Remind Me Again.....Why??

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Remember how I was just lamenting how much I missed my dogs while I was home with my mom.  Can someone tell me why?   The homecoming was heartwarming.  When I pulled up in the car, I could see the dogs standing in the foyer window and hear them excitedly barking once they spotted me.  No sooner had I parked the car and John opened our door and let them out. This wasn’t one of those crazy reunions you see in commercials where both parties run in slow motion up to each other and embrace.  Those dogs tore out of the front door like their bottoms were on fire and ran at me full speed, which can be a scary thing when you are the one waiting to be greeted.  Round and around they went, barking and jumping, wrestling each other for the closest spot, and exhibiting levels of excitement rarely seen before.  I was just as happy to see them as they were to see me and it was only after I hugged each one of them that John was able to get his hug. They couldn’t get enough of me. Fudge circled like a vulture around the kitchen, dining room, and living room, while I was eating dinner, and I knew she was waiting for me to go back to bed so we could cuddle. She is not a big licker, but I got lots of kisses and at one time had her cuddling next to me on the sofa and Vern gazing at me on the other side letting me know he would like me to hold his paw.  Fudge even continued to lick me the next day, like she was thanking me for coming home, and Vern has been thumping his tail whenever I walk by him.   A glorious reunion and surely the momentum would carry me through the next few days. WRONG!!

I am not getting out of the car until mom says she is staying put!

Look at me, mom! I will eat tree leaves unless I get your undivided attention!

I thought it would be fun on Wednesday to take the dogs to the park and let them swim.  Keep in mind the only way Fudge could ever swim off leash is if I brought her crate, put her in it unleashed, shut the door, and submerged it in water.  Since that seems cumbersome and more like an illusionist’s trick, I opted to bring her long 30-foot leash instead.  I was feeling so confident I brought my camera, too. It is a testament to how much I love my dogs that I was willing to walk down to the water and risk seeing a snake in the grass.  Luckily, we got to the water with no problem and I let Vern off leash and hooked Fudge up to her long line.  I even snapped a few pictures and then the trouble started. 

So far, so good!

Hey Vern, Let's Get this Party Started!!

Fudge decided to walk parallel to the shore while I was snapping away and ended up down a ways with most of her line stuck, and I mean stuck, in the roots found along shore.  I realized that I had a serious problem because Fudge likes a good yank on the leash combined with a hearty “COME,” before she even considers doing it.  Without the yank, I was screwed.  Eventually, Fudge decided that she was bored with her little area that the stuck leash provided and tried to make her way back to me to no avail. 

 

Meanwhile, Vern was enjoying his newfound freedom and running into the water, back out, making a loop around stuck Fudge as if to say, “hey Fudge, look at me, nan a nan a nan na.”  In between, he was rolling in the grass, gravel, and anything else he could find to adhere to a wet, unsupervised, dog. 

If anyone was within earshot they would have heard me yelling, “Vern, come! Vern, sit!  Vern, stop rolling!  Vern, get in the water and stay there! Vern, stop teasing Fudge!  Damnit Fudge, how did you get yourself in this mess!  Who thought of this dumb idea?  When I get home I am selling you both on Ebay!” By the time I got Fudge unstuck, Vern was a mess. 

Not only did he have gravel and grass throughout his hair, somewhere in all the mayhem he must have located some kind of ground cover to run through and he also had little bits of prickly bush everywhere.  I had to take his collar off and shake it out because clumps of grass and sticks were sticking out from under it and it gave the appearance he was wearing a wacky homemade collar of sorts. I will say when I told him to sit and stay, he listened like a champ, and it allowed me the opportunity to wade my way towards Fudge and free her from her bondage.

 

Since I am a glutton for punishment, I thought maybe with Fudge free it would get better, but I was wrong.  A sane person would have packed up and left, but I stayed for “round two” which consisted of Vern running in circles around Fudge, into the water, out of the water, around a group of bushes, and a quick jab at Fudge to invite her to follow suit.  I became concerned when Fudge decided she had enough and it was time to put Vern in his place and they began to romp.  I had visions of the Park Ranger finding me wrapped up tightly in Fudge’s long line with Fudge sitting reluctantly by my side and a huge, crazy, half canine/half debris, white dog still running in a loop around the both of us. It reminded me of an episode of Cheers when Carla’s unruly kids had tied Cliff Clavin up and threw him down the bar’s steps when he was supposed to be babysitting them.  At that point, I decided enough was enough and collected our gear, my dogs, and headed home.  All the way home I was asking myself what I had missed so much about these two Doodles.  I still had no answer when we got home and I hosed Vern off.  I know it will come to me soon.

Right before the hose off!  Gearing up for his cold shower!

Much better!

What does a girl have to do around here to get some attention...eat sticks??

[F, Calla & Luca]

You have reminded me why, except for walk, we mostly stick o the back yard. Then everyone can be off leash including me, without too much chaos. I kind of figure they don't know what they are missing and so they don't miss it. But it seems like you all had a wonderful adventure.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Great blog.  Love the photos.  My favorite is Vern right before his bath.  I do have to say though that I'm so thankful you were going to sell them on Ebay because if you put them on Craigslist you would be in big trouble!  lol!  I'm sure they are back in your good graces by now and the Ebay ad has been cancelled!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I think you got exactly what you deserved for being away so long! I'm sure they never in a million years would have acted this way at the lake...never! Love, love, love the pics! All is good in their world now!

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

They are adorable..Vern rolling around is hysterical, and Fudge eating sticks for attention...LOL..welcome home!!!

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

The answer to your question is obvious in this blog. Re-read it, Laurie. You'll get your answer.

[Jennifer and Jack]

That was a great home coming!!! I can NOT wait until my homecoming. I am counting the days...I have a feeling Jack will give me his hiney when I get home..he always Initially says hello...then won't come near me till I say enough dog Mary's and am forgiven..

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

What a welcome you got! I love how they greeted you and wouldn't let you out of their sight! That joy must have just carried through to the park, they just couldn't help themselves! Love the photos you got. How in the world you were able to handle two doodles AND a camera is beyond me! I need some lessons! 

[Camilla and Darwin]

LOL, sounds like the perfect welcome home from doodles, what else can you expect? They are too cute, even filthy. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

OMD now I KNOW that I am a really mean, strict "Doodle Mom".  I need to lighten up...I have to figure out how to do that.  My guys do the running around, barking, jumping greetings for DH when he picks them up from Daycare (he's the fun parent).  When I pick them up the Daycare owner tells them ahead of time "It's Mom, so you better behave"...they can see me arrive on the lobby cam.  I'm glad you're home with the Doodles....now all's right in the "Laurie, Fudge and Vern World".

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Wow, your doodles really know how to throw a welcome home party! Are you sure they weren't drinking before you arrived? And if you disappear one of these days we now know to tell the searchers to be on the lookout for a woman tied up with a dog leash-dog attached-being circled by one giant debris doodle. I'm sure they'll find you in no time. :)