Tip: Don't make trips to the veterinarian the only time you take your dog for a ride in the car. If they don't enjoy going there, they will associate the car with the vet. Begin with short trips and make them fun for your pet. Don't leave him alone in the car on those early trips, or he will think that every time he goes in the car, you will abandon him. Allow your pet to associate the rides in the car with good things. And NEVER leave your dog in the car on hot days.
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I just loved going for rides in the car with Smokey and Jodi. Of course, the best times were when all three of us dogs went for a ride over to the dog park. It was fenced in so we could run around all over the place and not get into any trouble.
I had a friend named Baily who would often be at the dog park. He was also a Pug just like me, only I was a little bit bigger than he was. We chased our balls, the birds and anything else we could find while Smokey and Jodi kept a watchful eye on all of us.
Star also stayed close to us, so no bullies would come over and pick on us. She was the best German Shepherd in the world!
One time we were chasing our balls at the park and mine landed in the little pond that was over where the ducks liked to play. I was a little bit afraid to run in there and get it, since Smokey wasn't already swimming in there. And those ducks might fly at me - I definitely did not like that! Would you believe that grumpy, grouchy Cinders ran in there like a bullet, swam out to the ball and brought it back. Of course, since she had done such a big favor for me, I had to let her run around with my ball for a little bit. She is so possessive. She always thinks everything is hers! Of course, when Jodi pulled a new toy and tossed it, Cinders dropped the ball and went after that. That Jodi is pretty smart!
I loved going for rides in the car. You just never know what exciting place you would see next.
Life is good......
Monday, April 23, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Fred The Morning Dove Lands In Our Pool
We had a small in ground pool in our back yard garden. The gardener came once a week and added chemicals to the pool, as well as trimmed the roses and took care of all of the other plants. Since I was always happy to see anyone, I would bark at him from inside the sliding glass door just to say hello, but he kept his distance. I think it might have had something to do with Star, my German Shepherd surrogate mother, who always stayed near me. As I recall, she did let out a low growl now and then. Kind of a warning to stay away.
After the pool was treated, it smelled really strong of chemicals, and we were all supposed to stay away. Many folks think Pugs can't swim, but we can. In fact, when Smokey was swimming in the pool, I would run around the edge barking like crazy and then launch myself through the air like a rocket smack dab right in the pool. Smokey would grab me so my dense body wouldn't sink, and I figured out I could manage to get to the stairs and actually walk out. My little legs had to move very fast, but I got there!
One afternoon, we went outside for a little potty break, and low and behold, there was a Morning Dove floating in the pool. At first I thought he must have been sun bathing, but as Smokey got closer, he saw that the dove had a broken wing, and his feet were burned from the strong chemicals in the pool from the morning treatment. Cinders the grouchy Schnauzer said the dove was probably dead. She is such a pessimist! Star said for me not to worry and that Smokey would take care of everything.
Smokey had a very special way with all animals - a very gentle touch. He took the pool skimmer net and scooped out the dove. The dove tried to fly, but couldn't get anywhere with his broken wing and he continued to struggle. Smokey promptly named him Fred and put him in a deep box with soft material on the bottom. Fred quieted down in the safety of the box.
Later that day, Smokey came home with some pop sickle sticks and special salve from our local vet to put on Fred's legs. He made a splint out the pop sickle sticks to set Fred's broken wing. After searching around in the garage storage area, he found an old bird cage that he had, cleaned it up, and gave Fred a new home. Then, he put the cage outside on the table just below the flowering pear tree, so Fred would have a mix of sun and shade.
At night, Smokey would take Fred out of his cage and hold him up close to his shoulders and neck. Fred seemed to be very comforted by that and would close his eyes after Smokey spent a little time stroking him on the head and back. Fred ate the bird seed that Smokey fed him right out of his hand and drank water from a dropper at first gradually migrating over to the little water cups attached to the bird cage.
Even Coco Cat seemed to know that Fred was a guest at our house who needed care. And though she spent many hours lying next to the cage which was on the table outside in the garden, she didn't try to put her paw through the bars, or scare Fred in any way.
Every day, Fred's mate, Mrs. Fred, would fly into the tree branches which hung over the table where Fred's cage was. Mrs. Fred would even land on the top of the cage if we were inside and we would hear her coo to Fred letting him know she was still there for him. She would stay and visit with him for very long periods of time.
Fred developed a bond with Smokey and whenever Smokey would open the cage door, Fred would hop up on Smokey's finger and then cuddle up to his neck and coo. I had to give up a little of my spotlight for Fred, but I didn't mind. Pugs have a big heart and we have lots of love to go around. Smokey used to tell me that if a robber were ever to get in our house, I would probably lick his face with a big kiss and welcome him there! Of course, Star would never let anyone in our house that wasn't supposed to be there. Her job was to watch over all of us. And she was excellent at her job!
After some time had passed, Smokey took the splint off Fred's wing. Fred would perch on Smokey's finger and Smokey would gently raise his hand up and down which would cause Fred to flap his wings, so he could practice and build his strength back. After going through a few weeks of this type of practice, Smokey told Fred it was probably time for him to try to fly. While Fred was perched on Smokey's finger, Smokey waved his hand high and low and launched Fred on the upswing. Fred flapped his wings, flew up for a short bit and dive bombed back to the ground - a soft grassy spot. None the worse for wear, Fred picked himself up and waddled over to Smokey and pecked on his foot. He asked so nicely to be picked up that Smokey couldn't resist. "O.K., Fred," said Smokey. "You're not quite ready yet. We'll have to practice a little bit more."
Another week went by, and one late afternoon, Smokey went out to the cage, opened the door, and out came Fred hopping up on Smokey's finger. "Now, Fred," said Smokey. "We're going to try flying again. Mrs. Fred wants you to come home, and you have to get back to your life in the wild."
