Well, we are the dogs mom and dad got after they said they weren’t going to get another dog… Welcome to Minnesota. It is good here.

My best friend, Kipling Black, went over the rainbow bridge today. He was almost 13 years old. When we lived in the city, he lived across the street and whenever he escaped, he would come to our house. #dogsofbluesky

I’m now allowed to go for a 10 minute walk as I recover from knee surgery. I feel pretty good! #dogsofbluesky

I’m celebrating #tongueouttuesday while my brother continues to recover from his knee surgery. He’s doing really well so far. #dogsofbluesky

Home from the vet after ACL surgery. Everyone said it was a great success and that I am the bestest, strongest boy. I was putting weight in it already, so they let me go home early. #dogsofbluesky

Cuddling up with vet man after my surgery. He says I was the bestest boy and the surgery was a success. I had a completely torn ACL and a torn meniscus. I get to spend the night with the vet and come home in the morning. #dogsofbluesky

Don’t wake me up yet. I wanna stay in bed rather than go to the vet to have ACL surgery. #dogsofbluesky

Vet lady thinks I tore my ACL. I’ve had a bad limp since Thursday night when I was running to greet my human sister and injured myself. I have surgery scheduled next week and am supposed to not do anything fun until then. #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava is one year old today. We haven’t seen her in a while because she is off at hunting boot camp part 2. Rumor is that she will come for a visit in July. We will need to rest up until then. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Not in much of a hurry on #wigglebuttwednesday

Out for a walk with the little human on #TongueOutTuesday

My morning. Dad’s morning. Pool guy came to look at pool repairs and took part of the cover off. I promptly fell in and dad had to rescue me by laying in the pool deck, wrapping his arms around me, and rolling my soaking self out of the pool because I weight eleventy thousand pounds. #dogsofbluesky

Sunday was my 8th birthday. The little human came over and we got pup cups! #dogsofbkuesky

My morning spoonful of peanut butter helps me feel better throughout the day. Especially this time of year since I am allergic to the world. #dogsofbluesky

Hey dad, I’m ready for my morning spoonful of peanut butter. #dogsofbluesky

Today is my 8th birthday. It was a great day to relax both inside and outside. There have been promises of pup cups later in the day. Paws crossed! #dogsofbluesky

Staying inside tonight to avoid the bad weather and hoping that Hayden is not a gassy boy. #dogsofbluesky

Brothers resting together on a nice spring day. #dogsofbluesky

Synchronized lounging. Brothers always. #dogsofbluesky

Yesterday I went the office and helped test the emergency sirens during a zoom call with clients. They test the sirens on the first Monday of the month at 1pm. #dogsofbluesky

Cooler than yesterday. Warmer than tomorrow. Weather is unpredictable in March in Minnesota. And it’s #TongueOutTuesday #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava relaxing with one of her favorite training toys. She’s 10 months old, is still all legs, and now weighs 66 pounds. She’s taller than both of us and when she fills out, she might outweigh us too. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

I managed to reunite with my best friend, the last remaining snowbank, on our walk. I fear he doesn’t have much time left. #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava practicing in her backyard. She’s getting pretty good at this retriever thing. It’s too much like work for us. We’d rather lie in the grass and watch the world go by. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

We allowed mom a path to freedom this morning. She can go to the office unobstructed, because that’s who we are. #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava getting used to her hunting stand. #tongueouttuesday #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

Auntie says, “Little Ava needs help! Get that piece of grass off her eye!” #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky

Little Ava has joined neighborhood watch while grandpa visits to help with house projects. #dogsofbluesky

March in Minnesota. High school hockey tournament snowstorm. And turkeys in our back yard.

Resting up for the weekend. #dogsofbluesky

Mom and dad went to see little Ava over the weekend. She and her dad bought a house two weeks ago and she now has a big yard to play in. She continues to get taller than us. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

I am the guardian. #dogsofbluesky

My morning dose of porcupine peanut butter that helps with my arthritis and allergies. #dogsofbluesky

Back inside after frolicking in the snowstorm. #dogsofbluesky

Resting after a busy day at the office. #dogsofbluesky

This time we went to visit little Ava for the day. Doesn’t matter if she’s at our house or her house; she’s a perpetual motion machine. Mom got her to pause only for the briefest of moments. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

We always have each other’s backs. Hunter has been particularly aware of my sore leg and resulting severe limping over the past week. A visit to the vet lady and resulting treatment changes has helped. I’m almost back to normal. #dogsofbluesky #arthritisSucks

We have successfully patrolled the perimeter. All potential interlopers have been repelled. Deer and rabbits scampered away from the border. The trails of small mammals were also targeted. #dogsofbluesky

Intruder Alert! These three are in the yard again this afternoon. This is almost a daily occurrence. #dogsofbluesky

We’re still recovering after Little Ava’s visit. It might take more than a few days. #dogsofbluesky

From the time all three of us wake until the time we go to bed in the evening, this is what we do. And it’s -10F outside. Bitey face. All day every day. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Little Ava riding shotgun with her grandpa as they run errands. Also stopped by the off-leash dog park, but it’s so cold only one other dog was there. We went to the office with mom while they boondoggled. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Standing at the front door watching Little Ava’s dad depart. Hayden (left), Hunter (center), and Ava (right). She’s only 7.5 months old and is already taller than us. We each still outweigh her by 20 or more pounds, though. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns.

Little Ava has returned. She is staying with us while her dad goes snowmobiling for a few days. #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

As always, the first stop of the day. For all you knuckleheads being sent to Minnesota, buckle up and watch out for water balloons. #dogsofbluesky

Post-game snacks are warranted. #dogsofbluesky

Rumor has it that Little Ava is coming to visit next week. Apparently she had a bath after her hunting trip so she smells like lemons and poppyseeds rather than cornfields and pheasants. Let the chaos resume! #dogsofbluesky #LittleAvaReturns

Boops for everyone who needs one right now. #dogsofbluesky

Bonk on the fluff-filled head of the sad little orange man. Sound up!

Little Ava has graduated from hunting boot camp and went on her first pheasant trip over the weekend. She is happy to be home. Next time we see her she will be taller than us, we think. #LittleAvaReturns #dogsofbluesky