Life Is Good (really)

This is what I woke up to this morning.  Yeah, the camera on my phone is stupid, but you get the idea.  Suck it, haters!

"I Give Props to Those Who Deserve It" Part 1

Like all working girls with families, I am a busy woman.  Luckily, there are doggie daycares in Omaha that have pretty much saved my life.  I'm also a babe on a budget so when I was looking for a daycare for Lucille last year, I found the most fabulous place.  It's Noah's Bark located at 35th and Center. OMG, I absolutely love this place.  The oweners, Rick and Nancy are absolutely amazing.  I love them!  Of course, when I first started taking my baby to daycare I was a nervous wreck worrying about her.  I'd call a few times a day and they were very understanding and considerate.  Lucille had a blast and I was a devout believer in doggie daycare.  I dropped her off before work and picked her up after and she litterally fell asleep in my lap with her head resting on my arm while we drove home.  She was tuckered out and her crazy puppy energy was gone.  She was mellow and happy.  What's also great about Noah's Bark is that, not only does your dog become apart of the daycare's family, but you do too.  There's a real sense of community there between customers and the owners.  After a long day at the office, stopping by the daycare was a breath of fresh air.  Rick and Nancy are just so nice and they are genuinely good people with wonderful senses of humor.

Another bonus about Noah's Bark is that instead of using overnight kennels when I go on a trip, for a small extra charge they will actually take both of my dogs home with them in the evening.  It is such a relief know that they are safe and warm in the home of people I trust.  They even let my pups sleep in their bed with them!!

Another reason I love Noah's Bark is that, in addition to being great people with a business they enjoy, they genuinely care.  They care about the dogs' owners, but more importantly, they really care about their canine clients.  I'd like to think that Lucille got the royal treatment, but I'm pretty sure Rick and Nancy treat every dog like that (kind of like how my grandma had a way of making all of her grankids think they were her #1).  I get emails from them from time to time checking up on the pups and they really make you and your dog special.

Did I mention that they are super affordable??

Ok, I swear they aren't paying me for this write-up.  I genuinely feel this way and they deserve every kind word they get.  A couple of cool things to note: You know how I was talking about the Noah's Bark community?  The last Friday of each month is Yappy Hour where they invite "moms and dads" to join them after work for food, drinks, and play time with their dogs.  They also do adult outings to wineries and fun things like that.

Their web page is www.inoahsbark.com and they also have a monthly email newsletter that you can sign up for.  Check 'em out!

Road Warriors

I have tried, really, to be a responsible mother and seatbelt my kids in whenever we go for a drive.  However, this has been a disaster.  I tried it three times with three different devices with Lucille when I got her and she would run around in circles until she was all tangeled up and almost choking.  I've tried it three times again with three different devices with Rocky and again, I have failed.  With the first two devices, she simply maneuvered her way out of them (I should have names her David Copperfield) and today, she got all tangled up and started crying on the way from Lincoln to Omaha.  I pulled over to release her and it gtook a lot of work to free her and meanwhile, Lucille snuck out of the car, giving me a panic attack when I couldn't find her in the front seat after I was done with Rocky.  It was straight out of Lifetime Movies when a mom loses her child - screaming, crying, the whole thing.  "LUUUUCCCCIIIIIILLLLEEEE!!!!!"

Finally she skipped up to me and I put her on the car and we were off again.  Rocky was free in the back and she kept lunging to the middle console and try to move to the front.  She's a strong and stubborn girl (like her namesake) and it takes A LOT of strength to push her back.  We almost got into two accidents on the way home today.  So...what is a girl to do??? 

...No shame at all...

...No shame...

I understand the argument, ok! I know that dogs are dogs, not people, and therefore to "some" it is inappropriate to dress dogs up in cute little outfits. I whole heartedly disagree. If this is based on the idea that dogs are animals that are related to their wild counterparts, I don't buy it. I mean, are dogs supposed to eat kibble made with rice and vegetables? Is that what I would find African Wild dogs eating? In the wild do dogs have warm beds and are they crate trained? Most rescues recommend crate training, something that I fully use, but since it's a DOG should I not crate train her? Psssh.

Lucy looks fabulous in clothes and bandanas and she enjoys the attention. During the last presidential campaign, she was a great ambassador for democrats when we showed our presence at Sarah Palin's speaking engagement. Republicans love a well-dressed pug, even when she's wearing an "Obama '08" shirt. It was a good way to start engaging in dialogue. Sure, some may argue that I am taking away my dogs' dignity by dressing them up...those people obviously don't know how flattering pink can be. :p

The Dog Park: Part 1

It is sooooo gross to step in dog poo. Clean up, jerks!! Same goes to my neighbors!! Nasty!

Eh, Rocky! Part 1

So, Rocky is missing a leg.  When she arrived at the Humane Society as a stray, it was severely broken.  After trying to fix it and numb her pain with two pain patches (the vet said she must have been pretty drugged up), she was still in pain and the leg wasn't healing.  She was right around 4 months old, in good (yet, heavily medicated) spirits, so they amputated it.  When I first got her, it had only been two weeks since the surgery and she was still a little wobbly.  I told her that she would have one week where I would pick her up and carry her if she needed it, but that she needed to learn how to get around on her own not only because she will eventually get to be 50-60 pounds, but for her overall well-being, she needed to be a "normal" dog.   

