Just me and the Dog.....oh yeah and the two cats.

Sunday April 11th.

I'm home today, not feeling well, I woke up with a migraine, so I didn't go to church. I hate missing church, but I would have been miserable with a headache around other people.

It's my fifth day dog sitting for some friends in Gardens. They have a Rottweiler mix. She's really a funny dog-I mean her behaviors are strange to me. Granted I didn't grow up with dogs, I have watched enough t.v. and read enough books to know about some typical dog behaviors. She's 11, and I can tell she has some hip problems typical to large breeds. The owners gave me a few directions for her: feed twice a day, give her medicine wrapped in cheese, let her out back on the leash, and keep her away from small active children on walks. I took her for a walk during lunchtime the first few days, but I'm worried about her hips bothering her, so I haven't yesterday or today. When I was walking her Thursday, the lawn maintenance guys wanted to pet her. I warned them that she's not my dog, I'm only watching her and that she may be aggressive. I have also learned with dogs that if you as the owner (or dog walker) are calm, the animal will be calm. I would like to think that because I was calm and the lawn guy was calm, there was no problem. She laid down to get pet. The other thing the owner warned me about was her food habits. She gets protective when she has food and doesn't want you to come near her when she's eating. I've been the one feeding her and I don't perceive this as a problem at all. I give her space after I feed her, but I've approached her with food in her dish, and even petted her. I don't think she's as aggressive as her owners think, although they do claim that she's nipped at some kids before. My best guess is that the kids weren't respecting her space or treating her the way she needs to be treated.

This morning was funny. When I took Maxie (the dog) out I could hear an ambulance siren, police siren and so could she. She started howling, which she hasn't done at all. How funny. I hope the neighbors didn't mind.

The two cats are pretty great too. Sammie is shy and Maddy is mouthy and friendly. Neither of them will sleep with me like my cats, but I like them none the less. I'm not a fan however of the litter their owner uses. Tidy Cats Crystals. Now I don't like cat litter in general, but I prefer to scoop out the pee and the poo. With these crystals, they soak up the pee and turn yellow, the crystals don't clump and they don't sift well through the scooper. I think in the long run it's smellier than clay litter.

Overall I don't claim to be an expert on dogs but I do like to think that I have a way with animals, they like me and I can understand their needs. Maybe I should have been a vet assistant.


Nah, I'm good at my job. :)