Category: A Dog’s Life

City Dog and Dog Owner Enjoy a Seattle Moment

Mom says people want some pictures of her, not just me. But usually it’s just the two of us, and I don’t have fingers, let alone opposable thumbs. Besides, I’m a lot more photogenic than my mom.

On Wednesday my mom announced that we were going to walk up to Queen Anne. Going up is a LOT harder than going down. On the way back, my mom was so thrilled with the view she insisted we walk over and take a look. Personally, I could care less about views. I’d rather dig for something more interesting, which my mom won’t allow me to mention in this blog.

We saw some tourists taking pictures. My mom said, “If I take a picture of your family all together, can you get a picture of us?”

They said, “Sure.” Mom struck a pose and I’m looking at her, like, “What is going on here?”

It turned out they were a couple visiting their son, who is studying at University of Washington. My mom likes to give people information about Seattle because it makes her feel like an old-timer. Well, we have our fourth anniversary coming up. You’re not a newcomer, Mom. But it’s kind of cute when you play tourist.

My mom wants me to add that she hadn’t planned to have her picture taken, so she was wearing her old shorts and sweatshirt. Luckily she got her hair cut so she looks a little ore together than usual.

Please write a comment to reassure my mom that she doesn’t look as awful as she thinks. Tell her she doesn’t look old, even if you have to lie.

Dog goes to the music store

My mom Cathy wanted to pick up some classical music CDs. She’s going to a concert in a few weeks and she wants to listen to the music first. I like that idea. Since dogs can’t go to concerts, I like hearing the music here.

But even though I can’t go to the concert, I am allowed in the music store. In fact, they keep a jar of treats. Whenever we go in there, they offer me treats. My mom Cathy says, “We go out of our way to patronize dog-friendly places. For once my mom’s values are in the right place.

My mom is very strict. I get half a treat for “sit.” Here I am in a “down,” ready to receive the second half of my treat.

Great video about a therapy dog

My mom found this video through a message on Twitter. It’s called Moments with Baxter.

Baxter is a chow-retriever mix. He’s a great therapy dog.

My mom wants me to be a therapy dog. The video says you have to be patient and sensitive. I’m sensitive. Patient? We’re not sure. My mom is a little worried because I don’t like to walk on shiny linoleum floors. When we go to a place with shiny floors, she has to pull me along. It’s embarrassing for her. I’m too nervous to care.

Aww……City Dog and City Dog Owner Enjoy the Dog Park

My mom just got her hair cut. She was so tired of fussing with the sides and dealing with frizz. So she marched into her hair stylist and said, “Cut it off! Cut it all off!”

I wasn’t there, of course. It’s illegal for dogs to hang out in hair salons. But that’s just fine. Why would I want to be there? They have cold shiny floors. There’s nothing to do. It smells funny.

My mom’s first dog, Keesha, was a guard dog. Actually she was a mix of two guard breeds – keeshond and chow – so she could be ferocious. She would rather be with Cathy on a cold cement floor than sit on a soft cushion in the next room.

Not me. Give me soft anytime.

But I like sitting on top of this ledge. Lindsay sits here, when she’s in the park, and occasionally she can be persuaded to give me a treat. She’s always good for a tummy rub or a good butt scratch.

Lindsay’s taking this picture. See how my mom’s smile looks more like a grimace? That’s because she’s within a mile of a camera, even if she reailzes she asked for it. She’s the least photogenic person on the planet.

I look like I’m bonding with my mom, don’t I? Don’t fool yourself. My nose is continuously on alert for treats and edible garbage. My mom and I disagree on the definitions of “edible” and “garbage,” but that’s another story.

Cat on camera: lights, camera, action!

My techno-challenged mom just discovered that her Sony Cybershot camera takes videos! She bought this camera on eBay on the advice of a Craigslist tech person who tried to help her with her computer. She’s now upset with Sony Corporation because, she said, they make lousy manuals. “Almost 200 bucks for a camera and they can’t write a decent manual with diagrams? They should hire me!” she says.

She discovered this feature by accident. Her memory stick got full and she couldn’t figure out why. Then she found she was downloading files in avi format, not jpeg, whatever that means. So she experimented. Her first videos were accidental where she moved the camera. So she got rid of those.

Here’s Cathy’s first intentional video. Guess who’s the featured subject. Yeah, right. Not me.

