Boquet inherited her mother, Taco’s jumping and high energy. Taco could jump up halfway up a door. When Boquet was still a puppy, I taught her to jump through a hoop & could jump two or three feet in the air. Boquet learned tricks very quickly after teaching her the basic obedience commands. She learned sit-pretty, wave, rollover, and several other tricks. Because I knew that she a jumping ability, I wanted to try her out on a backyard agility course. We had some old, scrap lumber around our home, so I put together some obstacles, including several jumps, a tunnel, and a pause table.

When we moved, we took some of the stuff, but most of the wood was in bad condition. However, the local building supply company had a scrap pile for the taking. So, once I got an idea of what materials I would need of a obstacle course, we loaded up the truck with scrap lumber. Over the summer of 2004, we worked on building some of the obstacles. My brother built a 10in by 10ft teeter totter that is awesome.

We worked together on the dog walk, which consists of three planks that the dog has to walk over. For weave poles, I used old tool handles that I pounded into the ground. We also built a mini A-frame.

Boquet enjoyed being taught all the obstacles, especially when she has alot of energy left.

When I took Boquet to a 4-H dog obedience class, I asked if I could bring some of the obstacles. For several weeks other dogs, as well as, Boquet enjoyed trying out the obstacle course. Once dog obedience was over, I went back to training Boquet a few times a month. However, when I mentioned that we were building an obstacle course to our local Humane Society, they sounded interested in using it. Because the obstacle course was now going to be primarily the Humane Society's, the local paint store donated paint. We painted all the obstacles light yellow and blue, and we even mixed some sand into it to add traction.

Our goal to get it done was for Woofs & Wags Dog Walk and Fair (Sept. 17, 2005), and we made that goal. However, it rained most of the day, except for a few hours when it was time to walk and do the Obstacle Course Contest. It was fun to watch other dogs trot through the course, jump through a tire made of flexible drainage pipe, and weave through garden stakes. It ended up that a small basset/daushund mix with a twisted leg was the best obstacle course runner for being a beginner.

Boquet was the star of the Dress-Up Contest when she trotted out in a little dress and a flowered straw hat, which they called her "Sunday Best". Dressing up is a favorite (well, maybe not in her book) activity, especially when rolling down a nursing home hallway in a doll stroller. She likes it because she often gets treats, love, and becomes the center of attention. Like most small dogs, she thinks she is the queen of all dogs, and all others must bow down to her!

There was a life-changing event that happened to Bouqet on July 3rd, 2005. By reading The Miracle of Boquet, you will better understand the rest of the stories on this page.

Aug. 23, 2005- Celebrating Boquet’s 3rd Birthday

We went to visit Taco’s (Boquet’s mother) original owner that lives at an adult home, because he fell and broke his hip. He was very happy to see us again, even though Boquet couldn’t put on a trick show. She wheeled into the living room to show off her cart. Then I unhooked her, and she started bouncing across the room.

She was so happy to be able to walk on her own! Bo & Boquet were so excited that they bounced around the room like two little kids. Several people thanked us for coming to add an extra spark and excitement to their day.

The next stop was to thank the vet and to show him Boquet’s progress. When he saw Boquet in her flowered cart, he laughed and laughed. Then Boquet walked without the cart. The vet said that she’s doing pretty good; she’s not doing any damage, like scraping her feet. We wanted Boquet to have a picture with the vet, so I called her (with a treat). She turned and went in the opposite direction. Her body language said, “I’m not going near HIM; he might give me another shot.” I tried several other times to bring to close to the vet, but she would have nothing to do with him. Besides that, it was a nice visit.

The last stop was Countryside, the local nursing home. Bo & Boquet rode together in their redecorated doll (now dog) stroller. Our first visit was with a very outgoing lady, Helen who always wants to see the dogs. It usually starts like this, “Ah, can I hold my dog?” She just adores Boquet, giving her kisses, a nice back rub, and many ‘I Love You’s. After Helen, we visited a nice older couple who enjoy seeing “The Twins” with their hats on and riding in a stroller. Dorothy always asks for a picture of them, even though she already has several pictures. Another lady enjoyed celebrating Boquet’s birthday & her healing. She said on a previous visit, “Boquet, now we have something in common. We both have back problems and need back support when we walk.” We made a few other quick stops, before heading home. The best part of pet therapy is seeing the Lord’s love and joy being passed onto others who usually have a very monotonous life.

