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Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 12:04 PM
Subject: Daily update: Ricqui & Sami
Hi, Carol!
Our new boy is doing great!
I've swabbed hydrogen peroxide on his scar 3X. His incision is clean, healthy, and totally brown - no redness. When I
take him out of his kennel, I now have him on a long leash to let him do a bit of wandering. His paw dexterity
is great; he'll go back in his kennel, paw for his bone or denim shirt and drag both out to give me. Sometimes, when he's
lying on his side, he'll try to lick his incision, but I get him to stop.
When he was riding in the car to come home and even inside the house with me, he'll take his nose and nudge my hand to
get me to hold/ hug him. Sami 1 used to do, that, too!
Forgot to tell you yesterday something cute about Sami: whenever anyone comes over for a visit, Sami lays down next to
their feet and then places his head on them to guard them. Sometimes, he falls asleep doing this! It's adorable! When people
he knows come over, he squeels for joy to see them and get his pats!
Yesterday, I told you about Sami's front teeth 'love nips' (ankle/ knee nips). Ricqui does this, too but his nips are
to my finger nails! Sami 1 also used to use his little 'love nippers' too!
Sami sleeps all PM on the bed. Because the top 2 covers are cream, usually all you see are 2 eyes and a nose! He likes
to kick up these cream covers and nest sometimes during the day. (I put the covers on with the wrong side up, so that muddy
footprints are on that side, and if they don't come out in the wash, the bed cover isn't runied!!) Many times he falls asleep
on his back, with 'all 4' paws exposed! Riqui is now doing this in his kennel.
Ricqui is now comfortable with his routine of walks every 3 hours and then getting out of his kennel at other times for
pats, play, bone/shirt drags, and working on his 'Sit'. He now 'Sits' when he gets de-kennelled, walking into my arms. He
also does this when he's leashed and at the door. I have him do this 1X outside on the driveway, again before I open the door,
and then again when we go back to the kennel area.
He has never growled, doesn't bark when the doorbell rings or people come over. He did yip a little when I tried to comb
thru some remaining hind quarter mats, which I think I'll just leave until stitches are out. (I try to get him not to 'play-bow'
so that his incision isn't stressed.) So far, he's met 2 people and loves his pats.
Yesterday, he wanted to go upstairs because he heard Zak up there in his office. I took him up to get some pats and then
brought him back downstairs again.
He ALWAYS has his sweet ears plastered back at the side of his head when he wants pats and when he's getting them!
Yesterday, I brushed his teeth for the first time, and his eyes were as big as saucers while I was doing this! He wasn't
sure what to think of this but will get more comfortable because it will be part of his daily routine.
Eating, drinking, urination, pooping are all normal.
Sami sees Riqui every time he goes out, but growled once, so we'll just keep both boys where they are for the time being.
Zak is loosening more, so we'll just keep going forward!
More updates tomorrow!
(Hope you guys don't have terrible flooding at your place.)
S
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| I can get used to this... |
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Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 9:55 AM
Subject: Z has given Ricqui adoption OK!!!!!!! & Daily Update
Hi, Carol!
How do we adopt him immediately?
Please advise us as to the process, so that we can hang on to our 2nd little cherub!
Yesterday, besides continuing his same 'Sit' process, I started teaching him 'Come', while on his long leash near the
kennel area; I pull the leash after I say 'Come' and get him to come to me. Also, I started teaching him 'Stay' after he 'Sits'
- especially right before I open the door to take him out.
The incision looks great and am continuing the H2O3 on it 2x/day.
This AM, Ricqui saw the neighbor's cat in the back yard, pulled me toward it but didn't growl or bark; Sami somehow
knew (the blinds were shut in the bedroom) the cat was near and HE BARKED!
Zak hooked one of the long leashes onto one of our living room coffee table legs last PM, so now Ricqui can spend almost
all of his time outside of his kennel. Zak's first leash attempt was attached to the low table where I set my computer,
and he grabbed some pens and was aiming for the computer. We now have him attached to another table leg. This still allows
him to lay near my feet, while I am working.
Ricqui has Sami's light-blue woven collar that you had on him; we didn't put a choke collar on him yet. With
the woven collar, he pulls and was coughing, making chocking noises yesterday. Will monitor this today.
I can't wait to hear from you, so that we can adopt Ricqui!
Later.
S
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 12:04 PM
Subject: Riqui pics, update, & Z OKs R adopttion
Carol:
In my last email, I told you that Zak has given his OK to adopt Riqui - finally! What process do we need to go
through to adopt our 2nd cherub?
