All Alone

Koira misses Pallo. We went down to the park this evening and Koira seemed a bit at loose ends. She had fun sniffing around, but didn't do much running. She kept trying to talk me into wrestling with her and trying to get me to engage in some zoomies, but the super muddy ground and that I was carrying my camera made that not possible.

We did find a 10 month old lab pup that Koira was cautious in approaching. Then, the puppy play bowed, Koira looked at me, I told her to go play, and they were off on a round of zoomies and wrestling. It didn't last too long though, as the lab's owners were headed in the opposite direction and I had to start heading back to the car.

I guess tomorrow we will have to bring the chuck-it to the park if I want Koira to get tired out.

Pallo Goes to Canada

That's right, I said Pallo, not we. I am staying home this weekend to work. Koira is staying with me. Pallo, on the other hand, is taking a fun trip to Canada with a flyball friend, Nancy, who needed a spare dog for their team this weekend.

I spent some time making up the list of stuff to pack for Pallo, then spent a good bit longer writing in a "Pallo notebook" about all his little weird things. I included his full registered name, his CRN (which is needed so that dogs can earn points in NAFA toward titles), and his jump height. Then, one page each on feeding Pallo, pottying Pallo, running flyball with Pallo, and of course another page of random stuff.

In addition to the notebook, Pallo will be traveling with his rabies certificate, proof of my ownership of him (a photocopy of his adoption paperwork), and letter written and signed by me, giving my friend permission to take my dog across the border and back.

Then, of course, Pallo also has his actual stuff to take along. He has a crate, a crate blanket, and a bag with an extra collar, two leashes, two squeaky toys, three tugs, some treats, a small soft sided cooler with his food (lamb hearts and meaty lamb bones), a water dish, and a roll of poop bags (which I know Nancy will have, but that I am sending anyway, because when at a dog event, there is no such thing as having too many poop bags).

I can't help but think I am forgetting something. Like, packing stuff for myself. Because I've never sent Pallo away for a weekend all by himself. He has always had either me or Koira along with him. I know that Nancy will take great care of him, and Pallo will have a blast running flyball, because that is what this dog was born to do, but still. I'm going to miss my little man.

Tasty Tuesday: DNA

Well, yesterday, I swabbed out Pallo's mouth, stuck the swabs into little swab-pouches, stuck those into an envelope with a sheet of paper with my contact information, and mailed the whole thing off.

That's right, I sent in Pallo's breed profile DNA test swabs. 

A handful of people had donated to this cause, one via the ChipIn on the right hand side of the page, the others in person at the park. Total, I have gotten about $15 towards the $70 DNA test. Then, after getting a $35 gift card to PetSmart, I spent some time looking around in the store. The clerks asked Pallo's breed, I said I charged a dollar for asking, they asked why, and when I said for breed profile DNA testing, they pointed out that they carry the same test I was wanting to buy online- the Wisdom Panel.

And then they gave me a dollar.

Their test was priced at $80, but had a $10 off coupon. Using the gift card, I paid $35 for the test. Couldn't resist it with it sitting right there.

Pallo was all sorts of excited when I called him over to me and started unwrapping the swabs. He thought for sure it was a big, tasty treat. He was less than thrilled when, instead of giving him a cookie, I peeled up his lip and swabbed at his mouth for fifteen seconds. He was even less thrilled when I repeated this same episode with the second swab. 

I then let the swabs air dry for five minutes (as per the instructions included), then placed them back into the sleeves. The sleeves with the swabs went into the included envelope along with some paperwork, and the entire thing was sealed up and placed in the mail. Once they receive the samples, the lab says to expect an up to three week wait for results. 

Basically, at the end of the month, I will know Pallo's breed make up. (Or at least, those breeds which the DNA test finds have a high probability of being part of his breed profile.) And I'm not going to tell you.

Or rather, not right away. I plan on telling the people who donated towards the test first. 

Don't worry, you still have a chance to Chip In if you want to be one of the first to know what crazy breed profile Pallo has. Is he is Vallhund mix for real? Does he have corgi in him? What about Chow Chow, German Shepherd, or some Jack Russel? I edited the Chip In to keep it open until May 25th, and to reflect the out-of-pocket price for the DNA test, minus what was paid using the gift card, which brings the total cost to $35. 

Have a great Tuesday!