Katy on…Edgar Sawtelle

Posted: October 22, 2009 | Author: lhasalhady | Filed under: Apso Aficionados | Leave a comment

Last night Ken and I drove down to the valley to a booksigning. First time I’ve ever done something like that.

David Wrobeleski, author of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, was in Alb to promote the debut of the softcover edition.

We bought another hard cover, and I took the one I already had, to be signed. He gave a wonderful talk about the book, answered lots of good questions, including one or two from me, and read from the book. It was great to hear about his long process of writing the book, how the ideas came to be, and how long it took him. He wrote a draft and 12 re-writes over a period of ten years, but said the entire process took 15 years from concept to completion. He did much research, but obviously wrote from his heart, from what he knew and lived. He is a very talented individual, humble and modest and quite charming. Younger than he looks on the cover picture, but quite bald!

I asked him how he came to know dogs so well, as it was quite obvious in the book that he knew dogs intimately. He said he grew up on a small farm in mid-west Wisconsin, in a small family, and his parents bred and raised dogs (didn’t say what kind). It was his job, as a child, to socialize the pups and clean kennels. He also talked about the one, very excellent dog, he’s had as an adult. Said he realized that he was not worthy of this very special dog and embarked on a mission to learn more about how to train dogs and came across Vickie Hearne’s Adam’s Task, which had a profound impact on his ideas about communicating with dogs. (Me, too.)

It was wonderful to talk with him. We have amazingly similar backgrounds, in some areas, and certainly share a deep love of dogs. He signed my book, “To Katy, who knows how great it can be with a dog.” We also had him sign one, as a Christmas gift for our son-in-law, Ryan. He’s an English Lit teacher in Portland.

He’s writing another book, this one based on Edgar’s grandfather, John, who started breeding the dogs.

Something to look forward to!

He also recommended a couple of books that he’s thinks are excellent. One, I plan on finding and reading.

It’s called Dog Man by Martha Sherrill. Perhaps you’ve already read it. About the Japanese man who saved the Akita after WW2, when only a dozen were left. His Akitas are now considered National Treasures in Japan. I read a few pages on Amazon, and it sounds great. Will try and find it at the library.

Katy

Pumpkin Puppy Treats

Posted: October 5, 2009 | Author: lhasalhady | Filed under: Apso Aficionados | Leave a comment

Thanks Kathy!

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Did you say treats?

PUMPKIN WAFERS DOG TREAT RECIPE

Ingredients:

One 15 oz. can mashed pure pumpkin (NOT the spiced pie filling)

3/4 cup cream of wheat (or rice cereal if wheat-sensitive) You can mix this dry–no need to cook it first

1/2 cup dry powdered milk
Directions: Preheat oven to 300 F.

Mix all ingredients together. Drop small spoonfuls (I use about half of a tablespoon) onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

If you’d like to make bite sized cookies for small dogs, training rewards or just small treats, you can use a pastry bag and squeeze out rosettes about the size of a dime for tasty bite sized cookies! For these minis, adjust the baking time, 12-14 minutes.

Pumpkin is Great for Dogs & Humans

This pumpkin dog treat is loaded with Beta carotene and anti-oxidants especially vitamins C and E. These vitamins help to lower cancer risk, cataracts and heart disease.

Reasons….

Posted: September 30, 2009 | Author: lhasalhady | Filed under: Apso Aficionados | 2 Comments

Thanks to Vickie for helping me out here! I continue to edit Ancient Treasure in every spare minute. And look forward to being back here in several weeks!!!! From your lame editor, Debby

A quickie for the blog <g> …Top 10 Reasons You Need a Vacation From Your Dogs …

1. When your spouse’s shocked voice shouts from the shop, “Honey, come quick, I’ve had a terrible accident!” … you show up breathless with a mop and scent neutralizer.

2. You wake panicked in the middle of the night when you sense you suddenly have room to move your body around the bed.

3. You can’t sleep unless you hear lots of heavy breathing in your bedroom

4.The emergency number on your speed dialer is for the dog’s veterinarian.

5. When someone taps you on the shoulder, you tell them firmly, “Off!”, then “Down!”.

6. When tempers flare among your family members, you pull out the long forefinger, pointedly raise your voice and shout “Go to your crates, now!”

7 When someone asks what’s for dinner you automatically reply, “Kibbles and Bits”.

8. When you are walking a ring around the local park and someone points at you and your dog, you raise both arms over your head, whoop and go looking for a ribbon.

9. When shopping, your best friend asks you what you think of that snappy suit in the window, and you scowl and mutter, “Useless … it’s the same color as my dog and it has no pockets.”

10.When your neighbor points to her crawling infant and asks you what you think of her new baby, you study it for a minute and reply, “Well, a little short on coat and long in the hock, but that kid has a great topline!”