People Magazine just named Dwayne the Rock Johnson as their Sexiest Man of the Year!  I was outside raking leaves with this very handsome love and I thought he deserved some props today!  He has the distinction of being my very first client in KitLooBridge!  When he comes to visit he usually stays for a week or more at a time, so he is extremely at home with our family!  He is the only one of my clients that I have ever trusted off leash to stay with me on walks and he is also the only one whom I will allow to laze on the front lawn untethered while I do yard work!  I love all my clients, I truly do, each one has a special place in my heart, but this guy has a very prominent position.  Harley,  is a sweet, patient and amazing boy and is Lucas’ best bud and I am truly grateful to call him my friend.  Feast your eyes on some Golden Magnificence People!!

LEST WE FORGET

Today is Remembrance Day and as we stop to reflect on the soldiers who served and continue to do so in our Armed Forces, Let Us Not Forget that some of them walk on four legs and have played very significant rolls in protecting the rights and freedom of their human counter parts.   They put their lives on the line without knowing what they were signed up for.  Horses were used to draw carts, cats were brought aboard ships to help boost morale and keep vermin from getting out of control, dogs played countless rolls and  birds were enlisted to send messages.    Whether it be these creatures had a certain aptitude or drive that landed them in a position where they were put in harms way to protect the lives of others, these service animals are also amongst the fallen on the battle field.  Today as we Remember those that have made great sacrifices for the rest of us to be able to enjoy our homes, our traditions and our family, we should also remember those creatures that protect us that have no idea why we humans go to War.  By remembering all who have served, we recognize they  willingly-endured hardships and fears, which they took upon themselves so that we could live in peace.

 

Feeling fall fabulous!   Autumnal awesomeness!!  What a great day for a walk…the sun, the leaves rustling and my canine friends romping about.  Truly a wonderful present from Mother Nature to be able to get out of the house  and enjoy the gift of being able bodied!   Health and mental well-being is something we all take for granted now and then, and we should not!   I think about my Father-in-law who will live the remainder of his days in a wheel chair, he can no longer get out of bed on his own and is dependent on others.  I have been struggling with a bout of Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot that has afflicted me since July.  I have soldiered through it and coped, some days walking over 30,000 steps, with each step I am reminded how lucky I am that I can get out and about, that I have that choice.   It’s a wonderful day to be reminded there is so much to be grateful for and so many four legged friends who appreciate their treks with me through the streets strewn with colourful leaves!!

 

You are not the boss of me!  I sometimes think that is what some of my furry charges cycle through their brain when I try to act like I am in charge!  It happened three times today.  First I got a “look” from Diesel when I was trying to get him to stand still to get his collar on for his walk.  I commented he needed to quit racing about, which wasn’t at all appreciated as his friend Lucas was standing in his living room and well hell, it was time to impress his buddy, that wasn’t cool…why was I being such a party pooper?   Then while enjoying a lunch hour stroll with M & P, my little friend put a yucky kleenex in his mouth and I curtly scolded him by telling him to drop it!  Pud looked up at me as if to say “You don’t have to get so snippy, geez!”    Then when we got back to the house, I reminded Miss Mattie that she needed to go into the kitchen area where they hang out when no one is home, she crept into the living room, like maybe I wouldn’t notice or perhaps if she looked uber cute I might let it slide and she could have her way.   I made the comment that her bed wasn’t in that room and she needed to join Pud, she was thoroughly unimpressed with me, the glare and grumble I got.   If there was a magic bubble above her head where text could express her opinion it would have said “YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!”    I guess the election results in the U.S today is making all of god’s creatures a little testy and wanting to question those that think they are in charge   :o)

Channeling our inner child or in his case, his desire to  honour his puppy side!   In our neighbourhoods people are allowed to rake their leaves to the curb and the city comes along and sucks them up with a great big machine.  It’s November and the trees have been very obliging and dropping their brightly coloured foliage.   Diesel has been finding the huge collections of leaves utterly irresistible!  Just hearing the sound of them rustle in the breeze makes him giddy with enthusiasm!   Every time he gets close enough to walk near a deposit of them he will pick up his feet and prance, the mere feel of the wetness under his feet is exhilarating!  I was sad I didn’t have my phone today, but I doubt I would have gotten organized to record it anyway, enjoying it with my own eyes was enough to boost my spirits!  We neared a long pile of leaves that was at least 10 feet long, three feet wide and two feet high, there was no stopping that dog, he saw them and dove in head first.   Lucas stood by watching, a little confused why this crazy pooch was so intoxicated by rolling around reveling in the gifts of autumn, but I got it!   It was awesome, and made me smile, it reminded of me when I was five and we had a big Silver Maple in the front yard, my sisters and I would rake up big heaping piles and then I would free fall into them and lay there smelling the earthy scent.  After a good long  romp, he emerged pieces of leaves in his pinch collar, shaking off all the little tidbits clinging to his back and face, he was absolutely thrilled with himself.   I love seasons, apparently so does Diesel!

