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Follow-Up Friday – May 16, 2014

May 16, 2014 By Jodi

Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-up Friday, where I highlight reader’s comments, answer questions and generally wrap up my week. 

You Make Me Laugh – May 11, 2014

Sherri said, “Can you imagine how wonderful a used dish towel must have smelled to her? ”

I’m sure it smelled delicious.  I have a habit of wiping my hands when I’m cooking.  I’m sure there was probably some food smells on it.

2 Brown Dawgs said, “Now see, brown dawgs would eat that dish towel.”

She was getting ready to rip it so I took it away.

Animal Couriers said, “our girl always steals knickers and socks”

She likes Grandma’s knickers. 😉

Sampson’s Saga Continues

I don’t want to jinx myself, but I do want to tell you Sampson had physical therapy on Wednesday and the therapist said she thought he was walking better and I think he is too.  There are many thoughts going through my mind, like he’s built differently than most dogs, he’s not a high energy, super active dog and maybe he’s just a slow healer.  Besides, I know when my muscles hurt I don’t want to use them,  so I think we won’t be making a decision very quickly.

I'm like a fine wine Mama, it just takes time.

I’m like a fine wine Mama, it just takes time.

Vlad and Barkley’s Dee asked, “Has anyone talked to you about, or did you try Adequan injections for Sampson’s joints?”

No, but thank you for the information, I intend to research this and be fully prepared when we meet with the surgeon next Saturday.

Run Fast, Run Free Sweet Bella

This was the sweetest comment.

Barb said, “The pain of losing one of our fur babies is never easy AJ but in time you will recall all the good memories you had with Bella, and gradually do so with a smile instead of a tear.”

West Virginia Back-woods Hood-rat

Oh yes I will.

Oh yes I will.

Genevieve said, “Get a grip, people. If you don’t care about my dog, at least care about yours. Ugh.”

Do you think that people are just clueless? Like the thought that a dog might not be friendly, or might hurt their dog just never enters their minds?

Jan asks, “Can you have the Animal Control Officer talk to the owners of these dogs? ”

I’m sure I could.  But I’m a bit paranoid, I worry that once I officially complain about someone, they will be targeting my dogs.  I do not want to get into a ‘she said – she said’ situation.

Jen K tells about a fellow that just opens his door and lets his dog out, “Once, both his dogs ran past him as he opened the door for UPS and Moses and I were walking by. My solution? I dropped the leash. I was pissed because this was like the third time they’d escaped past him through the open door, so go ahead, Moses. Let my 150lb Newf handle two 60lb dogs. Take the leash – and me – out of the equation and see what happens. They’d get close, but it was all noise – they had no intention to start something serious. Moses returned the attitude he was getting, and they both immediately backed off and the owner got them from the middle of the street, apologizing. I picked up Mo’s leash and we continued on without a word.  Seriously people. Pull your heads out of your asses.”

When we are in the woods that is exactly what I do.  When she was attacked by two bulldogs, that is also what I did and I would have argued that in court if I’d had to. What Animal Control told me was if she got away from me, she could be considered at fault.  Which I would also argue in court.  Who, in their right mind is going to hang onto a leash in a dog fight.  That’s just stupid if you ask me.  Plus, since we were already in the street, I couldn’t take a risk of having her be hit by a car.  I think if push came to shove, I would kick those dogs if I had to.

Blueberry’s human made me laugh (I like this woman) “Don’t you just wish that we as responsible citizens had the power to ticket and fine these ignorant dog owners? Wait, better yet we would have these iggies line up outside and we (the responsible dog owners) could fling dog poo at their faces. First offense: 1 load of poop to the face; Second offense: 2 loads; Third offense would be watery poo at their face in addition to a shock from a dog shock collar. Oh if only I were in charge…mwahahaha. I choose dog poop to the face for any offense – not just failing to scoop poop.”

Maybe we could run on a split ticket? 😉  I like the way you think.  I could easily become a poo flinger.

Jan K asked, “Was animal control going to go visit those people and talk to them?”

I think he wanted to, because he asked where they lived.  Granted the woman did not have control over her dogs, but at least she was outside with them, the other dog was outside by itself and he didn’t seem to be too concerned about that.

Spam be Damned!

Jan K said, “200 per day? Ha! That’s nothing…..they were hitting me at 500+ for a couple days there, to the point where my server restricted my account because it was using too many CPU’s!”

I don’t understand why some blogs get so much spam, while others get little to none.

