Category: dog park

They’re ganging up on me…

Even my wonderful Aunt Sara has taken up the cause. When she came to take me for my walk today, she said, “You know, Cathy, I’ve been noticing something with Gracie…”

My beautiful coat? My shiny eyes? Impeccable manners?

“Gracie,” continued Aunt Sara, “is getting a little chunky around the middle.”

“Yeah,” my mom said ruefully. “The vet said the same thing.”

“All those treats!” Aunt Sara sad.

“Hmm…I bet the Downtown Dog Lounge gives you lots of treats,” my mom said, giving me The Look.

I’m not saying a word.

“Maybe Gracie’s getting older,” my mom said. “She’ll be seven soon.”

True. I am a midlife, mid-career dog.

And I want to enjoy my life and my treats in peace. Just because my mom doesn’t eat ice cream anymore (her fave was Haaen-Dasz jamocha almond fudge), why should I watch my diet?

Rescue mutt turns sheep dog

Would you look at this? When Cathy adopted me, I figured we’d stay in our nice, clean city apartment. I’d sleep on the couch and rarely get my paws dirty. Okay, I go to Magnuson twice a week with my Aunt Sara. But we stay on the paths and on the beach.

Herding sheep: dont I look like a pro?
Herding sheep: don't I look like a pro?

But Summer from the Downtown Dog Lounge took me out for a day of sheep herding. We went to Ewetopia, a place that specializes in uniting dogs and sheep.  Summer took a whole set of pictures of me working sheep.. Although I am a Canine Urban Princess (CUPPIE), it seems I may have descended from some common shepherd dogs.

I don’t know what came over me when I saw those sheep. Don’t I look like I know what I’m doing?

Now my mom wants to go out there. Personally, I think I’m getting a little old for this herding. I slept for 3 days afterward. It’s tougher than it looks.

“Play hard, sleep hard…”

You’ve heard of work hard play hard? I don’t work that hard but I play a lot. After a day at the Dog Lounge on Sunday, I was zonked.

Dog strikes pose even while sleeping
Dog strikes pose even while sleeping

My mom likes to take pictures of me when I’m asleep. She points out that I can’t move and ruin her photo. And she thinks I’m “cute” when I sleep.

In reality, I think she’s jealous. I get to nap all day. She has to stay awake and work.

I’m a sheep dog!

On Saturday I went off to Ewetopia with my best big sister, Summer from the Downtown Dog Lounge. My mom was supposed to go too, but she took one step outside and just about froze. She doesn’t do too well in the cold, especially cold and rain.

Just as well. I wanted some quality time with Summer.

Summer told Cathy that I am a natural. “Gracie knew what to do with the sheep,” she said. “She herded them into a circle.”

True. I don’t know how I knew this, but I did. Somewhere in my mix is a sheepherding breed.

My mom refuses to pay for DNA tests. “I’d rather spend the money on treats and extra time at the Dog Lounge,” she says. “Or extra walks with Aunt Sara.”

For once, Mom’s got her priorities straight. But I’m still getting over the day. Time for another nap.

Cat meets computer

Look who’s taken up residence near Mom’s desktop computer. Mom’s favorite Computer Guru, the MacDaddy of Seattle, says cat hair won’t bother the desktop. Thank goodness!

Creampuff likes to sleep there. So we figure Ophelia just had to take over and establish dominance. Besides, it’s nice and warm.

We can’t figure out how she got up there. Ophelia’s not a jumper. She prefers hiding out in her cave.

Another dog park

Las t Saturday my uncle Lance drove Cathy and me to the Woodland Dog Park in Seattle. That’s my mom’s favorite dog park. She says it reminds her of the forest primeval. It’s very Northwest — all those tall trees.

I like Woodland because so many nice dogs go there. There’s always someone for me to play with. Here I am playing with another dog who understands how dog parks work. You can tell we’re speaking the same language. I’m saying, “Let’s play.” He is saying, “Sounds good! What kind of game do you have in mind?”

My mom was disappointed because my Uncle Lance refused to be photographed. “I’m very camera shy,” he said.

More likely he’s ashamed to be seen in our company. I can’t say I blame him. I mean, everybody wants to be seen with me, but my Mom isn’t exactly a fashion model. You’ll see more in future posts.

We were all very cold so we didn’t stay long. Thank goodness! I went home and slept for 12 hours straight.

Why We’re Home For The Holidays

My mom Cathy used to travel a lot. She has spent Christmas holidays in London (England), Madrid, Edinburgh, Paris, New York and Chicago…and more. But since 9/11, she says, she hates to travel. She’s served her time on planes waiting to be de-iced at O’Hare. She’s driven (very nervously) on icy roads. airport in snow

“There’s so much to do here,” she says. “Symphony. Ballet. Theatre. Movies.”

Dog parks? I give Mom a nudge with my very cold nose.

“And dog parks,” she says. Sometimes she reads my mind.

Visitor from Philadelphia

Last night we were honored with a visit from Mom’s friend and copywriting client, Ellen. Mom wrote the copy for Ellen’s website, Faces and Fortunes, back when she was charging about half of what she does now. Ellen’s site was very successful and they became phone friends. They met for the first time on Sunday. I went along to the Marqueen, where Ellen was staying. They wouldn’t let me go upstairs but the desk people fussed over me in the lobby.

Mom took advantage of the gift certificate she won at the Dog Park party last August (how appropriate!). She took Ellen to dinner at The Waterfront, an upscale seafood place in Seattle.

The waiter took thisdog park gift certificate was used photo. After Mom downloaded it to Photoshop, she said she should have left a smaller tip. It was all blurry. She touched it up to get the photo. That’s my mom Cathy on the right. See, she does own some Real Clothes.

Did they bring home a treat for me? Hah. Such gratitude. I mean, if she didn’t own me, she wouldn’t have been at the dog park for the party. She’d have taken Ellen to the little Thai place around the corner.

“I wouldn’t mind,” Ellen said. “I like Thai food.”

Maybe next time.

Can we send Ophelia back where she came from?

My mom took Ophelia back to the vet on Monday. Ophelia’s lab tests show something is going on with her liver, which is why she’s turning yellow. No surprise there.

Mom came home with instructions for force-feeding, sub-Q fluids, and pills. Then she took me to the dog park. Lindsay, the park steward, is always happy to see us.dog park with lindsay pating gracie

“The new kitty is sick?” Lindsay said. “Does she come with a return guarantee?”

See why I like Lindsay? That woman has great perspsective.

But she was joking and Cathy would never do that. She vowed Ophelia will never return to that shelter. And who else will be such a dedicated cat nurse?

I don’t really mind. When Cathy’s working on Ophelia, she puts me in my crate with a peanut butter kong toy. Yum. Ophelia’s not such a bad idea after all.