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Chameleon (by Chris Miller)
Tag Archives: dog
1.14.12 9:55: Are you a Dog Person?
If you have never shared your life with an animal or had any kind of personal relationship with one, then you just might not understand this post (sorry but you won’t). And to make matters even trickier, if you are a cat person you don’t necessarily understand a dog person, and a dog person may never really get what another person sees in living with a ferret or a snake or an iguana. And then there are some of us who fall in love with a host of different animals. I wonder what makes some people attracted to one kind of pet vs another? (I must admit that I am really not a Rat or reptile person (but I can accept the choice to have one)).
Louie
I always thought of myself as a DOG PERSON. I did not grow up with cats. I met some cats in the neighborhood but I don’t really remember having any significant relationships with one. My sister says we had an outside cat for awhile, Ginger, but I have no recall. The only resident cat I remember is my Aunt Harriet’s big fat mean cat that used to sit on her dining room table and swat at you if you got close. I used to bring kittens home all the time and sneak them into the basement, but ultimately my Dad would find them and ‘take them for a ride’ (I think he took them to the park and left them at the golf course for someone else to find.) So, I did not really know what cats were about. I had the stereotypical view that they didn’t need much from humans, were independent, and kinda mean and scratchy.
Ever since I was little we had a dog: Louis Pierre Andre the 14th of Edgewood (I guess 3 kids could not agree on one name). Louie came to live with us when I was about 5 or 6. We first had a dachshund, named Fraya, but she got hit by a car. Then, if I remember the story at all, some friend of my sister’s owned a pizza parlor and had this French Poodle puppy that was making them crazy. So, that is how we came upon living with a silver miniature poodle. My mother, being the 50’s NY housewife, made sure he was always well clipped and even had silver nail polish to match. Louie was the best dog for a kid. He let me dress him up in little dresses and would tolerate anything I could throw at him. He lived to be about 18 I think. He passed when I was away at college. I was definitely a dog person.
Eddie 1
So, how did I become a cross over? Well, in college I knew that I could never care for a dog but I wanted furry companionship. So the next best thing, I figured, was a cat. First I adopted a little kitten from a guy named ‘Ed.’ She was black and white. I named her ‘Eddie.’ Ed told me that all animals start out named, Ed, and then people gave them their forever names. I did not question that assumption. My dorm allowed pets but my roommate was not happy. And, I knew nothing about what a cat would need and ended up having to give her up at the end of the first semester when I went home and my, ‘we don’t do cats!’ parents, would not let her come home with me. But, I was smitten with the cat bug and from then on I was both a CAT PERSON and a DOG PERSON. I actually had many cats after that before I felt settled and responsible enough to have my own dog.
What about you? How did you fall in love with your non-human companion?
Just another DogDaz morning at our house. ❤
1.12.11 11:59: Where’s Sofie?
Where's Sofie?
I have totally lost the battle (and my mind). It snowed the other day. Actually, it slushed (you know that really wet stuff). It came down in big wet flakes for a while. This was Sofie’s first snow. At doggie bed time, I knew that I should just put her on a leash for her final pee because I never can get her to come back in, but oh no, I am the eternal optimist. Well, it took 45 minutes to get that silly mutt (she is a mutt, so I can call her that) to come in. She played with the slush and basically hid and dug (her usual). Louise (my angel dog) comes back in immediately. She goes in her kennel (almost shuts the door by herself), puts her head down and goes right to sleep. But Sofie, oh not Sofie Bear! When I finally got her in, she whined and whined because she wasn’t ready to go to sleep. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo. ❤
Sofie finally in bed asleep
1.11.12 16:26: “To Sit With A Dog… Is Peace”
To sit with a dog
To sit with a dog on a hillside
on a glorious afternoon
is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing is not boring –
it is peace.
– Milan Kundera (Czeck novelist & poet, c.1929)
My daughter made this piece for me. It is Louise, Squash, and me down by the river. Squash had his summer shaved coat. He had been blind for a long time by then (due to being an insulin dependent diabetic), but as long as he had me, he was comfortable going anywhere. Lulu had been with us about 2 months by then. The picture of Madison taking care of Lily the blind dog (that I posted this morning) made me think about Squash. When we got Lulu she was very attached to him. I think he liked her too, as much as an old dog likes a puppy. She would try to cuddle with him (like I watch Sofie try to do to her). But mostly, he would go to his usual spot (taking up the whole foyer by the front door) and Lulu would be with me in the office. He loved to be outside in the nice weather and sometimes sleep for hours under ‘his’ tree. I would send Louise out in the yard to find him and lead him back in and she would. She actually takes other dogs leashes and will bring them back to their owners if asked. I always joked that Lulu was Squash’s seeing-eye dog, well, now I know that could be so.
Squash & Lulu in the Snow
Louise watching over Squash
Sniffing together
Besties
I must be honest, not a day goes by that I do not think about big old Squashy. I actually have a large picture of him (with a tuft of his hair tucked in the frame) next to my bed. I have been blessed by many wonderful souls that have passed through my life. (Probably feeling nostalgic since tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of my Mom’s passing.) I am glad Louise was here to play with and help him for a little while (Squash E Bear went to the Big Meadow in the Sky last February). Just another DogDaz afternoon at our zoo. ❤
Lily & Madison
1.10.11 17:00: “One of these days, you’re gonna miss me honey”
One of these days… you’re gonna miss me honey……
Lulu Belle thinking
I was so busy with work today that I put the dogs in daycare so that they could have some fun, but boy do I miss them. I keep thinking they are just outside and I have to stop myself from going to let them in. After so many years I have gotten used to having dogs and cats around me all the time (and under foot). There isn’t even a cat in the office today (they must be ticked off that I got rid of the dogs, so they are steering clear in case they are next.) I find that when you fill your life with animals it becomes weirdly quiet when they are not around. I can not say that I like it.
Sofie sticking her nose in everything
I know I must be crazy to ship the dogs off to daycare and then sit around missing them. My knees appreciate not having to run up and down the stairs a million times a day, up down, up down, in the door – out the door, in the door – out the door. Truthfully, the dogs are my only form of exercise; up and down the stairs and our 1 mile walk around the neighborhood. I find that the dogs really help me push my body a little because if it wasn’t for them I would not be going outside in freezing weather or the heat of the summer. They are my physical therapy. I am sure my doctor is happy about that.
Come, Sofie! Good Girl.
Well, time to finish work and go get the babies. I love how they have to tell me all about their day at doggie daycare when they get in the car too!. Just another DogDaz afternoon at the zoo. ❤
1.9.12 21:34: Muddog
MudDog
Sofie the Muddog
Sofie the Muddog 2
Today I want to talk about Sofie’s need to dig holes everywhere she possibly can; especially if there is a nice planting near by. And, once dug, she likes to lie in her holes and defend them against the world.
Sofie in a hole
You need to understand that I am starting to get yelled at (a lot) for what is becoming a major construction site vs. our beautiful garden. We are actually a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. We are part of a worldwide network of mini-refuges. Because of our careful planning, landscaping and sustainable gardening, wildlife can find quality habitat (food, water, cover and places to raise their young) on our property. We are very proud of this. But now we have Sofie. Sofie Bear the excavator. Sofie the hole digger. Sofie the MUDDOG!
I can not say Louise is blameless. She came in this morning with dirt on her snout too! But the instigator is YOU KNOW WHO! Even in the grass she digs holes. Conspiring to destroy years of hard work.
Let's dig here Lulu
To be honest, years of drought in the Mid-Atlantic has not helped my yard. I am starting to live on sand because all the topsoil is washing away every time it rains . I think it is really hard to discourage digging behavior when the soil is so easy (and fun) to dig. Also, I think there is a mole under the lawn (noted by the tunnels). And, I think Sofie’s lawn digging may have started with trying to get the silly underground moving thing. (Have you ever seen a mole or a shrew? They are truly not nice looking creatures (down right ugly!). Their poor lives are spent trying to get to the light only to be blinded by it. Now that is a weird existence.)
Close-up_of_mole
I figure digging is just Sofie’s nature, since she has tons of toys and gets lots of exercise. I probably should never let her out in the fenced yard unattended, but she digs even when I am there, She just likes to dig, In the dog park, visiting other dogs, on a walk. Really, she is a Muddog. By now you may have figured out that I have never had any dog like Sofie; she whines, she digs, she does not listen to any commands. In my old age, the Great Spirit must have sent me this little soul to teach me something (other than frustration) but I have not figured out what the lesson is yet (besides pure love). Some people are suggesting a sandbox of her own (put how do you keep that clean from the foxes and other animals?) and some have suggested placing her own feces in the holes (which may work but won’t she just dig a new one?).
I have to figure it out before I have to order a truck load of topsoil to fix her current projects, or worse, a truck load of concrete! Just another dogdaz afternoon at the zoo!
Luckily, I’m Vegan.
You reblogged cinnamongrl76:
For my vegan daughter, if she looks at my blog. Well, I thought it was funny. – Mom
DogDaz Zoo 