Heart Like a Dog

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

Racing The Sun

By

We had a lovely tease of spring days to come yesterday.

I had to run out and pick up a prescription and when I stepped outside around 3:00 pm, spring fever slapped me hard in the face.

I immediately regretted not letting the prescription wait and instead running home and grabbing the dogs for a walk.  I debated whether I had the time to do both.  In the end the prescription won out.

Hubby and I had planned to do our around the block walk, but the fresh spring air kept dancing in and out of my mind.   When one of my co-workers suggested slipping out early, I packed up my stuff and left.

As soon as I walked in the house, I ignored our traditional greetings and rituals and instead ran right for my sneakers, collecting poop bags, pepper spray, and treat bags as I dialed up my walking friend.  Poor sweetie was suffering from a miserable virus/cold so I said, “Pass.”

I quickly switched the dog’s collars bypassed the flea and tick spray as well as their safety vests and hustled them into the car.

I raced up to the park hoping we would have time for a quick run through the woods and praying on-one else would be around.

My luck ran out as I pulled up and three teenage boys were just stepping out of their car.

“Hey fellows, how’s it going?  Would you mind if I let the dogs out?  I’m trying to get a quick run in before dark.  They’re friendly.”

They had no problems with it so I let the dogs out, after a quick greeting the dogs headed off towards the field.

I chatted with the guys for a couple of minutes but didn’t want to seem like a stalker, besides their young legs moved much quicker than these old ones and they quickly out distanced me.

They headed down to the lower walking trails and Sampson, Delilah and I stayed on the upper ones.

I couldn’t remember what time the sun was scheduled to set, but figured I had about half an hour.  I kept my eye on the western sky, checking the position of the sun.  After we’d been there about 25 minutes we started heading out, while it wasn’t really getting dark I decided I wasn’t willing to risk another run through.

The sun setting as we arrived home.

It was just enough to satisfy the spring fever in my soul and it helped Delilah snooze through her snack time.  In fact, I had to wake her up to give it to her. 😉

Book update: My book has 12,623 words.

Let Me Rip It, Let Me Tear It.

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Yes, the title is referencing a Harry Potter book.

I was in the bathroom this morning getting ready for work and listening to the dogs wrestle.  Sampson and Delilah are very verbal when they wrestle and if someone didn’t know better, they might think they were fighting.

Their play usually involves a lot of “Arghhhh” and growling, and this morning there was even some barking.  There is also play bowing and laying on their backs, twisting with joy.

Their play doesn’t usually last very long, maybe for five or ten minutes, but the sounds of them playing fill my heart with joy.  Many times when they wrestle at night Hubby and I just stop what we are doing and watch them, it is that joyful for us.

As I was applying my make-up, listening to them play I thought back to last night’s post about what a fantastic job Delilah did on her walk and how their antics had provided me with basically a year’s worth of blog material.

I thought wow, she’s doing good on her walks and decent on her recalls in the woods, what am going to be blogging about?

I heard the sound of something being ripped, and even though we buy them inexpensive toys that can be torn apart I always like to check.

Good thing.

Sampson's Bed

Yup, that’s Sampson’s bed, the one he occasionally sleeps on.  At one time I had two of these but you know how beds go.  The dogs dig at them and eventually they wear out.  I had noticed it had a small hole in it a couple of weeks ago and a bit of the stuffing had been sticking out, but I didn’t think anything of it.

Apparently Delilah had noticed it too.

I guess you’re stuck with me.

Book update: I’m still at 12,303 words.

Good Girl Delilah!

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Our next door neighbor’s dog is chained up outside.  Not in the way you typically think of a dog chained up.  Since their yard is not fenced in, when Gunner has to go out he goes out on a chain, he is not left out there all day and night long.

My experience with dogs that are chained is if the opportunity ever presents itself, they will take off and go exploring.  Gunner is no exception.  As far as I can tell he is not a mean dog, he never barks at my dogs even though the two fools are barking their heads off at him.

I really don’t know what kind of dog Gunner is, I know he is black with longish fur and probably a bit smaller than my dogs.  If truth be told, he sort of looks like a Grim from Harry Potter.  Siriusly.

Last night he got loose.  I could hear my neighbor out their calling him, but he didn’t care, he was too busy enjoying his freedom. 🙂

Hubby and I were planning on walking the dogs around the block when he got home.  I was kind of nervous about Gunner being on the loose and running into him on our walk.  Since Delilah can get so snarky on her leash, I try to avoid other dogs.

Luckily for us we didn’t run into Gunner, BUT the dogs in the house with the invisible fence were out, at least the one that likes to run back and forth barking, you know the one who gets Delilah’s dander up.

Thankfully when the dogs are out their porch light is on which usually gives me the heads up.  Although sometimes we can’t see the dogs until we are almost upon them, because the part of the yard that runs along the road is in shadow.

Delilah you may recall is on the 30 foot leash, so I pulled it in and gave her maybe about 12 feet.

Normally even when the dogs aren’t out she lifts her head up and looks over there, looking for some action.  I try not to yank her instead I will try to guide her toward me with the leash and say, “This way” or “leave it.”

I just have to tell you how damn proud I am of her, the dog was barking and running back and forth and she looked over and I said, “Leave it.”  She turned back to the grass and even though the hair at the base of her tail raised up a bit, she walked calmly away.

No barking, no yanking, no growling.  She just walked away.

Yup, I Tebowed right in the road. 🙂

Book update:  Still at 12,303 words.

 

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