MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2016 has been a year of new pets and new friends. We can't wait to see and share with you more about our adventures in 2017.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Thursday, November 24, 2016
A Season of Thankfulness--Dog Edition
It's November. Today is actually Thanksgiving! Every year when November 1st arrives, I start hearing and seeing talk of thankfulness. "What are you thankful for?" On facebook, there is a challenge to write a post every day about one thing you are thankful for. This is great! We should always be looking for what we are thankful for and acknowledging God for his gifts. Life can get so busy that we forget to do so. So when November arrives, it is nice to be reminded to look around and realize how precious our lives are.
I would like to say, for the purpose of this Dog blog, that I am thankful for our family's newest member, Lewis. Lewis came to live with us on October 14th. He was a pound puppy; He came from the animal shelter. My husband adopted him and brought him home as a surprise. We were certainly surprised.
The shelter told him that Lewis was a black lab mix. I'm here to tell you that Lewis is no lab. Just last week, we had him at the vet and the vet told us he guessed Lewis was part terrier. After professing to be "big dog" lovers, it seems we have a small to medium sized dog. He is only 15 weeks old at this point, so we really have no idea what he is going to turn out looking like.
I am starting to like Lewis. He has some issues that we need to work through. I think they are just normal puppy issues, but I had forgotten what it was like to have a puppy. All in all, he is a good boy. He likes to snuggle up with us, which is so unlike our last dog. Our last dog liked us, but didn't care much for hugs. But universally, there is nothing more wonderful than when you have been gone and you return to a dog wriggling with complete happiness when he sees you.
I would like to say, for the purpose of this Dog blog, that I am thankful for our family's newest member, Lewis. Lewis came to live with us on October 14th. He was a pound puppy; He came from the animal shelter. My husband adopted him and brought him home as a surprise. We were certainly surprised.
The shelter told him that Lewis was a black lab mix. I'm here to tell you that Lewis is no lab. Just last week, we had him at the vet and the vet told us he guessed Lewis was part terrier. After professing to be "big dog" lovers, it seems we have a small to medium sized dog. He is only 15 weeks old at this point, so we really have no idea what he is going to turn out looking like.
I am starting to like Lewis. He has some issues that we need to work through. I think they are just normal puppy issues, but I had forgotten what it was like to have a puppy. All in all, he is a good boy. He likes to snuggle up with us, which is so unlike our last dog. Our last dog liked us, but didn't care much for hugs. But universally, there is nothing more wonderful than when you have been gone and you return to a dog wriggling with complete happiness when he sees you.
(This was written by my daughter, Karen.)
Monday, October 31, 2016
A Dog Person at Last
Abby died. Our 12 year old yellow Labrador, Abby, died. It was horrible. It was heartbreaking. It was something that was going to happen some day and we knew it was going to be terrible, but it was worse than we had imagined.
She was such an amazing companion. She was the best dog of all dogs. Sweet. obedient, funny Abby. I knew when she died that I had officially become a dog person. After being a cat person my entire life, I finally knew what it was like to love a dog and be loved by a dog. I knew what it was like to lose that dog. I am not sure when the transformation to dog person happened, but for 12 years, we had grown together. I was at a complete loss. And that's how I knew. I love my cats, but cats are independent. They really are. They might pretend to need you, but there is an air about them....they don't really need you. They don't keep their eyes on your every move and anticipate how to please you.
I am a dog person.
She was such an amazing companion. She was the best dog of all dogs. Sweet. obedient, funny Abby. I knew when she died that I had officially become a dog person. After being a cat person my entire life, I finally knew what it was like to love a dog and be loved by a dog. I knew what it was like to lose that dog. I am not sure when the transformation to dog person happened, but for 12 years, we had grown together. I was at a complete loss. And that's how I knew. I love my cats, but cats are independent. They really are. They might pretend to need you, but there is an air about them....they don't really need you. They don't keep their eyes on your every move and anticipate how to please you.
I am a dog person.
(This was written by my daughter, Karen.)
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Update to the Update On Buddy
In July's blog post, I told you about Buddy. I failed to get a picture of him up. Here are some photos of him as he looks now.
If you have been keeping up with the blog, Buddy is not our dog. He is our neighbor's dog and we have babysit him a few times. I think these pictures speak volumes of how well he fits into our home. I love labradors. They are so goofy, energetic, and loving.
Buddy with our new kitten, Stan Lee. The picture says otherwise, but actually Stan Lee likes him.
Buddy and our Abby.
Buddy jumped up on the trampoline with my son.
If you have been keeping up with the blog, Buddy is not our dog. He is our neighbor's dog and we have babysit him a few times. I think these pictures speak volumes of how well he fits into our home. I love labradors. They are so goofy, energetic, and loving.
(This was written by my daughter, Karen.)
Thursday, August 25, 2016
1954
In 1954, a television series debuted. It was the story of a dog named Lassie. I grew up watching the show. Has it been sixty-two years? The numbers don't lie. Yes, it has been that long. Recently, I began watching old episodes of Lassie on cable. He, Lassie who played a she, was some heroic dog! The dog did all kinds of outstanding things. It was rightfully so that she was the main character of the show. To me, the humans were merely bit characters. Lassie was the STAR.
