After hearing about one of our friends losing one of their dogs, it made me think about our dogs and how to spend more time with them. I also haven’t been taking as many pictures as I probably should be, and not nearly as many pictures of Simba as I took of Nala. I need to take more pictures of them.
The wife is away on a weekend trip to NYC so I’ll try to get in some quality time with the pups in between finishing up the garage storage project.
In the meantime, here is Simba at 6 months now. He’s 50 pounds now and probably another 40 or so to pack on before he’s finished growing. He’s hiding at the other side of the table and thinks he’s playing keep-away with his bone.
Here he’s taking a break from chewing on his Nylabone to check out what Dad is doing. He’s just so cute looking with his paws splayed out like that.
They grow up so quickly
Maybe back to back dog classes wasn’t such a good idea
Trying to keep Nala from pouncing on all the puppies while Simba’s in Kinderpuppy class, and then keeping her interested for her tricks class is going to be tough.
Today was orientation day for the Kinderpuppy class, so we didn’t have to bring Simba along. We did anyway because the wife didn’t want to leave him at home alone. We kept him in the crate while class was going on, but it was tough keeping Nala calm during the intro class. Eventually she settled down, but when it came time to start her tricks class, she was all over the place trying to meet the other dogs and people. Getting towards the end of class, she was starting to get a little frustrated and not paying attention to us because we wouldn’t let her go play.
Next week will be interesting when there are puppies all over the place. I have a feeling one of us is going to have to hang out with Nala outside somewhere while Simba’s in class, and then switch. Nala’s not going to like being around all those puppies and not being able to play.
I am Your Dog
This was part of the party favours from Seasmoke’s birthday party. I thought it was a touching read. Kind of makes you want to take the day off and spend it with your dog(s). Googled high and low to find out the source. Found it in lots of web pages, but no author. Anyway, here it is in yet another web page. Enjoy it. Then go hang out with your dog.
I am Your Dog
-Author Unknown-
I am your dog, and I have a little something
I’d like to whisper in your ear.
I know that you humans lead busy lives.
Some have to work, some have children to raise.
It always seems like you are
running here and there, often much too fast,
often never noticing the truly grand things in life.
Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours?
They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age.
The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle.
You smile at me; I see love in your eyes.
What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit?
A soul inside,
who loves you as no other could in the world?
A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior
wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time?
That is all I ask. To slow down,
if even for a few minutes to be with me.
So many times you have been saddened
by the words you read on that screen,
of other of my kind, passing.
Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat.
Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes.
Still the love is always there, even when we must take that
long sleep, to run free in a distant land.
I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week.
Someday you will shed the water from your eyes,
that humans have when deep grief fills their souls,
and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just “One more day” with me.
Because I love you so,
your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me.
We have NOW, together.
So come, sit down here next to me on the floor,
and look deep into my eyes. What do you see?
If you look hard and deep enough we will talk,
you and I, heart to heart.
Come to me not as “alpha” or as “trainer” or even “Mom or Dad,” come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another’s eyes, and talk.
I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself,
or even life in general.
You decided to have me in your life
because you wanted a soul to share such things with.
Someone very different from you, and here I am.
I am a dog, but I am alive.
I feel emotion, I feel physical senses,
and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls.
I do not think of you as a “Dog on two feet” —
I know what you are.
You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.
Now, come sit with me, on the floor.
Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes.
Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears.
Speak with your heart, with your joy
and I will know your true self.
We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.
–Love, (on behalf of canines everywhere) your dog
Doggy birthday parties
Wow, a brown out just as I was starting to write this entry. Thank goodness for the UPS.
Anyway, as I was about to write…
Yesterday we were at a birthday party for Seasmoke. A ‘Bark’ mitzvah as it were because Seasmoke turned 13 yesterday. 13 is very old for a dog like Seasmoke (she’s a black Lab), and such occasions are definitely worth celebrating.
Dogs were packed up for the trip out to Seasmoke’s place. Nala always likes going out for car rides. No doggles this time because the car’s going to fast.
When we arrived, all the dogs were eager to meet each other. There were almost more dogs than there were people. It was for a dog’s birthday party after all.
