My Dogs and Me Archives - Page 22 of 24

Kiera Died from a Gunshot Wound

February 1, 2007 / Cait and Me, My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 6 Comments

No, no, it’s not what you think. My Kiera is alive and well, and right here happily dozing on my feet. It’s the Kiera from The Oregon Trail.

Cait and I have been playing this computer game she got for Christmas. It’s designed to teach children about the realities of 19th century pioneer life on the trail.

The Learning Company explains: The game helps kids build real-life decision-making and problem-solving skills; they have to choose their wagon party, manage … Read More

Note to Self…

January 30, 2007 / My Dogs and Me, On Writing / By Karen Shanley / 13 Comments

…Make sure, with all future book contracts, to specify that if I write a book about my dogs, and the publisher is going to put a picture of a dog on the cover, then it’s my dog’s picture that will be used. Not a generic stock photo of a dog that not only is not one of the breeds I’m writing about, but has absolutely no connection to the story.

Dogs of Dreamtime is coming out in paperback in April. … Read More

Molly, Then and Now

January 24, 2007 / My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 6 Comments

For those who’ve read Dogs of Dreamtime, you remember Molly, my deaf Aussie and Kiera’s sister. You probably also remember that I had to rehome Molly because of a deadly sibling rivalry. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make for one of my dogs.

I hope you also remember that, with diligence, I was able to find the perfect home for her. Her new owner (of several years now) is legally deaf, and has … Read More

Frog Man and Other Terms of Endearment

January 16, 2007 / My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 4 Comments

Some dogs lend themselves to nicknames. Graidy is such a dog. He goes by The Graidster, Graidy-Gru (Cait came up with that one), Happy Boy, Circus Dog, Clown Boy, Barky Boy, Monkey Mon, Licky Boy, Dagger Paws (for as light as he is on his feet, when he stands on you, you’d think he weighs a ton), Funny Boy (he’s the funniest dog I’ve ever had)– and Frog Man, which is aptly descriptive, don’t you think?

Kiera, on the other … Read More

Three Musketeers

January 5, 2007 / Finnegan the Coon Cat, My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 11 Comments

The integration of Finnegan, Cait’s kitten, into our home as gone better than my wildest dreams. Both Kiera and Graidy have pretty high prey drives, so there was no guarantee that it would work out, never mind work out smoothly.

Now, wherever you find one, you’ll find the other two. They’ve become inseparable.

The usual bedtime at the Shanley’s.… Read More

If Pets Made New Year’s Resolutions

January 1, 2007 / My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 4 Comments

New Year’s Resolutions are part and parcel of starting out the new year. As friends were talking about their lists, I started wondering what our pets’ New Year’s Resolutions might be.

Here’s a guess at my three fur balls’ resolutions:

Kiera, my Australian Shepherd’s resolution might be: “I will resolve to stop herding my people when they suddenly move too fast and make those herky-jerky motions. On second thought… Nah. Someone’s got to keep the order around here.”

Graidy, my … Read More

Herding Cats

December 1, 2006 / Finnegan the Coon Cat, My Dogs and Me, My Favorites / By Karen Shanley / 4 Comments

As I open the back door to let Graidy (my Border Collie mix) in out of the rain, I fail to notice that Finnegan (our Maine Coon cat) has snuck up behind me. As Graidy comes scooting in, Finnegan goes shooting out.

After a few choice words (why does this only happen when the weather is crummy, and my shoes are nowhere to be found), I dash outside in stocking feet with no coat. I call Kiera (my Australian Shepherd) … Read More

A Tired Dog is a Good Dog

November 21, 2006 / My Dogs and Me / By Karen Shanley / 2 Comments

After a day of play with Graidy, and her evening run, Kiera’s contentedly conked out for the night.… Read More