summer

slow down and take a nap.

Mattie and Stevie visit Barton Springs

Angels and Bicycles and Rabbits

My baby boy Stevie.

I left Stevie Ray out of his crate today for about 3 hours while I was gone from the house.... hoping the good influence of  Mattie and Ollie would rub off and keep the leather couch, chair legs, woolen rug, and painted cabinets free from little Stevie teeth marks.   Not that there have been little teeth marks on any of the above items.....but you never know with a baby.

He was an ANGEL.   And I KNOW he couldn't have done it alone.    He needed the wise  experience of his buddies to steer him away from naughty puppy mistakes.

Three cheers for the three buddies.

Ollie wishes to note he uses the term "buddy" very loosely when it comes to Stevie

Mattie is chubby and while walking is excellent exercise and good for bonding....she needs more.   She is a working breed....who should be "herding".    She pretty much has it easy herding pugs     This a.m. we tried running alongside the  bike.   That is my bike.    I have another pretty purple road bike that has dust on it.     I fell off the pretty purple one a  while back and have a scar on my lip.   Road bikes have skinny slick tires...this nice cruiser has safe fat tires.   

Mattie and I are practicing our bike outings  early early in the morning  before the cars get up and scare us both.

Her reward for not pulling me to the ground ...I stopped at the park to let her  chase some unsuspecting bunnies.

These teeth

Look at her shiny white and sharp teeth.   The teeth that chewed a few favorite things (totally my fault) and the teeth (I am told) ate rabbits when she held "wild dog" status at Hospira.    On the other side of the fence is a nice family.   The nice family likes animals.    The nice family  put a rabbit in a pen and put the pen next to my fence.    I saw digging marks by the fence where the rabbit lives.   Mattie likes rabbits.   She licked her mouth and tugged while I was pulling her away from the rabbit she can SEE through the fence.    Mattie rarely barks.   She has manners.   She barked wildly at the rabbit...while she was trying to claw her way to the other side.    I blocked off that park of the fence.   The rabbit can thank me later.    I do value rabbit life.   Especially caged harmless ones who are being stalked by former wild dogs.   The nice family used to keep chickens in that part of their yard.    Mattie didn't seem hungry for chicken.
Look closer at the three tags on Mattie's neck.   One is her microchip tag (thank you Town Lake Animal Shelter)  one is her rabies (again thank you TLAS) and finally there is a tiny oval that holds the name of our leader and his personal phone number.    Don't ever let him tell you he doesn't LOVE...... LOVE LOVE this dog.    In  the 29 years I've known him, he's never put HIS name and  phone number on a dog.

Ollie

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.

For me they are the role models for being alive."

Gilda Radner

He's fine.   Sleeping again, but still fine.

  

 14 years ago, Ollie was the little dog star of dog school (the same one Stevie is attending).   He was awarded 4th place at the conclusion of class and we decided they had little dog predjudice.

Ollie's last year hasn't been easy.   Break in a new, wild big dog.   Lose your best buddy.   Get a new little buddy who has too, too  ....way too much energy.

But he's a trooper.   A grumpy trooper, but still, a trooper.

Mattie and Stevie waited down on the sidewalk with Ollie for me to open the door this morning.   Ollie doesn't do steps and he loves his yard.   I carry him out every morning and let him roam a bit with his buddies and then go get him.   The other two use the dog door.   Today they didn't.   They waited down off the steps with our old man for me to come pick him up, then we all came in.

THE BONE

Despite Stevie's brief emergency trip to the vet for his use of THE BONE....we still love them and now watch closely so he doesn't choke.   Here is Mattie and Stevie and THE BONE.

Bones.    Look closely in the middle front and there is a slightly blurred picture of Stevie just after he stole THE BONE  from Mattie who was hiding with it in the ivy and trees.   The huge white thing in his mouth is THE BONE.   He's racing to get  under chair...where he thinks he can hide and won't have to give up THE BONE.

Made it.   THE BONE is safe!

Guess whose head fits under the chair?   Guess whose nose is inches from THE BONE?

This happy dog face now  has THE BONE!

sit,down,heel and other stuff

We are pretty good with the sit...

showing promise with the heel and forward (if the goal is to pull Santa's sleigh)

amazingly bad at down although there was improvement this morning and a couple of

"down" commands that actually worked.

Not to forget:  bring enough treats.   we don't work well without treats...cheese is preferred.

Stevie is ADD.  

This was a very good STILL moment for the school boy on day 1 of class.

Stevie goes to school

  Dog School is behind Lammes candies.   Dog School is for Stevie....for now.    He starts tomorrow night.    For one hour, Stevie will be schooled in how to be a good dog.   He will have treats for doing a good job....and, with Lammes so close, I will have treats too.   Ollie went to Joyce Morgan's dog school 14 years ago and won 4th place at the end of class.      For serious freakish doggie people, you can learn to do the show your dog and win ribbons stuff at Joyce Morgan's dog school.   They are seriously nice, but intense doggie people.   I just want Stevie to quit eating bugs, sticks, shoes, blankets...and to return or come if you call his name...and pooping outside regularly would be appreciated also.    Joyce Morgan will have higher goals for Stevie.   

How to tame a wild dog.

1.  Locate wild dog
2.  Make sure  wild dog  seems friendly towards people.   If he/she doesn't lunge at people offering food or attempt to bite...you can be fairly certain wild dog  might like you if you ever get he/she home.
3.  A sense of humor is always good.   Thowing dead rabbits in the air (wild dog...not you) and standing behind the people (wild dog ...not you)  who are looking under bushes for wild dog is a good sign of humor.
4.  Once wild dog is located, captured and  in your home....don't lose wild dog.
5.  Speak kindly even when wild dog chews your favorite things.    Remember you want wild dog to stay, so yelling is not an option and neither is hitting.   Throw the chewed things into the trash and promise to be a better housekeeper.   It really is your fault you left the object that was chewed out in plain sight.
6.  Be lavish in your affections towards other animals in the house.    Wild dog  needs to see you love animals.    This is important while wild dog is hiding in her crate every day with the door wide open watching every move made by everyone.
7.  Close wild dog's crate with her on the outside.     She must now find a new place to hide from or watch humans.
8.  Walk wild dog daily.   It is...according to trusted sources..... the single most important bonding behavior we can share.
9.  Grip wild dog's leash tightly and end blood flow to hands.  (see number 4)
10.  Be predictable.   Wild dog is scared of everything.  
11.  Snacks (every time leader wakes and again when he comes home)  It goes with being predictable and as of Jan.  is in honor of our beloved big boy Bart.  He loved snack time.   We say his name as we snack.
12.  Time to test the trust.   Take wild dog off leash at highly structured moments to test her loyalty to leader.  (highly structured at first means no other dogs, cats, people or squirrels or rabbits or cars)
13.  Take  wild dog to fenced dog park to see if she returns when you call amidst other animals.
14.  Wild dog is now ready for the big time.    Auditorium shores.      Test your nerves and watch her impress with her loyalty and skill.
15.   Wild dog is still shy around others (humans and dogs)....but she is putting herself out there.