Sunday, November 22, 2015

Husky/Boxer, Boxer/Husky

Look at those Husky ears
Hey.  Welcome back.

Refresher, according to the 2 DNA tests that we had ran on Duchess, she's half Husky, half boxer mix.


We belong to a local Husky Enthusiast group that we meet up with at the local area dog parks.

It is very interesting to see the dogs play among all those purebred Huskies.  I enjoy seeing them and seeing which traits of Duchess come from the Husky.


Because of this, I've done some research to determine which of the traits for each breed that are dominate and show in Duchess.


Because I like spreadsheets, I put the info on the below sheet.
I filled in under the breed that she gets that trait from.
Pretty neat genetics, eh?


Features Gets this from a Boxer Gets this from Husky
Ears   Tall Erect
Eyes Coppery Brown Coppery Brown
Build Deep chest, narrow hips, Muscular  
Fur Short hair/brindle  
Tail   Furry & curls like a sycle
Paws   slightly webbed
Howl   Howls sound exactly like other huskies
Bark little w/out reason little, sounds like other huskies
Meticulously clean   All the time
Very Independent   very & stubborn
Robust/Athletic X  
Energetic Highly High
little /no smell   X
Agility XX X
Obedience X  
Wanderer/Runner X X
Guard Dog Fiercly protective of family  
Enjoys Mental Challenges X  
Tendency to dig Low  
Prefer Company of owners  
Children too boisterous for small kids  
Plays too rough for small dogs  
Playfullness "never lose desire to romp & play"  
Other pets Get along with other pets and rarely show aggression towards them  

Sisters sleeping


Showing off her intelligence

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Fall time



Sorry it's been awhile.  
The girls are doing well--for the most part.

They both caught kennel cough from some dog at the dog park.  They're mostly better.   Duchess got over it much quicker.  Athena still has some eye discharge, but that is the only sign. She's doing great otherwise.

The last few times I took them to the park, Athena's been running with the dogs.  Watching her it struck me just how strong her back legs have gotten. Her awkward run/gait is gone. She is beautiful to watch when she runs now.    She keeps up with the pack and has a stronger stamina.  
She has come such a long way.  A number of people who have watched her get stronger have mentioned it.   

She's still a very happy dog.   Very sweet and loving. She has 2 playmates now: MC, the boyfriend and the little pup two doors down.   He's under a year and just the most adorable guy.  She LOVES playing with both of them.  


Duchess is doing well too. She's becoming a little more social at the park and even has a crush on a wolf hybrid.   She adores the big guy.   She still tends to keep to herself, but has been more engaged at the park than she has in the past.

She too adores the neighbor's pup.   It is really cute to see.    

I also see the 2 girls 'bonding' more and more each day.  When we had the Old Guard, they all were a pack. They would nap near one another all the time.  These two, hardly would ever.  These days, they tend to be near one another.   It's nice to see.   

They're good girls.


So there's the most recent update. Athena has come a long way and is doing wonderfully.    Duchess is ...duchess....

Sunday, August 23, 2015

So much fun.


Athena:

Duchess in the pond
Whoa. I'm tired and achy.   Yesterday Mommy & Daddy took us to the really fun park. It's so big and there are so many dogs and I just run and run and run. I love it.   
Afterwards I' am sooo tired and hurt.  

Mommy says I over did it, but I don't think I can over do the park.   There were a bunch of little puppy dogs that I had to watch over.   I love watching over the little dogs.    It   reminds me of my puppies.
Duchess loves the place too.   She doesn't run all over like me.   She is boring. She sniffs along the edges and goes into the woods.  She even likes the water. I did go into the water a little bit.  



 
ME! Hanging out by our stuff





hiding in the shade. It was HOT.
Duchess in the woods
 
This is Atlas. He's a White Shepherd. Mommy loved him.



More of Duchess Playing in the water.



Me & Daddy getting some shade.








One of the pugs that hung out with us.







We were chasing them dogs



Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Sorry. IT's been awhile. A note from Mommy.

Hey Duchess & Athena fans.


It's been awhile and I apologize for not posting any updates.

I'll get right to it.

Athena had some issues the past 6 months or so with her right ear.  We started noticing that we couldn't rub behind her ear. She kept shaking her head and eventually it started to stink.  
We took her to the vet and they didn't find an infection. Just an overabundance of wax.

We had to start cleaning her ears every other day and putting medicine in the ear.   While it stopped the smell, it didn't stop her from constantly shaking her head.  Her right ear no longer was standing straight up.  

At hear annual visit, we mentioned her ear again.  They didn't see anything and told us to keep  using the ear cream and clean it.   Additionally the vet thought it might be a food allergy.


Thus began a change up with the food that was more of a pain then anything else.  Her ear still bothered her.   

Finally I took her in again and forced the issue. They found her ear infected and we got new cream and antibiotics.  Four days later, poof all gone.  She is no longer shaking her head. We can pet behind her ear and it stands up straight.

We just switched back to their old food because the new food caused digestion issues.Duchess and Athena protested the food change, but ultimately had no choice in the matter.  Now the digestion issues are all done.

