Poor Hudson

Where do I start with Hudson. Well, if only it was a bad case of gingivitis. We have been through a roller coaster of a ride with the dog. We should have budgeted more for him. After taking him to the internal medicine doctor we came to the conclusion he had snout cancer. We had to do one more lab test to rural out a fungal infection before starting him on steroids and pain meds. We had prepared ourselves with Hudson having snout cancer and started to prepare for making sure he had a great time with what he had left with us. Well, the fungal test came back positive, so he doesn't have cancer. The vet offered scans, surgery, and all sorts of treatment with only a 60% cure rate. It would only cost us $12,000. When all three kids ask can we have a car, go to college....I will just whip out a picture of the dog and say no.....This is what you get! A picture of the dog that took your money. We decided to turn down the surgery offer and treat him with oral medications. The oral medications are still a bit pricey, but we are going to give it a try for a bit and hope it can help. The good news is that Hudson is now on the Walgreens prescription plan. For a small fee he qualifies for meds at a very reduced rate due to him not having insurance. I now go to the pharmacy for meds for the dog! Wish us luck, Rob is defiantly not ready to let his first born go and I am struggling a tiny bit as well!

Hudson is under the weather

Poor poor Hudson!

Gingivitis in humans is not good and it isn't good in dogs either. Hudson has a server case of it along with some sort of snout infection. We did all the testing to make sure it wasn't cancer. I use the term "we" loosely better say Rob is at the helm of talking care of his first born. He has been drooling and causing rust stained areas on the carpet, sluggish, and looking plain pathetic, just to be clear that is Hudson not Rob. Poor guy isn't eating and I refuse to buy soft dog food because we spent a lot in his treatment. I just add warm water to his kibble and it does the trick! After the amount of money I spent on having him looked over and putting him to sleep to have his teeth cleaned he gets the frugal way to eat food we already have! Good news is he is on the mend, but my pocket book will take some time to recover. We didn't budget this much for the dog! I'll tell the kids someday that part of their inheritance was spent on the dog, but with Rob he just might leave inheritance to the dog?!

Happy 9th Birthday Hudson

Hudson was thrilled with his birthday celebration this year!!! We let the kids wish it to him this year!

Hudson

This post is for my dear husband and his crazy love for the dog. Hudson is still a part of our family. Every since Rob read and trained Hudson from the Dog Whisper books he is tolerable. The kids love him and even Bryson is forming a bond with him. Rob has mentioned that Hudson needs a buddy, meaning another dog, but I don't think that is a good idea. Aunt Laurie had that same idea, and Uncle Tom caved and they now have two dogs. I am scared Rob might be getting new ideas, but I think showing some extra love towards Hudson might buy me some more time!

Happy Birthday Hudson

Hudson is 7 years old today. I have threatened him many of times that I was going to take him to the pound and I can proudly say I haven't done that in so long that I can't remember the last time I told him. It makes me laugh to think we used to get him a doggie b-day cake and throw him a party and invite his dog friends over to play. What a hoot! I treat him like a dog now, but Rob still treats him like a child. I am very thankful that Rob brought the dog whispering ways into our home, that is why I don't threaten to take him to the pound anymore. I am sad to report that I never got him his bone a year ago, but this year we told Mason that it was Hudson's birthday and Mason instantly requested to get to eat some of his cake. I think he was disappointed to learn that we got Hudson a bone rather than a cake, but forgot the disappointment when we let him give the dog a bone.
http://chaplinclan.blogspot.com/2008/08/happy-birthday-hudson.html

Camp Bow Wow

While we were gone Hudson went to Camp Bow Wow. It is a kennel that allows the dogs to go to doggie day care during the day. Hudson had to go for an afternoon to "try out" and I was sure he would come back with a less than average score, but he shocked me and got 4 out of 5 "tail wags". His passing grade allowed him to stay while we went to the beach. They even had a link you could go and visit so you could view your dog at camp bow wow and watch him play with others. Our internet at the beach house was a bit sluggish so we only viewed him once, but he seemed happy. He did come home tired as can be so that is a plus.

