Monthly Archives: August 2011

“The Saucer of My Heart…”

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“…fills with “milky admiration” (from the poem “Dharma,” by Billy Collins. Read the whole poem here–it’s one of my favorites. It really speaks to dogs’ ability to live in the moment.).

So my heart filled with admiration for Gertie (and pride) when this happened:

In our basement family room, an old, heavy, red and navy comforter covers part of the sectional couch. Duke likes to scratch his back against the edge of the couch. (Or maybe he’s marking it with his scent? Gertie does it too.) Anyway, he also likes to burrow into the blankets and rearrange them with his paws, creating nests or tents. Well, one night he tried to create a tent, but he got overambitious and the whole heaping comforter flopped over him, so he was completely covered.

At first Tom and I thought he was enjoying it. Some alone time, maybe? But then he started thrashing around, trying to get out. The more he struggled, though, the worse he was stuck–like trick finger cuffs. Keep in mind that it would’ve been really dark under the comforter.

Meanwhile, Gertie watched from her spot in the wedge (see picture). She cocked her head

Gertie in Wedge, Duke on Couch

as Duke thrashed. She waited. When he continued to struggle, then whimpered, she hopped down and touched her nose to his (through the blanket), as if to say, “I’m right here. You’re going to be ok.” (Not to anthropomorphize too much, but it seemed to be a reassuring gesture as she sensed–smelled?–his panic.) Then she stepped directly on the corner of the comforter. So with Duke’s next effort, and Gertie pinning the blanket down, he was free.

How does your dog make you proud?

When Girls Get Even

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In yesterday’s post, I discussed how Duke has peed on Gertie’s head–twice!–on walks. But Gertie does have her own way of getting back at Duke when she’s pissed (pun intended). She usually does this when Duke has stolen attention–butted in on her greeting time. Or maybe he hip checked her into the wall or stole a toy.

Anyway, she makes her feelings pretty clear. She runs up to him, flips his ear back with her nose, and barks as sharply as possible directly into it. She’s barking mad, and she’s not gonna take it! Her purposefulness with this revenge amazes me–she’s done it multiple times.

What do your dogs do when they’re mad? Or am I anthropomorphizing too much–can dogs really feel anger? I know that dogs do have emotional lives (see Inside of a Dog, by Alexandra Horowitz, Time magazine’s Inside the Minds of Animals,” just to name a couple of sources), but their emotions are not the same as ours, so I don’t know that they necessarily get “mad” like we do.

He looks sorry, right?

When Walks Go Wrong

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The perils of a two-dog walk (when one of said dogs is a leg-lifter): Duke peed on Gertie’s

What the what?!

head. Innocent little Gertie was just sniffing a parking curb framed by apparently fragrant weeds, when Duke decided to mark that spot and showered pee onto her head. Gertie gave me a pathetic look as a urine droplet ran down the white flash between her eyes and pee dripped off her silky ears. What can I say? Boys are gross.

“All right, we’re going home for clean-up, ” growled. Luckily we were less than a block from home. Gertie endured a quick spot-bath, and then we tried Take 2 of the walk–and I watched where Duke was aiming his pee this time!

This incident happened in the first two weeks that we had Duke, though it happened again the other day. This one wasn’t quite as bad, but it did require a trip home for a baby-wipe spot clean.

I’m still trying to figure out the best way to walk two dogs. First of all, with our Invisible Fence, I have to lift both dogs over the line. I’m not Wonder Woman (unfortunately!), so I can’t lift two boxers as once. Which is why I load the dogs into my car, drive half a block to the track parking lots, and unload them. It’s pretty annoying.

And, of course, I get tangled in the leashes. I’m constantly passing a leash behind my back or turning in a circle to extract myself from the boxer-created web. I probably look like I’m doing my very own crazy-person choreography. Or I feel like I’m driving a team of horses, with one leash in each hand, and Duke’s poop bags stuffed under my arm (Gertie does not poop on walks, and I love her for it). I did try one of these tandem leash things that hooks to each dog’s collar and then you attach one leash to center ring:But the dogs were confused, and I couldn’t blame them. They actually tolerated the experiment well, but I don’t think I have the patience to train them on it. And I feel like they deserve more freedom to sniff their own smells or just enjoy their own space.

What advice do you have for two-dog walking? What are your funny walking-my-dog stories?

Collar Me Stylish

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In an earlier post, I mentioned that Gertie’s collar is washable, which is lucky because she gets it super dirty on vacation. So here’s the scoop on her fabulous collar:

After we had replaced Gertie’s simple blue nylon collar for the third time in one year, I decided we needed to get her a higher quality one. Plus, she needed one with the quick-release buckle.

They’re made by Dog Gone It, based in Marion, Iowa. We got Gertie’s collar at their Downtown Farmers Market  booth.

Since Gertie got an upgrade in functionality, why not upgrade the style as well?Duke has a simple black collar with the quick-release buckle, so we’re going to keep that for now, but I’m sure he’ll eventually get a new one–I’m thinking royal blue with polka dots.

