Spring Break Fun

We had a lot of fun outside today; the first day of Spring Break in So Cal. We played and played as mom snapped pictures. There were too many to post (over 100), but here are some of our favorites..... Mommy and I taught foster kid how to do the agility course. Do you see the one where I got brother and foster kid to do the "Doggie Swear" and the one with my version of "Dancing with the Stars"??

Three's Company

Mom says it doesn't get much cuter than this....

Foster Friday

Hi Blogging Buddies - Atka here!

Hey, I just learned that there is another American Eskimo in blogger-space named Atka the Eskie - just like me! My foster parents said they didn't know about that Atka when they named me. Well, that's ok because they've been calling me Atka the Diablo Eskie as of late anyhow. Something about my constant nipping and mouthing and wiggly butt. I can't help it - I'm just a puppy. The Monster Lady (the name I have for the dog trainer) thinks I am really only 7 or 8 months old - "at most" she said. The foster parents agree.

I've been learning so much this past week - like how to sit for treats, and not go cujo over my food (I bit my foster mommy accidentally the other day because she reached down to give me more food, but I thought she was trying to steal what was in my bowl and I reacted), and as foster sis said was the MOST important lesson of all, I learned how to shop and look adorable doing it so that I would get tons of praise, pets and of course toys (not from the bottom shelf though, because there is a really good chance that foster bro Digby has peed on them already).

Today, foster sis Prinnie showed me how to sit nicely in the PetsMart cart, how to beg with just the wink of an eye, and how to use my most pitiful look to lure unsuspecting shoppers for a tap on the head and a stroke down my back. Once those lessons were mastered, she threw me out of the cart (she and I were harnessed together) by making it look like I had jumped out, and hung me out to hang! My foster mom screamed and dove to the front of the cart to pick me up from my dangling spot inches off the ground. Prinnie smerked at me as I was lifted back in, and then tapped me on the shoulder as if to scold me - ME - for doing something wrong. When the moms weren't looking, she winked at me and said "Good job kid! Wait till tomorrow's lesson......"

"What's wrong with this picture?", mom asked. "Why nothing mom", I replied. "You bought the sofa for us kids, didn't you? You can sit somewhere else, can't you?".......and so the story goes.....

An Eskie's Work Is Never Done!

Today I supervised the baking of Barkery treats for our first real store order! My parents landed an agreement with a local natural food store for pets that is really excited about putting our treats on their shelves. By Friday afternoon, bags of treats with my face and other taste testing staff will be donning the shelves for pet-lovers to see (and hopefully buy). The store owner is also planning to use our treats as her "samples" for the pups that visit her store! Woohooo!

To celebrate, foster kid and brother played ball, as I referred their game. Mom said she needs to buy me a black and white striped shirt so that I look official. She said that my job is really important and that without me, foster kid and brother would get wildly out of control.

Here are some pictures of the two from a little bit ago..... The last one is of the foster kid with MAJOR bed-head!

Thank you my BFF

A huge thank you to my BFF Siku Marie, who gave me this award. How thoughtful that she would pass this on to my blog. So without further ado, I will do my best to follow the rules.

The rules state that I have to say seven beautiful things about myself, so here it goes...

1. I was given a second chance at life by being rescued from a high kill shelter - I am alive, and that is beautiful
2. I am learning that I am safe, and very,very loved
3. I no longer need my night time crate - I've earned my family's trust
4. I am learning how to be a big foster sister
5. I love my heart family more than anything because they believe in me
6. My fur has grown out and my parents say I am beautiful
7. I am an eskie - in every sense. I am beautiful. I am Prinnie. I have a home.

Now I must pass this on to seven blog-mates. I hate choosing but here are the seven I chose this time...

1. Sue and her pack at Random Ramblings
2. Val, Joey and Kealani at My Boo Bears
3. Teddy and Sierra at Teddy's Tales
4. Cappy and Oliver at Cappy Days
5. Prints over at Prints of A Cat
6. Jake and Fergi at Two Special Wires
7. Kari and her pups at My Life with Dogs

Fun in the Sun

Today was so beautiful outside that we all took turns playing in the grass, doing zoomies from outside to in and back out, and playing chase with each other and birdies that would fly above. Mommy spent the majority of the day making us our own home-made dog food, so while she did that (and it smelled SOO good), we each got a chewy to take outside and gnaw on. Here are some of my mom's favorite pictures of the day.....

