All Things Furry

Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't have dogs...I have rather hairy, 4-legged children.  2 of them.  Shy is turned 12 this year.  This girl has seen it all and travelled alot of places.  She's come a long way from living in a cardboard box on a Louisiana farm as the runt of the liter.  She's grumpy, loyal, grumpy, hungry, grumpy, sweet, grumpy, protective, grumpy, cuddly and LOVING ALASKA.  I was pretty sure that she would somehow boycott the move, but surprisingly she LOVES it up here. Even in spite of the occasional bitter cold.  I'm proud to say that she has 3 pairs of booties and a small collections of sweaters (including a hoodie and even a jumpsuit) that she wears on winter dog park outings.  Initially she seemed degraded by her "outfits" but when she sees the sweater come off the hook, she lights up. Due to her age she doesn't have to wear a backpack or pull anything but watching her run the trails and playing with other dogs at the dog park, we are thinking that moving up here has lengthened her life by at least a good 3-5 years!

Shy loving life at University Lake Dog Park.  We think she looks quite dignified with her pink sweater (with the collar popped of course) and her booties!

The old girl enjoying her giant summer bone.  She mostly laid by it and growled to keep Banks off of it.

Banks, Banks, Banks.  I got Banks at 8 weeks old and fell in love with him immediately.  This boy is my heart...my forever best bud.  He, of course, is thriving up here.  He loves his "pack" to the ends of the earth.  Myself and my close friends, Kristin, Amy and my roommate Torrey, are his family along with their pups.  Raven (Kristin's black husky-hound girl) is most definitely his favorite.  They are best friends, and we're pretty sure that they are in love.  Sage (Amy's yellow lab girl) is his playmate and Allie (Torrey's Bernese Mountain girl) is his adopted sister.  We like to joke that he has alot of b*****s.  He's a smart, independent boy, but he doesn't respond to anger or anything in a mean tone.  He'll dig his feet in, do it his way and literally talk back if you raise your voice. He does great in harness and instinctively digs in to pull like a champ. We started skijoring our first winter here, but I'm looking forward to getting a light, kickboggen type sled and 1-2 more dogs and slowly start dog sledding for real.

Banks on top of Bird Ridge last spring.

Spring hike up Bird Ridge with his Aunt Torrey and Allie.

There is 1 bromance that he has cultivated...with a Jack Russell named...wait for it...Jack.  They don't see each other often, but when they do, it's a full on love fest.  Check it out:

A favorite after work or Sunday afternoon activity is the dog park.  We either take them to the airport dog park or University Lake.  Unlike dog parks in the Midwest, these aren't simply fenced in fields.  They are acres of wooded land with hills, streams, trees, lakes and many moose.  It's a nice change of pace from walks around the neighborhood.  It not only gets them socialization with other dogs, but you ALMOST feel like you're really in Alaska and not in Anchorage. :)