Ace Face

This would be the nickname my dad uses for Ace lol, it doesn't make any sense, but it sure has stuck....I find myself calling him "Ace Face" now hahaha!

Ace's first birthday went really well. He did manage to get into come cough drops, so he suffered from a bit of a stomach ache all day, so we had to forego the "hooman food"

BUT, he did get a super cute triceratops toy, and a giant bone, along with a cool bone from one of our new friends here in New York! OH and did I mention...I found a replacement ORANGE MONKEY! it's a miracle! He almost died when I pulled it out of the bag. haha this one is a bit bigger than his original monkey..so he drags it around somewhat...but he loves it!! He even tries to take it on walks with us...I got it at Bed Bath & Beyond for 11$. Great deal :) because it LASTS, he isn't able to shred through it like everything else...

He had a lovely day overall!!

Cute little bug :) He has been having ridiculous fun in all the snow, we got a storm last night, so this morning he romped and "helped" us shovel the driveway? Yea..not so much.

He found a coffee cup in our recycling bin which had just been tossed out. It had some coffee in it at the bottom...so he poured it out onto the snow..and then ate the snow.."Coffee Snow Cone!" ...He's smarter than he looks...hahaha!!

Thanks so much for everyones recommendations on the crate and aggression. I have been working with him everyday and it seems to be getting better. I remain calm and assertive. I love it. 

This is his new thing...sitting in my laundry basket..forget the beds Ive bought him...he would rather chill in here...haha

This week is a busy one for us. Between work, and I am returning to school tomorrow (Friday), Ace is somewhat left out. I considered a lot of things such as getting a dog walker to come mid day, but realized, this just isn't enough! For now, I live just outside the city, and will be commuting into NYC to get to school, and then rushing back to get to work. I have to be realistic...that doesn't leave much time to get this little Aussie's energy out! (which never runs out no matter what...)

My dad has a friend who lives about an hour away in New Jersey, he has a huge piece of land with sheep and another dog. SO...he offered to take Ace for a few weeks, or as long as I need almost as a "Doggie Sleep Away Camp", of course, this breaks my heart, because...I love having him around everyday, but with this new schedule, I won't have the time I used to to give to him. This will of course...only be temporary, as I am trying to find a new job, that way, I am hoping to move into the city, and then Ace will join me. ( I have dreams of Ace and I going for "jogs" in central park together...) In the mean time, I will visit him on the weekends (our cousins live right near by). But at least this way, during the week, he will have tons of space to race around in, and even SHEEP to herd!!! We went last weekend to check it out and let my dad's friend meet Ace and he loved it there! I could barely get him in the car when it was time to leave!!! 

I will post updates of Ace's adventures out in the country!

Oh..and did I mention my dad's friend is a great dog trainer as well? I think this is just what he needs! hhahaa

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!

Ace's First Birthday!

I CANNOT believe it! a Year?!?!!? Since we waited eagerly by the phone awaiting the call from the breeder to let us know our little boy was here!!!

I was so happy that day, I cried!

We met Ace a 1.5 weeks after he was born!

For his birthday, I plan on taking him to Petco and letting him pick a new toy, I'm sure he will pick a Dragon, like always hahaha, and he's getting a GIANT bone!

I didnt make any doggie friendly cake, but Ace LOVES fast food...I know...even I shouldn't be eating it, but sometimes I get the craving. He likes chicken nuggets and french fries, so I might get him some McDonalds haha. I remember for Bandit's birthday, his mommy got him a plain burger and put a candle in it! I might just copy this fabulous idea!!!

Other than Ace's birthday, he has been enjoying the snow to the fullest! He jumps like a bunny rabbit and burries his face in it! He could probably play in the snow all day! However, I would like to keep my fingers and toes, so I am usually the bad guy who cuts his play time off lol

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be better about my blog! I love the blogging community so much and I miss it greatly!

I have a question/concern for my fellow doggie parents though. In the last bit, Ace has developed some aggression issues. He will go totally rabid when it comes to his crate. Such as, if someone goes near it, (even though it is in my room next to my bed) he goes nuts and will try and bite. I have to put snacks in there, and let him go in on his own, and then close the door while he eats his snacks, otherwise he will go crazy! :( It's awful. I don't know why this started, but I do not know how to fix it. I even got him a bigger crate for christmas!

Another is with Sammy around, he gets ridiculously possessive of his toys and snacks. If Sammy even so much as goes near one of Aces bones or toys Ace goes crazy, barking, and jumping around.

I tried to give Ace and Sam each a treat last week, and Ace jumped up on me grabbed his snack, and then went crazy and bit my arm for sammies. I was so scared!