Atka and the Bowl

This is what my foster-sister thinks is cheap entertainment......

Ps: Does anybody know why blogger uploads a black screen here? The video plays perfectly, but it always starts out as a black screen - could it be my flip-video player?

Spring Has Sprung

Today we went to Old Town for our Saturday social hour, and then traveled a few miles over to the Duck Pond. It was in the mid 80's and beautiful. Mommy said it was a great way to welcome in Spring. Who is Spring??

The new kid (Atka) thought it was fun. She didn't care about all the ducks and geese, but she did stop at every pee spot in the area. It was also the first time she and I were tethered together on one double lead. Grrr. She doesn't know how to walk like a lady, and she sure doesn't know her manners of not pulling.

A little girl came up to us and asked if she could pet us. She was fun. She hugged us and played with us. We were so tired after a really fun day that we nearly fell asleep in the car on the way home. Here are some pictures of our fun...

Foster Friday

We've decided that since we are now fostering an eskie, we would allow her to share her version of "things" each Friday, and call it Foster Friday. So without further ado, here's Atka:

Hi blogging buddies. My name is Atka and I am a 1 year old bright white bundle of energy. I am a fox-like eskie who has been with my foster family for nearly a full week. I came to them with kennel cough and some wounds I suffered when a mean animal attacked me. I am feeling much better now that my medication is working, and my wounds are healing nicely. I am starting to feel safe and secure in my foster home. I am still trying to get the hang of this "potty outside" thing. I've had a few more accidents in the house, but when that happens, my foster parents take me to the door and lift my paw to it and say "out". Weird humans, hu??

Anyhow, I really like playing with foster-bro Digby. He is so much fun. Foster-sis Prinnie is the boss, and she lets me know it, but that's ok, because if she weren't the boss, I'd have to be and I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet! I have tons and tons of toys to play with and I REALLY like to chew on things - every thing. Especially my lead. Oh, and humans too when I get the chance. I love to give eskie kisses, and do my very best "Flat Stanley" impression when my foster-moms try to pick me up.

Prinnie started teaching me how to jump thru the agility hoop today. She said her BFF, Siku, gave it to her. Maybe some day I, too, will have a BFF ~ whatever that means. When we were done practicing, the foster-moms said we had to get "fortification" (a big word for a little dog). We went to this drive-thru place with a green symbol and they got some cold drinks and we all got treats.

After we got home, foster-moms talked to a lady here in So Cal that thought she wanted to adopt me. She was really nice, but was looking for an older, calmer eskie who was fairly quiet. Foster-mom asked if they even make eskies like that, as she has never seen an eskie be quiet or really, really calm. Anyhow, Here are some pictures of my first real outing with my foster-family.......

The Dilemma

Today we got the dreaded call. A woman in Huntington Beach wants to adopt Atka. She's been in the background of Atka's story from the start, and we knew there would be a good chance she would come forward as her application process continued thru ERU.

The dilemma: As foster parents, we get first option to adopt any dog we foster. That means we have the chance to have Atka be a forever part of our family. We also have the chance to hand her off to a good home and a loving human. We're torn. We never planned to foster, but rather to save this one little dog. To rescue her, we had to agree to foster her to facilitate getting her out of the shelter. Now that she is here, we have fallen in deep like with her. Maybe even love; a little. She is all puppy - literally from the time her eyes open till they fall fast asleep, she is non-stop.

Digby and Prinnie are accepting her better than they ever have another dog. We just wish we could read their minds; hear their thoughts. What they think is the most important thing, after knowing that no matter what decision we make, Atka will be safe and loved. We didn't do this to be life long foster parents, and we didn't do it for what others would think. We did it to save one little dog from certain death. We need to make a decision much sooner than we planned. We thought we'd have a month or so. We have a day. Maybe two.

I was telling Shar that this isn't anything we planned....that it was kind of like finding out you are unexpectedly pregnant. Now what?? Life decisions. Tonight we don't have the answer yet. We'll listen to our hearts and our "kids". We are a family of 4 - Are we a family of 5?

Three's a Hoot!

Today was a really good day for the new kid. She stayed by mommy all day as they cleaned, changed sheets, cooked and played. She even fell fast asleep in a pile of sheets that were waiting for the wash. She didn't have to be crated, and didn't have an accident in the house - not once all day!

