Friday Things
1. Einstein got his blood work back last week and everything was completely a-okay. No problems whatsoever, which means he’s basically getting old, his metabolism is slowing down, and he’s packing on the pounds. So we’re cutting back his food and making sure he gets plenty of exercise. We’ll check his weight again in another month or so, and if still isn’t budging, then we’ll look at a special diet. He’s still happy as a lark :)
2. I mentioned last week that we were meeting with a trainer this week for Duke, and we had a great first session. It really was sort of like watching The Dog Whisperer, which is to say, we actually need the training. The trainer observed Duke and saw that he doesn’t really have a dominant personality, but rather is a bit anxious and fearful, which is at the root of a lot of his behavior. He worked with us on some walking techniques (he recommended the Gentle Leader, which many of you echoed last week – we used it at the session, and it WAS like night and day!), and he gave us some tips to make fearful experiences more positive for him. We’re going back next week for another private session.
(Einstein was with us, too, but the trainer decided working with just Duke was best, so Einstein got to spend the hour in the “geriatric daycare group”. HA! We’re pretty convinced he napped the whole time.)
3. I discovered a new-to-me blog this week, Love Grows Design, and I just love it. The author is a graphic designer, but her blog posts are applicable for anyone in the blogging, social media, project management realm. Great read!
4. I am 16 weeks pregnant this week! Moving right along, still waiting for a legit pregnant belly!
5. It’s the middle of summer and I’ve been craving cheesy pasta for the past week. I’m not sure if this is due to pregnancy or the unseasonably (yet utterly fantastic) low temperatures. I’d be totally fine with an August made up of nothing but mid-70’s weather. I’m the girl that’s always yearning for crisp fall air, jeans and hoodies in the middle of July. I’m so close to getting my wish!
6. I really need to learn how to do my hair like a grown-up (i.e. styles other than “blow dry and leave down” and “ponytail”) – this messy top-knot tutorial seems like an easy starting point.
7. Dear Mom, this one’s for you. Love you! xo
8. We’re still watching Tyrant, but it’s rapidly approaching jump the shark status. I mean, really?!
9. Yesterday, I got my official invites for this year’s fantasy football league and survivor/elimination pool. I’m ready!!
10. TGIF! I hope you whoop it up, Duke-style!
Hi Michelle. I understand what your going through with Einstein. My jasper was 8. As with big dogs, he had a really bad thing happen with his stomach turning. In my opinion, goldens are the best dogs. He was a second daddy to my boys. I wish we would have had him longer. I have 2 cats now that are getting up there in age. All they do is sleep. And putting on weight. Can’t wait to see how they react to the baby. Great I think. Anyway, love to Einstein.
Your baby bump is adorable…Congratulations!
Yep — #7 totally for me!
Yep, that’s my hair repertoire, too. I feel like I missed an important girl lesson somewhere along the way.
Right?! How do people just KNOW how to do their hair all cute?!
I’m so glad to hear that Einstein is okay. I bet new food will make a big difference. You look wonderful! I envy you your weather. :(
We have a basset hound mix. She’s a wonderful pup and it about 9-10 years old. She’s a rescue so her age is approximate. However, she was putting on some weight a few years ago and the vet was not pleased. So we checked everything and all is ok. We just cut back on the food and treats and walked a lot. She lost 10 pounds and is a new dog! It’s worth all the effort to get them slimmer. Lucy feels so much better and is so youthful again. I’m so glad we worked on getting her healthier. Now I just need someone to cut back on my food and treats!
Our Cali had golden middle age spread too! Our Vet suggested replacing some of her food with unsalted green beans. At the time she was eating 1-1/2 cups of dogfood, twice a day. Now she eats 1 cup dogfood and about 1/2 cup green beans, she has lost about 12lbs and looks great! She has a lot more energy too! She loves her green beans! I have never had a golden live past twelve, but I know a few 14 and 15 years olds. I keep hoping! Congrats on that growing (tiny) baby bump!
Thanks for the tip! Einstein was also eating 1.5 cups, twice a day, and we have now cut it back to 1 cup. I’ll have to look into adding some green beans for him!
You look fab! So excited for you! xo
I watched the messy topknot tutorial. I do something similar but liked the idea of the backcombing to make it puffier. l’m glad Einstein is okay, just old. :) We’ve dealt with elderly pets too. We also fed our dogs green beans along with their dog food; they love it & it helps with weight loss/maintenance. Your little baby bump is cute. Enjoy it all.
That saying sounds like something MY daughter would send me! HA! SO glad there is nothing seriously wrong with Einstein. Glad the first
class with Duke went well. He is soo cute…
WELL, they both are!! I so enjoy the pictures you post. Stay well, mommy to be!!
Hello Michelle!! I’m from Costa Rica, so here is hot like always and really miss the cold of US fall! Something that rarelly hapends here hehe. I love your TGIF post, always make me smile your dogs pictures, and I really hope your dog keeps doing well, as a multiple pet owner I know how is to be worried for your loved ones, and the trainer is a great choise, is amazing how dogs behavior change in front of them! :D
Your belly will be big soon, wish you the best!!
Regards!
We fed our lab/golden mix green beans along with Innova brand dry food from the very start. The green beans helped her feel full with very few calories. Now that dog loved to eat but we really never had a weight problem with her and we’re not a very active family.
