November 2009

So far, this month has not bee a good one. I know, I know, it's just started, but I've been thru enough to last the entire month.
Starting off with my youngest son (Roy's dad) had the flu. Mayne, Oh Mayne, are males something else when they are sick. Then, slowly, I had been noticing that Roy was displaying symptoms of the ear infection that we thought we'd gotten rid of, coming back. Not to mention that he's been licking on his tummy until it's raw.
Now, mind you, I was under the impression that we only had one vet in my area. Why? Because I've never heard anyone talk about any other vet. Makes sense for a town that doesn't even have a Red Lobster or IHOP. So it's not like it was out of the question. Oh, there are others in nearby towns, so it would be just like finding a restaurant. The reason I'm telling this is because I DO NOT LIKE THE LOCAL VET. They are not friendly, they don't handle the animals gently enough-tho I have a dog that's a handful-in short, I just don't like them. So it dawned on me since now I get a post card in the mail saying he needs his booster rabies shot, I get out the old phone book and go to looking. Low & behold, there's a doctor across town! Oh Oh, wait! It's the same name as the doctor that heads our local office, that's out of the question. My son reminds me that simply b/c of the location of the other office(the "good" part of town), he'd probably get better care. I'm still not giving them my money, cuz I don't like them. So I kept looking. Finally, YES! There is another vet just twenty minutes from my house! So I made an appoint. From the time they answered the phone, I felt like this was going to be the place where I'd feel comfortable with my dog in their care. She said she'd never seen his breed, but couldn't wait to see him.
When we got there, the vet not only fully explained every little detail, he also drew diagrams on a dry erase board! All while making me feel like I was at nothing more than the family get together, telling jokes, making sure to pet Roy. It really was a wonderful experience.
Now, my poor doggie has to wear a cable channel antennae so he can't scratch or lick himself. Good thing the medicine he gave us for his stomach is working really fast! Roy is tearing my house up with that big thing they got around his head! LOL

Bizzy, bizzy, bizzy!

Hello Everyone.
Today, I'm taking it easy. Why? Yesterday, I had a very busy day. Most any day, I spend my time tending to my Meemaw. Before I picked them, she lead a pretty boring life. She sat home, didn't go out much, and had a bad attitude. Can't rightly blame her, she has Systemic Lupus and is on the transplant list waiting for a kidney.
Now, I can make her smile just by walking in the room. She really gets those gut busting outbursts if I flop one of my long ears over. She just beams. When I first came here, she was one of those that refused to train me on paper or in the kennel, so every, and I do mean every fifteen minutes, she took me out. For the first two weeks, it tired her out so much, she had to sit on the steps and scoot down the stairs. It was hard, b/c she'd have me on her lap. Until I was almost two and half months, I was scared of those dang stairs! There were so many and I was so tiny. But we got it finally, and now, there's nothing I can't conquer!
Well, yesterday, my daddy brought home one of those cold viruses and it had a hold on him big time! He could barely get out the bed. Meemaw thought it was the flu, that's how bad it was.
Getting these two to understand me is nerve wrecking sometimes! I kept opening their bedroom doors so I could keep an eye on them, and they kept closing them! Jeez! It took them half the day to figure out that no matter how many times they closed those doors, I was going to open them back up! LOL
Finally, they let me do my job and watch over them.
Today, my daddy's feeling better, tho that cough scares me. Meemaw said that's natural and I shouldn't worry.

I just don't understand

I really don't understand after having this dog, why more aren't jumping to make sure the world knows about these dogs.
When we got Roy, most people asked if he was a Lab. When they are puppies, they do look similar. No one anywhere near here had ever heard of BMC's. So each time we'd have to explain, we'd just tell them "he's an Old Yeller" dog. One day, a man from Alabama passed by the house, the excitement on his face shown thru a cloudy day. "That's a Black Mouth Cur!", he said in a voice that had to be an octave higher than his norm. Yes! Finally, someone knew what my dog was, for even the vet that we use-I know, I'm trying to find a new one-didn't know that a BMC could be a pure breed. That's another story for another day. *tee hee* He then went on to tell me of how down there, they really are man's best friend and all the wonderful attributes of these dogs. "Get him to some water, they love to swim", I did, and he does. LOL

Wow

Today, I tried to help my Meemaw. Tho she didn't see it that way. LOL
She had decided to plant some plants that she's been rooting as well as change some pots in others. When she got up, I thought she was taking a break. Since she wasn't there, I went over and tried to get the dirt in the pot. Well, let me tell you, that's no easy feat! I think I'm going to leave that to those that have thumbs. *wink*
And trying to hold onto those plants! Wow! I think I'm just going to stick to digging in the yard. Much easier and not as much yelling.

Another collar down!

