My Fault

Ok, I feel like that 10 year old kid who’s saying “just let me explain.” So let me explain…life interfered with me sitting down and writing. That’s it, I wish I had some amazing story to tell you about what happened, but really that’s all I have. So I’m going to pretend you forgive me and get right to the good stuff.

You hear a lot of “horror” stories about new puppies and a lot of them are probably true, however, a new adult dog can add some excitement to your life also. When our new ridgie came home (remember she is 8 years old and we've only had her three months) she was so sweet and laid back, just really mellow. Now she is still sweet, just not so mellow…or laid back. Take this past week, I’ve had 3 doggie injuries and two were before I even got out of bed. First, she tried to help me be cool by trying to pierce my nose. She gets to get in the bed with me first thing in the morning for tummy rubs. Usually she lies very quietly on her side until it’s time to get up, not Friday morning. As she lies there with her eyes almost closed I start to get up, she starts to stretch and wiggle on her back like a puppy, and the next thing I know somehow her foot hits me in the nose, her toenail goes into my nostril and almost through my septum. Totally my fault. I know that anything can happen when you’re hanging out with a dog. But wait, there’s more. Kili loves to go for a ride with me so on Tuesday we go to the post office. When I get out of the car she usually get into the front seat sometime even in the drivers seat. I come out of the post office and she is in the drivers seat so I open the door and tell her to scoot over which usually means get in the other seat. As she turns to move into the other seat and I move to get in the car she swings her head around to lick my face, hits me with the top of her head and bust my lip. Again my fault, yes I know better, and you can stop laughing at me already. It’s ok all I could do was laugh and shake my head and cry a little. Poor Kili thinks I’m a sweet person but not very graceful. Oh and this morning was a lot of fun too. Because really, it won’t happen twice right? In bed, tummy rubs, getting up, paw in face, claw marks down right side of face and over right eye. Yeah, yeah I know all my fault. You know if you’re going to laugh at me every time I tell you something you’ll have to make your own mistakes because I won’t let you learn from mine. Trust me it’s a painful lesson. Just think how much you will learn when the puppy gets here. Till next time, I wish you unconditional love and puppy breath.

Herding

Ok, before we go any further let me apologize, I wasn’t as ready to immerse myself in dogs as I thought I was. I’m sorry, but I am now and do I have a lot to tell you. To start I want to introduce you to our new dog. She is an eight year old Rhodesian Ridgeback. For my birthday my better half took me to meet a ridgeback breeder in Tennessee. There we fell in love with an adult ridgie and brought her home. I can’t tell you how nice it is to have a ridgeback in the house again, and in April I’ll be owned by a brand new ridgeback puppy…they’re like chips, you can’t have just one. All right, let’s talk about puppies.

Well now that everyone in the house wants a puppy all you have to do is decide what kind of puppy you want. The American Kennel Club organizes dogs in seven groups based on what job the dog was bred for. If you’re not sure what breed you want or even if you want to rescue a dog it’s always a good idea to know your breeds. Let’s start with the Herding Group.

The Herding group was bred to do just that, “herd.” Even if you don’t have a farm these are all around great dogs. If you have any interest in flyball or agility then this is your dog, very high energy. These breeds are easy to train but be can a little hard headed. Herding breeds come in a variety of sizes and are some of the smartest dogs around. Just remember if you don’t give these dogs lots of exercise they are going to herd anything they can, this includes you, your kids, the neighbors, strangers…you get the idea. If you have ever seen a herding competition (if you haven’t and you like herding dogs you should so go see one) then you know that a good part of herding includes nipping. This can be painful and not something you want from your dog. Please remember, lots of exercise and training will make your dog a better dog, no matter the breed. Check out www.akc.org and look at the herding group. Even if you plan to rescue a mixed breed it’s always good to know the personality of the breeds that make up your fur baby.

Till next time, I wish you unconditional love and puppy breath.