Updates:
1. R working on 'Sit', 'Stay', 'Come'
2. R outside of kennel all day while tethered; no leg lifts; he goes in sometimes for a nap and when Sami growls
in passing
3. Will get S & R on leashes and Zak and I will allow longer face-to-face today
4. H2O2 2x daily: scar brown, sac sredding/ shriveling
5. Toothbrushing: R now biting like a bone!
6. No pooping yesterday but he did today
7. Good news: R barked at neighbor's lawn mower; growled at the hedge trimmer noise; and growled and barked back and
forth to Sami in the bedroom - they seem to now be 'talking' to each other (I was worried someone might have slit his
vocal cords and he would have no way to defend himself)
8. Still Cough/ choke/ sneeze; will have vet look at 7/5
See attached R pics. (I brushed him AFTER pics taken; then, worked 45 minutes on getting mats out; still more to go)
Hope you have a respite from all of your activity and can email!
Later.
S
| I've done it!! I have me a new family... |
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| I LOVE this place! |
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 4:33 PM
Subject: Yippeeeeee! & Ricqui update
Carol:
We're ecstatic to get to adopt Ricqui! I'll complete, sign and send e-copy to you and drop the original in
snail. When Zak has time, he'll scan all TLAC papers (which include tags, etc.) and will send you an e-copy. We'll present
the originals to our vet to then make copies to start his file. We're very happy to have you be 'godmommy' to our 2nd cherub!
Do we need to send you a check? I wrote TLAC a one for $50.
The web page for the 'brothers' on your web site would be great and very helpful to your Eskie owners who have
less experience as well as those who get another pup from you and want to mix them together. Just make sure that
you correct my typos!!! ( i.e. Adopttion [subject heading] and sredding [update 4.] in my 7/1/7 email with 3 pics to you and
all other ones!
You could also add some of the links on Eskies I've sent you. For example, yesterday's email on 'American Eskimo dog'
on Wikipedia is a great entry that owners and prospective owners will enjoy. I like the Quick Facts size chart (standard,
miniature, and toy) and the Health section, detailing common Eskie diseases/ disorders. (I would also ad 'lick granulomas'
because Sami 1 and Sami have had these).
Another idea is to start a section for owners to ask/ answer questions. For example, Zak and I have lots of experience
importing/ exporting Lucy and Sami back and forth by air to Kuwait and the US. We'd be happy to assist others in transporting
their dogs.
We'll get someone to take pics of Ricqui, Zak and me and then email them to you. After we get both pups mixed, we'll
get pics maid and email them.
Update:
1. R & S had a face-to face where both dogs had 'words' (I was with S and Zak was with R); we then switched dogs:
when I had R, he lay down in my lap and put his head under my arm (similar to pic #1 - submissive), while Zak had S 'sit'
and then 'lie down'. This 2nd face-to-face format is what we'll follow from now on.
2. Last PM, Zak removed R from his kennel all night (and he was tethered to the table leg). There have been no leg lifts
since day #1.
3. 2X yesterday, R tried to jump on the table with my notebook, so I had to kennel him. This AM while we were out, he
was also kenneled.
4. After we got your email OK for us to adopt, we bought R a choke chain and will affix his tags. While at Petsmart,
we also made a tag with Sami's AVID # on it to attach to his collar (TLAC included one for R).
5. I called our vet this afternoon and R will have his sutures out on 7/5/7; he'll also look at him re: his coughing/
choking/ sneezing (maybe kennel cough or allergy); and he will try to swipe his microchip. If our vet's wand can't accomodate
R's chip, like what happened with Sami, we'll take him the the Williamson Co. Humane Society because they have a 3-in-
1 device.
Later.
Hugs and pats to all your pups!
S
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 5:02 PM
Subject: NLOL Contract; TLAC materials; & new P. 1 of Sami's NLOL contract (markings details)
Hi, Carol!
I downloaded, completed, signed and mailed (today)
your original NLOL contract for our getting Ricqui. Also enclosed is copy of all TLAC materials (including a scan of tags).
Attached to this email, I'm enclosing e-copies
of all of these materials, but please note that at the bottom of page 5 of Ricqui's contract, we've removed personal data
and our signatures, so that hackers can't get our information. (You can see our contract for Sami, dated 11-21-6 to get all
of the information until your receive the original in the mail.)
The final thing that we enclosed in the envelope
was an original addenda of p. 1 of Sami's 11-21-6 contract because we wanted to
list his markings in detail. (The e-copy of this page is also attached below.)
Update:
1. R on walks has 'pointed' 2X, while smelling
interesting things (he sure was cute!)
2. R's learned 'Stay' so well that he doesn't
want to stand from his 'Sit' at the door to go out!
