Heart Like a Dog

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

Inquiring minds…

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I’m going to test long time reader’s memories. Do you remember that Caring For Critters Round Robin that took place back in September of 2014?

Courtesy of Jen Dehaan from Pizels.

For those new to the blog, or those that need a reminder of something that happened 2 1/2 years ago, this blog has a Community Page (located in the teal bar below the header and above the blog post,) or you can just click HERE.

The Round Robin involved a number of bloggers sharing their stories and experiences with medical and behavioral issues they’d experienced with their pets. There is a lot of good information there, but of course, not everything is covered.

There is a lot to learn from reading other people’s blogs, but sometimes, when your in a blind panic trying to figure out a course of treatment for your pet, you can’t always recall who posted about what.

Pet bloggers share a wealth of information. Whether they are entertaining, educating or just sharing experiences, I find I learn so much from all of you. I belong to a number of Pet/Blogger/Pet Blogger pages on Facebook, and when I’m searching for information regarding a health issue one of the dogs has, I stalk those pages. The one thing I haven’t found is a page dedicated to health issues.

Currently, Stone Manor is experiencing a couple of challenging health issues, and while I have reached out to those of you, that I know have dealt with them, I thought it might be nice to have a page just for health/behavioral issues.  Do any of you have an interest in such a page?

I plan to write about our issues in depth, it’s just right now, it seems like it’s one thing after another with these two. We’ve had recurring urinary tract infections for both dogs. Sampson has been struggling with his partial CCL tear, and now it seems like the Meniscus might have torn as well. Also, Delilah has lost five pounds in the last six months, and her recent blood tests has our vet thinking she has Inflammatory bowel.

Additionally, after having been on 20 hours of work a week since last July, I just been offered a new job and will be going back to work full-time on April 10th.

SO, what are your thoughts? Does anyone think a page for health would be worthwhile, or are there too many pages?

Inquiring minds want to know…

 

Don’t Sit on the Arm of the Couch

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When I was a kid, I remember my mother telling us not to sit on the arms of the couch or chairs. I think the reasoning (if I remember correctly), was we could break it. I think I told my kids the same thing, but my reasoning might have been they could lose their balance and fall.

A couple of summers ago, I ran into a good deal on dog beds at my local warehouse club. These beds have the pillowed bolsters on two sides. It reminds me of a deep sofa, with a back and one side. One of these beds in is my bedroom, and one is in the living room next to my side of the sofa.

I’m also super lazy, so I tend to stuff things on the side of the couch. Things like my computer, shoes, etc. Of course, this area tends to be Delilah’s favorite spot to stare me down when it’s either dinner or snack time.

She usually starts, shortly before it’s time. She crams herself into the spot, and starts staring at me. She shifts her weight, she huffs and puffs and if it takes too long, she harumphs me. Most times, I can just ignore her, but if I’m trying to get something finished, it can really irritate me.

The other night, I looked over and she had positioned herself just so. And I burst out laughing.

Well here, a picture will explain it better.

Yeah, she was basically sitting on the ‘arm’ of her bed. I couldn’t help but laugh. Of course, as soon as the camera came out, she turned her head.

What did your dog do that made you laugh this week?

Dear Neighbor

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It’s no secret I live in the Dumb Ass Dog Owner (DADO) Capital of the United States. I think I showed you the satellite image once, but for those of you who need proof, well here it is.

DADO Capital of Connecticut

There are many times (SO many times), when I want to just let loose on some of these folks. I siriusly thought of anonymous letters.  Tell me what you think.

To my neighbor behind me who never lets his Rottweiler off his deck. Do you ever get tired of listening to your dog bark?

I do.  Try taking him off the deck and walking him once in a while.

Sincerely,

All I want for Christmas is ear buds.

Dear Neighbor,

I noticed on my 6:00 am walk, that you have a new puppy. I also noticed, this is your second new puppy in the last couple of months. Did the Beagle puppy not get the housebreaking training you were providing? Let me clue you in. 

In my experience, the best way to train a dog to potty outside is to bring it out, STAY with it, and reward it when it does its business. Just putting it outside for half hour doesn’t work, and I’ll tell you why.

  1. Without some encouragement from you, the dog doesn’t get what you want it to do.
  2. There are predators in this area. Those “Lost Pet” signs you see, that pet isn’t lost. That pet is something’s dinner.
  3. Your puppy’s barking, annoys the shit out of your neighbors.

Maybe try picking up a good book on how to have a well trained puppy. If you need suggestions, I’d be happy to provide some.

Sincerely,

If I see you on the street, I’ll have trouble not kicking you in your special place.

When you spend as much time walking as I do, you sometimes learn the dog’s names.

Dear Bailey’s Mom,

Do you know who is responsible if your e-fence charging, barking dog gives me a heart attack as I walk past and I die in the street?

**Hint** I hope it’s you.

By the way, Hanes thanks you for my business.

Dear neighbor who feeds the birds bread,

Perhaps you’ve been living under a rock, but science has proven that bread is bad for birds. Also, how big do you think the birds are? I think a loaf of Italian bread is a bit excessive, even for the large crows in our neighborhood. If you insist on feeding the birds, please consider bird seed. I’m sure the birds and my shoulder that gets dislocated when my dog dives into the snowbank for the loaf of bread will appreciate it. 

Signed, my aching shoulder.

Dear Boomer’s mom,

I understand why you got a mini schnauzer. You told me it was because you wanted a guard dog. What I can’t understand is that when Boomer is losing his mind because something or someone is nearby how you ignore him. Also, following me down the street with your dog at the end of his retractable leash, pulling like he’s a sled dog, with you doing nothing to rein him in…is a dick move.

Dear Dan,

Oh Dan, dear Dan. I’m sorry, but a paragraph will not do you justice, you sir, you need a post all your own.

Well, now that I have THAT off my chest…Have you ever wanted to write an anonymous letter to a neighbor? If you write it on the internet, and then write it and send it anonymously, what are the odds they’d actually find it?

If I keep my eyes closed, I can pretend this never happened.

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