Dog Gone It offers harnesses and leashes in addition to collars with lots of cute designs that can be mixed and matched. And they’re also sold at the First Avenue Wine House–that’s where I first saw them. I stopped by the Wine House the other day and was excited that Lizzi the boxer greeted me. So I rubbed her ears and admired her Dog Gone It collar–green and aqua in the opposite pattern of Gertie’s, with her name embroidered on it (Dog Gone It provides this service too!).

But Lizzi’s mom Traci (owner of the Wine House with her husband Ron) had bad news: Lizzi had blown out her other knee (she had ACL surgery a while ago) and will require surgery. :( Traci would like to encourage all boxer parents (and I would say dog parents in general) to get pet insurance! We have insurance for Gertie and Duke through Pets Best, but there are several companies that offer it.

What’s the best item you’ve bought your dog? What kind of collar does your dog wear?

Happy (belated) National Dog Day

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The Bark mentioned on Facebook that yesterday was National Dog Day, so give your best friend a nice long scratch behind the ears or an extra special walk as a belated expression of your gratitude.

To celebrate, here are just a few of my favorite doggie pics:

As a puppy, Gertie would sleep like Superman.

Gertie's yoga pose

Sibling rivalry

No, that is not a prosthetic tongue.

Hi.

Also, celebrate National Dog Day this weekend by going to the garage sale benefiting ARF (Animal Resource Foundation) and IHA (Iowa Humane Alliance). Or dine for the dogs at Devotay on Sunday (a benefit for IHA’s new clinic). Keep up-to-date on area dog-related events by visiting the DoggiEvents page.

What are you and your dog(s) doing this weekend?

Friends Don’t Let Friends Have Litters

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So read the bumper magnet on an attendee’s car at an Iowa Humane Alliance (IHA) event this past weekend (Sunday, August 21). The slogan sums of the goals of IHA, which hosted a walk-through of the site for the new low-cost spay/neuter clinic and a wine and cheese reception afterward. (Remember that they’re in the midst of a major fundraising campaign called $50K in 50 Days to pay for this clinic building–see their website for more info.) As Christian Schoon noted in a comment on an earlier post, “The new IHA clinic will spay/neuter 8,000 companion animals its first full year, “therefore preventing “the births of 48,000 pups and kittens that would otherwise end up in Iowa’s already overburdened shelters and rescues.”

The clinic building has many advantages: it’s close to 380 and Highway 30; the industrial neighbors’ own noise should mask any noisy barking or meowing; the adjacent green space provides a spot for dog-walking; and the building itself is clean and ready to go. (Pictures coming as soon as I negotiate the release of the photographic hostages from my memory card!)

The green space outside the clinic building

Wine reception

IHA supporters enjoying the wine reception

In other IHA news, Devotay in Iowa City  (117 North Linn Street) will be hosting a benefit for the new clinic this Sunday (August 28). It starts at 5:00 p.m. Check out their Facebook event page for more info.

Is your dog or cat spayed/neutered?

(If you’re wondering, yes, Gertie is spayed and Duke is neutered.They have no interest in adding any other boxer babies to our household–though maybe a foster friend when we get a bigger house.)

K9s Make a Splash

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If dogs ruled the world, or at least the Parks & Rec Department, the pool would look like this every day: K9COLA held their sixth annual K9Splash! at the Bever Park Pool in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, and it was the Waggiest Place on Earth. Seriously, the dogs were so happy–romping, running, splashing, jumping, frolicking, rolling, chasing. According to Jill Rowe, Volunteer Coordinator with K9COLA, 600 dogs and almost 1300 people attended.

I volunteered on Saturday. It was my first time at K9Splash, and I don’t know why I’d never gone before. A euphoric energy buzzed around the pool. I took many pictures of happy humans and waggily canines (scroll down to see more photos).

On Sunday, Tom and I took Gertie and Duke to the pool. They could not believe their luck when they entered the water wonderland. They couldn’t choose which butts to sniff or which corner to investigate first or which wet paw prints to follow. Gertie, normally cautious in new situations, bounded out of her harness and into the fun. Unfortunately, I forgot to put the memory card in my camera, so I didn’t get shots of our boxers enjoying the pool (and many new friends). Although it turned out to be lucky that I didn’t have my camera around my neck because I would have ended up dunking my expensive DSLR in the deep end.

You see, Gertie and Duke both wanted to swim with the “cool kids” (the retrievers in the deep end, aka the Varsity Team–see pictures below). They balanced precariously on the ledge, barking at goldens and trying to sneak the tennis ball out of a lab’s mouth. I shooed Duke away from the pool’s edge, but Gertie gathered up her courage and leapt in. She plunged under, and she surfaced in a desperate, go-nowhere paddle, with panic in her eyes. I had to drag her to the side by her collar, so then she was both floundering and choking, and once I got her there, I couldn’t figure out how to get her out (she’s really top heavy with her deep chest). Thankfully, a kind woman helped me heft Gertie out of the water. Whew! We stayed a bit longer, but Gertie didn’t venture past the wading area after her big swim.

