June 23, 2005
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I’m in love with my puppy. I’m not sure why but she’s being so good. It’s probably a combination of things. For one thing I know I started out never wanting Bella to be jealous so between always loving Bella up and all the reprimanding that went on during the two months it took to house-train her, not to mention the constant bringing sticks inside and chewing them up — All she ever heard was “bad dog.” Poor thing. But now when I wake up and come down the floor is clean and she hears “Good girl.” And now that Bella’s gone we are going for walks every day. Duh, that’s it. It’s the walks. She’s not so bored now and doing bad stuff to get attention.
I’m back. She and I went to the corner store for a candy bar and ice-cream sandwich. Yes, they were both for me. Being svelte doesn’t seem to be a priority lately.
Tonight I took her for a training session. First I let her run around chasing birds down by the river. We went to the side where there are no people and it’s just a path in between fields of clover. I worry about the fact that she can’t see what’s under all the tall grasses. I think there are big rocks in there. And you know how German Shorthairs have those skinny legs, like a little horse. She went bounding through there like a rabbit, leaping instead of hopping. There’s a certain kind of bird my dogs always like to chase: the little ones that taunt them, flying real low calling out, “Catch me if you can.”
She probably was still too worked up over that but I had training treats: bacon flavored. So she came in a hurry. I’m working on walking, both on and off the leash, at a heel. For some reason she does better off the leash. She tried real hard — It’s the only time she gets those treats – but then she saw those damn birds again, flying low over the river. I’ve been trying to get her to swim but even with Bella out there she would never go in. The sun was setting and I stood by the shore doing a little energy work when all of a sudden I heard this splash. She had jumped in and dropped deep enough that she was having to figure out how to swim. I’m adding all the encouragement of a mother at her kid’s first swim lesson but she gets back to land right quick (I sound like an 80 year-old dog trainer).
I tell her how exciting that was and about that time here comes a mother and her ducklings, all in a row, swimming to our side of the river. They’re making pretty good time and I’m thinking the mother’s betting on Bridget not wanting to get wet again. She was wrong.
Bridget heads out but there isn’t the sudden drop-off like last time. The minute it gets deep she backs up. Then the little talking bird comes back and flies in close. Bridget heads out again, trying a new direction. Again it’s a gradual deepening and she carefully backs up. We do the leash thing back to the car and when I get her home she’s all uncomfortable with being wet. Too bad. So maybe it’s instinct, and maybe she was thinking she was pretty hot shit, having gone swimming an’ all, but she commenced to run in circles, round and round this seating arrangement in the middle of that big room I showed you (with all the brick). She was euphoric and then she was dry.
I’ll tell you one more animal story, but this is about my cat. I stayed up late reading thenarrator‘s story — Can you believe how good he is? — and finally went up to bed and just as I was nodding off I hear my cat crying. She never does that so I jumped out of bed and turned the light on. She was standing at the foot of my bed with a dead shrew. At least I thought it was dead until it ran into my closet and hid among the shoes. The cat looks around but gets distracted with these boots that have rabbit fur around the edges. So then I have to crawl in there and root around but the damn thing is nowhere. I’m picking up shoes and shaking them out thinking that would be a good hiding place. I realize I’ll never find the thing; that it will die in there and when it really starts to stink, then the cat will find it. Hopefully, she will still want it.
Comments (14)
Cat’s will drag in the worst things. But our cat used to do it for attention…
Peaches is not a water dog. The only reason she lets me bathe her is because I tell her to…let me, I mean. She is such a good dog. No formal training, but when I walk to the nearby convenience store, I let her come with me…having her sit/stay and wait for me on a little connecting path between Denny’s and the store. From inside the store, she looks so cute. She a terrier mix, so she’s small, and you can barely see her: a white spot against the dark path. She doesn’t get up but stares intently at the store, waiting for my return. And she doesn’t run to me…she stays until I get close enough to tell her we’re going home, and she turns around and leads the way.
My cat, on the other hand, is a totally different story. It’s been awhile since he’s brought me any presents, and I’m okay with that. He’s learned to meow for treats, though, and my son can’t tell the difference between the “treat” meow and the “outside” meow! Poor, cat…there he is starving…and Dustin’s opening the door for him! lol
ryc: Well, Mary won’t have to worry about that! *wink*
I love you…GFW
I never had a dog, only cats. So I enjoy your dog stories. One of my cats once brought me a dead stinking snake as a present and was very proud of it. He never understood why I screamed.
She won’t hon. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been through that scene with my 5 felines. The most recent event was an either very large mouse or a rat that ran all around the house and when nobody saw it ran behind a bookcase so fast it got stuck and that’s where it died. I didn’t find it until the smell directed me. I so hate dealing with that part of kitty world. But I love them enough to put up with it.
ours brought in a bird and dropped it (threw it if you believe the story i was told) at the new computer case this morning. so there was much excitement around here way tooo early. i love ira’s writing. he is a generous man and it’s obvious in his writing. i’m glad you’ve been giving him feedback. he longs for that kind of thing, and i haven’t taken the time to do it, bc i get so absorbed in the story! you are a good friend indeed!