3. Like Sami does to guests' feet, R also (when
he's next to me working) puts his head on my feet! This is cutting down on his jumping on the notebook coffee table, nabbing
pens, and having to be put in his kennel.
4. This AM, when I left R to go in the bedroom
to do my exercises, I came out to find that R had grabbed a small blankie that Zak uses to cover himself when he watches TV;
R had it under his head and felt safe on it!! (He sure was cute!!)
5. Just like our beloved Lucy, R hates to get
his paws wet in the grass when we took him on his early afternoon walk; he dragged me in the house fast when it started to
downpour, thunder, and lightening!
Take care and have a great 4th of July
and give all of your pups pats.
Please tell me if you need anything else to finalize
the adoption.
Later.
S
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 4:38 PM
Subject: Ricqui: Vet visit & update
Hi, Carol!
Zak put all of Ricqui's 3 tags on his choke collar
before we took him in to our vet, Dr. Naylor, this AM. The 2 tech girls loved him because he was calm while they cut his 2
staples. They said that his sutures were healing nicely. He lay his sweet head in my arms and looked up at me for assurance
during the entire procedure. They told us that we were lucky to have him and that he was a 'great fit for us and for Sami'!
Ricqui now weighs over 20 pounds (TLAC weight
was 19.30 lbs). Dr. Naylor said that he is underweight and to work on pulling his weight up.
I mentioned that his 1st poop for us
at home last Tuesday was flecked with white bits, although from the 2nd day on it has appeared normal. He took
a poop sample, so we'll see if anything shows up that needs fixing.
Our vet has Home Away, so when they 'swiped' him,
so the machine could access his number, which is the exact number that TLAC wrote down and you also now have. Do you want
to call in/ go online and activate his chip number under your name and ours, too?
Before we went to the vet, I looked at the flip
side of the Home Again instructions for placing a chip in dogs. It had a good bit of information that would be helpful for
our vet. I completed it and the vet scanned it into his system along with all of the other materials we emailed and 'snailed'
to you. Zak then scanned it, and I'm including it as an attachment with this email for your file on Ricqui.
Dr. Naylor looked into his ears, which I have
cleaned several times, and he said to use some of the ear cleaner that we had for Lucy.
Since we live outside of the city of Round Rock,
I asked the clinic staff if Ricqui also needed a Round Rock dog tag. They said that because he has his Austin tag from TLAC
that this would suffice this year. Next year, he'll get a Round Rock tag.
I also discussed with Dr. Naylor what he thought
the problem was with Ricqui's coughing/ choking/ and sneezing. After a fairly thorough check, he thought that since Ricqui
is unused to being on a leash and in a collar and that he strains while on walks, that we should kit him out in a harness.
Later, as he learns more commands like 'heel' he probably won't need it. After the vet visit, we took Ricqui to Petsmart to
buy him this, and he looks adorable in his bright blue harness! While we were at the checkout, 2 little girls rushed up and
asked me if Ricqui was an American Eskimo. When I told them that he was, they said that they had one, too and that they hug
and kiss their dog all of the time and then patted Ricqui!
Updates:
1. Last PM R jumped up on our high couch (where
Zak sits) all by himself and looks adorable. We've got pics and will send you them soon. (We'll try to get our friend to take
some pics of Zak, R and me and get them to you ASAP.) We now let R get up there any time because he's now making this one
of his 'places'.
2. 2 PMs ago, I first lifted R on the low couch
where I sit and he was pretty squirrelly.
3. Several times, he's given me his paw. Zak is
teaching him 'give me 5'.
4. Even tho we still have him tethered to make
sure that he doesn't do any leg-lifts, I am now putting a long leash on him and letting him follow me into the kitchen, etc.
and observing him while I work in there.
5. We haven't done any face-to-faces between R
& S for the past 2 days because we went out last PM. We'll report when we do. However, S looks for R every time I take
him out of the bedroom to go on his walks.
6. After coming home this AM from the vet visit
and Petsmart, I took R next door for their 3 kids to pat, and they love him; they say he's just like Sami 1! R is great with
kids, very gentle and sweet.
7. Now, the only time we kennel R is when he nabs
and grabs my stuff. All other times he's free but tethered. He's doing very well for only having been with us for a little
over 1 week.
Williamson County is badly flooded, but we are
lucky. I love the rain, so I'm happy to have a respite from our usual hot, sunny Texas summer. Hope you and the pups are managing
the rain.
Regarding your last email about one of your new
girls from Big D, 'Joy': when you said she was burned, you mean someone put her next to fire and tortured her??!!
Gotta run. More later. Pats to all pups!
S
| Our prayers are with Beloved Lucy & her family... |
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| She will never be forgotten...by all who met or loved her. |
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 11:30 AM
Subject: Cute Ricqui page up on nlol!
