10 posts tagged “dog”
This is a post all about how much I love my dog.
We have had Eva for six months now, give or take. Even in that small amount of time, she's changed a lot, and so have we.
The most obvious change with her is that she's bigger. We knew that while the dachshund in her would keep her stumpy, she would still be bulkier due to the shepherd; but compared side by side with other dachies, she's a bit of a giant and it's strange to see. She's doubled in weight since we got her, and is clearly big enough for her paws now.
Her personality has also been refined a little. Not changed - she was always really well behaved - but due to us being yuppie scum and taking her to doggy daycare, she's very well adjusted and great around adults, children and dogs alike. When a dog is approaching on the street, she will lay down to either let them pass or make the first move. People think we trained her to do that, ha!
Jess has trained her to do tricks, though. She has the basic repertoire - sit, lay down, shake paws, go in a circle, go under your legs - but somehow Jess has her responding to silent gestures as well as verbal commands. I put it all down to food: she also knows which way to drag me to get treats from local dog-friendly businesses. Sneaky.
Her only real issue is that playing with great danes and labradors all day has made her a little rough with smaller dogs. Toilet accidents are few and far between, we weened her off of gnawing things she shouldn't by buying her own toys, and she almost never barks. We definitely lucked out.
We've also changed. At first, every slight sniffle or irregularity with her toilet habits would make me panic (you're welcome for that money, local veterinary clinic), but you soon get used to it and work out what's causing things. We've had to stop feeding her lamb-based food, and know to keep her away from grass. Other than that, we tweaked our schedule to include her toilet and meal needs, and all is dandy.
It annoys Jess, but a pleasant side effect for me is that all of my jeans are now loose, I've effectively gone down a size and a half. I get up around 6.30am to take her out for her first toilet break of the day, bring her in so I can get ready for work, then walk her for 20-30 minutes to day care every morning. At night, when it's my turn to take her out, we usually walk a bit longer so she can get all of her sniffing out of the way. I've never been the type for exercise, so this was a covert way to get me off of my backside.
Dogs have other strange side effects. I've met more people as a result of Eva than I would have ever met of my own accord. Even if I don't know them by name, I'm on friendly terms with a lot of people around our neighbourhood and can at least name their dogs (because dog people all have ninja memories for dog names). It's amazing how many you notice when you have one of your own.
I would recommend dog ownership to anyone, and if you're considering a new pet, I strongly recommend you find a local shelter or rescue centre rather than funding puppy mills. The American Humane Society has some great advice for would-be dog owners, and can even help you find a place near you.
Share your favorite winter photograph.
Because Eva's in it. <3
29 is the atomic number of copper. 29 is also the age I have been since Saturday.
Eva got spayed on Thursday last week, so I took Friday off to stay home and care for her. We spent all day playing Street Fighter IV (yes, she played... maybe), cuddling and napping. It was great. Other than the scar on her stomach, which they sealed with surgical glue rather than stitches, she was in great shape from day one. Her behaviour hadn't changed a bit - she wasn't feeling sorry for herself or moping, she was just as happy and excitable as ever. This cheered me up, because I had read a ton of spaying horror stories before we took her in.
I had a great, but quiet, birthday. On top of all the cards and messages from friends and family, I was spoiled and received...
- Lots of money to spend on nice things
- Saints Row 2: Collector's Edition for Xbox 360 (it's the game, a USB stick shaped like a bullet, a money clip, a poster and an art book in an embossed tin)
- New jeans
- An awesome t-shirt: www.isteamphone.com
I felt very spoiled and very loved. Today, I came into work to find chocolate from my friends Jason and Brad, too.
Jess was very good to me. On top of my presents, I got a tasty breakfast in bed (biscuits and gravy) and she suffered Indian food with me that night. The place we went to was shockingly good, I would say the best Indian I have had in the US so far.
This week, I'm back to work. Rather than sending her to daycare, where she might over-exert herself and mess with her scar, Eva is staying with her aunty Lindsay every day. This kills two birds with one stone - Eva gets one on one care, Lindsay gets all the puppy kisses she wants. WIN!
You see a dog wearing this coat.
