Squash E Bear was a great traveling dog. He just loved the car. His large body would take up the whole back seat and he would lay low and ride along. Or if there was a window open, he would position his head, just inside, to have the breeze ruffle his ears. Ah, those were the days. Squash came everywhere with me. He always went on road trips north to NY or Connecticut, and I even took him to Niagara Falls (Canada side) one year. I put together all the needed documentation that you must have when traveling with a pet: vaccinations, microchip info, and even a signed note from the vet (when crossing the border). Finding pet friendly accommodations was easier than I thought, though the quality of some of the lodgings left a little to be desired.
In Niagara we stayed at this great Best Western with a million other dogs and we took some great walks with super views of the falls.
Everyone liked when I brought Squash with me because he was so well-behaved and basically just plopped down wherever he landed and smiled at you. He and I had some pretty cool adventures over the years – like that time he really needed to go pee, so I pulled into a public park, not knowing that dogs are banned from public parks on Long Island, and all these people were giving us dirty looks until a Park Ranger chased us out. Live and learn.
Louise and Sofie aren’t the best car dogs. They bark, they whine, and sometimes, I think Sofie is just plain nauseated by the whole thing. Makes me miss traveling with Squash. Maybe when the girls get older they will be better car dogs. Time will tell.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, New York, Niagara, Pet, pets, postaday, smiling dogs
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When you have a million animals they all seem to help you make the bed, especially the kitties. Someone always seems to be under the covers or hanging on to a moving sheet. It is a challenge to ever be able to come into my room with the bed as I left it. First there are always little foot prints that are dotted across the once tight nicely pulled blanket. Then there are tunnels where covers once were flat. The pillows seem to actually just be a raised sleeping platform for some. Then there are the toys, yes cat toys, that appear to now be a permanent fixture on top of the bed. This is insane! I love clean sheets. One of the best feelings in the world is sliding into that nice tight clean sheeted bed for the first time right after it has been changed. No crumbs yet. No cat fur. No dander. No hair balls.
And I would not trade the animals for the world, but will someone tell them it is MY BED!
(Did I tell you about the time I found Sofie’s lovey, Beaver, on my pillow? Dogs are not allowed on my bed. Now that was interesting.)
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Bed, Cat, cats, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Pet, pets, postaday
I have to take Peanut to her 3 day college orientation in New York this week. It’s about 5 hours away (actually she is going to school about 15 minutes from where I grew up – isn’t that cool). I talked V and K8 into coming with us since they’ve never seen NYC. The 7 animals must stay home of course, so we had to make creative arrangements. The dogs will be spending the week with 5 of their dog friends at Sonja’s house, the dog sitter. This way the can stay cool and safe and play at the same time. I have never kenneled any of my animals overnight, it just makes more sense to me to have them stay in a house with someone. One of K8’s friends is going to house sit for us to take care of the cats (and the house, of course).
We have a dilema though because of Miss Constance Kitty and her peeing problem. We did not want to leave someone to have to deal with the damage she can do on a daily basis if not watched and carefully managed. So she is going to a private kitty spa (aka much to expensive boarding kennel). OMG This place is amazing. I had to tell the sales girl on the phone to stop giving me the ‘how wonderful we are’ chatter and just tell me what it was going to cost. They have 3 different choices for cats: regular, deluxe. or even a suite. I could not believe they asked me if I wanted them to give her special tuna treats and bottled water every evening. Heck, I don’t even get tuna treats! I decided on the deluxe kitty condo (2 floors) with litter on the lower level and sleeping on the upper. I got her the deluxe because she is going to be there for a week and it has a window to see the world (and I hate doing this so I feel guilty, etc etc). Peanut says that Miss Kitty won’t want to come home. It is hard enough for us, the owners, to take care of all our animals at this point because of certain, shall I say ‘idiosyncrasies,’ so this seemed like the best solution.
Dogwood Acres Kitty Condos
Now I remember why we haven’t gone away together as a family in a long time – who can afford all the animal care?
Years ago, when we had the Guinea Pigs, we used to sneak them into the hotels with us and then just never let maid service clean the room. We had some well-traveled piggies. Those were the days when the zoo was up to 11 animals but it seemed more manageable for some reason. Dog went to dog sitter, we had a house/cat sitter, and piggies came with us.
Tuna treats and bottled water – really?!? I was waiting for the Spa to offer her the evening massage rubdown for an extra $1.000. Oh boy!
