Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

If It Was Any Closer

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Have you ever been looking for something and you just can’t see it, but it’s actually right in front of your nose? When I was a kid my mother always said, “If it was any closer, it would bit you.” This is one of those times.

As is usual with me, some of the funniest incidents that happen with my dogs, happen when I’m not ready with the camera.

This was the case Sunday morning. Since I wasn’t ready with my camera, I’m going to do my best to paint a picture for you.

Long time readers will remember Delilah has an obsession with chipmunks. You can read about that here, and here.

Delilah loves to chase the chipmunks but she really has no chance because she runs out barking like a fool. For years I’ve been telling her, “Stealth my love, stealth.” But she doesn’t listen.

On the weekends, Hubby and I take turns sleeping in. Saturday is his day and Sunday is mine. I decided to hit the grocery store early, so breakfast was a bit late.

The dogs were both intent on Hubby who was in the kitchen working on breakfast. I happened to walk by the french doors and noticed two chipmunks sitting out on the retaining wall.

Ok, I'm no good with the photoshopping, but I did my best.

The chipmunks in our yard aren’t THAT big, I just haven’t yet mastered photoshopping.

I ever so carefully opened the door. Typically when I open that door, it makes a noise that alerts the chipmunks, but that didn’t happen on Sunday.

Instead, I opened the door and stood there watching the chippies, trying to figure out how to get Delilah over there without tipping the chips or Sampson off.

Delilah looked over at me, realized the door was open and casually sauntered over to and then out the door. At this point, the chipmunk closest to the house, jumped off the wall and darted into one of his tunnels. (That’s the one facing UP the steps).

Delilah didn’t see that chipmunk, instead, she headed for the steps.

And then she stopped.

Right in front of the other chipmunk. I mean, the chipmunk was literally 8 inches away from her head. If she’d only turned to her right, she could have snapped that chipmunk up.

But she didn’t.

Instead, the chipmunk turned around and ran up the rest of the steps and Delilah had NO IDEA anything had happened, until she got to the top of the steps. She must have caught a whiff of chip because she darted over to one of their entrances and started sniffing about.

Fee fie foe fum, I smell the smell of chipmunk scrum.

Fee fie foe fun, I smell the smell of chipmunk scrum. (Old photo, we have green up there now!)

I stood in the doorway, and said to Hubby, “Did you SEE that?”

But he didn’t.

And there I was, at the door unable to capture it on film when I realized my camera was right next to the door.

Right next to it! If it was any closer, it would have bit me.

I guess I know where Delilah gets it from. 🙂

Put Me In Coach

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Ya’ll know that I have an amazing field and wooded hiking trails right up the street from my house. In fact, it’s the dog’s and my favorite place to walk.

In years past, starting mid to late March we’ve had to share the field with the LaCrosse team. It’s not that bad, the season only runs to the beginning of June and the field is mostly used a couple of nights a week. It’s easy to plan a schedule around and make adjustments in our routine.

About three weeks ago, Delilah and I noticed some changes taking place up there. It started out slowly. Each time we went up to the field, there was something new added.

It started out with lines being painted on the grass. I was thrilled because right in the center was a giant circle.

It’s a walking meditation circle, I breathlessly declared to Delilah and proceeded to walk her around it.

Looks like paint to me.

Looks like paint on grass to me.

The next time we went up to the field, there were benches. Let’s have some fun, I said to Delilah and urged her up on the bench.

Nobody likes to SIT on the bench.

Nobody likes to SIT on the bench. PUT me in coach!

The following day there were goal posts, no netting, just the frames for the goal. I plunked Delilah in there and snapped a picture.

It's like a giant picture frame.

It’s like a giant picture frame. Who’s a pretty girl?

On our next visit to the field, the goal posts had netting.

A good Labra-goalie knows you need to watch both sides of the goal.

A good Labra-goalie knows you need to watch both sides of the goal.

At this point I knew someone other than the LaCrosse team was going to be using the field. (The LaCrosse team used the field just for practice and would store their gear in a small garage at the entrance to the park, and pull it out when needed.)

The next night, shit got real sirius.

Mom says it's a porta-potty, but I'm thinking it's what you people call a concession stand.

Mom says it’s a porta-potty, but I’m thinking it’s what you people call a concession stand. It just smells SO good.

Despite all of the clues, I had no real idea WHAT was going on until Sunday. Delilah and I headed out for our afternoon walk, and there were cars blasting up and down my street. My street is a dead end so traffic isn’t really a thing.

When I looked up the hill, I was shocked to see both sides of the street lined with cars. We happened to be heading out just as some cars were leaving, while others were arriving, which made walking up a car lined street…challenging.

But we made it.

I love that the field is getting used and people are finding out the beauty in our little corner of the universe.

I can easily circumvent the field and head right to the trails.

I can deal with the left over apple cores and the occasional bit of litter.

But why, WHY must they park in the field?  Grass should not have tire marks embedded in it.

No cars on the field!

No cars on the field!

A New Normal

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When Sampson did a partial tear of his right knee, a diagnosed Heart Murmur and Arrhythmia left us with the only option of conservatively managing it.

For us, conservative management is very similar to the rehabilitation we did two years ago, when Sampson had surgery for a full tear on his left leg.

We had to come up with a new normal, so here’s how we are conservatively managing Sampson’s CCL tear:

  • Short, slow leash walks. We started at 3 minutes out and however long it took us to get back and have worked him up to 7 minutes out and however long it takes to get back. We do this two times per day.

    She's the star? You're saying, SHE's the star? Look at how nicely I'm walking.

    Seven minutes? That’s barely enough time for a guy to do his business.

  • Blocking.  Sampson’s favorite spot on the couch is blocked off to prevent him from jumping/climbing up on it. The front window is blocked off with chairs. This it to keep Sampson from putting his front paws on the sill and standing on his hind legs to look out. It’s sort of like baby proofing your house, except never put chairs in front of windows when you have a toddler. Chairs and toddlers, it’s a bad combination.
  • Throw rugs. Any uncarpeted surface has a non-slip throw rug. This is to help keep Sampson from slipping. I have so many rugs, it looks like I’m remaking Aladdin. For dogs.
  • Pain management and supplements. Anti-inflammatories, pain meds, nerve blockers, joint supplements and vitamins have become an integral part of meal time. I spend more money on medications and supplements than an old guy spends on viagra.
  • Gates. Gates prevent him from going into areas where he could potentially hurt himself. Like bedrooms where he could try and jump on the bed, and stairs. Stairs are definitely off limits. We have more gates than a gated community.

    But the BIG bed is in there!

    But the BIG bed is in there!

  • No playtime. This is probably the hardest rule to enforce. As our physical therapist said, “From the waist up, he’s still Sampson.” He still has his mind and in his mind, he’s the same dog he’s always been.  And Delilah is still Delilah, she has energy and loves to run and play. It’s so hard to have to stop them from this small enjoyment. I feel like Cruella DeVille, when I have to say, “NO!”

 

The hardest part in all of this, is restricting Sampson without letting him get depressed. With any type of injury or illness, it’s important for your pet to feel like they are still part of the family and to make their life as normal as you can.

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