Ten Ways You Know You Are A Professional Dog Walker

Itha & Draug - Check this smell out!

1. You know what just about any pup is trying to say to you by observing their body language.



Sandy - Please, pet my belly!

2. You have poop bags and a spare leash (or two... or three...) in almost every pocket most of the time even when you're not working... just in case.
   
   

   

   Phoebe - Let's just chill here for a bit, shall we?

3. Someone says, "bitches, I tell ya, bitches!" and your favorite female pups pop into your head.
   
   

   

   Penny - That was a great walk!

   

   Sophie - I'm being patient... Can we go now?

4. Someone says, "what a dog!" and your favorite male pups pop into your head.
   
   

   

   Stanley - I look great!

   

   HODOR - Throw the ball!!!

   
   

   

   Louie - Look at all the SNOW!
5. The worst thing about winter isn't the cold or the snow, but all the layers you have to wear since throughout your day you'll be removing and adding layers due to slight shifts in the weather.
   
6. The worst thing about summer isn't the heat, but all the sunblock you have to use.
   
7. You KNOW you're going to get dog poop on you at some point this week and it barely fazes you.
   
8. Your facebook feed is full of pictures of OPP - Other People's Pups!
9. You are constantly covered in fur.
   
   

   

   Pennywhistle - Come here so 

   I can lick you!

10. Your face is always clean --- puppy kisses!

A Couple of Pawrific Pals!

Louie & Bentley

I have some amazing clients and Louie and Bentley's parents are among the best. Not only have they given a wonderful home to two dogs of such varying size, a Pug and a Husky,  but the Pug, Bentley, is a special needs dog. Due to spinal problems, Bentley has partial paralysis in his rear legs. He does a good job of scooting around and even getting his legs to cooperate with him at times. But he cannot manage stairs and has to be carried. He sometimes has accidents too, but his parents make it so easy to clean up after him. 

Bentley & his wheels

My visits with these two are always so much fun! We run (or in Bentley's case, shuffle-slide) around the yard playing with toys and sticks. Louie and I also chase each other around the yard being super silly. They live across from a grocery store and Bentley likes to announce himself to everyone coming in and out. People passing by the yard will comment on how cute, good and adorable they are. I couldn't agree more. 

Louie lovin' the snow!

Not too long ago, they got wheels for Bentley. You should see this kid! He's a speedster! He zooms around the yard as if he were born with wheels. His parents say that with his wheels on, he's more like his younger self. He even tries to bully his brother Louie about, chasing him and nipping at his ankles. Fortunately, Louie seems to think it's a game. He jumps around, runs off then runs right back at Bentley play bowing and wagging his tail. Sometimes, when Louie's bouncing back and forth and Bentley's barking, I'm convinced I can hear Louie snickering.

"I got it!"

In the winter, Louie is more in his element. He would love to stay outside frolicking in the snow all day long! Bentley just likes being outside, but I have to remember that he has a much thinner coat and isn't made for a winter wonderland. This is where treats come in handy. I'll get Bentley inside with just mentioning treats. I then take a treat out to Louie and lure him with his nose. If he's being particularly stubborn, I'll put a bit of peanut butter on it and he'll come following right away. 

"Is that treat for me?"

 Yay treats!

Preparing the Kitty for Moving

One of our clients is soon to be moving with their cat. They asked me for advice about what they should do to prepare their kitty for the move and what type of cat carrier I would recommend for a cat who is not fond of travel. So, along with a link to the ASPCA's Car Travel Tips, this is what I suggested.

I would highly recommend a carrier that has a top door and to get one bigger than what the cat needs so there is space to move around. Have the carrier out in the house and open for a few days (weeks if possible) before the move. That way when the day of the trip arrives, the kitty won't run and hide as soon as it comes out. The reason for leaving it open is so that kitty can leisurely investigate it. Put some treats or food in there so there will be a nice yummy surprise which will give the carrier positive association. Also, put comfy blankets or a kitty bed that the kitty already uses in there. That way it smells like the kitty and it is available for a nap which will add more positive association with the carrier. 

During the time the carrier is just sitting out, check it frequently to make sure kitty hasn't left any "presents" in it. If there is pee or poop in it, clean all of the smell out of it. (Most cats won't, this is just a precaution.) 

On the day of the move, the kitty will sense the nervous anxiety that moving often brings with it. Try to stay as calm and upbeat as possible with kitty. If kitty likes to play, I suggest playing with kitty for as long as possible before the kitty goes in the carrier. A tired kitty will always be easier to move. Doing it the day of the move may not be possible, but even a good play session the evening before will be helpful.

