Thursday, July 23, 2009

Like Owner, Like Dog

iv is a lot like me...

--She has to look up to most of the others in her species that she meets, but she's not the shortest. Just knows lots and lots of others who are taller than her. I have to look up to a lot of people.

--She has issues with authority. She doesn't really like to be told what to do. Me either.

--Her kennel is a mess of torn up towel. My room is just a mess (no torn up towel...but messy).

--She has an addictive personality (see previous post about the tennis ball). I find it hard to put a good book down. When Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire came out I took it out of the library, and started reading while at school, kept reading when I got home, went to bed and read by the bathroom light shining into my room, then when that light was gone I got out the trusty flashlight and finished reading at 4:30 in the morning. Just in time for a little nap, and then back to school to return the book.

--We both like to go for walks. Long walks. Rain or shine...well IV maybe doesn't like the rain as much...but she'll get used to it...

--We like roadtrips. Roadtrips are great.

--We both usually have to go to the bathroom after we eat. *shrugs*

--We both love all our roommates.

--We both like crackers, red peppers, chicken, etc.

--She never brushes her hair. I don't either (when I actually do something to my hair I use a pick).

--I like shopping, and the one time I took her into PetSmart she was crazy about it...so I think that counts.

--She has to keep her nails a bit short so she doesn't scratch the floors. I have to keep my nails short so I don't collect nasty germs under them at work or scratch patients.

That's all I've got. For now. As the years go by I am sure IV will become more like me...or I'll become more like her...I can promise that I won't pee on the floor though.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

New Obsessions

So, once again it`s been a while....

--IV went camping with Larisa, had a blast, came back with a tick on her, which freaked out Jennie and made Steph squeamish. Larisa removed the tick and all was well.

--IV has a tennis ball. It is the only important thing that exists in the entire world to her. She comes out of her kennel and picks it up. Or looks for it if she can`t find it. She can barely be persuaded to put it down when she`s going out for a walk. She chases, chews, throws, and catches the tennis ball non stop. If she can`t find anyone who will throw it for her, she will throw it herself.

--She has this nasty habit of eating her food so fast and drinking her water so fast then running off to bounce and play that she pukes everywhere. Not so pretty. So, to solve this problem we feed her in little bits at a time, and give her little sips of water at a time.

--She just peed on Kim`s duvet. Again. Like 3 minutes ago. It`s hard to know how to teach her to somehow give us very clear signs when she has to go to the bathroom. Whining at the door would be a good one. Winter will be interesting if we don`t learn to pick up on her signs, since we probably won`t be takin her on as many walks.

--It was rainy for about a week, so she was getting a little cabin fever from being inside all the time. Now the sun is out, and she`s getting a little better.

--And I feel like the tennis ball obsession is worth repeating. Since it`s her whole world.

--I used to think people were a little bit crazy. Whenever they see her they whisper and point and say how cute she is. One person in our neighborhood stops and pets her and goes on about how beautiful she is everytime he sees her! I mean, yeah, she`s cute, but not like *that* cute. But then I went away for a couple days to camp, and when I got back, I saw her, and realized that she really is that* cute. And I`m pretty sure she knows it too.

That's really all I can think of saying right now. She still goes on lots of walks. Likes to play. Is listening a bit better than before, but could still use some obedience classes (I've gotta get on that).

She attended the funeral of a co-pet yesterday to read about that you can click here.

It's hard to believe that we've had her for so long. And yet, not really so long. Time is a strange thing. Even stranger for a dog I suppose. Hmm...I wonder what dogs think of time...do they have any concept of time? They get to know a routine, so they know when to expect their people home, but what are their thoughts on time...does it go slow? Fast? Hmm...I wish she could talk...but I imagine if she could it would be a hundred words a minute, possibly in a different language...one that sounds really fast...like Portuguese or Spanish.

Anyway, this is getting outta control. So i'm gonna go. And hopefully I'll update more frequently so that there won't be more awkward bloggings about Portuguese speaking dogs talking about their concept of time.