Don't scare us again Miss Sadie!

In the early hours of last Friday morning, I received a message from Miss Sadie's mom.
Sadie was being gently loaded into mom's car and on route to Kamloops Vet hospital. Sadie had been having severe abdomen pain throughout the night. She was unable to lay down comfortably and she could not walk. A big scare but all is well. 1 full week of recovery and she's almost up and about. 

Needless to say, her mom was more than just concerned. With a 2-hour drive ahead of them, there was no time to spare. Sadie is a big girl and her inability to move made loading for transport difficult.  Fortunately, mom's supportive and good friend, Rhonda was there to help get Miss Sadie in and then out of the car once at the clinic.

The caring staff at Kamloops Vet Clinic on Dalhousie Dr. took Miss Sadie quickly and began a thorough examination. GVD was ruled out (Twisted stomach). Sadie reacted to them touching her lower intestine. Something was there.  They administered pain meds and dye and X-rays were taken. There was a partial blockage.They could not see bones or rocks or the cause or the blockage. They administered meds that would hopefully, help her push out what ever was there. Sadie would be staying overnight. The hope was, the meds would help her dislodge whatever was in her lower intestine. If not, she would need exploratory surgery to discover the cause. We crossed our paws and we prayed it was not a tumour.
Sadie's mom is very diligent about watching what goes into Sadie's mouth, what she plays with and what she eats. However she was concerned Sadie had been able to sneak a sock! (one of her favourite things to steal)  Sadie had been visiting us 2 days before and I immediately started going thru my laundry to spot if anything was missing. All matched up! Whew!
As you can imagine her mommy was distraught having to leave Sadie overnight but needed to travel back home. She felt confident leaving Sadie in the nurturing hands of Dr. Emily and her two surgeons Dr. Irene Peychev & Dr. Kathy Blackford. Even though, as we all do, she worried about her girl all night long.
The long night finally passed and Sadie's mom received the phone call telling her Miss Sadie was going into surgery. She had not passed anything during the night and was still in discomfort.  It would be another day before Miss Sadie was out of the woods.
That day finally arrived and the culprit of Sadie's pain was discovered. The surgery showed it was not a tumour but her pancreas! A sigh of relief and now she needs a specialized maintenance plan.
When Sadie woke she was anxious and unsettled and the doctors felt it would be in Sadie's best interest for her to heal at home. Mommy quickly made plans to head over to Kamloops to pick up her sweetie pie.  

Still feeling the sedation effects.

Sadie was home by 8:00 pm that evening. Still under the effects of her anaesthetic but she was more relaxed when she was awake. She finally settled by 11 pm and slept until 5:30 the next morning. She had a sip of water and tiny bite of food. Her mommy had created a soft, safe place for her to rest during her recovery and provided waterproof pads so Sadie didn't have to try to get up to piddle. Her mommy was by her side to keep her clean and comfortable to heal relaxed and comfy.  Sadie's 'grandpa' built a small ramp on their porch that would help Sadie when she was able to navigate the outdoors again. A caring family full of love for her, who watched over her and enabled her to heal from her trauma.   Dr. Emily had provided several meds to be taken. There was anti nausea pills and antibiotics and pain meds and instructions that mommy followed to a tee.
The very next evening Sadie began to vomit and her mom feared the worse. She made a phone call to the vet and they suggested Sadie return to the hospital. Mom made the call to the hospital and she alerted her travelling companion, she had gathered the necessary items for Sadie's transport. By then, Sadie was sitting up and smiling with a wagging tail! 

What's going on mom? Why am I going back to the docs?

"Oh no you don't!" thought mommy! "I'm taking you back anyway. The doctor can give you a thorough exam and give you the 2 thumbs up before I bring you back home again. You scared me!"

That's just what happened. Dr. Emily gave Sadie a 2 thumbs up and mommy felt reassured. She was doing everything right and Sadie's incision was healing well.  Her meds were altered, a probiotic added, along with a topical cream for her incision. She is going to be just fine!
She has her loved ones by her side and will now be on an even stricter diet and modified exercise program. 

Minkie - "Where did you go Sadie? I missed you!"

Emelin - "I'm so happy you're home Sadie. We were so worried about you!"

In the days that follow, Sadie is perking up slowly and beginning to show her happy face again.  Mommy is able to get more sleep and started working on preparing Sadie's meal plans.
There will be no more cookies in Sadie's diet and her already regular exercise routine will be modified when she's up and able. 
We're hoping Miss Sadie will be able to visit us during her healing, on days we are 'dogfree' and use our yard as a playground for safe activities.
We were all so very worried about you Miss Sadie! We're so happy you're on the road to recovery. Please take care and come visit us soon!

