Puppydom

Sometimes when I think Ubi is too grown up for puppy-dom, he surprises me. Today, he looked like a kitten running through the house pouncing on rawhides. We've been leaving rawhide chips all over the place because it is the most argued-over toy. While Ubi makes them mushy and squishy, Annie eats them like a treat. She just chows through them.
He gets scared in thunder and lightning (imagine the hurricane he lived through). I had to shove him out into the mist this morning. He did NOT want to get wet. Annie even looked at me like I was someone totally insane for opening the door for them. I even tried to tempt them with treats! They weren't going to have it. (they sat by the door. Ubi laid down in his 'ain't gonna happen stance'.) Eventually, after breakfast they did go out. Ubi had to poop. He knows better than to go in the house! : ) GOOD BOY!!! Annie helped in that, I think- if she goes out, he will too.
Ubi goes for his next mange treatment at the vet's on Thursday. : ( Poor baby! He is not losing hair so much anymore. He was balding constantly for a while.

Ubi and Annie Playing Tug of War on the couch! 9/19/05 

Balding Ubi 9/15/05 Recovering 

Favorite Toy

For 2 days, I kept wondering how Joanna's slipper kept falling out of the shoe basket... until I saw Ubi walk over to the basket and remove the slipper. He isn't chewing on it. Just taking it out. It's like a pillow for him!
He is doing well. Swelling from the Mange has gone down and his skin isn't quite as stiff and dry as it has been. He still has a runny nose and a cough. He will require continued antibiotics in addition to his mange treatments.
Please check out his paw print auction on ebay! As channel 25 says during it's auction fund raising drive: "Bid high and bid often!" (I don't have the annoying horn to honk though.)
We want to thank everyone for their well-wishes for Ubi. He is absolutely adorable wen he does is "Bassett Flop". He just suddenly plops down and chills out.
He had a hard time in the storm last night. There was a lot of lightning and thunder. I can only imagine how scared he must have been when he was all alone in New Orleans, during the raging hurricane. I am just thankful that he was one of the dogs that made it out and will be well soon so that he can join a new forever family!
Gotta run. Ubi is cuddling up to Tickle-Me Elmo and setting off the giggles! Kind of like a vibrating bed!
Goodnight!
~Kelly

Ubi with CODA volunteer, Cari 9/12/05 

Ubi on the way to his foster family 9/12/05 

Romp and Stomp

Dear Friends,
: ) My dog-sister and I have been playing in mom's tall ornamental grass. I noticed today that it wasn't quite so tall anymore. Mom said she would upload a picture of her new grass, post-Ubi, soon. We had a GREAT time hiding and jumping out to surprise each other. It was great!
Today I didn't do much, other than slobber on my dog-sister, chew on rawhides and play.
Denise from CODA came to check on me. I gave her LOTS of kisses, and she is impressed with how good I look. (I am mighty handsome, everyone says!)
My new humans are fun. They let me play with balls in the house. They are so round and roll-y. I like to chew on the cat's pom-poms. They tickle my mouth. I do know better than to chew on other things in the house. I know what my toys are, and what my human 3 year old sister's toy are.
I am learning that the little fuzzy puffs are called CATS, and they are my superiors. They tell me all the time when they whack me in the head. I respect them, and will do well with kitties in a new home, as long as they are as old an ornery as my 3 current bosses (Herman, Spackle and Bear).
My human sister likes to throw toys for me. I am pretty good about not jumping, and know DOWN! I am a very good listener!
Love,
Ubi
Mom's note:
Ubi is a very good sitter. He will sit with a hand signal and a verbal command.
Ubi is learning to sit at the door, instead of rushing out like a maniac.
He is an amazingly smart dog for his age. He seems to know what we ask him to do, and he is only 3-4 months old. He has an old soul with a bit of baby thrown in!
His crate has been clean for a while now! He definately is passing the crate training and house training hurdle! He is still learning that his crate is a comfort zone, not a punishment.
Other accomplishments include walking nicely on a leash. He may pull occasionally, but not very much. This may be due to his 'puppy gait'. He tends to gallop a bit, alternating with a nice walk. He is enjoying checking out the smells and sights! His favorite thing to watch is the squirrel show that takes place in our backyard almost daily, as the squirrels sit on the garage, surrounding bushes and walk along the fence top and wires to taunt the dogs. The squirrels actually chitter-chatter at the dogs to incite them!
That's all for tonight!
~Ubi's Foster Mom

Dear Friends,
I have found my dream! A place where everyone wants to pet me and give me attention! They call it 'the trailer', but *I* call it 'never ending walks and playing'. I met a lot of new people who wanted to talk to my foster mom about me. I had so many scratches from people! I met a lot of other dogs, and they liked me too! (most of them)... I am a rambunctious puppy. I have a lot more energy now.
Everywhere I turned, there were things to chew on! I am getting my adult teeth in, and am losing my 'practice teeth'. I chewed on rawhide bones, picnic tables, fiber glass stairs, and my dog sister. I was told that I wasn't allowed to chew on three of the four of those things. See if you can figure out which! heehee. I am a good puppy, and I listened and stopped chewing on the naughty things. There were lots more good things to chew on. I really like tennis balls. I mean, really-really like them. They roll all on their own! Squeaky toys absolutely are the best too!
My dog sister got a little upset with me today. I stole her bed, her raw hide, and ate her food. I still think she loves me. I am not as timid as I was a few days ago.
I met my foster mom's cousin, Marilyn this weekend. She loves dogs. She played with me for a long time, and even let me use her fingers for a chewie (hey- it's her fault that she stuck her fingers in my mouth to begin with!) I am very careful with people fingers. I take treats very gently, even from my human sister. She's a little unsure of me, because she knows I am not staying, and well- I am a rambunctious puppy! She didn't like me sitting on her lap in the car either. Mom made me sit in the front with her. I got to put my head on her lap and get my head scratched almost all the way home!
I am so happy to be here! I am adjusting well, they tell me. I will talk to you soon, I see something I need to chew on... : )
Love,
Ubi

Dear Friends,
Today was a great day for me! I got to see my friend, Denise, of CODA! She is a real sweet lady. I like Dr. Brian at Gateway Animal Clinic! He is super! He says that I need TLC, but will be okay in a month or two. Meanwhile, I get to hang out with my new humans, my new sister dog, and chase those pesky fur balls that they call cats.
This is the life. I get to play outside all the time, chew on toys whenever I want. I even decided to move into my dog sister's bed. She wasn't using it at the time. That makes it OK, right?
I got moved out of quarantine today, officially, when I was pronounced free of icky pests. My real bed is on the other side of the dining room from sis. I get to romp and play in three rooms now! My foster mom says I have to earn the privilege of the carpeted rooms! That won't be much longer, because *I know where the poop and pee goes!* I am getting to be a big boy!
My vet bills are going to be pretty hefty. I need to have special treatments for my bald spots for a few months. They call it 'mange'. I just know it's itchy, and makes me kind of sad.
My foster mom says that I did a very good job of sitting today. I got a WHOLE big treat- she teased me and made me sit for each little morsel. It was soooo good, and definitely worth it!!!
I have to go to bed now. Annie thinks she wants to kick me out of her bed. I have to talk her out of it...
Love,
Ubi

Ubi's Tail

UBI IS A KATRINA, category 4 hurricane, SURVIVOR! He comes from New Orleans, LA. Check out the CODA link on the main page for my story! We're animal lovers, and are fostering Ubi, this beautiful bassett-Black lab mix! His name is technically Ubiquinone. We wanted to name him Quinn, but Denise of CODA already has a beautiful dog named Quinn, so we settled for Ubi, when he responded to it!