A little bit about each one

A big reason for writing this blog is because a lot of parents chronical things about their children and I am doing the same thing about my dogs. So here goes:

Cosmo

Cosmo is the oldest member of our canine family. He will be 8 years old on September 8th. He is the only one that we have an exact birthday for - he was picked up in a pet store by my brother's family. Linda runs a day care and while Cosmo took the pokes, prods and pulls for a while as he grew up he grew less tolerable. While he never bit nor niped a child he got more and more cranky and it was best he was kept in the basement - however with the busy, busy life of the McCool/Lumini household he was occassionally forgotten. So he came to live with us. He is definately a momma's boy (I believe I have Linda and Teresa to thank for that). He loves older people and can tolerate children. He does get stressed out when we have a lot of children over - he gets growly but when that happens we take him to the bedroom to chill out.

Cosmo was named because he had a star shape on his forhead which has since disappeared. I don't have puppy pictures but I have A LOT since he's lived with us.

He has his own quirks - after he "marks" he territory he runs like a little fiend - like he's so very very excited that he's told the dog world he's been there. He loves to give kisses - lots and lots of kisses. He also loves to get picked up and often crawls under the bed when he wants to get away from it all. He gets his haircut 4-5 times a year. He loves fetching (at home) and he 'loves' some toys more than others. He will play with Kiri but not Tayla - he's not too sure about her yet - but he doesn't hate her either. He will do anything for a treat - he knew sit, stay, come and sit pretty when he came to us. He also now gives a paw, lies down and rolls over. He has a little bit of arthritis in he left leg which is bothered more in the winter and when it does he just picks it up and hops along on three legs. He is my little man, my Cosmopolitan, Moe, Cosmoses and I love him very much.

Kiri

Kiri came to live with us in September of 2008. She was five months old and oh so adorable when we got her. We got her so Cosmo would have a friend. Although it tool a few weeks he finally realized she was here to stay and now he loves her. She looks up to Comso and plays with her but Cosmo was older than her puppy self so she had a lot of energy.

She knew sit and come but now can stay, give a paw and lay down. Roll over is a challenge because she gets scared to going on her side and when I put her there she freaks out and stuggles to sit up.

Kiri HATES loud noises; snowblowers, lawnmowers and most importantly fireworks. Fireworks don't scare her; they terrify her. She won't got out, hides in the basement and if you do try to take her out she crawls into the closet and hides there.

She is a people dog but only on her own terms. If you try to cuddle or sit beside her she gets up and moves but often will come up and lie by you - as long as you don't do if first. She's also a chewer - we have lost: shoes, cds, phones, socks, underwear, hats, photos, books, bed sheets and other things which I am sure I am forgetting.

While she loves us both she clearly favours Joe. She will give kisses on her terms - however I find it terribly funny that if Joe asks she might give him kisses but 90% of the time she's give me kisses.

She loves getting carried upstairs but is getting a little too heavy but often won't come to bed unless you carry her up - at least partway.