PS – My sister wanted me to tell any would be robbers that the house sitter carries a gun! Just saying.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, Animal Boarding, Animal welfare, Cat, cats, dog, DogDaz, Guinea pig, New York, Pet, pets, postaday
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Duckie and Luckie (2 local ducks) were sunning on the dock. Lulu saw them first and decided to give chase. The ducks flew into the water just out of easy dog reach. Sofie started to swim towards them, but decided that maybe it wasn’t the best idea. I don’t let the dogs in the river often because of concern for bacteria etc., but at 110 degrees in the shade I figure they really needed the swim. Our daily walks are getting shorter and shorter and earlier and earlier because of the heat wave. This was a nice adventure.
Ducks are kind of funny creatures. They appear to be smart enough to stay safe but they sure are funny and like to tease the dogs. I have not seen any ducklings yet, which I usually do by now, so I am concerned if the heat is even effecting them.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Duck, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
I have this hole to China theory that I brought up in yesterday’s blog and wanted to explore. As you can see from Louise’s photo, I caught her digging (notice the lovely line of dirt on her muzzle). My mother always said that if I keep digging in the yard, I would get to China – and when you are little, you do not question your Mother’s logic. But now I am big, and Mommy is not here to defend her 1950’s logic, so, where do you end up if you dig a hole through the earth’s core and come out the other side from Maryland, USA. Well, for me, it would be in the middle of the India Ocean it appears. You would need to be in Argentina or Chile to dig to China. Wikipedia has this great page on Anitpodes, basically the opposite sides of the globe. I never gave it much thought until today. So, Louise and Sofie, as you dig your holes, just be aware, that you are not going to get to where you think. But you may get cooler in this heat when you dig your shallow pits and lie in them.
Try this really neat site to find your location’s opposite: If you dig straight down
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, Antipodal point, China, DogDaz, nature, Pet, pets, postaday, Wikipedia
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Lounging on the deck is such a relaxing experience. K8 took some great shots of Sofie, just being Sofie. Looking pretty, checking out what is around her, and showing that she is not very interested in lying quietly. Sofie is one of those dogs that gets bored. You have to always have something for her to do, or she will create something, like dig a whole to China (which is our very North American term for digging through the earth to the other side, which for us, is China we think – but is it really?) Since we were out of power for so many days, I went to the only open supermarket and picked up a few new dog toys. Each dog got a supposedly indistructable stuffed toy (Lulu got a fish and Sofie a turtle). Turtle lasted about 1 hr before her stuffing was everywhere (she is pink, so I figured it was a girl turtle). Fish actually held for about 2 days (he is yellow). He is half stuffed now (and of course I did a ‘squeeker-ectomy’ once opened by the girls). Then I also bought them each a new ‘Bo-Bo,’ I only see Lulu’s so I assume Sofie’s is lying empty of stuffing somewhere. It kept them busy for a little while and to me that is wonderful. We still walk in the 107 degree F heat (about 42 Celsius) and then they sleep it off for awhile too. Ah, the life of a dog in suburbia. Wish I had time to be bored with you Sofie!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, Bo-Bo, China, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, Pet, pets, postaday, Stuffed toy
We went to visit our friends the Osprey family, to see how they did in the Derecho storm the other day. From where we were on the shore, they looked fine. The daddy tried to swoop at us as usual (we assume because he thinks we are to close), so all things must be well. We wonder how, if trees were picked up out of the ground and fell on houses, the little nest stayed on the platform? I don’t know but to us that is a miracle. Lucky for the Osprey family because nests are hard to come by. The good news is that it would not be hard to refurbish their nest right now if they needed to, because there are millions of leaves and sticks everywhere.
It is fun to visit the Osprey but we do not think they like us very much. We are glad that they are safe because we like when they swoop over the house and sing to us. Or is that their, “Go away pesky ground animals or we will come and scoop you up” cry. Did I tell you that one of them picked up a neighbor’s Chihuahua right in the back yard? Luckily the human was there and screamed at the Osprey to drop the dog. He was OK. But anything under 15 lbs should never be left alone when birds of prey are in the area. That is a good reason to keep your dogs and cats well feed around here.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, animals, Derecho, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, Osprey, Pet, pets, postaday
Fireworks may be fun for some humans (not me), but they are surely not fun for the animals. In the United States, 4 July is when we celebrate our Independence as a country. That is done with great fanfare and noise. My Grandmother was born on the 4th of July, so I used to think that when my mother’s brothers and sisters (all 9 of them) got together with all us kids (I have around 78 cousins) and shot off fireworks, it was for Gram’s birthday. I always hated the loud noise. Even today I have trouble with loud bursts (like balloons) or thunder. It is not fear as much as some kind of ‘pain.’ I can’t really explain it but it feels like deep emotional or psychic pain to me. I figure that is how the animals feel when they experience these loud, unexplainable sounds. Ground fireworks are legal to purchase in Maryland, though people have sky ones too. They started shooting them off about 2 weeks ago and won’t stop for another several weeks. Squash E Bear would not leave the house for the whole month of July. I used to have to push this big dog out the door to just go pee. Sofie barks at the pops right now and Lulu and her come running if they are out and the ‘boom-booms’ start. I hate this. Please keep your animals safe and remember that turning on a radio or television in the room with your pet may help drowned out the noise. For me, I like to watch them on TV where they look pretty but I can turn the sound down.
