Teagan in a box

Teagan just discovered one of Keeley's toy boxes. It wasn't enough for her just to look into it. Instead she decided to hop right in. She burrowed around amongst the toys and every now and then she'd plop down a chew on one for a while. Keeley just watched the whole thing. I think he's baffled by many of her behaviors.

Memorial Day Cookout

We have a cookout every Memorial Day. This year Piper came to visit with Keeley.
But he found that he was often the odd man out since Keeley and Teagan have quickly become inseparable.
They're constantly going at it. Teagan even did her first play bow this morning.
Keeley has a very strong sense of fair play and allows Teagan to have a turn pinning him.
They're acting just like siblings now. When one of them is relaxed the other one goes over to them and starts something up. I've had to separate them a couple of times because they both just don't know when to quit.
We'll get back to a normal schedule tomorrow now that the holiday weekend is over. Until Teagan has all her shots she can't go for walks with us. So Keeley and I will continue our normal walks, just the two of us. I think it'll be good for both Keeley and Teagan to have some time apart. When Keeley is at daycare, then Teagan and I can have time alone together too.
Lastly, I wanted to say thank you to Jane for these awesome WFT playing cards! Aren't they just so cute? I love them!

Day 3 - Progress

Here's a picture of Keeley with his new haircut. He looks sharp! I like him scruffy but I also like it when I can see his gorgeous eyes.Well, I think we've made a lot of progress today. Keeley is starting to realize that Teagan is not just visiting and that she's here to stay. He seems to be adjusting his attitude accordingly.
He's trying to teach her how to play. He says to her, "Here's how it's done. First you do a play bow like this. Then sometimes you let out a little bark or a growl. Then you pounce!"
Keeley has also started to discipline her. Here he's telling her not to dig in the yard on my behalf. He's just a wonderful boy.
He says to her, "Come on! Erin said NO DIGGING!"
They've been playing bitey-face a lot. Teagan latches onto Keeley's cheek, eyebrow, or beard and then just holds on for dear life while Keeley tries to shake her loose.
She has those puppy needle teeth. But she also has a very gentle mouth so I don't think she's hurting him. And he doesn't seem to mind it either.
Keeley says to Teagan, "Come one, let's play! You be the rabbit and I'll chase you."
Teagan whines, "Why do I always have to be the rabbit? How's about I chase you for a change?"
Keeley also had a playdate with Belle today. But he was so tired that they didn't do much playing together.
They spent most of the day lying around outside since it was nice and mild.
Teagan likes to be near her big brother for protection. She was a little bit scared of Belle. Keeley is warming up to his new sister too. He acts like she belongs to him and keeps a close watch on her.

A very eventful day

It's only two O'clock and I'm exhausted! Little Teagan has diarrhea and has to poop about every 1 to 2 hours. She kept me up all night and Keeley too. He's so tired. He's looking like he's got a doggie hangover or is a dog zombie or something. Anytime Teagan falls asleep, Keeley and I take that opportunity to sleep too.

Today we went to Lake Park and then we took Teagan for her first vet visit with Dr. Katie. We got medication for the diarrhea which is probably due to all the excitement and the abrupt change in diet. Other than that issue, Dr. Katie said Teagan is perfect. She actually slept through her exam! Puppies sure are silly. Dr. Katie also suggested that Teagan might be part Beagle due to her small size and white feet and the tip of her tail is white too. I think that would be great because I don't really want her to get bigger than Keeley. And it sort of makes sense because she howls a lot. She's probably a bunch of different breeds. We're going to just think of her as an adventure because we don't have any idea how big she's going to end up or how she'll look when she's all grown.

After the vet we took Keeley to get groomed at Dapper Dog. He hates getting groomed but he really needed a haircut since he doesn't do too well in hot weather to begin with. He looks gorgeous now. The picture below is from before the grooming appointment. I'll have to get one later of him with his haircut.
Now we're home again. It feels so good to be home because it's been such a long day already and it's not over yet. In a few minutes Jane, Kate, and Molly are coming to visit Keeley and meet Teagan. Keeley just loves them and they love dogs. Jane says Keeley is her favorite dog, after her own dog, Jean Wayne (a little French Bulldog) of course.

