And the winner is...

31 Jan 10  (Late enough to almost be Feb 1)

Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out our 10 question annual customer satisfaction survey!  You all have a $5 credit on your account.  The winner of the Fee Free Holiday is 3031, so congratulations!!  Thanks to everyone for helping us make No Mess Pets better!

3021

29 Jan 2010

Thank you to Jim for posting the pictures yesterday.  Here is what happened on our walk:
M was excited and wiggly when I came to get her.  I walk with the leash locked at a certain length, so it took a little bit for her to get used to that.  It was a great first walk - no problems.

3028

29 Jan 2010

Thank you to Jim for posting the pictures last night.  Here is what happened on our walk:
It was cold this morning and H and I walked quickly to stay warm.  We took a different way to keep our interest.  Only one of the dogs along the way was out in its yard today and H was super excited.  It started flurrying a little bit during our walk - but just a flake here and there.

3028

27 Jan 10

We had a pretty good walk today.  I took the picture for today from my hip.  She stops smiling and looked away when I pull the camera out, so I had to be sneaky.  She was also in perfect position - her shoulder at my knee.  We were out when the bus was dropping kids off and H saw and got as excited as she does when she sees a loose dog.  It was crazy.  She calmed down quickly and we were off again.  We played ball a little bit after her walk. What a nice sunny day to boot!

3028

27 Jan 10

H and I had a nice walk today. It was cold, but not too cold. It snowed for most of the walk, so it was pretty. We took a different path and during the last bit of the walk, she kept looking back and grinning at me. I gave her lots of praise and pats. When we got back to the house, I threw the ball for her a couple of times. She LOVES that!

3028

25 Jan 10

It was such a weird weather day today.  I got to the house and it started to pour.  Once we got started on our walk, the rain stopped and the sun popped out for a little while.  It got really hot for a bit and then the cold wind came and the clouds covered the sun.  The 3/4 of the walk following was strong cold wind.  H wasn't sure what to think of the wind at our back and all the rustling leaves.  We had a great time and the fast storm created some fast, deep flow in the ditches, so H had lots of cool water to play in.

3028

24 Jan 10

H and I left for our walk at about the same time as your neighbor and his dog.  We waited a bit, so they would be ahead of us.  We had the whole road to ourselves.  There was a dog following us for a bit, but it never got close enough to bother us or for H to notice it.  A different dog came over to greet us in an unexpected way and H handled herself very well.  A super eventful day today.  H was great.  It sprinkled for most of the walk and it really started pouring at the end.

3028

23 Jan 10

H and I had a nice walk in the sun today.  She got really excited when a small dog ran around and barked at us, but she calmed down nicely.  It was great!  In this picture she was looking at someone washing their car with great interest.

3031

22 Jan 10

L was super interested in smelling stuff today.  We took it slow and I gave her lots of hugs and attention. 

3028

22 Jan 10

H and I had fun. She danced in place as we went up the first hill and then she walked next to me until we saw a loose border collie.  H got really hyper and we did some sitting, stopping, turning around, and walking in different directions.  She did really great after she forgot about the loose dog.  There was lots of water around for H to play in and drink.

3028

20 Jan 10

It was a nice, foggy day today.  H did really great.  We had a pleasant walk and I took time to stop and give H lots of  scritches and praise.  We had a great time.

3031

19 Jan 10

We went the opposite way today, so there were lots of interesting things for L to sniff on the other side of the street.  It was a lovely, warm day with a slight breeze.  I kept almost catching her really cute look.  Here she is looking intense - ears up, tail flowing in the wind.

3028

18 January 2010

H and I had a good walk today. She was very excited to get out and we had a nice experience with the quiet dog. We also worked on some more sitting.

3031

15 Jan 10

L and I had fun today.  She was excited for the walk and we played a lot.  She stuck her head in the holes in the snow and came out with a snowy nose.  It was a great day for a walk.

3028

15 January 2010

H was excited to see me today. Due to access issues, H got to be the first user of the FEL (Field Expedient Leash). We had a great walk and did some more sitting.

3022

14 Jan10

A was sooo excited a wiggly when I came to get her.  We had a lovely walk in the sunshine and she was such a good girl. This is our first walk in daylight, so everything was SUPER exciting.

3031

14 Jan 10

Sunny, warmer day today.  L and I had a nice walk.  She was a little distracted by all the things to smell and dig up, but then we got on target.  We walked well and I gave her lots of pats and praise.  I saw a large bird perch on a telephone pole and didn't think much of it.  When L saw it, she froze - looking upward.  I then looked and saw that is was a HUGE hawk.. Awesome!  She's so fun!

3028

13 Jan 10

H was awesome during the 2nd half of the walk!!  In the beginning, she was a little distracted, so we played a little and took some detours during the walk.  I gave her lots of hugs and praise.   It was a beeeautiful sunny day today!!

3022

13 Jan 10

 A and I had a great walk this morning.  It was dark outside the whole time and I was thinking it would be great to have a reflective vest or leash for her. She was pretty much invisible.  Luckily, I had my reflector belt on, so the cars could definitely see me - I just had to keep A out of the street.  When we got back we played lots of fetch with her favorite toy - a squeaky football.  She is excellent.  I had to include a picture of her sniffing the fire hydrant - it was classic.

