Unfortunately, it looks like there's a German Shepard out there who wants to make a liar out of me. This dog was at the bar Saturday night. Don't tell Sassy and Alley, they'll be very jealous. All they do is wait at home by the phone.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
An unusual bar guest
When I feel guilty leaving Sassy and Alley at home while Jeff and I go out, I explain that I would take them with me if I could. I tell them that dogs just aren't allowed in bars and restaurants.
Unfortunately, it looks like there's a German Shepard out there who wants to make a liar out of me. This dog was at the bar Saturday night. Don't tell Sassy and Alley, they'll be very jealous. All they do is wait at home by the phone.
Unfortunately, it looks like there's a German Shepard out there who wants to make a liar out of me. This dog was at the bar Saturday night. Don't tell Sassy and Alley, they'll be very jealous. All they do is wait at home by the phone.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
A new friend in dog world
Sassy and Alley got to meet a new puppy this week. Oscar, who will likely weigh in at 80 pounds when he's done growing, is an adorably awkward little Boxer mix. His people parents brought him over to my sister's apartment for a play date on New Year's Eve.
Alley was immediately friendly to this new face, as was Anne's dog Kapono. Sassy took a bit longer. As soon as Oscar's little face appeared in the front hall, Sassy started barking. A very mean, I-want-to-bite-you sort of barking.
My sweet Sassy, who won't utter a growl when kids pull her tail and ears, is the alpha female of her dog world. Any new dog introduced to her pack must not threaten her top- dog status.
Worried that Sassy might attack Oscar, who just wanted to play, Jeff and I held her back and used the furniture to keep the two dogs separated.
I tried explaining things to her. "Sassy, we don't bark and growl at our guests."
I imagine if Sassy could speak people language she would say, "Mom, this is not people world, this is dog world. That's exactly how we greet our guests. How else will establish our pack order?"
We eventually had to release Sassy, of course. She snapped at Oscar, which didn't seem to surprise him. She didn't bite, and Oscar must have communicated his lack of desire to be top dog because everyone (well, every dog) happily sniffed butts and shared toys for the rest of night.
I guess I learned a little about dog world this week.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas goes to the dogs
Sassy and Alley had a great Christmas. Their cousin (my sister Anne's dog Kapono) come over for several days and Anne bought giant peanut-butter flavored candy-cane shaped bones. YUM!
All three dogs consumed their treats immediately. No leftovers from that Christmas dinner. Alley was first to finish and Sassy was last. Sassy was smart, though. She ran into the other room and faced a corner while chewing her treat. She wasn't going to let the other two near her while she was chomping away. Alley, of course, plopped down right on the rug where we, her human friends, were opening presents. Kapono found a sweet spot in the sun-soaked sunroom to enjoy his treat.
We didn't get any photos of the giant bones. They had disappeared before I hunted down the camera. But we got some cute photos of each dog on Christmas day.
All three dogs consumed their treats immediately. No leftovers from that Christmas dinner. Alley was first to finish and Sassy was last. Sassy was smart, though. She ran into the other room and faced a corner while chewing her treat. She wasn't going to let the other two near her while she was chomping away. Alley, of course, plopped down right on the rug where we, her human friends, were opening presents. Kapono found a sweet spot in the sun-soaked sunroom to enjoy his treat.
We didn't get any photos of the giant bones. They had disappeared before I hunted down the camera. But we got some cute photos of each dog on Christmas day.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Christmas outfits
The girls got new outfits for the annual family Christmas photo.
Sassy has a sweater and Alley got a faux fur cape. Pretty practical for the warm Georgia winter. Today was 70 degrees. Feel free to be jealous.
Anyway, I'm thinking I'm not going to get a lot of wear out of the outfits, so I might as well get some good photos. Here are a couple. Aren't they adorable?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Party all night long
Sassy and Alley love parties. They know company's coming when Jeff and I leave the front door ajar and turn on the outside lights. They'll sit in front of that door for hours greeting guests.
I wish I could train the girls to take people's coats and purses. That would make them useful. Instead, they usually jump, bark and just generally do whatever they can to scare the guests.
All this waiting and greeting makes them pretty tired, and by the end of the evening, the girls are on the couch trying not to sleep. They don't want to miss something. What if some scrap of food falls on the floor and they miss it because there eye's are closed?
Here's a photo of Alley from Jeff's 40th birthday party Saturday. She really, really wants to stay awake, but she just can't.
I wish I could train the girls to take people's coats and purses. That would make them useful. Instead, they usually jump, bark and just generally do whatever they can to scare the guests.
All this waiting and greeting makes them pretty tired, and by the end of the evening, the girls are on the couch trying not to sleep. They don't want to miss something. What if some scrap of food falls on the floor and they miss it because there eye's are closed?
Here's a photo of Alley from Jeff's 40th birthday party Saturday. She really, really wants to stay awake, but she just can't.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Puppies and relaxation
Tonight, after a typically crappy Monday, the wife and I arrived home with a brief agenda. She'd work out, I'd fish in the lake, we'd have a healthy dinner of turkey burgers, couscous, steamed vegetables and enjoy a nice bottle of wine.
Well, the wife worked out and I took the girls outside with me while I fished. The fishing, by the way, was as successful as ever, caught and released two fish. But doggies kept greeting me with barks from the deck, a good 40 feet away, as if to yell at me to let them back into the house. Sure, there was a lot going on in and across the lake. There were the muskrats swimming near the banks and causing the girls to bark at the fence. There was the dude across the lake with his dog, "Rusty (I only imagine that's his name), and then there were the various squirrels and such. Either way, the girls' senses were heightened and they chose to express that by barking at me every four minutes or so.
Now two hours later, of course, they're asleep in the living room. Should I yell at them as they try to relax? Should I poke them to wake them up? Should I let them sleep? They're sweet and, hey, they should have some fun. And, honestly, if they think it's fun to bark at me as I look confused at them I guess I'll let that go.
Well, the wife worked out and I took the girls outside with me while I fished. The fishing, by the way, was as successful as ever, caught and released two fish. But doggies kept greeting me with barks from the deck, a good 40 feet away, as if to yell at me to let them back into the house. Sure, there was a lot going on in and across the lake. There were the muskrats swimming near the banks and causing the girls to bark at the fence. There was the dude across the lake with his dog, "Rusty (I only imagine that's his name), and then there were the various squirrels and such. Either way, the girls' senses were heightened and they chose to express that by barking at me every four minutes or so.
Now two hours later, of course, they're asleep in the living room. Should I yell at them as they try to relax? Should I poke them to wake them up? Should I let them sleep? They're sweet and, hey, they should have some fun. And, honestly, if they think it's fun to bark at me as I look confused at them I guess I'll let that go.
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