When my parents added the screened-in porch to the house, they also made another addition. A doggy door for Cubbie.

Now, he can freely go from the house to the porch to outside without anyone having to open a door for him.

I went to Des Moines a couple weeks ago to visit a friend on my days off, so my dad watched Cubbie. My dad used the opportunity to teach Cubbie how to use the doggy door.

Cubbie turns six in June, and he’s never seen a doggy door before. I figured he would get it, but I wondered how long it would take and what he would think of it. My dad says he used treats to help coax Cubbie through the door. (Cubbie will do anything for food).

On Easter, I got to see Cubbie use and enjoy the new door built just for him. Once he went through it safely a couple times, he was happy to go back and forth.

I’m pretty sure he loves having the freedom to do what he wants!

Cubbie Doggy Door Video

Posted under Cubbie stories

It was a wonderful Easter at the Wagner home again this year.

My parents recently added a screened-in porch to the house, so we spent most of the afternoon enjoying the new porch with our new lawn furniture.

We enjoyed a great meal, exchanged Easter baskets, my two brothers and I flew a kite (which we haven’t done since we were little kids) and we just relaxed.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a family holiday without Cubbie. He didn’t seem very excited by the kite. He spent the whole time just sitting in the grass, but he did enjoy the Easter baskets. He had to explore everybody’s goodies.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Cubbie likes to sleep… A LOT.

He literally sleeps on every piece of furniture in the house. From the couch to the chair to sprawling out on the bed.

When he’s not on a walk or playing with one of us toys, he’s probably sleeping.

When it’s a little too quiet in the house, he’s somewhere sound asleep.

He sleeps all through the night with me, but apparently 8-9 hours just isn’t enough!

 Not only does he sleep a lot, but he also snores a lot. He often wakes me up in the night because he’s so loud.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Posted under Pet Events

On Sunday, May 20th the community is invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Furry 5K Run/Walk at GatewayPark inCedar Falls.  The race starts at 7:30 am at the Gateway Park Shelter.  This run/walk is open to the public and runners with dogs are encouraged to bring their pets along for the run. 

 Early registration price is $25 per person and includes a t-shirt and resuable shopping bag filled with goodies for both humans and dogs! T-shirts and goodie bags are guaranteed to those who pre-register by May 14,2012.  After that, registration increases to $30 per person and a t-shirt and goodie bag are not guaranteed.  All proceeds benefit the CBHS.

 There will be awards for the top three fastest times in the following age groups: 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50 and over.  There will also be a contest for the best dog trick after the race! Impress the judge and win a prize!  The awards ceremony will begin at 8:30 am, with the best trick contest to follow

 Click here for a registration form.

Posted under Pet Events

Since I like to laugh and have fun, I couldn’t go all day on Sunday, April 1st without doing some kind of April Fools’ Day joke.

So… I pretended we had an annoucement to make about a new employee at KWWL. The newest member of the weather team is Cubbie!

Thanks to one of our directors at the station, Jeff Sandlin, for letting me tape this at the weather wall. We put a green cover over a table, which is why it looks like he is trying to jump down! And he actually did jump down once.

I’d love Cubbie to start bringing home a paycheck, but he is NOT joining me on Today in Iowa Weekends as the meteorologist. However, I do think it would be entertaining.

cubbie new meteorologist

Posted under Cubbie stories

Posted under Uncategorized

Last Sunday, Cubbie was outside with me soaking up some sun. I was trying to read, but as you can see, it was a little difficult with a dog on my lap.

It was close to 80 degrees on that day, which I’m loving for the month of March. Cubbie, on the other hand, was already getting too hot.

I found him in the woodchips. Not sure if the woodchips were cooler, OR if he just refused to sit in the tall grass because I haven’t mowed the lawn yet (he is very picky).

Being hot didn’t last for too long. You might remember the temperature dropped on Monday. (Although I still thought it was nice weather).

I did laundry that day, and when I took the sheets out of the dryer, Cubbie literally raced me into the bedroom. As soon as I set the sheets down on the bed, he was burying himself in them. He loves anything fresh out of the dryer, especially when he’s cold.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Waterloo, Iowa–For more than 130 years, the first Saturday in May has been reserved for the Kentucky Derby, the most exciting two minutes in sports. 

On the first Sunday this April, Young Arena will be the site for an even faster four-legged race as the Waterloo Black Hawks present the inaugural Dachshund Derby.

The Black Hawks invite Dachshund lovers from throughout eastern Iowa to participate in the race. Post time will be at the first intermission of Waterloo’s game against the Lincoln Stars.  The opening faceoff is slated for 3:05PM.  A $10 entry fee for each racing dog will be contributed to the Cedar Bend Humane Society to help homeless pets in Black Hawk County.  Discounted game tickets will be available to human race assistants.  As part of the event, each entrant is required to be assisted by two human companions.

Before and after the race, the hounds will be stabled in a designated room at the rink.  Participants are required to bring a kennel if planning to utilize the boarding area. 

Additional details are included on the accompanying race entry forms.  Entries are due by Tuesday, March 27^th.

Watch this You Tube video from a similar event in Sioux Falls.

Posted under Pet Events

(Cedar Rapids, IA)  Iowa Humane Alliance will hold an open house for supporters and members of the general public to view the construction progress to date on their new IHA Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM on Sunday, March 25th at 6540 6th Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404. Refreshments will be served, and tours of the facility will be offered.

When the IHA Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic is fully functioning, it will spay and neuter some 8,000 animals a year, preventing the births of literally tens of thousands of unwanted animals.

Posted under In the News