The first day was tough, she was scared of the stairs going up to my apartment, so I carried her the first time.  The second time, Lucille offered additional support by running up the stairs and running back down to encourage Rocky and showing her hoe it's done.  I gave her a few pushes from the rear and she made her way up.  The third time, she stopped at each landing, but she made it up all three flights by herself.  That's how she got the name Rocky.  I like to think of Lucille as the boxing coach from that movie, cheering her on and giving her tough love and incentive to get up those damn stairs.

Now she runs up and down the stairs like a champ, sometimes running up a flight, then down, and back up again.  All the while, I wish I had a boom box blaring "Eye of the Tiger" for her.

Boy Meets Dog

Like I've said, it has been my experience so far that dogs last longer than boyfriends (and are more loyal).  It is essential that the men in my life not only respect my dogs, but cherish them - showering them with love and gifts.  I also expect men to understand that if they sleep over, there will most likely be a lump of fluff between him and myself.  This is the way it goes and if he has a problem with it, PEACE OUT.  This actually has happened.  A "friend" was sleeping over, thinking he was going to get some affection, and when I turned off the lights, Lucy assumed her position on my chest.  The "friend" was rebuffed.  I told him that Lucy comes first and if he can't deal with that, the door is over there.  He left and I haven't heard from him since.  I've also had guys actually put Lucy in her crate when they came over!!!  The nerve!!  Of course, she barked and barked and we all knew it just wasn't going to work out.

Then came Bill.  We went on a date before he met Lucille and I was able to give him a heads-up about Lucille ranking as #1.  The sign of a good guy is that he pays attention.  When he finally met Lucy, he was warm and friendly.  To show him what's up, she climbed on him, letting him know that SHE is the queen of the mountain.  All was going fabulously until she yarfed all over his nicely pressed shirt.  *Sigh*  My ex (the asswipe who bought Lucille) said that it must be a sign that Lucy doesn't like him (like he knew anything about women).  I turned to my mother for advice and she explained that "Lucy must have just been nervous...she's not used to meeting classy men."  I think she was right.

See, Bill gets it.  He immediately went and bought Lucy a crate for when she and I would be in Lincoln and spent quite a bit of time and money picking out a doggie bed that was just right for the princess.  He buys her toys and sneaks her bacon and sausage.  I've even caught him singing to her.

He figured out that the way to my heart is Lucy...or the other way around...

Let's Start at the Beginning

In 2006 I got my first dog - a black lab/pitbull mix from the San Francisco SPCA. His name was Walter and he was a birthday present for my then-live-in boyfriend. I guess you could say that I was a dog owner by default. Although Walter was spontaneously neurotic, he was an awesome introduction to the species. In 2007, the boyfriend bought me my own dog - a pug named Loose Seal aka Lucille aka Lucy. I'd wanted a pug for awhile and she is absolutely the love of my life. One thing I've learned is that boyfriends don't usually last as long as dogs. After the breakup, I took Lucille, the ex took Walter (sad, I know). Although I regret much from that relationship, I am grateful for Lucille, who cheers me up and has a better sense of loyalty then most men.

Two weeks ago brought a new addition to my life. I had this feeling within me that it was time to add to the "family" (Lucille and myself). I'd searched at shelters near Omaha and up to three hours away but nothing hit me in my stomach. Lucille wasn't too impressed either. I'd decided to be a foster mom for a local pug rescue. However, one Saturday, after having brunch with my spiritual guru, I felt the need to swing by the Humane Society. I'd seen a pug mix on their website. I figured it would be like all of the other times - I'd meet the dog in the adoption room and it wouldn't click. There was, though, this brown dog in the first kennel. She was a "lab mix" curled up in a ball sleeping. Her hind leg had been amputated. She was OUT and she wouldn't stir whatsoever when people tried to rouse her. When I met with the adoption counselor, I told her that I was there to see the pug, but I had this weird urge to meet the dog in Kennel 1 if the dog was up for visitors. I waited...and waited...and when the door opened and this brown, black, and white puppy barged in, I fell in love instantly. She ran up to me, sat in my lap on the floor, and began licking my face. THIS was my dog. I knew I needed to bring Lucille over for a meet n' greet and I was so nervous on the drive that my hands were shaking. It is often recommended that you should get a male if you already have an established female. Would this work? Would they get along??? I explained to Lucy on the way there (yes, I talk to my dog out loud) that she would always be #1 and that the decision was completely up to her. They got along perfectly and a day later, I had Lucy and a 5 month old puppy in my home.

That's the history. This is my first blog ever, and I figure that my dogs are one of the most exciting parts of my life. Really, who doesn't loving reading about and talking about dogs?? I decided to start this blog as a way to navigate through this journey with my girls - the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens. I hope to learn from readers and I will pass on all of the wisdom my pups provide me.