Meet Chowder, My Waste of Fur and No Good Dog

Chowder is a pure bred American Cocker Spaniel from Malad, Idaho
that became a part of our lives on July 14 of 2007.  She was born June 5, 2007.

Now this dog looks spoiled, does she not, eating celery sticks and cheese?  In actuality, she definitely is not.  She is a what I like to call a snow dog and she loves it.  We keep her outside (allergies on my part), but she has an insulated dog house with three blankets.  Her kennel is bumped up against the shed and has a concrete floor and a roof. Vonny commented one day after feeling the inside of Chowder's house, "She sleeps warmer than I do".  She has survived several winters now (with close monitoring on how she is doing, especially in sub freezing temperatures) and I am pleased to say she is one of the healthiest dogs I have ever seen.  Even on the coldest mornings, she comes bounding out of her house like it was spring.

What good is a dog besides a drain on your bank account with food, grooming, kennel, and medical bills?  I won't even mention the little treats she leaves for us each day hidden in the grass.  She steals gloves, socks, and anything else she can find and she buries them in the garden.  She sits by the door trying to plot her way into the house at all moments.  In spite of it all this lump of fur is has nestled her way into our family's heart and we can't imagine our lives without her.

Cocker Spaniels are very loving dogs.  They have a very easy going temperament.  While other dogs will growl and be possessive of food, bones, or toys, Chowder does not.  While she is fiercely territorial when strangers come around, she will accept them as soon as she sees that we accept them.

Dumb dog thinks she can fly.  Hey dog, those are ears
not wings!

Nothing brings how important a pet is to a family than when a close call happens.  Once Chowder achieved her nefarious design to enter the house (actually, I let her in) and she ate a chewed up piece of xylitol based gum.  Xylitol is deadly poison to dogs and we worried over her for several hours before it became clear that the previously chewed gum had been depleted of its xylitol.  We were a very grateful family that evening and we realized how much we loved that Waste of Fur.  What a no good dog!



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