From that show, my memory of it is not all that great. What I do remember is that every dog we got on the farm, myself and siblings tried teaching our dogs tricks. It all came from watching that dog on television. We wanted our Lassie. But we seemed to be limited in our teaching. Curly, our dog, would bark when told to speak. She would lay down on demand. But she wouldn't play dead. She would shake hands. Of course, she came to us when called. But I think any dog would do that. It seems to be something to them knowing their name. We could never get our dog to be like Lassie. But we loved her anyway.
In later years, I never tried teaching a dog tricks. I did have other dogs in adulthood. But right now I don't have a dog. But if I had one now, I think I'd have the patience to try teaching one. I do wish for that puppy once again. Until maybe I get another dog, I'll continue watching old episodes of Lassie.
In the meantime, my focus remains on taking care of my cats. I do remain also a dog lover even without having one now. The thought of getting a puppy does remain fresh in my mind...a puppy is so cute!
From that show, my memory of it is not all that great. What I do remember is that every dog we got on the farm, myself and siblings tried teaching our dogs tricks. It all came from watching that dog on television. We wanted our Lassie. But we seemed to be limited in our teaching. Curly, our dog, would bark when told to speak. She would lay down on demand. But she wouldn't play dead. She would shake hands. Of course, she came to us when called. But I think any dog would do that. It seems to be something to them knowing their name. We could never get our dog to be like Lassie. But we loved her anyway.
In later years, I never tried teaching a dog tricks. I did have other dogs in adulthood. But right now I don't have a dog. But if I had one now, I think I'd have the patience to try teaching one. I do wish for that puppy once again. Until maybe I get another dog, I'll continue watching old episodes of Lassie.
In the meantime, my focus remains on taking care of my cats. I do remain also a dog lover even without having one now. The thought of getting a puppy does remain fresh in my mind...a puppy is so cute!
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Update on Buddy
Last summer we kept our neighbor's puppy, Buddy, for a whole week while they traveled to New York. Well, they just went to New York again. Buddy is HUGE. He has to weigh at least 100 lbs. now. He is a beautiful, muscular, chocolate lab. He is well behaved considering his age and the fact that he is a dog.
His owners keep him outdoors now, tied to a lead so he has plenty of room to run. During this week that I have him, however, I let him off the chain and bring him down to my house while it is daytime and the temperatures have been in the nineties. He runs around in our well-shaded and fenced in backyard. He also comes inside and sprawls out on the laminate living room floor. He really is a good dog. As long as we treat him as a companion, he doesn't express any desire to run off or wander. I don't even put him on a leash when I take him back and forth.
My middle son, especially, will go outside and play fetch and soccer with him. Buddy gets along well with our dog Abby. He also gets along well with a 3 month old kitten that we now have. They play together! The funniest thing that has happened so far, though, is that my middle son ran and jumped up onto our trampoline and Buddy followed and jumped up there right behind him. Buddy jumped with him. He acted just like Abby did. If you read this blog regularly, I wrote in My Dog is Pretty Special (Part 2) how Abby jumps on the trampoline with the kids and we found out about another dog that did the same. Well, here is dog #3 that does it. I guess any dog with a playful spirit that gets on that well with kids is bound to join in whatever fun they get into.
Labrador Retrievers are known for being loyal family dogs that are excellent with children and other pets. Buddy is so big, he gets underfoot and has almost knocked me down just by walking by me. But I looked down into his eyes yesterday and he just seemed so happy. He was just sitting there, looking up at me eagerly. He probably wanted a treat. He REALLY likes treats. But I said, "Buddy, there is not a mean bone in your body, is there? You are such a good dog. You don't do anything bad on purpose. You are just so good."
I will be sure to take a picture and update this blog soon!
His owners keep him outdoors now, tied to a lead so he has plenty of room to run. During this week that I have him, however, I let him off the chain and bring him down to my house while it is daytime and the temperatures have been in the nineties. He runs around in our well-shaded and fenced in backyard. He also comes inside and sprawls out on the laminate living room floor. He really is a good dog. As long as we treat him as a companion, he doesn't express any desire to run off or wander. I don't even put him on a leash when I take him back and forth.
My middle son, especially, will go outside and play fetch and soccer with him. Buddy gets along well with our dog Abby. He also gets along well with a 3 month old kitten that we now have. They play together! The funniest thing that has happened so far, though, is that my middle son ran and jumped up onto our trampoline and Buddy followed and jumped up there right behind him. Buddy jumped with him. He acted just like Abby did. If you read this blog regularly, I wrote in My Dog is Pretty Special (Part 2) how Abby jumps on the trampoline with the kids and we found out about another dog that did the same. Well, here is dog #3 that does it. I guess any dog with a playful spirit that gets on that well with kids is bound to join in whatever fun they get into.
Labrador Retrievers are known for being loyal family dogs that are excellent with children and other pets. Buddy is so big, he gets underfoot and has almost knocked me down just by walking by me. But I looked down into his eyes yesterday and he just seemed so happy. He was just sitting there, looking up at me eagerly. He probably wanted a treat. He REALLY likes treats. But I said, "Buddy, there is not a mean bone in your body, is there? You are such a good dog. You don't do anything bad on purpose. You are just so good."
I will be sure to take a picture and update this blog soon!
Monday, June 6, 2016
Since Starting the Dog Blog...
Since starting the Dog Blog, "My Life With Dogs," there have been 78 stories and related sections added to the blog since 2012. We invite you now to reminisce with us the postings from 2012 to the present. We will be taking the month of June off from writing but will return in July with a brand new dog story. Thank you so much for your continued support!
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