Stuff

Howdy Blogaroos! Squirmy here as we begin a new week – and as January is quickly coming to a close. You can actually see that the days ARE getting longer – although we’re still sleeping in until the sun comes up – and that’s still after 7:30 AM. Anytime before that, and we’re out walking wearing glow-in-the-dark harnesses – and we’re being blinded by the Warden’s headlamp.

Things here are pretty quiet since Aunt Sue left. I miss my favorite ricochet target- and the Coyote is particularly depressed – since she usually walked him. The Boss is also looking rather glum.

Aunt Sue remarked about how well we have trained the Warden. We all have our own special tricks that we have taught her. For example, the Boss lets everyone know when it’s time to eat – or time to go to bed, by barking. Non stop. No alarm clock needed to remind her of those actions.

The Coyote has trained her to let him out – either if he’s bored – OR he wants to eat snow. He jumps up on the patio doors to ask to be let out. Over and over.

Aunt Sue had a real challenge walking him when we had snow. All he wants to do is eat it. And then if he eats too much, he he barfs. So the Warden will not let him do it constantly. Aunt Sue had to be prepared when walking him that he would suddenly dive to grab a mouthful in the piles along the road. Her shoulder was sore the first day or two- but she quickly learned to read his pre-dive body posture. When he would grab a mouthful she would look at him and calmly explain “no buddy, don’t do that- it will make you sick.” He would look at her innocently with his snowy white face, take 5 steps and dive again.

As for my training – if I’m bored, or I think it’s too quiet, OR I’m hungry , I simply start throwing around metal food bowls. They are great for getting attention. If the bowls are not available, I go into the hallway- where we have a little bench. The bench has a built in box to store our dog leashes. So if I can’t make noise with the food bowls, I go in the hall and lift the seat on the bench- and drop it – which makes a loud “bam”. If that doesn’t work to get attention, I just keep doing it. BAMBAMBAM. That usually gets results.

We have the Warden SO well trained. It’s the house of chaos canines. That’s us. I like the sound of that. We sound like a rock group. The Chaos Canines.

On Friday this week, the Coyote is scheduled to go to the vet clinic to have a technician take his blood pressure. He’ll be suitably medicated a couple of hours before they go. My prediction? He’ll still squeal. Let’s place bets!

So far our winter has been pretty mild. We’ve had a few doses of snow – but then the temperature goes up, it rains and the snow is gone.

Larry, the plow guy has only been here three times so far. Although the snow has melted on the lawn, the PON spas remain. What are the PON spas? They’re the piles of snow left by Larry’s plow. They are now hard as rocks and suitably “seasoned” with yellow spots. Every chance we get, the Boss and I like to lie down and roll on them. It’s awkward because they are sloped – so we end up sliding onto the lawn. There we are – with legs flailing – just loving the chilly sensation. The Boss isn’t big on walking in deep snow, or wet snow- but give him a PON spa and he’s in heaven flailing like a beached whale. The joys of winter.

Well – I’m still writing this in the dark – but it will soon be time to get the band together. Let the chaos begin!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe. JBJ.