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

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad this week is over. What a horribly sad week it’s been in Blogville. First Sue and the Talking Dogs lost their Jeffie, then Maggie lost Lucas and I also read that Tillman the skate boarding dog passed.  Enough already!

On a something not so depressing note, you may have noticed I’ve not been visiting your blogs a whole lot, that’s because I’m finally back at work on my book. Thanks to the encouragement of friends and fellow bloggers along with so many of you who told me they want to read it, I’ve been invigorated!

You Make Me Laugh – October 25, 2015

Earl Lover asked, “Bless him! Is he hoping you bring back some food?”

I’m not sure, I think he’s just making sure I don’t leave him. (Like there is a chance of that!)

Meagan & Merlin said, “Merlin was in the drivers seat and as he turned around he beeped the horn with his butt lol.”

Hahaha, Sampson’s done that once or twice himself, and then he startles himself with the beep! Did Merlin startle himself?

Emma said, ” Mom wants a mini ring camera she can wear 24/7 that is also weather/water proof for those times she needs a photo but has no camera or phone on her. She so wants a photo of Bailie in bed with all her paws in the air, but has no camera…she could bring on up to the bedroom, but no, she always forgets!”

That’s a great idea!! I never seem to have the camera handy when I want it! Maybe we should start leaving cameras in every room. LOL

Jan K said, “I love it when they sit in the driver’s seat! I also love it when I see dogs and they just stare intently at the place where their human disappeared to. Our beagle Kobi used to whine every time he saw a person, even when the car was moving. It was like he just wanted to meet every person he saw!”

Sampson is the same way except he does it on our walks. He gets a little jaunt in his step and barks at the person, if I tell him no, he’ll whine. It makes me laugh, he’s so social.

Julie said, “Oh my goodness, our windows are covered in dog nose prints 🙂 Cocoa loves to ride and we try and bring her as much as possible. She gets into everything though, even in the car, so we have to make sure we get everything out and she will turn on the windshield wipers, the lights and once she had the rearview mirror off. Luckily it popped back on easily!!

LMAO that’s funny!  I don’t think mine have ever knocked the mirror off!! Did you laugh?

Jackie Bouchard said, “The funny thing about Rita in the car is that she will never get in the front seat. I mean NEVER. I can leave an open bag of treats (and I have done) sitting in the front console and she won’t even touch it, because she’s afraid to come up front (for some bizarre reason).”

Wow, that’s impressive. I might be able to do that with Sampson if I told him to leave it, but Delilah would literally wedge herself between the floor board and the gas pedal if she thought she could score some food. It’s kind of sad actually.

We’re Trick Training So You Can Win Treats

I apologize for those of you who tried to use the rafflecopter, we had a little SNAFU with it, but it is working now!

So, in retrospect I’m thinking maybe I should have found the video of Lady BEFORE I started trying to train my dogs. And truthfully, it’s been about two years since I’ve really worked on trick training with Delilah. I should have thought it through a little bit more. Ah well, you live and learn. Next time I’ll be better prepared.

Emma said, “Well, don’t feel bad, I’m not a trick dog either! We have learned a lot about rewards lately which has been one big reason Bailie nailed her title yesterday. Never be stingy, pay big and with high value treats, but not always. Random no treat or lower value mixed in with huge reward, and not even for big accomplishments keep us dogs in the game making it fun with the unknown. It’s working great for us right now.”

That’s pretty brilliant Emma, I never thought of that. I’m going to start doing that. Usually I save the big value treats for the BIG things, but I can see the benefit in it working that way.

Does anyone else use this method? If so, how does it work for you?

Jan said, “My first impression is that your dogs must not have eaten for days, but then I remembered what breed they are. Loved your video.”

ROTFL Well truthfully it WAS just before breakfast…and technically they hadn’t eaten in about 10 hours…but yes, that is definitely Labrador in that video! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Jan K said, “Sorry that I had to chuckle quite a bit at your video! That’s what the two girls are like when I try to train them. Cricket is totally focused on the treat, and Sheba swats me with her paw if she doesn’t know what else to do.”

I wanted you to laugh, so thank you. I started looking at the videos I’d shot and I thought, there’s only one way to go with this thing. 🙂 It is HARD to train a dog that is intensely treat motivated!

Carolyn said, “I don’t think my dog could learn to turn out the lights now matter how hard we train – unless I called in an electrician to add some low light switches! She is a Bichon & has such short legs.”

Carolyn, is she comfortable on kitchen chair? Can she jump on one? If you really wanted to, you might be able to train her using a chair.

Two French Bulldogs said, “Oh my dawg you are going to learn to turn the light off!! Mom wants to teach me to vacuum.”