The girls are in love with the new neighbor.  About a month and a half ago, the neighbors adopted a new puppy. He's the CUTEST thing ever. The dogs are obsessed with this puppy. It is so cute. I'll try to snap pics the next time they visit him.  

Duchess is becoming a bit more sociable at the dog park. I don't know if it's due her seeing the same dogs all the time or something else.   It's nice to see.


My parents came for a visit and stayed a week. The girls loved them, especially Duchess (surprise!).   I think they were both quite bummed out when they returned home. They also took to my brother when he visited a month prior to that.  


We did a DNA test on the girls. We'd done one on Duchess before, but were curious if it would garner the same results. We were curious to what Athena was.  I'll blog about that next time. It won't be as long in between posts I swear.

Athena is doing fantastic. Aside from weaker back legs than a dog her age would normally have, she's adapted wonderfully. She's very happy and loves her home, neighbors and friends.  She lives for the dog parks, eating and Rocky (her raccoon). 



Monday, April 6, 2015

One Year

Yesterday we celebrated one year of Athena being with us.   It's amazing looking at her and seeing the differences in her.

While she still has the large patch on her back that is hairless, she's a happy healthy girl.  She is very loving and friendly.

She loves people, but loves other dogs even more.  She has a sister in Duchess, best friend in Master Chief, & tons of friends at the dog park.

She has her own bed (two spots actually) and where she once couldn't climb stairs or jump up on things, she easily does so now. 

She's very vocal in her emotions. She either whines, hums, squeaks, barks, or moans.  She is a healthy 63lbs and very active.

Can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

New Friend

Athena here!

Guess what?! I have a new friend.  Her name is Zooey and she's smaller than me, but she's really fun.  

She and her brother live two doors down from us with the nice lady Megan-their Mommy.

I snuck over there today when Brinks (the brother) was out with his Mommy.  My mommy caught me, but instead of yelling at me , she called Duchess over to play with us too.

It was sooo much fun.  I like her. She's really full of energy.   They have a super cool yard too.  I might sneak over there more often.  He he.. Don't tell mom.

Duchess even liked her. Duchess doesn't like any dog.....well except my boyfriend.   But Duchess can't have her she's MY friend!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Where is Mommy?

Athena and Duchess here.  Have you seen or Mommy?  We went for a ride with her and that big thing that holds all her stuff. She got out and never came back.  That was like a gazillion years ago (translation-4 days)..
We miss her. Daddy doesn't love us the same way she does. .... where is she?  

I'll gladly give up her side of the bed to get her back. ... (Duchess)

I'll stop whining for a minute if she comes back (Athena)

Mommmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Bored.

I'm bored. It's cold out. I don't like it.  Mom and Dad bought me a new toy. I ripped it up. I told you i'm bored.  Athena doesn't even like being outside, what does that tell you?  Bored bored bored.......

Saturday, January 24, 2015

So much fun

Athena here!  Today was so much fun. Mommy n Daddy took us to the doggy park this morning. I love the park!  There wasn't any doggies at first, so I ran around chasing squirrels. Duchess did her own thing.  
Then puppies started showing up. I had a blast.  And even better! Boyfriend showed up.   Mommy calls MC, my neighbor and best buddy, my Boyfriend. He and I have so much fun together.


We ran and barked (well I barked) and just had fun.   I love the doggy park.  Duchess got in trouble cause she kept picking on one of the little dogs. Daddy took her out of the park. Pshaw.   I'd never do anything to get me taken away from the park.

Now we're just relaxing here at the house.  I'm a bit pooped from all that running around I did. 

I love being outside.  If I could, I'd be outside forever---as long as Mommy & Daddy were there!











Mommy's Post:
Here's some pictures of my two beauties.  

Athena update:  Athena is doing very well. She's been with us going on 10 months and has flourished.   Her legs are much stronger and she runs much better than she use to. She even has gotten some strength in her back legs as well.   Her playing with Boyfriend helps a lot. 

She still has a significant bare spot on her back, but it isn't really noticeable.  She has minor hair growth in her bald patches but nothing significant.

She still has issues with eating WHATEVER she finds when she is nervous. Since our last post, she swallowed 3 pennies.  Of course she brought them right back up.   We're lucky that her stomach is sensitive and doesn't allow her to digest some of the things she eats. 

She had a upset stomach the other day and proceeded to eat grass. But since it's snow covered  and frozen, she swallowed quite a few leaves.   The present she left afterwards was quite 'interesting'.

She is a very sensitive dog.  We try to give her as much love and attention as we can. I'm confident she loves her life now. 

DUCHESS:
Duchess is not liking the winter. Between the snow, ice, and cold I do not walk them. My knee is to weak to chance hurting myself, so the dogs suffer.   She is not happy.  I think she appreciated going to the park today though.

Duchess has been extra needy lately. That is very unlike her.  It is taken getting use to.   I know she looks forward until the Spring.


Pretty Sisters




Daddy with his girls during a fall walk

Athena in "Her" chair

Duchess on HER bed.