Howl-o-ween

Meet Bailey the Wizard

Bailey's FIRST Halloween!We attended the "Howl-o-ween" party at Bailey's favorite spot: Wagging Tails. Bailey goes to Wagging Tails between 2 & 3 times per week. He absolutely LOVES it there. Check out their site:

http://www.waggingtailsatlanta.com

I can watch Bailey periodically throughout the day through their webcam. Wagging Tails is a no-frills, affordable and caring facility that also offers daycare, boarding, bathing and training. They are one of the most inexpensive daycare facilities in Atlanta - believe me, I have looked everywhere. They tend to see bigger dogs come in on a daily basis (which we love) - so I wouldn't recommend a small/fragile pup unless they are used to holding their own!

After a long afternoon of bobbing-for-hotdogs, dress up, wizard trickery and lots of photos - Bailey and mom went home for a nice long nap.

My 25th Birthday

For my birthday this year, Andrea and I decided to simply combine our big days and have one big celebration. In addition to the food, drinks, friends and football games - we had Bailey and Andrea's pups! I believe they had just as much (if not more) fun as we did. Bailey and Twix got along very well and seem to really enjoy each other's company. I can't wait to take him back over to Andrea's house for another play date!

My Hiatus is Over.

Don't ask where I've been, because I won't be able to answer that one. Life has thrown a lot at me lately, so I have unfortunately been a little MIA. Well get excited, One Cool Dood is back and better than ever. I don't have time to wait around for the perfect story or award-winning picture - everything with Bailey is wonderful. So here we go.

Bailey's First Water Experience

Try as we might, my mom and I did everything we could think of to get Bailey to wade into the lake close to my house in Birmingham. Although we were only able to get him in up to his chest - we consider it a success! He was too sweet - he kept looking at me like 'Mom - is it OK for me to go in? I don't want you to be mad at me!'

Adorable - he didn't want to get out once he was in! A few weeks later we took him to the beach and actually got him to go swimming! He was made for the water - webbed toes and all! When we were ready to leave the bay - Bailey would not get out! I truly thought I was going to have to go in after him, haha!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post - things have been crazy busy! I'll do better now.

Last Night of Manhood

Everyone wave sionara to Bailey's manhood. As of sometime tomorrow morning, Bailey will no longer have the ability to impregnante his female counterparts! Although the surgery is fairly routine - I'm still nervous for my baby's first! Please say a little prayer that all will go well and he will maintain the same energetic and lovable personality.

Worried about Nutro

Not sure what to think about this one - but check out this article on Consumeraffairs.com. Ironically, Bailey has had similar digestive issues lately and I am wondering if this has something to to with it? Anyone experienced similar problems while on Nutro? If so - is there a food you highly recommend? I thought I was placing Bailey on the best of the best - but now am afraid I've hurt him more thank I've helped him.

I went to PetSmart yesterday afternoon and bought him a bag of Pro Plan Turkey & Barley. It was highly recommended by a breeder I was following online. I'll have to update you on the status of his tummy over the next week. We are traveling to Birmingham this weekend, so I'm sure he will be slathered with hugs, kisses and treats - oh my!

Oh - and props to Steph's mom for the world's most adorable picture EVER :)

Stick Envy

Bailey finds the world's largest sticks and picks them up to strut his stuff. It is almost some sort of 'Aren't you jealous of me and my stick?!'

He is so silly. I love him so much and don't know what I did for two years without him! We are excited about seeing Melissa and Jordin this weekend!

PetSmart Warning

PetSmart offers a special on new puppy baths for dogs under 6 months old - only $10.99! Great deal, right? You would think. However, they ask for three hours from the time your appointment is scheduled to completion. Well - last Monday I decided to take advantage of this seemingly great deal and took Bailey into the Buckhead PetSmart. His appointment was at 10am. They told me they would call when he was ready. At 1pm I still had not heard anything so I called. After being put on hold twice and then getting transferred to a dog hospital, I decided to go find out what was going on. I got there at 2pm and they told me he STILL wasn't ready. I waited another 20 minutes before they brought him out. When I asked what was going on - a man told me he was the only one working and they were booked for the day - NOT my problem. An hour and a half longer than it was supposed to take, I took Bailey home.

On Wednesday he started sneezing/coughing. I thought he had a minor cold and therefore did not worry much about it since he seemed fine.

I took Bailey to the vet on Saturday and the second he walked in, the vet heard him sneeze and looking at me with concern in her face, she asked "How long has he been doing that?" Turns out Bailey has "Kennel Cough." This flu-like cold is supposed to be protected by the Bordatella vaccine (which of course he already had), but there are some strands that the vaccine does not yet protect against. I was confused (as was the vet) on why he would have Kennel Cough if he had not been in a kennel. After much talk and thought - it hit me. PetSmart keeps their dogs in kennels until they are ready to groom/bathe them. THIS is where Bailey picked up the virus. So lots of money and a sick dog later - Bailey is doing much better. He still has the sniffles, but his temperature (102 at the vet!) has gone down.

So beware pet owners of this phenomena and of PetSmart!

Have a good one,
Shelly

Bailey Lost His First Tooth!

Half asleep this morning, I stumbled into the kitchen where I keep Bailey's water bowl. I picked it up to give him fresh water and low and behold... a puppy tooth! I wish there was some sort of mythical doggy 'tooth fairy' to come wisk his tooth away to baby teeth Heaven and shower him with treats. The tooth is so small, it really makes me wonder how big the next ones will be!

We love Bart!

'Hi Mom' is the title of the first email containing a photo of Bailey that I received from my precious dog-sitter, Bart. He takes Bailey out 3 or more times/week during the day when I am unable to take him to puppy daycare or when I can't make it home from from a stressful day at work. Bart is so good with Bailey and has really become attached to the pooch! Not only does he take care of Bailey's bathroom habits, he feeds him treats, helps to teach him tricks and often allows Bailey to 'chill' with him at his apartment! Bart is also a closet professional i-Phone photographer. Check out some of his recent 'work' :)

Thanks Bart!

My First Blog!

So my friends are doing it, everyone in the advertising industry is doing it, my peers are doing it, so I thought - maybe I should do it!

Welcome to my first blog. I thought this would be a good way to keep you up to date with Bailey and document his growth! By no means am I a professional writer, but hopefully my words will mean as much to you as Bailey does to me.

So here goes, I hope you enjoy. Let me know if there is anything I should add (or take off for that matter). Please pass along and share with friends and family.

Thanks for stopping by,

Shelly

(Bailey's Mom)