You’ve heard of Portuguese Water Dogs, but have you ever heard of Syracuse Water Dogs? I have two that mascarade as a german shepherd and miniature dachsund.
I don’t know if it’s an old wive’s tale, but when I was a child I heard the best way to break up a dog fight was to throw a bucket of water on it. Now that I’m an old wife I’ve learned this theory was flawed, at least in my yard. My dogs go toward the water, not away from it.
It’s a challenge to water the flowers or fill the birdfeeder because Eika and Otto think the hose is something exclusively for them. They both know the word “hose” because if I say it, they bolt to the spigot off the patio like I go to J. Crew online when there’s free shipping.
Eika started the whole thing and Otto the three pound dog who came to this family two years later, initially had no idea why he was attacking the water, but since he copied everything Eika did, he did this too and now he’s hooked.
Eika is alpha, which is to say she is a hog of everything, and Otto stands back and takes what is leftover in all things; food, my attention, water from the hose.
So sit back, check out these photos and tell me my dogs are not completely out of their frickin’ minds.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Aren’t animals wonderful? They provide us with unconditional love, comfort and many hours of chuckles!
Ah geez, I love a good dog picture! They look like they’re having the time of their life. Your wiener dog Otto looks like he’s singing in the third picture!
I have two dogs and when I take them to the lake they absolutely love it. However when I bring the hose out, connected to warm water mind you, to give them a bath you’d think I was trying to set them on fire.
I can’t imagine a world without dogs, one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind.
Yes Cherie, they are wonderful, and for all that comfort and hours of chuckles we spend more on their health care than our own and we pick up poop.
Thanks, maureen
So well put Kelly, especially the part about lighting them on fire. Cracks me up. You should write a blog! Thanks for sharing. Maureen
Thanks for the compliment but I don’t nearly have a way with words like you do. I love your stories. And the pictures too. The downtown apartment is delightful. Did you ever hear back from the guy in Arizona?
I could probably fill up a few pages with the nuttyness my dogs bring into my life. I’m sure you have plenty of stories too! I’m watching Old Clarence as I type sleeping off the hard day he put in waiting for his arch nemesis Jason the Mailman. Oh well, he did his job for the day I suppose I should let him get his 40 winks in!
LOVE this entry; the photos, especially, put a huge smile on my face
Both your comments & Kelly’s had me literally giggling out loud – thank you!
I have a furry child (9.5 y/o English Bulldog) & a human child (2.5 y/o of the male variety). I’m thrilled to say that the human child inherited my love for & adoration of animals, especially dogs. Seeing him gleefully play with a furry friend is a true delight.
I concur on the health care costs. I was just thinking that the furry child is due for his annual vet visit and that this is much higher on my list of things to do than are my own dental & vision appointments. Guess I should give him a B-A-T-H before I take him to the vet, huh? My pup is with yours, Kelly – goes into hiding upon hearing that word, forget seeing the hose.
While we’re on the topic, a few of my favorite quotes…
“Dogs are miracles with paws.” — Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy
“The more I see of man, the more I like dogs.” — Mme. de Stael
“The average dog is nicer than the average person.” — Andy Rooney
“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you they, they will be there long before any of us.” — Robert Louis Stevenson
“A dog is not ‘almost human’ and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such.” — John Holmes
Hi Kelly,
Yes! What is it about mailmen?? My mailman stopped delivering to the house for fear of the german shepherd behind the door!! I have a mailbox at the end of my driveway in the city!
You’re sweet to inquire about the Arizona guy. He just called today to say he didn’t need the place, the same day another man inquired. We’ll see. I think there’s a part of Tom that doesn’t want to let the place go for awhile. I think he wants more evenings of sunsets and wine and friends in the place. Sweet dreams to Clarence for a job well done defending your place from the mailman. So funny. Maureen
Cathy, you’re lucky to have given birth to an animal lover. My daughter didn’t get that DNA strain, but she is very maternal with kids, so she’ll be fine. Good luck to you and Kelly with the bath.
M.
I love these! My faves are Stevenson’s and Holmes’. Thank you!