Hi, Carol!
You got Ricqui's page up on http://nlol.net ! It's darling! We're now keeping the camera near, so that we can get pics of both Ricqui &
Sami in cute poses. We've just taken some precious shots of both and will send them off when Zak can get them off of the camera
and on to the hard drive.
I saw the pic of poor 'Joy', and I'm sick for
her, but glad she's getting help from nice Big D people who'll get her to you. I like the donations part right on page 1 of
your web site; it's a real 'grabber'.
Updates:
1. R & S had the best face-to-face yesterday
afternoon, without any 'words', so today we hope that we can emulate this and bring the dogs closer in distance. (Zak has
Sami 'Sit' and then 'Lie Down', while Ricqui is behind me, on his side with 1 hind leg up and eyes under my arm!)
2. When I take R in the kitchen, he puts his front
paws on the stool, wags his tail, and grabs his brush because he recognizes his smells on it! He is adorable!
3. Thank goodness July 4th firecracker
time is waning: both dogs hate the noises. You're lucky to live in the country, so your pups don't have to endure this.
Please say a prayer for our beloved Lucy (13.5
YO Chow) who passed away 1 month ago today (and our beloved Sami 1, 15.5 YO Eskie standard) who died 1 year and 1 month ago.
We are lighting candles and looking at their sweet pictures that we have around our house. We have both angels buried next
to each other in our back yard and under the big tree. Luckily, this area is in my line of sight, so that I can see it while
I work.
We're so glad that we have Sami & Ricqui!
Even tho these 2 are different from the other 2, we are blessed to also have them in our lives! Both dogs do something cute
each day.
More later.
Give hug and pats to your pups.
S
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:25 AM
Subject: R & S updates
Hi, Carol!
Here are some current updates:
1. after a few 'wordy' face-to-faces, in the late
afternoons and evenings, we now have Sami attached with long leash walking freely around the house, with Ricqui in his kennel;
we let Ricqui out of his kennel but still tethered in the AM and early afternoons, with Sami in the bedroom
2. yesterday, R came up to me to tell me for the
first time that he had to go out before his usual time, and I took him!
3. R had his first bath on the deck yesterday
(his incision is totally healed) after I had run the steam vac around, so now his smells are totally of the house; he was
the cutest boy (no pics because Zak was working)
4. R loved getting his new harness and collars
back on and getting more matts brushed out his coat this AM
5. Even tho both boys are listed as being 3 YO,
there is a big difference, behaviorally, between the 2 (R acts like a very young boy), so S will be great in teaching R, but
at this point, R is not avoiding eye contact with S anymore, but within time, this will be ironed out between the 2 of them
(NOTE: Every dog group we have ever mixed have had their own special characteristics, and we haven't mixed any of them in
the same way; we do it on 'gut' feel, so this is what we are doing now to get both comfortable before they are both free to
mix.)
More later.
Hugs & pats to your pups.
S
| Sami & Riqui |
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| walking together with the Certified Trainer Marcus Keyes.. |
Date: Aug 8, 2007 8:47 PM Subject: More Sami & Riqui pics and recent news
Carol:
I BCC'd you on my letter to the Triple Crown Director, John Woods, again praising Certified Trainer Marcus Keyes. Marcus
saw both pups on Monday after I called him and asked him if there was a systemic way to mix dogs, rather than the hap-hazzard
method we have always used. Both dogs are now together with Marcus (but with us, we are trying to emulate what he did and
it will take longer).
In that email, be sure to read my letters to see what we discussed and see the darling pics of both of them separately
and with Marcus.
Zak took MORE pics, which are enclosed with this current email.
I would love to get a few pups from you up to Triple Crown. Marcus could talk to John Woods and get them boarded at Triple
Crown while they learn their commands; he says that about 95% of these trained dogs are placed with their 'forever' families.
Carol, I would love to assist you any way I can in getting some of your babies loving homes. Please let me help you.
Lots of hugs to you and your pups from Sami & Ricqui --and us, too!
Later.
S
| Riqui! |
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| Sami |
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Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 4:53 PM
Subject: Re: More Sami & Riqui pics and recent news
Hi, Carol!
Thanks for the flier attachment. Seguin sounds like fun; we'd love to come. I downloaded the flier and will email
it on to others who may also want to attend.
Hope you also read my emails to Triple Crown and looked at the pics of the pups with Marcus plus the pics of the pups
at home learning what Marcus had taught them.
Ricqui is like a little Rat Terrier; he snatches up crickets and frogs, and I've got to fish them out of his mouth! I
think he is a lot like Sassy, but Zak doesn't think so.
Later.
S
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