Smokey began waving Fred up and down easy at first, and then he flicked his hand and sent Fred up into the air. Fred flapped his wings vigorously, flying up so much higher this time. But then he began to swoop down in a dive towards the ground. Then....just before he would have crash landed, he arched and flew up to the tree above the fish pond. He did it! He seemed so happy. At last, Fred could fly. We all cheered, barked, and Smokey and Jodi were thrilled. Mrs. Fred was close by and flew over to welcome him back to the great outdoors.
After that, every time we were all outside enjoying the garden, Fred and Mrs. Fred would fly on to the branch that hung low, just above the table where Fred's cage had been. He would coo and talk to Smokey. Smokey would put food in his hand and Fred would fly to him and eat out of his hand. Then he would fly off and enjoy his time with Mrs. Fred.
We saw a lot of Fred and Mrs. Fred all through the summer. We had made a new friend. And life was at it should be.
After the pool was treated, it smelled really strong of chemicals, and we were all supposed to stay away. Many folks think Pugs can't swim, but we can. In fact, when Smokey was swimming in the pool, I would run around the edge barking like crazy and then launch myself through the air like a rocket smack dab right in the pool. Smokey would grab me so my dense body wouldn't sink, and I figured out I could manage to get to the stairs and actually walk out. My little legs had to move very fast, but I got there!
One afternoon, we went outside for a little potty break, and low and behold, there was a Morning Dove floating in the pool. At first I thought he must have been sun bathing, but as Smokey got closer, he saw that the dove had a broken wing, and his feet were burned from the strong chemicals in the pool from the morning treatment. Cinders the grouchy Schnauzer said the dove was probably dead. She is such a pessimist! Star said for me not to worry and that Smokey would take care of everything.
Smokey had a very special way with all animals - a very gentle touch. He took the pool skimmer net and scooped out the dove. The dove tried to fly, but couldn't get anywhere with his broken wing and he continued to struggle. Smokey promptly named him Fred and put him in a deep box with soft material on the bottom. Fred quieted down in the safety of the box.
Later that day, Smokey came home with some pop sickle sticks and special salve from our local vet to put on Fred's legs. He made a splint out the pop sickle sticks to set Fred's broken wing. After searching around in the garage storage area, he found an old bird cage that he had, cleaned it up, and gave Fred a new home. Then, he put the cage outside on the table just below the flowering pear tree, so Fred would have a mix of sun and shade.
At night, Smokey would take Fred out of his cage and hold him up close to his shoulders and neck. Fred seemed to be very comforted by that and would close his eyes after Smokey spent a little time stroking him on the head and back. Fred ate the bird seed that Smokey fed him right out of his hand and drank water from a dropper at first gradually migrating over to the little water cups attached to the bird cage.
Even Coco Cat seemed to know that Fred was a guest at our house who needed care. And though she spent many hours lying next to the cage which was on the table outside in the garden, she didn't try to put her paw through the bars, or scare Fred in any way.
Every day, Fred's mate, Mrs. Fred, would fly into the tree branches which hung over the table where Fred's cage was. Mrs. Fred would even land on the top of the cage if we were inside and we would hear her coo to Fred letting him know she was still there for him. She would stay and visit with him for very long periods of time.
Fred developed a bond with Smokey and whenever Smokey would open the cage door, Fred would hop up on Smokey's finger and then cuddle up to his neck and coo. I had to give up a little of my spotlight for Fred, but I didn't mind. Pugs have a big heart and we have lots of love to go around. Smokey used to tell me that if a robber were ever to get in our house, I would probably lick his face with a big kiss and welcome him there! Of course, Star would never let anyone in our house that wasn't supposed to be there. Her job was to watch over all of us. And she was excellent at her job!
After some time had passed, Smokey took the splint off Fred's wing. Fred would perch on Smokey's finger and Smokey would gently raise his hand up and down which would cause Fred to flap his wings, so he could practice and build his strength back. After going through a few weeks of this type of practice, Smokey told Fred it was probably time for him to try to fly. While Fred was perched on Smokey's finger, Smokey waved his hand high and low and launched Fred on the upswing. Fred flapped his wings, flew up for a short bit and dive bombed back to the ground - a soft grassy spot. None the worse for wear, Fred picked himself up and waddled over to Smokey and pecked on his foot. He asked so nicely to be picked up that Smokey couldn't resist. "O.K., Fred," said Smokey. "You're not quite ready yet. We'll have to practice a little bit more."
Another week went by, and one late afternoon, Smokey went out to the cage, opened the door, and out came Fred hopping up on Smokey's finger. "Now, Fred," said Smokey. "We're going to try flying again. Mrs. Fred wants you to come home, and you have to get back to your life in the wild."
Smokey began waving Fred up and down easy at first, and then he flicked his hand and sent Fred up into the air. Fred flapped his wings vigorously, flying up so much higher this time. But then he began to swoop down in a dive towards the ground. Then....just before he would have crash landed, he arched and flew up to the tree above the fish pond. He did it! He seemed so happy. At last, Fred could fly. We all cheered, barked, and Smokey and Jodi were thrilled. Mrs. Fred was close by and flew over to welcome him back to the great outdoors.
After that, every time we were all outside enjoying the garden, Fred and Mrs. Fred would fly on to the branch that hung low, just above the table where Fred's cage had been. He would coo and talk to Smokey. Smokey would put food in his hand and Fred would fly to him and eat out of his hand. Then he would fly off and enjoy his time with Mrs. Fred.
We saw a lot of Fred and Mrs. Fred all through the summer. We had made a new friend. And life was at it should be.
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