(via oceansdream)
Category Archives: Dogs
10.11.12 Dogs have Owners; Cats have Staff
I know there was a bunch of you that were laughing at the title of today’s post and you understand what I am talking about. K8 bought me a cute sweatshirt with that saying on it and it made me laugh. Here at the zoo we live it every day. I spend hours, days, even months training the dogs. I own them and I feel that their behavior is definitely a reflection of the work I put into helping them understand what is expected of them in the world. I am their ‘boss.’ Kind of like the sports team owner around here.
But the cats, well they definitely think I work for them. “Human,” they say “we demand that you play with us now or we will bite on your phone cord or walk on your keyboard;” “Feed me now or I will throw up a hairball in the middle of the living room (especially since you just cleaned the carpet);” “Clean my litter box now or I will use this corner of your office as my new toilet;” “Feed me or I will go in the kitchen and knock all your favorite things off the counter;” need I say more. The truth is, they are right. I work for them.
“OK, Kitty, I’ll be right there!”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
10.9.12 Virtual Dog Park Ping Back Challenge
I was out wondering the blogroll and I came upon Lulu’s brother from another mother, Doggy. Don’t they look like they would be great virtual friends. So I am taking Louise to the virtual dog park and I am hoping that Doggy will be there to play. If you haven’t seen Doggy’s virtual home it has a new look and maybe he really needs a good run after his human spent so much time cleaning and reorganizing.
Happy Louise
Does your dog have a virtual twin? I challenge you to do the following:
Happy Doggy
1. Find another blog dog (or cat, or guinea pig, rabbit, OK any ‘pet’) and clip a picture from their page that looks like your fluffy love.
2. Post the 2 pictures side by side, like I did here.
3. Comment back to DogDaz on your post, so that I know your fluffy has enter the virtual dog park.
4. Have fun playing (but do remember to pick up any garbage before you leave).
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
10.8.12 Don’t Eat Anything Bigger Than…
I love it when Mommy feels guilty about leaving the zoo on one of her trips. When she returns after being away from us for a few days, she tends to give us new kinds of treats that we never had before. I also really like that she sits and cuddles with us for a really long time when she gets home (Mommy cuddles are my favorite thing in the whole world).
Someone said you are not supposed to eat anything bigger than you head, but they probably never saw my new bone. – Louise (aka Momma’s big girl)
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
10.7.12 Made You Look!
I am not sure what this means, but it seems that while I was away on business last week, Noël’s blogging increased my blog traffic significantly. I have been worrying about how low my readership was getting. My daily traffic rates have been steadily declining all year, but my recent absence appears to have caused a positive spike. What does this mean? Should DOGDaz become CATDaz? Should I let Noël or the other cats run the zoo more often? Should I go on more business trips?
The blog traffic has been a mystery to me. As you know, I write DogDaz because I love to rant and rave about my animals and this gives me a way to have a positive start to my day and have some fun and feedback. Blogging is such a personal thing. I definitely find that it has become a major part of my life this past year (next month will be a year since I started). Writing my little posts and thinking about the animals, their role in my life and my role in theirs, gives me great peace and happiness. This new dimension, created through social media, provides an outlet that I find not only cathartic but addicting. I will need to go back and see what it is about the Noël posts that made people read us that day. Maybe it was the feline tone; the self-centered smugness of her highness, Queen Noël, the Christmas Cat; or maybe, it was just one of those statistical blips that happens in the blogosphere.
What makes you read us one day more than another?
Feedback greatly welcome – I am always trying to entertain and improve.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
10.6.12 A Room Of My Own
The 
problem with trying to take a shower here at the zoo is that there are always at least 2 animals that are in the bathroom with me at any time and several lining up outside the door trying to get in. At this point, and now that all the kids are gone, I don’t bother to close the door because it is only going to get scratched up or some animal is going to stand on the other side of it and whimper and bark (and we all know who that would be.) Louise, being the muscular thin haired dog that she is, does not like the cold tile of the floor, so, unless I put my bathrobe or a large towel down, she prefers to wait right outside the door on the carpet. Sofie on the other hand, having 3 layers of fur, loves the cold tile and lies right outside the shower door. Sometimes it is really hard to get out of the shower because she is fast asleep on the bath mat and has me trapped in the stall. I guess they need to know where I am at all times.
