Calamity

OMG, I swear my dogs are totally out to destroy my house!!!!

Friday Ms and I went to work at Ag in the Park.  Long day, tons of great kids, tired dogs and dusty humans.  Sparkles, Sprinkles and Cupcake went along for the day and everyone loves a friendly goose.  Moose, Max, Lace and Mal went along for the dog safety demos.  Max was awesome!  First time doing it and loved all the pets and scratches.  Really made kids realize that GSD's aren't big bad dogs at all.  And we had some really good discussions on the fact that it is never a dog's breed's fault for the way it behaves.  It's so much the owner and the amount of time they are willing to give to the dog.  

Home we went and another OMG!!!  John and David had spent the day working on transforming my garage into the dogatorium.  No longer do I have a garage door, but a lovely framed in door, with huge window bank.  Siding is almost all the way up and next is the north door.  I'll be able to keep my house much cleaner by letting dogs in through there.  Photos coming soon!

Ms and I had to run a couple errands, left dogs loose in the house, Hubby to supervise.  Can you see where this might be going?

1 1/2 hours later, we walked in to Max looking at me and saying---I had nothing to do with this, I swear. 

I've never had a dog open cupboards before.  Until Thumbs and his gang of hoodlums got organized.

Trash all over the kitchen, dining room and living room.  In the end I giggled.  We all helped with clean up but man, but boy did they make a mess. We were scrubbing floors and carpets and finding trash all night long. 

Saturday, ohmygrashness.  

We came home in the afternoon, hubby at fairgrounds helping with a clinic.  Pete is in jail having decided she can climb the shelves and jump into the puppy pen.  Thumbs is lose along with his honey Cora.  I think a couple others are lose too.  

Tote in study, open, treats eaten, nutrocal treats must be icky, full bag sitting in the middle of the floor untouched.  Notice garbage cans on counter?  Pick up mess, unload dogs, and get ready to let dogs out front.  Puppies first.  Did I mention I have to pee?  Race of the decades with four puppies to front door-they beat us.  Alec opens door, starts to put pups on ground(avoiding the four steps).  Veronica....can....not...wait....gotta....gooooo....NOW!  So she is darting around living room barking.  I stop to pick her up, pee.  Let go, runs to door, reach down to stop her from bolting out door, pee.  Pick puppy up, Alec goes to stand up as I put her down on step, door hits him in the ass.  Sends him sailing off steps, onto ground, hurts neck in the avoidance of landing on puppies.  Veronica on step, all four feet out and shaking-what the hell just happened to that kid?  

Did I mention I had to pee?

Doubled over, giggling, trying to get puppy on ground, Alec rolling around groaning wondering what the hell happened.  Be back to help you in a minute, cause if I stand up, well, we'll need to mop the floor.  

David comes home a little later to us sitting in chairs, groaning.  Guess that Thumbs and his gang had had several crime sprees that day.

Seems the first time he left for an errand, they opened the cupboard, again, and drug the empty garbage can into the living room--ie why the cans are sitting on the counter.  It was empty so no harm done but I think the decided to rearrange some other items in the house too.

2nd time he left and came back, walks in the study and the pull out shelf for the computer keyboard is out, keyboard on the floor.  Mouse in a strange position.  Stack a new CDs pulled out of desk( by PC base) and strung across floor.  We'll need to check the computer and see what sites they were logging onto and what they were surfing for-dog treats, antlers?  

Of course Thumbs denies it all.  EBD who is his hit man, says(use your best mafia voice here) dont know what youze is talking about.  Just honest law abiding citizens enjoying a nice weekend.

It's lock down-Pete's in a crate, Thumbs is locked in a crate-he can't get this one open.  EBD is banned to the downstairs and Alec's room.  Granny-bedroom(she's been opening crates and eating everyone's left overs--diet is her middle name).  Now let's see what happens when Cora and Max are left to house?  

I fear the chickens are planning a revolt now.

later gators...
C

Deepness

I think we all have those moments.  It’s either during a great REM sleep moment or just that quiet time where no out of the ordinary noises happen.  You slip into that deepness of tranquility.  And you calm.  You settle, you turn into a pile of goo.

It never ceases to amaze me at the depths at which our pets figure us out and though we are oblivious to the goings on around, their subtle nose poke, lean into us, drap across our lap, turns our attention from the chaos we are floundering in and allows us to breath deep, and come to a conscious realization of what a mess we are. 

