mutts4resue Archive

The Call of the Wild

The morning after our first significant snowfall,  Willie’s world was covered in cold, white powder ten inches deep.  I shoveled pathways around the house and out to the studio, then came back to let Willie outside.  He stepped out the door onto a path the width of a shovel blade, a wall of snow on
Category: Dog

Hail Cesar

I don’t watch much TV and I’d never seen Cesar Millan’s show “Dog Whisperer,” but Mutts4Rescue strongly suggested reading his book, “Cesar’s Way,” in preparation for adopting a dog. Now, I’ve shared long stretches of my life with two other dogs, but I’d been “dogless” for several years and thought a refresher would be a
Category: Dog

GQ Doggie

Chad, the fit and burly owner of my gym has not stopped ribbing me about Willie’s size — a running joke that I have sacrificed or somehow compromised my masculinity by choosing a small dog.   And since it’s actually Chad’s job to challenge me, it seems natural that our conversations during my training sessions sometimes
Category: Dog

New Routine

    The sun is coming up, and though I’m am early riser, it is not my habit to leave the house at this hour – especially when it’s 27 degrees.  Still, here I am lacing up my shoes to go for another brisk, 30-minute pre-breakfast walk with my new dog.  That brown-eyed, ten-pound creature
Category: Dog

First Day Home

I don’t know quite what I expected from this first day with our new dog, but I certainly hadn’t expected it to feel quite this… peaceful.   This pup is calm and gentle and friendly; he leash-walked like a pro, he cooperated during his first sink bath, and he hasn’t made a peep yet – not
Category: Dog

“Gotcha” Day

Today’s the day Richard and I finally get to meet our new pup and bring him home.
Category: Dog

Things to Buy…

        Here’s a partial shopping list I brought with us to PetSmart the night before “Gotcha Day” – the day we were to pick up our new dog: • Crate with padded liner • Warming pad • Leash and harness (Tony says Voyager or Four Paws) • Fish oil (add to food?)
Category: Dog

Foster Mom

I spoke at length with Keri, our (almost) new pup’s foster mom and adoption coordinator in Louisiana.  Keri had lots of advice for me and had answers to all my questions.  I scrambled to take notes and keep up with her. “Now barking and whining is all about attention and it’s best to deal with
Category: Dog

Anticipation

After nearly two weeks on the road – some of it work, some of it pleasure – this morning Richard and I are departing Savannah and heading for home. Bubbles began his journey home today, too; I check my watch and imagine that by now Rescue Road Trips has picked up from Keri, his “foster
Category: Dog

Frog Dog

Finally inside PetSmart for the first time ever, I take in the vastness of the store; aisle upon aisle of food and collars and bowls and toys; the “end caps” display grooming supplies, training videos, travel crates and other pet essentials.   The sales floor is loaded with sales associates in blue polo shirts – seemingly
Category: Dog