Dogs, Frogs, and Friends

It's been a busy few weeks in Tyson's world. He went to daycare today to spend some time with his new girlfriend, Sarah. While he was waiting for Sarah to be dropped off, he met another friend, Daphne. Tyson was so exhausted when I picked him up from daycare that he snoozed the entire way home. He then went to sleep as soon as we came inside and he settled on the couch.

Tyson met Sarah a couple of weeks ago when Craig and I went out of town to an Oktoberfest celebration in Helen, Georgia. When we picked him up the following Tuesday, his report card read that he had "enjoyed playing with his good buddy, Sarah." There were pictures to prove the new friendship.

Sarah is a beautiful hound mix; Tyson did well. She also happens to be owned by a delightful co-worker of mine who adopted Sarah when she was a stray. Since Tyson was also adopted, the two of them obviously had a lot in common.

In addition to all of the daycare excitement, it was also Halloween weekend. Tyson enjoyed dressing up as a frog and eating some delicious treats that Grandma bought from the doggie bakery in Williamsburg. But the steady stream of trick or treaters constantly ringing the doorbell was a little more than Tyson could handle. Halloween is fun but Tyson is really looking forward to Thanksgiving - and lots of turkey.

Rainy Days are the True Dog Days

so, I'm definitely not going to be receiving any awards for Most Regular Blogger. But it isn't because I am short on inspiration - just on time.

As Tyson snoozes on the couch this morning, I am reminded of last year at this time. We discovered some tumors on him and had them removed. It was a frustrating process because a dog is incapable of understanding that he must be still in order to heal. So as he moved about in his boxer frenzy, incisions opened and were re-stitched, and they opened, and were stapled... and so the process went on until December.

We have recently found another odd-looking bump. And though we are afraid that the process is going to repeat itself, we are also hopeful that it will be a bit easier this time. But above all, we are grateful to have had all of this time with such a wonderful, sensitive animal. But being the selfish humans that we all are, we will always want more time with our pets! That's just how it goes.

Tyson still seems to be feeling just fine. He is playful and hyper and just plain happy - the way we all should be. Today, on this rainy, cold weekend, he is especially happy to be an inside dog!

2 Milk Bones Per Day

Imagine going 8 years without a dental cleaning. Tyson has. He has never had his teeth cleaned at the vet. Yet, at each check-up (by numerous veterinarians) we have been told, "His teeth look great. Did you just have them cleaned?" Although we have never paid for a dental cleaning, we have participated in a regular hygiene program. Tyson's teeth are cleaned twice daily - courtesy of Milk Bone biscuits for large breed dogs. He also flosses in the evenings - by chewing rope toys and destroying various furry creatures.

This has worked for us so far and he has received many compliments about his oral health. Tyson's teeth are pearly white and his breath is fine - according to doggy standards.

***This is a personal account and is not intended to replace medical advice. If your dog's teeth are loose, broken, or discolored or if he/she has extremely bad breath, see your vet as soon as possible. Also note, small breeds typically experience dental issues earlier in life than large breeds.

Clown Dogs

I have read that boxers are the "clowns" of the canine world. But since I don't know many other members of this breed, I have been unable to generalize. Boxer fanciers brag that one of the breed's best qualities is their innate desire to make their owners laugh. Tyson does just this - on a daily basis.

When Tyson is excited, he will spin himself around in circles, sometimes completing 7 or 8 360's before he tires out. He has been known to sprint through the house at break-neck speeds as though he has some sort of apparition on his heels. He also enjoys jumping up and wrapping his front paws around Craig's legs for no reason. On other occasions, he will jump off the couch, run to his toy basket, pick something out, and entice us to play with him. And, he will not give up until we give in. Like a clown, Tyson's main duty in life is to make us laugh. The harder we laugh, the harder he plays.

Since Craig and I are relatively new dog owners, we thought all dogs behaved in this manner. But a year ago, we had the opportunity to dog sit Cherokee, a beautiful Shepherd-Malamute mix. Cherokee was extremely well-behaved, loving, and affectionate. But he did not display all of the qualities that we were used to seeing in Tyson. In fact, Cherokee seemed a bit puzzled by Tyson's behavior. He watched Tyson with confusion and a bit of concern. His expression seemed to say, "What are you?" and "Have you been tested for DADHD"? (Doggie ADHD)

This picture captures one of the moments when Cherokee was puzzled with Tyson's behavior. Cherokee is a gorgeous, gentle animal and I love his refined, serious demeanor. But I also love Tyson's silliness. After a long, hard day, nothing cheers me up faster than my clown dog.

Supermodel Tyson

I'm guilty. I have been known (on occasion) to dress up my dog and pose him - all for the sake of a funny photo. Tyson has been a frog and has worn a Santa suit as well as hoodies, sweaters, and a few bandannas.

Each time I lift one of his furry long legs to stuff it in a little sleeve, he looks at me with the same exasperated expression: "Seriously? Do you really think this looks good?" I laugh and take his picture and he waits for me to take off the dreadful costume.

Silly me, there's no need to pose a dog like Tyson. He is more than capable of setting up his own photo shoot.

Just the other evening, Craig and I dropped everything when we noticed that he was lying in such a cute position on the couch - practically hugging his pillow. "Get the camera! Quick!" I said.

But we could only find our cell phone on short notice.

The next time I want a cute pic of Tyson, I will be more patient. He poses when he is ready - and he knows when he is looking his best!

