If I Can't See You, I Can't Hear You

Emme is a very reluctant photo model. When she went to Obedience School, she learned that when I call her name, she should look at me. She almost always does that. Except when I am taking photographs. I call her name and she very purposely turns her head away from me. If she can't see me, she can't hear me. At least that is the puppy logic. She doesn't want to get her picture taken so she ignores me.

Sometimes when she does not want to obey a command she will very clearly turn her head away and not look at us. I guess this is the dog equivalent of ostriches putting their heads in the sand, if they actually do that. I can't see you. I can't hear you. I don't have to obey.

When They are Out, They Want to be In. When They are In, They Want to be Out.

Emme and Rudy are like two little children. When they are inside, they want to be outside. When they are outside, they want to be inside. We have a wonderful deck at the lake house, with a gate to keep the dogs from wandering off. They could stay outside and smell all the Holmes County wild life smells for hours. But they only want to be out when Ken and I are outside. If we go back inside, both dogs want to come back inside too. They don't whine or bark. They just sit by the screen door and look pathetic. You would think that being outside would be good. But being with us is better.

I'll "Down Stay" for a Puppy Biscuit

Both Emme and Rudy follow me into the kitchen every time I go there. They love to hang around and see if they will get tastes of the food I am preparing for a meal or snack. Usually when I am cutting up fruit or vegetables, I give each dog a small taste. I am careful what I give them and never give them much, but they both love the tastes of "people food." We have never given either dog food from the table, so they don't expect any handouts and don't beg at the table. (With the possible exception of Emme whining for oranges. She has never gotten any table treats, but she loves citrus fruit so much she sometimes tries anyhow.)

When we first got Rudy, he was excited to be in the kitchen and wanted to be under my feet. That seemed like a recipe for disaster. I could just picture me tripping over him or dropping hot food or liquid on him, so I taught him to "Down Stay" out of the way. When Emme came to live with us, she watched Rudy and pretty much taught herself to "Down stay" in the kitchen. When they are in the kitchen and I am preparing food or Ken and I are doing dishes, Rudy and Emme plop down on the floor and just wait. For their efforts they get occasional people food or a half of a puppy biscuit. Small price for keeping the dogs out of our way. They are good dogs.

A Cat is Not a Squirrel

We have many, many squirrels in our yard and Emme pays no attention to them. They race over the grass, up and down the trees, make squirrel noises and generally are a nuisance. Emme could care less. She will often sit on the back of the couch and watch outside but she never makes a bark, a growl or any indication of attention to squirrels. Even when she is out on the porch with the glass doors open and only the screens between her and the squirrels, she pays them no mind.

That is not the case with cats. Although there are not many cats roaming our neighborhood, whenever Emme does see one, she watches it closely, begins her rolling growl, and sometimes barks. How does she know that a cat is not a squirrel? They are both about the same size, have four legs, one tail, and run around outside. Emme has never been up close to either animal. How can she tell the difference between a squirrel and a cat and why are squirrels okay in her yard, but cats are a different matter?

Barking at Ghosts

Emme has a very specific understanding of what makes up her "family." Family consists of Emme, Rudy, Ken and me. And Emme expects that all the time, as does Rudy. Three is not a family. Family means four. Period.

Emme is happy at either the Wooster house or the lake house because the whole family is there. Being in a different location is not upsetting to her, as long as all four of us are there. What she is not so crazy about is when a family member is missing. When Ken is gone from home and only the three of us are left, the dogs become hypervigilant. They know that he is missing and he should be at home, so they listen for every sound that might mean his car is returning to the garage. Both of the dogs spend much of the time he is gone,listening for strange sounds and barking as soon as they identify any sound that might mean he is returning. They spend their time "Barking at ghosts" all the time one of us is missing.

This morning I volunteered at the National First Ladies Library and was gone until early afternoon. Emme spent the morning "Barking at ghosts." At least I know she misses me.

Welcome Sweet Spring Time ... Really!

What a difference a few days make! Just a few days ago, we were buried in snow. Now spring has finally arrived. We spent a few days at the lake and there were daffodils and forsythia blooming in the yard.

We spent a lot of time on the deck and Emme and Rudy enjoyed that. They have two marrow bones that I keep in the freezer and when the weather is warm enough to sit on the deck, I thaw the bones and let the dogs chew on them outside. Once the bones were filled with marrow and had pieces of beef stuck to the outside. Now they are bare and almost completely hollow, but the dogs still love them. I go to the grocery store and buy a couple of beef femur bones from the butcher. I have him cut off the knuckles and cut the bones into six inch pieces. I take them home and boil them for 20 minutes. This will kill any bacteria in the raw meat and marrow. After the bones are cool, I put them in the freezer until the dogs can chew on them outside on the deck or the porch. This keeps any grease or meat residue off the rugs. Before we return from the lake, I put the bones back into the freezer to keep them for the next visit. They are inexpensive and long lasting chew toys.