any of my wedding guests happen to follow this blog)! :)

What's a gocco, you ask? According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, gocco (プリントゴッコ, Purinto Gokko?, "Print Gocco") is a self-contained compact color printing system invented in 1977 by Noboru Hayama. Yes, my friends, it is the craftiest thing in the world and my BFF owns one! Check her out in action:

I didn't know how long this particular wedding project would take, so I took Palmer with me to supervise. He wasn't the best supervisor, to be honest with you. He started by begging while we ate the delicious dinner Janet cooked for us. After he realized he wasn't getting any handouts, he wandered over to Janet's kitchen and started sniffing around for some scraps. When he sniffed everything out, the poor dog meandered over to the living room and fell asleep. Here's a good picture of him snoozing while we were working on the project.

Meeting my buddy, Kobe

2009-05-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

In honor of the NBA playoffs, I thought it most appropriate to blog about Palmer's play date with my BFF's dog, Kobe. It sort of happened spur of the moment but I'm glad it went the way it did because now Palmer has a friend!

Palmer has always had issues with other dogs. He came from a rescue group who saved him from the Santa Monica Humane Society so he has a tendency to be a bit defensive when other dogs are invade his 'territory'. We decided to introduce Kobe to Palmer on neutral ground and walked them side-by-side to the nearby park.

They haven't actually 'met' (read: sniffed each other intimately) in this picture but you can see the tension:

Thankfully, after a few minutes of walking peacefully within a few feet of each other in the same direction, Palmer calmed down and they were able to greet each other sans drama.

It was a huge relief to know that Palmer can actually make nice with another dog. It gives Johnny and I hope for a second dog one day!

Here's a nice 'Happily Ever After' picture of the doggie meeting, courtesy of Janet.

A Sweet Tooth

2009-05-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

We seem to learn something new about Palmer with each passing day. In the past, he has mischieviously found his way to a tray of sugar cookies, has wandered into Cher's room to devour 1 bag and 1 box of chocolates (and subsequently sent himself to the doggie ER), and a few weeks ago, made a mess of some red velvet cupcakes. Palmer certainly takes after Johnny with his sweet tooth! Here is a snapshot of the red velvet cupcakes that were cooling on our kitchen counter. Thankfully, there was only a small amount of cocoa in the cupcakes.
I came home to a turned over cooling rack and a handful of cupcakes on my kitchen floor. I cleaned up the mess thinking that was the last of it but, later that day, I found this tucked between the cushions of our living room couch:

Here is the crazy dog who thought I would never find the cupcake he was saving for later!!

A Night Out

2009-04-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

There was a few days that I was traveling for work and had to leave Palmer at my Mom and Dad's. My brother was on Spring Break and was home at the same time so he decided to take Palmer with him for a night out with his friends. I have to admit I was a little worried when I called him at 11 pm and he was still in LA at a friend's house with the Palmerpie but it eased my fears when he told me that he brought Palmer's treats, his pillow bed, his toys, and a water bowl to be sure he was comfortable.
I don't think I have to tell you that Johnny was a little freaked to find out that his beloved son was painting the town red with his Uncle...and at such late hours of the night! But from the pictures, it looks like it was a night of innocent fun.

Marley & Me

2009-04-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

What's on the agenda tonight? Cuddling on the couch with Palmer and this movie:

Yes, I've read the book and I know how it ends but I've wanted to see the movie since it was in theaters and couldn't pass up the opportunity when it finally came out on DVD! Can't wait!!

Retire the Crate

2009-04-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

I had a thought yesterday... Palmer rarely ever uses his crate anymore. If you look back several months and think about his growing pains... we started off with confining him to the bathroom...and then expanded his borders with a baby gate to the area just outside of my bedroom...and then had to build a mini-fort with a second baby gate. Now, we just give Palmer free reign over the entire condo. We are always sure to close the bedroom doors but really, he has no use for the crate since during the day he is frolicking around the living room and at night, he sleeps on his pillow bed in my bedroom. Palmer is growing up so fast! I think I'm going to retire the crate...

Loves of my Life

2009-03-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

I was feverishly wedding planning the other night and when I looked up, found this on the couch:
Yes, the loves of my life.

Champagne and Chocolates

2009-03-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like its been decades since my last post... my life is a whirlwind when you combine planning a wedding (countdown: 110 days) and taking care of a crazy, crazy dog! In wedding news, we reached a major milestone this past weekend; we placed an order for Johnny's wedding band. We walked into the store expecting to try on a few rings, fill out paperwork, and leave a deposit, but instead were presented with champagne, chocolates, and some of the best customer service we've ever had! It really made the experience fun and celebratory. Here's a picture taken with my camera phone:

He did it again...

2009-01-30T18:33:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post pictures from my brand spankin' new camera (from Christmas) but I've never gotten around to it. Several months ago, when it started raining for the first time, I found Palmer curled up in my laundry basket. I suppose it was because he was cold... or because he was drawn to my smell in the clothes. Either way, he did it again tonight!! This time it was clean laundry!

