Dexter the Wonder Dog has Crossed Over the Rainbow Bridge

 

It has been many years since I helped Dexter blog. For any readers who stumble across this page, I wanted to post that Dexter was gently helped over the Rainbow Bridge in February 2021. 

He made so many friends in the neighborhood and online. When he passed away, a group of his fans donated a memorial brick in his honor to help build a new path at a local dog rescue. I think the words say it all.

I'm Still Here!

It would appear that momma has abandoned my bloggie. I was worried that she wouldn't post again until I'd crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, so I persuaded her to allow me a brief "howdy" to let my pals know that I am still alive and kicking.

Overall, things are pretty good for me. I've had a bit of a time with a nasty business known as SLO, but with frequent visits to the vet and the occasional wearing of a boot and limited activity, I've managed to get along. Sometimes I am forced to wear a sock, but I make the best of it. Hey, it's a look.

Why does momma say I have big clown feet?

However, a line was crossed when momma tied a poop bag to my leg.

Please don't ever do that again, momma.

I help momma make sure the birds are well fed and have fresh water for splashing about.

Hurry, momma, it looks like you let the birdie water freeze again!

Speaking of water, I had plenty of trips to the cement pond next door over the summer. 

Labradorable to the max!

And I still go to daycare a couple of times a week (well, that is when my middle aged leggies aren't feeling owie). Momma says the daycare people must thing she beats me since I never want to come home at the end of the day. 

This place is the best!

Did you forget what momma looks like? 

Hard to smile when there don't appear to be noms anywhere around.

Most mornings, I meet up with my BFF, Rocky, for walkies. Seems the proper human greeting in such cases is "Did he poop yet?"

Come on, buddy, let's find something to pee on.

Speaking of walkies, I still recall the day, some two years ago when momma made a promise to me that unless one of us was injured or the walking conditions were just too dangerous, we would never miss a walkie again. Momma has struggled with her own ouchie foot, so sometimes we go neither far nor fast, but she's kept her promise.

I don't really mind slow walks. It gives me plenty of time to get loving from just about everybody we meet.

Oh yeah, that's the spot.

As a bonus, we get to scope out all the holiday decorations during our after dark excursions. Momma had to buy a new headlamp because she has something called cat attacks in her eyes which make it harder for her to see where she's going. She also bought yours truly a brand new blinker which is much brighter than my old one and also (as we have determined through inclement weather walkies) totally water proof.

Wonder if that chimney leads to an underground dwelling.

But the point is that any walkie, no matter how short or slow, is better than no walkie, right?


And, oh happy day, after months and months of pulled muscles, oozy toes, and general malaise, the tennis ball is back! Sure, I only do eight or ten retrieves (as opposed to the 87,000 of my youth), but it feels swell to be dashing around the yard again and hear momma squeal with delight.

Oh how I have missed you, wonderful, yellow orb.

Finally, here's a seasonally appropriate photo for you to enjoy. Hope you all have a peaceful and happy holiday season.

This is a lipstick free zone.

Kisses,
Dexter

Short Break Becomes Indefinite Leave of Absence

Friends, Dexter and I are taking an indefinite leave of absence from blogging. 

Nothing bad is going on, but blogging has lost its spark for me of late and I don't thinking posting should ever be forced.

Dexter and I are enjoying wonderful walkies, tennis ball fun, trick training, and just hanging out together. Know that Dexter has really blossomed in the time since our Mango crossed over the bridge. He's more confident and playful than ever and it is wonderful to see his personality come out. 

I'm sure we'll be back should there be any significant events. Sadly, it is often bad news that brings bloggers out of retirement. 

Here's a photo I took of Dexter today on our walk. We discovered a wonderful little outdoor theater on the campus of the local university. Took some time to just sit and enjoy the quiet. I'm doing more of that lately. Savoring moments. Really seeing what's around me. That includes breaking the tether to the camera (part of why we haven't been blogging). 

It's all good.

Mango Momma (and Dexter a.k.a. PeeWee or just Pea)

A Short Break

Mango Momma here to let you know we're taking a short blogging break. 

Not to worry. Everybody is healthy and bouncy. 

Of course if history repeats itself, Dexter will do something so over the top labradorable in the next few days that he'll just have to share, but in the meantime, no worries and enjoy the spring (or fall if you are from those below the equator regions). 

Terse Tuesday - I'm still here

Hey pals, I know we missed our usual weekend update, so just wanted to let you know that I'm still here. Momma and I have been enjoying the nice spring weather and having lots of back yard tennis ball fun. I also met the new across the street neighbor dog and hope to have pictures of her soon.

