Sometimes I think the dogs are telling each other little secrets that I am just not part of. They have their own sister language that does not include anyone else. Maybe they are planning how to break out of the yard by digging a hole under the fence (that would definitely by Sofie’s idea). Or they are planning a special surprise ambush of a cat or two when they return inside later that day (also a Sofie idea). Wait, maybe it is about hiding all the broken toys so that Mommy doesn’t find them (this would be a Louise idea). Do dogs have secrets? Can they be trusted to keep a secret? Have you ever seen a dog on the front of one of the trashy magazines at the grocery store bragging about all the stupid and immature things that their celebrity owners did? No. Neither have I. Dogs must actually be really good at keeping secrets. Just imagine the headlines if some of those canine or felines (like the Royal Corgies in the Queen’s parlor) told the world what they really saw. I trust my dogs with my deepest thoughts and I think they honor that…. unless, of course, someone pays them a lot of bones to spill the beans. BOL BOL BOL
We are lucky we have jobs. We are ZHAs (Zoo Happiness Administrators). Not having a job is hard and we know to many people who are out of work today. We are praying for them to find meaningful work really soon.
Why is it that most dogs like to walk as far out on the lead as they can? They may not pull or jump, but they like to be at the ‘end of the line.’ Or is it actually at the ‘front of the line?’ Either way, almost any dog that I have had, likes to take the lead as far as they can. I know that leading is suppose to be my job and I am sure that many of you animal trainers out there are saying that I am being ‘lead around’ by my dogs (which is probably not a good thing from a leadership stand-point), but sometimes, and usually on our sniffy walks around the neighborhood, I just don’t mind. Sofie is more of a follower than a leader. She is off leash 99.9% of the time and usually a bush or 2 back sniffing away. Louise is a step ahead. Lulu is on the leash because I just do not trusted that she will not bolt into someone’s yard if she sees a squirrel or other creature. When is it OK to follow their lead? Am I suppose to keep them tight by my side and at my heel in all situations? But this is the sniffy, go potty, walk, so should I care?. I don’t mind being at the end of the line – as long as I am the leader.
October and November are the best months to see the beauty of the fall plant called the Chrysanthemum or “Mum” for short. These incredible plants are dense, compact, and bushy and provide an array of color for months, not days, long after the dahlias, daisies, zinnias, and coreopsis are gone. Plant them in the spring if you really want a good show in the fall. Remember to pinch them back to produce really strong blooms. “Mums” the word around here this month.
Mom makes us pose in front of all these weird things. We just want to pee on them.
Sofie and I went down to the river to check on the dinner crab situation. You see, our water (the Magothy River) is directly off the the Chesapeake Bay, so we get the best Blue Crabs in the nation. All we have to do is put these crabpots* in the water and the silly things crawl inside (How dumb is that?).
Mom was checking but it doesn’t look like anyone crawled in. Our humans love crabs but Mom is just going to have to go find one of those trucks on the side of the road tonight and get whatever the seaman caught today. That’s me! Louise the Baydog
*Invented by Benjamine F. Lewis in the 1920’s, patented in 1928, and perfected 10 years later, the crabpot changed forever the way hard crabs are harvested on the Chesapeake Bay. The crabpot is the most common method used to catch and harvest crabs and is used worldwide.
There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours. To the cognition of the brain must be added the experience of the soul. ~Arnold Bennet
What is life if not the culmination of the things that we have experienced; the deep and unyielding collection of events that are burned into our memory banks. Some of them we can not even remember, but they still created a mark, a scar maybe, a ripple in the scheme of our total recall.
Louise is an emotional dog. She was about 5 months old when we rescued her, and that could be a lifetime of experiences that we just will never really know about. I think Louise’s start in life was bad. I know she was neglected, but I think that she probably was emotionally, if not physically, abused.
She is a good dog. And to those she trusts, she is a sweet dog. She is leery of strangers and fearful of loud and overwhelming humans. The freedom and abandon she possesses as she runs at max speed across a field is amazing, but then she can quickly hide behind me and snarl at a dog or human that is getting to close or reminds her of something. I adore this dog but I do not understand her yet. She is teaching me about her fear and shyness and how the emotions can scar the soul so deeply and longly, that building confidence can become a life long challenge.
This morning we were out in the yard playing under the Big Tree. We love the cool breezes and the crazy squirrels. The leaves are falling on our heads and sticking to our feet. We are having so much fun chewing on sticks that fall from the trees in the wind, gnaw gnaw gnaw. Nine, the mischief cat, keeps trying to come play in the yard with us, but Mommy won’t let him. It is fun to dig under the leaves and hide our toys. I try to sneak bones out of the house and plant them to see if they will grow a bone tree next spring. Louise says that is silly and the squirrels will come at night and dig them up and then eat them. I don’t believe her. I am going to grow a bone tree. Mommy found one on the internet for me, so it must be real.
Louise here. Now that Peanut is gone, I claim this comfy bed as mine! Do you understand me all you other animals. Whenever that door is open and Mommy goes in there, that is my throne. None of you are to even try and get up on the bed with me.
What part of “IT’S MINE!” do you not understand Nine???!!!!
