Chasing Sticky

     Some dogs can live with cats.  Other dogs can not.  They simply can not get along.  A friend once told me about his German Shepherd who he knew did not like cats.  But because his young children wanted a cat, there was going to be one in the house.  I never really asked him how he did it, but the dog learned to love the cat.  As a child growing up in the country there were cats and dogs that got along.  I never really saw any dog chase any cat.  But now I do. 
     Here comes that stray dog wondering up the street.  He stops and then enters my front yard.  A cat, we call Sticky, is chased up our sugar maple tree.  Since we sometimes feed Sticky on the front porch, the dog makes his way to the front porch in search of any food left.  A bark or two is further given towards the cat before the dog is on his way up the street.  Although there is a leash law, several dogs are allowed to run free in our neighborhood.  I don't know if the stray has an owner.  Sticky is in his own front yard, but no animal knows property boundaries.  Unable to bring Sticky inside because of his feline leukemia, he stays outside.  Our indoor cats could be infected if I allowed him in.  We do hate this.  His outdoor existence has to be tough. 
     We love Sticky.  He is an offspring of Skillet (a previous stray we used to feed.)  We can't help but love the little fellow.  Afraid of approaching bad weather and predators, my son built Sticky his own house. 

 

Read: "A House for Sticky" in next week's cat blog.

Singing' Dogs (Jingle Bells)

     Although a national poll found the tune, "Singing' Dogs" to be a least want to hear on the radio at this time of year (Christmas) by women, it is not a least favorite of mine.  My house is turned on to a cable channel for seasonal holiday favorites.  And wouldn't you know it, the song is one played. 
     Singing' Dogs was first released 57 years ago.  It was a musical recording project under whose name two 45rpm singles were released.  The idea for singing dogs came from Don Charles, a record producer working in Copenhagen, Denmark.  The barking-spliced on reel-to-reel tape and arranged pitches to the tune of Stephen Foster song, "Oh! Susanna!" There were four dogs originally named Dolly, Pearl, Caesar, and King.  It was later in the recording that a fifth dog named Pussy was added.
     I think the idea for Jingle Bells by dogs was a great idea.  There are so many other recordings out there of different people singing the song.  Why not dogs?  To someone who is a dog lover, I like the song.  I'd like to see more traditional songs sung by our four-legged best friend.  I am sure if the poll had been done including just dog lovers that the results of the poll would have been different. 
     And now that Christmas 2013 is over, may all have had a Merry Christmas.  I wish for all a happy and prosperous 2014.....

Lie Down With Dogs, Get Up With Fleas

     If you associate with bad people, you acquire their faults.

His Bark Is Worse Than His Bite

     Uncle Bob's bark is worse than his bite.  If I tell you this about Uncle Bob, what I mean is that his threats are worse than his actions.  It really is a reassuring statement because if you use it in reference to anyone, you are saying that they are really not as unpleasant as they seem.

You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

     This expression means to do something much more than one can manage.  I personally wish I had a nickel for every time I have heard or said this phrase...

Barking Up The Wrong Tree

     When you, being a human, are accused of "barking up the wrong tree," that simply means that you have made a mistake or a false assumption.

"Every Dog Must Have His Day"

     This is a quote from Jonathan Swift.  It is another way of saying that everyone has a moment of triumph or success.