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 the week.

You Make Me Laugh – August 28, 2016

Taryn Tipton said, “The water bowl is in a very conspicuous spot in the kitchen so it is rarely empty. On the rare occasion it’s empty Jimmy will stand and look at the bowl, look at me, look at the the bowl, as if to say “women, this bowl won’t fill itself!” Remember, he is the Boss!”

LOL, yes he is the boss! Typically it is empty because of Delilah. For some reason she thinks it is her job to drink the entire bowl. 🙁

Sue said, “Like Emma, we have more than one in the house (we have 3) and my pups have me very well trained to check them at a glance every time I’m near them.  🙂”

Wow, you are trained well! We only have the one, but now you and Emma have me thinking about where I might be able to squeeze in another one. 😀

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “I do remember one time when I got all the way to work before remembering that I hadn’t given the Golden Girls any water before I left – and hubby left before I did – so I had to run inside, clock in, and tell my supervisor what had happened. John laughed and said “go ahead, we’ll see you when you get back.””

Nice boss! Mine would let me do that as well. The trouble is, if I forget I usually don’t remember it until I’m home. 🙁 I usually wash their bowl out with the morning dishes and if I get distracted, I’ve been known to ‘forget’ what I was doing.  Good thing I flush the toilet before I leave. 😉

Jan said “The food and water bowls get scooted across the room until a human finally gets the message.”

Isn’t it funny how they each have their own ways of letting us know what they need?

Monika and Sam said, “Sam just softly huffs and puffs, then sighs and lays down. It takes me a couple seconds to figure out what he’s really trying to say (i.e. “get snapping, lady!”). I always feel guilty once I realize it but a treat usually makes us both feel better. 😉”

Ha ha ha, sometimes Sampson just looks at it, but then there are times when he pops it around. Maybe it depends on how thirsty he is!

Why We Love Emily

Taryn Tipton said, “I never leave them! Haven’t had a dog-free vacation in nine years!”

We rarely leave them either! I only got away because Hubby could stay home with them.

Meagan Maher said, “The other week when we had to go away. We left Merlin at a boarding kennel. It was the first time he was away from me and i was teary when we dropped him off. 4 days later i picked him up and he was more excited to see the girls at reception than me lol.”

LOL, Sampson was more excited to see his neighbor friend then he was to see me. 

Emma said, “The first days are the hardest for mom, but then she adjusts and it is alright. She hasn’t left us really for a few years now which we love. She has left me home alone for like two days but her cousin comes to take me out and hang out with me and I don’t mind. Emily sounds like a wonderful dog sitter and vet tech!”

It is hard on us moms to leave you guys. I’m super glad we thought of Emily because she was so awesome. She sent me pictures every morning and even told me (on the last day) that she was going to miss walking them. 

Jan K said, “It sounds like you found the perfect person and that at least makes it easier. My sister takes care of our kids if we both go away – she’s the only person in the world other than hubby and I that Luke loves. We don’t both go away often though. I worry no matter who they’re left with anyway, I always feel like no one knows all of their special needs like I do!”

I think you hit that nail right on the head! I knew that they would be taken care of, I just knew it wouldn’t be the way I would do it! LOL It is hard trusting someone else with your kids. 😀 I’m glad you have your sister.

Beth said, “I’m usually a wreck, too, but I only leave them with my parents or with Barley’s reactive dog trainer, so I know they are in good hands! It definitely makes it easier to go away when you know someone who loves them almost like you do is taking care of them 🙂”

It’s good to have someone you know and trust to care for them. AND also, that someone is with them all the time. I would hate to leave my guys overnight if there was no-one at the house with them.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “I rely on the same pet sitters we’ve been using since 2006. I don’t know that I can say I’m a wreck; but I do call or text Susan at least 3 different times to check on the girls. I know she’s taking good care of them – I just call to be sure Ducky is behaving herself. LOL”

Well…yes….there is Ducky. BOL

There’s No Dog, Like An Old Dog – Throwback Thursday

Meagan Mahler said, “Merlin will do all his tricks in his repertoire at once if he knows you have food. At dinnertime he immediately puts his paw up to high five me before i put his food in front of him. Whoever said dogs are dumb never had a dog that owned them.”

Ha ha ha, this might be my favorite comment of the week, “Whoever said dogs are dumb never had a dog that owned them.”

Jan K said, “That’s Cricket! We tried clicker training and all she does is sit there looking cute, wagging her tail, and wondering why I don’t just give her the damn treats. LOL”

Oh yes, you have a treat, I see the treat, therefore the treat belongs to me! I remember being so frustrated with Delilah because I wasn’t using meat, I was using a vegetable! LOL Thankfully, she’s adjusted to treats and it’s much easier to work with her now.