Miss Sadie's Visit with Khione

A couple of days ago Khione's mom called to see if Khione was able to visit for the day. Suzy Q was the only dog booked that day. I already knew there wouldn't be much playtime for Khione with just Lady May and Suzy. I decided to call Sadie's mom to see if she would let Sadie visit for the day.
Thank you so much Melissa! 4 year old Sadie was an excellent girl and really played well with Khione.

Khione - "Wow I didn't know you came to Royal K9 Korner day care too! COOL! Lets play"

I knew they had already met and enjoyed each other on their day walks. It was a pretty safe bet they'd do well for a day together here. Khione was definitely over the moon to see Miss Sadie. Sure enough they had a great time together and Miss Sadie was a perfect playmate for Khione.

Sadie has a confident and friendly personality, she doesn't get bowled over and can easily handle a bit of rough stuff play. Khione is still learning to listen to the dogs she's playing with and Sadie is a clear and patient communicator. She really made my day go smooth.
They played inside and out, with toys or without toys. They also took rest times together and just chilled in the yard and house all day.
I'm hopeful we can set up a few more play days with other visitors so Khione has a chance to get to know everyone one on one. I'm sure it'll help build her confidence and make her a fun playmate for the others. She is still puppy-like, full of energy and really just wants to play!
Thank you Sadie for giving young Khione a fun day!

Sadie - "No prob, I like the new kid and she's a fun buddy. I hope she visits again soon."

 By the time little Suzy Q arrived, Khione had already spent her excess energy with Sadie. She was more willing to leave Suzy alone. Suzy was very happy about that.

Suzy Q - "I'm staying close to Sadie, just in case though. "

After a good romp in the yard, we headed under the gazebo for some relax time. Sadie found the Trolley cart before Lady May could get to it.Lady May just curled up beside it. Im thinking she was hopeful Sadie would leave and she could sneak in.

Khione not quite ready for rest time.

I think its time for me to get out the warm quilts and make up the outdoor beds. One outside bed is just not enough now. The weather is still unpredictable but the dogs are wanting to be outdoors longer.  With my hard top gazebo cover, its possible even on wet days now.
Sure enough something caught Sadie's attention and she strayed from the warm bed.  Unfortunately, Lady May was fast asleep and missed her opportunity.

Suzy Q - "Thanks for keeping it warm Sadie"

Back indoors, Khione and Sadie played much calmer together. Even Suzy was feeling a bit more relaxed with Khione. Although she seemed to make a point of staying close to Sadie and Lady May for added security.

Sadie contemplating whether its worth disturbing Khione to try the ole toy swap

Suzy decides to allow a little toe sniffing just to stay close to Sadie

 Suzy Q heads back to her old faithful safety buddy.
Lady May is always a sure bet when Sadie goes to sleep.

A rare resting pair.

I just happen to have my camera in my hand when I saw this sight. It's a first for sure. Sadie and Lady May are always very compatible, but I'd never, ever seen them stick this close together for a rest. If only we could read their minds.

"Im sure I heard the clock toll Lunchtime!

As the clock struck lunch time the two visitors knew exactly where to watch their food being dished out. Neither one tried to sneak into my safety area but politely waited just outside the gate.
Wow! Good Dogs or what?!

Sadie-"I saw my mom! How come I'm here?"

Sadie used to try to head for the gate when ever she visited. Now she will certainly try to head home if she sees her mom across the street but is very, very good about complying and heading into the back yard. I can easily distract her now. She rarely stands staring at her house across the road now. I think she seems happy when she's here. I really have to set up my camera to video how she runs full bore into the yard when a visit is scheduled.  There's a soft warm bed and food for her belly. The buddies and the toys hep the comfort level. I'm sure she likes it here enough. She knows mom is coming for her soon. I'm so thankful her mom let her visit us today. I definitely feel like she's helped Khione in a big way. 

Khione may be the "New Kid" but she seems to be fitting in nicely. There are a few more buddies for her to meet. We'll continue going slow so we don't take a big step backwards.
I'm happy she has a friend like Sadie here now.

Sleep time before home time. Khione chooses to lay close to her new buddy Sadie.

Khione decides to move closer to the gate in case mom shows up before she wakes.

We hope to see you both soon girls. You're a wonderful pair.💜🐾💜

FYI
Royal K9 Korner has a few days we'll be closed to visitors.
Please mark them on your calendar for reference.