I love your heartfelt stories…so poignant and full of life…it’s good to hear Bridget is faring well and you both are getting on splendidly. By the way, what is a shrew? duh me! you gave me an idea, today I am going to splurge and have some dark chocolate…ummm good!
and yes for sure, animal lovers are special people!!!
paulygrl
Lol at your cat bringing you a present, I hope the shrew doesn’t die and you get it back outside- we had a cat that brought one in and we didn’t know it. Several weeks later there was an AWFUL stench- we could not find it anywhere, till a few MORE weeks and we suddenly had flies coming out of nowhere. Gross I know. It was buried deep under a very heavy bookcase, it must have crawled under there and died. It was really ew… when we realized it was the cause of the stench. … RCY: Thank you so much for your words. They are incredibly encouraging and I appreciate you taking the time to comment … Yes, we got an Italian program- so far the kids have been doing it, I think dd will be the first to learn the language fluently. We are really excited.
Love hearing the puppy progress stories! We took our mama dog off to see her puppies (about the age of yours perhaps, born near the end of Nov.) on Monday. The family was gone all day so asked if we’d stop by and play with them so they woulnd’t be alone all day. One boy is now taller than his mom, with long lanky legs. Molly walks great on a leash but I wouldn’t dare take her off. I do let her come out front with me and am teaching her to stay in our yard, I hope. As long as there’s no visible cat we’re okay so far. She does the run-around thing periodically, both in the house and out back. Out back she runs from one end to the other and our yard is about 200′. She whacks up against the fence as she speeds around one particular bush to turn around. I always wonder what the neighbors think. She’s worn a path through the bark there.
the shrew story had me really laughing…:)
And its good to see the bonding tween you and your pup. Sometimes I find my dogs to be the greatest of comforts to me. Merlin, the one I’ve had for 3+ years always knows when I’m crying and climbs up into my lap to lick my tears away.
I love the way you talk about the puppy. It pleases me and makes me miss my old dog, who’s in Colorado with my grandparents for the summer. Your pup is probably thrilled that it’s summer. My dog (and cats) used to be tormented by magpies, big obnoxious birds that would dive-bomb them and squawk incessantly… until Sam (the best cat we ever had) proudly brought a few lifeless ones to the back porch steps to please my mother.
Ahh, the joy of puppies, especially when they start to become more mature, wonderful moments of, O, sigh, relief, we can have a life together perhaps… I love the first swimming story, that’s delightful.
And the nocturnal adventures of cats, ours here has caught a few mice & we’ve had to dispose of them outside in the morning. The very worst one was finding a completely squashed and utterly flattened probably long dead mouse under the carpet. Ohmygawd. How’d that happen? How come it didn’t smell? How come the cat & the dog didn’t tear at the rug, which is over another carpet?
Do check your shoes before putting them on though! I once put my foot into a long leather winter boot lined with sheepskin, my toe felt something, I thought it was a toy, my son was maybe 2, played with the boots all the time, turned it upside down, shook it, and out ran a squeaking little mouse, he & I screeched, scared it into the front closet, put a towel along the bottom, and waited till Daddy got home & he picked it up by its tail and threw it clear across the street… ugh. So do shake out your shoes before wearing them… -:)
*hugs xo
First, jeez, thanks.
Second, well, when my son was six he and the cat teamed up to catch a shrew. I freaked out. Killed it, stuck it in the freezer to give to animal control to test for rabies. Thought I was a super-hero. I called. They said, “Our shrews don’t have rabies.” As if they knew all the shrews in the county. But neither the cat nor the kid started foaming at the mouth, so maybe they did.
Third, animals entertain, drive us nuts, but, it’s the unconditional love, isn’t it?
Comments: Love is for a puppy and puppies are for loving. Must be why they say puppy love. Yes, my cat would drag in a bird or mouse and look so darn proud!!! Oh, and svelt is overrated. I am sure of it too. Cheers
I love animal stories. I think that if you love hearing about other people’s pets, you are an animal lover. I’m afraid with all my drama, I’m not giving my cat enough attention.
I thank you for your support. It means a lot to me.
Someday I will give this journal to my daughter. I’ve always had the feeling that I will die young, and I worry that when she goes through the major phases and crisis of life, I will not be there to guide her. Maybe this text will be able to. So, in turn, she’ll also have your wisdom to guide her. I’m so lucky to have so many wise women in my life, thank you for participating in this.
I feel myself getting stronger today. My post was long, rambled, had song lyrics, but I know what has to happen. I know things will not get better for a long time if he and I try to start again, but I’m wiling to fight for us.
Again, many thanks, your support is a blessing in my life.
*sare*