Jenna, Mark “Husky-crazed” Drady said, ” I have only ever got one spammer. It was for a gay man and he wanted a sexual partner! ”

I hope he was interested in you or your hubby.  ;-0

Flea said, “Imagine clicking over for your dose of Heart Like a Dog and finding out that someone with a potty mouth had taken over? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I can’t even imagine.”

Ha ha, I was waiting for someone to say something.

We have to help it!

We have to help it!

Kari said, “At least she was trying to make friends with the statue.  Mia barks at reindeer statues around Christmas.

We had one of those on our walks at Christmas too.  The funny thing was at night she was fine with it all lit up, but one night it wasn’t and she was so worried about what was on that lawn!

That’s all for me folks, have a wonderful weekend!!

 

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Filed Under: Follow-Up Friday, Uncategorized Tagged With: Delilah, Dog, Humor, Life With Sampson And Delilah, Sampson

Spam be Damned!

May 15, 2014 By Jodi

Spam be Damned!

Remember that problem I had with spam?  I’m not joking when I say I would typically get about 200 spam comments every 24 hours.  I was using Askimet which caught most of the spam and put it in my spam folder, but it was still a giant pain in the rump, because every day or so, I’d have to go through and empty the spam folder after checking to see if any real comments were inadvertently sent to spam.

Emma had her mom send me an e-mail sharing a post about Disqus helping to cut down on spam and I meant to read it, I really did.  But I didn’t.  Part of the reason is I comment on blogs that use Disqus and for me (and speaking only for me) I can sometimes find it a pain in butt.  I have to sign in using Google, or Twitter or something and sometimes I just want to leave a quick comment and Disqus is just one more step I need to take.

Some of you have that little box that says “check here to prove your human” I don’t mind that one in the least and I also like the little picture ones where you have to drag some coins to the piggy bank or something similar. What can I say? I like simple.

Maggie from Oh My Dog! shared a plug in she was using for security purposes to help prevent hacking and cut down on spam.  I find it so sad that people will actually try and hack a site of someone they don’t even know just to share their ugly propaganda, but it happens.  Anyway, Maggie shared that she used this plug in for WordPress called “Wordfence.”  I immediately went to my dashboard and looked it up and it got five full stars!  It’s a free plug in (of course you can upgrade to paid) and it not only stops security hacks, but it also prevents spam.  So I figured what the hell?  I emptied my spam folder and installed the plug in. 

Guess what? 

That was 9 days ago and yesterday I had my first ‘spam’ and it was actually a reader’s comment that accidentally was put in the folder!

After two days of using Wordfence I went in and deactivated Askimet.  The only thing I don’t like about Wordfence is I get an e-mail every time I sign in BUT I also got an e-mail on Monday that someone tried to hack my site!  But Wordfence prevented it!  Woot, woot!!

Imagine clicking over for you dose of Heart Like a Dog and finding out that someone with a potty mouth had taken over?  ‘-) I know, the horrors!

Delilah and the ‘puppy.’

Delilah and I have continued our walks around the neighborhood.  Luckily for us, our neighborhood leaves us lots of options, so we don’t need to take the same walk every night.

The other day on our walk Delilah encountered something she had never seen before.  Her reaction was so cute, I just had to take and share some photos.

Mama?  Do you see what I see?

Mama? Do you see what I see?

I'm not sure what it is.  I think I need a closer look.

I’m not sure what it is. I think I need a closer look.

Dear Dog!  Mama, I think the Chamber of Secrets has been opened.  This puppy has been turned to stone!

Dear Dog Mama!  I think the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. This puppy has been turned to stone!

We have to help it!

We have to help it!

It’s okay Delilah, it’s not a real puppy, it’s just a lawn ornament put there for enjoyment, and curious labradors!

This is my contribution to Thursday’s Barks and Bytes Blog Hop the blog hop for ALL Bloggers, hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog.  Grab a badge, link up and make some new friends!

Heart Like a Dog

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Filed Under: Blog Hops Tagged With: Delilah, Humor, Life With Sampson And Delilah, Thursday Barks and Bytes

West Virginia Backwoods Hood-rat

May 14, 2014 By Jodi

Warning: Rant ahead.

Oh yes I will.

Oh yes I will.

Last week I came as close as I’ve ever come to going West Virginia backwoods hood-rat on someone because of their off-leash dogs.

