Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tag Archives: Dog People
8.12.12 Mojo, All Better
The dogs have been really missing their best friend, Mojo, because he had bone surgery on his leg and was not able to walk with us or play for what seemed like forever in dog days. But Mo healed quickly and he is now back to himself. So the girls and I went over for a little romp around the yard; but, no jumping and catching frisbees until we are sure that Mojo is all healed up. I think I have mentioned this before, but Louise does not smile for many other dogs (or people for that matter), but she always has a big smile for Mojo. I just love it when the dogs are content. It is so hard when an animal is hurt or sick for many reasons, but it is also frustrating because there is no way to explain to them what is going on. But I never really thought about the fact that there is no way to explain to my dogs, Lulu and Sofie, why they could not go over to play with their friend who they have walked and played with constantly their whole lives, until this event. They knew he was still there because they heard him bark from across the street and they saw him a few times when he came out his front door for a moment or two. It was kind of a funny waiting time until he was better. They missed him. We are all happy that Mojo is all better now.
8.6.12 You Know ‘The Look’
Have you ever sat there and looked at your child, or your lover, and just had this kind of stare that is just made up of pure love. You know that look; the one that says, no matter what happens at any other point in time, this point is perfect, and you are just the being that I want to be near. This is the look that I have for my daughter when she is just looking a certain way or doing something, that makes me feel warm and fuzzy and mommyish inside. That unconditional, no matter what, love and adoration. Well, that is how Louise and Sofie have been looking at me since I got home. I can not go anywhere without them of course attached to my side. But the looks… the I must be in your presence, you are the center of my being, kind of looks. Now, I really do not feel that I deserve this undying devotion. Come on, dogs, I just left you for 10 days, why aren’t you mad at me or something? Instead, they just want to kiss me and snuggle, and rub deep against me. There is so much that is said in a look. I think that is why the virtual world craves pictures so much. People really want to ‘look’ at things. They want to see the form and the movement. Even though we may be disconnected in space and time, beings want to look at each other. Ok, I know that people that do not have sight may not have this concept, but I bet (I don’t have anyone I can ask so I am guessing), that they have, in their own unsighted way, ‘the look’ that I am talking about. Come to think of it, Squash E Bear, when totally blind, used to tilt his head to me in that kind of ‘I love you and will follow you anywhere forever’ look. Look back at this picture of me, Lulu, and Squash and see if you don’t agree? I find it incredible that the animals can sit and stare at me that way. Noel does it too, but not Muffy, Kitty, or the others. Is it love? Is it obedience? Do animals look at each other that way? Do they stare at their young the way that I do mine? Sometimes, I guess I stare at the animals that way too. Like when I took this picture of Louise yesterday. She is watching Sofie on the other side of the deck with a rope toy. I was struck by her musculature, her calmness, and her beauty. I probably had ‘the look’ in my eyes when I took the shot. I guess maybe next time I will turn the camera around and see.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.4.12 Noel Took Charge
Noel In Charge
The trouble with leaving Noel in charge of the zoo while I was gone, is that she actually took it very seriously. Here you see her taking over the dog bed in my office and forcing poor Louise to sleep on the floor. That is the trouble with animals of different species. They seem to boss each other around in funny ways. What I found really cute is that Louise actually listened to her and vacated the bed. Maybe it is an age before beauty thing; Lulu being the younger animal of course. I think that in my absence Noel was forced to deal with situations that she did not prefer; like having to be with people other than Mommy and actually being with the rest of the herd/pride. I noticed that she has been out more the last couple of days since I have been home. She was investigating ‘Syd,’ the platypus that I brought home from the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, for Peanut. Funny what happens to certain animals when you give then a sense of responsibility.
Maybe Noel will start being more social with the other animals now that she has been in the leadership role. I doubt it though. I do find it interesting that the dogs allowed Noel to be in their bed when they do not allow any other cats to even come close. They are really possessive about their spots usually. I have seen Sofie get extremely upset at Nine for trying to enter her kennel (she probably was protecting her lovey, Beaver, who was sleeping inside). The dynamics of my pack/pride are very interesting. When you change one thing, take out a member or add a member, even for a short time, the relationships seem to shift. Sometimes they come back to where they started, and sometimes, they don’t. I really hope the dogs don’t start standing on my desk and sleeping in Noel’s bed under the window. I don’t think I could deal with that.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.2.12 What leaving looks like.