In the meantime, here are some labradorable photos that the nice daycare people took of me.

I believe that cookie is destined for my labramouth.

Nothing beats black fur for soaking up the rays.

Dexter done!

P.S. Here is a photo of my new neighbor dog from before she was adopted. Her name is Luna. Isn't she a beauty?

A Wonderful Surprise!

First of all, I am happy to report that my Big Foot is significantly improved and I defy you, dear readers, to see a difference between my formerly ouchie foot and my regular labrafoot. 

One of these things is not like the other... or is it?

Even still, I had to miss a day of daycare and so when I was finally able to return, well, I had a lot of gossip to catch up on and was rather reluctant to go home at the end of the day.

Go back to work, momma, I'm discussing some things with my golden friend.

Despite not being bothered in any way whatsoever by my toe, momma is still limiting my walkies to soft surfaces. This translates into about 87 laps a day around the town common as she is too lazy selfish unimaginative busy to seek out alternate venues.

One does grow weary and my main source of excitement is trying to steer momma under those branches so that they smack her in the head. I have about a 50% success rate and with each head smack my tender ears are privy to increasingly blue language from the unfortunate human.

That's right, momma, just keep walking straight ahead. Hehehe. 

Subsequent to this morning's walkie, momma invited me back into the car with the promise of a "wonderful surprise."

Now, then, I am a cautious chap and have learned that my definition of "wonderful" is not necessarily aligned with those of my momma. Nevertheless, what could be worse than a return to the village green?

And, oh happy day, we arrived at the Doggie Gym!

Noting that momma had her camera out, I suspect she had planned a series of photos documenting my journey from door to pool. However as soon as I caught the briefest of whiffs of that deliciously chlorinated water, I pulled with all my might and it was all she could do to stumble along behind.

Nekked I dove in! No life jacket for yours truly.

Float like a labradog.

And for the next half hour it was, well, labrabliss.

Not being totally unaware of my own limitations, I did take the occasional ramp break to catch my breath.

Hey! I look like a corgador! What happened to my leggies?

But then it was back in (with such gusto that it apparently was impossible to get a picture of me porpoising along that wasn't blurry).

Check out the nice extension in my rear quarters. Like ballet.

So, yes, that really was a wonderful surprise and I feel renewed and ready to tackle spring.

Just going to soak up the rays for a bit. Feeling rather sleepy...

Dexter done!

P.S. From Momma
Dexter's foot has made a remarkable recovery and he is anxious to resume his normal walkies. It's true that we have been doing town common laps. Alternate venues are, I fear, mostly overrun with loose dogs and / or ticks. However, don't think he is suffering. Now that the days are longer, we've been getting in some evening tennis ball and trick training fun times in the back (soft surface) yard. And even though he did miss one of his regular daycare days, he got to go for a bonus day on Friday (and was, thankfully, worn out enough that he happily followed me to the car instead of trying to make a break for it back to the play area).

My Big Ouchie Foot

The weirdest thing happened. 

Last night my foot was a little ouchie, but no big deal. Then this morning it was ouchie enough so that I didn't really want to walkie. Momma called the vet and good thing too, because by the time we arrived, I had developed.... BIG FOOT!

Can you see it? It's my foot in the top of the picture.

Vet lady got out her special magnification head set and declared that I suffered from "Bubba Toe." 

I'll let momma tell you all about it, but all yours truly really is concerned by is that it is, to be honest, more than a tad uncomfortable.

Momma tried to get a photo, but due to her poor camera handling, it's hard to see anything other than the fact that I am a very good doggie who allows his feet to be grabbed without making a fuss.

Perhaps a belly rub is in order as long as I am upside down.

Since I'm not supposed to walkie for a little bit, I resigned myself to roaming the estate where I discovered this alarming trophy from Master's latest project house.

You can stay if you help keep the bunnies away from Master's blueberries.

You would think that with me feeling less that my usual that momma could at least snap a photo that wasn't yet another black blob face. It isn't like I'm moving fast at that moment.

Next time check your light sources, momma.

Dexter done!

P.S. Dexter has an infection in his toe which is most likely caused by ingrown fur. My vet calls it "Bubba Toe" after her bull mastiff and it apparently is quite common in dogs with big, hairy feet and affects only the outer digits of the front feet. As a caution, she also took x-rays which showed no issues in his bones other than a little arthritis on his inner front toes. He's restricted to "soft surface" walks for a few days and taking antibiotics.