Tales from the Dog Park

Just a few images from Sunday at the dog park. There were a LOT of dogs there. Boodles had a great time, as always.

Take a look at this leap! That boxer can't believe his eyes!

Coley, a gorgeous brindle Akita, usually comes with a young woman and the young woman's mother. Sunday, the young woman and her husband were elsewhere, so Coley came with mom. Coley and Juniper get along fine, although they don't want to be bosom buddies. This day, though, there was a little tension in the air, and Juniper and Coley had to do a little chest bumping and posturing.

Juniper didn't like it much when Coley put her neck over Boodles.

Charlie couldn't entice Juniper into playing, despite his fancy dancing.

But Boodles found a new friend. This little girl is 3 or 4 months old. Don't they look like trouble going somewhere?

Dog Haiku

Love my master; Thus I perfume myself with This long-rotten mouse.

I lie belly-up In the sunshine, happier than You ever will be

Today I sniffed Many dog behinds—I celebrate By kissing your face.

I sound the alarm! Paper boy—come to kill us all— Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I lift my leg and Whiz on each bush. Hello, Spot—Sniff this and weep

I sound the alarm! Garbage man—come to kill us all— Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

How do I love thee? The ways are numberless as My hairs on the rug.

I sound the alarm! Mail carrier—come to kill us all— Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

My human is home! I am so ecstatic I have Made a puddle

I sound the alarm! Gardener—come to kill us all— Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I Hate my choke chain— Look, world, they strangle me! Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack!

Look in my eyes and Deny it. No human could Love you as much I do

The cat is not all Bad—she dots the neighborhood With Tootsie Rolls

Dig under fence—why? Because it's there. Because it's There. Because it's there.

I am your best friend, Now, always, and especially When you are eating.

My owners' mood is Romantic—I lie near their Feet. I fart a big one.

Tales from the Dog Park

The last day of March was a terrific day to go to the dog park. The weather was sunny and warm enough. Boodles and Juniper were happy Daisy was here- She and Boodles wore each other out running- there's a slide show below.

Jasper, the German Sheppard was there for a while, as well as a couple of fearless small dogs.

Juniper allowed Chuck to see her belly. Later she acquired an acolyte- the slide show on the bottom tells that tale.

Juniper loves her rawhide

Juniper is a bit of an odd duck, er, dog. She is a very serious dog, with a serious job. Part of her job is to make sure no one has too much fun. She has little sense of humor and a strong sense of what's right and wrong (in her opinion.) After two + years, she is still greatly concerned about Chuck's behavior. She tries to keep me between her and Chuck, and when that is not possible, abases herself in front of him as before her god.

But there are signs that she is loosening up- She has started to play at the dog park, especially if there are puppies. If Chuck has food, she approaches him with enthusiasm. Even if he has no food, she will creep up to him and give him a little lick on his outstretched hand if he asks for a kiss. She will shake hands with him- that's a trip to watch- she sits as far away from him as possible, turns her head away from him and then extends her paw.

But she LOVES her rawhide. She loves her rawhide with all of her heart, and with an abandon that exceeds all belief.

Chuck will give each dog a rawhide- the kind with a knot on either end to look like a bone. Boodles will set to, and gnaws hers up without pausing. Juniper, however saves hers. She hides it until Boodles has finished hers, and then she brings it out. She tosses it in the air and catches it. She throws it down and rolls on it in a torrent of ecstasy. She carries it with her every where she goes, although she won't take it outside, and she flaunts it in Boodles' face. And she rests with it between her paws.




If it's just me at home with them, Juniper's rawhide is pretty safe from predation. Boodles waits until Chuck is around, and Juniper's attention is divided, and then steals it. She quickly retreats to safe space, under Chuck's desk, where she chews it up.


The Dog Age tip of the week has to do with Giardia, a waterborne parasite that can infect your dog if he or she drinks from puddles or other water sources that are infected.

Working dogs?

My dogs don't work. My friend Pat, whose dogs don't work either, pointed me to this amazing video of some dogs who DO work. Wow!



Yes, the sheep and the guys work too.

Mission Accomplished- 4 dog walk successful!

Yesterday I posted about walking my friend's dogs for them, and said we were thinking about introducing our dogs to the mix today. Well, we did- pictorial results below.

We accomplished the 4 dog walk with no problems- a little posturing at the beginning (Juniper acting like a bitch, you know) and Chessi didn't think any part of it was all that hot an idea, although she went along with it. But all in all, everyone enjoyed, or at least tolerated, the walk. There was a spate of barking at the very beginning- strangely, from Rufus and Boodles, not the two I expected. Juniper did a little chest bumping with Ruf, to let him know she was in charge, but Chessi and Juniper pretty much ignored each other. I actually thought any trouble would be between those two.

Boodles and Rufus wanted to play, and we had to remind them that leashes suck all the fun out of the world. He'll have to come to the dog park to really get to play!

Side by side, the ways these two are dissimilar are more apparent than the ways in which they are similar.

This was from Chuck's phone camera. I thought it was an interesting arrangement.



And here's a little slide show. I know the differences are subtle- this was about 1 minute of quick snapshots- I love the way Chessi is sitting in the background, Boodles is being a space cadet, and Rufus is making up to the ladies. This was our last day, although we would do it again any time.

Dog Walking Infidelity

Chuck and I were unfaithful to Boodles and Juniper today. And the horrible thing is, we will repeat that adultery tomorrow. Yes, it's true. Our shameful secret-We walked another couple's dogs.

Some friends of ours have a new baby, who had open heart surgery on Monday. The baby is doing well, came through surgery with flying colors, but there are still logistical matters to be worked out. Chuck and I volunteered to walk the dogs while the family was in the hospital, to take that concern off their minds. I remember when I was in the hospital having my first son, I worried about the dog I had taken to the vet that afternoon, just before going into labor- it is strange the things the mind seizes on to worry about.

We had met Chessi before, but had not met Ruf. I had seen pictures of him as a puppy, but nothing since. When we went over on Sunday to acquaint ourselves with the walking routine, we were amazed to see how much he looked like Boodles.

There are differences- Ruf is bigger, and much heavier- thicker bodied. His head and face are different- no pseudo-St. Bernard here. Rufus is redder. But the feet, the feathers, the tail with the black bar and the white tip, even the bad toupee appearance on his back looks a little like Boodles. He will be 3 in April, and we think Boodles is just over 2, so they aren't littermates. It is remotely possible that they are siblings, but very remote- Boodles was found in the next county over. Rufus came from the local shelter.

Chessi shares some similarities to Juniper, beyond her coloring. Notice she walks as far from Chuck as she can get!

Boodles and Juniper forgave us our transgressions. Perhaps tomorrow we will take Boodles along for the walk. I don't know about Juniper- our friend tells us that Chessi doesn't like other dogs. We'll see.