lessons learned from pets

[Dan]

After work I took the Momma’s baby out back for a run. She is an Aussie shepherd. All auburn, (even her eyes) Red chest and heart of gold. Truly the Momma’s baby and follows her around like, well a dog. Wile out back with her, I realized how much I could learn from her. After an 18 hr day on 2 hrs of sleep, when I walk in the door, bath the people I love with wet kisses and make sure they know I need them more then my next breath. Be ready, willing and able to give up all so that they are OK. Sit when asked and play when invited. When nap time comes, have a paw on every body in the bed and reassure all not only that I am there for them, also that they are there with me.

But above all else, only pee in designated areas, or the neighbors point and laugh and Momma gets that look.

[Bikeguy Joe]

Nice!!!! I love dogs.

[Dave31]

Great

[Dan]

Old dog figured out a new trick. After dinner, I usually give her 2 "beggin strips" or 2 dog biscuits. With the pretend bacon things she just eats them down. With the biscuits, she takes one, doesn't chew, just stands there with it in her mouth, looking at me with a "How about the second one there Poppy?" LOL, I dunno if she is negotiating or trying to convince me she has no recollection of that event and would of course be in need of payment of a another.

[2door]

My foot warmer, my greeter, my big fuzzy friend. He's the 3rd Golden that has given his all to make make my life complete. Where would be we be without the love and devotion of these incredible animals who give us so much...and ask for so little.
Meet Baxter aka, 'Dad's Big Guy'
Tom

[Dan]

They really are amazing. Baxter is a great looking Dawg Tom.

[eDJ]

My family's ol' weiner dog passed away a few years ago and I still miss her. Just can't
bring myself yet to get another dog. These Daschunds are the National Dog of Germany
but there are paintings on the walls in the Pyramids of dogs which look like Daschunds
which leaves one to wonder about their real origin. My old German friend Manfred explained
to me that in Gremany they have a saying, "no family owns a Daschund - the Daschund owns
the family". Yes they are strong willed and stuborn but then Daschund means Badger Hound
and anything that would go up against a Badger had better have some resolve.

But in the last year I've had this little white ferrell kitten that's moved in on me. I've never really
owned a cat before and it's been a learning experience. Amazing creatures they are it seems
and this one has put my patients to the test all winter. I can get her the finest cat food, with
gravy, (cats seem to like gravy) and if I feed her in the morning she will eat. Any other time
of the day she'll lick the gravy off the food and take off leaving the rest for the Rat Terrier across
the way. I'd noticed late at night when neighbors put their garbage out for the truck to pick up
that this cat would be diving on the goodies with her butt and tail up in the air with nothing else
of her visable. I've wondered why she would eat garbage and then get snooty about fancy cat
food ?

Well the other day the little minx wouldn't eat like I wanted her to so I brought her paper plate in
and placed it in the kitchen garbage can, figuring if she showed up hungry again I'd sit it back
out there on the deck and the heck with opening another can for her. Well, she jumped on it
and all but ate the paper plate it was on. Couldn't believe it ! There is something consistant
about this too. Just sit it in the garbage can for an hour and she'll eat like she's starved.

So as that beggin strips product was mentioned, I had this thought for an advertising slogan
for cat food. "Cats don't know it's not garbage" !

Now in earlier times an Englishman named Rudyard Kipling wrote these "just so" stories.
One of which was titled "The Cat that Walked by Himself" where he tried to explain the Cat
to those who don't know cats. So if you're a person like myself that never knew about Cat's
before you can read this and see how it rings with you.

Just So Stories, Rudyard Kipling

^ ^
> . <

[Dan]

Truly sorry for your loss. No pain like that.

[Dan]

"Cats don't know it's not garbage" ! LOLOLOL. Be a great T-shirt too! If a cat could converse in words or understand our reaction, he or she would look at us with a puzzled look and ask, "wut?"

[deacon]

I knew there was a reason I loved bike people. It's because we get it on almost every level.