Life is Good - Buddy’s (formerly Patchy) Summer

Posted on September 04, 2011 by Catherine

Hi all. It’s been a while. Sorry that I’ve not written, but I’ve been mega busy fetching balls, swimming and all sorts of stuff! I tease Catherine with the ball, but she’s caught onto my game. She thought she was really smart when she taught me to hand the ball to her. Ah-ha! I gained a bit of weight at the time because I’d get a treat (healthy but frequent) if I handed it to her instead of dropping it. I’m a quick study, and got so I turned it around on her and wouldn’t hand it over unless there was a treat in it for me! Well, that doesn’t work anymore - bummer! I’m now back to my lean-mean, handsome self of 75 lbs. Ottawa doesn’t just have rain - it’s got storms, which I really, really don’t like. She teases me about being a big wuss. I follow her around because I want her to think I’m protecting her from these loud sounds and weird flashes of light. Have gone swimming in the beautiful Ottawa River, but my sensitive skin didn’t take to it, after a few weeks, and I had to take meds to get better. I don’t care - I had the bestest time chasing after the ball thrown in the water and competing with young Aussies to get to it first.. I even won part of the time, even though they’re way younger than my 8 years! Hope all is well with you! I miss all my Animatch buddies, but Catherine reads me stories about you all the time! Hope your summer was as great as mine!

Members Comments

- Diane Frascarelli
- posted on September 05, 2011
So nice to hear from you Buddy, you look great. What fun you had this summer, and that lake looks perfect for running after a ball.
Thank you Catherine for sending us an update, we love getting news and pictures of our dogs.
Take care you two !
;O)
- Joanne P
- posted on September 05, 2011
So nice to see the slim and trim Buddy! Hope that we continue to get news on Buddy for many years to come.
- edgar
- posted on October 02, 2011
hahahaha, you are right!!! they could be related. People comment on his beautiful ears all the time First time the vet saw him, she just stood there, couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing. That’s ok, we know his ears are perfect and he wouldn’t be Edgar without those ears!!
’ Not only do they almost have the same ears and fur color, they look like they’re about the same weight…............oops!! He’s a cookie loving dog, what can I tell you
- Catherine
- posted on October 03, 2011
I LOVE his ears! I wonder if they are related at all. How old is Edgar, when’s his birthday and do you have a lot of information on his history?

Yep, they’re both cookie-loving dogs for sure. Buddy was 75 lbs, then I went and over-trained him to hand me the ball in my hand, using, of course, treats. Big mistake! He’s smart and got to a point where he wouldn’t hand it over unless there was a treat involved. Took me forever to get him back to just dropping the ball and not expect a treat! He’d gained 8 lbs! He’s now back to his 75 lb handsome figure but is always staring at me beseachingly for food!
- edgar
- posted on October 03, 2011
Edgar, I think is around 7-8 years old. Animatch found him on death row at the SPCA.

I WISH he was 75 lbs….....he’s somewhere around 90 lbs :-( Keep telling the vet that he was born without a rib cage, sure can’t see or feel them!! We’re working on it ‘tho

His ears are usually down more, like Buddy’s, that was his, “I’m really paying attention, Mom” look
- Catherine
- posted on October 03, 2011
You’ll get a better look of Buddy if you go to the “Question from Buddy” blog. It was taken last winter, but this is why I thought Edgar could have passed for his twin. I do have Buddy’s history, and am in contact with the owner of Gizmo (his brother.) They are shepherd/lab mixes. Gizmo looks more lab, while Buddy looks definitely more Shepherd. Buddy is 8 years old and will be 9 years old in May 2012. Buddy’s ears do the same thing as Edgar’s, both in his natural pose (as you’ve mentioned) as well as the “I’m really paying attention, Mom” look. The look in the eyes could melt icebergs!
Buddy has hypo-thyroidism, and is on meds to help regulate the levels and keep his weight down to an acceptable level. If you’ve had problems getting Edgar’s weight down, have you asked your vet to check for this? Anyway, he is so lucky to have found you! Animatch was his first life-saver, and you were his permanent one! That is so cool!
- edgar
- posted on October 03, 2011
It’s nice you’re in contact with the previous owner He’s a real sweetie:-) You’re right, those eyes could melt icebergs!!! Edgar’s head and nose are slimmer than Buddy’s, and the way he uses his nose, I think there is some hound with a shepherd. When he lies down his ears straighten out and they look like my GSD’s He’s such a funny guy!
I don’t think he has a thyroid problem, it’s just plain food. I’ve cut his food and cookies down, but catch my husband treating them all the time :-(
Oh, yes, he is a permanent member of the family and is loved dearly:-)
- Catherine
- posted on October 03, 2011
So, perhaps the dogs aren’t related, but our hubbies are???!! My hubby eats regular meals, but takes advantage of snacks in between. For some insane reason, perhaps Buddy looking at him as if he’s starved, he tends to give him a ‘small’ or ‘just a piece’ of treat each time. Added to that, I’ve got people at the dog park who have great tasting goodies, telling me that it’s just a small treat. My attitude is, multiply that one ‘small treat’ by ten or more people that Buddy meets, and we’ve got a problem here. Sometimes, I even have to put him on leash to lead him away from the ever-inviting pockets. My Buddy has a tough life indeed!
- edgar
- posted on October 04, 2011
Sounds like we’re married to the same guy!!!!
- Catherine
- posted on October 04, 2011
Perherps as my brother would say! If you don’t mind, I’m going to send the link to Edgar’s picture to a few of Buddy’s human friends. I’m sure they’ll have the same reaction as I’ve had upon viewing your handsome Edgar’s picture.
- edgar
- posted on October 04, 2011
hahaha, not at all Maybe you should include a ‘hubby bio’!!!!!!
- Catherine
- posted on October 04, 2011
Oh dear, no, that wouldn’t be such a good idea. If I’m in a menopausal mood, I may include things that I regret having included - perhaps true, but regret having said! Anyway, at my age, most husbands’ bios are so similar that they bear not repeating! LOL on the last two statements!!!
- edgar
- posted on October 04, 2011
hahahaha, you are priceless!!!!!!!! Trust me, I’m always in a ‘menopausal mood’ and would totally agree with everything Probably could add a thing or two
- Catherine
- posted on October 04, 2011
Then we’d be in even more trouble with our husbands, no less, as I could write a book, do a video and all sorts of stuff on this! As if we don’t have enough grief in our lives! Once Dave accepted the idea of Buddy being in our lives which was demonstrated by him coming with me to Animatch, even though he kept me on pins and needles all the way there, Buddy’s name came from Dave himself calling the dog “Buddy” all the way home (90 minute drive in the winter). Buddy had to share a small space in the back seat of a car with a not-so-amused Kyra, hound/border collie/retriever mix and strange humans in the front. So many stories for such a short time that we’ve had this most wondrous dog! Even Dave adores him, which speaks volumes about Buddy!

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