Stanley, Standard Poodle Extraordinaire

I want to write kids' books about Stanley. 

Stanley knows how to strike a pose

Sit, Stanley! Good boy!

Seriously, I can't recall a visit with Stanley where I don't laugh at least once. He is loaded with Caninality! Clifford & Lassie have nothin' on Stanley!

Last summer, I wrote a quick little entry about Stanley and the Tulips. It was adorable watching this young Standard Poodle delicately sniff the tulips! At that time, I didn't think he could get more adorable than that.

Time for my BELLY RUB

Boy, was I wrong!

We've developed a routine. When I arrive for a visit, Stanley will roll onto his back for belly rubs. He LOVES belly rubs! As long as I pet his tummy for a bit, he lets me put his harness on then he'll jump up ready to walk as soon as I stand.

If it's a windy day out, I better ready myself for an energetic walk. Stanley LOVES to chase! He chases blowing leaves like a knight pursuing dragons. But instead of a sword, he has teeth and that dead leaf will get chomped. He doesn't eat them, he just chews them... until they're soggy and can't blow away. Then he pursues the other leaves that dare to float near him. He will chase birds and butterflies too, but hasn't quite figured out how to fly. Not just yet, anyway.

Stanley as Groucho Marx

Today,  while we were playing in his backyard, I noticed the tree behind his fence was flowering. The wind picked up and suddenly Stanley was surrounded by a million petals. He turned into a whirling dervish with teeth trying to catch them all!

Stanley is also a fan of sticks. He likes to play fetch with them and catch them and he'll even hold them in his mouth like a cigar.  But what he loves best is when we play "Toro, Toro!" I hold the stick out and shout, "Toro, Toro!" and he runs and jumps as I dance the stick away until he manages to grab it from me. He's a smarty and a quick study so he usually gets it.

It's always difficult to leave Stanley 'cause when I pet him goodbye and give him more belly rubs, he gives me nuzzles and kisses.

Adventures in Dog/House Sitting

Zinc - Boston Terrier

As I went to take Zinc, the Boston Terrier, out to pee (which I do every 2 hours because he has health issues and the meds his own makes him thirsty & pee a lot) I see a Chocolate Lab wandering around in the front yard. Zinc sees him too and, while he's pretty mild mannered about other dogs, he's getting a bit riled up by this guy in his front yard. As friendly as that dog seems through a glass door, I don't know how he'll react to Zinc or vice versa. I can't take that chance.

"Sorry Zinc. I'm gonna have to take care of this before we head out." I rub his head and hope it doesn't take too long since I can tell that Zinc really has to go.

I head back inside, grab my spare leash and hope the dog's still nearby or has gone back home. I open the door and he's standing right there on the porch, wagging at me. He doesn't have a collar on, but I easily lasso him as he's super friendly.

Fortunately, it's a beautiful day so people are out on their lawns and, because the dog has gotten out before, they know which direction the dog came from. About a block away, a nice woman points to the house across the street where there are a bunch of kids in the yard and the gate is standing open.

"He gets out all the time. Make sure to talk to a parent." She advises. I smile and nod. My plan exactly.

The kids get their dad who is grateful & scolds the kids for leaving the gate open. He says the dog is an escape artist. I mention collar and tags which he brushes aside. I say something about him possibly getting hit as and he tells me that  the dog got hit by a car two years ago.

"You'd think he would've learned."

He shakes my hand and takes his dog back inside as the kids are chattering away.

There are things I want to say... But he's gone and I need to get back to Zinc.