Uncategorized Archive
Close to You
After Richard and I made the commitment to adopt our rescue mutt—but before we met him and brought him home—we visited a pet supply store for the first time in years. We perused aisle after aisle of brushes and beds and bones, and we pawed through piles of sweaters, toys, and collars. I tried hard
Category: Dog accessories
Dog Toys
Before we even brought him home, our dog, Willie, had a collection of toys we'd purchased in anticipation of his arrival.
Category: Dog accessories
Training Camp
So just what’s involved in training my dog in a few of the basics? Each night at bedtime I’ve been reading a few pages the Monks of New Skete book — a gift from my friends Joe and Kathleen – but I’m not reading enough fast enough and besides: reading isn’t going to help Willie
Category: Dog
Training Wheels
Willie is now nearly eight months old. A perfect time, I’m told, to begin training. This pup is smart and friendly and affectionate. He walks beautifully on a leash, he cooperates during sink baths, and he doesn’t chew things he’s not supposed to. But he seems to forget his name when he’s off-leash in our
Category: Dog
Calm, Submissive, and….Boring?
For the most part, Richard and I have followed the advice of the dog experts on how to keep Willie in a state of calm submission – the relaxed and easygoing state in which it’s easiest (for humans, anyway) to co-habitate with their dogs. I took this advice quite seriously, recalling the late and loveable
Category: Dog
The Sopranos
What is it about meeting a puppy that makes people who usually speak in normal and reasonable tones suddenly begin to squeal and squeak? What is it that makes people interacting with a small, young dog head for the highest reaches of their vocal register – and even beyond, into falsetto? I’ve observed this many
Category: Dog
Play Date
Friends joined us for lunch yesterday and brought along their little rescue mutt, a Jack Russell terrier mix named Mr. Chips. We’d been looking forward to this play date for weeks – meeting the charming and portable Mr. Chips had, after all, led directly to our deciding to adopt Willie. As I set the table
Category: Dog