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 Smile – May 8, 2016

Emma said, “We know everything. We can tell by the sound of the clothes if it is a running or walking morning.”

You guys are so smart! Sampson is very in tune with that too. He knows what time we usually walk and he watches me, and when I go to change, he follows me. IF I sneak one past him, as soon as he sees my walking pants, he perks right up. 

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom said, “It’s so sad when they start to have age-related separation issues. It tears at your heart to have to leave them. In Shadow’s case, it’s not having Callie around to keep her company when we have to leave her. She has been MY shadow since Callie got her wings. I can’t go from one room of the house to another without her joining me (unless she’s sound asleep) most days. I guess she’s afraid of losing me, too.”

It is sad and it’s so hard. He’s given me so much and I just want to make sure he’s comfortable, but there is only so much I can do. Poor Shadow, we at least have each other to talk to, how do they process their grief? Because as you know, they grieve too.

Julie said, “Cocoa gives me the look for sure. And she gets in her crate long before she has to and looks at me with the saddest hound dog face.”

They KNOW just how to work that face too. 🙂

Jan K said, “It’s hard enough to leave them, but when they look like that! Luke follows me around as well, but Cricket hangs close to the kitchen, since she knows they’ll get a treat when I leave!”

That’s Delilah! LOL She could give two shits less if you leave, as long as you give her a cookie.

Taryn said, “After they are positive that we won’t invite them along, they dash upstairs to the front bedroom and watch us leave. After that I’m pretty sure they have a pillow fight based on the way all the bed pillows are on the floor when we get home!”

OH MY. Mine have never done THAT, but there are times where it looks like someone had a wild time in the bed. 😉

Lauranne said, “I don’t know if I could ever leave him if he looked at me like that.”

It is so DAMN hard. I wish I could work from home or at the very least, bring him with me.

Monika and Sam said, “Sam acts much like my kids did when they were dropped off at daycare. Heartbroken for about 87 seconds, then it’s run around and then ‘pawty’ like it’s 1999.”

Bah ha ha, sweet, sweet Sam!

A Little Slice of Heaven

DZDog Mom said, “I’m so tired from moving this weekend I’m having trouble getting motivated to go do something. This helps. ❤”

I’m glad, it’s one of my ‘happy’ places. I hope you have some time to relax now!

Cupcake said, “That does look (and sound) heavenly. Our slice of heaven is a little more city-fied, but heavenly nonetheless.”

All you have to do is look, you can find beauty anywhere!

Emma said, “We love to see the sun come up, hear the birds, not see another soul out. It really sets the tone for the entire day!”

It sure does. When you start a day with that much beauty, how can you not have an amazing day?

Beth said, “I totally get it. There are plenty of evenings when I leave the house thinking, “Just a quick loop around the neighborhood” and then I look west and see the sun setting over Lake Erie and our quick loop turns into a leisurely two miles. Glad you have such a lovely way to start the day.”

Nature is the food that feeds the soul. At least for me, I bet I’d be following that sunset too. 🙂

Hailey and Zaphod said, “As we live in the foothills in the country, most of our days start like this. It is wonderful.”

Oh that sounds heavenly.

Alexa88 said, “i picked some pretty roadside flowers to put in a jar. they are yellow and seeing them on the kitchen counter is like abit of sunshine. im very thankful that all we been getting is rain without the thunderstorm type of rain.”

I love flowers, and they sure brighten a room. I’m with you, thankful that all the rain is just rain with no noise.

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “Mine would be any walk in the mountains 🙂”

I’m sure it’s beautiful!

Frankly, We’re Woofing for Jones

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “toe cough er alls… That’s the best I could break it down.

Wow, look at you! 🙂 Thank you!!

Cupcake said, “My favorite treat right now is freeze dried chicken – one ingredient treat.”

THAT is a very good treat! I bet you get lots of them.

Emma said, “We are huge Frankenwoofer fans! They are awesome. Thankfully my mom didn’t try to “short” us out of the weiner portion like you did 😉”

Bah ha ha!

Beth said, “Barley would probably love these–her big treats are very limited because she gets SO MANY tiny treats for training throughout the day, so I love that you were able to cut up the ends and make them multi-purpose treats!”

My guys get a lot of treats throughout the day too, and we give them treats when we are eating dinner, which is why it’s so important to me that these treats can be modified.

Jan said, “You have captured the many moods of treat eating.”

Ha ha ha. Delilah only knows one mood. 😉 

Jan K said, “That certainly sounds like a treat that can’t be beat. I’m hearing grumblings from the crew now because they feel deprived that they haven’t gotten to try these yet!”