In the evening, we went over to the Humane Society to thank the ladies that loaned us the Doggon Wheelchair. They got a real kick out of how we dressed up the cart, and enjoyed watching Boquet wheel around as well as walk on her own.

Our Pet Portaits in our Silly Stroller! - From Boquet's Point of view

On Sept. 30, 2005, I was taken along with my father, Bo, outside to the garden in my silly stroller for my Pet Portaits. I had to put on various hats and kerchiefs. Then I had to stay as still as possible in my dog stroller, posing for the camara. I thought it was going to be quick, but I had to stay in that stroller for many pictures. Also they teased me with a treat, but didn't give it to me until the end. You shouldn't have seen me, all dolled up in staw hats and frilly kerchiefs next to my father who wore a cowboy hat and south-west kerchief. Then, because we were outside near the asters, there were bees buzzing around us, agitating me. Several times my hat would be taken off, and I would think I was all done. Then my mistress told me to lay back down. That was dissapointing. I thought that I was now free to run around, not pose for more pictures!

On Sunday, November 28, 2005, we played several games of hide-and-go seek with Bo & Boquet. First, I hid in a tree behind our house, near the swamp. Dad came out with the dogs (on-leash), who followed my trail right to me. I stayed with the dogs by the tree, while Dad hid. When he started to ring the bell, I released Boquet, but kept Bo on the leash. We followed Dad’s footprints in the snow, and because the snow was deep, Boquet hopped from footprint to footprint. After we found Dad in the car, Mom went to hide. Boquet knew exactly where Mom was, so she ran to the tree house. Dad & I hid, and soon after I rang the bell, Boquet came tearing through the snow, right to us. Mom, the dogs, and I then went to look for Dad. Again, through deep snow, Boquet hopped and bounced. It was so much fun to watch her, just like last winter! Then we headed inside for the night, and Boquet without hesitation climbed up the stairs.

Saturday, January 14th, 2006-Boquet is in heat, and because she is spotting, she is wearing her "britches". However, I went through about five pads, because she kept on pulling them off. I observed her pull a pad out of her britches and shred it up. In some ways, she is a little scamp but she also wants to be clean, I guess.

Since it has started to warm up, Boquet has gotten more active and lively. Sometimes she gets into mischief. Other times, she'll bark her head off at just about anything went she's on the screened-in porch. I think she's just enjoying life! For more details on her recent activities, visit Bo & Boquet's Antics page or her Disc Disease Updates page.

Probably one of the highlights of the 2006 summer with Boquet was she was able to enjoy life, without extensive limitations. Even though I didn’t spend much time playing, obedience training, or doing dog agility, I observed that she was still happy and very full of life. I think she was content with the fact that she could spend time outside in the fresh air, and when inside she could then sleep or get attention and loving from her family. The days and weeks seemed to slip by and blend into one another, but there where special memories.

The Vegetable-Eating Dog

It all started back when Boquet was a young pup and still with her littermates. Instead of feeding them dog biscuits or soft treats, we gave the young puppies small carrot sticks to chew on. Some of them ate them up like they were candy, but we did find some shriveled up carrots in the crate the next day. Boquet took an interest in lettuce cores and carrot sticks early on, and as she grew older, her taste for vegetables increased. However, she also had to have them a certain way or only certain parts. She will only eat the lettuce cores or ribs. When she’s done with them, though, you can’t find a trace left. With carrots, she preferred if you give them to her as treats rather than in a bowl and preferably cut up into chucks. We usually get a bushel or two of locally-grown broccoli each year, and one time we gave Boquet the large broccoli stems. She devoured them without much hesitation. Since then, she has enjoyed boccoli for an occasional treat. More recently, she has acquired a taste for pre-eaten corn cobs. She will chew the corn until only a small hard core remains. But, we only allow her to eat it on the screened-in porch, because she makes quite a mess when eating corn on the cob.