And after a few minutes of posing for the camera...

It's cold!

2009-01-02T16:21:00.001-08:00

Even Palmer thinks it's cold! Ninang Cher had to wrap him up in a blanket to keep him warm.

Palmer's First Tow

2008-12-17T00:09:00.000-08:00

En route to a 7-year old's birthday party, Johnny noticed smoke coming from under the hood. We immediately pulled over and the boys diagnosed my car with a cracked radiator shortly thereafter. Unable to drive any further, we called for a tow and about 10 minutes later, the four of us squeezed into the passenger seat of the truck. Palmer sat on my lap, Johnny chatted with the driver, and Matty napped the rest of the ride home.....

Why, hello!

2008-11-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm still alive, world. I've just been insanely busy. This is what my life is like... wedding planning, new membership to a gym, wedding showers, baby showers, birthdays (my mom, sister, dad, future mother-in-law, future niece) all scattered between a new job, small consulting gigs, and of course holidays, holiday dinners, and holiday shopping! Help!

Poor Palmer is getting less of my attention because rather than spending the entire evening oohing and aahing over how cute Palmer is, I usually rush home to walk him, and then rush back out to make it to the gym. Throw in some intensive work training for 2 weeks and you get one sad puppy. The great news is that he gets some extra quality time with my mom and dad and we all know how spoiled he is when he's visiting them!

No pictures this time around but I'll try to take some cute ones over the next couple weeks! Happy Thanksgiving!

Tag, I'm it!

2008-10-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Apologies for being MIA lately, I've started a new job and would hate to be caught blogging or on one of my million wedding sites my first few weeks! I kick myself because I was SO on a roll with the birthday updates and the daily Palmer entries and now 2 weeks later, I've got no Palmer pictures and am tagged by Aileen to profess 6 random facts about myself.... here goes!

1. I watched Say Yes to the Dress today and secretly (or not so secretly) yearned to wear my very own wedding dress in anticipation of next June. Does this make me crazy? Quite possibly...

2. I sweat so easily that I have to get ready with a fan pointed directly at me (most times). I'm not quite sure if its because I'm always in a darn rush to get ready, if my condo is abnormally warm, or if its just my metabolism but if I don't stand in front of a fan I will look as if I just came back from a quick run. Gross, I know.

3. I make scary sounds when I sleep. Only the very lucky few that have heard my sleeping sounds in person can attest to how indescribable it is (and how it can keep others in the room from sleeping). It's a cross between a repetitive cough, gag, and snoring and I THINK is triggered by allergies or cold temperatures. It must run in the family because the only other people that I know make the same sounds are my brother and my cousin, Dereck. (I now realize that this 6 Random Things List is slowly becoming a 6 Unattractive and Horrific Things List...)

4. I am allergic to coconut. Yes, its true. I have no desire to dip any of my filipino desserts in shredded coconut because I will make aforementioned sound (see item #3 above) 'til the end of eternity. Or I will go into anaphylactic shock.

5. I am incredibly indecisive. I've always known this about myself but not until I started planning my wedding and was faced with decision after crucial decision, did my indecisiveness thoroughly urk me. I used to think I was just being thorough and thoughtful but now its just another annoying trait that I wish I could get over.

6. And since this is Palmer's blog, after all, I'll make my last 'random fact' a doggie one. There have been two (and counting) instances where I've given into temptation and in the last moments of falling asleep have called Palmer into my bed. Granted, I've only done this on the last night before I'm due to change my sheets and I'm always sure Palmer lays on top of the flat sheet (so there is a layer between the two of us) with the comforter pulled down... but there is really nothing better than falling asleep with your precious pup cuddling with you through the night. And yes, Johnny was jealous (of me, not of Palmer).

The rules of tagging are:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post

Tag Lina, Dereck, Genee, Cher, Janet and Jamie (couldn't link to your personal blog for some reason, so I linked to jacshoot blog, Jamie)! You're it!!

I won!

2008-10-08T00:48:00.000-07:00

A non-Palmer related post again... I was one of five winners from one of my regular wedding blog reads Blue-Eyed Bride! I submitted the photo above from Johnny's proposal and won a gift-certificate for a blurb.com photo book. My initial excitement came from actually winning something but after discovering that my picture and story were posted on the blog entry announcing the winners, I was happy that my story was shared with so many people. Johnny really went out of his way to plan a proposal I could never have dreamed up myself and he deserves all the compliments in the world! I am one lucky gal who's got one perfect proposal, a sweet sweet fiance, and now, a free photobook! Yay me!

Don't leave me

2008-10-06T03:07:00.000-07:00

I'm killing myself on a project I waited 'til the absolute last minute to get started on (which is why I'm up at 3 am). I feel like I'm in college cramming for a final again so I will do what I always did in college... procrastinate even more.