I forgot to mention, they come two in a package. 🙂

I did want to say at first I was concerned that the patty would be too hard, and someone would break a tooth on them, but that is NOT the case at all. The patty crunched up very nicely and as I noted, they both licked the floor. 🙂

Well that’s it for me folks, have a fantastic weekend!

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 Smile – May 1, 2016

Emma said, “That is one advantage to just walking one dog, photos. It is so easy walking one dog and using the camera is much easier as well. Mom says one dog is almost boring, but then again the one on one time makes for a special kind of walk.”

Mom is right, although I like to call it peaceful vs boring. 🙂 But getting one dog to pose, is WAY easier than trying to get two!

These comments all suggested using food.

Meagan and Merlin said, “I hold treats up to my eye to get Merlin to look at me.”

I couldn’t coordinate the camera and the treat. 🙂

Monika and Sam said, “Well done, D-dog! I have/hold a small training treat in the middle of my face to catch Sam’s attention and say “watch me” other wise the dimmest dog in North America would be all over the place…”ooh, look, a stroller”… “aaaah, there’s butterfly” … “wait, shiny object!” 🙂”

LOL that is Sampson! Anytime there is movement, he looks away. I have used “Look” based upon a trainer’s suggestion, UNTIL I realized what I was doing making an “L” with my thumb and pointer finger and holding it up to my face. 😀

Mary Ann said, “I try to use a treat to get Lila’s attention, but that makes her give me too much attention and doesn’t make for a very good photo.”

THAT is Delilah and one of the key reasons I DON’T use treats. She gets too excited and cannot focus.

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “I do use treats or a toy to draw their attention towards me and get their ears up so they don’t look like I am torturing them…I don’t know about you but when I am actually making them pose I probably shoot about 100 photos just to get that one good one.”

I’m not as patient as you. There are times when I do take a number of photos, but for the most part, it’s just one or two.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “Usually, when I take Shadow for walks at the park, I take “Shadow and Mom time” selfies.”

I love those selfies of yours Sue, but we have to get you to smile more. 🙂

Beth said, “I wish I had tips for you, but Barley just loves to be in front of the camera and I usually have very little involvement in getting her to pose. I do joke that she turns on America’s Next Top Model reruns while I’m at work–so maybe just leave the remote in Delilah’s reach when you leave the house 😉”

I’m afraid to leave her in charge. 🙂 Knowing Delilah, she’d probably find some food porn network. 😉

Sand Spring Chesapeakes said, “I love a good poser.”

Hahaha

Jan K said, “Luke is way more cooperative than the girls are, but I think it’s just his personality. They’re either born to it or not, maybe? 🙂”

You might be right on that one. Maybe it’s just in their DNA.

A New Normal

Genevieve said, “Sounds like a delicate balance, but it also sounds like you’re doing OK with it and so is he. Saying no is tough, but when you know it’ll help in the long run, it gets a little easier. It’s just like saying, “Come and put your cone on…” Ugh. Thankfully, Cupcake thinks the cone and baby sock are an outfit, so she’s fine with it.”

Thank you, I think we ARE doing OK. I think I feel worse for Delilah, because she doesn’t understand that he’s hurt.

Emma asked, “Have you tried ToeGrips to keep him from slipping? They work really well! Katie has been wearing them since last August.”

I have a pair, but I haven’t tried them. Sampson’s physical therapist wasn’t keen on using them. But I may consider them, if we decide say to go to my sister’s where there are no rugs.

Beth asked, “The Aladdin comment made me smile–I’m glad you’re still able to keep your sense of humor despite all of these challenges. Have you tried any noseworks or focus games with him? I know there are plenty of variations of both where he wouldn’t have to get up at all, but it might wear him out mentally at least 🙂”

I’m glad it made you smile, for me, I need to find the humor, it’s what keeps me going. No, I haven’t tried nose work or focus games with him, he is not a dog that really loves the nose work. But you have reminded me of something I wanted to work with him on, so thank you. Hopefully, I will get motivated to do that and be able to share it in the future.

Sue said, “Love the humor. Sometimes you just gotta laugh, right? I think the worst part of Jeffie’s ACL injury was keeping he and Rudy apart. No more rowdy games.”

Thank you Sue, yes, you absolutely have to laugh. Laughter cures so many things. I feel you with the keeping them apart, their world has already changed and I feel so mean imposing more restrictions.

Two French Bulldogs said, “Yep. Our new normal started after my knee surgery and two back surgeries. It’s an adjustment.”

It sure is. I hope you are recovering well.

