A Trip to the Park

[Sally M]

This didn't start out good. In the car, on the way to the park, Penny felt compelled to sit on my lap (she usually is very good in the car). This is a tad difficult when I'm driving! I usually put our dogs in the backseat. Penny wouldn't have any of that. I should have taken this as a sign and turned around and gone home. Penny has been walking on a leash/harness (Easy Walk) in our neighborhood just fine. So I thought it was time to "graduate" to a park. Big mistake! Between the other dogs there, the geese and ducks, the strangers, goose poop...well let's just say the trip was a disaster. Everything "scared" Penny. Strangers were barked at. Geese were barked at. Dogs were barked at. Ducks were barked at. Even the fountain in the pond was barked at. She tried (but I prevented it) to eat goose poop. Not exactly something attractive to my palate, Penny seemed very interested in it. The trip to the park wore ME out! We walked around the pond. And I use the word "walked" lightly. After "wrangling" with Penny during the entire visit to the park, we tried to leave. I have a new car that kinda sits high. So Penny decided she didn't want to jump into the car. She weighs 40 lbs. so I couldn't lift her. I tried. I'm like "heave ho, let's go!". No cooperation from Penny. I tried putting the front half of her into the car and lifting the back half. No luck. This went on for a good 20 minutes. So how did I get my dog home? I had to call my DH and have him come to "rescue" Penny and me. He put her into his car and we both drove home. I needed a nap and some aspirin after that trip; it was quite the workout for me. Next time, DH goes with me in the first place.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Like Nancy, I giggle reading this, because it so sounded like something that would happen to me.  Like you I would definitely have needed a nap and probably dinner out too.  What a work out.  Tigger occasionally has his times when for no apparent reason he will not get in the car.  Mostly he hops right in, if he goes first of course.  If Roo is overeager and jumps in first, I have to persuade him to come out to have any hope of getting Tigger in.  I now keep doggy cookies in the car just to bribe Tigger on the occasional times the car is "scary".  Tigger will do anything for food which is fortunate as he weighs fifty pounds

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Lol! I sooooooo sympathize with you! Moose loves to try and eat poop too! I end up running and screaming after him "LEAVE THE POOP!!" His typical dog park routine is to try and eat poop then roll in poop or mud- which ever is more goopy. Also Moose at almost a year and around 100lbs still does not think he is able to get in the car! The dog is 28-29inches at the shoulder and more than tall enough to jump as he jumps on and off my bed as he pleases but when it comes to the car he will put his front paws on the seat and just turn his head to look at me like "your on the hook for the rest of me". He kills me but I can't help but laugh because he looks so earnest. Loved your post, glad there is some one else out there who has a funny dog too!

[Sally M]

LOL! Thanks! I tell you...handling a rambunctious 7 month old puppy when you're a "mature" woman is a challenge sometimes. But the rewards out-weigh the challenges, for sure! As far as geese are concerned, I have to agree with Laurie. But geese are part of God's creatures so I'm sure they have some purpose, other than being just plain obnoxious. Ha! I like the idea of a goose-poop toy. Let's invent it. We could get rich! Or maybe not. :-) Lori, congrats, again on Frankie aka Franc (personally I like "Frankie", BTW). We have a neighbor dog named Frankie and she's a female.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

"A Walk in the Park" can have, apparently, different meanings!  LOL  I love that you needed the nap.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have had these kinds of days before and I count geese among my enemies :) What purpose those darn birds serve I do not know. I feel your pain :) Enjoyed your blog. Thanks for the smiles.

[Amy and Annabelle]

They need to make a toy that looks like goose poop and lay it on the seat for her.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Giggled reading this.  I feel your pain though.