Possibly My Blondest Moment Yet...

OH dear.....yep I had one of "those" nights last night.  Not a binge-drinking one or stuffing my face with cake and ice cream while crying and watching chick flicks alone in the dark...no.  I had one of those "DUH" moments and then acted on it which made it into a "super DUH" moment...

Ready?

I went out to meet my friends with our dogs on the lake last night and there's a new person there with a very tall dog that looks like a whippet but a bit thicker.
He wore a coat and a reflective vest and was very fast and handsome!

I introduced myself and asked what kind of dog he was.
"A police dog" she said.
"Ohhh cool.  What are you training him to do?" -me
"To run in the fields".
I was thinking "What would be the point of that?!"
So I just simply nodded and said "Ahhh."

Later on, as we hiked in the woods surrounding the lake, I thought I'd be friendly again and asked her, "So are you a police officer or just his trainer?"
She looks at me and says, "I don't understand?"
So I repeated my question...and she looked so terribly confused.
Then I asked, "You said earlier he was a police dog right?  Like he'll learn to sniff for drugs or chase down bad guys - right?"

(And here's the punch line you've all been waiting for...)

"Oh no!  I'm not police!  He is a POLISH HOUND DOG.  I got him imported from Poland and he's a hunting dog breed."

Holy cow did I feel like an idiot.
Someone should just buy me a big box of blonde hair dye soon....

Regardless of Size - a DOG is a DOG...

I don't care what size your dog is... he or she is still a dog.  They have natural instincts and it's hardly going to do them any good if you constantly scoop them up when you see a dog bigger than yours walking towards you.

Yep - I had "one of those" days and on top of it all - "one of those walks" where my dog was minding his own business, sniffing grass - praying I'd let him find that hedgehog or hare....and these two ladies saw me with their white dogs about the size of a baby's pillow - scooped up their dogs to shuffle past me.
I was sending a text message to a friend and looked up and when I saw they were up ahead and coming towards me, I tightened my grip on Loki's leash (just so he doesn't pull me) and put my phone away.  I tried to smile until I saw suddenly your dogs were in your arms and you were both giving me looks of disgust for - what?! For having a bigger dog?!  Shockingly - they do exist!!

I hate to be prejudice here - but what is with female dog owners?!?!?!  I am one - and maybe I understand dog behaviour a bit better than you two - but honestly, the most my dog would do is sniff your dogs' rear ends.  Because that's how they greet each other.  You don't need a degree or any special education to know this information...it's just common sense.
Just because a dog is bigger than yours doesn't mean it'll bite yours...or kill it....
If my dog was the type to bite - he'd have a muzzle on and not a harness.  And I probably wouldn't take him out around 10:30pm, when most people are getting their last walk of the night (and last pee-break for Fido) before going to bed....

I totally understand if your dog just had surgery (pretty sure they didn't) and had a cone on....or if your dog was vicious - well I certainly hope you have enough common sense to put a muzzle on your dog - regardless of the time you're out!

But seeing as you were about 100 meters away - if that, and nobody's dog growled, barked or got their fur lined up along the backs of their neck - I think it's safe to say - they would've been civilized and sociable.

I rarely have issues with male dog owners and their dogs - big or small....even with the language barrier.  I just smile and say "Loki's Hyv�� (good) ja poika (boy) and friendly!" - and my body language, and Loki's, is enough to encourage a man and his dog to come over.
But female dog owners - I have no idea what the heck is your problem.  (This mostly applies to female dog owners of smaller breeds or puppies...)

I hate to break it to you small-breed owners (nothing against the breed at all!) - but they are still dogs.  They have 4 legs to run away if they don't like Loki (or me), they have a voice to bark a warning and they have natural instincts to be curious and want to meet other dogs.

So if you see me and this dog (see photo below) - please don't treat him like he has a disease because he's wagging his tail and eager to meet you and your dog.  Loki's one of the friendliest and most patient dogs I know ( he has to be to deal with our almost 2-year old who climbs and jumps on him regularly):

Loki is my younger dog (he turns 4 in December 2011) and is a neutered male.  He's very friendly and only growls if your dog appears aggressive first.  He is a mix of husky, labrador, Springer Spaniel (not sure) and collie.

And in case you're wondering what would happen if the tables were turned - I'd love it for a bigger dog to meet my little dog (if I had one).  If there was an issue - then I'd step in between or keep walking by...if not - why should size matter?

It's a shame the Finnish attitude of "keeping to yourself" is smothered upon their dogs.

**Update: There is a possibility that these dog owners I bumped into tonight had good justification from running past Loki - as my husband informed me, after the fact, that Blue had growled and lunged at some "little white dog" - but we're not sure if it's the same owners or not.  Loki was with Blue and only acts "aggressive" if Blue does - I guess to impress the older brother?
I apologize if that is the case- but still hold my belief that if the dog is not lunging towards yours in anger - you shouldn't be carrying your dog.**

A Great Deed!

A few days ago, I posted about a lady who is blind and wasn't getting help to get to the bus or off at the proper stop.
Well, I'm happy to let you know - that a couple of days ago, I noticed she was walking quickly towards her stop and a young man who was biking by, waved down the bus, then waited to make sure the bus driver would stop and wait for her!!!
I was so pleased at this genuine act of kindness - I admit - I teared up a bit.