Emma said, “Mom used Katie and I to teach Bailie some stuff. She learned much faster when we showed her how it is done!”

It’s true! I had hopes that some of Sampson’s awesome would rub off on Delilah and to a degree it has. She sees all the cute things he does that gets him attention and she does it too. Except I was hoping maybe she’d learn more of his nice house manners.” 😀

Well that’s it for me folks. Don’t forget, tomorrow is the Pet Blogger Showcase! And if I don’t ‘see’ you, 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 Laugh – August 14, 2016

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “Crib mattress and a throw rug. That’s a great idea!! I wish I had a set up like that for Shadow!”

It was weird, I was looking for a step, and thought, why not use the mattress, and it worked!

Emma said, “Maybe it had a wrinkle in it and felt something like the princess and the pea. I love to gather up rugs and blankets into piles to sleep on or move them completely around. At least he likes the mattress.”

He has ALWAYS like to remove the covering rom something. If I put a sheet on the couch, he will pull that off, he’s even done it on the bed!

Monika and Sam said ”
That’s a brilliant ‘hack.’ Well done, Jodi.”

Thank you. It was completely unintentional, BUT that won’t keep me from sharing it on my new blog… “Hacks from the ‘Hood.”  LOL

Lee and Phod said, “That is a great idea. My pups often take the blankets off things as well. So much for protection with one!”

I worry more about him slipping on it, than anything else!

My Silly Dog

Cupcake says, “Nuthin’ wrong with knowing what you want and then making it happen. Humans do it all the time! Why shouldn’t we? Well done, S. It’s good to have goals.”

That is true. And he does have goals and he usually meets them. 😉

Taryn said, “My guys get bored with the same old route around the blocks near my house. I started loading them in the car and taking them to other areas in my neighborhood. Now, when we head out to walk, they just go stand by my car. If I try to walk them close to home, they just plant their feet. I created walking monsters!”

So do you never get the neighborhood walk anymore?  How do you get around that? That’s one of the reasons I rarely do that, these guys develop routines REALLY quickly!

Emma said, “And if you are like my mom, you will feel bad and he will win the battle…but you won’t really mind. After all, we train you all so well to give us what we want because we know how to toy with your emotions 😉”

Oh he mostly wins. But Hubby has to do it, after all, he’s the one who created the monster. 😉

Lauranne said, “I bet he gets to go out front? He is so like Mity. Mity used to come in from his final walk, shoot upstairs, give us about 20 minutes before coming back downstairs and giving us ‘the look’ which basically said “have you not realised it’s bedtime” then he would turn run back upstairs and wait patiently on his bean bag for us to come upstairs and give him his biscuits.”

Oh yes, he goes out front. 😉 That’s funny about Mity. How many times would he come downstairs?

Two French Bulldogs said, “You win the holding pee award.”

Ugh, that is an award I don’t want him to win! I swear he would have gone longer, I practically had to drag him out.

Jan K said, “After we eat, Sheba has her treat and then takes herself right to bed (our bed). She doesn’t care if anyone else goes with her or not! I think she just wants to get the best spot. 🙂”

She’s smart. I think you might be on to something there Jan. Maybe THAT’s why he goes to bed so early. LOL

2 Brown Dawgs said, “It is more interesting out front. 🙂”

Exactly, and he has a better chance of having some random person petting him. 🙂

Creatures of Habit – Throwback Thursday

Sue said, “What great photos of both of them! Can’t help it – this makes me feel so sad for Delilah. She must have been so hungry for so long before being rescued. Hungry for food; hungry for attention and love. I’m so glad you took a chance on her and are giving her such a great life.”

I feel sad when I think of it too. Even after all this time, she STILL has that obsession with food. Of course, it could be the Labrador brain, but I think she has some memories of being hungry. 🙁 And for the record, I’m glad she took a chance with me. It’s been a road, but she’s truly an amazing dog, who just enriches my life.

Beth said, “I’m glad Sampson was so sweet and didn’t react to her stealing his snacks! Barley would have flattened anyone (except her humans) who tried taking her snacks out of her mouth!”

Now see, DELILAH would do the same as Barley! But Sampson, is so sweet and trusting, he knew that I would make it right.

Emma said, “Buddy, you need to get control over your cats! ”

Bob stayed with us for a bit while our daughter was in the Army. He was a good cat and just wanted to be accepted into the pack. But the dogs would have NONE of it. So he had to be sneaky about it. 

Monika and Sam said, “When they’re young, you think your dog is Einstein able to conquer all manner of mystery, as they get older, they start to resemble Artie Johnson’s little old man from Laugh In be it physically or mentally shuffling off on a trike.”

Bah ha ha, he did such a GREAT impression of that, didn’t he?