Old Dog Smell

Before there was Tyson, there was another dog in my life. Waylon, my Granny and Granddad's hound, was the first dog I ever knew and loved.

Waylon was an outside dog. He preferred to spend his time chasing rabbits and killing small rodents which he would then drop on Granny's front porch like a treasured prize. But every now and then, he made an appearance inside the house, learning quickly that he would soon be coaxed back out with a cookie.

Wayla Boy was our Sunday afternoon companion. He followed David, Amanda, and me on our afternoon adventures. He went with us into the woods and down the hill. He watched us make mud pies and play in the leaves. We loved Waylon and he returned the affection - in his own way.

But no one loved Waylon more than my grandfather, Ralph Evans Seeley, did.

Last year, I sold my story, "Old Dog Smell" to A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II. Buy a copy today and read the whole story of Waylon, Granny, and Granddad.

Cup of Comfort books are published by Adams Media and are available at all major bookstores and online at http://www.cupofcomfort.com/.

Hot Dog

One of Tyson's favorite habits is lying in the sun. In the early morning hours, he will catch the sun's rays from the back of the sofa and then follow them around the living room throughout the day. He will relocate from the sofa to the love seat and then over in front of the sliding glass door.

But today, with the heat index, it was in the upper 90's. Why would a creature already permanently stuck in a brown fur coat want to subject himself to additional heat??

Maybe he thought he was low on vitamins.

He found a new spot to relax. After fixing lunch, I noticed he wasn't on the couch or by the glass door. Then, I saw his legs poking out from under the kitchen table. He was still getting his sunlight alright. But he was compensating for the heat by lying on top of the AC vent.

Silly boy...

Stormy Stormy Night

I was sure it would be a long night at the first glimpse of lightning and rumble of thunder. Tyson cannot handle thunderstorms. He pants and paces and whines and pants and paces. It's so pitiful and there is nothing I can do to calm him down. He shakes and shudders and looks for a place to hide.

But thank goodness, Craig was actually home during this storm. And just when I was worried that Tyson would go into a catatonic state, he climbed onto the couch beside his daddy.

Interesting. Tyson is not afraid when Craig is home. But he is terrified when I am here by myself.

Does he think that I am not capable of holding down the fort? Does he sense that I am nervous when I am alone in a bad storm and then reacts to my emotions?

Maybe I'll try to remain calm the next time it storms and see how he behaves then. That's a great idea. Anyone have a Valium??

Dogs = Toddlers in fur coats

I read an online article the other day about dog intelligence. It compared the "smarts" of a canine to that of a two-year-old human. Apparently dogs can experience: joy, frustration, sadness, anger, and jealousy. All of these emotions are also felt by toddlers. But the one they CANNOT experience is guilt. The sense of guilt typically does not develop until a child is around the age of four. This makes a lot of sense.

Joy - the nubby-tail-wagging, side-to-side wriggling that Tyson experiences each time one of his favorite people comes home. This same emotion is observed at the mention of Milk Bones, Ride, or Walk.

Frustration - the expression on Tyson's face when a favorite toy becomes stuck under the entertainment center. He will try to scoop it out with his paw but sometimes he just can't reach it.

Sadness - this is demonstrated when we tell him, "Get in your house, buddy." He then walks up the stairs very slowly with his head held down as though he is walking to an electric chair.

Anger - This one doesn't happen too often but anger does appear when we accidentally mention one of his favorite words or a word that rhymes with one he knows. He experiences moments of glee followed by a major let down when he realizes we are not going for a ride. Daddy just said, "Nice Ride." Or, Mommy said she wanted something from "Tasty Treat." Very upsetting, I'm sure.

Jealousy - This occurs each time I pet another creature and then have the audacity to return home to my own dog. Tyson sniffs my legs and hands and circles around me numerous times. Then, he stops and looks at me like, "Cheater. You cheated on me. You took a vow that I would be your only dog..."

And Finally...

GUILT - What is guilt? I have not seen signs of guilty feelings in my six years as a dog owner. There was no remorse for the hundreds of dollars Tyson cost us when he pulled down and chewed up every vertical blind in our home.

And on a more frequent basis, there is no guilt associated with going through the trash and pulling out tissues and other items whenever I am on the phone too long for his liking. When I call him on that, he puts his nose in the air, walks out of the room, and hops onto the couch. Meanwhile, playing in his head are the lyrics to Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me." Zero guilt.

For the most part, the article I read was right on target. I like to think of Tyson as being a bit smarter but all signs point to Toddler.

Tyson is a toddler in a brown, fur coat.

Too Smart to Play

I visited my cousin the other day and spent the first few minutes observing her dog, Lola, as she chased a red beam from one side of the house to the other. Lola's paws slid beneath her on the hardwood floors and she scurried from one room to the next, desperate to catch and trap the light beam.

I thought it was hilarious and that it might be fun for my dog.

Remembering that I had confiscated a laser from a former student, I brought it home from work yesterday. I shined the light on the carpet. Tyson looked at it curiously and slapped it with his left paw. I shined it again. Tyson looked at the light and then at my hand. He ran over to me and licked my hand - the hand that was holding the laser. His expression was of utter disgust and he looked at me as if to say, "Did you really think I would fall for that? I am not one to be tricked."

Tyson trotted over to the couch, truly frustrated with my attempt at playing. He closed his eyes and napped. I put away the laser. Maybe Lola will want it when hers wears out.

Perhaps games of this nature are somewhat beneath Tyson. After all, he is a SMART dog.