This weekend we were watching TV and, as always, Palmer fell asleep on the couch. The cutest thing, though, was when we noticed he had his paw on Johnny's arm so he would know if Johnny ever got up to leave. Maybe I'm just projecting human emotion onto a dog, but that's what I like to think Palmer was doing. See for yourself...

High Maintenance Doggie

2008-10-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

Earlier today, Johnny went back to Palmer's original adoption post and told me that after his initial shock at the pictures (is that really Palmer?!)... it hurt to read that Palmer caught the rescue group's eye because of his gentle demeanor in the middle of a chaotic and noisy dog shelter. The thought of our precious little pup in a cold, harsh shelter just kills! Not knowing his past is the hardest part because I'm sure if he could just talk for 1 minute to tell us where he's been and what he's been through, we'd know in an instance why he behaves the way he does.

One things for sure, Palmer is one high maintenance dog. I can't blame him if he's had the horrible experience our colorful imagination thinks he's had and is now in a loving home that he fears abandonment every day that I walk out the front door... or that when we're sitting on the couch, he begs to cuddle up next to us.... or that when Johnny's sitting on the carpet to watch TV or put on his shoes, he rests his head into his leg or climbs right into his lap. Why wouldn't you soak up all the lovin' that we have to offer? We have a lot of it to give! I wonder, are all rescue dogs like this? Do all rescue dogs come jaded and skeptical?

Probably not... but we love this lazy dog anyway!!

Training Slump

2008-09-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok .. I've been terrible at updating you all on Palmer and his progress. To date, we've had him for a few days over a year and I have to admit that we've gotten a little lazy with his training. It's hard .. without a scheduled class or private lesson to prepare for, we have no structure in the house to maintain his doggie manners or skills. When he was taking classes at the Pasadena Humane Society, every afternoon was a mini-training session since we had to complete our homework and report back the following week. Now, nothing is pushing me to train Palmer except for the occassional naughty behavior or whiny bout. I will get back on the training wagon and before you know it, he'll be performing a choreographed song and dance for you. I'll be sure to post it on YouTube, too. Stay tuned!

(I was kidding about the song and dance.. but maybe some really good stays or a nice calm walk on the leash will do.)

HILARIOUS!

2008-09-16T08:05:00.001-07:00

I hate to do 2 non-Palmer related posts in a row but OMG this is hilarious.

Not Palmer-related, sorry!

2008-09-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Totally unrelated but as you may know, Johnny and I are getting married next June. I'm blessed to have 2 wonderfully creative cousins in the invitation business but I'm also a huge fan of letterpressed invites. I stumbled across the Dingbat's Agenda contest via Budget Savvy's wedding blog. For other brides-to-be that are reading this... check it out!

Nap Time

2008-09-10T00:04:00.000-07:00

Last night was a lazy night for both me and Palmer. It must've been a delayed food coma from his birthday celebration the night before. I usually let him nap on the carpet or at the other end of the couch but he gave me the cutest look (his fresh haircut didn't help, either) as I was curling up to nap. So, I decided to snuggle up with him on the couch instead. When he was snoring I looked down and saw that he fell asleep in the most adorable position. Check it out:

The Party Pics

2008-09-09T00:14:00.000-07:00

It was a grand party celebrating Palmer's 4th birthday (and 1st with us). We had birthday decor, presents, yummy food and, of course, dessert (for both human and doggie alike)! ....And ok, I'll admit it, I did feel a little silly throwing a birthday party for a dog but it was fun and no doggie deserves it more than the Palmerpie!

Let's start out with a pic of the birthday doggie with his birthday hat. Sorry the pics a tad blurry. He's so good at holding poses for pictures but what you don't see is that he tried to take it off the moment he came out of his sit-stay.

Here's a picture of Palmer posing with his presents. Talk about spoiled!

It was a small, intimate party with no other dogs allowed... Johnny, Cher, Thomas, and Dereck all came to wish him a Happy Birthday!
And here is Palmer with his cake.
This is a funny picture because it looks like he's closing his eyes to make a wish! Hahah!!

Cher made matching cupcakes for the guests!

Here are some pics of the chicken that Johnny has been waiting ALL year to give him and Palmer scarfing down his birthday cake. Talk about gluttony!

And lastly, Palmer enjoying his gifts. He got treats from Johnny, me, and my mom, treats and a bone from my sister, a toy ball/teeth cleaner from Dereck and a little puffer jacket from my brother (for those cold winter walks). What a lucky dog!!

Happy Birthday, Palmer!!

2008-09-08T00:12:00.001-07:00

It has been one year since Palmer joined our family and on Monday night we will celebrate! In honor of our one year mark and Palmer's newly established birthday (according to the vet, he's about 4 years old), we will be having doggie cake and opening some doggie presents! I was prepping for his party Sunday night and couldn't help but let the birthday celebrant lick the spatula! Johnny and I also brought him in for a grooming on Saturday for the 'Puppy Cut'. He's lookin' mighty handsome for his birthday. Happy Birthday, Palmer!! We love you!
I promise to post pictures of the party! Stay tuned.