February 8th - 16th (prearranged alone time for our new boy - Cash)
February 23rd - 25th

Sadie Came For a Morning Visit

A few weeks ago 2.5 yr. old Sadie came for her meet n greet. She is a happy girl, polite, well mannered and was accepted by The Princess MollyDawg. 

Our Lady May had been a bit under the weather during her visit, so we only introduced through a gated off room. We know Sadie is quite social and didn’t further an introduction that day. We figured Sadie would fit in just fine but decided another short visit might be a good idea. We wanted to be certain there was a good rapport established before mom had to leave town and needed Sadie at day care.

We chose a day when she would be our only visitor.
Sadie lives across the street from us, our Mollydawg and her often stand by their fences and say hello. In much the same fashion as Master Rookie used to do. (RIP dear Sire)
Sadie can see the dogs coming and going and frolicking in our yard. If I could read Sadie's mind, I think she might be thinking, "Gee mommy, can I go over there too please?" So today was her day. 

Fortunately, the weather has been cooperating and we were able to play outdoors.   We opened our main gate to Sadie, and she came bounding in like a little freight train.
We played together outside for awhile and Sadie had an opportunity to enjoy the smells of the yard with out interruption of any other dogs.  It didn't take her long to figure out they must be in doors and asked to go in.  We kept Lady May behind the x-pen for an added measure of safety. When it was clear there was no need for concern, the gate was removed.

She continued to use polite manners even when she was outdoors. She kept her distance and watched all the clear signals that were being offered.

Sadie - "Hi! Can I come out here too?"

Sadie is a happy, playful girl and is still learning how powerful her body is. We left her harness on for awhile and added a long lead for easy correction if needed.  Our Princess MollyDawg is recovering from a lump removal on her back-right leg, so it was important to keep her safe from any rough housing.

As soon as I removed the long lead from Sadie, it was like I threw a switch and her energy came bounding through.  Time to go into zoomie mode!  That's just fine it was a perfect day for it. I put the Royals in the house so Sadie could run and romp and let it all out with out having to be corrected.
Her favourite toys seemed to be the balls and the squeakies. Good! Cuz we have loads of those!
Sadie is on a restricted diet so praise came in the way of 1 kibble bit and loads of the verbal and physical kind. She didn't seem to mind at all and absorbed all the praise I gave her.
When we came back indoors Sadie said a quick hello and then settled for a short nap.

I don't have to sleep long though right?

She didn't stay laying beside her buddy The Princess for very long. I'm pretty sure she thought it was kinda boring.  She asked for my help getting past the 'Sleeping Sovereign'. Smart girl sweet Sadie! The phrase, 'don't poke the bear ' comes to mind.  She sauntered into the living room and discovered the toys.

Isn't there s'posed to be cookies inside this toy?

 A kong filled with a squeakie kept her so occupied that she actually rolled off the 4 in mat. I happened to be looking directly at her when she toppled and seriously, I laughed out loud!
What a funny sight it was. The little sweetie decided it was best to stay away from high places and resumed her chew time on the floor. If only I had it on video mode before she toppled!

Sadie- ((sigh)) good thing it was only 4 inches!"

Sadie tried out a few other mats and finally decided the best, (possibly safest) place to sleep was smack dab on the floor.  

Sadie - "I notice there are scatter pillows here. Is that in case I fall again?"

Resting but not ready for sleep

A true Lady position. Legs crossed and paws tucked under the chin.

We look forward to a day when Sadie will visit for a longer stay. She is certainly welcome at any time!
Please visit her Facebook album  Here - Sadie's Facebook Album

Our Last Visitors of 2021

The last visitors of 2021 were our lovely Matron Miss Sadie and little Suzy Q.

Temps dropped low enough to warrant coats and boots in the evenings.

Little Suzy Q is still learning how to make friends and more often than not will find comfort in just staying by Lady May's side.  I'm quite pleased to see her initiating play with a few others.  She hasn't done so with Miss Sadie yet, but she will follow her around now.   It's nice to know she's feeling more comfortable with the big strong girl Sadie.

Sadie helps to clear a path for little Suzy to walk

 Without the wind, the sun brings enough warmth to the day that we can remove coats and boots.

Sadie and Suzy just strolling in the sun

The cedar waxwings and also visiting during the day feasting on the mountain ash berries. I've chosen to remove my seed feeders due to the visiting C-A-Ts. It's too sad for me to clean up their feathers daily.  Getting a good photo with my phone is not easy. Trust me they are waxwings.  They don't even flinch when the dogs are near. They're hungry! They have cleared the top and are working their way down the limbs. Natures winter storage.

