Last Friday, I took the girls with me to the dog park. I think it will be the last time I take them for a long time.
The wind blew. The Youngest froze. We all ended up in the former bus shelter, where curious dogs poked their heads in through the open spaces where panes of glass used to be. Our Best Friend, in full protective mode, spent most of the time in the bus shelter with us, venturing a few feet outside to wander and sniff, but not moving too far off. We left before our meter expired, which is unheard of.
The best dogs are gone. I haven't seen Princess in over a month; she and her owner disappeared last winter too, reappearing in May. The Italian greyhounds, my two special boys, were there about a week ago, but they had their sweaters on (and Cocoa looked quite... effete... in his little Argyle). I haven't seen them since, and they're too delicate for severe cold. More friends I'll miss 'til spring. I'll see Happy, I'm sure, a few others... but only strong, heavily furred creatures enjoy the northern winter.
Our Best Friend loves the cold, but he hates the wet. I managed to run out there with him today, during a break from the rain that's been falling steadily since Saturday. About five minutes before we had to leave to get the girls from school, it starting raining again. And it wasn't a gentle start, with a slow build-up, giving you a chance to open an umbrella, or get to your car. No, suddenly it was sheeting down. Again, I got to the car before the meter expired.
I don't like the cold or wet, but unless I want to suffer guilt, I try to take him out every day. That means muddy paws on my kitchen floor, and dirt everywhere. That, combined with the furballs along the baseboards and in every corner, makes me understand why my friends think I'm crazy to have a big shedding dog in the house. I'll actually be happier when it is winter; at least the snow is cleaner than the rain and mud.
Showing posts with label dog care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog care. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Back to Reality
The holidays are finally over. Sukkot started almost two weeks ago (Wednesday night), and went straight through to last Saturday night. After all the cleaning, laundry, and general catching up, this has been my first chance to resume some normal actitvities.
The holidays were hard on Our Best Friend. I had decided that we were going to make sure he got adequate exercise over the holiday time. Good intentions, best-laid plans, man plans, G-d laughs, etc.
The holidays were hard on Our Best Friend. I had decided that we were going to make sure he got adequate exercise over the holiday time. Good intentions, best-laid plans, man plans, G-d laughs, etc.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
More Guilt
Aside from guilt, not walking your dog has other consequences, chiefly that your dog doesn't get his shpilkes out. Our Best Friend is not a destructive dog. He never chews on the furniture, doesn't grab food from the counter, and almost always comes when called. Note the "almost." When he's full of shpilkes, he doesn't listen.
Last week was Rosh Hashana. For three days before the holiday, I shopped, cooked, and sometimes even cleaned. I didn't walk the dog. The kids took him outside for five or ten minutes every so often and threw a ball around, but it wasn't close to enough. I could see him getting more and more restless as the week went on.
Last week was Rosh Hashana. For three days before the holiday, I shopped, cooked, and sometimes even cleaned. I didn't walk the dog. The kids took him outside for five or ten minutes every so often and threw a ball around, but it wasn't close to enough. I could see him getting more and more restless as the week went on.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Guilt
A few weeks ago, one of our dog park buddies made the casual comment, "Our Best Friend really needs to live on a farm, where he can run outside all day." I've been haunted by that remark ever since.
When we first got a dog, I thought it would force me to get more exercise. Who was I kidding. I've never been a morning person, so walking him before the kids get up for school doesn't happen. I'm too tired at night. During the day, I'm too busy. And to top it off, the weather won't cooperate either.
We just ended a brutal week of heat, with humidexes up to 104 F (40 C). In spite of my anti-a.m. nature, I got up at 6:30 one morning, 7:00 another, and took Our Best Friend to the park to get his shpilkes out before the heat made it too difficult (and dangerous). But half an hour twice a week isn't enough exercise for a dog his size.
It also rained like hell this summer, which ate into our dog park time. Several times, we were all prepped to go, and just as we were getting the leash and the poop bags, it went pitch black outside and the heavens opened. It puts a damper on outdoor activities. One evening I ignored the ominous warnings; we were there for less than ten minutes before we ran back to the car with thunder ringing in our ears.
When we first got a dog, I thought it would force me to get more exercise. Who was I kidding. I've never been a morning person, so walking him before the kids get up for school doesn't happen. I'm too tired at night. During the day, I'm too busy. And to top it off, the weather won't cooperate either.
We just ended a brutal week of heat, with humidexes up to 104 F (40 C). In spite of my anti-a.m. nature, I got up at 6:30 one morning, 7:00 another, and took Our Best Friend to the park to get his shpilkes out before the heat made it too difficult (and dangerous). But half an hour twice a week isn't enough exercise for a dog his size.
It also rained like hell this summer, which ate into our dog park time. Several times, we were all prepped to go, and just as we were getting the leash and the poop bags, it went pitch black outside and the heavens opened. It puts a damper on outdoor activities. One evening I ignored the ominous warnings; we were there for less than ten minutes before we ran back to the car with thunder ringing in our ears.
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