Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie – Throwback Thursday

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I love going through posts for Throwback Thursday. It gives me the opportunity to see where I’ve improved in my writing, and how my point of view has/has not changed. 

I’ve also noticed that I posted about sleeping. 

A lot!

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Original posting date: October 18, 2011.

Where does your dog sleep?

Our dogs sleep in their bed and we sleep with them; at least that is what they would lead you to believe.

We have an over-sized queen bed; that uncomfortably fits all fur of us.

When Delilah first joined our pack we struggled with her jumping on the bed. I would get up and pull her off at least five times during the night. It was a battle fought and won by persistence. Hers.

Once the battle was won; we needed a nightly routine in order to ensure we at least had a chance to get a spot on the bed; it starts with Sampson and I in the bed. Sometimes Delilah is there too, but as soon as she thinks I’m heading her way she usually gets up and sits beside the bed.

I position myself; then using carrots, I lure Sampson up the bed toward his pillow, each time Sampson gets a carrot Delilah does as well.

After about three carrots I have Sampson where I want him and I say, “Okay, pretty come on.” Up she jumps to the bottom of the bed where most of the time she curls up on MY feet. If I move too quickly because I don’t have my feet in position before she gets settled; my darling diva growls at me.

I try to manage her by reaching down and petting her while I position my feet; the surprising thing is if I move during the night, she normally doesn’t growl. Go figure.

Sampson meanwhile has chosen a parent to lean against. He stretches his legs straight out against the other parent’s back. In this manner we go to sleep, Hubby clinging desperately to one side of the bed, while I cling to other and Sampson sleeping blissfully between.

It surprises me that this doesn’t upset me. In fact there are times when I wake up in the night to find his head tucked under my chin or resting on my shoulder and I smile. I. Smile. In. The. Middle. Of. The. Night.

Or my legs ache from remaining in one spot for too long, or my butt is freezing because it is hanging off the bed and I laugh. To myself of course, but I laugh.

Last night I rolled over and Sampson was facing me; I took the opportunity to give him a little good night kiss, he shifted his position and put his nose right up to my nose, typically this would freak me out; (if I can’t breathe cool air I wig) instead, I snuggled closer and I smiled.

Please keep the typing to a minimum...I'm trying to sleep.

Please keep the typing to a minimum…I’m trying to sleep.

Almost five years later, and I still have sleep stories. And I still smile in the night if I wake up and there is a dog cuddled up against me.

Are you one of those crazy dog moms like me, who likes their dog cuddled up against them?

 

The Mate Was A Mighty Sailing Man – TBT

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I’m really digging on Throw Back Thursday lately.  

This post originally appeared June 7, 2011.

It was a memory from two weeks we spent in Florida for our daughter’s wedding.

Florida, October 2005.

It had been a wonderful yet busy nine days, but the wedding was now over, everyone had left leaving just Hubby, Sampson and I.  It was time for mama to relax.

Hubby and I got this idea to rent a boat and take a nice relaxing ride in Tampa Bay.  We went to a local marina and inquired about a boat we could rent that we could bring Sampson on.  We were told dogs weren’t allowed because they could damage the boat.

“Okay, thanks anyway” we said. (Like we weren’t responsible dog owners!)

“Wait a minute” the clerk said.  “I have a pontoon boat that I am going to be renovating, would that interest you?”

Does a bear crap in the woods?

So we loaded up the boat and headed out in the bay.

It was a very relaxing ride that was enjoyed by all three of us.

I think you can tell by the pictures.

Hubby

 

Little Buddy aka 1st Mate

 

Mama and Sampson

 

This was a nice, quiet cove on an island in Tampa Bay. He really enjoys the ocean.

It was such an amazing time at that wedding. Our family had rented two houses that were next door to each other, and it was so fun and amazing. Sampson loved having everyone around him and we really just all enjoyed each other.

Have you ever rented a boat or taken your dog out on one? I was a little anxious, but Sampson did amazing!

Throwback Thursday – Puppy Size

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Way back in the day, when the internet was still unchartered-territory and Facebook hadn’t consumed our lives, communication was done via e-mail. Most mornings you’d open your e-mail and read a story of hope, encouragement and love.

This story is one of my favorites. It originally appeared on my free WordPress site back on May 13, 2011. Facebook reminded me of this post last week and I shared it on my personal page. I’ve read it a couple of times and copied it verbatim.

Puppy Size

“Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We’ve been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this,” the mother told the volunteer.

“What is it she keeps asking for”  the volunteer asked.

“Puppy size!” replied the mother.

“Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that’s what she’s looking for.”

“I know…We have seen most of them” the mom said in frustration.

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

“Well, did you find one?” asked her mom.

“No, not this time,” Danielle said with sadness in her voice.  “Can we come back on the weekend?”

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.

“You never know when we will get more dogs.  Unfortunately, there’s always a supply,” the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door, “Don’t worry, I’ll find one this weekend” she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her.  They both felt she was being too particular.  “It’s this weekend or we’re not looking any more,” Dad finally said in frustration.

“We don’t want to hear anything more about puppy size, either.”  Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.  By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.  There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren’t permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.  One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.

One by one she said, “Sorry, but you’re not the one.”

It was the last cage on this the last day of the search for the perfect puppy.  The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely.  This time she took a little longer.

“Mom, that’s it, I found the right puppy!  He’s the one!  I know it. ” She screamed with joy.  “It’s the puppy size!”

“But it’s the same size as all the other puppies you’ve held over the last few weeks,” Mom said.

“No, not size…the sighs.  When I held him in my arms, he sighed,” she said. 

“Don’t you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart.  The more you love, the bigger the sighs.”

The two women looked at each other for a moment.  Mom didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

“Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh.  When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other you both sigh.  I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,” she said.  Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, “Mom, he loves me.  I heard the sighs of his heart!”

This is one of my most favorite e-mails of all time!  I have read this e-mail at least 100 times and I tear up every single time!  When I began the search for the perfect puppy in 2003, I was looking for the puppy sighs and I got it. 🙂

I was reminded of the e-mail this morning.  I was in the bathroom getting ready for work, Delilah wandered in as is her usual custom, she pushed herself between the sink and me; I reached down and cupped her ear in my hand and rubbed the side of her head and she just melted into me and sighed.   Immediately I knew what I was going to blog about today!

I am reminded continuously by my dogs about the puppy sighs; and every time one of my dogs sighs when I touch them, the size of my heart swells….with love.

I kind of dig the way the photos are small, and the way they are laid out. Let me know what you think.

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