Good Charlotte

This not so little spider has spun a huge web at the base of our front stairs. While I do not like spiders inside my house, I respect their vital role in our ecosystem and I more than welcome them outside of my house. Maybe she'll catch some of those nasty mosquitoes that seem to survive year round here (given that we are having 80 degree weather in the middle of November, it's no wonder).
It's too bad I could not capture the intricate beauty of her web...spun between the juniper and the house.
Charlotte's web is perfectly camouflaged as we pass under it several times a day...I just hope she doesn't decide to plop on my head or, worse, Erik's head gets tangled in the web now that he is almost 6 feet tall!

Retraining Recalcitrant Roman

One tenet of dog training many owners do not want to believe is...the training never stops. If you have a working breed, like GSDs, it can't stop due to their need to constantly be learning and active. But, life happens and even this dedicated trainer slacked these past few months due to a heavy work schedule. See, trainers are people, too! What is that saying about the cobbler's childrfen not having any shoes?

After Roman got a naughty report card from his dog walker (not holding his stay in the back of the truck), I knew I had to do something and get things balanced again. We are back on our training walks and lessons. While rusty, Roman is thrilled to be 'working' again. Notice how naughty he is in the second video...can you point out his recalcitrance? He knows when mom is tired, that is for sure!

He is doing much better in the first video. He held is down-stay at a good distance. When I released him, he came running to me...not a requirement, but greatly appreciated and a sign he is paying more attention to me. If you would like help in getting your dog to focus more on you and not other dogs, cats, squirrels, etc., please contact me:

http://www.angelacasey.com

German Shedders

German shepherds shed only once a year...but it lasts for 365 days! If you want a life without dog fur around, don't get a GSD...I'm still finding Lotte's white hairs around 4 years after her death. So, vacuums and swiffers are my friends and I have learned to live with the hair everywhere and enjoy the 5 minutes of hair free floors after a good swiffer.

Fall in SF

Not a lot of opportunities to experience trees changing colors here, but this one is giving it a pretty good go.

Time for a New Pack Leader...Vote Obama if You Love Animals

Roman, Tikka and I are waiting for the polls to open. They always come vote with me.

I'm voting for Obama for many reasons...one of them being that he is better for the animals. The Humane Society Legislative Fund endorses Barak Obama. This is the first time they have ever endorsed a presidential candidate. Their board of directors (composed of Democrats and Republicans) voted unanimously to endorse Obama because he is the better choice for the animals and their welfare. If you love animals the clear choice is Obama. If you are still undecided or leaning towards McCain/Palin, read more here.

Now, Obama does not have a dog...or any pet. To me, that shows responsibility since he is never home to care for the pet! He has promised his daughters a puppy if he is elected...and I hope he chooses to rescue a dog. McCain, on the other hand, does have 4 dogs and a menagerie of pets, but he's been quiet on his stance on many animal welfare issues. Palin is obviously no friend to the animals and certainly didn't help the poor pit bull's misunderstood nature (and how insulting to the pits).

So get out and vote for a new pack leader! It's time!

Soaking

Ah. Well, nothing lasts forever. The beautiful, warm October weather was quickly ushered out and we have now been enjoying pouring down rain for three days. Yes, enjoying. At least, for now. Yesterday's storm didn't stop me from taking the dogs to Ft. Funston. They love running around in a downpour. Hair and pants plastered to my body, we sloshed back to the car. The wet dog smell reminded me of my old Catholic high school uniform on rainy days (wet herringbone smells a lot like wet dog).

In other news, I'm so grateful for that extra hour of sleep due to turning our clocks back.

Fall is finally here with Winter waiting down the path. Time to go inward. Cozy. Warm. Fires. Soup.

Lottie Reincarnated II

Now I am truly weirded out. You might remember my post, Lottie Reincarnated.

Little Lottie is growing up quite well and I am going crazy since I cannot hug and squeeze her. While my Lotte was a white GSD and spelled her name sans /i/, this Lottie found a WGSD neighbor friend to play with. This gorgeous white shepherd's name is Mia...the name of another one of my dogs (she looked a bit like a black and white Tikka). I got Mia when I was 18 and she died when I was 33.

I certainly don't mind being haunted by my dead dogs. I do wonder about reincarnation in the animal world (and being a conservationist, it just makes more sense). I still can't bring myself to get another WGSD since Lotte was so special, I am afraid I would be constantly comparing the new dog. Anyway, dogs usually find me, not the other way around...maybe one day a WGSD will find I need him or her.

I digress.

Last week, while driving through the Presidio on a field trip, we passed the dog cemetery. One of my students asked me if my dogs were buried there.

"No," I replied. "They are buried under a pine tree in Lake Tahoe."

When I visit them, now accompanied by Roman and Tikka (who like to pee on this tree, btw), I pause. Remembering. Wishing. Hoping.