You think...
a) Girl
b) Boy
If you answered b), you have something wrong with your face. Or you're colourblind.
Show us an ugly animal.
No. I only like cute animals. Like my baby, Eva.
Oh, yes, we adopted her in the end! She has been with us exactly one week, and in that time we have managed to get her walking on a leash, going to the bathroom outside, sleeping when we sleep, playing nicely with other dogs (she goes to doggy daycare, which is a god send), and have totally fallen head over heels with her.
Her name was inspired by WALL-E and not Longoria-Parker or Mendes.
Show us why you're excited for this weekend.
We're really hoping we're successful in our attempt to adopt this little sweetheart:
If we are, she moves in tonight. That's why I'm excited.
As gloomy as she seems to be about aging another year, it would be very remiss of me not to wish Jess a very, very happy birthday!
Just don't get as wasted as this guy...
Which breed of dog is your favorite? Post a picture of it.
Submitted by Melissa.
I've always preferred smaller dogs. Over the past few years, pugs have been the most appealing with their cute little squished-up faces, but I am also a huge fan of King Charles spaniels, French bulldogs, beagles and the like.
Jess sold me on the idea of Pembrokeshire corgis, too. The Queen's corgis might be vicious little bastards, but they're sweet.
In 1619, when the first English settlers arrived in what is now Virginia, they decided that the day of their landing would be a day for giving thanks to God. Unfortunately, none of them could spell, so the line in their settlement's charter read:
"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god."
A whole bunch of these folks were killed by natives a few years later, so perhaps they spoke too soon. Or maybe God is just really anal about spelling and grammar.
Further up the east coast a couple of years later, the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock and decided on their own Thanksgiving - right after their first harvest. These folks were seemingly smarter than the first lot as they were quite chummy with the Native Americans.
President Washington gave the event a more official status over a hundred years later, and since then Americans have used it as an excuse to stuff all kinds of foods into their faces. From the tasty (turkey, mashed potatoes, turnips) to the yucky-sounding (cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie).
Tomorrow is the first Thanksgiving I will spend on American soil, and I look forward to ingesting 5,000 calories, setting off some fireworks and complaining about immigrants/how the Chinese make all of our cheap shit/gas prices like a real American. I'm spending it with three Js, two cats and a dog.
If you're celebrating tomorrow, have a fantastic day, y'all!
ME THREE!
Jess came home on Wednesday. We both got paid on Thursday. On Friday, we decided to go out for dinner and a movie.
We went to a new restaurant just over the road from where we live called Forno Diablo. It was great - we both had tasty chicken-based dishes, mine washed down with a Martini, Jess' with a beer. Then we went to see the brilliant No Country For Old Men starring Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones. I won't spoil it but it was a good man-film (I don't think Jess was overly fond of it).
Yesterday morning, we woke up at Dawn's crack, collected a rental car from up the road then went to IKEA. We had an awful lot to get - a new desk chair as our current one was dying, a new dresser for Jess (we had bought two matching ones but Jess' broke while being put together), some kitchenware and decorations for Christmas.
From there, we went over to see Josie and Buster at Josie and Josh's place - we hadn't seen it before, and we hadn't seen Buster since he got his cast off. He is one crazy little pup, but ever so cute... even when he was biting/trying to hump my feet.
We then drove to see Josh at work and do some shopping at Target. We got a Christmas tree, various Christmas-y things, Jess got a dress and I got Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action for the Xbox 360. With it being holiday season, I thought a four player film trivia game would be fun. Jess and I road tested it last night and it was enjoyable.
When Josh finished work, the four of us went for food at Chilis, dropped Josie off at work then Jess and I headed back to the city. It was a long old journey as traffic was horrible. After unloading the car and taking it back to the rental place, we had a quiet night of video games and wine.
Today was just as busy. We took the car keys back to the rental place, grabbed breakfast then came home where Jess did laundry while I put together the desk chair and dresser - Jess helping when I put together the drawers as you need two pairs of hands. We dumped Jess' old dresser downstairs, brought our laundry back up and Jess has been sorting her clothes.
Now we just have to put up the Christmas tree.
And nap. Hell yes do I need a nap.