2 Brown Dawgs said, “Poor Sampson. I know what a tough time I have had keeping Storm from overdoing and she is not as limited as Sampson.”

It’s tough, because they are stoic and without our intervention would be doing it anyway.

Julie asked, “So many things to think about. And like the vet said as far as Sampson is concerned he is the same. The walks are really good though to sniff and get out. Can he go swimming??”

Sampson is not a swimmer. He will do it, but it’s usually brief, just enough for him to cool off. 

Dachshund Nola said, “Maybe food puzzles or modified nose work, to help keep him engaged?”

He’s not big on those kinds of things. 

Lauranne said, “Sending a hug xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx…(and an awful lot of kisses as I wasn’t allowed to post the comment unless I upped the characters. Sorry I should have had something more useful to say but my mind is a blur today)”.

LOL sorry you had issues. I hope it was just a plug in needing an update. 🙁

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “I thought at first poor Sampson but then I thought he doesn’t know it’s poor Sampson, he thinks he is still that young pup. So I am going to look at him like that too.

Thank you for the reminder. I am trying to look at him the same way too. And I am trying my best to make sure things stay as normal as possible for him, because in his mind, nothing HAS changed. 🙂

Put Me In Coach

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “That’s too bad they are parking like that, won’t take long to mess up the grass 🙁”

It’s already messed up because we’ve been having rain almost every day and the ground is very soft. I was just up there yesterday and there are ruts 8 inches deep. 🙁

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, ” But using the field as a parking lot? Nooooooo! There oughta be a law!! And litter on the trails? Some people are lazy slobs. I hate that your beautiful field and woods are being abused!”

Ugh, I hate it too. It’s bad enough the kids go up there and drink and break glass all over the place, now I have to watch for food. Last week I had to keep Delilah from scarfing down apple CORES! I’m thinking of calling the Rec department and nicely requesting they not park in the park. After all, they are the ones who posted “NO Wheeled Vehicles.”

Beth said, “I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a field/ballpark where people didn’t park on the grass, so I probably wouldn’t have even been phased by that sight!”

I hear you, but this isn’t your typical field/ballpark. Here is a picture of the park entrance. As you can see, the field is quite some distance in.

Jan said, “Delilah is quite the little athlete in the pictures. Maybe you can time the walks so she gets to try out for the team.”

LOL we have been up there during a game, AND that was challenging! 

Well that’s it for me folks, have a FANTASTIC weekend!

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.

This one goes WAY back to LAST Thursday, but it was so priceless, I just had to share it.

The Fox and the Hound

Lauranne said, “I love how even with the creative commons thing across the photo my first thought on seeing it was “Wow Jodi has really upped her camera skills, what an amazing photo!””

Honey, I love how you have THAT much faith in me!

You Make Me Smile – April 24, 2016

Margie Guess said, “Ginger the collie makes me smile and laugh with empathy every time she tries to talk English! Her voice goes up and down in all the right places, but the utterances lack consonants. I can usually figure out what she is staying if it is in the evening and the deer are out.”

Question for you Margie, does Ginger the collie ever make a noise that SOUNDS like an English word? I would LOVE to hear that!

Jan K said, “Luke gets excited about dogs on TV! LOL”

Mine don’t do THAT, but I swear I caught Delilah watching a Yellowstone documentary about wolves once. 🙂

Hailey and Zaphod said, “Ours will bark even if they don’t know where the dog is. It happens a lot with the TV.”

Typically Sampson & Delilah don’t bark at the barking dogs on TV, BUT they do lose their minds when the doorbell rings on the TV. 🙂

Jan asked, “I think it’s funny when dogs in cars passing by bark at us and three of mine have to respond. Are they passing along neighborhood gossip?”

That’s a very good question, is it a California thing? I know how progressive you Californians are. 😉

Mary Ann said, “Lila doesn’t seem to be too bothered by other dogs barking. It’s the rabbits and deer that roam through our yard that get her attention!”

I think that’s reasonable. 🙂 Anything that MOVES in our yard is fair game and they will run the fence line if there’s an animal on the other side. 

2 Brown Dawgs said, “Usually they have to see them to take notice.”

Do your dogs just have to see them? I swear mine HEAR them and get up to look to see what they heard. 

UltraLite Bi-Fold Pet Ramp

Jana Rade said, “We had ramps, for, Jasmine and now we got a new one for Cookie; so it happens it’s a Solvit one too but we picked the telescopic. Cookie does well,with it, it’s quite sturdy and doesn’t bend or wobble.”