For many of us that’s the heart dog effect.   I can’t tell you the pain that still sits just below me having lost two of the most incredible dogs in my life.  Not to discount all the other dogs that I love and those that I've lost, they all take a part of me with them when they go.  But the ache, the emptiness, are all so much greater when it's That Dog.  Addie was, well, my foundation, my starting line, she jump started me into the dog person I am today.  I asked a lot and was in return given 10 fold over.  4 short years was so not enough time.  Clairee, oh how do you describe the perfect dog?  Kind, gentle, goofy, pushy and much like Addie who trained her, pleasantly perfect in every way.  

There was nothing asked of them that they couldn’t do or at least attempted to do with all their heart and soul.  They were the calming spirit when life was rough or people were stupid.  Both of them made me a better person, I learned more about love, kindness and how to be a better person.  

~~~

I sat down to watch a movie with the kids.  I needed to do this, do that, get this ready, run into town, you know the drill.  I kept getting poked.  No go away.  Poke.   Sigh.  Poke.  Would you just go and piss off another dog?  Poke.  I had had it.  Get your fuzzy butt up here, sit down and shut up—and quit poking me!

As I sat and my mind raced with what I needed to do, my fingers dug into the deep soft neck hair of a slightly spoiled, okay, rancid smelling black and white dog.  The more I ran my fingers across his favorite spot just under his keel, lingered my finger tips on his ears that feel like silk, watched as he laid upside down, contorted his head to the oddest angle, I realized that he knew me better than I did myself.  He understood that I needed him so much more then he needed me.  I sighed, deep and relaxed. 

I forgot about all the stupid people who have no idea what pain they put their dogs through for an ugly ribbon.   I let it go that I’m never going to be in with the right crowd-just because I speak my mind and have no need for their bullshit.  I realized that right now, on my lap, was a dog that wormed his way into my heart like only two others have before, that was taking charge of my unbalanced state and making me understand that none of that really mattered.

This bond that we've formed, is one that many claim to have—their “heart” dog, but to me it’s not a title, it’s not a name, it’s a feeling, it’s a deep down component that you can’t usually explain to someone else.  I can try?  It’s when you have a V8 moment and see what your dog has been telling you and you haven’t been listening for.  For me and my smelly dog,  he understands the need for a physical connection, a flow of energy. 

I decided to run errands, he came along for the ride.  Sitting in the passenger seat of the van, head laying on the armrest, staring at me.  I made room on the tote that sits between the seats.  Just the perfect for a Malcolm sized body.  He crawled over, curled up, and leaned over to touch me.  He was happy for my lazy hand draped down on his head, that simple physical touch.  I was happy too, it’s so simple.   He trusts me to not let him get in harms was—ask me about the rude people at the show and at Petsmart.  He’s willing to try anything-gosh how he figured out the A-Frame in one try and now  races up it like a mountain goat, stopping at the top to check in and ask-is this what you wanted Mom?

People need to get past the idea that a heart dog is the one that won them this, or that.  It’s not about the dog that put your name on the map.  It’s about understanding, loving and connecting and knowing that you are there for each other, regardless.  It's something deeper then we can ever begin to create on our own, it just happens. 

Later gator....

C

Neglected

To the following people, I need to apologize for neglecting them over the past few months....EBD and Connor, aka the collie contingent in the house.  Yes there are two additional ones-Turner and Cy, but honestly, Turner hates being in the public eye, Cy-camera hog so I chose to ignore his hairy blonde butt most of the time.

EBD aka Evil Blue Dog for those unfamiliar with Lace's official title, is in charge of the house.  No big deal but when it comes to puppies, she has an issue.  They take her stuff without asking.  And it pisses her off.  And...she can't do a damn thing about it.  Last night she decided to take matters into her own paws and gave them The Talk.

All were in rapt attention-but I don't think it was the teeth as much as the bone they were waiting to take. 

Then came Unca Connor.  He LOVES babies.  Well he loves small dogs, the smaller, the wigglier, the better.  Collies really are the best babysitters.

Sorry, that's not a collie.  But the puppies' new toy-it giggles when  you pull it's hair.

 Ah there's Unca Connor!

 My head fits in his mouth!

 Tag Team'em!

Connor really is the best around.  He's so gentle with them just as long as they don't, you know, bit him you know where.  Then he's up on his feet and rolls them over with his big long nose.   

Later gators...
C