Despite being a dog owner for the past 20 years, I’ll never claim to be the Dog Whisperer. Just when I think I’ve trained my dogs to be well-behaved, I come home from work to find one of my shoes chewed beyond recognition by my 5-month-old puppy, Ernie, or trash from last night’s dinner scattered throughout the living room while my 4-year-old golden retriever, Dixie, looks up at me with her big, brown, guilt-ridden eyes.
Then there’s Bear. I adopted this German shepherd mix in 2006. Although he was only about 6 months old at the time, two different owners previously gave up on him and brought him back to the shelter. But the moment I saw him seemingly smiling at me as he wiggled his entire rear end while wagging his tail, I knew I had to have him.
To this day, I still sometimes stop and try to think of what reasons there possibly could’ve been for someone to get rid of Bear. Although he may not be as smart as Dixie and Ernie, when we had family visiting a few days ago, Bear was the only one of the three not to incessantly bark, lick, jump or otherwise annoy our guests. Of course, there are times when Bear is just as mischievous as the others. So for one day at least, I was proud of his exemplary behavior.
Now, if I get home tonight and find him eating something he’s not supposed to, maybe I’ll finally give up my futile dog training efforts and turn to the List for a professional.
Tag Archive for 'dogs'
After raising the little guy from five weeks old, my puppy Sherman has begun to rebel. Last week, I caught him drinking from the toilet bowl.
Yes, my dog Sherman has developed a taste for the toilet water. I can’t say this development surprised me. Every dog turns to the flushable water at some point in time, right? (Please say yes!)
At first, I was in denial mode. Continue reading ‘My dog’s love for toilet water’
October. Is there any better month of the year? Not only is it baseball playoffs season – Go Cubs! – and football season – Go Bears! – but it’s fall, the season when trees shed their leaves in preparation for a long, cold Indiana winter.
As a youngster I never minded raking leaves. In fact, it always gave me a legitimate excuse to be outside, releasing my pent-up energy by striking the dried-up leaves with a rake instead of striking my little sister with my fist. But now that I’m an adult – and, I might add, one who showers his younger sibling with nothing but love – the annual rite of leaf raking tempts me to check the List and pass the experience on to one of our fine local service providers. Continue reading ‘Falling for fall: baseball, football and raking leaves’
Like Lindsay and YaShekia, I’m house-hunting. It’s for all the usual reasons — it’s a good investment, I’d like to have more space, and after a few years of renting, it’s time to take the next step and buy a home.
I’m not too picky. A safe neighborhood and good resale value are two of my top priorities, and of course I want a home that’s affordable and in good condition. But when it comes to the interior, there aren’t too many must-haves on my list. As long as the kitchen has enough room for a table and chairs, I don’t need a formal dining room. I don’t need a family room and a nicer living room, either — I don’t have that much furniture anyway. I’m not someone who simply has to have a fireplace. No dishwasher? No problem. (Although it certainly would be nice to have one.) But one of the main things I’m looking for has nothing to do with what’s inside the house: I want a fenced-in backyard for my dog. Continue reading ‘A house, a yard, a dog, and a dishwasher: House-hunting begins’
Dentists and veterinarians recommend the same thing: regular dental cleanings and checkups are a must. I and my dogs have learned this through some rather painful experiences. (that’s Diva to the right, playing hide and seek as a puppy). Continue reading ‘Dental care is important for humans AND their dogs’
Giant hairballs are taking over my house. In the eight years I’ve had my dog, Buddy, I’ve never seen him shed as much as he has this year. We bought a shearing tool to combat the furry problem, but nothing seems to work. Buddy doesn’t think it’s a problem — he truly enjoys all the attention he gets while we brush him. I, however, am fed up.
Although I’ve considered it in the past, I’ve never taken him to a dog groomer. He is a very high-strung Border Collie and Dalmatian mix, so I worry about the stress of taking him to a stranger to be shaved. Continue reading ‘Shedding dog creates hairy situation in home’
With the push of his nose or the slap of his paw, my 8-month-old Rottweiler Moto can open the sliding glass door. He thinks it’s a new trick; I think he’s a bad boy. There are evenings when he lets himself out (very helpful) but lets mosquitoes in. If only he learned to shut the door behind him, I’d be thrilled with his self-sufficiency. Continue reading ‘You’re either in or you’re out!’
My eyes are itchy, my throat is scratchy and I can’t stop sneezing. I thought my allergies were worse than usual this year, and I’m not the only one in my household suffering. Gus, my youngest Great Dane, is having a terrible time as well. We’ve spent nearly a billion dollars (maybe that’s an exaggeration) in vet bills trying to find out what’s causing his discomfort.
Gus’s incessant scratching has caused us many sleepless nights, and it seems that every day he looks more and more like a Chupacabra (another reason not to sleep at night). Continue reading ‘Aller-gee wiz’
I’m by no means rich, which means sometimes I have to settle for less. Like, I’m not really thinking about such grand luxuries as remarriages at this stage in my life. I’m more concerned with convincing the right girl I’m not some sort of waif.
But, alas, that’s the life of an impecunious intern and college student. Once I amass enough wealth, my first goal is to move out of my apartment building, buy it and level it (my second goal is to buy the choice items pictured at right). That purchase might take time, of course, but I’m convinced it would be the best fate for my apartment complex, an edifice of ugly.
I’ve lived in a horde of rentals. I’ve had noisy neighbors and have been the noisy neighbor, both of which are equally stressful. That’s why I’d like to one day become a homeowner. Continue reading ‘Life is rich’
A popular topic of conversation here in the Blue House is our pets. Not only do we talk about them, we blog about them. You’ve seen Conor’s and Mandy’s new puppies on this site, and Brittany’s dog, Buddy, taking over her new patio.
I have a dog, too, but she’s not very playful. At the age of 15, my beloved Cocker Spaniel mix Penny, rescued from the humane society as a puppy, spends her days eating and sleeping (that’s her picture, taken 13 years ago). The arthritis in her back legs prevents her from bounding up the deck steps these days, so she needs assistance when she goes out to do her business. She generally moves very slowly, but there’s still a strong wag in her tail and a shine in her eyes.
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I now know an old dog remembers old tricks. Continue reading ‘Old dog remembers old tricks’