Oh and in case you're wondering, regardless of your age or disability - you have to pay to get on the bus.  (This applies to Jyv�skyl� at least).
In Halifax, those that are legally blind - do not have to pay to use the bus.  And they may bring their guide dog as well, who also gets on for free.
No other pet (unless in a cage/kennel and is small, like a cat) is allowed on the bus.
I don't know if they've changed this rule yet - because I remember reading about people with other disabilities were disappointed they couldn't get on the bus for free and it wasn't considered very fair.  (This was prior to me moving to Finland - I have yet to read anything else on the matter online).

On a funny note, because you're allowed bringing your dogs (on leash) on the bus in JKL, a young man brought his Australian Shepherd puppy (blue-eyed, brown and white patches - aka adorable!) and all 8 high school girls sitting ahead of me squealed/screamed "IHANA KOIRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (Lovely dog! - Ihana is like a "cutesy" term too.)
I'm pretty sure I may have lost a fraction of my hearing and the bus driver would've crashed had we not been stopped and pulled over.

And dude, just an FYI - it was written all over your face that you only got the puppy to use it as a chick magnet.

**WARNING FOR DOGS IN KORTEPOHJA AREA!!!**

HEI KAIKKI KETK� ULKOILUTTAVAT KOIRIAAN KORTEPOHJAN ALUEELLA! Joku Uuno on levitellyt lihapullia maastoon, jotka on myrkytetty!!!!! mm. Em�nn�ntien leikkipuiston viereen!!! Yksi koiranpentu ja kissa on jo kuollut, ja kaksi koiraa on vatsahuuhtelussa... :( Levitt�k�� sanaa...


In English:


There's somebody going around the Kortepohja area (specifically near the Em�nn�ntie Children's Playground) leaving meat balls for dogs to eat.  The problem with this is that they are poisoned.
There has already been an a couple deaths (1 puppy and 1 cat) and 2 dogs are currently seeking medical treatment.


PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR DOG-LOVING/WALKING FRIENDS IN JYV�SKYL�, FINLAND.


It's awful that this is near a playground and I apologize this is coming a couple days after having received the message myself through a friend.

Bubba's Bites!

Bubba's Bites is the name of my future dog biscuit bakery!  I hope to open up an on-site bakery by the end of 2012.
For those living in Jyv�skyl�, I am offering free samples for your dogs until August 1, 2011.
For those living outside of Jyv�kyl�, but still in Finland, I will be more than happy to ship some samples to your dog for the fee of postage (2,50�).


Here's the Finnish site - however it still needs to be translated.  It should be fully translated by September 1st, 2011.

Oh and here's the Facebook Fan Page - which I update regularly.
There will be contests (first one to come by 12pm Finnish time, July 17th, 2011) regularly - where you can WIN FREE BUBBA'S BITES! (Including FREE SHIPPING!)
**Currently contests and shipping is only available throughout Finland**

So please, spread the word about Bubba's Bites (Real and Fresh Ingredients...Doesn't Your Dog Deserve The Best?) - I only use real ingredients!
NO added salt, sugar, MSG, dyes or coloring, additives or preservatives!

Blueberries make your fingers go purple...

So Tim came home early from school today (he also went in early) and we decided to go hiking in the woods behind our building. It was sunny and cool and just warm enough that I didn't need a sweater.
I wish I brought my camera! There's still a lot of greenery - considering our leaves are already turning color...and the dogs looked so ecstatic when Tim found a "blueberry patch". I put " " around blueberry patch because it really should be called a "Blueberry Forest". The patches were huge and everywheres! I normally have a hard time finding blueberries because they're usually here and there and wayyyyyyyyy over yonder...but nope. I stayed in one spot for about 5 full minutes - collecting berries.
I will be uploading photos on Facebook shortly - and yes your eyes are correct. All I had with me were a couple clean and empty doggy bags - so I filled one half way (about 2 cups) with the wild berries we found. I think I could spend all day there picking and there would still be plenty to go around. I don't think many people go as far into the woods as we did - there were so many berries. And about 99% of them were in great condition! Even the ones that had landed on the earthy grounds were in great shape.
Blue's paw has a purple stain on it - from running through the patches and both him and Loki got excited to find something they could eat (and not get in trouble for - like grass or poo...the second being very rare but still) that they would just munch on different parts of the patches and hope there was a berry or two attached. Once they realized that Tim and I were actually picking them - they'd sneak up on us and sniff the patch, waiting for the fingers to grab the berry and SLURRRP! The berry was gone. Very clever dogs.

We also tried a dessert with blueberry and a custard sort of filling too. It's not too bad. I've noticed that some of the packaged baked goods has black specks in it - possibly saffron? Either way - it's yumm-o.

Marinated meat seems to be a normal trend (doesn't seem like you pay an arm and a leg for extra marinade - unlike Canada...you're expecting to pay atleast another 2-3$ if not more), chicken is very cheap (wings or other pieces), along with pork. Steak doesn't seem to be very common here ...mind you I haven't really looked in the big grocery store - that was a quick run-around while we had someone driving us. However mixed beef and pork chunks for stew is very common along with the ground mixture...I recall Heidi Klum making her "famous German Balls" on Ellen DeGeneres - and she used a mix of ground pork and beef...maybe a European thing.

PS They don't call it "Finland" here...it's "Suomi"....weird eh? Something written in English will say "made in Finland" for example...but on our new dictionary - it has "Suomi" instead.