Greatest American Dog

2008-08-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

My mom called me frantically this evening to remind me to watch 'The Greatest American Dog' on CBS. I'm not that much of a TV junkie but I do have my fair share of favorite reality shows.... and this one has totally got me hooked! It is so heartwarming to watch the strong relationship each of the owners has with their dogs. I always catch myself smiling and cheering for the dogs as they atempt each challenge. Tonight's episode was so amazing! The winning dog was able to hold a sit-stay as a live elephant (yes, a live elephant!) was charging at him. There is NO WAY in the world Palmer would be so disciplined. Anyway, today Bill and his doggie, Star, got kicked out of the house and it was so sad to see them go. Star is not the same breed as Palmer but his face totally reminds me of him! What do you think?

(sorry for the older, lower quality picture of Palmer)

Quick Day & AA

2008-08-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Upside Down Olympics

2008-08-12T21:39:00.001-07:00

When I was a little kid, I used to run around the house like a monkey. I'd walk across the back edge of the couch, I'd balance on the rear legs of the dining room chairs, I'd tumble from the couch's arm across all the cushions, and I'd backbend over the back of the sofa. Little did I know, little doggies enjoy the same exhiliration in life -- even if its just watching the Olympics on TV with your doggie daddy! Check out Palmer and Johnny watching beach volleyball:

And a close-up of the silly dog:

Sorry, I meant the *award-winning* silly dog. :D

Guess what?!?!

2008-08-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

That's right... Palmer won the Cutest Pet Contest at work! I'm such a proud doggie mommy. The feline winner was Buster and the 'other' winner was Tess. Check out the original pet finalists here.

Time for bed...

2008-08-11T00:51:00.001-07:00

It's almost 1 in the morning but I can't seem to get myself into bed! We had an interesting weekend...we, meaning Johnny and I. You see, we both grew up in Southern California but for the first time (ever) we went to the La Brea Tar Pits. It was so amazing and educational and um, in desperate need of an update. Regardless, we were enlightened and vowed to never let our future kids go that many years before visiting the La Brea Tar Pits. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go! USC "students" get in free, too!

Alright, I should take Palmer's lead and hit the sack! Good night.

A finalist, two times over!

2008-07-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

The inspiration for entering Palmer into the online Cutest Pet Contest was actually a similar contest we are having at work. They released the results for first round voting and guess what, Palmer is a finalist! Check out the canine finalists:

There is also a 'feline' and 'other' category:

What do you think? Palmer's got a chance?

Cutest Dog Semi-Finalist

2008-07-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

I got an email from CutestPetContest.com:
Congratulations! Your Photo Of Palmer Has Advanced To The Semi-Finals & Has Won A Chance To Appear In Our Next Cutest Pets Photography Book! The Votes Have Been Pouring In For Your Photo of Palmer. Therefore, It Has Received Enough Votes To Appear In Our Next Photography Book! We have chosen to publish your photograph of Palmer in the "The Cutest Pets of 2008 - The Best of 2008" coffee table book. (ISBN# 978-0-9770401-6-2)

And what's a post without a picture of Palmer sleeping? Saturday he fell asleep with his ear propped up like a little bunny rabbit!

My little helper

2008-07-22T21:01:00.001-07:00

It was laundry day yesterday and Palmer got into the laundry. It was so cute watching him try to wiggle his way out of the pillow case!
Phew!

Cutest Dog Contest

2008-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

We have a Cutest Pet contest at work so there was no question that I'd be entering Palmer. It was really hard to choose which picture to submit since there are just so many cute ones of him. Should I submit a sleeping photo? A photo of Palmer wearing clothes? One of Palmer cuddling with my dad? What a dilemma! Haha. Anyway, I decided to stick to simple and classic and one that showcases Palmer's all-time favorite trick.

After I sent the pics to my brother, he sent me a link to an online contest at CutestPetContest.com. They have some really cool prizes including a $100 gift card to Pet Smart & $1,000 cash... and winners are chosen from online votes! For all you Palmer fans out there, support his candidacy for Cutest Pet by clicking on the link and voting for the photo. Wish us luck!

Smarty-pants

2008-07-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Every day I'm so amazed at how smart dogs can be.

The other day, as I flicked the plastic applicator for Palmer's monthly flea treatment, he ran straight into his crate and planted himself firmly inside. I guess Palmer started to associate that flicking sound with the cold trickle of flea medicine down his back. If I were a dog, I'd run and hide too!

Yesterday, Palmer heard Johnny parking his car from our balcony and, again, ran to the window to verify it was him... then ran anxiously to the front door anticipating his arrival. What a smart dog!

