Happy Halloween!

Pablo is dressed as a low-budget Internet Meme for Halloween.

Cat Stuck in Your Interweb?

According to the September 2012 issue of Wired magazine "only one thing competes with porn for internet real estate, and that thing is cats."

Dog Shaming

Don't know about you but it's been a long week and I think we all deserve a mindless Friday diversion as a reward. This "Dog Shaming" website has been trending on the web lately. Folks submit photos of their dogs with signs describing their naughty and mischievous deeds. Given our issues with Andy I wonder how many of these dogs actually have serious behavioral issues and how many of them simply have owners that like to ham it up. Either way the website makes for some good laughs on a Friday afternoon. Enjoy!

The Doggy Diet

The other night I was craving something sweet so I decided to have some ice cream. I sat on the couch (ok, ok I was actually lying down on the couch) with a bowl of mint and chip (um...I lie...it was the entire tub) and a good book. As I was happily reading and spooning away at the ice cream I noticed Andy on the floor staring up at me. He eyeballed the tub of ice cream eagerly. I told him, "Sorry boy. Can't share. This ice cream has chocolate in it," before returning to my book.

A couple minutes later I heard Andy's claws clicking and clacking on the wood floor as he shuffled his paws impatiently, reminding me that he was still there and that he was still waiting for some ice cream. I looked down at him and he had long threads of drool hanging from his lips. At this point I felt horribly guilty for not sharing. I got up, put the ice cream back in the freezer, wiped Andy's drool, and got back on the couch with my book (all the while wishing I was still eating ice cream). The doggy diet - most effective diet I've ever been on.

Sleep Interrupted

I've been having trouble sleeping lately. This seems to happen on and off throughout the year. Sometimes it's triggered by the hot weather and other times I can't sleep because I'm feeling anxious about something. It's not so bad that I want to take anything for it but I was intrigued when I saw an ad the other day for a product called ZzzQuil, a "nighttime sleep-aid" manufactured by Vicks; the good folks that bring us NyQuil. If it's anything like Nyquil it'll knock me out in no time and I'll sleep through the night.

I think my recent sleep issues are actually tied directly to Andy. He's gotten into the habit of crawling in and out of the covers at night (Why yes, Andy, Pablo AND Diego sleep in our bed). This means he scratches at the covers any time he wants to go under and this always wakes me up. I've also woken up on many an occasion to his legs stretching into my back. I vaguely recall that one night he actually rolled me off the bed. Thankfully I somehow managed to land on my feet. Maybe I should be giving the ZzzzQuil to Andy. Don't people do that with babies and Benadryl? I'm just kidding. I would never do that... 

Less Buffy and More Andy Please!

We've been watching a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer lately. 3 seasons worth to be precise. Andy is glad to know that we'll be shelving the rest of the series for a later time. He was like, "Come on guys. The Master was an ok nemesis in season 1, though I could've done without that obnoxious anointed kid. Spike and Drusilla were pretty great in season 2, but season 3 - the mayor? Come on this is taking for-ever...ascend already so Buffy can get with the slaying!"  

Smelly Pups | Puppy Smells

I read an article on Yahoo the other day titled "Why Your Dog Stinks." The author identifies a number of potential sources, environmental and physical, for unpleasant dog smells:

• a dirty coat
• smelly things a dog may have rolled in (trash, poop, etc.)
• dirty bedding
• a skin infection
• dental issues (tooth infection or gum disease)
• ear conditions
• gas from intestinal issues
• secretions from anal glands

I don't deny that Andy can get a little stinky now and then but how come no one ever talks about the good smells associated with dogs? I mean, have you ever had the pleasure of smelling a puppy? It's a strangely delicious combination of warmth, milkiness, and sweet diarrhea. Trust me. Good dog smells aren't just reserved for puppies either. A month or so after a bath Maxwell would always develop a nice musky scent right around his neck and behind the ears. Andy has a unique musk that I've never smelled on a dog before and it's really grown on me. While I'm at it, cats can smell pretty darn good too. Sometimes when I nuzzle Diego's neck I get a whiff of baked goods. Seriously - baked goods! Such an appropriate smell for my husky little boy.

An Early Evening Stroll

We took Andy to the park today. 
It was hot and like a 1000% humidity.
And then Andy rolled all over a dead mouse. 
Should have stayed home. Ah well. Done is done.

Puppy Projectile

I call Andy a rocket pup. My husband calls him a pupedo. Why? Because Andy loves launching himself, full speed ahead, off things and at things. This puppy projectile is highly unpredictable. Peaceful moments of silence are often broken by the sound of Andy's nails skittering on the floor as he heads towards his intended target. Sometimes he launches himself off the couch, pushing his hind legs off it in order to increase velocity and maximize impact. The cats are favored targets of rocket pup. My chest, when I'm lying on the couch, is another favored destination. When you hear pupedo launch be sure to brace yourself and take cover! Pow!  

Momma Bird

I don't know if this is something I should be confessing on the internet...but...on occasion I like to pass food to Andy mouth to mouth. I'm not pre-chewing or regurgitating the food mind you (gross!), there's no tongue involved (yuck!), and it's almost always raw vegetables I'm talking about. I hold the food, a baby carrot stick for instance, in my my mouth and make Andy pluck it out to eat it. It's an exercise in trust and a way for me to bond with my boy. I've done this with all my dogs. Anyone else do this? Or at least willing to admit it? Or am I really just that weird? 

