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Showing posts with label dog parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog parks. Show all posts

Monday, December 21, 2009

Updates on the tribe of furry creatures occupying my home....

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So, since last week things have been quiet and interesting. My brother and sister in-law flew home last Thursday to finish clearing out the apartment and get finished moving down here. So, that being said it's just hubby and myself and all these lovely furry creatures occupying my household. Seems lately you can't go anywhere in the house or sit anywhere without there being an animal in the room or on the piece of furniture you choose to occupy. Which is ok by me.

Currently I am off work for 2 weeks, hooray! And as I sit in my media/office room upstairs, I at the moment have 4 out of the 8 critters in here with me. Yummy the cat, and 3 dogs. The dogs absolutely love being up here with me. And there are two of them that zip right over and claim a bean bag for themselves.

Ok back to the topic. For the first evening, my brother's two dogs were rather forlorn that he and Peg weren't coming back immediately. But they have adapted fast. They are getting used to my bunch's routines about bedtime and where bedtime is. Usually my bunch are sectioned off in an area with their crates (I have one who has never learned not to soil where she sleeps and I simply got tired of cleaning the thing out!), and usually the other two, Corny and Biscuit, have been kept in their room at nights. Well, they don't get to do that without my brother here. So, they've been learning to sleep with the rest of the pack. And actually there was very little complaint about it from Corny. Despite my brother noting that he would talk all night. Although the first couple of nights Corny was completely intimidated by Poppy, who is probably 1/10th his size. She thought the fancy big bed could be all hers. And I would come down in the mornings and find him trying to be curled up on a chihuahua sized bed. Well, that's changed now. He gets to his bed first now.

And now Biscuit has become my constant sidekick. He and I talk, and play and he gives me lots of kisses. Even my husband is becoming attached. And I see him more and more engage my littlest dog, Thumbelina, in play. And they play kissy face, and wash each other's ears. Corny has mellowed some, and is very good and patient and plays in the evenings with us. And they all play outside. Well except for Lil'Shit who is just simply confused in his old age and if he's with one of us, becomes very protective.

Yesterday I went by Target and got a ball thrower for Corny and took him to the dog park over by the Animal Shelter not far from us. He loves to ride, and he knew right off that the new toy was for him. As I didn't have anyone else going with me, I couldn't take Biscuit too. So according to my husband, he pouted the whole time. Well, when we pulled up to the dog park and Corny could see all the other dogs frolicking and romping, he got so excited and barked and bounced around in my van, making the whole thing rock. But he minded well. When we got inside we played ball for awhile, but the smells beckoned stronger. So we went for a walk around the perimeter. He met and made new friends, played a bit with some of the others, loved on every person he met. And found the water bowl out there to drink and do a little dribble art! For his first time there, he was wonderful and had a great time. Now to get him there a bit more often.

On the way home from the dog park, he sat in the very back seat, leaned back and looked regal. Like I was his chauffeur or  something! Biscuit turned himself inside out when he saw me, as did all the others. I have to say that this is one thing that we are really enjoying, is coming home to all these furry bodies happily greeting us when we come in the door. Even the cats are all for the most part doing very well. No fights, and Djinn and Biscuit are also developing quite a relationship. They greet and play a bit almost every day. Hubby and I noted last night, that my brother's fur kids have certainly changed the energy and demeanor of us all, and it's a happy place and our bunch is so much more outgoing and animated. We laughed that we just might have to keep them all here.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dog Parks and Social Networks

Despite the day starting off on the wrong foot, it was an excellent afternoon spent with friends old and new at the Dog Park at my end of town.

We have a wonderful online social network here for people who are animal advocates, pet owners, and all around animal lovers. This network was started by one of our local journalists who writes most of the animal articles in our local paper. There are many of us already on this network and it grows daily. Even though we all live (relatively)  in the same area, not many of us all have met one another. So Claudia organized an impromptu get together for everyone and their pooches at the dog park out at the shelter. 

Even though I couldn't take my crew (there might have been mayhem, and the little guy just doesn't do away from home very well) I went to meet everyone. 

What a collection of dogs! And they all had so much fun! There were a few that would get a bit growly, but then would play with each other. It was a wonderful time and I had fun being drooled on, stepped on, used as a springboard (by a pug cross) and cuddled with. We had a great time getting to meet each other in person, and meeting everyone's furkids. I was amazed though how quickly the dogs socialized and played and had fun.  

Someone caught a great picture of Max making off with Ben's (the journalist and our beloved mentor) bag. He brought books to give out and a couple t-shirts and goodies for the pooches. 

Max Going Shopping

We had a great time, we talked a great range of subjects, behavior, foods, breeds and we watched a bit of dog dancing between Ben his dog Zach and Cindy's dog Tigger. We watched zooming little dogs, ball obsessed dogs, droolers, shy and doggies with springs in their feet. There was alot of smiling and laughter and many hugs going around. It was great fun, and I look forward to many more events like it. 

However, we never did figure out who was the biggest drooler, Yoda the Boxer, Zach the Sharpei mix, or Nita the champion heinz 57 doggie. They all did a great job so all were rewarded with treats. :)