Kids (dogs)

For most of you, you are familiar with our two kids. Others aren't as familiar.

We have had Madison since April of 2008. Madison was only 4 months old when we adopted her.

The shelter said

she was a Shar pei Beagle Mix. We had he for a year and she is very well

behaved. She gets excited to meet new people, but she is very friendly with other dogs and people and she is great to walk off-leash. After

the wedding and honeymoon,

we decided to get her a companion, someone who speaks her language.

We went to the animal shelter and found Oscar.

He was the ugly dog at the shelter that no one else wanted.

His hair was patchy and he had at one time a bad problem with fleas. He was truly on "death row". We took him home and he has been great. He had to learn our style of doing things, such as no begging or getting on furniture. He also had to learn how to be a dog. He wasn't interested in sniffing or playing with others dogs. He would rather sit with people or get on furniture. He is also an avid hunter. His choice prey is squirrel and thankfully he hasn't caught one... yet. He has learned to "climb" trees to try and get them. He scurries about 8-9 feet in the air before leaping to the ground. He is known at the dog park that we frequent as "the dog who climbs trees" and is somewhat a local celebrity.

If Oscar is infamous for climbing, Madison is infamous as

the dog who will do anything for the ball.

In order to get her some exercise, we would go to a large open field and hit her ball with a baseball bat.

It will travel 60-70 yards before she catches up to it and brings it back.

Since we adopted Oscar, he and Madison have become best friends. They love to play and wrestle together. They have a chasing path from their bed in our bedroom, through the kitchen, and under the dining room table. Oscar will hide under the table until Madison lays down, then he will pounce and the race is on. We even have our good friend and neighbor, Cassie, bring her two dogs over for what we call "wrestle-fest." It usually includes Oscar, the 17 lb lightweight, trying to take on Homer, the 80+ lb cuddler. Madison and the evenly matched but much younger Colbie will

usually try chewing on the same bone and play keep away.

It is a great time and great socializing experience, for dogs and humans. Evenings like this will be what we miss in Colorado.