And then later, Keeley's grandpa and Uncle Ryan are coming over. They don't know about Teagan yet, so it's going to be a surprise. My dad is going to grumble and roll his eyes, but then he'll fall in love with her I'm sure. He's like that.

Keeley is beginning to realize that Teagan is not just visiting and that she's here to stay. I think he's starting to warm up to her at least a little. She is super annoying to him but he's so sweet to her. Turning his head away from her is the only correction he gives her.

Yesterday, Keeley and I left Teagan at home while just the two of us went to Jacobus Park, Arby's, and Wisconsin Garden & Pet. I thought Keeley needed some individual attention and he seemed to really appreciate it. Our plan is to treat Keeley and Teagan differently by giving Keeley special privileges so that Teagan learns her place. I think she's going to fit in just fine since she is sweet and submissive also.

Keeley has a sister!

Keeley had quite a surprise waiting for him when he got home from daycare yesterday.... a new sister!Meet Teagan. She's 10 weeks old. I just adopted her from the Wisconsin Humane Society yesterday afternoon. They are calling her a labrador retriever mix, but I think part husky and maybe a little terrier too. Isn't she sweet?
Originally I had been planing on getting another Irish Terrier in 2008, but first there was a false pregnancy and then the breeding didn't take the second time. Keeley's breeder was planning on trying again this year, but then I lost my job and decided that I just couldn't afford it. Irish Terriers cost about $1,000 or more. Plus getting shots, getting spayed, getting 'chipped... and that's like another $2,000 right there.
I was thinking that I made the right decision and that I'd find a job right away. But as the months have gone on, I started thinking that right now would probably be the best time for me to raise a puppy since I'm home everyday and the job market looks worse with each passing week. And even if I found a job next week (however unlikely), I wouldn't be able to take a chunk of time off for at least a year. And I've been talking about going back to school part-time to get an MBA which is like a 4 year commitment. Keeley is 3 years old now. After I find a job and finish a graduate program, he'd be at least 8 or 9 years old. And it made me worry that he'd be too old by then to put up with puppy shenanigans. So I made the decision to seize the opportunity and get a pound puppy.
She came from a litter of 5 girls. Two of her sisters looked like her and the other two looked more like black labs. The entire litter was surrendered. I got first pick and I chose the most submissive one of the bunch. Her name was Mona, but I've renamed her Teagan since I think that name goes better with Keeley. I just checked back on the Wisconsin Humane Society website and it looks like the other 4 girls were adopted yesterday as well because they are no longer listed as available for adoption.
Keeley is not quite sure what to make of her. He keeps making this face at me that sort of looks like he's rolling his eyes at me. Like he's saying "Erin, what is this stupid, annoying, little cry baby doing here?" She's eating his food, taking his toys, peeing in his yard, drinking his water, monopolizing my time, and I don't think Keeley likes it one bit. But he's so sweet that he never makes a peep or acts aggressively towards her, even though I wish he would correct her when she's being really annoying to him.
Teagan already knows her new name and comes when called. Since she's been with her littermates up until now, she has already learned to have a gentle mouth. She slept in a crate last night. And she's been peeing and pooping outdoors. However, she did have one poop accident indoors this morning. While Keeley and I were eating an orange, she hid under a chair and did some puppy poop. I had just finished telling Keeley that I thought she needed a bath because she smelt a little poopie, when I caught her in the act. Oh well, everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
Keeley is just so sweet. Even though he was extremely tired from doggie daycare, he still mustered up the energy to romp with her for a little bit in the yard. He did his play bow and everything. He's already a very good big brother. I'm going to make sure that Keeley gets some individual attention today so that he knows that he's still top dog in my book. And I'm sure Keeley will grow to like his new sister in time.