Here is a sequence of Sofie and Nine watching me drive away. (How sad is that?) You can see the reflection of the car in the front door glass. This was the image I was left with on my way to the airport. Two of my goofballs snuggling and watching me go. Notice how Sofie is straining to see me over Nine in the last shot. It is so wonderful how close the animals are. Sofie had no idea that Mommy would be gone a long time. She just knew that I was leaving the house and getting into the moving thing without her. I have talked about separation before, but this trip was a really hard one for me and for the animals and humans. Probably because of the length of time (10 days). For me, my animals are a calming and life enhancing force. I miss my humans very much too, don’t get me wrong. I need my humans as a constant sustainable energy of love and comfort, but the animals, my need for their presence is different. They give me a sense of peace. They are my home. They are the earth force that seems to remind me to eat and take walks during the day. Having so many animals, there is always someone near by wanting something; pet me, feed me, let me out, walk me, play with me, scratch my head, hold me …. I adore my zoo. I find great comfort in the company of animals. So, this is what leaving looks like at the zoo. What’s it like at your house?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.1.12 MommyLag
Welcome Home Mom Attack
Lulu won’t let anyone near me! “My Mommy!” she growls.
My understanding is that both the humans and the animals were losing their minds by the 5th day I was gone. The animals were being so annoying they just wanted someone, anyone, to pay attention to them. I heard that Sofie actually started hitting Louise in the head to get her to play. While I was gone my daughter took some pictures, so I will have to see them to understand some of the antics. I did Skype with Muffin and Nine but they were not very talkative; the dogs were at daycare, so I missed them on the call. The report was that the dogs actually did sleep until like 8 AM which never happens when I am home (very interesting). Like JetLag (which takes a major toll on your circadian rhythm especially when you were 14 hours ahead and now you have to come back), MommyLag is similar. It takes time for everything to return to ‘normal.’ Right now both humans and animals want to be near me a lot more than usual. Sofie won’t let me out of her sight. Lulu wants to crawl inside me and keeps one paw on me at all times. I’ve read that JetLag takes one day for every hour you need to readjust, I wonder how much time it takes for MommyLag? I am sure the humans will be back to taking me for granted way before the furballs do. Nice to be home.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
7.29.12 Still Waiting
Louise: “Sofie do you see her? Peanut said that Mommy should be home tonight.”
Sofie: “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!… No I don’t see her yet.” (whine whine whine)
Louise: “It seems like it has been many feedings since we have seen her (whimper whimper). I am going to tell her that it is just not the same when she is gone.”
Sofie: “Now who is whining, Lulu?”
Louise: “Oh, but a sock in it, Sofie!”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
7.28.12 Good Dogs Start With Good Owners
I do not know who created this poster but I love it!! I am not sure how we get the message out that animals are so influenced by how they are raised. It is the same with children, you live what you learn. When a dog is loved and cared for he/she grows into an animal that understands kindness. When a animal is tied to a post all day, beaten, used as bait, starved, experimented on, or just plain neglected, the animal will not understand how to be in the world. I know that I am “preaching to the choir,” because if you are reading this, you already love animals or you wouldn’t be following my blog. Let us teach kindness everyday, and maybe someday, we will have all good dogs. (I can dream, right?)
(Getting on a plane now for the 22 hour trip back home. Can’t wait to see my zoo, human and furry.)
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
7.16.12 Can Dogs Skype?
I only just got home from the family vacation last weekend and Friday I have to hop a plane to Australia for 10 days which I think really impacts the animals . (I like going to Australia but I don’t think the family or the zoo likes me that far away (1/2 way around the world).) The dogs were crazy when they saw me after 6 days of them being at Sonya’s house (they do not have any concept of where I was except not with them and that they were not home, so explaining vacation would be futile). They are very used to being with me all day since I work from home. When I travel for work, they are still home, and all they know is that the alpha ‘feeder, walker, cuddler’ is not with them for X amount of cycles (day/night). They are stuck with the beta ‘feeder, go out in the yard, yell at us for barking to much’ humans when Mommy is gone. So in these 4 days before I leave again I better pack in lots of walks and cuddles and play time. This should hold me, but will it hold them? I wonder what the dogs or cats would think if they saw me over Skype? Could they even see that it was me without my smell? I think they would recognize the voice. Would it only frustrate them because they could not physically be near me? I know they respond to an occassional bark on the TV, but do they see the images? The cats definitely see the stuff on my computer monitor, because they swat at things that move and chase them,
Well after this trip they will get me for a whole 4 weeks before I leave again. I never worried much about this with other dogs, but Lulu and Sofie are very clingy (they are still babies – 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years old). Maybe I will bring them back a Joey (baby kangaroo) that they can play with?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
7.12.12 Travels With Squash
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 ❤
7.11.12 Making the Bed with Nine
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 ❤
