Heart Like a Dog

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

If It’s Not the Dumb Ass Dog Owner…It’s Their Guest

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When Sampson, Delilah and I walk the neighborhood, I always have my eyes sharp.  I’m on the lookout for someone walking, whether it’s by themselves or with their dog.  I’m also watching for  squirrels, chipmunks, wild turkey, deer, cats, cars and mice.  Yes mice.  One windy morning Delilah perked up over what I thought was a leaf.  I don’t know who was more surprised when the mouse ran right under her nose, her or me.

Anyone watching me would think I was either drunk, slightly off my rocker or both.  I know which yards have the e-fences where the dogs lurk in the back yard only to come charging out when you approach.  Or the yard that doesn’t clean up after their dog and has huge piles on the lawns.   

Typically I cross the road to avoid the potential hazards, with the exception of the lawn with the disgusting piles.  The house across from the yard with the piles has a dog on an e-fence.  Gretchen is very excited to see another dog and keeps her ears sharp, I usually hear her well before I see her.

Such was the case on Sunday.  We were approaching Gretchen’s house and I had my eyes and ears sharp, listening for her.  I heard her, she was inside.  I think there was a little party at her house because there was a few cars out front and the house was all lit up.

I walked along the street, the dogs beside me walking along the edge of Gretchen’s yard.  Just as we passed the front door, it opened and one of the little guests let Gretchen out.  Here she comes tearing across the lawn to greet the dogs.

I was quick.  I moved out into the street bringing the dogs with me and then struggled getting Sampson away as he wanted to greet Gretchen as much as she wanted to greet him.

Meanwhile the little guest kept calling to Gretchen who of course ignored him.  I finally got Sampson a safe distance past the house, cursing and mumbling under my breath the entire time.

Did you see that? It was SO close.

Did you see that? I was SO close.

Once I got home I changed my pants and relaxed. 😉

How do you handle the situation with guests and your dogs?  Do you allow your guests to let your dogs out, or do you handle it differently?

Welcome to Day 16 of the #Advent4Dogs Giveaway hosted by Kol’s Notes, Dogthusiast, Heart Like a Dog, NEPA Pets & Wag’n’Woof Pets. Today’s give away is sponsored by Jones Natural Chews. Enter now for your chance to win a $25 in all natural, delicious, Made in the US treats your dog will love.

My Jones Image Today’s trivia question can be found on Wag ‘N Woof Pets.

Troll-In the Dungeons

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“Harry was just helping himself to a baked potato when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face.  Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore’s chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, “Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know.””

He then sank to the floor in a dead faint.  (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling, 1997)

Okay so there’s not really a troll in my dungeon.

Actually I don’t really have a dungeon.  I do have a basement, but there’s no troll in there, only my mom.

Unless there’s something she’s not telling me, there’s no troll.

I know what you’re thinking.  What in the hell does that have to do with a dog blog?  Has she lost her freaking mind?

I suppose the answer to that would depend upon who you spoke to.

This post actually has nothing to do with trolls or dungeons.  It all has to do with our wood pile.  I just wasn’t sure you’d read the post if I told you what was in the wood pile.

The story goes like this.

Thursday after work I took the dogs for a walk and Hubby went outside to cut some wood.  When we came back from our walk Hubby said “Look what I found in the wood pile.”

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Hubby said he lifted up the tarp covering the wood and there it was.  He poked it with a stick and it slithered under the wood pile.  Yesterday when he lifted up the tarp, it was back again.

Hubby says it’s a Garter Snake.

I said it needs to go.

Hubby says it won’t mess with people or pets, he also says it’s eating spiders.

Well then.  As long as it’s eating spiders, it can stay.  As long as it leaves me and my dogs alone. I mean really, what’s one snake vs how many spiders in a pile of wood?

I’m really not so worried about it bothering me.  If you’re a betting person, odds are pretty good that I will never approach the wood pile again.

I’m not so sure about the dogs.  They keep going over there and sniffing.

Every time they head out that way I tense up.  But I grab my camera too. 🙂  If they do discover it, hopefully I’ll have pictures.  Unless I’m too busy screaming and running.

Would you leave a Garter Snake in your wood pile?  Would you go near a wood pile with a Garter Snake?  Inquiring minds want to know.

We Wait With Bated Breath

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The last couple of days the world has waited with bated breath for the Duchess of Cambridge to give birth.  I don’t understand the hype about the royal baby.

News flash people: Women have been pushing babies out of their hey-nonner-nonner since the world began.  It’s a fact of life.  That baby was going to be born whether reporters stood outside the hospital or not.

I’ve got more interesting things to watch at my house.

I’m on wildlife watch.

It all started on Sunday night.  I stepped outside to capture the beauty of the sunset.

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I thought I might get a better shot if I stepped down the driveway a bit.

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Just as I snapped the photo I saw something moving really fast down the street.

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My bionic eye could make out it was a fox, but it was too fast for the camera.  Can you see it on the other side of the street?  (Note to self: you really need to get a better camera.)

Let me blow it up for you.

Fox

Yup that sucks too.  But at least PicMonkey let me add the arrow.  If you look real close, you can make it out.  Or maybe it’s just me. Because I know it’s there.

Flash forward to Monday night : I’m sitting on the couch in my underwear, cooling down after our walk, when the dogs suddenly go ballistic.

Hubby says “There’s a fox on the lawn.”

Sampson said, “Roo roo roo” which is dog for “Hey there’s a friend outside and it’s in my yard, let me out, I want to play.”

I jumped up and said, “I’ve got to get my camera.  Stay there little fox, while I grab my camera. I want to make you famous by putting your picture on my little blog.”

Sadly despite the fact that I am a deer whisperer my skills have not evolved so I can speak fox.   I reached the window in time to see the fox run along the side of the house across the street.

Drats!  Foiled again.

Thankfully I had the sense NOT to run out the door after the fox.  Can you imagine?  Me, running across the street in my bra and panties?  I bet there’d be a huge run on bleach as the neighbors blinded themselves trying to remove that image from their retinas.

Last night I put the camera on the window sill when we got back from our walk.   But I got nothing.

So we wait.  With bated breath.  What the hell does that mean anyway?  And who comes up with these sayings?

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