As my day begins in the hush of predawn darkness, as usual, I make my way outside with the dogs. Looking up at the stars, I listen to the muffled sounds of paws padding through dew-covered grass. And I think about how my life has changed over the years.
For someone looking from the outside in, the changes would appear fairly dramatic. So much so, that if assigned with the task of matching up my “then” with “now”, most people … Read More
As I’m getting ready to harvest my garlic, I do what I’ve always done every year. I go grab my garden journal to get ready to record the harvest date, and the yield and quality of the bulbs.
I’ve been keeping a journal of my garden almost since I began. It’s a habit I picked up from the old woman who taught me.
She drummed into my head, “Karen, if you want to see if what you’re doing works, you’ve … Read More
Someone was asking, in conversation, what was the biggest lesson my dogs have taught me. I had to think about it, because there are so many valuable things I’ve learned from them. I’ve narrowed it down to two, which are of equal importance to me.
… Read MoreLesson 1: Play, laugh, and love everyday.
Lesson 2: Shed a lot.
Australian Shepherds, affectionately know as “Aussies,” are becoming more and more popular as more and more people discover the breed. Understandably, many people are attracted by their looks and intelligence.
They absolutely do make great dogs for the right people. And, like Border Collies, they definitely aren’t for everyone.
If you’re considering an Aussie, please take to heart the following information I’ve posted with permission from ARPH. Too many good Aussies wind up in Rescue because their owners don’t … Read More
A Dog’s Perspective on FireworksFireworks—classic component of the July 4th holiday weekend. Large crowds gather to watch the night sky turn technicolor. Often spectacular. Always noisy.
Almost always anxiety-producing for dogs.
If Wink could climb inside my skin to hide, he would. Graidy, who never used to be that bothered by fireworks, now turns into a quivering mess, courtesy of chronic Lyme disease. (Lyme can affect neurological functioning in all kinds of weird ways, this being one of them.)… Read More
Some vets will tell you that dogs don’t get the common bulls-eye rash that humans do when infected with Lyme disease. I’m here to tell you that dogs absolutely do.
Right now, Graidy’s got a beaut of a rash on his inner thigh. His fur is white and very fine, so it’s easy to see down to his skin. (That’s a photo of his bite. Sorry, I couldn’t get a better shot, Graidy wasn’t interested in staying still, but it … Read More
There are times in life when I just don’t feel like standing around while my dogs find the perfect spot on which to relieve themselves. Like when the temperature outside is in the minus digits. Or, when I’m in a hurry to go somewhere and I don’t have hours for them to decide to do the deed. Or, when it’s late and I’m so tired that I’m not sure what’s holding me upright any longer. I’m sure you could think … Read More
What’s the matter with using a Flexi-leash?
Flexi-leashes require tension on the leash in order to keep the line pulled out and thus teach dogs to pull.
And if you already have a dog who pulls (because maybe you haven’t had the time to properly train him how to walk on a leash?) then a flexi-leash will ensure that you will always have a problem walking your dog. I know. Harsh, but true.
Here’s just one of the all-too-frequent occurrences … Read More