So much kitty love!

Kari & Asia enjoying a sunbeam

A few months ago, I had the privilege of helping to care for two  wonderful felines, Kari and Asia. I'd met their mom  through a friend and she contacted me. Miss Kari Cat, a small Bengal, had to have her back right leg surgically removed. The kitties' mama warned me that Asia, Kari's older brother, didn't always like new people. She was nervous about the after care and someone coming in to take care of her furry kids almost as much as she was nervous about the surgery itself. So we set up a meet and greet to see how the kitties reacted to me before the care was needed.

My buddy Asia

Kari, ever the social butterfly, came right up to me. We exchanged pets for purrs and we were fast friends. Asia was aloof; sitting in the other room just watching me.
"He might hiss," his mom warned.
I nodded and told her about some of the other kitties I help with. After I'd been there for a bit so he could get used to my presence, I approached Asia cautiously. I knelt near him and held out my hand. He sniffed for a few seconds, then rubbed his face against my hand. We were going to be just fine!

For our first several visits, Kari was being kept in a crate so she and Asia didn't roughhouse while they were alone. My main job was to get Kari out of the crate and walking around safely. I also spent time giving attention to Asia. They both got lots of pets and love and treats and I took tons of pictures to send to their momma while she was at work.

Three legged kitty in the window

Asia let me pet his belly!

Miss Kari's speed of recovery was remarkable! She was soon zipping around on her three legs like shed been doing it her whole life. Asia started greeting me at the door and even let me pet his belly. His mom told me he was more relaxed than he'd been since they had moved a few years ago.

I really fell in love with these two kids! Our last visit was a sad day. But there was happiness on the horizon because while I'd been getting to know them, I'd also been getting to know their mom and dad better and we've become friends. Their mom updates me on how their doing quite regularly and I even get to go by and visit the whole family.

Hooray for new human and feline friends!

Pirate Kari!

One Million Kisses!!!

.

Sophie - Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier

Sophie is such a sweet girl! 

Like most terriers, she has lots and lots of energy. I started walking her when her mom (human mom) was pregnant. Now Sophie's mom had some trouble keeping up with Sophie during her first pregnancy so she hired Out-U-Go! after Sophie was already a bit sad from feeling neglected. This time, she had us start coming before it became a problem. Now that she has two very young kids to keep up with, she has me come twice a week. (And I'm glad she does!!)

One of the things I enjoy with these visits is that I often get to chat to her mom and the nanny. They're both fantastic ladies! Her mom & I also worked on Sophie's dog reactiveness. Poor Sophie had an incident with another dog attacking her when she was a young pup causing her to become dog reactive. She's fine once she gets to know a dog, but if there is another dog out walking or barking from inside the house, Sophie would become frantic and bark her head off. It would take her a while to calm down after each incident.

So I began using TACT with her. (Hee hee! I totally made that acronym up!)

Treat: If the canine that's getting her riled up is unavoidable, I give her treats until the other pup has passed or we've passed the pups who are inside their houses. I start as soon as I see or hear the other canines. For this to work, it's important to get her attention on me right away and to keep it there. There is a threshold that, once she's crossed it, there's no going back. All I can do is let her bark it out and get her away from the object of her anxiety. I try not to let her reach that threshold.

Aversion: Plain and simple, if the dog(s) can be avoided, I DO IT! Even if it means doubling back.

Coaxing: I'll alternate between a soft soothing voice to calm her and a happy excited voice to distract her. It's important to recognize which voice she's responding to and go with that one.

Toy: Sometimes, Sophie will carry a stick while we're walking. If I can redirect her energy to the stick or a toy and get her focused on that rather than the other dogs, we're golden!

Sophie - carrying her stick

As she's calming down, I shower her with lots of praise. And she's doing so much better! She still reacts, but before she gets to full freak-out mode, she looks at me, as if  checking in, and visibly relaxes once we do any of the above things.

When I go to walk Sophie, there are often people home. They are the nicest folks and I adore visiting with them! But Sophie is often torn between wanting to go for a walk with her favorite dog walker (a.k.a. me) and staying with her people. Like many Wheaton's, she would get anxious (not the best way to start a walk) but then calm down once we got going. At first, I'd use a lot of coaxing and treats and calling, "doggy joggy" as I start jogging myself. This would get her moving, but it was a slow process and I felt bad that she started out so upset.