The best part of the day was when the big strong guys came back to take the motor monster away and bring us all a new couch. It smells like rawhide's, but my parents like it so much better. Tonight, it was up to me to organize us kids to make sure it WAS a keeper and that all three of us could fit on it. Atka was a little squirmy, but we all fell asleep and when we awoke, decided this sofa was a keeper!

Please Help Out....a GREAT Cause

My BFF Siku Marie and her mom have a wager to see who can gather more comments left on their birthday post! The result? A lamb shank for the winner of the two, but more importantly, a 25 cent donation for each comment left to the Eskie Rescuers United (ERU). Please help save a homeless eskie and stop by her blog at White Dog Diary Online !

The Tornado is Calming

I'm sorry that I sounded a bit overwhelmed in yesterdays' post. I was. I wasn't sure how I felt about sharing my family with a strange new eskie. I get the whole concept of helping save lives, and I think it's very worthy, but I am a girl that is fearful of change, and definitely don't like too much chaos.

Now that we are in to day3 with Atka, things are going SO much better. The new girl is calming down and beginning to pick up our routine. She and brother have created their own playtime each morning, and I am the referee. I like that. Mom calls me the #1 eskie and the matriarch eskie. I like that alot too!

Atka is still 100% puppy, but she knows that she is below me in the pack, and I don't have to keep reminding her. She asks for attention from my parents, but doesn't ALWAYS budge in when I am getting some like Duncan used to do. I'm still getting all my treats, and this morning, mom snuggled me up close to her in bed (we do spoons in the morning) just like always and I felt safe. Safe and loved.

I'm trying to understand how hard this is for Atka too. Everything is new to her. At least we have the same smells, family, neighbors, blankets, toys. She doesn't have anything from her old life. I've decided to share my things with her - EXCEPT WHALE. Brother is sharing his bedroom crate with her, and I'm letting her use some beds downstairs. She thanked brother and I this morning with a slobbery kiss. Yucky, but it was very thoughtful. I will try hard too. I want to be the best foster sister ever!

Tornado Eskie

Brother and I got to meet the Tornado today. We weren't supposed to because she was going to be in isolation for another few days, but she barked so much late last night that mom and mommy had to bring her big crate in to the living room so she would settle down.

Brother and I named our new foster sister the little "tornado" for a reason! She is a year old and looks full grown, but trust us when we say she is ALL puppy! Here's how our day went:

Rise and shine earlier than the birds. Meet the new kid - I told her who was boss (me!). Brother tried to do...better left unsaid! Back to our day.... Breakfast for all (Atka gobbles hers down very quickly - my parents think she was starving or at least fighting for food). Potty outside. Zoomies. Drink water. More Zoomies. Nap for me. Not for Atka - more zoomies. Atka came in and ran through the house. Many, many times. We all sat down to read the morning paper and have a cup of java. Brother and I fell asleep - not Atka. She pee'ed on the floor. She went out. She came back in. She shook a few toys to well beyond their death. She played with balls.

I was getting pretty stressed, so mom took me to Petsmart so that I could help her select a harness, collar and lead for the new kid. I also picked out a new one for ME! Mine is nicer. It was a nice break, but when I got home, Atka was still running around. She NEVER stops! Mom said its a combination of nerves and puppyism. I don't like it. I'm a pretty spunky girl, but the whirlwind in the house is scaring me.

Atka knows how to play - really really play. I don't. It makes me scared when she grabs things and flips them in the air, or tears at the stuffies or pulls on the tug toys. She chases balls. I don't like any of those things. She and brother played for a while, but even he got tired.

Then mommy reminded us that Atka was going to be "put down" tomorrow if we didn't get her out of the shelter. I may not be very happy about the changes in my home, but I am really glad that even the tornado eskie will have the chance to live a long and healthy life.

Meet Atka the Eskie

My parents will write more when they get a few minutes, but here is our new foster sister, Atka. She is home and in isolation in our garage, barking really, really loud! Everyone says she is adorable - I haven't been able to meet her yet. Not for at least another week.....

UPDATE: This cutie-patootie little girl is about 12 months old, and while in the shelter, had contracted a bad case of kennel cough. She came to the shelter with a puncture on the front of her throat and several smaller ones around her neck. The staff thinks she was attacked by a coyote. The wounds are healing well, and she is now being treated for the kennel cough. She is so playful and full of life. She is sweet and loving and all puppy! We have to keep her separated from Digby and Prinnie for the next several days, but she is safe and no longer in danger of being euthanized. Oh, and she won't go to sleep unless the TV is on. Eskies!!!