You make sure your Mom gets a video of that! If she can train you to vacuum, she can make millions teaching others the same thing. 🙂

Elizabeth Keene said, “I don’t give 2 rips whether your dog can turn off the lights (actually, I do; I’m glad they can’t. Because now I don’t have to be jealous since my corgis cannot reach the light switch, and you’re getting to lie in bed while I have to get up in the cold to turn the lights off myself). 😉 What’s most important are your training tips! Nothing worse than a frustrated human trying to train a tired/bored/frustrated dog. Also, that video ROCKS! I’m running to subscribe to your YouTube now!”

Thank you Elizabeth, I was really reminded of a lot of things during those training sessions and I have to tell you, you will probably be disappointed in my channel because I don’t post a lot to it. 

Oh, and I’m not giving up on training that. 😉

Blueberry’s Human said, “Are you SURE training Delilah how to turn the lights off and on is a good idea? I personally think it would be awesome because I am quite certain there would be some hilarious posts in the future once she learns how to do that…”

My original thought involved the refrigerator, which I instantly had to rethink. I was too worried once she figured out how to SHUT the door, her next trick might be opening. 😉

Let Loose the Sailor – Barks and Bytes

Warning, she’s preparing to loose her inner sailor.

Lauren Miller said, “The photo of the Great Dane and the kid irritated me too! I can’t believe that people think that’s an okay thing to do. The second post about the kitty really hurts my heart, too.. It’s a really good way to teach a cat to use it’s weapons.. So sad! :-(”

It really kills me when I read stuff like that. The worse part is how this lady thinks this is okay and the correct way to interact with a kitten.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom said, “It never ceases to amaze me how absolutely stupid people can be at times.”

Yup. We’re on the same bus Sue.

2 Brown Dawgs said, “I think photos depend on context. If that Great Dane photo was part of an ad for for a product, I think people would have said, huh cute and not much more. Or maybe they would have been offended. I do not know. I personally dislike videos of kids and photos when it is clear that one or both are uncomfortable but a photo is but a moment in time and may not tell the story.”

You’re absolutely right. Context is important. I do think people would still be upset even if it was an ad and I’ll tell you why. That kid might have been on that dog for less than 5 seconds, the dog might have been totally comfortable being dressed up with a kid on its back, the owner might have been right there making sure the dog was okay. BUT some kid can see that and think it’s a good idea to ride their dog and the result could be horrific. The same with some idiot putting their baby on a dog. People constantly do stupid things and the dog always pays for it.

I feel as a dog owner, it is my responsibility to make sure I don’t set my dog up for something that endangers him/her.

Jan said, “I was amazed at how many people thought the kid riding dog was funny, but I’ve seen so many videos that made me want to take the kid and the pet into protective custody.”

I have to stop reading comments because I want to reach through the computer and punch people in the face. Or scream, “Take your head out of your ass.” 🙁

DZ Dogs said, “Ugh….stuff like that makes my blood boil!! I keep thinking about just unhooking from the evil FB and closing my account entirely but just haven’t done it yet.”

I was actually thinking of just going on to post my stuff and stop scrolling around. It’s not worth getting that pissed off. And when you try and educate people they turn into assholes. Who needs that?

Well that’s it for me folks, thanks for sticking with me. 

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

You Make Me Laugh – October 18, 2015

How does this even happen?

Cupcake said, “Usually when I roll around, I come up wearing goose poop. Mom says the word, “Gross.” That means I did good… Right…? ”

If you think it means you did good Cupcake, then it certainly does.

Sue said, “He looks like one sexy athlete with that towel draped around his neck.”

He almost has a coy/sly little look about him doesn’t he? I can just about see the twinkle in his eye.

Meagan and Merlin said, “Just today i posted on fb a pic of Merlin sitting with his head covered in a lace curtain lol. When he walks past curtains or towels, he has to rub along them before he lays down. Not the weirdest thing he’s done tho, for some reason after i wash my hair he rubs his face up against it and tries to roll in my hair.”

Ah ha ha!! That’s priceless, he must love the smell of your shampoo/conditioner. Hey be thankful, Delilah likes to roll in dirty wash cloths.

Jan said, “My son always says, “If we can make mom laugh we can get by with anything.” Sampson gets this.”

Your son is very smart, that’s the rule in my house too and yes, Sampson clearly understands this.

Emma said, “Nice work Sampson! How did you manage to get it on you so nicely?”

I’d like to know how he even managed to get it on him, never mind how nicely it’s draped! LOL I think he must have rolled really fast in order for it to wrap like that.

Jan K said, “That’s so cute…he looks like a prize fighter! I’ve had mine run away from being dried with the towel still on top of them!”