3022

12 Jan 10

A and I walked around outside and we played lots.  I gave her lots of hugs.

3022

12 Jan 10

A and I walked around outside most of the time and played fetch inside for a bit. She was having fun sticking her nose in the fresh snow.  The last bit of time we went out and saw your neighbor, so we hung out with him and his dog for a bit.  This was a super long visit, but A definitely had a good time.

3022

11 Jan 10

A and I had a great time today.  She loves to fetch.  She and I were playing outside on the hill and she got excited and jerked the leash.  I lost my footing and started sliding down the hill in the snow.  She was so excited that she was running around me as I lost my glove and almost myself down the hill.  It was pretty exciting.  We got back inside and played fetch for the rest of the time (the picture shows her waiting for her treat).  I cleaned downstairs and we went out one more time before I put her to bed.

3028

11 Jan 10

There was still lots of snow for H to sniff today.  She was hyper and we had a challenging walk.  The last quarter of the walk she was perfect.  We stopped for hugs and cheerful banter a few times during our walk.

3022

11 Jan 10

A was super excited this morning. We had a great long walk.  I put some more things in her room to keep her entertained.  We also played fetch and I cuddled her lots before I left.

3022

10 Jan 10

A played with the toy I made for her yesterday.  Today, I got her a stick to chew on and she was pretty excited about that.  We  played outside for most of the time.  She was excited to get lots of hugs.  I took out the trash as I was leaving.

3022

10 Jan 10

A did great again today.  She and I spent most of the time outside.  We played in the snow and her leashwork is getting better. I gave her lots hugs and a treat before I left.

3022

09 Jan 10

A did great today.  She was a little more hyper than this morning.  She had a little bit of diarrhea, but she seemed normal otherwise.  We spent most of the time outside and we got some practice on the leash.  She was a good girl and is getting the hang of everything.

3022

09 Jan 10

A and I had a great time playing in the snow.  She was really excited to go on her walk and there was plenty to see.  It snowed the whole time.  She was very cuddly during the sit.

3022

08 Jan 10

A was awesome today.  We played and played and played.  She's fun.  I gave her a treat at the end of the sit.

3031

08 Jan 10

It was not any warmer and the snow was coming down for our walk.  L was having fun sniffing footprints and sticking her whole face in the snow.  All the snow was chest deep, so she got a great workout bounding through the snow.  Her feet started to get really cold around the middle of the walk, so I warmed them with my hands.  She stopped holding her feet up and was fine for a little while.  She held her feet up again, so I picked her up and walked with her in my jacket for a few hundred feet.  I put her back down and she was back in the snow playing.  We only stopped one last time for me to puff warm air on one of her back feet and we rolled on to finish the walk.  I gave her a big hug before leaving the house.  She's a trooper.

3028

08 Jan 10

H was waiting for me and came to meet me when I came up the road.  She and I had a wonderful walk through the snow.  It was suuuper coold and we had to move along quickly to keep from freezing.  Some of the snow was chest deep for H and we had a great time putting tracks in the fresh, clean snow.

3031

07 Jan 10

It was much warmer today and we had a great time.  There was slush and ice to explore and she stuck her face in the snow a lot.  Here in this picture, you can see her snowy face. Cute!

3030

06 Jan 10

P and R were excited to get out on their walk.  They balanced each other well.  They found lots of trails in the snow to smell and investigate.  They actually bypassed the house to continue on their walk.  I showed them where we were and they got excited about that.  It was a good time.

3031

06 Jan 10

L was soo excited to get outside!  I got her sorted from the others and let her out while I squeezed out the door and locked it.  We had a great walk and she made sure to drop her head into every interesting track on the way.  She and I had a great time.

3028

06 Jan 10

I had to back the car up the drive past the line because of the snowy conditions.  I walked the rest of the way to get H.  She enjoyed this very much!  We walked together back to the car and we got her leash on and got in the car to cross the line.  We had a great walk.  The snow wasn't falling that much while we walked, but there was plenty on the ground.  H had fun diving in.  She looked like she was favoring her right hind foot a little bit.  I looked at it and between her toes and didn't see anything obvious.  I also squeezed her foot and no yipes.  I'll watch for it next time.  She had a great time dashing through the snow.  She also found a burrito - I was able to get it.  She's a good girl.

3028

4 January 2010

H and I had another great walk today. We played in the falling snow and waved at cars. As you can see, H found something fun under that cold blanket. It was just about the only time she was still enough to get a shot. Great walk, can't wait to see her next time.

3028

2 January 2010

H and I had a nice walk in the cold today. We had fun playing "let the dog walk in the creek." H had some spirited moments, but nothing too bad. Great walk and I can't wait to see her again soon!

3028

1 January 2010

H was excited for the new year. We had an excellent walk, but another energetic exchange with the quiet dog. Afterwards, we did some sitting, though I'm still much better at it than H. Can't wait to see her tomorrow.