Cedar Waxwings puffed up to keep warm from the cold while filling their tummys.

I have extra coats and boots on hand for visitors when the winds pick up and the temps drop. Miss Sadie never batted an eye when I chose a coat and boots for her. Obviously her muscular body was a bit bigger than the coat I had on hand. I'm sure it helped a bit, but it kept popping open. 

Sadie wearing a coat that belonged to Duchess Sammy and boots from Princess MollyDawg.

Sadie is always so happy to run across the road for a visit. She loves to drop over but certainly keeps on eye open if her mom should come back home.
Often times we see her across the road with her mom.  She gives us a very gleeful wiggle and a wag as if to say 'Hello'.  She is a very obedient girl and stays right by her mommy's side.
However, when she knows she's coming for a visit, she is the biggest wiggliest girl you can imagine.  She stands inside her gate with her mom, and I stand inside mine.  Mom and I, look up and down and the road, making sure for a safe time and with a heads nod mom gives the signal.  We both open our gates and Miss Sadie comes BARRELLING across the road into our yard.  She goes straight to do her business and then finds me for her 'hello cookie' while mom heads back home.

Sadie has always been the happiest girl when she visits.  She's always a pleasure to see and she gets on with almost everyone.  She's been known to stand her ground on a few occasions and I applaud her for that.  She is true to her breed, happy, loyal, affectionate, and strong.  She may be a gentle girl, but no one will take advantage of her either.  She knows when another visitor is misbehaving and makes no bones about saying so.  Good girl Sadie!

Sweet innocent faces. Right? Right, okay. Now.

When Sadie visits, she's my shadow girl. No. I mean, REALLY! My shadow girl. If I turn a bit too quickly I may trod on a snow white paw.  I call her my little helper girl. If I'm unloading the dishwasher, Sadie is helping. If I'm putting clothes in the washer/dryer, Sadie is helping. If I'm putting groceries away, Sadie is helping, (and Lady May) He face is always smiling when she's here and in turn she puts a smile on my face as well.

Sadie - "I'm helpin'. Right Lady?
Lady May - "The ice-cream is mine. Paws off."

Bed time for Sadie comes easy. She's the 'owner' of the bedroom crate and Lady May willingly obliges. It's always interesting to see the dynamics between various dogs.  There doesn't always seem to be rhyme nor reason to how, who and why they allow or disallow things between them.  I have learned just to let them show/tell me what, where and who gets what when and go with it. They always show me the respect I require and allow me to keep things running smoothly.

Sound asleep. Tomorrow is just another day.

So ends another year at Royal K9 Korner.

From all our visitors throughout 2021 we say have a wonderful new year.
Stay warm, safe and PAWSITIVE!
"Welcome 2022!"
We're prepared for whatever tags along. Bring it on!

June 30, 2025, Rainbow Bridge Has Knocked Again.

Rainbow Bridge has taken another one of our Extended Royal Pack. 

It was with great sorrow we said farewell to 9 year old Miss Sadie yesterday. Sadie has been the happiest, and wiggliest of all our visitors. She got along with everyone and was an absolute pleasure to be around. I will miss seeing her watching us from her porch across the street. Always a ‘Hello’ wiggle and wagging her tail. Always watching to see if my gate would open and she could zoom across the street into my yard. 
Sadie first visited at 2 years old in Oct. of 2019. She made friends easily and before long I named her my 'Shadow girl'. She was always RIGHT BY my side. Glued to every step I took.  How could I not fall in love with her. 
You can read Sadie's blog entries here- and watch her YouTube videos here. 

She fills a very special place in my heart, and we feel blessed to have been allowed to share her love. Over the last few years Sadie has given us a few very scary days. There were many days when her mommy feared Sadie would not have the strength to pull through. Sadie was a strong girl and always seemed to say, “I'm not ready to leave you just yet mommy.” This day was different. Sadie had reached her final vet visit. Her x-rays showed ever deteriorating severe hip damage from her previous fracture, and possible cancer. There would be no coming back from this one. Sadie’s mom made the very difficult decision to let Sadie cross Rainbow Bridge with dignity. The most loving gift she could give her girl. We support her decision and share her heartache.

Marchioness lil Molly and Sadie will reunite over Rainbow Bridge.

Run free and pain free now dear girl. You are already so sorrowfully missed. Your memory stone has been placed. You now sit in our Rainbow Bridge garden. Say hello to your brother Rookie for us and all the Royal Pack who have crossed before you. You were the best Golden Lab I’ve ever known. 
Rest in Peace Dear Sadie.
Dog gone it! I'm going to really miss you!