I read that he probably feels a lack of leadership! 

I need help and advice! Please!!

He is such an angel 90% of the time, but this other 10% is bad, and I don't want it to get worse. It would be awful if he bit someone else...

It's Beginning to Feel A Lot like Christmas!

Ace's First Snow Play! He saw snow for the first time just after Thanksgiving when I took him with me to stay with a friend a few hours North of the City. It was light snow though, and he only got to see it for a few minutes on the ground before it melted. 

This morning at home however, we woke up to find snow everywhere!!!

I think he is in his element....he just can't get enough!

Even though I was freeezing, I piled on 10 layers and took Ace and Sammy to the park before Work this morning. He didn't want to get into the car to leave he was having so much fun!

On a side note, I noticed lately that Ace's bum hairs have gotten so wild that "yucky stuff" gets stuck in the hair. I have to wash his butt constantly! (which of course he doesn't like)

With treats in one hand, and scissors in the other, I went scissor happy on his long hairs on his bum. Let's just say...I will probably never be hired as a dog groomer....

I will try and get a photo, it's pretty funny actually. 

Poor guy, shoulda seen his face when he looked over at the huge pile of hair on the floor. I think he was pretty upset with me. 

I'm going to do a touch up tomorrow...

How often do you usually bathe your fur baby? I usually have to bathe him once a week or once every 2 weeks. He gets SOOO smelly...I don't understand!

*I have been trying to measure Ace to see how tall he stands, but he ate my tape measure..., so I'm still trying to get on that*

Nom Nom Nom Apples :)

A Lovely Video of Ace Nomming on an Apple :) I always sharee <3

He Likes to Nibble them with his front teeth! hahaaha

Can it be?!?!

It Can Be!

Ace is back!

After some reserve about getting back into blogger, I finally broke down and have decided to come back! I have missed..Ace as well...all of our blogging friends! 

What fun is puppy/dog parenthood if you don't have great friends to share your adventures with!

After moving to NYC, there have been a lot of changes which have prevented me from staying in touch with blogger :( Now that I am much more settled I am thrilled to be back in touch!!

Ace was neutered 10 days ago! FINALLY! He is a whopping 36 pounds (Will he ever stop growing?!?! What happened to a MINI australian shepherd?!?!?!)  and NEVER stops running around! We go to the park everyday before I go to work :)

His big brother (my parents dog) Sammy is his bestest friend in the whole world...even though Sammy is more of a retired dog at 8 years old and would probably rather have his toenails yanked out than have Ace jumping on him all day, he takes it like a champ!

I feel like there is so much to catch up on! But for now, enjoy some adorable pics of Ace wearing his short lived, yet ADORABLE "Mama's Boy" Tee that my sister picked out for him!

The billowing chest hair really does it for him...

An Onslaught of Photos!

In catching up, I figured I would bombard you with pictures from our last few weeks!!

:) 

*The houses in the area have yards filled with vines, Ace is OBSESSED with laying in them*

*Swimming away at the park...*

*He really wanted to get to those geese*

*really...*

*Watching my younger sister on the swing*

*NOT sharing the bone..they both like to lay on my bed...*

*Model Pose*

*Ace & my cousins dog Coolio! She is about 7 I think*

*Spooning with Sam*

*Aw...SamSam...*

*Playing with Coolio*

Ace and Sam are best of friends and actually won't go on a walk unless the other is there...as we experienced this evening. They play with each other all day and I hope Ace will learn good behaviors from Sammy :)

Ace is SO loved here and gets attention all day long! The crating is hard for me because as soon as I put him in there and walk away....someone comes and lets him out for another play time or walk!

He never stops....

We took a great little drive over to New Jersey to visit some family and stayed the night! Ace played with my cousins dog, and they actually just got a new puppy! A little golden retriever names Layla! We can't wait to go over and meet her asap!

Oh, I also switched Aces food, since the food company we used in Canada doesn't deliver here in the USA as of yet. I came across Blue Buffalo...there "Raw" diet food. The one with the wolf on the front. It is a duck and other meat food with no grain or corn!

I wasn't sure if Ace would like it because he can be pretty picky...but he LOVES it!

I like that the ingredients are not a bunch of junk...I always worry about him.

Does anyone else use this food? 

There will be many more updates to go!

It sure is good to be back!

The finer things in Life....

Thats Sam the 8 year old golden...who's birthday is actually today, August 18th! He is 8 years old! and Ace...snuggled in next to him. They play all day, biting and pawing each other, by the end of the day, they are so worn out it's really cute :)

This picture and moments like this is why I love having a dog in my life (or dogs) haha 

:)