Then one day, the solution presented itself. Sophie decided not to come over to me and just stood on the couch whining and wiggling her butt. I went over and gave her a few scritches, coaxing her to come down and let's go. Ummmm... no. So I sat on the couch and cuddled with her for about a minute as she covered my face in kisses. Then I got her harness on her and said, "let's go!" We headed out the door and she walked BEAUTIFULLY!! Since then, I start every walk I can with cuddle on the couch. We also end with snuggling... which means I get about one million kisses from Sophie every time I walk her. Hooray!

A Penny for your thoughts...

Penny - Shiba Inu
Sittin' Pretty!

Before I met Penny, my exposure to Shiba Inus was minimal. Only a few came into the shelter when I was working there full time and no one I know has one. But I really liked what I've read about them. They are exceedingly independent, bold and super smart. They require mind engaging training and love to play, play, play! They are also incredibly striking to look at and luxurious to pet with their foxy faces, compact bodies and soft, thick fur.

Before it was just Penny and I, Penny's mom had me come over and meet with them. I was surprised that this pup of such an independent breed played a game of "how many pets can I get" by going from me to her mom to me to her mom while her mom and I sat talking. I even did a trial run... er, walk with her. I goofed and put her harness on backwards but Penny gently let me know right away that something was wrong, so we fixed it. Once it was straightened, she showed off her superb walking.

"Come on! Throw the toy!"

 Our walks are always an adventure! She lives in a neighborhood right by a forest preserve so we see lots of wildlife. There is also a forest trail we walk right by so lots of bikes, other dogs out on walks, kids playing and people are always coming and going. She is the social butterfly of Shibas and wants to meet all the people.  She's always investigating a million and one smells. One time, she dropped face first into the grass and rubbed her face. It was so cute! ...well, "so cute" right up until I noticed the poop smeared along the right side of her face. Yucky! Once home, she sat very still and was excellent for getting her face cleaned off.

One day as Penny and I exited the house, we found a baby squirrel trapped in the yard. It kept trying to climb the wall of the house. Penny wanted to immediately go over and "help" the squirrel, but I didn't think the poor squirrel would be too appreciative of her kind of assistance. After our walk, the squirrel was still there and, upon seeing Penny again, freaked out as it climbed the wall over and over again, only to fall each time. Poor thing! After I got Penny inside, I went over to the wall and held my hoodie under the squirrel catching it when it fell and took it to safety away from Penny's yard. Penny still checks that corner for the squirrel... you know, just in case it comes back.

Penny is super cuddly. She loves getting scritches and pets! She will play keep-away and kill-the-toy with great vigor and gusto all the while wearing that excited Shiba Smile. Then, every once in a while, she runs figure eights throughout the house. She's amazingly fast!! Vroom-vroom!

After the romping, she always comes and gets petted. She occasionally rolls onto her side for belly rubs, which I happily oblige. Then she'll lay beside me or, other times, she'll go find a nice sunny spot and plop down. That way, she'll be well rested for when her mom comes home to give her even more lovin'.

Happy-Go-Lucky Buckley

Buckley - watching ducks

"Spaniels were bred to run in front of hunters and flush (scare) the birds into flight... the spaniel bounces gleefully about, looking for quarry." ~ Paws to Consider

There, just under the foliage, something moves. A squirrel, a bunny, some little birds or maybe even one of those ducks. My carefree bounding along sniffing the bushes and trees stops as I crouch low, step slow and with an explosion of prowess, I leap into action! Rushing forward I... 

am stopped by my leash. 

Woof! 

Silly human! Doesn't she know that I am a Mighty Hunter?

 

When I first got Buckley on my route, I have to admit, I was a wee bit nervous. Both of my younger sisters have had bad encounters with two different Cocker Spaniels. Having done a lot of breed research, I found that this is common since Cockers have been over bred and poorly bred. Unfortunately, this is what happens with so many people wanting them because when they're good, they're very social, eager to please and adorable. Add to this, I was warned that Buckley can be a bit wary of strangers. So before I went into the house, I braced myself for a less than friendly welcome and a pup I'd have to win over.

Buckley - Cocker Spaniel

As I stepped through the door, the pup that came trotting over to me was wagging his tail so hard, his whole butt wiggled! He nuzzled the hand I held out to him and, within a few seconds, was giving me kisses and rolling over for belly rubs! He was not the least bit wary of me.

From moment one, Buckley decided we'd be best friends. Our walks are always adventures in sniffing and fascination with wildlife. This works out well that there's a pond we walk around where many birds, including ducks, hang out and entice Buckley. But I tend to distract him with playing and jogging. Just the other day, it wasn't until the second time around the pond that he noticed two sleeping ducks just off the path. And boy, did he wish he could fly then!
His mom wants him to pull less, which will be a challenge. But hey, what's life without a little challenge? Plus, he's food motivated, so that will be helpful.

