Cutest Things: Sadie's Snout

My dogs are pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.  But sometimes they do things that are just the cutest and I have to share.

I love Sadie's snout.  It is the perfect length for bestowing kisses.

I think your snout is delicious too, Sadie!

Sadie does the cutest thing.  As I bend down to give her a kiss, she gently raises and extends her snout at perfect kissing height. Sometimes, she sneaks me a kiss after I've given her a smooch.  Sometimes, she just lifts her snout a little higher as if to say "one more, Mom?". 

It's the cutest thing.

Wordless Wednesday: Hurley Badger Don't Care About No Tent

Yup.

Monday Fun Day: Sunset Beach

The Hubster and I recently loaded up his Jeep for a trip to Sunset Beach, just north of Seaside, OR.  We love this spot because we can drive out onto the beach and find a nice open spot before unleashing our demons our much beloved and always perfectly behaved pooches.

Who you talking 'bout, Willis?

This was the first trip we have made with all 3 dogs in the back of the Hubster's Wrangler with the top off.  Because I'm a worry-wart, we have a system by which we attach each dog via a harness and by leash & collar.  The harness is either connected to a zip-line at the top of the Jeep or via belt buckles on the floor.  This is the primary attachment and the leash attached to collar and frame of Jeep is our backup system in case the harness fails, or with Sadie, in case she sees water, we are at a stop and she jumps out wriggling out of the harness (yes, it's happened which is why we have the two attachment system).

Jumping Waves

I was super happy with how the dogs did.  An hour and a half drive is a long way and they were stellar.  Well, except for whomever decided to poop in the back of the Jeep 10 minutes before we arrived at our destination.  That was not so stellar. 

It wasn't me, Mom.  I swear!

But after cleaning up the Jeep, I had one of these:

And found one of these:

And all was right in the world again.

As always, the dogs had a great time at the beach.  And spent the next couple days completely tuckered out.  Thanks, Beach!

Futon Fetch

Maggie used to have this game she played with us.  I call it Futon Fetch.

Yup, it's pretty much just as you would think.  We are sitting on the futon, watching TV or messing 'round on the interwebs, and Maggie gets an itch for a game of fetch.

She drops the ball on my lap, I toss it behind the couch, she fetches.  Rinse. Repeat.  

Today, she played that game for the first time in a real, long time.  The first time in fact, since we've gotten Hurley.  He's upstairs.  I'm sure he's getting in the trash or something.

But Maggie and I are playing our game.  I hadn't realized how much I missed Futon Fetch until she started up again.

RIP Lennox

 

I woke up this morning grateful that I live in a place that does not discriminate against dogs based on their appearance. As the momma of a pit bull type dog and a human being, the story of Lennox breaks my heart. We are better than this. We can do better than this. BSL is unjust, promotes fear, hate and prejudice and does nothing to reduce dog bites or make people safer. RIP Lennox and may the world be forever changed in part due to your tragic story.

Wordless Wednesday: Gravel Lipstick

Hurley Badger Don't Care: Alter Ego Mashup

Last week, an incident occurred in which a couple of Hurley's Alter Egos came out to play:  Hurley Badger Don't Care and Hulk Smash!.

It was mid-morning on a warm summer day.  The kind of day when you leave the back door open and the windows up.  It was Sadie's turn for a walk on this fateful summer morning so I put Maggie & Hurley in the front bedroom, also known as the dog's room, and off Sadie and I went.

We were halfway down the block and only 20 seconds away from the house when a certain mischevious pup comes running after us.

Excuse me, Hurley? How the heck did you get out?

I return to the house with dogs in tow to discover one destroyed window screen.

Yup.  Hurley Badger Don't Care 'bout a flimsy screen in between him and what he wants and he Hulk'd his way out the window to join us on our walk. 

