Birthday: January 28th 2009 Likes: TREATS! given by her daddy and mommy. Her sisters. Tearing up white paper. Pet-Peeves: Cats that refuse to be dog toys. Favorite Toy: Stuffed raccoon with a squeaker in the long tail. Favorite Food: She's a real Memphian--she ADORES bites of barbecued pork ribs! Favorite Walk: Riverwalk that runs next to the Mississippi River. Best Tricks: Taking toys away from her sister. Arrival Story: Brownie appeared in our yard, and took up residence under a rose bush. (Just days earlier I asked the Universe not to send any stray kittens my way this year. The Universe has a sense of humor.) When my husband left for Iraq, his parting words to me were not, "I love you.", or "I'll miss you.". As we parted at the airport he kissed me and said, "Please, nothing with fur comes into the house while I'm gone." Okay.
Well, two years later he came home for good. We had discussed adopting a companion for our older girl, Ginger. She loves baby-dogs, and had had some tumors removed. So, on Valentine's Day, we adopted Louise from a rescue, and Ginger became rejuvenated.
When Brownie Maeve showed up a few months later, we searched for her human in the neighborhood--no one we spoke to had any information about her. Hubby said, "Don't feed her. Don't talk to her." That evening I heard the rustle of the puppy chow bag in the kitchen. "I've fed Louise." I informed him. "If she's sleeping under our rose bush, I can't let her be hungry and thirsty." was his reply. Okay.
I received a phone call from my husband while I was at work the next day. He said, "She's rubbing noses with our girls through the fence. If she's going to be around until she finds a home, I'd better have her health checked by the vet--to protect our girls from catching anything. "Okay." I said.
When I got home, there were three happy romping hounds in the back yard. Hubby said, "She's healthy. In case she still hasn't found a home, I made an appointment to have her spayed in three weeks. I didn't say anything--just smiled.
The next day he came home from work with a new crate and a fifty pound bag of puppy chow. "Well, until she finds a home, I don't want anything to happen to her. So, it's best that she come in the house. I turned and gazed into my husband's eyes--my husband who was committed to keeping our fur-kid count to two pups and four kitties (all rescues). "Who are you kidding?" I said softly, "She's found her home."
It is as if a niche has been waiting just for her. From the moment Brownie Maeve and my husband laid eyes on one another, that magical understanding of belonging blossomed. She completes the pack. Okay. Smile. Forums Motto: Harumph! The Groups I'm In: !!!! SQUIRRELS! (And other small animals we all love to chase), ♥Mixed Breeds Rule!♥, Memphis Gentlemen and Belles, See you at Shelby Farms (dog park, Tennessee Dogz and Catz The Last Forum I Posted In: corn not bad?
Agility is fun! I get to run up and down big ramps and swoosh through a tunnel and run fast-fast-fast . It's kinda' like doing zoomies around the room while listening to Mommy tell me where to zoom. I'm not afraid of the bridge thing, and I "get" the basic idea of weave poles. The only thing I didn't like was the "table". I have to get on it and down or stay for five seconds. It's so hard to be still while I'm itching to run around the room and play on the apparatus!
Mommy is so proud of me! She thought that I would like Agility, but I LOVE it! The man who is a national agility judge said I'm a good girl and scritched my ears. Then he stood at one end of the bridge with PUPERONI, while Mommy stood at the other end. All I had to do was run back and forth while staying on the wooden part and hit my marks and there'd be a piece of puperoni waiting for me.
I got so tired in an hour--still I didn't want to stop! Mommy put me in a crate so she could watch the next more advanced class. We did OpFam--object familiarity--she wanted to watch Novice. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I just couldn't. I fell asleep right there in the crate! It was a power nap, though. When we got home later, I was ready to romp in the yard with Louise. I can't wait for next week!
Mommy is finally feeling much better after her surgery, and we've returned to our Rally classes. I missed them so much when we didn't go! This last class Mommy shared some 'citing news.
Next week I'm going to take the test to begin Agility! Whoo-hoo--I love running through the tunnels and through the weave poles on Doggy Game Nights! If I listen to Mommy's words and follow directions I'll get to do these things and more--every week! Am I a lucky girl or what?
I will still go to Advanced Rally, and another class that will refine and upgrade Mommy and my obedience skills. Louise is finally going to try Novice Rally. It has taken her a year of Basic Obedience to overcome her fears, gain confidence, and feel more comfortable inside her own skin. We are very, very proud of her!
Recently Mommy took me on a six mile walk/training at a wooded recreation area--what a fun time! The path took us near lakes with ducks on them, past people with strollers or on bicycles, past other leashed dogs, and even near a herd of bison! I was a well mannered girl the entire time! We saw many, many other dogs pulling on their leashes, lunging at people and dogs, and not listening to their pawrents.
Lots of people remarked on how well behaved I am, and also what a good looking dog I am! I think having good social manners enhances one's natural beauty. Mommy is going to start carrying cards with our obedience club information on them. She believes that everyone can have their peeps trained in effective pawrenting if they are willing to be consistent, work hard, and stick with the program! I believe that I am one of the luckiest girls in the world!
We have lots of celebrating going on in our house this morning. First, Mommy got a phone call, telling her to look outside. It's snowing--big, beautiful fluffy white flakes coming down like crazy! Mommy gets to stay home another day, and we went outside to play before the sun is even up!
While we were eating breakfast, Mommy jumped on the 'puter and got really excited. I am a Diary Pick of the Day! I just knew that posting my rules of comfort was a good idea! Well, there ensued a lot of hugging and dancing, and Louise was doing a full body wag! She got so excited she even did one of her little red wolf howls! I'm really happy too--I like my diary 'cause I always have things to share!
What a special day! Fluffy SNOW and DPD--I am such a lucky girl!