Jen Gabbard said, “It’s amazing how different they are, isn’t it? I couldn’t imagine seeing a dog go right up to another & take a treat from his mouth.”

I never could either. And yes, they are literally as different as night and day. 🙂

Alexa 88 said, “Delilah must think if she stares at you long enough you’ll give in. ” come on mom how can you resist my sad eyes””

I think she thinks she can bend me to her will. 😉

Well that’s it for me folks, don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the Pet Blogger Showcase!  Have a great one!

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 – August 5, 2016

Taryn Tipton said, ” I like it best when Jimmy rests his head on Wilson or vice versa.”

My dogs never do. In fact, they rarely, if ever touch when they are sleeping. I think I would smile at that myself. 🙂

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom said, “Shadow will rest her head on my knee at times when she’s looking for attention. And Ducky will rest her head on her daddy’s stomach when she’s laying between his legs on the recliner. That always makes me smile. Callie used to sleep on the living room floor with her head resting on the dog bed. I used to laugh at her when she did that.”

Sampson sometimes rests his head on his bed too and I find it so adorable.

Emma said, “Life is full of places to rest heads, but humans don’t seem to take advantage of it like dogs do.”

Right! What’s up with that Emma?

DogDaz said, “Sofie loves to put her head on feet and the coffee table, Lulu loves your knee when your sitting.”

Do you take pictures of that? That sounds so cute!

Monika and Sam said, “Sam will do that on my knee or thigh, to which I instinctively reach down to pet him. I think he’s actually put 2 and 2 together and figured out if he does it, he’ll get the attention he wants.”

Sampson will put his head on one of our knees with a similar result. They really have us trained. 😉

Cupcake said, “My head is surprisingly heavy considering that my brain is so tiny. So, yes, I need to rest it – on Mom, the arm of the chair, the side of my bed, or anything on the floor at my level.”

Oh Cupcake, you always make me laugh.

Delilah gets a Birdie

Meagan Maher said, “My last dog dropped a baby pigeon in front of me once unscathed and Merlin, well birds could be splashing in his water bowl (which they do) and he wouldn’t care (which he doesn’t). He likes to hunt and eat moths though.”

OMG a baby pigeon! That’s amazing that it wasn’t hurt! These past couple of mornings we’ve had birds hopping in front of us. I haven’t a clue what that’s about, but if those birds went into their water bowls, I’m pretty sure my dogs would take issue with it.

Taryn Tipton said, “One time when I was walking with my friend and her chocolate lab, we were along the edge of the big lake in our neighborhood. Mousse (the lab) was walking along in the shallow water when a HUGE bull frog jumped up in INTO his mouth. Yes, right in his mouth! It took quite an effort to get him to drop it. And ever after that happening, he was obsessed with hunting bull frogs!”

See a person would be freaked out by that, but a dog, no. A dog would be like, “Bring that shit on!”

Beth Patterson said, “When I was a teenager we had a Bullmastiff named Angel. One day we were in the back yard and a baby bird was taking its first flight. Unfortunately, he flew right in front of Angel who just opened her mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. It was very sad and unexpected.”

Oh my gosh. How horrible. I had a dog many years ago that could pluck low flying birds right out of the air. It makes you feel so sad.

Cupcake said, “Once I ate a butterfly. Mom saw it flying and then it was gone and I was chewing. She said, “Oh no you didn’t.” But oh yes I did. Maybe that was an accident….”

Ha ha ha, I took a picture once of Sampson with a moth right near his nose, as soon as I snapped that picture….Delilah ate that moth. 

Sue said, “Living in the country with a huge backyard we frequently have whole huge flocks of birds come in, especially in the fall and spring as they’re migrating. Years ago there was a day when a huge flock of meadowlarks came in. I let Lucy and Tucker out to “clear the yard” and they stormed out of the house. They reached the back fence and Lucy turned around to look at me… and had a meadowlark in her mouth. She looked wide eyed and shocked (just like me). And dropped the bird. After that she wasn’t as keen on “clearing the yard.” LOL”

Oh poor Lucy! They probably haven’t thought what would actually happen if they caught one!

Two French Bulldogs said, “Oh the poor birdie. We don’t go after them but we would like some tree rat stew.”

You and most of the dogs I know. 😉 Mine would like some chippies with that stew! Haha

Jan K said, “Oh, poor birdie! It probably was a young one. We had a lot of birds nesting around our yard. One day I came home and as I was letting the dogs out one flew right into me! Of course at first I didn’t even know what it was so put my hands up to protect myself, and I’m not sure if I hit him or if he just kept going the other way. He landed a little ways away from me, and luckily when I checked on him he seemed to be OK.”

Dear lord, I scream like a girl when shit like that happens. I’m glad you were both okay!

Sand Spring Chesapeakes said, “Preacher is trampling birds all the time and bunnies and moles and and and…..”

