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

You Make Me Smile – May 25, 2014

Jan K said, “Cricket and Sheba often fall asleep with their chins resting on a toy. But my favorite is when Cricket falls asleep with a ball still in her mouth!”

Now that would make me laugh!

Jackie Bouchard says, “Cute! Sometimes Rita falls asleep on top of her bone – and I can’t imagine that’s comfortable!”

I notice my dogs sometimes sleep on things as well and I often wonder how they can.  Delilah is notorious for changing the television channel because she laid on the remote.

I Didn’t Know

Val said, “It’s amazing how they find us isn’t it?!?!!”

It is.  When I think of all the dogs we were turned down for and then there was Delilah.

Jan K said, ” What a wonderful story…it’s not always easy, but it ends up being worth it.”

With Delilah, it’s almost like she knows she was in a high kill shelter and got a second chance, this dog has a zest for life and grabs every moment she can.  I think that’s her gift to me, to learn to grab at the ring.

Lauranne said,  I hope there was cake and a pawty, if not let me know and I will have words with your mum!!”

I shall let Delilah answer this. 

“Um NO. A resounding NO.  In fact I got absolutely NOTHING but a pat on the head and a Happy Gotcha Day Delilah.  You can commence to scolding my mom now.”

Hey in my defense, I did take her for a lovely walk on the rail trail.

Solvit’s Telescoping Ramp

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom said, “Closed up I imagine it would fit in the trunk.”

It is 39″ at the smallest, I would think it would fit in a normal size trunk.  It fits across the back of my SUV (which is a Hyundai.)

2 Brown Dawgs said, “That is a nice sturdy ramp. It looks so easy to use.”

It is super easy.  Even for an uncoordinated clutz like myself.  Although I did scrape my knuckle on the surface because I hadn’t latched it properly.  But that was operator error.

Slimdoggy said, “I admit we’ve bought a couple of those ramps – including this one. The dogs are fine with them and they are sturdy, although I did pinch my fingers in one that rolled up more than once. Luckily Jack & Maggie haven’t had to use them yet, because they are a bit of an inconvenience…lugging them around, setting them up, etc. and I’m kind of lazy ;(”

I admit there is some work involved, but with a big dog like Sampson it’s so much easier than anything else I’ve found.

Sue said, “We borrowed a ramp from a friend for Tucker… he refused to have anything to do with it. Luckily he was light enough that the dog daddy and / or I could pick him up.”

If I could pick Sampson up, I would.  He is about 90 pounds.  I think in an extreme situation I could probably manage briefly, but I don’t think I could lift him into the car.

Emma said, “We are never allowed to jump in or out of the car/SUV. Mom lifts us in and out…says it is good for her arm muscles.”

Mom is smart, I imagine you are fairly light, yes?  I get my arm muscle workout setting up the ramp and walking Sampson the Puller. 🙂

Jen said, “I’ve been looking fora pet ramp for Sherman. It’s getting harder on him to jump in the Suburban. Actually he doesn’t jump in anymore, he puts his front legs up and waits for me to lift him the rest of the way in which has been hard on my back!”

Sampson used to ALWAYS get in the car that way, then I trained him to jump in and now he can’t.  I did try having him put his front paws up, but with a bum leg, it doesn’t work so well.

Gigi Bell said, “We have one if these & they are awesome! Digby is a Newfoundland, so we trained him to use the ramp since he was 6 months old. He is now 2 years old and just had TPLO surgery for a torn cruciate. Good thing he is used to the ramp!”

That was super smart to do Gigi!! I wish I had started training Sampson on these things sooner.  He just had ACL surgery and it has been a huge adjustment! 

Jan K said, ” I can see us needing one of these some day because of Sheba’s arthritis, and this looks like great quality.

Start now, before you HAVE to!! 🙂

Things Aren’t Always What They Seem to Be

Flea said, “I’ve done that so many times. FYI – gators aren’t too quick on land. Water?”

From what I’ve read they have short bursts of speeds up to 20 to 25 mph.  I don’t think I can run that fast, although with a gator on my ass…..Run Forrest, Run!

You all had some great stories, aren’t imaginations wild?

That’s it for this week, I hope you all have a great 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 18, 2014

Here’s what I love about you.  Yes, I’m talking to you dear reader.  It’s that you get what an important and significant milestone this is and you celebrate it with me!  I’m so incredibly grateful to be able to share it with you.  Thank you.

Chloe is Not Coming

There was a problem with commenting on this post.  Some of you tried and could not.  I had updated some plug ins and I think there were some conflicts.  I went in and deactivated some, and it seems to have worked.  I’m sorry for those of you who tried but could not comment.

Emma had the best advice: “Some people just will never get it, it may be best for you to just drink in this situation.”

I like the way  you think Emma!

Mary asked, “I have wondered more than once, how do you educate people? Maybe we could carry a pamphlet with training and dog etiquette tips to hand out.”

For me the question is, will they be open to it?  I mean let’s face it, the typical dog owner is not one the amazing folks of Blogville nor are they HLAD readers.  It’s tough to educate someone who a) doesn’t want to be educated or b) feels they know everything they need to.

Speaking of Mary, have you all checked out her new blog?

Lauranne had the next best comment: “I think you should try the slapping them round the head with the clip end of the lead technique.”

Oh my lord, can you imagine if I could do that without being arrested?  I imagine there’d be a good many folks walking around my neighborhood with welts on their heads. 🙂

2 Brown Dawgs said, “You better not come and train with us because we are using the Hillmann method to reinforce sit and it has us saying “sit, sit, sit” several times.”

Oh my, maybe it’s different when you are training hunting dogs, I’ve been told if you repeat it six times you will need to say it six times before the dog sits because that is what it learns.  You will have to keep me posted on how this works out for you.

Houndstooth left a very lovely comment explaining how hard they’ve worked with their girl Morgan.  I encourage you to go back and read it, but in it she said, ” I truly believe that there’s a misfire in her brain.”

I know you’ve been through a lot with Morgan, and I know how hard you’ve worked.  I do believe that dogs can have misfires in their brains just as well as humans can.  In Chloe’s case, I do suspect her owner hasn’t worked with her, but that is just my thought. 

What the ?

Was that not the stupidest dog invention ever?  I can’t even wrap my head around it!

Vlad and Barkley’s Dee asked, “Did you go check out the Youtubes on this thing?”

Good lord, NO!  I think I would have to try and find out their names and hunt them down and go West Virginia Back-woods Hood-rat on them!

Jan said, “I remember that this company was looking for an American distributor for their poop catcher. I assume you won’t be applying for the privilege.”

That would be a correct assumption Jan! LOL

M.K. Clinton said, “Can you believe that anyone would stoop to the level of harnessing a bag to their dog’s butt and not stoop a bit lower and just pick that crap up?!?! ”

No, I actually can’t.  First I can’t believe someone made one and second I can’t believe anyone would use it!  How much lazier can you be?

Let it Go

Mary said, “I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. You have to just go with the flow sometimes.”

I’m a pretty firm believer in that myself Mary.  I think I was just upset with myself that I forgot it, I can’t remember the last time I forgot an appointment. 

Jan said, “According to Freud, anything we forget is done on purpose. (I’m paraphrasing) So maybe it is all for the best. Our subconscious minds may know more than the conscious mind.

My fee for this session will be waived.”

Thanks for waiving the fee, Dr. Jan, I do appreciate it. 🙂  I’m fairly sure something was telling me we needed the break and since the last time we were at therapy the therapist and I talked about what a stress it was on the dog owner, I’m pretty certain she’ll understand.

 That’s it for me, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!