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 – February 8, 2015

Sand Spring Chesapeakes said, “you can take that snow bank on, do it!”

We did!  We made our way into the field and did a quick loop around.  It was hard going, but we managed.

Jan said, “The last time we took the dogs to the mountains to play in snow, they looked like that. Until they stepped out of the car. Then they got back inside, curled up and slept.”

Oh that’s funny.  It sounds like my dogs with the boots!

2 Brown Dawgs said, “Up at the cabin there are “gas line” roads that lead to the pumps and the gas company plows them so at least we can walk those even when the snow is too deep in the forest.”

That sounds perfect!  Maybe I need to buy a cabin in the woods. 😀

If My Dogs Could Understand Me

Barb said, ” I could just imagine the conversations between the three of you, but I’m glad for your sake that Delilah can’t speak….oh dear.”

You and me both.  She can be challenging as she is, I’m pretty sure she’d have me drinking in no time.

Cupcake said, “I understand every single word Mom says. Mostly she always tells me, “Blah blah blah, Cupcake.” And “Wah, wah, wah, naughty.” And “Mumble, mumble, mumble, PUT IT DOWN!” ”

Oh Cupcake.  

Lauranne said, “Turns out Mity doesn’t need english to communicate with us. He does this grumbling thing where he kinda chunters and sounds like he’s swearing at us.”

This is the main reason I’m glad Delilah doesn’t talk.  I do an awful lot of swearing at her and I’m pretty sure she’d give it right back.

MelF said, “Quit eating shit. Yeah, that pretty much sums up my life. ”

You too?  You have my sympathies.  And you have four dogs, I can only imagine how hard it is to stay on top of.

Lara Elizabeth said, “I would explain to Ruby that she would get to meet more dogs if she would not act like such a maniac when she she sees one.

Ah yes.  I wish I could get my dogs to act calmly too.

Kirsten said, “It’s funny, I’ve always wished my dogs could talk. But your post made me wonder–would they really say anything I’d want to hear?”

Good point.

Blueberry’s Human said, “I’d like to ask Blueberry two things: a) What does she actually smell when she sniffs another dog’s poo? AND b) What does her bottom taste like?”

BWA HA HA this made me laugh so hard.  “What does her bottom taste like?”

Jen said, “I think it’s best that Leroy and I really can’t communicate like humans.”

You are probably right my friend.  I think it’s probably the same between Delilah and me as well.

I Should Have Named Her

Lauranne said, “When we were discussing names for Mity my dad said “I think we should call him…(and then he dropped something hot, or stubbed his toe I can’t remember exactly and so the next words out of his mouth were)..bugger, sweet Jesus” Strangely enough we didn’t go with it, but it did have us all in hysterics for months!!”

OMG THAT is funny!!  I bet you all still bring it up occasionally and have a good chuckle over it.

Frankie and Ernie said, “Our names were Carefully picked out… NO, mom and dad have NEVER regretted the choices… they say our names FIT us to a T…”

YOU have GREAT names and they are perfect for the name of your blog.

Slimdoggy says, “We employ lots of nicknames to meet the needs of our exclamations…I may have to start using Sirius because Jack does that too…so frustrating! It’s like, I”m going in the kitchen to get you a treat, but if you stand in front of me in the doorway of my office , I can’t get out…Siriously??”

It is frustrating. If only the could understand!  Siriusly.

Sam said, “I never have – the names sort of stick and become part of their personalities. However, when we introduce Monty and Harlow, people hear “Monty and Carlo”, as in Monte Carlo… It’s tempting.”

I can see how that would be tempting.  Monte Carlo.  I love the cutesy names.

2 Brown Dawgs said, “LOL I think her name suits her. I do know an Alice (with registered name “To The Moon”) and a Lucy (who had a companion Ricky and now has companion Freddie).”

My goddaughter has named her children, Lucy and Ricky, I think it’s adorable. So the person’s name is Alice To The Moon Smith?

JanK said, “I don’t think it matters what you name them, it’s inevitable that you will come to call them many other names!”

Well that’s for sure! One of Sampson’s nicknames is Butter, because he loves the flavor and it is the only food he’s ever gone up on the counter to get.

Is It Her or Me? – Barks and Bytes

Lauren Miller asked, “Have you thought about training her to wear a basket muzzle for walks?”

No I haven’t and here’s why.  She doesn’t like other dogs surprising her and we do encounter off-leash nutty dogs and I don’t want her to feel like she can’t defend herself.  I’ve worked really hard with getting her to walk past dogs by using treats and I’m pretty sure I can get her to stop eating too, it will just take more work.

Leah said, “Lately, Zack’s been dragging the knife block from the back of the kitchen counter to the floor. Sigh. I’m not sure where else to put a knife block, or how he’s avoided getting self-stabbed ”

Oh my gosh!  How in the world can he reach that?

Sheena asked, “Do you give Delilah something to DO while you are out of the house? Perhaps she is bored or upset that you have left her?”

Typically no.  But she’s also not always destructive.  It’s random. She can go months without destroying anything and then, BAM!

Cupcake said, “The secret to eating the kindling would be EAT THE WHOLE THING – the wood, the plastic bag, AND the label. Next time finish the job.”

Cupcake, you take the cake.  I’m glad you aren’t in our neighborhood, I suspect you and Delilah could get up to some real mischief.

Emma said, “My sister Katie has some trouble taking a poo because of her arthritis. It is hard for her to “squat and push” so she kind of squats and walks.”

This was not a squat/walk/push, this was a BIG dump in the middle of the road.  

Daisy said, “You can practically see “GUILTY” spelled out in big letters on her!”

Oh she knew.  I walked in, looked at and said to her, “What’s that?”  She turned away.  I didn’t raise my voice either, I just simply asked.

Miley’s Daily Scoop said, “Don’t even get mom started on poop in the road, never mind the MIDDLE of the road. (What?!) If she could have it analyzed and brought back to the rightful owner she totally would.”

Wouldn’t that be great?  If we had a way to determine whose dog it belonged to?  I’d bag it and take it myself and throw it at their house.

Blueberry’s Human said, “I wonder if the poop was originally on the sidewalk and someone walking along saw it and punted it into the road. Sometimes I feel like kicking poops to the side when I see them in the middle of the trail, but I don’t want to get poop on my boot.  Maybe Delilah lives for your reaction to her destruction and her questionable eating habits. Or maybe you can start up a 12 Step Program for dogs in your area that are poop eaters. I wonder if Delilah thought to herself, as she found herself eating a smooshed poop in the middle of the road, that she officially hit rock bottom; maybe now she’s ready to get help.”

I think it probably got moved by a snow blower or plow.  OMG rock bottom?  I can’t stop laughing.

Rachele Baker DVM said, “Have you ever offered her the food puzzle toys like the Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug or a Kong stuffed with pieces of dog biscuits or other treats? Those types of toys give them mental stimulation and keep them busy so they stay out of trouble – hopefully…”

We have used them, I guess maybe I’m not using them enough.

Jan said, “Look at this way: there is a big blue couch that she DIDN’T eat all day.”

Well that is finding the bright spot.  Thanks for putting it into perspective. 🙂

Beth said, “Oh Delilah. Today, for the first time ever in our four years today, Barley ate cat barf after the kitty threw up–and I’m pretty sure there was a big hairball in that pile. I walked in to get cleaning supplies and when I got back, it was one. Dogs are gross.”

Ugh and on that note, I’m calling this post done.

Have a great weekend everyone!