Walking

Sometimes walking with Layla is like walking a barracuda. She does so much better in class, not great, but so much better. In "real" time there are smells, grass, noises, Mick, plants, birds and trees. Surely she should not be expected to just walk. Her plan is to absorb it all, sniff it all, touch it all. Get me off the sidewalk, the good stuff is over there, and there, and there... She walks triple the distance we do.

But, she has a point. Life is not on the sidewalk. It is off road, and in the grass. It is in the puddles, ditches and bare spots. And, oh my, the smelly stinky gross spots too.

I ask her to walk my way. Perhaps, I should learn to walk her way.

Obedience Class

We finished our class and got our first certificate. I'm pretty sure it was a gift to humor us. Rather like when an education system passes the student on to the next grade because they simply don't know what to do with them. Although that is not a gift when that happens.

A brief synopsis. It took us 4 weeks to figure out that cheese cubes are like manna from the heavens for Layla. The 5th week we skipped because we were grieving the loss of Mr. Hanky, and on the 6th week we tested. No treats for testing. We were sorta screwed at that point.

Any hopes for winning the weekly traveling trophy for most improvement were flushed. I swear almost everyone in the class has docile dogs. By the way, the 6 month old Great Dane pup got Top Dog for overall most improved. I think we got robbed.

The first night of class the instructor decided we'd never get a "sit" out of Layla. She said pick your battles. The last night I got multiple "sits" out of her, without treats I might add. Helloo!!! We need a standing ovation for that.

Honestly, without us to make them look so good it would have been a whole different class. Truthfully, Layla has more spirit than all of them combined. Okay, you can call her spirited, or you can call her a wild child. She's young and a pointer. Maybe I just need to find a trainer experienced in pointers. Ya, that's the ticket.

Looking Back

It's been a rough week. In terms of special, I mean really special dogs - Hank was/is up there at the top. Not that we loved him more than the others. He just was especially special. I can talk about him without crying now. I can look at old pictures of him and just laugh.

I miss him bouncing at the front door when we come home. And the urge to grab all three bowls at feeding time is still strong. He left a big 'ol Hanky-sized paw print on my heart.

I wonder if the other dogs miss him. I can't tell that they are grieving, but then, we do have Layla. She should have been named Ms. Mach II. She has all the personality of Mr. Hanky wrapped up in a young pup's body. No off switch, if you catch my drift. And yet, she did pause in her shenanigans to just be still with us. I have to believe it was to soak up the pain and soften the loss.

So we miss our silly Hanky-boy. We give thanks for his time with us, and we look back and laugh. All part of the healing process.

In Heaven

Dear HuMom and other people, including Scary Man, Mick, Layla and all my other friends. In heaven the squirrels are slower. In heaven, I can run all day, sleep all night, and my bowl runneth over with t-bones, with a side of cucumbers.

It's similar to Nebraska. I know this because I experienced gentle hands, good food and the comforts a stray can only dream of. I didn't have to suffer from heat or cold, or pain when my time came.

I had a roast beast sandwich, a romp in the park after the squirrels and a soft quilt to rest upon. I was held safe and loved until my last moment. I was one of the lucky ones.

Every blessing you gave me I returned in devotion. I am dog blessed.

I Would Like To Thank The....

I, Hanky Poo McLovin, would like to thank the staff of the Montgomery County Animal Rescue in Red Oak, IA, and Pointer Rescue Organization for where I am today.

Sure, you're thinking dogs don't do testimonials. Dude, yes they do! Without you, Jan, I wouldn't be living the good life in Nebraska. You carried me into the shelter when I couldn't walk. Your team members showed me, kindness, compassion and where the kibble was. You are a small town rescue with a big heart. I hope you count me as one of your successes.

I want for nothing. Well, except maybe that big t-bone steak in the freezer. Okay, so I only want for that steak, and, umm, the squirrel that talks smack to me in the back yard. Other than that, I have it all. Oh, and the kitty that runs loose in the vet clinic. That is wrong on many levels. I really wanted that. I wanted that with lust in my heart. Not because I wanted a friend either. Of course, I often want the cucumbers to roll off the counter, because they are one of my favorites. They are round, it could happen you know. I want Layla to quit being a pest, but you now the saying about pigs flying. But other than that I have everything a dog could want.

Food, shelter, a king size bed, gentle hands, kisses on the schnozzle. Thanks to you guys I am a dog blessed. So it's okay if I dream about steaks, squirrels, rolling cucumbers and loose kitties. It's all part of the good life you gave me.

Silly Boy's

There is a silly pointer boy named Hank that lives with us. He has several alias'. He is called Hanky, Mr. Hanky, Poo, Mr. Hanky McLovin. He came into rescue as a stray, barely able to walk. We said yes to fostering him. That was about 3 years ago.

He has the thinnest coat I've ever seen on a pointer and a pink hairless belly. Hank has the gnarliest nipples and lumps-n-bumps from mast cell tumors. Some people might question why we'd keep a guy like him. I would challenge them why not? There is an idiot out there who has missed three awesome years with a peach of a pointer.

Of late, his tumor began showing rapid growth, so we know our time with him is limited to month's, if we are lucky. We're taking this opportunity to shower extra loving on a guy who exudes love personified. Yesterday we split a burger and fries at Freddie's SteakBurgers. He wants you to know that if Mom ever offers to share a Freddie Burger one should always, always, always say yes!

Life is short and we plan to savor all the Hanky moments we have left. Cause dogs don't get any better than Hank, and we are blessed to share his journey.

Who's Training Who

I think I'm doing well because Layla is learning to heel, to come (sometimes), to leave it, to wait. I think she's just humoring me. Half the time I'm praising her for these accomplishments, the other half I'm telling her to quit eating from my flower pots, to get off the picnic table, to stop eating my growers pots. Especially the one with the mint I'm growing for Mojito's.

It's been a while since we're done any serious obedience work with my dogs. Hahaha, serious? and Layla? In the same sentence? Not hardly.

Between her attention span, and mine for that matter, it makes it a challenge. With the uncertain background of her first year she requires some extra patience. And then, she is handicapped by my ability to make time, or not make time, for training sessions. I'm certain we are the "most likely to fail" in class. Even the 6 month old Great Dane pup is doing better. And she had to be almost dragged into class the first session.

I suppose any training is better than no training. We're learning as we go, I'm training her, she's training me. It's a teamwork thing.