Here is a little article on helping your fearful dog: http://thebark.com/content/reducing-fear-your-dog#.T_JOd3hgggh
And I just wanted to say thank you to all the people and animals that serve my country and continue to keep my world safe as possible. You are appreciated and always remembered.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Fireworks, Independence Day, Pet, pets, postaday, United States
The dogs make me realize that I live a very quiet existence. There are not many people or animals who come into our world. Of course there is the revolving door of teenagers (they come in and out and in and out, but don’t stay long, except for the ones that live here) and the usual family and friends who are animal friendly. So the dogs don’t get to practice their good stranger manners very much. I use to have a better handle on the barking at strangers walking by, but lately I seem to be losing that battle. And strange dogs when we are walking (which we only see 1 out of maybe 5 walks) are not always met with obedient behavior. Sofie knows she is not supposed to jump up on people but lately it seems that many people kind of ask her to because she is little. Lulu just stands at the top of the stairs and growls and moves away. Maybe I need to take the dogs into the city and have them experience a busy street. But I fear Louise will flip out. But if they do not experience more people and animals and ‘busy – ness,’ how will they learn that it is OK? Hummm, this is a dilemma. How do you train the dogs to situations which you rarely encounter but want them to know how to respond to? I guess I should move (just kidding).
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animals, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, Pet, pets, postaday, Training
Friday’s Derecho aftermath. Pull out the chainsaws!
Mommy, it is really hot! When is the air conditioner coming back on?
I will just keep rolling in the grass and eating sticks. That should cool me off and help Mommy clean up at the same time.
They say we had a Derecho Friday night. Sounded like a freight train to us. Aftermath looks like a tornado. Thanks to Wikipedia and The Weather Channel, I now know that a derecho is a widespread and long-lived, violent convectively induced straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms in the form of a squall line usually taking the form of a bow echo. Derechos blow in the direction of movement of their associated storms, similar to a gust front, except that the wind is sustained and generally increases in strength behind the “gust” front. A warm weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially June and July in the Northern Hemisphere. They can occur at any time of the year and occur as frequently at night as in the daylight hours.
The dogs were fast asleep already in their beds. Storm came through around 11 PM (23:00 hrs). Sofie started going crazy. I opened the kennel doors and lied on the floor with them. All the humans huddled in the bed room and we listened. Then the transformers outside the house blew – one then two. Power gone. The storm past in maybe 30 or 40 minutes. It was to dark to see outside but we figured we had ‘weathered’ the worst.
Morning came and it appeared mostly to be tree damage on the grounds and in the pool for us. My neighbor, sadly, had 2 trees fall, one into each side of their roof, totally destroying the upper level of the home and the deck (that is their yard in the picture). I can live with cleaning up leaves and no power compared to that.
The dogs were very good. When we first came out in the morning I wasn’t thinking, but of course, the gates would all have blown open (actually the wind was so strong that slates blew off the main gate). I ran to the main gate to find both dogs standing there inside the yard line, thinking about what this really meant and should they run. They didn’t, I closed and secured the gates, and life went on.
The current temperature is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) during the days with no end in sight. Because we live on a peninsula, we are the first to lose power and the last to get it back (or so it seems). After losing power for 2 weeks last year, I finally got a gas generator. To run the refrigerator, a light and some fans, I had to drive 30 miles into Baltimore to get gas, but it was worth it. The dogs are hot. They keep wanted to know where the air conditioning is. Everyone is napping a lot. I am worried about the old cat, Muffin, his breathing is poor even in a cool house so this is very stressful on an old system, so I am forcing him to stay down stairs with us in front of the fan.
You never know when a strong wind or a ‘not thinking’ person is going to leave the gate open. That is why the dogs wear name collars with my mobile phone number on them. I guess you just never know when a Derecho is going to blew through.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Animal, animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, Derecho, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, Pet, pets, postaday, Storm
Squash E Bear was a great traveling dog. He just loved the car. His large body would take up the whole back seat and he would lay low and ride along. Or if there was a window open, he would position his head, just inside, to have the breeze ruffle his ears. Ah, those were the days. Squash came everywhere with me. He always went on road trips north to NY or Connecticut, and I even took him to Niagara Falls (Canada side) one year. I put together all the needed documentation that you must have when traveling with a pet: vaccinations, microchip info, and even a signed note from the vet (when crossing the border). Finding pet friendly accommodations was easier than I thought, though the quality of some of the lodgings left a little to be desired. 