MKE CO PARKS: Grant Park

Yesterday we took our morning walk at Grant Park on the southside of Milwaukee.This is the entrance to the Seven Bridges Trail. It says "Enter this wild wood and view the haunts of nature." And on the other side as you're leaving it says, "May the God given peace of this leafy solitude rest upon and abide within thee."
This is one of our favorite trails because it is so pretty.
Keeley's grandma came with us because I get lost on the southside and also so that I would be more free to take pictures. She's so sweet to us!
If you walk in the direction that the water in the stream is flowing, it leads to Lake Michigan.
The lake was very calm this morning.
Keeley looks like he's lost in thought, staring out at the lake.
Keeley climbed up on this groin to get a better view.
These things were built in the 1930's to help prevent shoreline erosion.
Keeley sure is a handsome pup!
He doesn't usually like to go in the water, but his grandma threw a stick in so Keeley had to go retrieve it.
He was looking pretty happy running with his stick.
After walking on the beach for a while, we decided to continue on the trail.
This is a good time of year to walk on this trail if you're interested in native woodland plants and wildflowers because a lot of the underbrush hasn't grown in to hide them yet.
I'm not sure why this is called the Seven Bridges Trail, since there are really ten bridges.
I included this picture to show Keeley's cute butt.
There is a lot more to Grant Park than just the trail. It's 374.6 acres in size which is pretty darn big. It has 3 playgrounds, a soccer field, a couple of softball diamonds, tennis courts, and more.
There are also picnic areas, pavilions (like this one), concession stands, clubhouses, and an 18 hole golf course. The Oak Leaf Recreational Trail also runs though Grant Park.
And there's even more still! There is also the Wil-O-Way Recreation Center, where persons with disabilities can participate in all sorts of activities and also the Wulff Lodge, where scout troops can camp overnight in the park.
We found some pine cones while we were walking around.
Keeley likes to stop and sniff everything.
This was a good walk!

If you want to see more about Grant Park, you can check out our previous posts:
July 13, 2008
June 1, 2008

Keeley on the internet

I've been so busy getting my garden ready that I almost forgot to mention that Keeley was featured as one of the Daily Smilers on The Bark magazine website last weekend.

MKE CO PARKS: Menomonee River Parkway & Hoyt Park

For our morning walk yesterday, we went to the Menomonee River Parkway since it's not far from our house. Keeley's grandma came with us so that I could take pictures. That was really nice of her.
Keeley left some pee mail so that other dogs will know that he was here.
We've been taking Keeley for walks at the parkway since he was just a wee pup.
This is my favorite tree along the parkway. I think it's got a good shape to it.
Keeley sure is cute with his ears flapping while he runs. This parkway is part of the Oak Leaf Recreational Trail that connect all our major parks together.
That's the Menomonee River. We've been getting a lot of rain storms lately so the river is really high right now.
On the other side of the river is Hoyt Park. It's 20.48 acres in size.
Keeley decided that he was going to lead us on a trail along the river even though it's a bit muddy today.
It sure is pretty now that everything is getting green.
Oh boy! Keeley found some ducks sitting along the river edge. His grandma had to hold him back. Look at him pull!
The ducks hopped in the river and paddled over to the bank on the other side.
Keeley was wondering how he'll be able to get them now.
This is a pretty river but I think this past winter was hard on it. There's lots of erosion happening. Trees are falling into the river and some trails are being washed away.
Hoyt Park also has a playground and a sand volleyball area.
This is the old Hoyt pool. When I was in middle school, I'd come to the pool with my friends almost every week in the summer. It's been closed since 2003 because of some kind of structural problem that is too expensive for the county to fix. But there's an organization called Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool that is trying to raise money for a new pool.
I love the bright green color of the tree leaves in the springtime.
There are more trails behind the old pool.
This bridge was built in the 1930's with new deal labor.
Crossing this bridge we leave Hoyt Park and are back on the parkway side of the river.
Not a bad 45 minute walk.