Oh my, I forgot yours don’t like the towel. LOL

Jackie Bouchard said, “He’s so cute. I agree with Jan K – he does look like a prize fighter! Rita has never done that, but she cracks me up how she rolls around in her bed in the evening when we are watching TV. She’ll go over and dive into her bed and roll on her back and she squirms around and makes these funny grunting noises, and then she’ll just freeze, with her legs all up in the air. She’s such a nut. We always have to pause the TV and watch. (It’s more entertaining than anything on there!)”

I thought we were the only ones that paused the TV to watch the dogs! LOL We love watching Sampson and Delilah when they play. It’s just so joyful.

A Do Over

What’s a douche bag?

Genevieve said, “I could use SO many do overs SO many times each day with SO many people in SO many situations. But it’s a fine line between being easy-going and just really not caring AT ALL. I have crossed that line and have reached the age where I flat out don’t give a s&#% about most things. Nothing is a matter of life or death …unless it is actually a matter of LIFE or DEATH. Barring that, I have moved on…”

I really wish I could reach that, “I don’t give a shit” phase. Honestly, I care too much about what other people think of me.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “The guy is an asshole, plain and simple. And not worth your time. BUT I understand how you feel; and I can’t wait to read about your revenge plot. 🙂 It will make for some fun reading, with lots of laughs and smiles, I’m sure!”

I’m pretty sure it will be fun, and funny and hopefully you all will be laughing your asses off. At the least maybe a good chuckle now and then.

Mary said, “All-The-Time. And I worked with a gal for years that was so damn funny. But she was great at open mouth, insert foot. She use to say she had a shoe store in her mouth.”

That’s a great line! I don’t have any good lines for putting my foot in my mouth, except for, “I’m sorry, that was totally insensitive of me…”

Emma said, “Mom wanted to type some bad words but I stopped her. My mom is always too polite, but she wishes she would be able to blurt out her true feelings. Poor Katie has so much trouble walking, and in her old age, sometimes just poops with no warning on a walk. She pooped on a neighbor’s lawn one day, Mom was picking it up and the mean lady yells out the door some crap about how much money she spends on her lawn and how this poop will ruin it, blah, blah, blah. Mom just said sorry and walked on. Now she refuses to speak to that lady but wishes she had given her a speech on dealing with a senior dog and all the issues and how she did not pee, only pooped and it was picked up within seconds. The world would be a much nicer place without many of the people in it.”

You should never stop your Mom from typing some bad words on THIS blog. You know this is a safe place for that. LOL That WAS super mean for that lady to say, I’m surprised Mom wasn’t tempted to throw the poop at THE LADY!

Earl Lover said, “I agree! Especially with comebacks… you sit there with an open mouth for 10 seconds, the person walks away again, THEN you think so an amazing comeback for them. Cringes!”

Isn’t that always the way? I think we should start carrying little cheat cards, so we can come up with quick and witty comebacks!

Elaine said, “I’m always nice too and later wish I would have said all the witty things that I didn’t think of in the heat of the moment. But then I think of how miserable those people must be in their lives and with their families. I ALMOST feel bad for them because they’ve got to be pretty unhappy to get so bent out of shape about the little things in life. Then…I smile. :-)”

Yeah…there is that. I’m usually so surprised at the meanness that I don’t think about how miserable they must be as people to treat others so poorly.

It’s Picture Day – Barks and Bytes

Cupcake said, “Wait. What? How are these called pictures without any dogs in them. This is crazy! ”

It’s shameful isn’t it? And I call myself a dog blogger. 😉

Emma said, “We like the two moon and two planets one the best. Even though Mom has a fancy camera, shots in the dark only really work with her cheap point and shoot. Now, we have to ask since we always wonder and never ask…do you spell siriously this way on purpose?”

Thanks Emma, I really like that photo myself, but I like the one with the house silhouetted too…BUT I’m also a big fan of the woods. Sigh, so many options. As for your question, I spell seriously that way on purpose for two reasons, 1) Sirius is also known as “The Dog Star” residing in the constellation Canis Major, it’s the brightest star in the sky, since this is a dog blog…:-) 2) Sirius is one of my favorite characters from the Harry Potter books, which is one of my favorite series. (That third light that sort of looks like it’s in the tail, could very well be Sirius. I need to get that app for my phone that tells you what the stars are.)

Jan K said, “I think the 3rd one with the moon is my favorite. Even with my fancy new camera, I haven’t attempted any nighttime (or early morning!) photos. I barely know how to take normal pictures and get them to come out good yet…LOL.”

Awe now that’s not true Jan! Your pictures are great!! I’ll let you in on a little secret, I just turn the dial and snap the photo. Sometimes I get lucky. 😉

That’s it for me my friends, have a wonderful weekend!