Here’s the scene.  Delilah and I are casing walking the neighborhood.  As I approach a house, I see a small brown head peeping out at me.  Just like little Ernie from FRANKly and ERNESTly speaking. 

Frankie and Ernie - FRANKly and ERNESTly Speaking

Frankie and Ernie – FRANKly and ERNESTly Speaking

Except this isn’t Ernie (and he wasn’t wearing bunny glasses.) Then I see another dog.  I pull Delilah in just a tiny bit closer, she’s paying no mind whatsoever to these dogs.  I hear the woman call one of the dogs, “Eli, Eli come here!”  I turn.  The little dog that looks like Ernie, is steadily, stealthily, coming at us.  Not barking or growling, just a dog on a mission.

The woman says, “Oh my God!  He’s going after her.”

At which point I turned around and snarled, “She will go after him!”  As if on cue, Delilah turns around, hair up and says, “RAR, RAR, RAR” which is dogspeak for “Get the woof away from my Mama.” Because I’m pretty sure she’s reacting to me reacting.

I spin my head forward urging Delilah to move away from the dog, but when I look ahead, here comes the other dog!  We’re trapped, being stalked by two weiner dogs, one from the front and one from the rear.  My heart is racing, I’m not sure what to do.  I reach around to my back pocket fumbling for my pepper spray when I realize those few seconds might  very well mean the difference between us getting away and a horrible altercation.  I urge Delilah to move faster and I yell over my shoulder, “GET YOUR DOGS!”

Delilah and I turn the corner and I hear the woman yell, “Sorry!”

The. Very. NEXT. Night. 

The next night Delilah and I head up the hill.  From about two houses away I see a small black bundle in the road, barking it’s fool head off.

Are you freaking kidding me? I say to myself as I turn around.  I look back and the small dog has run off.  Delilah and I turn back around and as I approach the area where we saw the dog, I see a woman working in her yard.  I call to her, “Is it okay to walk past?   Your dog won’t come after me?”

She indicates a pug sitting on the front steps and says, “Her? No.”

I say, “Well I saw a black dog just a moment ago.”

“That’s their dog,” she said pointing towards the house next door, ‘They just open the door and let it out, (don’t even get me started on this) he comes over and poops in my yard.  It’s not friendly,” she adds almost as an after thought.  

Great.  Just fucking great.  There’s a mean little dog with a Napoleon complex on my street.

I’ve worked super hard with Delilah to help her not react to other dogs.  Just the other day as we walked past a house, the garage door opened and out came a dog, who as soon as she saw Delilah started barking and running around like a nut.  Delilah gave her the dog equivalent of a raised eyebrow and turned to me for her cookie.  **Random useless thought…I call this look “the Legolas”   Legolas is an Elf in The Lord of the Rings and he rarely shows emotion, but sometimes he gets this quizzical look on his face and sort of raises his eyebrow. **End Random useless thought that is not relevant to this post.

I am the peeper, a sweet chocolate seeker.

I am the peeper, a sweet chocolate seeker.

I’ve also worked her hard on the dog in the e-fence who likes to peep at her.  There used to be two dogs there, the peeper and the posturer, but I haven’t seen the posturer in a while.  Still you can tell she’s watching for it as we approach the house and I usually just pull out a cookie and hold it in my hand as a redirect and we sail past it.  Except for the times she tries to get in front of me (but that’s a rant for another day.)

Back to the subject at hand.  I called the dog warden because my concern is one day I will not be able to prevent an altercation and I’m concerned that Delilah is going to be labeled as an aggressive dog and she is not.  I’m almost 100% sure she is reacting to me, who is freaking out that she will react.  I can change this.  It will take some work on my part, but I can do it.

Animal control did assure me in that situation, if Delilah (who would outweigh the dog by 60 pounds) were to hurt the dog, as long as she was on leash, licensed and up to date on shots, she would not be in trouble.  But that little dog very well could be.  

This is serious business people and one we’ve been writing about for what seems like forever, how do we get this message across?  It’s not just the dog that is being approached that is at risk, but the approaching dog could be injured or worse!

My next question is, what makes Delilah a target for these off-leash dogs?  But that my friends is a question (and quite possibly a ran) for another day.

Rant over.

 

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Filed Under: Dogs, Uncategorized Tagged With: Delilah, Humor, Life With Sampson And Delilah, Off-leash encounters

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About Jodi

jodiHi, my name is Jodi. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog! I have all kinds of fun writing about my two crazy pups, Sampson and Delilah. Find out more!

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