Tag Archives: Dog

Jul26

Are We Keeping Our Pets Safe IN The Heat?

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Somehow it’s easy to forget how vulnerable our pets are. Whether our animals are big or small, they all need love and care. Heat isn’t good for them either.

I’ve had big dogs all my life, except for three. The big dogs ranged from Irish Setters, Alaskan Malamutes, Great Danes, and Pitt Bulls. In the more recent years it’s been Jack Russels, Bechions, and now a French Bull Dog. I have loved them all, and all needed my care especially in the extreme weather.

The big dogs are more durable, work harder longer, but they still need attention. Water, good food, exercise, well you get the picture. All of our dogs were indoor dogs because I believe they need a family to be around, and live with. Not everyone feels this way, and that’s your preference.

We now have rescued the sweetest not so little, Frenchie. She is white, has a loving personality, and wouldn’t harm a flee. Maybe a cat, but definitely not a flea.

I found a pearl necklace (collar) for her, and she loves it. How do I know you ask? Well, I took off her collar and put it on the table before putting on her pearls. When she saw the pearls, and was wearing them, she picked up the old collar with her teeth, and threw it on the floor. What do you think? Was that letting me know she didn’t want the old collar any longer?

To get back to the topic. French Bull Dogs, along with some other breeds like, all bulldogs, Boxers, and anything with a short nose have breathing problems. It is important to treat these dogs with care. I would imagine cats would be the same. They need lots of hydration, and cool places to lye down out of the sun.

For some reason cats seem to be more tolerant of the heat, and some have faces that look like they ran into a train. They need care also…..

Some have cooling jackets for the animals that really can’t and don’t do well in hot, humid weather. Just consider your pets as you would a baby, or the elderly. Love them and care for them, they give us so much in return.

Thank you for taking time to read my blog. Stay cool, keep your animals cool and all of you stay hydrated.

Karen

Mar15

The Makeover Continues!

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about getting our home painted, having new rain gutters put up, and the patio roof repaired.  It all looks so fabulous, it made us want ...more!  So our son-in-law, John has continued to make improvements!

What did he do next?

Well, the first thing John fixed was the irrigation system.  It has always been a bit poopy, and he quickly discovered why!  This is all technical, so I won’t get into it although I did understand after John explained it…..several times!  The long and the short is this:  it was never installed right in the first place!  (Landscaping by a professional expert, having landscaped all over the Middle East!)  After putting several hours into digging many holes, a trip to Lowe’s did the trick!

Oh those back-breaking holes!

The only one around here that knows how backbreaking digging holes in the yard can be is Daisy, our dog!  She has most recently been on archology excursion to find  the Lost City!  I need to tell you, neither Les or myself taught her to do this.  I’m sure she learned it from talking to the other dogs at the “dog park!”  You know the ones,  the dogs whose parents don’t teach them right from wrong!  So now, we have to be the bad guys and give her a time out for attempting world travel, or trying to bury a chew stick.  I hate being the bad guy!

Now the fun starts…

Tuesday night after John had prepared the yard for new dirt, and sod, and headed for home, Daisy went outside and…No she didn’t dig holes, but she spread her toys over the dirt.  I think she was saying, “This is my yard, leave it alone!”  All through this process she has been agitated, and I couldn’t even get her to leave the house for a walk in the afternoon.  The yard being all torn up bothered her, and she would come in to get one of us, and take us out into the back to show us what John had done to her yard.

What’s next?

Wednesday the top soil went down, and from Wednesday until Thursday afternoon, Daisy had to stay out of the yard.  I believe it is “Murphy’s Law,”  to have the animals roll in freshly watered, manure, and top soil!  We could just see her with the smelly dirt stuck to her fur, and needing a bath before we could let her back into the house!

Thursday morning John started putting down the sod, and then things  changed.  Keeping a dog off her grass is a challenge, and reasoning with her to not dig holes in the grass or she will have to sit on the “Naughty Rug” is the fun part!

Today is  a new day, a new start, a new yard we can be proud of, and it looks great!   After the yard was watered, pots will get drips on them, and things just look so much neater.  I’m loving it!

Then what?

There isn’t  much left to do.  Maybe a few little things like putting a few more drip lines in, or re-wiring an antique iron lamp that was my Great-grandmother’s, but that is about it!  You can be sure that pictures will follow one of these days!  This was back-breaking work, that I could neither do, or help with.  We are both so grateful for John, who tirelessly worked to make our home, and yard something we could all be proud of!

I think we all deserve a glass of vino, and maybe some cheese and crackers,   and oh…..Chocolate!!!  We must have chocolate!