Here's a picture of a happy, but lazy, dog. Don't you just love how his tongue hangs out the side of his mouth?

Welcome, Einstein!

2008-06-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

After one horrible doggie experience after another, there is finally a new addition to Ann's family. Welcome, Einstein! Palmer hasn't met him yet but I think they'll get along just fine... he is just so precious!!!

Snore!

2008-06-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right... another *adorable* picture of Palmer sleeping. This time, he's sleeping behind the bend of my leg while I was watching TV on the couch. Can you ever get enough of his cute little snout and paws?
Also, happy -1 year anniversary to the fiance! I love you. ♥

Smile for the camera!

2008-06-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

Is it bad when your dog knows to smile for the camera?

To croissant or not to croissant?

2008-06-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

We're generally good about not giving Palmer human food in fear that he'll stop eating his gourmet doggie food all together. The huge gaping flaw in this effort is when we bring Palmer over to visit my mom and dad. For those of you that know my dad, you'll find it completely ironic that he is infatuated with my dog. He greets Palmer with baby talk, he plays chase with him in the backyard, he takes doggie naps with him on the couch, and even wipes his butt every single time he poops! Needless to say, my dad eats up the attention he gets when he waves human food (usually croissants) above Palmer's head. I try to tell him that all that fatty bread can't be good for a dog but my dad insists! He even puts a little peanut butter on the bread sometimes to make it an *extra* special treat.

Is it just me or is anyone else having difficulty telling others to stop being so "nice" to your dog? I can't find a balance between being thankful that he loves Palmer so much and being a good mommy that cares for the health of her dog!

Palmer Loves My Dad

2008-06-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

Its sorta hard to see this but this is a wonderful picture of how much Palmer loves Grampies!

Big Brown Eyes

2008-06-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

I was perusing pictures again and this one caught my eye. The picture was taken from high above Palmer and perfectly shows his big brown eyes! He fits perfectly into my family because of the big eyes we're all known to have (except Cher). I think, in this picture, he's looking intently at the camera because whoever took it is probably waving some sort of doggie treat out of his reach and when there's food nearby, Palmer tries all kinds of tricks to earn his food reward. His immediate reaction is to sit, and then lie down, and then if nothing works, he'll lay his doggie head down and sigh.

A true Palmer at heart.

2008-06-09T21:12:00.000-07:00

In honor of his namesake, Johnny rushed to Petco and bought a toy football the moment we adopted Palmer. Johnny had dreams to train Palmer to wait along his side until he said 'HIKE!' and then pass the toy football to his running doggie receiver, who was running several yards away (I guess Bush would've been a more appropriate name since Palmer was actually a QB, huh?). As soon as he brought home the football, he tried to toss it to Palmer to retrieve but for some reason (perhaps the size or the squeakiness or the smell) Palmer didn't care one bit for the ball. Heartbroken, Johnny tried a few more times but Palmer never chased the football like all the other balls in the house... until the other day! Auntie Cher was playing ball with Palmer in the house and, I don't know what she did, but she got Palmer to retreive the football. Now, he is completely enamored. He likes to retrieve the ball, guard the ball, chew the ball and step on it to make squeaky sounds. Now we can say that he is a true Palmer at heart... and Johnny can get back to training his doggie receiver!

Major Migraine

2008-06-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

I left work early today because after a series of visual auras, the onset of a piercing migraine prevented me from functioning. I had horrible pains in my head and ended up throwing up my entire chicken salad + baked lays lunch. Sorry, I know that's a bit graphic for Palmer's blog but I'll get to my point soon enough. So I made the best of a project that was due at the end of the day and left for home. All I wanted to do was turn off all the lights and bury myself in my cozy, comfy bed. As I was sleeping (right around the time Johnny was supposed to come over), I heard Palmer run from the living room to my bedroom and whimpering. He ran back and forth a few times so I sat up from my bed and watched to figure out what the problem was. Just a few seconds later, Johnny was knocking at my door telling me he saw Palmer staring at him through the balcony window! Palmer was running back and forth whimpering because he saw Johnny parking his car and walking on the sidewalk. The thoughts of Palmer trying to get my attention because he saw Johnny just melt my heart!

Sweet Daddy

2008-06-03T23:15:00.000-07:00

Palmer fell asleep on Johnny's chest the other day. I remember when he would fidget around because he didn't know how to sleep on such an uneven surface... now its record time before his eyelids droop and he starts to snore! He's really picking up on my bad habits. What a truly lazy dog.

The Palmer Pillow

2008-06-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

My mom loves Palmer so much she decided to turn an old comforter into a doggie bed pillow! Here are pictures of Palmer on his new bed (personalization compliments of yours truly)...

As I tried to get a good pic of Palmer on his bed, he started to fall asleep...
Eyelids are getting heavy...

And finally giving in...

Tonight will be his first night on the new bed. Looks like he won't have any trouble getting a good night's rest!