But she promises to take her camera to the dog park soon. Now let’s see if she can do an upload…Well, it’s kind of kluge-y and it’s like watching paint dry, but still:

Click on this link: Ophelia doing her thing

Does this work?! Please comment below and let us know. If you’ve got a link to a better way to upload videos, please, please write a comment! I want to be a star.

Dog’s job description keeps getting longer and longer

The relationship was growing cold. So was the weather. And the couple was experiencing all sorts of personal and financial pressures.

So what should they do?

Get a dog, of course.

Have you noticed that we dogs are taking on larger roles in people’s lives every day? Just in my humble home I am expected to be a

personal trainer (“My dog forces me to get out and walk…”)

heating pad when it’s cold (I’ve blogged about this before and may be able to delegate this chore to Ophelia)

social facilitator (my mom gets into interesting conversations because of me)

vacuum cleaner (I catch all the crumbs in the kitchen and when I’m lucky, a few cat crunchies that spilled over)

source of entertainment (“she’s SO cute when she does that…”)

and a whole lot more, as my copywriting mom likes to say. Lisa Scottoline, one of my mom’s favorite mystery writers, even wrote a book with a title that should make any dog sit up and take notice: Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog.

Now dogs are being pressed into duty as marriage counselors and relationship rescuers. Gimme a break.

I feel like an employee of a company whose job description keeps getting longer and longer,  witih no extra compensation. I certainly haven’t noticed any increase in crunchies and treats.

Then again, my mom is like those bosses who say, “You’re lucky to have a job.” Just this morning, she was musing, “Gracie, if I didn’t have a dog, I’d have a LOT more money and a LOT more free time. But I wouldn’t have these other things.”

Somehow I don’t think this is the time to discuss creating a doggie union.

P.S. Please leave a comment! My mom says she’ll let me blog as long as we keep hearing from our readers.

Do animals take care of ailing owners?

The New York Times ran an article about a woman with cancer who adopted a dog. She thought she would die at age 30 ane she just had one regret: not getting a dog. That’s huge. Now she’s an animal rescuer. Read about it here.

Several readers wrote comments, saying their pets helped the get through an illness. My mom is disgustingly healthy, thank goodness. On the rare occasions she feels under the weather, I must admit it’s business as usual. I used to be pressed into service as a heating pad on cold winter nights. Now that Ophelia’s here, I’m off the hook. Ophelia is fat and fuzzy. She adores my mom and will tolerate some cuddling for at least an hour or two.

Dog’s Life Gets Complicated By Endings and Beginnings

My mom was feeling a little sad yesterday because the Queen Anne Farmers Market is closing. Sure, we have Pike Place Market all year round, but the QA market is small and special. She’s got all her favorite vendors and she came home loaded with green leafy stuff.

She’s also got that gleam in her eye that says, “Back to my special diet!” I knew something was up because yesterday we walked all the way to the top of Queen Anne hill. “No bus for us, Gracie,” Mom said firmly. “We need the exercise.”

As usual, when Mom needs exercise, the dog has to go along. Even if the dog is tired and hardly in need of more exercise.

Alas, I didn’t get to go to the Farmers Market. I remained home in my crate. See, mom has taken up a new hobby.  As with all her interests, she dives in with lots of enthusiasm and little expertise. She goes to class Monday night. Then on Thursdays and Saturdays, she goes to the studio to practice. She’s determined to master the basics of throwing this term.

The truth is, my mom has less talent than just about anybody when it comes to pottery. She studied a year in Philadelphia and a year in New Mexico. She makes oddly shaped pots and passes them off as “original.” Her friends have to struggle to keep a straight face when she shares her misguided creations.

The good part is, it keeps my mom out of trouble. And she feels so guilty about leaving me that we get extra dog park time.  Life could be worse.

P.S. My mom says she wants more comments on this blog. Please say something! Just click on “comments below.”

Cats getting along even more…

My mom Cathy was thrilled when she went to make her bed and found the cats sitting about a foot apart. She was so pleased she raced off to get the camera. Never mind making the bed.

Where was I when all this was going on? On the living room sofa, of course.

My mom thinks Ophelia’s washing means she’s comfortable with Creampuff. I say Ophelia’s just being Ophelia. Anyway, Mom is getting used to having the cats getting along. Then she’ll turn her attention to more important subjects, like me.