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My friends, both Pixie and I appreciated all the well-wishes you passed along this week. She’s doing much better, as this video illustrates. I couldn’t just leave all you geeks hanging.

Last Sunday, I woke up to see that Pixie had discharge coming out of her eyes and they were swollen badly. I took her to the pet emergency room. She was initially diagnosed with Conjunctivits, which turned out to not be the case.

On the third trip to the ER with her in the middle of the night Tuesday night, we were referred to a specialist. She was taken to the Animal Eye Clinic in Seattle. I can’t thank them enough for helping my puppy. The care she received was fantastic.

Pixie was diagnosed and I was reassured that there’s no permanent damage. Pixie has an amazing disposition. Kat will tell you she’s a big cuddle bug.

There were times I felt it tough to remain composed. I felt so helpless. Wicket and Pixie are my family, and I love them as unconditionally as they love me.

Thanks much to my good friend Betsy Weber for sending baked noms to the pups. Thank you to ALL OF YOU for your support and well-wishes.

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Pixie’s Puppy Dog Eyes

When I woke up today, Pixie’s left eye looked out of whack – like it was lazy. That prompted me to take her in without hesitation (a mere two days after first noticing an issue with her eyes).

She’s apparently got a very small ulcer in her right eye at this point, and her left eye is swollen. She’s on antibiotics and pain killers now. The cone, however, is making it impossible to get the new ointment into her eyes (which was difficult to do in the first place); I’m asking Imei for a bit of help.

She’s resting on my bed right now. I’ve closed all the blinds in the bedroom, too; her eyes are a bit more sensitive to bright light – and anything I can do to ease her suffering, I’ll do.

I’ve got an appointment set up with the vet again on Thursday morning at 8am, but the emergency vet offered to see her free-of-charge tomorrow at some point (just for a quick look-see). In a couple of weeks, they’re scheduling a full blood panel (although an initial pancreatitis screening has already come back negative).

You have no idea how relieved I am to know that I had signed up for Trupanion just weeks ago; the bills are already close to $500, but I set my deductable at $0 so very little (if any at all) should be out-of-pocket when the incident is reported.

Pet Insurance Pays Off

UncleJohn was able to capture some Wicket and Pixie antics the other day when his new Macbook. Who knew Wicket could climb like that? I certainly never thought he would know to save himself from certain death by strangling me with his front paws.

My dogs are weird – so what? They’re also the coolest dogs on the planet.

Magic Pet Tricks

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Pixie is a lot of fun to watch when she’s sleeping. She seems to have extremely vivid dreams. I can’t help but wonder at times what’s running through her mind when she’s asleep and reacting to her dreams this way.

Maybe she’s dreaming of more tasty treats? Perhaps she’s thinking about a nice, fresh lawn (since the grass in the backyard was just replaced with new sod). I bet she’s tossing around a new toy, though. Just look at those hind legs move!

What dreams do you think are in Pixie’s head?

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What is My Dog Dreaming Of?

See if you can find the puppy in this couchful of pillows:

Actually, I think that’s technically a Day Bed – but I only seem to lay on it at night, so I’m probably using it wrong, anyway.

Couching Pillow, Hidden Puppy

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We woof you a Merry Christmas! We woof you a Merry Christmas! We woof you a Merry Christmas! And a happy new bark!

Wicket and Pixie are really in the Holiday spirit this year. How are your dogs doing? Upload a video response starring your Christmas pets if they wanna play along.

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Christmas Dogs

I don’t know what it really means, but Wicket’s doing it.

Chillaxin’

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I love my dogs, as most of you already know. Pixie and Wicket are my babies, even though they’re a few years old now. I spoil these dogs, and treat them like they’re my children. Heck, they ARE my children.

When Pixie fell asleep in my arms, I couldn’t resist taking a video capture of her. She looks so peaceful, doesn’t she?

Life is good at times.

Pixie Puppy Sleeping in my Arms

It’s a commonly-known fact that I am the proud Daddy to Wicket and Pixie – my adopted doggies. I love them both like crazy, and they’re great animals. Sometimes I think that they are the owners, and I am but a pawn in the game of their life.