Wheee!

This guy's dripping wet...

... but luckily someone brought a mop!

The canines had a romping good time, but they did not forget to focus on safety:While the non-swimmers stuck to safety, the Varsity Team paddled in the deep end:

Go get it!

But everyone needs a breather sometimes.

I’m already looking forward to next year. (I have many more photos of the event, so I’d like to add them to a gallery on the blog. Anyone know if I can do that (and how)?

And as always, here are some questions. It’s awesome  if you reflect on the questions as they relate to your dogs or dogs you know. But I would love to hear from you too, so leave a reply below! What makes your dog deliriously happy? Is your dog a swimmer, a wader, or a land-lubber?

** K9COLA’s next fundraiser is on September 16 (see the DoggiEvents page).

Downtown Dogs

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The Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids was packed on Saturday–with humans and dogs. Tom and I took our boxers for a good walk through Brucemore (the grounds, that is, not the mansion), then headed downtown sans canine. We figured it would be really crowded, and with two excitable boxers (one with some leash aggression–I’ll have to post about that at some point) it would be too hard for me to take pictures and either of us to purchase anything.

Here’s a sampling of the canines in attendance:

This pooch wagged his tail in time with the blues music being played on the corner.

This gentle giant drew a lot of attention.

Hot day + exciting festival atmosphere = hydration needed

This pup had just purchased a new collar.

Dog Gone It--I saw many dogs wearing designer collars and harnesses from this popular booth.

Bigs and littles...

...and well-dressed too.

From this Downtown Farmers Market, I took home a pint of heirloom cherry tomatoes, many dog pictures, and a positive attitude brought on by the general goodwill and festival atmosphere in downtown CR. (And all of my weekend activities made me feel good about the state of dogdom in CR, so check back for my re-cap posts on the rest of the weekend.) What do you like about the Downtown Farmers Market? Do you take your dog to farmers markets?

Woof for the Weekend!

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This weekend will be doggeriffic. Here’s what I will be up to:

Downtown Farmers Market–While this event isn’t just for the dogs, there are plenty of dog-related booths to visit, such as Dog Gone It, CR Animeals, and many rescue organizations. And, of course, many dogs will stroll through downtown as well. Depending on the weather and my wake-up time, I may have one or more dogs with me. :)

Viner Swim Team

K9Splash!–I’ll be volunteering at Bever Pool for K9COLA’s annual pool party for pooches. I’m looking forward to meeting many new dogs and dog-lovers from the area! I won’t have Gertie and Duke with me, but they’ll probably be ok with that since they don’t have their lifejackets.

Iowa Humane Alliance–I’ve been invited to go on a walk-through of the building that IHA is purchasing for their low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

I’ll have my camera with me and my ears perked for doggie news at these events, so check back to read the re-caps and see pictures!

What are you and your dogs doing this weekend?

Dog Gawker

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If you see me driving or wandering around town, and I seem to be checking you out, you should check to see if you have a dog with you before you feel flattered. Because I’m probably checking out your dog.

Check me out!

I’m a dog gawker. That’s part of the reason I started this blog–I notice the dogs around me and wonder about them. And I bet others do too.

So what am I wondering? I have a compulsive need to try to figure out what breed or mix of breeds the dog is. Not that it matters, but I just want to know. Sometimes I’m worried about the dog–is he overheating? That guy shouldn’t be running with a dog in this heat!

Tom’s often my partner in dog gawking–we love to point out dogs to each other. And we always act like it’s a big deal if one of us doesn’t spot the dog the other noticed (as if we won’t ever see another dog walking around town!). Our car conversations often start with: “Ooh, a boxer!” or “Aw, look at that pup…”

Nobody's home.

When we were in our dogless, angsty early twenties, we gawked at dogs constantly. I pined for other people’s dogs, watching them walk or play with a mix of pleasure and jealousy. (And I was so this girl: “Ohhhhhhh, can I pet your dahhhgg?!)

So why do I dog gawk now, when I have two sweet boxer babies at home? Sometimes I recognize people by their dogs–from stores, obedience classes, or doggie daycare at Dog Zone.

Check US out!

Other times I think I just marvel at the scope of dogdom–the amazing variety in the canine world. I used to love looking at our World Book Encyclopedia (circa 1970 or so) under canines. I loved reading about the different breeds, noting the various sizes, shapes, colors, and origins. Later my dad got a dog encyclopedia (actually, I gave it to him as a gift–surprise, surprise). I like to peruse the glossy pages, and see all the different ear shapes:

Rose

Button

Pendant

Pricked

(Dog-ear example photos from Animal Plant website.)

Are you a dog gawker? Why do you think you check them out?