Information on living with, training, and loving Dogs
A big box from Amazon addressed to me showed up today. This deluxe dog bed was inside.
I did not order it.
Amazon has no record of sending it.
No one I know thinks it’s a good idea for me to get another dog so soon. And so no one I can think of who might have sent it, admits to it.
A sign from the universe that somewhere there’s a dog being that wants to come share its life … Read more
Meet Bob. My new dog.
He’s a pound puppy. Well, actually a pound old man; he’s around 8 years old. And he’s sweet as can be.
I know I said I was going to wait at least a year but…
Well…
I sort of am still waiting.
Bob is a dear friend’s dog that we’re dog-sitting for. Her usual standby wasn’t available and she had a terrible experience trying someone on Rover.com. (Not all Rover experiences turn out poorly. You … Read more
I cannot tell a lie. I’m wavering. I’d initially wanted to wait at least a year before bringing another dog into my life. I’m blaming it all on my daughter, Cait.
She’s been having me look at Aussies in Rescue and Shelters for her. She’s thinking she wants a Mini Aussie with a tail. Specifically a Mini Aussie Blue Merle. This is the girl she has her heart set on. She’s also thinking smaller is better for apartment living.
Looking … Read more
…it will take before seeing an open gate will no longer trigger a reflexive heart-clutching moment?
It’s been 3 months since Wink joined the rest of our animal family on the other side.
When they were all here, if I’d come upon a gate left open like this, I’d have somebody’s head for being so unconscious. That’s after I’d have spent the next few hours chasing dogs down the street while screaming at cars to slow down, and running through … Read more
There’s a simple seven-second test to check whether the pavement is too hot for your pet’s paws. Just touch the pavement with the back of your hand for seven seconds.
If you can’t hold your hand there for the full seven seconds, then it’s also too hot for your dog’s paws. Same difference, if you walk barefoot and can’t tolerate the pavement heat, neither can your … Read more
Spring cleaning turned up this photo from a long-forgotten box tucked far back in a closet. Two of my favorite girls in the world.
Hard to believe that one left the planet almost a decade ago. It seems like just yesterday we were running around a field chasing sheep. Me, in fits of laughter. She, annoyed that I wasn’t being more serious about holding up my end of the job. She was so good, there was really nothing for me … Read more
Updated May 9, 2022
She’s beautiful, isn’t she?
She’s also smart, athletic, a snap to train, devoted, telepathic, and my right-hand girl. In fact, she’s everything you could want in a dog — and more.
It’s the “more” part that gets most people into trouble. The truth is — for as beautiful and brainy as Australian Shepherds are — they aren’t for everyone.
The question is: Are they for you?
Let me walk you through a few key points … Read more
In all my years on the planet, 90% of them have been spent living with animals. Mostly dogs. I’m still figuring out how to find my way without four-footeds always by my side. It’s weird. So very weird.
I promised Andrew that I would try to make it a year. There’s some traveling he’d like to do where we both get to go together. What a concept! But I’m not sure how long I’ll last. … Read more
