Heart Like a Dog

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

Dogs and Children (Day One Hundred and Two)

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A number of years ago, Hubby and I went to a house party; the hosts were people we use to bowl with but didn’t see frequently; in my opinion we didn’t have a lot in common, but Hubby wanted to go, so I went.  I wasn’t having a particularly fun time, but Hubby was so we stayed; because it was a birthday party there was a keg and one of the things that really bothered me about this, was that some people had their children there.

For the most part the kids were inside the house, while the adults were outside but the host’s dog was also inside the house, and there was no adult supervision in there.  Sometime after midnight, a four-year old boy just about had his face ripped off by the dog, of course no-one actually knows what happened because they were all outside and most of them were drunk.  Seeing as I hadn’t been drinking, I offered to drive the mother and son to the hospital.  I cannot remember how many stitches that child had in his face, (I did see him a few years later and there was no scarring)  but I do remember that the dog was destroyed.

The memory of that boy and dog has haunted me for a while, which is why whenever there are children around my dogs, I am right there too.   I do not want  to place my dogs in a position where they feel threatened and feel the need to defend themselves.  I am also conscious of teaching the children who are around my dogs, to be kind to my dogs and treat them with respect.

Today my little grandson was over and Delilah had a spurt of energy and wanted to play with the ball, naturally my grandson who just turned three wants to throw the ball. I will not allow him to take the ball from Delilah, instead I sit on the floor with them and act as the intermediary;  when Delilah is ready to relinquish the ball, I hand it to my grandson and he can throw the ball.  In my opinion, this is a win-win situation, I get to spend time with my grandson and my dog, and I am teaching my grandson to respect animals.

Then There Was Delilah (Day 100)

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Well at long last I am pleased to say; Delilah’s story has been started.  In the top right of this page, should be a link that will take you to the beginning of Delilah’s story.

It was emotional for me to write it; and I still tear up reading it in certain places.  When I think back to the dog that came off the transport on May 26, 2007, to the dog that sleeps in front of me now, I cannot believe it is the same dog!  Realistically she is not the same dog as she has changed and grown so much.

I hope to add to her story, who knows maybe the books I publish will not be picture books at all…

My sweet girl.

Rain Rain, Go Away…(Day Eighty Seven)

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We awoke this morning to one of winter’s bleary, rainy days.  A day where you don’t want to even get out of bed, let alone go outside.  That is exactly how Sampson and Delilah felt this morning.

Traditionally they will not go outside when it is raining, no amount of explaining that they are water dogs, can convince them otherwise (except if we are hiking).  Delilah will eventually go out; do her business and quickly come in.   Sampson wants no part of it whatsoever, he will walk out onto the screen porch, sniff the air, look outside and you can almost hear him say, “eff this.”  He will turn around and come back in the house without going to the bathroom and he can hold it for a very long time.  Once I swear he held it for 18 hours.

I thought I was going to have a hard time getting them outside, so I stood by the door and told them, you don’t want to go outside, it’s raining.  Oh what is that?  Are you going to get it?  Ready, are you ready?   And I opened the door and said GO!  They shot outside like I shot them from a cannon.  Sweet deal, I had a few minutes to get myself together.

If you haven’t gathered as much by now, my dogs are spoiled, once we realized they hate to get wet we started keeping a towel by the door, so we can dry them off as they come in.  It is also really handy when it’s muddy outside to wipe their feet so they don’t drag mud through the house.  This morning they were outside for a very long time, so I went out on the porch, held up the towel and said, “I have a towel.”  They both came running. 

Here is Sampson, loving the rubbing!

Oh that feels so good.

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