Those quotes are genius! I’m having a picture enlarged of me, Penny and Clarence and would love to have the quote from Holmes added to the bottom. I’ll have to Google a little bit to see if I can find a company that can do that. Cathy, I’ll bet that English Bulldog keeps you busy! Don’t you have to wipe their face all the time?
Eika looks like the happiest dog on the planet in that first picture. And Maureen, you had to put your mailbox at the end of the street?! Oh my, your mailman is a big wuss. Poor Jason the Mailman – that’s what I always call him – had to deal with Old Clarence one day when the door opened by accident. Clarence stood on the top step not really knowing what to do once he actually had the chance to get at his sworn enemy for life. Jason the Mailman gave him a biscuit and all was right with the world. I guess that was Old Clarence’s kryptonite!
And my other pup Poor Penny, she has Horner’s Syndrome where her eyeball has sunken into the socket a little bit. And she has such beautiful brown eyes too. Now she looks like a combination of the happy clown/sad clown face with the smiling eye on one side and the sad, droopy eye on the other. She’s figured out though when she sidles up next to me and gives me the sad clown eye she gets a biscuit. See, I’m just the figure head in this whole operation I’ve got going on here on the Northside with me and the two pups. Clarence and Penny taught me that a long time ago!
Oh, and I forgot to add that I’m glad you have another prospect on the apartment but sad that you and Tom may soon be losing your hideaway.
Hi Maureen-
As long as we’re doing quotes, Mark Twain had a bunch on dogs…I like this one.
“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”
Those two are a scream!
Don
Don, we’ll add your quote to the mix. It’s another great one. Good stuff here. Maureen
Glad that you & Kelly enjoyed the quotes. A few more below; I promise – they’re the last
The first two are very simple & have been well used, but for good reason. The last one is lengthy, more of a short poem, but I’ve always enjoyed it.
“Happiness is a warm puppy.” — Charles M. Schulz (of Peanuts fame)
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” — Roger Caras
“I talk to him when I’m lonesome like; and I’m sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that.” — W. Dayton Wedgefarth.
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Kelly, yes, Higgins my 9.5 y/o furry, wrinkly English Bulldog baby does need some extra skin care. The first couple of years with him we did the trial & error thing with his food, due to skin allergies, leading to scratching, leading to infections, but once we found something that worked, he’s been pretty darn good for a “bully”. Prescription food we can only get at the vet – expensive & not convenient, but what I won’t do for the ol’ boy.
Human child & I were at the park the other day (Higgs stayed home to catch up on his beauty sleep), and I met someone with a bulldog puppy – SO cute – a ball of fur & wrinkles. I asked how old her little one was, and told her we had one of our own at home. She asked Higgins’ age, and when I said “nine,” she replied in astonishment “YEARS?!?” Nine is old for a bully. He’s doing great, and I hope he beats the odds, but 8-10 is the average lifespan for these guys. Hard to imagine daily life without him.
Thank you again, Maureen, for sharing this post. Nothing like talking about the love of dogs to bring people together! Wish I could find the quote about never trusting people who don’t like dogs, haha! Good days to all!
I love that you all write to each other! Keep it coming. Great tales. Maureen
Cathy – that poem is great. I’ve never read it before and it’s definitely a keeper.
I did not know that Bull dogs had such a short life span. Personally I think with the quality of food and life that dogs like ours have certainly keeps them young and healthy and contributes to a long, deserved life. I’ve always fed Clarence and Penny organic/holistic food and they are both 11 1/2 years old now. Also I hear you about the skin allergies. Penny had them for years, I had to give her daily antibiotics until I finally found a food that she is not allergic to! And for the first time in her life she’s not itchy and doesn’t break out in rashes and no more pills. Poor girl ends up with Horner’s though which I’m hoping is idiopathic and will clear up in about 6 months. Will get the results later this week.
Penny is a black lab mix and Clarence is a Catahoula, both SPCA dogs. God bless the people that work there, I don’t know how they do it and stay sane.
Thanks Maureen for the great blog!
And Higgins – What a great name!
Kelly, you are most welcome and thanks for commenting as you do. It keeps me writing! You’ve got great stuff. Maureen