Hurley Badger Don't Care: Inaugural Post

We have a saying around our house....Hurley Don't Care.  It's a saying that perfectly encapsulates his personality - he takes what he wants and doesn't give a shit.   He is not affected by the world around him, nor influenced by others' disapproval.  He goes about his business, doing what he wants and with little regard for his own safety.  'Cause Hurley Don't Care.

It's always said in the same voice you say in your head when you look at all those "Honey Badger Don't Care" internet meme's.  This is important. 

So say it with me now:  "Hurley Badger Don't Care".  Give it some sass.  Hurley deserves it.

Hurley Badger Don't Care is making its internet debut, right here, right now:

Every so often, I'll share stories that showcase his Hurley Badger Don't Care personality.

For today's inaugural Hurley Badger Don't Care post, we bring you the 4th of July.  While most pet owners safely ensconce their precious dogs inside, possibly drugged up and certainly chewing happily on a Kong, we knew that Hurley wouldn't have an adverse reaction to the fireworks.  You could shoot a gun, set off a fire cracker, blow a fog horn, etc right next to this dog's head and he wouldn't even turn his head to look.  'Cause Hurley Badger Don't Care.

So what did we do when the fireworks started going off?  We went for a walk.  For an hour and a half, we wandered around our neighborhood.  Did Hurley get startled by the fireworks? No.  Did he even acknowledge the explosions occurring a block away?  No. 

Why?

'Cause Hurley Badger Don't Care.

A Weekend Visitor

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of watching a friend of ours, Koda.  I love Koda because, well, he is pretty much a fluffy version of Maggie.

Obsessed with balls and toys? Check.
Likes to be the dog in charge? Check. 
Is a bit demanding? Check.

Unfortunately for Koda, Maggie does not really enjoy having her fluffy twin around. 

The last time we looked after Koda, I committed the cardinal sin of petting him before Maggie when I came home from work.  Maggie instantly tried to start a dog fight.  Well, she snapped and aggressed toward Koda, he told her off quickly and backed away.  I intervened and all was fine in our household.

Until the next time I came home.  Even though I was careful not to pay any attention to Koda before Maggie, she did the same thing.  And the time after that.  And the time after that.  Since I knew it was going to happen, I started ignoring both of them when I came home and instantly intervened when Maggie got bitchy. 

Other than Maggie's snarkiness when I arrived home, we spent the rest of the weekend in peace.   Sadie lurves her some Koda and flirted with him as much as possible. It's funny how dogs defy our expectations.  Sadie has never been overly fond of male dogs at the dog park but with Koda, we saw a spunky side of Sadie that we'd never seen before - she even wanted to wrestle with him!  Unfortunately for her, Koda was more interested in a ball or hanging out with the Hubster than loving up on Sadie, no matter how closely she shadowed him all weekend long. 

Even though watching Koda was not without its trying moments (thanks, Maggie), he is a doll to be around and I value the experience my dogs gain, specifically Maggie who needs to learn how to peacefully co-exist with dogs she's not overly fond of.  I was happy with how they all did this weekend - Koda was much better this second time around focusing all his attention on the Hubster and letting Maggie have me to herself and towards the end of the weekend, I saw some definite communication between the two that seemed to be geared towards acceptance.  They may never be the best of friends but eventually, Koda will be able to hang out and Maggie will be able to hang out and I won't have to watch them closely for signs of a pending snark-off.

Have you ever fostered or watched after a dog that your own did not particularly like?  What did you do to make co-existence peaceful?

Maggie's Torment

This is a scene from our backyard.  A scene that plays out identically day after day, in the backyard, in the house, anywhere really.  You see, Hurley loves to torment play with Maggie.  Lucky for him, she's a pretty tolerant big sister.

Laying in wait...

Someone approaches...

The takedown

M-O-M, put down that contraption and help me!

Seriouslys.  He's soooo annoying.

I'll show you buddy!

Oh crap! Now they're ganging up on me.

Thanks, Sadie, but barking isn't helping.