Relaxing Weekend

2008-06-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

The newest addition to our neighborhood is Cantaloop, another franchise capitalzing on the latest frozen yogurt craze. This weekend alone, Johnny, Palmer and I walked to Cantaloop twice for our Original Strawberry/Cantaloupe, Mochi, Captain Crunch heaven. Mmm, delish!

Right now, we're at my parents' in Cerritos and Palmer fell asleep in the funniest position. He's snoring and twitching and probably dreaming about peanut butter, tennis balls, and chasing squirrels. What a silly dog!

Wacky Weather

2008-05-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

The weather has been incredibly wacky for SoCal at the end of May. Memorial Day weekend is supposed to be filled with summer barbeques and pool parties! What gives? This morning, I had to force Palmer into the doggie raincoat that I had already put away for the year. He hates wearing that raincoat with a passion, I can tell.

For those that actually read the blog verbiage (and don't just skip to the adorable pictures of the Palmerpie), the picture below is not of Palmer in his doggie raincoat. Its of Palmer in a oh-so-manly nylon vest (as manly as dog clothing can be). Isn't he just the most handsome dog you've ever seen? And his fur is even coming out between his collar like its chest hair. Hah!! I love it.

Marley and Palmer

2008-05-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

My sister is reporting back to me that, like Marley in 'Marley and Me', Palmer is cowering in fear and barking at the thunder. Poor boy! I hurt for him.

Palmer Pics

2008-05-17T11:23:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures taken with Janet's camera during the pajama party the girls and I had for my birthday a few weeks ago. Palmer was the only boy allowed!

The beautiful and yummilicious cake Ann made for me. It was flourless chocolate cake layered with light and fluffy raspberry mousse, fresh raspberries, fresh strawberries, all surrounded with pink lady fingers and a beautiful bow. It was heavenly:

Um, what are you guys doing?

What's a pajama party without matching pajamas and face masks? Thanks Rachel!

Here's Palmer at the end of the night ... poor boy.

I'll Be Home Soon!

2008-05-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

Palmer's been suffering from separation anxiety since we've adopted him and though he's improved significantly, I always have this little pain in my heart knowing how crazy he can get when he's left home alone. Pre-baby gate, we kept him in the cold, lonely bathroom while we were gone. Poor kid would panic the moment we left and ended up clawing, chewing, and slobbering away the bottom half of the bathroom door. It was so heart-wrenching to come home to his big sad brown eyes and wood chips scattered all over the bathroom floor. After we got the baby gate, his anxiety was directed towards where the baby gate met the door frame but at least we saw some improvement there. Since last September, he's caused enough damage to the house and now we are ready to put our foot down. Enough is enough! We patched up the area with spackle and paint and even replaced the bathroom door and are dead set on helping the Palmerpie cope with his doggie disorder.

We turned to our obedience school instructor, Penny, for some advice and she recommended we contact Janine from J9's K9s for help. She gave us a few pointers over the phone but we definitely plan to bring her in for a private lesson with our little monster. She also recommended we pick up the following book for guidance:

Doesn't that doggie have the saddest little face ever? Waah! Anyway -- I'll keep everyone updated on Palmer's progress! Wish us luck!

On a happier note, we brought the Palmerpie in for another grooming this past weekend and he came out looking more like a puppy than ever. He's squeaky clean and sweet smelling and its really tempting to cuddle with him to sleep.

Bringing it back...

2008-05-07T20:46:00.001-07:00

I was browsing old files and ended up watching this clip over and over again. For those that haven't seen this clip, I caught Palmer trying to reach for his rawhide that was just out of his reach on the bathroom counter. Watch the silly dog in action!

Nana & Xabi

2008-04-21T17:35:00.000-07:00

Palmer has just been set up. He has a blind play date with Lina & Ryo's 2 doggies, Nana and Xabi. I don't have any pictures of them but stay tuned, Lina is hopefully sending some my way. They are absolutely cute, trained obedience school grads, and are well-behaved around other dogs. I hope some of their good behavior rubs off onto Palmer so he can finally learn to interact with other doggies.

Disneyland

2008-04-21T00:19:00.000-07:00

My mom and brother were kind enough to babysit Palmer while Johnny and I ran around Disneyland like kids yesterday. Here's a pic from the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster ride... I was killing Johnny through most of the ride but at the last minute, Johnny caught up and beat my score! We thought we did pretty good until we saw that the high score for the day was over 1,000,000. We also went on Space Mountain for the first time since it reopened and Johnny saw Fantasmic for the first time, ever. We love Disneyland!

Pool dog

2008-04-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a scorcher so Johnny and I decided to break HOA rules and lay poolside with the Palmerpie (our neighbors were way too busy fawning over his cute face that no one even noticed).