What you won’t find in my house are kitties. I’m just not really a cat person. Funny, I know, since my uber awesome assistant is named Kat. However, she’s human, and not of the feline variety. I suppose that doesn’t count then, does it? It’s not that I don’t like kitties, they just aren’t my cup of tea. I’d rather have dogs any day!

What kind of pets do you have – or have you had in the past? What are your favorite to have – and why?

Pixie spent time on my lap this evening in the office while I was checking out everything that you all posted today. She barked approval when we came across a link we wanted to share. So tonight… the roundup is courtesy of Pixie!

• Can Bill Gates take on hurricanes and win?
• What are the social classes of the “unpopular”?
• The Better Business Bureau is warning of social network scams.
• What will 2010 hold for Norton?
• Is GM gearing up for total failure?
• Have you verified your Twitter account?
• Magnetic brain stimulation can improve learning.
• How should you securely dispose of an old hard drive?

There are No Kitties Here

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Wicket’s Dog Bed?!

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Wicket has suddenly learned how to play Hide ‘n’ Seek with me. He hides… and I can never find him! He better not be surfing those Lassie websites again, or he’s seriously going to be in the dog house this time.

What the heck? He was sitting quietly on my computer desk the whole time? He’s becoming more of a camera hound than I am… I swear it! Maybe we should start a new show… live.wicket.com

Ok ok. You can play with the computer now Wicket. Just be sure to let your sister have a turn this time, eh?

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Wicket, the Internet Puppy

From one of our newest experts on Lockergnome:

• Dog Training: Using a Dog Kennel as a Dog’s Personal Space: Part 1
• Dog Training: Too Much Attention for the Dog
• Dog Training: Begging Behaviour and How It Starts
• Dog Training: How to Control Barking
• Dog Training: “Ack” – A Noise to Prevent Bad Behaviour
• Dog Training: Dogs Think in Terms of ‘Always’ or ‘Never’
• Dog Training: A Scared Dog and Your Response
• Dog Training: Dogs and Biting

Have you hacked your dog lately, or is s/he hacking you?

How to Hack Your Dog

That’s it! Wicket and Pixie are officially online, though I wouldn’t expect to hear much from them. They each have separate Dogster profiles: Puppy 1 and Puppy 2. I was prompted to set ‘em up after Ted Rheingold (himself) commented on a recent photo of Wicket. I don’t know what to say, so I’ll let Wicket speak for himself:

Arf woof, woof woof bark woof. Growl, growl, arf arf arf woof bark woof. Woof! Woof bark woof woof woof bark woof woof. Arf, arf! Warf! Ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-woo-woo! Graw, woof woof woof woof woof. Arf, woof woof arf arf woof woof woof. Grow-wow-wow, woof woof woof arf bark bark bark bark FARK bark woof woof woof arf arf, arf arf arf arf arf. Woof! Woof! Woof! Bark bark bark bark bark bark woof woof woof arf woof bark bark woof arf – arf arf arf, bark woof.

Please, no sudden movements or he’ll run away and pee on the rug. Oh jeez, now Pixie wants to say something, too:

…

Yeah – she’s a bit shy. Are you going to say anything, Pixie? I thought you wanted to say something. Now’s the time, because I’m in the middle of editing the post. Fine, but don’t say I didn’t at least give you the opportunity.

A Dog’s Social Network

I almost cried when I heard this tonight. Seriously. 60 puppies die in Mass. trailer fire:

“The puppies were all beautiful, healthy purebreds that were on their way to quality retailers in the northeast and eventually to loving New England families,” the company said in a statement. The company said it has a near-perfect safety record.

Retailers?! So help me God, if these beautiful creatures were being shipped to mall-based pet stores, I’m going to scream. Dogs die every day on the streets, in homes, at the pound, etc. – but 60 of them, en masse? That’s just so incredibly sad. The senseless loss of human life is to be equally lamented, but… puppies?! How could your heart not drop after hearing of this accident?

The Worst News You’ll Hear All Day