Tag: dog lounge

So I woke her up at 5…big deal!

Yesterday I woke my mom at 5:30 AM (not 5, as she claims). I demanded to Go Outside, immediately. Since we live on the third floor of a city building, Mom had to put on her coat and shoes. She had to snap on my leash and grab her keys. We had to ride the elevator.

Fortunately, my mom sleeps in her sweats in winter and old gym shorts in summer. She says she needs to be ready to answer the door or go out for a fire alarm at a moment’s notice. Personally, I think she just doesn’t want to shop for proper night attire.

It’s all the same to me. I’m naked 24/7.

“Gracie, it’s Sunday morning,” she moaned. “The papers haven’t even arrived yet. Can’t you let me sleep another hour?”

C’mon, mom. it’s good for you. You need to get to the gym. I need to go to the Dog Lounge.

Oh no. Mom dialed a familiar number. “Hi, Summer. It’s Gracie’s mom here.” (She really says that when she calls the dog lounge or the vet. A Freudian analyst would have a field day.) “Gracie’s been a little…um..her tummy seems…I can still bring her in? Terrific.”

Whew. Thank goodness Summer has some common sense. I wouldn’t want to miss my favorite day at the Dog Lounge.

And I wasn’t sick at all. Just to be safe, mom gave me rice and a small serving of dog food last night. I was hungry! Since I’m not doing anything suspicious, she gave me bigger helpings this morning. We’re almost back to normal.

Dog Gets Royal Treatment at Dog Lounge

Just about every Sunday my mom takes me to the Downtown Dog Lounge. She works out in her gym while I get a good workout with all the other dogs. It’s nice being around my own species. Cats just don’t play well with others.

I like the name, Dog Lounge better than “doggie day care.” Much more fitting for a Canine Urban Princess – a CUPPIE – like me. And let’s face it. Half the time I’m lounging around on the couch when my mom comes to pick me up.

“Did Gracie play? Was she good?” My mom asks these questions every time.

“She’s always good,” they say.

Now, those folks know how to treat a dog. Here’s my adopted Big Sister Summer. We adore each other.

“Gracie, you’ve come a long way for an adopted rescue mutt,” my mom said when she took this picture.

Hah. I’m just achieving my destiny.

Dog tired …

Yesterday I went to the Dog Lounge while Mom worked out at the gym. Summer was so happy to see me! She went back to the pen area and we played…and played.

When Mom came to pick me up, Summer said, “So soon? Does she have to go now?”

“Summer,” said Mom, “I will leave Gracie to you in my will.”

I like that idea, although Mom’s not ready to croak yet.

That night I was totally wiped. Thursday my Uncle Bob filled in for Aunt Sara. He believes in long runs in the park. Then Sunday…so I curled up in a tight ball and fell asleep on my Mom’s bed.

Mom woke up and noticed I hadn’t moved. She reached over to pat me. “Hmm… Gracie, you feel cold. Are you still alive?”

I didn’t budge. Here’s an opportunity to shake up my mom. She’ll get all worried. She’ll be so relieved to realize I’m alive, she’ll grab a handful of treats for me. Yum. I can just taste that peanut butter.

Alas, Mom has become tough.

“Gracie, I can’t do anything tonight. Hope you’re around tomorrow morning.”

Then she went back to sleep and I did too. Sure enough, this morning I bounced off the bed, all ready to begin our morning walk and eat my breakfast. Then it was time for another nap. Another busy day in the life of a CUPPIE.

Canine Urban Princess Gets The Ultimate Day in the City

Mom says today was the ultimate in urban living for a canine — and for her, too. She was behind schedule so we flagged down a Yellow Cab to take me to the Dog Lounge.

We CUPPIEs know how to ride in a cab. I sat straight on my mom’s lap, looking out the window, and didn’t budge. The driver likes dogs (otherwise he wouldn’t have stopped for us). I started to help him by licking the window, but my mom was horrified. “Gracie,” she said, “you don’t need to wash the windows.”

I spent a delightful morning being pampered with a workout in the Big Dog area, followed by a bath, pedicure and ear trim. Summer gave me a beautiful red and white bandanna to wear home. Everybody on the bus made a fuss over me. “Such a well-behaved dog,” they said. “So beautiful.” It was a community of urban bus riders. And all created by me.

“What’s her name?”

“Gracie. Amazing Gracie. Or Princess Gracie.”

“What’s her breed?”

“All American Mutt,” my mom says proudly.

Come on, Mom. You’re a copywriter. Can’t you come up with something more…regal?

Yeah, right.

Mom looks great and I’m exhausted.

My mom has been getting compliments on her new svelte self. Back in August, she declared 2008-2009 the Year of the Body. I must admit, I’m surprised. She keeps to her self-imposed diet (based on a combo of the Food Ranger and a couple of books she read). She goes to exercise classes.

She won’t get on a scale, but the other day she said, “I can’t wear these shorts anymore. They’re fallinglosingi inches off! I can’t hold them up when I’m holding your leash.” She gave me a look that said, “Somebody needs to walk better on leash.” Who, me?

She’s always complaining about sore muscles but I have no sympathy. Mom’s got me on a good behavior program. That means I go to Magnuson Park twice a week and the Dog Lounge at least once a week. I’m tired too. Mom says, “Dogs are supposed to feel a little sleepy all the time.”

Great idea in theory, but I seem to be in a one-down position when it comes to the cats.

Secret Agent Gracie? Or Princess Gracie?

Here I am at the Downtown Dog Lounge, greeting my faithful subjects, Summer and Cynthia.

dog with sunglassesAs a CUPPIE, I don’t spend much time in the big play area with the other dogs. I sit on the couch and get the respect I so richly deserve.

My mom says this picture makes me look like a Secret Agent. Well, no one is better at sniffing out food.

But I’m a celebrity. Didn’t Jackie-O have big sunglasses?

Urban Dog Gets Bath, Pedicure

Yesterday Cathy dropped me off at the Dog Lounge for a bath. downtown dog lounge seattle

Thank goodness…I was beginning to feel itchy.

Don’t tell anyone but I go to the groomer more than she goes to the hairdresser. “More bang for the buck,” my mom says. “Gracie looks gorgeous after her grooming session. I look…marginally improved.”

I’m not saying a word and if I were you, I wouldn’t either.

Here I am right after my bath with Terri, the trainer who’s trying to teach me some manners. When she says “No,” I listen. If she weren’t so nice…

dog trainer with gracie

And here’s Summer, who gave me my wonderful bath, trying to figure out what to charge Cathy. I should get a discount because I’m such a good advertisement for the place.

I suspect the staff thinks Cathy should pay a surcharge. When she picks me up, she asks a dozen times, “How was Gracie? Was she a good dog? Everything okay? Did she get to exercise? Will she be good and tired when we get home?”

My mom needs to get a life. But at least she makes sure I have a good one.

Being the #2 Sibling Dog in the Family

My mom left me in the boarding kennel all weekend while she went off to an Internet marketing seminar. Why would anyone want to learn Internet marketing when they could run around and play all day?

Then my mom read me this article from the NY Times: First Siblings have Higher IQs. She pointed out that Keesha, my predecessor in her life, was a smarter dog.

Ha.

I think the First Dog gets all sorts of attention. By the time I came along, my mom was familiar with dogs. She’s harder to fool. She doesn’t take thousands of photos, measure my food and follow the dog book religiously. She tosses the food in my dish (“that looks right”) and lets me share the couch. When I cross the bridge and meet Keesha, we will have a lot to discuss.

I think my mom got lucky with Keesha. She was clueless about dogs. I would have run rings around her. 😉