We have an upstairs porch that Roy just loves to sit out on. He acts as the neighborhood watch dog. He gets up on his perch and watches all the cars, people, and animals go by.
After his walk this morning, Roy went out on the porch since I wasn't feeling well and wanted to go back to bed. I couldn't leave him outside, so the porch is the next best place for him.
He was out there for two hours. When I got up, the first thing I did was go get him. I was just getting back up, so I wasn't paying too much attention. A couple of minutes later, I noticed he didn't have his collar on him. That's when I went looking thru the house for it. When I didn't see it anywhere, I went to the porch, again nothing. I looked at Roy and asked him "where's your collar, boy?" Just like any dutiful child, he went out onto the porch, under the steps and retrieved his collar. Sans the ring that the tags go on. He's gone thru dang near ten collars, including the ones he's grown out of since he's been with us. He just does not like those things on him at all! I've tried both the leather ones and the nylon ones. He chews them all up. I've tried getting the ones that fit just right and this last time, I got one on purpose too big, for maybe I didn't know but they were too tight, afterall, they were on the last notch.
I don't know what to do. He needs to have his collar on so if he does get out, he'll have his tags on him.
Some days, I swear this dog is smarter than me. LOL

Finding loyalty

Each person that is lucky enough to have a dog own them, thinks they have the doggie that is THE dog. May it be THE smartest, bravest, cutest, or even fattest, for sure, each and every one is just that. THE DOG to End all.

When we got our Black Mouth Cur, we had read all we could find. The one thing that stood out was the fact that these dogs are literally loyal to the end. They will do anything to protect their family.

Little did I know that at a mere five months, would I find out just how true that is.
It was November. Roy was barely five months old. We got a blizzard. Not the worst that we've seen, after all, I grew up in Central New York, here in Western New York, it gets bad, but our little crook gets nothing like Buffalo does, I'm used to having to be house bound for at least a week out of every winter. We live in a duplex. So when the snow hits, we take turns with our neighbor to shovel the walk. Well, since it was blizzarding outside, we did this in fifteen minute increments. When it came time for my son to go out, our neighbor went first, all of a sudden out of nowhere, Roy goes head first into the door, trying to literally bite a hole in the solid wood door! I opened the door, thinking all he wanted to do was see his daddy. Oh! Was I wrong! He dang near flew through the glass on the front door! He just would not rest until we let him go outside with his daddy!
Once he got out there, he had to stay by his side. Since we live in the city and he was just a pup, we had to keep him on the leash. That was a sight! My son out there trying to shovel snow, in a blizzard, all while holding the leash. LOL

It was all worth it. After it stopped coming down, I've never seen such a big dog "frolic" before in my life! He just loves jumping up and down in the snow and making dog angels.

Sunday after the park

Try as I might, I just for whatever reason, can not get my meemaw to give in. Today, I came in from my romp outside to the sweet smell of smothered porkchops & gravy. As quickly as I could, I rushed to the stove, nose held high, catching every whiff of that wonderful food that she cooked while I was out.
I tried my best. Not only did I giver her the paw, but even sat up, put both paws on her, and Yes, I even gave her the sad puppy dog eyes! Not even that worked. At least it did get me some mashed potatoes! LOL

They have yet to find out, but secretly at night, I turn the tv on and watch The Doggie Channel to get tips to bring this woman to her knees. One day, I will do it! She's going to cave in, and just when she least expects it.

Have a Wonderful Week!

Why

First, I'd like to Thank Dogster for allowing us a forum to place our most sacred possession.

I'm a Baby Boomer. Tho I'm a "baby" Baby Boomer, born at the tail end. I can still remember the pride of "being an American" and everything that goes with it. I can remember a time when owning a Toyota was considered treason. LOL What gets me, is with our economy the way it is, we are still looking towards every other country for every thing, including dogs. Well, I'm sorry, but I'm an American and I can't think of a more "American" dog than the BMC.
There is also very little on this dog as far as temperament. Oh sure, you find the typical; loyal, friendly, and easy to train. But what about their day to day personalities? You can't find too much, since most are used for hunting and keeping the farm manned.
Our dog was not bought for those reasons. We bought him mainly b/c his breed is considered a healthy breed, having little to no known illnesses such as hip displaysia or breathing problems like a lot of other dogs. Plus, when you think of a good old American dog, what comes to mind? Yep, Old Yeller! And what was he? He was a BMC, the first dog known to help out those that first founded these lands we now call home.

I've been looking for almost a year for information regarding the BMC's daily temperament and so far, can't come up with much. So what does one do? One gets busy and does something about it.

After seeing Marly & Me, I have come to realize that there are just some things about my dog that we will not be able to change, we're just going to have to learn to live with. I've been around dogs all my life and refuse to spend money on trainers. To me, that's like throwing good money after bad. If you can't learn how to be your dog's leader, then you really don't need a dog. Dogs are like children that never grow up. For the duration of that dog's life, you have to care for it just like you would a baby. They will never be able to feed themselves or walk & play with themselves. They are dogs...They need to be led.

I'll be adding more on a daily basis, but I'm hoping that by me putting these things down for all to see, the Black Mouth Cur will become a dog that's more well known than the Toy Poodle. For this dog has really changed a lot about me. He's taught me so much in his little life already. And that's not an easy thing to do.