See Spot Read

Last night we took Princess Dog and 100% Dog out to work at a boys and girls center. See Spot Read is a program that lets kids read to dogs. It's much less intimidating and much more fun for them then it would be to read to old people. The girls mauled 100% and I as we were walking in the door then they all fled to maul Princess and Ward. I was impressed with how well behaved everyone was. I now have Green Eggs and Ham memorized -- it seems to be a favorite.















The kids on the couch are waiting their turn. The Maltese on the left is Happy, and she stole the show with her gorgeous long coat (Happy's mom has a lot of work in that!) and her roll over tricks. I'm in the pink sweater reading to a boy who likes to scare his friends in the dark, but only kids, he would never scare an adult.



















Princess dog seems non-plussed as Ward reads to a boy who has the sniffles and is just leaning to read. Good thing Ward has daddy credentials.

















Here I am with bad hair showing a boy each word as I read to him. 100% Dog is camouflaged on my lap. He wasn't completely thrilled. 100% that is, not the young boy. This was his first reading therapy job and he usually likes to be more active.

Photos are all courtesy of Cindy Golden, Happy's mom.

Weekly Wrapup

On the Bank Meltdown: I can't remember who said this, and as a good journalist I should cite my sources, but then again, this isn't the N&O it's only my blog. So I'll just say the speaker was one of the government figures in this financial mess. He said, and I don't quote, because I can't . . . it is a bad idea to cap bank executive's pay and bonuses because the people who did the damage are already gone, and a cap would hinder the ability to hire new executives. I do remember he used the word "mediocre" as in, we would only be able to attract mediocre talent. I guess mediocre talent isn't as good as high-priced talent; like the high-price talent who bought the country to this brink of financial collapse in the first place? Hmmm.

New in Morrisville: Yesterday we looked at the new "urban" flats at Grace Park. The project was originally intended as condominiums, but was switched over to rentals because of the housing slowdown and a problem with obtaining permits to complete a large project in one swoop. As a result, the model suites were very nice, but, you could see where they cut back. For one thing, an elevator shaft is roughed out, but there will be no elevator. Another thing; the agent said they have the new "acid wash concrete" floors, and said it like that was a good thing. To me it was clearly a way to save money on floor covers over the concrete. It was cold, unattractive and caused her high heels to echo. But apparently it's "the latest". So when did they start acid washing concrete instead of jeans?

In Conclusion:
This is why I love my pets. They are my link to nature that I lose in civilization. Even if they understood what the talking heads on CNN and MSNBC say, the news would be meaningless. They don't need to own property and don't care about the latest upscale amenities. They don't get chewed out because they made a political judgement error at work and if they did they wouldn't need an aspirin later at home to fix the headache. Every day when I get home, I'm greeted by the same, happy, natural creatures despite what happened to me during the time I was away. So tonight, let's all drink a toast to our pets, and give them an extra treat for being nature's perfect barometers of what's really important.
(Photo courtesy of Betty France Photography http://www.mwt.net/~bbfrance/)

The Darkening of The Dog

I was going through some old pictures. Can you believe this is the same dog? Has she been dying her hair while we're at work?


Princess Dog at two












Princess Dog at three













Princes dog at five











I can promise you the color change is not a trick of the camera. We noticed her getting darker over the years. When we came to pick her up after her first surgery (when she was four) her face was so different I thought they gave me the wrong dog.

A brief intermission for Labor Day

Apparently they're making dogs in pill form now.



Just add water.





Deep thoughts about Morrisville, sustainable eating, therapy dogs, and more is on the way.

The Legend of 100% Long Little Doggie

You stay here, Lucky. I'm going after the sidewinders who stole my cows.


















Pardon my intrusion, ma'am, but have you seen 36 head of longhorn cattle pass your way? They went missing while me and the boys were fixing the brakes on the Silverado.















Excuse me, partner, have . . . my, but you're a tall one, ain't ya? Mind if I climb on your head and see if I can situate my longhorns?
















To be continued . . .

Wednesday Night with Sylvie

I thought you might like to see one of our Therapy Dog classes with Sylvie's K9 Solutions

Here's 100% dog (complete with therapy class bandanna) in rapt attention to his handler. . . er, his daddy.








Here's my other favorite, Gracie, the Pembroke Corgi. My friend at Yasashiikuma raises Cardigan Corgis and says you can tell the difference between the types by the 'broke' part on the Pembroke'. Wanna see where?















Walk and sit your dog. Walk and sit your dog . . .

100% Dog needs a little help. Hope the teacher isn't looking.







Gracie shows him how it's done.








Holding the dog correctly for some loving.

Do you wanna pet my dog?








Sure do!








Stranger test!
100% lets Syvlie cuddle him and passes with flying bandannas. This is a test? Piece of cake for 100P.






Gracie keeps all four paws on the ground for this exercise.







The 'don't be startled by humans with junk' exercise.
Pardon my walker


















It's just an umbrella, silly!














So where was Princess Dog during all this? On my lap, of course.

She has the option to join the class, but complains about old back surgeries whenever she'd rather just lounge around.

Meet One-Hundred Percent Dog

Whereas Princess Dog has a lot of "cat" in her, her companion, One-Hundred Percent Dog, is well . . . just that.

He can't resist a thrown toy, a pack activity, or another dog's bark.

100PDog is a liver-colored Shih Tzu. He has no black on him anywhere, hair or skin. His nose is violet, his eyes brown. When he sits next to Princess Dog they look like photo negatives of each other.

Princess Dog Part 2

It's time for Princess Dog again, or maybe I should say Empress Dog, since Shih Tzus used to be the exclusive property of the royal Chinese family.

Today Princess Dog is contemplating why there are people in the house, yet her belly's not being rubbed. There's no excuse for it.

My canine breeder-shower friend, Shelley, can tell from a picture how confident a dog is in a situation. This amazes me. But I can tell from a picture how close my dog is to a bark. This one is coming in about 3 seconds.

Princess Dog

"You said there'd be cake."

Ok enough fooling around. Tomorrow I'll start posting deep thoughts.