Oh Preacher! 

Anonymous said, “Send D over to my house, I’ve got an effing woodpecker pecking the crap out of my house! He goes from one end of the house after I chase him away, to the next! Peck off you bloody woodpecker!!!!”

I had a woodpecker too, I hung a wind sock type of thing made of metal which seems to have kept it away.

Peace of Mind

Pamela Lucas said, “I get your every word and feelings. Brodie deserves the best handling that fits him. I am lucky that my dog walker, who has a huge amount of clients, understands what I want and what Brodie needs.”

That’s amazing! You really have to feel comfortable with the person you entrust with your baby.

Misty Shores Chesapeakes said, “I know how you feel, when I go away and I can’t take all the dogs with me I call and check in on them everyday. Now mind you I don’t have a stranger or someone taking care of them, it is my own family that live with me and the dogs and I am still nervous about it lol…It is just no one takes care of them like I do!”

Amen sister. Don’t think I won’t be calling my husband and reminding him to read the list I left him. 😉

Genevieve said, “When I had knee surgery 3 years ago, ALL of my friends (and some acquaintances I don’t even consider friends) wanted to take care of Cupcake for the 8 days I’d be gone. I had to say no to all of them and picked the dogmom of Cupcake’s friend Lila. I knew Lila had the run of the house, was allowed on the beds and furniture, and went everywhere with her mom in the car. That’s what Cupcake needed, so that’s where she stayed. She did great. (And that dogma went on to become a trainer at The Seeing Eye – with my recommendation!)”

I totally get that. I could never leave my guys somewhere where they couldn’t sleep on the bed. I think if Hubby and I ever went away at the same time, I would pay someone to stay with the dogs. 

Emma said, “Oh boy, my mom is a nervous Nellie too! The only one she ever lets walk us besides herself is her cousin and in a pinch the neighbor. Mom is afraid we will get loose, or dart out after a squirrel and knock a person over, she is just plain afraid to let anyone else go out with us.”

It’s hard not to worry about that. Trust me, they will be with my HUSBAND and I will be worrying!

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, ” You’ve known Emily for quite some time; and you trust her with Sampson’s and Delilah’s lives at the hospital. She is the right person.”

Plus she LOVES Sampson, LOVES him, and he LOVES her.  I will have a post next week about Emily, she did the sweetest thing for him at the vet yesterday.

Two French Bulldogs said, “Our last dog walker payed more attention to her cell phone than us.”

Um…I’d have a problem with that and I’m assuming your mom did as well.

Jan K said, “I was the same way in finding a groomer for Sheba. I wouldn’t trust anyone with her until the vet tech at our vet’s office starting doing it. Sheba knew and loved her, the feeling was mutual, and I could feel comfortable leaving her in her care.”

It’s so hard. And the worse part is that they can’t talk and tell you if something is wrong. I’m glad you found someone for Sheba.

Taryn said, “LOL! I think lots of us share your angst! I have not taken a vacation without our dogs since we got Jimmy nine years ago! Wilson is a sweety and anyone could take care of him. But adding Jimmy to the mix is where things get dicey. He is what I call a 50/50 dog. He snarks at other dogs who get too close (or, heaven forbid, sniff his butt), but it isn’t every dog. So I can never trust him. I can’t expect someone else to be as cautious as me.”

Can I tell you a secret? We take separate vacations. IF we have to be somewhere together, I make sure we fly on different flights.  And Delilah is similar to Jimmy. I’ve worked really hard with her, but if a dog surprises her with a nose in her ass, she’s going to give him a face full of chocolate he won’t soon forget!

Monika and Sam said, “I think that little assistant that resides in each of us was trying to tell you something by making you feel uneasy about the original walker. Sadly those ‘helpers’ have no volume button that can be turned up-they just make you question yourself. Good thing too since they always seem to know what’s on the up and up.”

Sometimes I wonder if it’s really my assistant or just my paranoia. 😉 Either way, I usually listen. 

Jackie Bouchard said, “Oh, I feel your worries! I was recently in a very similar situation! I went away for a week, leaving the hubby and the dog alone for the first time (well, the first time where it was more than just one night). The hubs had time to take her for a quick walk each morning, but we knew it was going to be a crazy week for him at work (he’s often gone more than 12 hours) so couldn’t leave Rita home along that long. It took me a long time to find a place that I felt okay with – and I scheduled both a walk and training session with them ahead of time to make sure I’d be okay with them. Still… it was worrisome…The place I used would send me photos and texts each day, so I was able to see/hear how Rita was doing.”

Ugh, it’s so hard. Especially if you’ve never done it before! I’m hoping I can convince Emily to send me pictures. 🙂

Well that’s it for me folks! Have a fabulous weekend!