Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-Up Friday, where I highlight reader’s comments, answer questions and generally just wrap up my week.

You Make Me Laugh – July 27, 2014

Cupcake said, ” Mom tries to laugh with her mouth closed, but I usually get to lick her tongue a time or two. ”

BWA HA HA, I’ve had that happen too!

Emma said, “Just seeing our happy furry faces in the morning and hearing the thumping of our tails when we know Mom is awake makes her happy.”

Totally agree with that one.  Sampson knows when I’m awake and that tail, oh that tail.  I wish it could be an alarm clock.

Jan K said, “I love the look on her face!! ”

Isn’t it precious?  She looks so coy and shy.

Sand Spring Chesapeakes said, ” I just posted what a ham and wordpress gave me a sassy error message telling me my comment was too short and I was to post something useful.”

I have no idea what that is about, but is it wrong to laugh?

Observations in Dog Walking

First, any post on this blog about poop is sure to have some hilarious comments.  Second, do yourself a favor and go back and read the comment left by Team Beagle Bratz, Diva Shasta takes the cake!!

Jan said, “It’s the Murphy’s Law of Dog Walking. Well played, Jodi.”

Well thank you Jan, that was the original title of the post and then I changed it. Why I don’t know.

Sand Spring Chesapeakes said, “Glory pooped in the pond yesterday.”

Are you kidding?  How does she think it’s okay to poop there?

Jackie Bouchard said, ” the other one I’ve found to be true is – your dog will always poop once but still you’ll carry extra bags you never need. The ONE day you leave the house w/ one small bag – your dog will poop twice.”

Umm….I hate to disillusion you, but I carry one poop bag.  I’m cheap. I use the same poop bag for both dogs poops.  I suppose I should at least carry two. LOL

Lily and Edward said, “I pretend I’m gonna go poop than don’t, BOL”

LOL we have that too.  Mostly it’s Sampson who assumes the position and then hears something, so he stops what he’s doing to be the nosey dog that he is.

Kimberly Gauthier said, “If halfway along our walk I notice that I don’t have as many poo bags as I thought, Rodrigo will take a 3rd poop and it’ll be just as big as the first 2 and a jogger will be coming down the road at the same time.  Because of this, I carry way too many poop bags and if I don’t separate 5 before we start the walk, then while I’m trying to unroll and rip off a poo bag, 3 out of 4 dogs will take simultaneous poops and then the rabbit appears. *sigh*”

You have my sympathy.  I have actually stopped to tear off a bag and looked up to have them both pooping!  Synchronized shitting I call it. God I’m such a bad dog mom.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-Up Friday, the post where I highlight reader’s comments, answer questions and generally just wrap up my week.

Before we get into this week’s wrap-up, I’d like to announce the winner of the Jones Natural Chews.  

And the winner is…Amy Orvin!  Congratulations Amy!

You Make Me Laugh – July 6, 2014

It seems many of your pups do things like this.  Here are some of my favorite comments:

Sherrie Petrie said, “My dog Phoebe is a great hunter of MOTHS … she will tear the house apart until she finally catches one that was accidentally let in from outside. But the other nite I really had to laugh because she was scared out of her wits when one landed on her back and she couldn’t get to it and she kept going round and round trying to get it off but it just stayed there. she is white and it was dusk so she kind of glowed so I think that’s why the moth was attracted to her. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to wet my pants.”

Marge said, “That’s just one of the great reasons to bring a dog into your family. We get to see things from a wonderful perspective.”

KB said, “I’m so glad that we have goofy dogs in our lives to keep us smiling and laughing!”

Blueberry’s Human said, “Blueberry once stalked a…rock. To be fair, it was in the shape of a rabbit. Well, sort of. (snicker)”

I’d laugh at that too!

2 Brown Dawgs said, “Freighter does that too and it makes me laugh!”

Do-Don’t, Will-Won’t

Pamela said, “I had a similar experience when I was fostering a dog recovering from surgery. I followed the shelter vet’s instructions to the letter, just to have a consulting vet express shock and horror about the abuser I was subjecting the poor little dog too. It felt terrible.”

It is a terrible feeling when you think you are doing exactly what your pet needs and find out that you’re not.  I remember that story Pamela.  I also remember that dog recovered well and found a wonderful home, thanks to you.

2 Brown Dawgs asked, ” Maybe the therapist and surgeon are not a fit for each other?”

Here’s what I think.  1) The surgeon is a good twenty years younger than the therapist.  He is all into the computer, while she takes hand notes, I don’t think he reads her charts.  The therapist did talk to the surgeon about Sampson and I will have an update for you next week.

Jana Rade said, “Well, we did go with our vet’s recommendations. Religiously. This did include PROM (passive range of motion) and VERY gradual introduction of weight bearing exercises; very short leashed walks etc. We followed his instructions to the letter. The final result was good with Jasmine’s knees as good as new.”

I think sometimes you can do everything right and not get the same results as someone else.  I’m glad you had good results with Jasmine.

Lexy said, “from an entirely non-veterinary/experienced point of view, I like your plan. It takes everything into consideration, including Sampson’s own happiness.”

Thank you, his happiness and recovery are very important to me.

Determination Can Find a Way

Carol Bondy asked, ” Do you only take one dog at a time now??”

On our morning walk, I take both dogs.  On the evening walk I take them separately.  At this time Delilah needs more exercise than Sampson does and it’s not fair to either one to make them keep pace with the other.  I do hope at some point I’ll be back to walking them both all the time!

Leah Erb said, “I’m so glad I’m not the only one who strategizes hikes around possible off-leash dogs on trails!”

Good heavens no!!  You always have to strategize and have an exit plan.

Kirsten said, “Every walk with Fozzie involves multiple stages of mental preparation too–nice when it works out more relaxing than we expected.”

Exactly Kirsten, it’s hard to have a relaxing walk when you are on high alert.

Beating the Heat

Emma said, “We like to walk on the concrete on the side of the asphalt, it isn’t so hot on our paws.”

Great idea!  I would love it if we had sidewalks here to help cut down on the heat, but I don’t see that happening.

Cupcake’s Mom said, “I try to encourage Cupcake to walk on the grass since the sidewalks in our complex are asphalt and HOT, but she mostly sticks to the walkways, and sometimes flops down and rolls around on the blacktop and tries to sneak in a street nap.”

She’s a hoot that one!  Street naps.  LOL

We Live in a Flat said, “Not a fan of the heat so we walk at night… gets interesting because of the cats, rats and cockroaches in the dark though.”

EWWWW, I can’t imagine.  Delilah would constantly be stalking something.

Sand Spring Chesapeakes asked, “I like to do a lot of lake work on hot days.  Do you have lakes or ponds by you they can swim in?”

You are lucky!  Sadly we do not.  If Hubby is fishing, they can swim at the boat launch, but I don’t like the idea of them swimming where there are hooks in the water.

Frankie and Ernie said, “Our mom puts carrot SLICES in a tub of water… and we go Diving fur GOLD…. THAT is refreshing.”

YOU have a very SMART mom!  That’s a great idea.  I may do that in our little wading pool.

Jen K said, “I WISH I could get my ass in gear for morning walks! ”

Some days are harder than others (and I have to go to bed a wee bit earlier) but it’s so worth it.

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom said, “The grass is better for the dogs’ joints and muscles, too.”

I never thought of that, it’s good to know!

Blueberry’s Human shared, “I started using Musher’s Secret on Blueberry’s paws this summer. So far it has really helped. ”

Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to pick some up!

That’s it for me, thanks for reading, today I start my 100 day challenge to write at least 50 words in my book every day.  Wish me luck.