Doga

After too long a hiatus, I am back doing yoga. My sanity required it, despite the protests of my body. The dogs are quite interested and can actually get quite annoyingly in the way. Of course, dogs are natural yogis...they are already in balance (unless messed up by a human). There are now classes in "Doga". I sort of roll my eyes at this, as the yoga craze has taken fad to a new level (when I started doing yoga, there were maybe 3 studios in San Francisco...now there are who knows how many). Of course, who am I to scoff if someone wants to do yoga with their dog?

Eclectic Business Ventures

Roman's trainer found this at a local dog park. I honestly thought it was a joke, but it's not!

AND, he makes business cards...

My son asked, upon seeing this (and in all seriousness tinged with a bit of excitement), "Does he bring the gun?!"

Maybe I should hire him to protect our place from the drunk weekend yuppies...

RainDay

"Remember, when life's path is steep to keep your mind even." ~Horace

"I learn by going where I have to go..." ~Roethke

""A good dog observes his master so closely that he almost knows him better than he does himself, and he must often indeed wonder that the reverse occurs so rarely." Max von Stephanitz

" To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace." ~Milan Kundera

" "If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience."

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.-- Walter Winchell

"

Some people [and dogs] come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.-- Anonymous

"A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner." ~English Proverb

Shouldn'ts

Many trainers tell owners they should never let their dogs on the furniture, especially the bed. One trainer gave me such an ominous warning. Pressed further, she shared that she had clients who were bitten in bed when their dog was startled awake! Hmmm. I doubt this is common among socialized/trained dogs. I have more problems with cats fighting on the bed.

Personally, I like having my animals on the furniture with me, and I can't sleep if Tikka isn't in a ball by my pillow. My philosophy is this: if a dog will get off when you ask him to, and does not resource guard the furniture or bed, then why not let him enjoy? I made sure our new furniture was made of microfiber and a neutral, tan color...sometimes I forget what it actually looks like since the couch and chairs are usually covered! Only a dog person can understand this, me thinks.


I'm so glad my animals like our new furniture. They certainly get more use out of it than I do, these days. Tikka claims the couch because it has the best view out the window. (bottom pic is from a year ago-old couch and before the hardwood floors were redone...it's so funny how Tikka just flops over when I point the camera at her).

Roman loves this chair...good afternoon sun and an ottoman for his tail.

The cats pretty much sleep anywhere but this recliner is a favorite.

Here's 6 month old Rammy enjoying Caroline's Chinese carpet...good thing this carpet cannot talk about it's liaisons with dogs and cats. He also likes to hang out in the bathtub; not sure what that is all about...

Healing Tikka

Tikka had surgery-again-a few days ago. This is her fourth surgery in the two years I've had her. Poor girl has three suture sites (back, foot and chest) since she had various lumps and bumps removed. It's the one on her chest that has me concerned. This was a malignant tumor last year and it regrew. I'm thinking positive that the dr. got it all this time and it should not have spread. Tikka was pretty painful but was back to her happy self the first night, despite it all. If she's able to maintain such a cheerful demeanor through all this, so can I. My students were so sweet...writing cards and letters. One student even made her a scarf.

My Second Favorite GSD

This is Jude. I am in love with Jude. If a dog can be sexy, Jude is that dog! Jude belongs to my friend, Marge, who is the office manager at Park Animal Hospital in San Francisco. This is a high drive, working dog, but he is content to sit like this all day  while Marge works. Such an amazing temperament! Every time I see him I have to hug and squish him. In return he opens his mouth for a 'bite-kiss' (Tikka does this, too)...not for the faint of heart.

The Simplicity of Solitude

I decided to take last Thursday off because Tikka was having surgery and I had report cards to write. I ended up at the beach with Roman. We had the beach to ourselves, which was bliss. I wish I was better at recalling moments like this when I'm under stress...moments of pure peace and joy with no negative thoughts competing for air time in  my head...Just me and my dog and the sound of the waves rolling onto the beach.

A lone crow surveys the hang gliding take off point..

I'm still amazed at how far Roman has come. There was no way I could walk him at Ft. Funston a year ago. He would be charging and chasing dogs; causing general mayhem! This day, we passed no less than 50 dogs on our way down to the beach and 50 more on our way back up. Roman either greeted them politely, ignored them or played with them. Most dog owners take this for granted, but I am just so grateful to be able to have this privilege.  (Roman is the cover dog for Grateful Dogs Rescue this month and  he's enjoying his 15 minutes of fame).