That dog

Hudson being lazy. I can't believe it. Rob was downstairs relaxing in the basement when he heard rustling in the tent. He lifted the tent flap to find Hudson snuggled up inside. I am amazed he crawled in himself.

Rob the Dog Whisper

Rob had a good trip and came back with new knowledge not only from the conference but also from a show he watched called the Dog Whisper. The "Dog Whisper" is hired and brought in by people to help train and communicate better with their pets. In just one episode Rob was able to learn a lot. Last night as we were watching TV and Rob decided to get a snack and eat it on the floor. We were having a conversation and Hudson was approaching the room when Rob jumped up and just stood by his food. I thought he was sick or something, but he just stood by his food and stared at Hudson. Believe it or not Hudson didn't come any closer and then went and laid down on the other side of the room. No words were spoken, Rob informed me he was speaking dog body language that he learned form the show. Sure I poke fun at Rob, but he might be onto something?

Reindeer Games

We have been spreading the holiday cheer and then some. We went to Rob's work Christmas party last night and knew we were going to have a good time when the shots were broke out at 8:15pm. Rob had a better time than me, ever since my early morning wake up calls I seem to keep myself a bit tamer at parties. He did multiple shots and paid for it today while I did shots, but I was sneaky and did shots of water and claimed it was vodka.
We did come home with a gem of a gift from the gift exchange. Since the party people were a little under the influence the exchange was a free for all. Instead of drawing numbers everyone went and picked a gift. One of the girls who has the honor of working with Rob in the office wanted him to have this wonderful dancing reindeer. Prior to kids I never knew how dancing fish, flowers, or animals aka hamsters ever sold. Not only did Mason love the dancing reindeer, Ellery is amused by it as well. She even cries when Mason hogs it or takes it away when she finally gets a hold of it. Even Hudson had to get a closer look at it. I wish I had a better video to post of it, but I of course let the newness wear off of it and in a desperate attempt this is all I could capture.

Hudson is a Baaaaaad Dog

I have to stop taking my frustration out on the dog in front of Mason. The frustration starts at dinner time. Hudson jumps uncontrollably at the door or if he is inside he keeps sneaking closer and closer to the table. He sometimes gets a nibble of something he shouldn't that Mason has catapulted off the table and I scold Hudson with "Bad Dog". I didn't realize that I say it in a deeper voice until we were sitting at the table and Rob just let Hudson in and he started creeping towards the table when Mason, in a deep raspy voice, says "Hudson is a Baaaadddddd Ddddooooogggg." Not just a bad dog, but a bad dog with a sheep baaa at the beginning followed by a long drawn out dog. Rob immediately looks at me and says, you know he didn't learn that one from me. Stinkin kids ratin me out. I was able to capture another incident on video.


On a lighter note I found Hudson going crazy in the yard and attempting to climb the play structure. He had chased a squirrel up the play structure and was determined to get it. The poor squirrel eventually took a leap of faith and jumped from the top of the structure over the fence and scurried up the closest tree. Hudson was disappointed that his prey had escaped and ran the fence barking at it for a good 15 min.

Happy Birthday Hudson

Hudson is now 6 years old. Poor thing we used to celebrate his birthday with cakes and other dogs, then we went to only giving him a bone. This year he hasn't received his birthday treat. We plan to find a dog boutique where we can purchase his special bone, but we haven't gotten around to it yet. Maybe Rob is finally starting to treat him like a dog? Everyone told me that we would start treating him like a dog after we had "real" kids and I didn't believe them, but I do treat him like a dog now just not Rob. I do threaten to take him to the pound when he acts up at dinner time, but it only it tough talk. I will always have a special place in my heart for Hudson. Who would have ever thought our crazy dog would relax enough to let a child lay next to him. There is hope yet. Oh, and I am currently reading the book Marley and Me although it is about an out of control lab, it does remind me a lot about Hudson.