Anyway, we pushed the limits of our doggie freedom by testing to see if Palmer knew how to swim! We tried to lure him into the water by holding his beloved tennis ball just out of his poor doggie reach. He was teetering at the edge of the pool trying to paw for the ball when he lost his balance and fell right in! It was THE cutest thing ever. Swimming seemed to come effortlessly but he still doggie paddled back to the wall with a panicked look on his face. We felt bad for the pup and took him out of the water right away.

I'm sad to report that it was another Kodak moment missed and I have no photos to share. For those with limited imaginations, he looked like this... except much much cuter!

Yager & Stoli

2008-04-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

Just as a mother wants a playmate for her first-born, I've recently had this urge to adopt another doggie for Palmer's sanity. Poor kid is bored out of his mind at home while I'm at work, I just know it! Anyway, I know its not the BEST time to adopt considering we're flat out of space in the condo but don't you think these doggie brothers would get along so well with Palmer? They even share his love for tennis balls!

Meet Yager and Stoli!

Yes, sleeping again!

2008-04-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Now, I do realize ALL my posts and pictures have been of Palmer sleeping but I can't help it... he is just so darn cute when he's sleeping and he's sleeping all the time! Anyway, it's late afternoon on a Saturday and as I was working on the wedding on my computer, the two loves of my life fell asleep on the couch:Palmer is so wonderful to cuddle with. I hope all you doggie parents out there give your doggies some lovin' like we do Palmer!

Rubber duckie

2008-03-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Palmer has recently become rather fond of this female rubber duckie that was part of a bath set I once got for my birthday. It's squishy and squeeky so he likes to run around with the duckie in his mouth and chew on it. The other day, Johnny and I were watching TV while Palmer was sitting around the corner with his rubber duckie. A few minutes later, we noticed the rubber duckie was missing its head! Palmer chewed the whole thing right off ... and swallowed! The next day, I came home to small pink plastic bits and pieces amidst a pile of doggie throw-up. I didn't know who to feel sorry for, Palmer or the poor rubber duckie!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T23:33:00.001-07:00

Today was a refreshingly relaxing day. Palmer, my sister and I drove down to Cerritos to spend Easter with my family and, other than attend church, ended up doing absolutely nothing ALL day. I haven't felt so unaccomplished since the summers of high school. Anyway, Palmer had no complaints...

Here's another from earlier in the day:

Now, if you're concerned about Palmer's lack of physical activity, I'll have you know we still go on regular walks, squeezed in a few minutes of backyard fetch this afternoon and also went for a nice long run yesterday morning. Work hard, play hard...sleep hard?

Perplexed Palmer and the Pasadena Peacocks

2008-03-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Palmer and I were out for our after-work walk when we had the most peculiar encounter of all dog-walking encounters. We were walking along our merry way when Palmer stopped dead in his tracks. He perked his ears and tilted his head (hence the title of this entry), and was staring straight ahead. There we were, in a quiet suburbian neighborhood... the Palmerpie and I standing only a few feet away from a pair of female peacocks! I posted pictures below of our experience. My only regret is not capturing Palmer's expression when he saw the birds because it was a true Kodak moment. :(

p.s. Don't you just love how the sun is still shining at 6 pm in the evening? I love Daylight Savings!!

In need of some doggie friends

2008-02-26T21:02:00.000-08:00

Palmer has this aggressive reaction to other dogs and though my gut tells me its a combination of past experiences and inadequate socialization that triggers this behavior, I like to attribute it to Palmer's need for some doggie friends. This morning, as I turned the last corner of our morning walk, we came face-to-face with a brown pitbull. Palmer pulled the leash tight in an effort to approach the pitbull but that was the last thing I wanted as the Palmerpie would surely lose if the interaction turned ugly. :( I panicked and crossed the street to avoid confrontation but Palmer was wimpering and whining the whole time. Is he lonely for a doggie playmate?

Uncle Brandon says 'Palmer, its ok! You'll get a doggie BFF soon enough.'

another picture update

2008-02-22T00:15:00.001-08:00

First Grooming

2008-02-03T01:41:00.000-08:00

Johnny and I took Palmer for a full-service groom and haircut at Bathe R Doggie in Pasadena today. It was the very first haircut he's had since we adopted him and he looks so deliciously handsome and fresh now. His cute little paws are neatly groomed and he even smells like baby powder! Check him out:

2008-01-31T18:21:00.000-08:00

this blog was in need of an update so here are a few pictures of palmer for your enjoyment

(top to bottom) Palmer driving Kim's car, Palmer begging for food from Gramps, Palmer in his argyle sweater vest and Mom

New raincoat

2008-01-24T01:11:00.001-08:00

Poor kid! This is what his mommy brought home for him yesterday (much better than the Bed, Bath & Beyond bag, though!) :

p.s. I got engaged this weekend and am simply the happiest girl in the world right now. Thank you to everyone who has sent their regards. Johnny and I truly appreciate your love and support!

Finally, an update!