Buckley watching the birds outside

When we get home, after his treat, I sit on the floor next to the coffee table to write in his diary and let him decide what he wants to do.

If he's still feeling frisky, he'll bring me a toy and we'll have a rousing game of fetch. Though not too rousing since the vase incident...
Buckley was running and slid into a table. As the vase fell, I felt like time sloooooooowed and my movement to reach it was molasses with an accompanying languorous shout of, "Nooooooooooo!" But it broke. Oops! (His mom was so  understanding. She is awesome!) Plus, nobody got hurt and there was no glass in his fur or paw pads. Phew!

If he's all tuckered out, he'll curl up next to me, lay on his back for belly rubs and I'll give him scritches all over. He even fell asleep half in my lap once. That was a tough day to get up and leave. I didn't want to disturb him!

When it is time for me to leave, he walks me to the door. At first, I was concerned that he would try to get out, but he never does. He just walks me over, lets me give him one last pet, then heads back to the main part of the house. He's a perfect little gentleman.

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.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Snow, snow flurries of snow

Matting my fur, boy does it blow!

Nose first I dive in

In the slush I do swim

My walker must tread with care,

or fall upon her derriere.

Okay, bad poetry aside, walking dogs in snow... What a trip! (Which rhymes with 'slip', which is what I keep telling myself NOT to do.) Half of the dogs love it, the other half hate it. I'm lucky that several of the dogs I walk are very tolerant and good about me cleaning off their fur and feet and making sure no ice or salt is stuck between their pads. Of course, there are the few that want to bite my hands, or at least the towel, as I dry them off. Fortuantely, I've not been chomped... yet. Alternating toweling off with praise and lots of pets helps.

***Having picture difficulty... will post pics later.***

Dirk the Destroyer!

When I first met Dirk, he was crated. Such a sweet boy! A very strong pup, but incredibly sweet.

Dirk - Black Lab / Pitbull

On walks, he pulls a lot because I'm apparently not going fast enough. And if he sees a squirrel or another dog... whoa, Nelly! But as soon as I say his name, he slows and if I whistle and say "wait", he stops before crossing the street and sometimes he even sits. When we get back from walks, he sits nicely for treats and pets. And when he was crated, he would go into his crate and wait for the second half of his treat. Such a good boy!

Then his parents decided that since he was being so good, they'd leave him out of the crate. After all, the crate was to prevent him from being destructive and he was being so calm in his crate.

The first few visits I had with him once he was out of the crate, he was pretty good. There was the spatula incident... at least, the pieces of chewed and mauled plastic seemed to have once been a spatula. But other than that, pretty darn good.

Until I walked in on this:

At first, I couldn't identify what was all over the floor. Some sort of foam padding, yes. But from what? Furniture? A pillow? Part of his parent's bed? 

Then I saw it. Over there in the corner was the cloth wrapping that had once been the cover for Dirk's bed... He had destroyed his own bed! I, of course, cleaned it up. After that, there one more incident of (somewhat minor compared to his bed) destruction before his family had him back in his crate. Fortunately, he likes his crate!

Dirk looking contrite (I think he wants a cookie)

Salsa Party!

Blu - Weimaraner pup on a walk

Blu - after her walk, BIG tongue!

One of my clients with Out-U-Go! recently had a "Salsa Party". Not a party with just salsa dip, a Salsa dancing party. She had me come over and stay with her pup Blu while she was getting set up and while the party was going on.

For the two hours before the party even started, I wore Blu out. We first played in the yard for about half an hour. Blu has lots and lots of energy and LOVES to play fetch! She doesn't always want to drop the toy, so I make sure I have another one ready to throw when she brings the first one back. I won't throw it unless she drops the first toy; an exchange. She is getting better about dropping because she really, really, really wants to play and if she manages to get both toys, I refuse to play until she gives me at least one. (Also, I won't chase her... which she really wants me to do.)

Then we went for an hour long walk. Since I've been learning training techniques from Blu's trainer, Charmaine* with Collins Canines, I worked on some of those with Blu. Blu's a very clever and curious girl with the attention span of a gnat so getting her to focus is quite a challenge! She has some fear, so we worked on making the world a much less fearful place with lots of praise and hotdog pieces as rewards. We also worked on her pulling. We did the "stop & start" method, which is just like it sounds. As soon as she starts pulling, I stop. Once she stops pulling, I start walking. This makes for a very slow walk. But since she wasn't quite as hyper because we started with romping in the yard, she only pulled for a short while then decided to walk with me. She was still sniffing everything along the way, but beside me instead of trying to get to things miles ahead of us.