If your dog is losing it’s balance it is very likely he is suffering from a type of vertigo, sometimes brought on by an ear infection and sometimes just from aging. It is something that can possibly be treated either with antibiotics or a motion sickness medication
I agree with you about Tyrant. It was good at the start and now the older brother is just crazy!! Unbelievable. I would take my family and get out as quick as I could if I were Barry. Don’t know how much longer to watch it either…
Hi Michelle,
You look wonderful. Do yourself a favor and check out Bella Materna maternity and nursing bras. More expensive but absolutely FABULOUS!!! Treat yourself. I wore them for all 3 pregnancies. Nothing else will measure up. Have a great day!
XO
Our dog family sounds similar to yours….two Labs with oldest 7 1/2 and gaining weight/slowing down. Our younger lab seems to keep her more active though, so hopefully that will be the case with your two! Big dogs are the best!
On a random note, just wanted to thank you for a recommendation you gave to a commenter a while back on your food processor. I have been wanting to upgrade mine for a while and could not decide between the Cuisinart Elite and the Breville Sous Chef. I went with your recommendation and I can’t believe how much I love my new Breville! Thank you! :)
I switched my dogs over to this Petcurean food and they’ve both done very well on it – http://www.petcurean.com/for-dogs/now-fresh/grain-free-senior . My 5 year old golden, Wilson, has lost about 8 pounds over the last 6 months and doesn’t act like has starving with this food since it has more protein that some brands. It’s rather spendy, but I think it’s worth it. They also get green beans as a treat in the evening – the vet said that’s a great filler and give some extra fiber. Good luck — keeping weight off goldens can be a challenge. Even as active as they are, they LOVE to eat! Must be why I relate so well to them! :)
Hi. My friends, who had overweight labs, cut back their food a bit and added in some reduced sodium canned green beans or peas. Their dogs loved it and they lost weight. Just another idea. Have a great weekend!
Ugh – just read the rest (past the first statement) and we had great success with the gentle leader with my crazy, willful, energetic Dalmatian. Glad to see that you’re having a good experience too. And you do still have a tiny belly but I’m sure you’ll ‘pop’ one of these days soon. I remember waiting to get past the part when I felt that I just looked like I was eating too much pizza vs actually growing a tiny human. Enjoy the ride :-)
Our vet recommended replacing part of our dog’s food with green beans (the cheap frozen ones–I just microwaved to heat then kept in fridge). It worked better than any other weight loss food and our dog didn’t mind eating less. He was 28 lbs and lost 10 lbs over a period of 6 mos (he was truly a fat sausage before). Good luck!
I have two hairstyles, too….down and ponytail. Glad to know I am not the only one. But I do wish I could do my hair all cute.
Well congratulations Michelle ! I am so happy for you on the baby coming. I am also happy to hear that Duke is alright, growing old is no fun for a people person let alone a dog. They are unable to let us know what hurts or what is going on with them as you well know, but I know that Duke is in the most capable and loving hands. Life and death are a fact of life, but knowing this doesn’t make it easier, but as a pet owner myself, I believe they also have a Heaven to look forward to : ) Enjoy each day Michelle, and I wish you many blessings ahead.
Linda.
Hey there cutie!
I’m from Quebec, a northern girl, and am totally with you about the fall temperature in July crave. I can’t talk about degrees here cuz we talk Celcius and even 70 for me is death…lol But a crisp air with jeans, hot cocoa or mulled wine is my kind of weather. Love how the nights are cool and we need a blanket! Now that’s my kind of summer ;)
Your blog is homey and fun and your dogs are the cutest of the bunch (except my own of course). Good luck with the belly and I’ll keep on seeing you around your blog. TGIF!!
OMG…that quote for your mom certainly hit home for me. The Internet can be a dangerous place to roam around in for sure.
I am happy to hear Einstein is okay and happy. Hopefully, his new diet will help him to become more svelte in is senior years!
http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/grain-free-blue-freedom/freedom-adult-healthy-weight-chicken-recipe/
We switched our dogs to this food and they are losing weight with it. We were already feeding them grain free. Two of our dogs were always scratching and since we went grain free, no more scratching.
Hi Barbara, Thanks for the recommendation! We feed them both grain-free, so that might be a good option. I’ll check it out!
Those dog trainers are amazing. It’s like they are talking directly to the dog and the dog can talk back. There’s worse things to crave than cheesy pasta. :)
How old is your pup? My cat is 22 and winding down. It is something I don’t want to see, but there it is. She is losing her balance a lot…while comical, it worries me to no end. I do all I know to do which is pick her up and just love on her. Sending many good thoughts for your pup :)
Wow, you are so fortunate to have your cat at such an advanced age. I have owned a total of seven cats over a span of 30 years and only one lived into her mid-teens. They were all indoor cats and well cared for. My vet, a cat specialist, told me it is very unusual for cats to live to ages beyound the teens. You might want to have the balance thing checked out.
Hi Debra, Einstein is 7, will be 8 in January. For a large breed, he’s getting up there. The average lifespan for a Golden Retriever is 10 to 12 years, although those in good health often times live to be 14 or 15. I feel for your cat! The dog we had growing up would lose her balance, walk into walls, etc. when she started getting older. It was so sad :(
Hi Debra
So sad to hear about your cat. I lost mine in February at age 13 and none of mine have lived past that age. Good on you and your beloved cat for all that time you’ve had together, just keep on loving on her for the time you have left. Sending you both love.
Wendy