That’s the one I’ve been using for Sampson and he does just fine with it, I think because it’s longer. I was just looking for something a bit easier for me.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “Shadow would probably benefit greatly from the use of a ramp. But I doubt she would feel safe using one to get out of the car, because of the pitch (as you mentioned).”

Do you have a car or an SUV? If a ramp is out of the question, do you think stairs would work?

Emma said, “Katie isn’t up for traveling anymore, so she only goes in the car on a rare occasion.”

Poor Katie, I know Mom is doing everything she can to keep Katie comfortable.

Beth said, “I hate when the pets disagree with us on the perfect products! That happened to us with a fountain–I found one that was exactly what I was looking for in the price range I could afford and Barley turned her nose up at it after taking a couple sips and then Soth decided to use it as a urinal.”

UGH, don’t you hate that? I got a fountain at my first BlogPaws and neither one of my dogs will use it!

Jen said, “It took us over a year to get Leroy to use our ramp. The incline was a huge issue for him.”

Sampson had no issues trying the ramp, I think that came from the Agility classes he took. In this case, I feel like the pitch was too steep.

Sue said, “Great video – love how near the end Sampson seems to be saying “let’s go!””

I loved how he looked towards the woods. You know the woods are his favorite place to walk. 🙂

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “It’s hard to tell he had a problem, your video was great and Sampson seemed so spot on.”

Thank you, I realized as I was putting it together that he did okay with it. Right after he walked in the park is when he fell going up it. I think it may have been that his legs were tired.

Jan K said, “That ramp does look much easier to deal with than the telescoping ramp (which I’ve been bad about using, and haven’t seen since we moved!), but I can see where the incline looks much steeper (though Sampson made it look easy).  We were taking a quick ride the other day and decided at the last minute to take Luke. The back seat hadn’t been put down, and he did not seem happy about having to lie on the back seat (he might have been better if we’d at least put the sling seat cover in there). We weren’t going far but I definitely learned that he’s more comfortable when he feels more secure.”

It is definitely more convenient than the telescoping ramp. Isn’t it funny how they get used to something and can be so resistant to change?

Dachshund Nola said, “Mine are all under 15lbs, so they either jump in or I just set them in, but I’m going to show my mom this. My parents have a 7 month old Mastiff, and at 95lbs, she’s getting too big to lift into the car!”

What I DIDN’T put in that post (and fully intended to) was this…I wish I’d used ramps or stairs with my dogs from the beginning. All the research I’m finding is telling me, when a person has a knee tear it’s typically because of a traumatic event, BUT dog’s knee issues are typically just wear and tear, like running and jumping. So I would definitely recommend a ramp or stairs for your parent’s dog.

2 Brown Dawgs said, “I think perhaps the ramp is not long enough for the height of your vehicle which is why it is too steep a pitch. I can see why that pitch would be difficult for a senior dog with an injury. I also wonder how much weight that ramp would hold? It looks like a good ramp for a lower vehicle.”

I think you’re right about the height of my car. The pitch was perfect on the side of the car, but the door was in the way. According to the Solvit website, that particular ramp will hold up to 150 lbs.

Will the Guilty Party Please Stand

Dawn said, “Delilah, I believe you are being unjustly accused. Just because you are capable doesn’t mean you did it, right? It might be time to take a stand and retain counsel. This is more than just you, this is about dogs all over the world being made to take the fall. It’s time to fight back. I’ll start a GoFundMe for your revolution….Power to the Pups!”

Oh dear Dog, don’t give her any ideas. She already thinks she rules the roost. 🙂

Emma said, “I’m going to vote for the cat as the guilty party. Cat bro Bert was MIA last night for a bit…he would eat flowers.”

Oh boy. I hope it wasn’t Bert, if it was then my dogs are lying down on the job. 🙁

Jan said, “You definitely don’t need to call in the CSI team to solve this one. I wonder if purple is one of the colors dogs can see.”

Do they see colors? I had no idea.

Lauranne said, “You mean you brought something into the house which wasn’t for either Delilah or Sampson… I think the guilty party may be you 🙂”

I think you might be right. AND this comment made me laugh!

Sheena said, “Lady D…….All the way, all dang day!!”

What gave it away?

Cupcake said, “Well done, D. Walking on your back legs comes in handy!”

It sure does, you should see her clean the stove!

Jan K said, “Around here it’s usually our cat Samantha that would be the flower eater. However, we don’t think you have a cat….so who you gonna pass the blame on to, Delilah??”

Nope, no cat here, I’m going to have to go with the D-Dog. 😀

Well that’s it for me peeps, have an awesome weekend!