I thought that when the kids no longer lived at home, I could finally have the master bathroom back. Even though there are 2 other bathrooms in the house, everyone wants mine (it does have the best shower and the best light, but I really think it is BECAUSE IT IS NOT THEIRS!) I have given up trying to keep animals out. My huge soaking bathtub has become a velodrome for cat athletics. Nine and Stella go racing into the bathroom the minute I open the door to chase cat toys around the inside of the tub (it is really great for rolling little cat balls around and it keeps them busy for a long time). Kitty of course, likes to pee on the rug by the sink, and Muffin likes to chew on the plants (he does this first thing in the morning so that he can tick me off and I will go upstairs and feed him). The only one that I have never seen in my bathroom is Noël (but maybe I just don’t see her because my bathroom is all white and she is all white too (just joking)). But really, she does not come in there.
With Sofie’s allergies this season, I am kind of glad that she stays with me when I shower, so that the steam opens up her airways a little (yes, I am always thinking like a Mother). Is it the comfort of being near or is it the soothing sound of the water that relaxes her and puts her to sleep in a matter of moments?
I don’t mind sharing the master bath with the other master in the house, but all these minors are just making me crazy. Oh, did I mention the black Labby Lulu hair that just covers the white tiles any time she enters the room?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
10.5.12 Lulu Lost Her Marbles
You need to understand Mom, that it was a totally horrible experience, and all Noël did all week was pick on us, and call us names, and write bad things about us on the blog. Really Mom, please don’t ever leave a cat in charge again. It is just a really demoralizing experience to have to submit to the rude and undoglike behavior of a feline. Next time you decide to go away and want one of the animals to watch over the blog, please hire a Rottweiler or a Malamute or someone who really knows how to keep all those cats in line. Or better yet, leave me in charge. I will show that Noël a thing or two about running the zoo. Really Mom, really! Just ask Lulu! She was so traumatized by the experience that all she did was hide from Noël the whole time you were gone. I am not sure she will ever be the same. Actually, no one will ever be the same again. 
Just look at her. Poor thing, she has lost her marbles. You better never go away again!
What do you mean you are leaving to see Peanut for the weekend and you can’t take us? You are just cruel! Nine, I thought we told you to eat a hole in her suitcase, you stupid cat! What good are those cats anyway?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
10.4.12 I Want To Be Alone… I Think
Noël here again. You may be wondering why the last few posts have been so anti-dog. Well Mom left me in charge while she is away on business this week and this is my opportunity to vent. Though we cats have learned to co-exist with those dogs, even tolerate them at times, it is just really hard to understand and accept their very odd animal behavior. I am sure that you can understand. The life of a house cat is so, well, pleasant. And if there wasn’t these yappy smelly balls of energy running around… oh wait, that sounds like I am describing that kitten, Nine, maybe I have to rephrase this …. Nine even loves the dogs and cuddles up to Sofie (meeeeoooowww – how can he?)
Ok, let me start over. When you live in a house with 4 other cats and 2 dogs, it takes a lot of control on my part not to just crawl in a hole to get away from the screaming bunch of them. I would be happy if they all just went away, except for Mommy, I like her. I don’t know if cats were really meant to live in groups. We all are so unique and most of the time would rather be by ourselves than with other animals or even people. Except for some, like Muffin and Nine. Those silly boys love to sit on laps and even lie with other cats. Maybe it is a girl cat thing? Constance Kitty and I would be very happy if we never saw each other, or another animals again. Now baby Stella, I don’t know where she is on that issue yet.
It would be really interesting to be the only animal at the zoo. Life would sure be quiet. But, I wouldn’t get to finish the food that Muffy leaves over… and I wouldn’t have anyone to play with ….. and there probably would be only one litter box instead of 4 (which gives me a super choice)….
OK, they can stay… for now.
Just another CATDogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo 