First, I owe all of my DogDaz email subscribers an apology.
I accidentally published my last blog post before it was ready, and somehow a whole pack of spelling mistakes escaped into the wild. They have all been rounded up and corrected now, so if you click on the blog directly, you’ll find the cleaned-up version.
That was just plain embarrassing!
In my defense, I did not inherit the Spelling Gene. Without spellcheck, I am completely lost. Back in 2000, the brilliant Marilyn vos Savant even wrote a book about why spelling is so challenging: The Art of Spelling: The Madness and the Method. It really helped me understand my spelling challenges.
Thanks for overlooking my little publishing mishap. Now, on to something much more important…
Why Do Dogs Love to Bake in the Summer Sun?
Seriously…why?
Jolie & Bear Sunbarking
This HEAT DOME has been absolutely miserable, yet Jolie and Bearnard still think lying in the blazing sunshine is a wonderful idea. Are they trying to turn into baked potatoes with fur?
We go for our walks at 6:00 a.m., before the air gets sticky and the sidewalks become paw-burning hot. Even when the outside temperature is only in the upper 70s, asphalt and concrete can be much hotter than the surrounding air.
Here’s a simple test for all of our human friends: place the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s definitely too hot for pet paws.
Please keep your furry family members safe this summer. Walk early in the morning or later in the evening, carry plenty of fresh water, and remember that while dogs and cats (rabbits and other family critters) may enjoy soaking up a little sunshine, too much heat can quickly become dangerous.
Stay cool, everyone—and thank you for forgiving my little spelling adventure! – Jolie, Bearnard, Stella, and Mini Cooper’s Mom
Mom is doing really well with her new hip, but she still isn’t allowed to walk us or get in the pool. We don’t mind too much because we absolutely love our dog walker, April. In fact, we’ve started wondering if Mom’s ideal job might be feeder and cuddler. After all, we’ve pretty much replaced her with a younger model!
Me, protecting Mom’s new hip
Time seems to be flying by. One day it’s chilly enough for a sweater, and the next day it is hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk.
Meanwhile, Harold and Maude, our resident ducks, have returned for another season and once again declared our pool as their pooping ground. Bearnard does his best to chase them away, but they simply waddle off, quacking with laughter at his efforts. Did you know that generations of ducks tend to return to where they were born every year? This is probably the 20th generation of Harolds and Maudes.
Harold & Maude
And then there’s PoleCat- the stuffed cat that looks like a pole. PoleCat continues to be the center of our universe whenever we are on the couch (which is like all day and evening). We stare at her, push her around, wrestle with her, and generally make sure she gets the attention she deserves. Some toys come and go, but PoleCat remains a member of the family.
Can you find PoleCat? She is with the Screamer.
Pillow or Pal? No matter what, Jolie wants PoleCat if Bearnard has her.
In the end, we know who always wins.
Summer is definitely keeping everyone busy. Mom continues her recovery, the ducks continue their mischief, and we continue to supervise everything from our favorite spots around the house.
We are all getting ready for bed now. You have a wonderful June. We will keep you posted on Mom and the endless fun we have with the PoleCat stuffy. – Jolie
The house has been extra quiet today. Jolie, Bearnard, and their beloved stuffy, PoleCat, have a whole lot of waiting for Mom to feel better. 🐾 Mom got a new left hip on Tuesday.
PoleCat, a stuffy who looks like a cat on a pole body, has been guarding carefully. The couch patrol has been constant, and every little sound gets hopeful ears perked up. Dogs may not understand everything, but they always seem to know when someone they love needs extra comfort.
Mini Cooper, the cat, has decided she is better than an ice pack, and is directly providing support on Mom’s lap.
For now, the mission is simple: stay close, keep watch, and be ready with cuddles when Mom needs them most. ❤️
What is going on with this wacky weather? One day it’s cool and comfy, the next it’s brrr—freezing! I don’t mind the chill, but it’s sneaking in fast. Jolie has to wear her sweater because, bless her heart, she’s got hair like a human instead of a fancy fur coat like mine. I’ve got my awesome triple coat keeping me toasty, but Mom still makes me wear a jacket when it’s below freezing. Us littles just can’t keep the heat like the big dogs do!
Leaf Beard
This morning, Jolie and I were having a fine time chasing the sun spots on the steps when Miss Bossy Pants herself—Mini Cooper—sauntered up and started pushing us out of the way. Seriously, who invited these cats anyway?
Anyway, I’m off to find another sunny spot before Mini does. Stay warm out there, friends—and remember, naps are best when your nose is toasty! ☀️🐾
August came and went. Mom says we slept through August. It seems like we are always napping somewhere. There is a fight for the bed at the top of the stairs. Usually Mini wins, since no one wants to cross a cat. How was your summer?
For Mom it has been endless repairs and replacements since the lightening surge. The stove finally got repaired on Friday, so Mom can start making us chicken again. The fixer guy said he never saw a surge not only take out the electric panel but also the thermostat. Another TV died yesterday (so that brings it to 3 out of 4 that needed to be replaced). Mom said she didn’t realize that the surge could have such a delayed result and take out an HDMI port a month later, but now we know. We keep hearing her say ‘if the thunder don’t get you the lightening will.’
We are just going to hunker down here at the DogDaz Zoo and hope for a calm hurricane season. Wake us up when it is over! – Jolie, Bearnard, Mini Cooper (& Stella)
Stella turns 14 on Labor Day. We can’t believe how well she is doing considering she has GI Lymphoma. It is now almost 2 years since her diagnosis and she is still enjoying her life thanks to lots of love and modern medicine. Happy Birthday, Big Girl!
We hope that you have a wonderful holiday. Remember that many animals (and humans) are afraid of fireworks, so keep everyone indoors and safe.
PREPARE YOUR DOG (& CATS) FOR LOUD NOISES!
The 4th and 5th of July are the busiest days of the year for animal shelters and emergency vet clinics as frantic animals break in or out of houses and yards. Early preparation for the Fourth can save you and your pet a lot of grief. Here are some articles to help you prepare your dog.
It is crazy cold here at the DogDaz Zoo. We received about 10″ of snow and then 2″ more and then it all froze.
Bearnard had never seen snow before and was not sure what to do with it, especially, where to go potty. It took about a week before he realized he could follow me under the pine trees and there was less snow there. The snow is taller than us.
Bear testing out the snow
Beary hates wearing sweaters and coats (he is such a boy!). Here in Maryland, boys and men wear shorts all year long, even in the snow. It is odd (aren’t they cold?)
I like my sweaters. You see I have fine Shih Tsu hair, not tons of fur like the butterfly, Papillion, Bearnard. Mom makes me wear a sweater anytime the temperature outside drops below 45 degrees. But I don’t mind. Aren’t I the cutest? Mommy says that I look like someone called “Dobby” when I wear this one with ears.
We sure make a mess of the house with all this snow and ice and snow stuck to our furs, and the musher’s gunk she puts on our paws. It takes 15 minutes before she is done suiting us up, then we take a 10 or 15-minute walk, and then it takes 15 minutes to clean up once we are inside again.
Next week we are expecting an Arctic blast or Polar Vortex or something like that. They say it will be the coldest weather of the season. I am freezing already! Stay warm, friends! – Jolie, the Pupsicle
P.S. Mom’s furnace died in the middle of this and we went 4 days with only little oil and electric heaters – now that was not fun. Beary was sure glad to have a sweater on then.
DogDaz Zoo 