Other Foods Boquet Will Eat

Her list of non-vegetable foods also includes water melon rinds, peanut butter (licking out the last of the jar), peanuts, popcorn, and of course, any kind of meat. Boquet doesn't get these foods ever day as her only food, but instead as an occasional treat. There is one exception, and that is peanut butter. She likes it so much that she prefers it over canned dog food. Therfore, I use peanut butter to mix the Free and Easy for Dogs into, instead of canned dog food. What is really funnny, it that she seems to like the chunky peanut butter over the creamy. What a funny dog! Other foods that she will eat, but doesn’t particularly care for include: grapes, cantaloupe rinds, green beans, peas, and peppers.

Miss Frisky Whiskers

In the fall of 2006, Boquet has been especially frisky, therfore giving her the nickname "Frisky Whiskers". She has so much life and puppish ways that she can't help bounce, hop and very excited. When I let her out of the dog run to go back inside, she ran up the side hill toward our front door. When I called her, she came running back down, skided almost to a stop before turning around and heading back toward the front door stairs. This happened several times before she finally calmed down enough to come inside through the lower entrance. Other times, I followed her up the side hill and she quickly scampered up the stairs, as if her feet never touched all the steps. She has discovered that if she goes fast enough, she can climb up the stairs without falling or it being a strain on her front legs. Other times I assume that she wants to just go inside, but she instead runs off. That is what happened on November 25th. Bo ran off in the morning and Boquet barked constantly at him, as if to say, "Hey! You left me behind!" Bo eventually came back and was put in the dog run. I figured that by the time I let them inside, it would be safe for them to be loose, for Bo probably had gotten all out of his system. I thought wrong, because they took off. I ran after them and caught them, even though they were faster. Most of the time, however, Boquet listens and goes up the stairs without running off with Bo. Once I open up the door, Boquet runs at top speed across the rug and wood floor to her Dog Log House or to one of her beds. Sometimes she has so much energy that she chases Bo to his dog crate, then back to his bed, before temporarily stopping to chatch her breath. After that time of exercise, she lays down, often plopping down all at once, on her green dog bed or curling up inside the "cave".

Boquet is the happiest when she has her freedom inside the house. She seems to be able to keep better traction now. She visits us in the kitchen, asks dad for treats and lets us know when she wants anything. The look in the above photo is one of curiosity. She is always getting her nose into something. She'll go over to her Dog Log House and stick her whole head through the window. Boquet usually does this when she is hungry or is making sure that Bo hasn't eaten any of her food.

The Traveler

Boquet is an excellent traveler in the car, and in fact, loves riding. She doesn't like to look out the window much or stick her head out, but she enjoys sitting on my lap or sleeping on a blanket. Oh, that blanket sure does feel very soft, especially when its cold outside.

Since Boquet has been on the Free and Easy supplement, it's really helped her - no relapses. Because she was doing so well - actually too good for her own health, I decided to reduce her dosage, and have been doing that for about a year. She hasn't seemed to be any worse for wear, until recently (October 2008), when she had a couple episodes of back spasms, in which her hind legs kicked backwards and sometimes went limp for a few seconds. What a heart-failure that was! I increased her Free and Easy dosage, and she's back to her normal self again. Now, I'm just a little cautious, knowing that she is still fragile and she could become paralyzed again if I'm not careful.

It's also renewed in my a greater thankfulness for each day that we have with this precious gift from my Heavenly Father - Boquet being able to walk. All I know is that no matter what happens in life, good or bad, He does it out of LOVE. He Loves us so much that He uses even those very difficult situations in our life to help us grow closer to him and realize that "He will NEVER leave us or forsake us."

Over the years as I've been surrounded by the beautiful creatures and scenery around us, I've come to realize that those quailities and aspects of those things in nature that we are drawn to are a reflection of their Creator. Of all the creatures, a dog are the most like God - loyal, faithful, loving, patient, etc.

Thank You for Sniffing my Website!

 

Last Update: October 27, 2008