The Dalmatian Diaries Blog

Widget and Browser didn't much care that I was emptying the pool. However, when the hose broke they jumped right in and "helped".

I got this new bed for Widget because she likes to burrow and be covered up when she sleeps. However, Browser quickly decided that it was his. Now the battle of the bed begins. Both dogs have actually been sleeping in it at the same time so I'm hopeful that once the weather cools off again they will learn to snuggle and share. This was the first attempt at sharing.

"Mom! I got the zebra for you - here I come.......!"

Browser's in the lead with Widget a close second.

I'll be getting some updated video footage of the pups on the treadmill soon. Tomorrow will be one month since we got the treadmill, and frankly the progress the dogs made amazed even me.

This morning I was about to leave to run some errands. I went up to my office to check email before leaving and the dogs, of course, came with me. Browser immediately went to the treadmill and started whining. He wanted to go jogging.

I decided I had a few extra minutes so I warmed up the machine. Widget hopped up first so I was going to let her jog first. Browser took offense to that and got up on there with her. I knew they couldn't run in unison (Browser is a bit clumsy) but I turned the machine on anyway. They both ran for a few minutes but finally Widget gave Browser a shove so he'd leave her to jog in peace. I let Widget jog for a few minutes at a good pace. She's so comfortable on there. She actually sort of zones out while jogging. She has gotten to the point where she can also look out the window on her left while she jogs (at first, that really tripped her up). I then let Browser jog and he was SO happy it was his turn. I turned the speed up to the highest he's tried yet and he found his rhythm pretty quickly. He seemed disappointed when we were done.

Now, the challenge is getting to use the treadmill myself! When I'm on it the dogs sit and stare (I think they are afraid I'll eat all their jogging treats) and even drop toys on the machine. I think they are trying to distract me so they can hop on!

It hasn't been quite a month yet since we got the treadmill. I'd say, things are progressing nicely. I did some training with the dogs myself to get them used to the noise and feel of the machine but then Diana Smith from Hearts and Paws came over to give us an official lesson last week.

Widget, as I originally thought, has excelled at it. She seems to actually enjoy it. We're only doing small stints right now - only a couple of minutes at a time - until they are really comfortable and don't require a handful of treats as incentive. Then we'll start to adjust the speed and duration of our workouts.

Browser is less sure of the whole process. He lacks a little confidence with it but I see improvement each time. He's very eager to please so he's being a real trooper about the whole thing.

Here are a couple of videos of their progress. Widget is first, then Browser. Oh, and that whining in Widget's video? That's Browser protesting being excluded from Widget's workout.

Both dogs are strict vegetarians now. Not my preferred diet, believe me (both have different medical reasons). But, they love it - as shown in this video! Like our spotted dogs before them, these are a favorite food item.

Widget will sit out next to the pool skimmers for hours waiting for a human to come out and empty the leaves. Apparently soggy cold leaves are a Dalmatian delicacy.