Once we got back to Blu's house, her mom was all decked out and looking lovely.  I took Blu in for some water, but we still had some more time as the DJ had just arrived and things were still being set up. Since I didn't want to take her on another walk and the backyard was getting all ready for the party, I got the long leash out and we played for another half hour in the driveway and the front yard. I could tell that Blu, the pup with endless amounts of energy, was getting tired.

We went inside & up to her mom's room where we were going to be hanging out during the majority of the party. We played a tiny game of fetch with a toy that was up there, but she fell asleep almost immediately.

Blu cuddling her toy

She did have a few moments of waking up to a sudden noise downstairs a bit panicked, but I calmed her down and she fell back asleep. (And I got to work on some writing!) After about two hours, she woke on her own and needed to go out. Now her mom's room is on the second floor, and while she has no problem getting up there, the stairs are steep and her mom usually carries her down. I decided to work on making the stairs less scary. I set hotdog bits on each stair and coaxed her down. It took about 15 minutes to get her to even start going down the stairs, but once she did, she made it all the way down.

We went out, she did her business and, since most everyone was sitting and talking, I decided it was a good time for her to meet the guests. Since part of her fears have to do with strangers, I led her around slowly while praising and let the party goers, who were willing, give her bits of hot dog. I continued to feed her treats too. She did so well!! By the last person, her tail was wagging and she was giving the offered hands lots of slobbery kisses. What a good girl!

Blu, looking at butterflies

*I think Charmaine with Collins Canines is fantastic!

If you're looking for a trainer, you should check her out!

The Passing of a Friend

Ms. Molly, who had cancer, has passed on. She was such a sweet girl! I will never forget how she'd flop on her back demanding bellyrubs  whenever she saw me. (And yes, I was the sucker who would always comply.)

The day I came in to the note that said if she was still laying by the front door to call her momma, was the last day I spent with her. I called her mom and she told me that it was time and we cried. I took Tailor for a walk. Then, when we got back, I spent some extra time sitting next to Molly giving her pets and lovin'. I knew she was feeling miserable since she didn't roll on her back for belly rubs. But I sang to her and petted her softly. At one point, all the pets, Tailor and the two kitties, came and sat around her too. It was as if we were sitting vigil. I stayed until she fell asleep, assuring her that her momma would be home soon. I wish I could've stayed, but I had to leave to go care for other pets.

Even though I only knew her briefly, I will never forget my friend, Molly.

Ms. Molly - Glen of Immal Terrier

Birdies and Bunnies Beware!!



Chester - Lab/Beagle Mix

Chester is one of the dogs I walk five days a week. When I first started walking Chester in April, I was shadowing another walker. She told me he was really trying to be good, but he's still a puppy. Even now, at almost 8 months, he definitely has a lot of puppy energy. But he's trying! He's gotten a lot less mouthy and jumpy; will sit at the door as I put his leash on and wait patiently while I open the door. He's getting better about staying with me even when there are other dogs around.

But if there's a bunny.... Whoa Nelly!! If only he could get his collar off and chase without me holding him back, he'd... oh boy, he'd do stuff!! That bunny wouldn't know what hit!!
(This is what I imagine he thinks would happen...)
Bunny: "Was that a truck??"
Bunny's Friend: "Why no, my wittle bun-bun friend! That was a CHESTER!!"
Bunny: "Noooooooooooo! Not a CHESTER!!! Anything but that!!!"

I have a theory that Chester may just possibly have some pointer or some other sort of bird dog in him because when he sees a bird, or several birds, he freezes and... well, points. He then seems a bit confused, as if he didn't know why he did that, then he'll give one bark. By that time, the bird(s) are long gone.

Ferocious hunter Chester!

Stanley and the Tulips



Stanley - Black Standard Poodle

Stanley is one of the dogs I walk for Out-U-Go! In the Spring Stanley suddenly took an interest in the blooming flowers. But not all the flowers. He'd walk past the daisies and the hydrangeas and the peonies... all in favor of the tulips. I was concerned that he would try to eat them, but he didn't. He'd sniff the flower from base to bud. Then he'd happily trot over to the next tulip to do it all over again.

Tulips

Pet Walk!!

Today Socko, my 9 year old Shepherd Mix, went out and represented Out-U-GO! at the Hinsdale Humane Society's Pet Walk!! We had a great time! I planned to post lots and lots of pictures, but after the shot I got of Socko, my unsmart camera phone decided not to work. Oh well... Here's the one of Socko! He's sooooooooo happy!!


"I LOVE this place!!!"