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

According to an article on animal.discovery.com (Animal Planet's website), 

Dogs use their tails to communicate strong emotions such as agitation, annoyance and anger as well as happiness...The original purpose of the dog's tail was for balance. It prevents him from toppling over as he makes sharp turns while running or swimming. The tail also balances him when walking along narrow structures, climbing or leaping. Over time, the tail adapted itself to playing a vital role in communication, particularly when a dog is just walking or standing around.  

According to the same article this is how to "read" a dog's tail:

• wags to the right = happy
• high and wags back and forth = happy
• horizontal to the ground = nosy
• tucked between hind legs = frightened or submissive
• wags to the left = frightened
• wags low = worried or insecure

Andy's Tail

Andy's coat is a lovely reddish-brown. His chest has a splash of white. He also has a dab of white on his chin and a wee bit on the edges of some of his toes. His muzzle has a touch of fuzzy black; like a five-o'clock shadow. His tail is...something else. The topside is 50% black and 50% reddish-brown. The underside is solid reddish-brown. It looks like another dog's tail got slapped onto his rear end. A touch of his mom and a touch of his pop I imagine. And yes, it does wag. It wags quite nice in fact and is a delight to behold.  

Hiccup Pup

Ever since Andy was a wee pup he's had the hiccups at least once a day. We don't know when they'll happen but they always do. He usually gets out about half a dozen hics before it stops. His mum thinks they're adorable!

Shedding, Sweeping, and Sisyphus

How do people with hardwood floors stay on top of all the fur their pets shed? I feel like I'm constantly sweeping and the minute I slack off I get a pile like the one you see above. That's less than a week's worth of accumulation (and that's not even counting upstairs)! Even Andy's grossed out. Sometimes I feel like it's a pointless endeavor. I sweep. The boys shed. I sweep. The boys shed.
 
These not so lovely piles also include plenty of animal dander. Fur + dander = sneezing, endless nose dripping, and red itchy eyeballs. My allergies have gotten so much worse ever since we relocated to Pennsylvania, moved into the loft, and added a second cat to the menagerie. I'm constantly having to cycle through different allergy meds as each one inevitably loses effectiveness over time. I complain, but really, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my boys!

Andy Says Relax

Nice Things

When we moved into our loft 4 years ago we arrived sans couch. When we went to move our old couch at our previous place we discovered it was completely wedged into the spot it had occupied (it was a really tight spot!). You would think since we got it in there surely we could get it out but some mysterious force held it firmly in place and it just wouldn't budge. We ended up having to saw it in half and decided it wasn't worth dragging 2 halves of a couch to the new place.

When it came time to buy a new couch I fell victim to temporary insanity because as you can see vanity completely trumped practicality in my selection. I mean, who buys a light blue couch when you have pets? Even if it is covered in microfiber? But I just couldn't resist the color, the elegant lines, and the classic  tufted cushions. I knew it would be perfect in the loft. When the couch was delivered I was determined to keep Maxwell off it. Maxwell was determined to make it his luxury bed. Guess who won? In beginning I was vigilant about vacuuming fur and sponging stains off the couch. The first time Diego decided to use the matching ottoman as a scratching post I fumed. This is why we can't have nice things! I now wholeheartedly accept that fur, drool, vomit, pee, and occasional anal secretions (ew) are all a part of pet ownership and I wear them as badges of honor. Well, only the fur really.

Circadian Rhythms | My Dog the Alarm Clock

Tock from Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth

According to the National Institutes of Health, 

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment. They are found in most living things, including animals, plants and many tiny microbes.

Circadian rhythms affect our hormones which in turn influence our sleep-cycles. Generally speaking we're all subject to these rhythms; as are our pets. I've always been amazed at how spot on a dog's internal clock can be. Maxwell used to wake up at 6:00 a.m. (give or take a couple of minutes) pretty much every morning - right on the dot. He loved to eat and made sure we woke up with him and filled his bowl with food. Around 5:50 p.m. he would start to get restless in anticipation for dinner. If we didn't feed him right at 6:00 p.m. he would lie down on his belly and stare at his bowl. It was so sad and cute at the same time.
 

Andy's been having some difficulty adjusting to our daily routine; at least in the mornings. His internal clock has been going off early - 5:30 a.m. early! Every morning I tell him, "Andy, it's too early. Get back in bed." He typically ignores me and goes downstairs before eventually making his way back up. In the meantime I can't go back to sleep because I'm paranoid he's going to pee on the floor. These early morning interruptions to my sleep are starting to take their toll. I know half an hour doesn't sound like such a big difference but I value every minute of shut eye I can get. Sleeping in seems to be a thing of the past. Sigh.

Rude Awakening

I woke the other morning to the sound of Pablo vomiting. I should have gotten up right away and cleaned it but I was tired and hesitated. Next thing I knew Andy did the work for me and I just went back to sleep. Catch my drift? I've never let that happen before. Can't say I wouldn't let it happen again if I was tired enough.

Corn Chip Paws

No one wants to admit to sniffing their dog's paws but let's just say one day you happened to get a whiff in passing and you noticed the distinct smell of corn chips. This has happened to me...on more than one occasion...by accident of course. According to a Q&A on dogster.com:

Bacteria and yeast naturally reside on the skin of all animals, including cats and dogs. The feet of both species contain many folds and pockets, such as the areas between toes and the spaces between the foot pads. These areas have increased levels of moisture and decreased air circulation at the level of the skin.

The increased moisture and decreased air circulation in these environments enables the resident bacteria and yeast to proliferate exuberantly. These micro-organisms give off odors, and I suspect that they are the cause of Frito feet.

Frito feet? I've never heard it called that. Sounds salty but delicious...