Last night Romeo was nestled in the crook of my arm, purring so loud I couldn’t hear the movie I was watching.  My spouse was sitting beside me and made the observation. “That cat is completely, and utterly spoiled!”   Later as I was trying to drift off to sleep I started thinking about that word, spoiled.  When I hear that word I think of a block of cheese forgotten in the car on a day where the temperature is over 100 degrees and you find it sometime later that week and the only recourse you have is to throw it in the trash!    Or how about when you go to have a bowl of cereal, you grab the carton and instead of a nice milky substance flowing over your breakfast you see chunky bits that resemble cottage cheese that have rendered the whole concept of eating your first meal rather unpalatable.  No, Romeo isn’t spoiled, he is “loved” and he is utterly aware of that and overtly appreciative of the affection and security he feels with our family!  Sure, he can be a little naughty and can test and exploit our admiration for him by pushing the boundaries, but how does that saying go, “Love has no limits?”

What do you see when you look at this picture?    It must seem self evident, two white dogs, walking side by side.  Big deal?    Do you know what I see, a magical moment!  The White German Shepherd is Marcus, he’s a handsome love, confident with a beautiful nature.   His little companion beside him is Sunny, who on the best of days is rather unsure of herself and timid.  Sunny is the type of dog that when we go out for a walk will change her mind in an instance, if there is a loud bang,  we encounter people or she gets a whiff of something in the air, she is shy and will bolt to go back home.  When it comes to her reluctance to explore the neighbourhood, I work with it and respect that not every excursion is banner day for walking.  Sunny and Marcus live in the same house hold, but I usually walk them separately as Marcus takes one step for every three of Sunny’s, I also have taken into consideration that she is older and reticent to get out and about and Marcus is very able and needs to work off some energy.  Tuesday, after hearing that she and Marcus had gone out for their first stroll together with their Mom, I decided to try taking both dogs and give it a whirl.  It went well, but we didn’t go far, baby steps sometimes is a prudent way to approach things.   Today was pure magic!   Sunny walked alongside Marcus without a care in the world.  She was engaged and inquisitive.  Normally  if it is just Sunny and I, we go around the block, fifteen minutes if I am lucky!  The three of us were out for an entire half hour today, and we explored a new park together!   Marcus was happy, as he got to do a bit more sniffing and lifting of his leg, and Sunny pranced and looked about eagerly!  It is amazing the impact one animal can have on  another.  The picture above is of a trans-formative moment, very cool!

 

 

Walking the dog through the neighbourhood after Halloween is a giant headache!!   If you happen to have a pooch who isn’t a forager and is all about the  journey,  then you can relax and focus on the task at hand!   I have a few canine buds though, that spend the entire time we are out, nose to the ground, looking for something gratifying to consumme!  I have spent that past two days eyes locked on my charges, it seems like every two houses I am bending over to extract treat wrappers from their jaws, sucker sticks and even small pieces of candy.  One small chocolate bar or a Skittle shouldn’t wreak havoc on your pet, but the junk food they find  can cause some diarrhea or upset stomach.  Just a reminder, while you are out and about, be mindful of the remnants of Halloween strewn about your front lawns, sidewalks and in the park!

 

Empty Nesters!  I figure in about another year that will be my reality, both my girls will no longer be living under our roof, we will just be accountable to the fur babies.  I am not looking forward to the day when our youngest decides that she no longer wants to reside with her parentals, it’s nice having her company, so I will miss her.   The concept that has been making me sad lately isn’t the idea of our nest being empty, I have lot’s of time to process it and get used to the idea, but man’s best friend will not know what hit him!  Lucas absolutely adores his big sister.  He sleeps with her every night, he hangs out with her while she works on assignments or watches Netflix, if she is home, he is curled up beside her!   This summer she went away on two trips, each time she was gone, poor old Lucas walked around like Eeyore with an “Oh bother,”  like demeanor.  He pouts and lays on the couch frequently releasing a heavy sigh, he is completely put out when she is not here for him to while away the time with.  I realized today that when she moves out it will be a hard adjustment, he is going to require frequent visits, perhaps she can come for dinners or who knows, maybe she will hang out and do her laundry?  Hopefully he can go over to her new place for a  visit  from time to time?  The only thing I am certain of, I will not be the only one suffering when the last bird leaves the nest and I am not sure how to prepare him.

There is nothing like being the center of attention!  I am one of three girls, and I will say it was hard to shine some times with my older sisters around.   I think it is common when there is more than one child in a family for one to feel they go unnoticed, sharing the love can be hard.  I think when there are multiple fur babies under one roof, they too, can feel a little jealousy and a lack of recognition.  My little bud Puddles, otherwise known as “Puddy Duddy”, has a house mate that has a very out going personality and to be honest, she is a little high strung.  Pud is laid back and because he is so chill he can get over looked.  Often when we are out on our walks, he is quietly making up the rear, partly so he can try and forage for garbage, he can’t pull the wool over my eyes, but he also hangs back as Mattie is out front pulling like a sled dog trying to win the Iditarod.  Yesterday when I went to pick up my charges I realized that only Pud was home, he was happy to see me, but not as insistent with his barking, there was no one to compete with!  When we got out on our walk, I swear he was strutting!  He was out in front, with a little bit of swagger going on, it was the sweetest thing.  We were half way into the walk and we were strolling through the park, Pud  was sniffing the base of a tree when he looked back at me with a smile, his eyes glowing, he was having a wonderful time being the center of attention!  I gave him a little scratch under his chin and let him know, that although he doesn’t realize it, I see him and I recognize how special he is!