2008-01-19T00:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, folks. It's 2008 and we're back! You know, with the holidays, travel, and difficulty getting pictures for posting, I'm way overdue for an update.

So, while I was ringing in the new year in the Philippines, Palmer was sitting pretty with my dad in Cerritos. Can you say SPOILED? He spent his days running around the house and nights cozied up on the living room couch. In Pasadena, Palmer is lucky if he can even get a brief afternoon nap on the couch!

The moment I was back in the US, it started to rain... just in time for Palmer's walk. In an attempt to preserve that fresh dog shampoo smell (thanks for the bath Dad!), Johnny and I decided to use a makeshift raincoat for Palmer by cutting out leg holes and taping down a Bed, Bath, and Beyond bag to his body.

Here are some lovely pictures of Palmer in his pathetic raincoat:

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Palmer met Oreo recently (my aunt's 12-year old chihuahua) and the two seemed to hit it off quite well... most especially since Oreo kept trying to jump on to Palmer's backside. The second meeting was bordering boring since the two didn't seem to care the other dog even existed. They meandered around the house without any sort of interaction, save a sniff here and there. Palmer got a bit territorial when he was chewing on his rawhide once but other than that, the two existed in perfect harmony.

As much as Johnny hates when we dress Palmer up, we put him in Oreo's hat for a bit. Palmer entertained us for a few seconds but took it off when he realized he wasn't getting a treat for wearing it. Anyway, from Johnny, Palmer, and I... Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Obedience School Graduate

2007-12-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Palmer is officially an obedience school graduate! It was so nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. While I was leading Palmer through the 'testing', Johnny was playing nervous dog daddy by snapping blurry pictures of us from a distance.

Palmer doing a 'sit' in the blue hula hoop:

Palmer doing a 'sit-stay':

Palmer doing a 'down' in the red hula hoop:
Palmer doing a 'down-stay':We also got the opportunity to perform a trick for the rest of the class but I won't put a picture of that since I don't want to ruin the surprise. You will have to see that in person for yourself! :)

And then, they had a graduation 'ceremony' complete with graduation music, certificate, and a cute little red-star sticker on the doggie's little head. We are so proud of how far Palmer has come!

And a random picture of Palmer pretending to be a reindeer. He doesn't really like to wear the antlers but I tricked him into a down-stay (thank you, obedience school) long enough for me to take a picture. Happy Holidays!

Overdue

2007-12-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, we're way overdue for a blog update, aren't we? We've just been so busy with all the work Johnny and I are tied up with, Christmas shopping, family dinners, etc. We had our Week 4 class last week and Palmer did so so well! We had to do a 'blind' recall where I had to hide out of Palmer's sight and call him to me. I was so nervous but Palmer came right when I called. We have our 'finals' next week and then graduation! Palmer will have to walk on leash without pulling, sit, down, sit stay, down stay, and perform a trick in order to graduate so we are cramming all week. Wish us luck.

Here is a recent picture of Johnny, Palmer, and me. I also have a cute video of Palmer trying to reach for his rawhide but blogger's server doesn't seem to like it. I'll try again later...

Week 3

2007-11-29T23:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight was Week 3 of Palmer's obedience school and for the first time, we witnessed the magic of the Gentle Leader. We walked at the park today with about 10 other dogs (of all shapes, sizes, and personalities) and Palmer didn't bark, growl, or lunge at any of them. Why? Because of the Gentle Leader! It is an amazing leash training system that puts pressure around the dogs snout to communicate leadership in a non-aggressive way. Our homework for this week is to use the Gentle Leader whenever we take Palmer out for a walk.

After the park walk, we came back in to do some more recalls -- this time with our backs faced to the dog. Images of last week's recall failure flashed through my mind. I was short of breath and nervous that our practice over the Thanksgiving break wouldn't pay off. I walked to the end of the room, turned around and called for Palmer. Palmer... Palmer, Come here! A few seconds later, Palmer was by my side! Good boy, Palmer! We're making progress.

Well wishes & Bad habits

2007-11-26T23:22:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes... the Palmer pie is doing just fine. Lab results came back normal and vet said it could have just been a brief case of gastroenteritis. At least I have peace of mind.

In other news, Palmer seemed to enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend as much as I did. We both:

Sat around and did nothing for 3 days straight
Overstuffed ourselves with food and treats
Spent good, quality time with our loved ones

Unfortunately, over the 4-day weekend, my dad, Johnny, and I picked up a horrible horrible habit of holding Palmer to sleep. Just before the holidays, I had given Palmer a really thorough bath. He was so soft and smooth and smelled so squeaky clean that it made for ideal cuddling conditions. On separate occassions, we each gave into the irresistable temptation but together vowed it would never happen again! Take a look:

The last picture of Palmer and me is hilarious because neither of us woke up when my dad took the picture! And, my mom said that Palmer tried multiple times to pull his feet up onto the couch to be more comfortable but as he dozed off, they would slide right back down again.