The Shadow

[Lynda Kamrath]

I took both dogs out for a bike ride yesterday (my husband joined us) and they did pretty well except for Harpo wanting to jump on other riders when we encountered them on the trail.  We rode for six miles and then I took the dogs back to the car and my husband went for his normal fast ride while I took the dogs to a nearby dog park.

Anyway, THE SHADOW!  After we got home, I found four ticks on Harpo and two more today.  He's getting used to lying on his back while I check his underside.  But Groucho Too - not one tick found and I really looked him over closely.  He has very thick hair, but we decided that it is his coloring.  He is very soft on his feet and ticks just don't see him because he just looks like a shadow.  This is nothing new, Groucho very seldom had ticks when we took him out with Hondo, but Hondo would be covered with them.  Thick, curly hair, or dark coloring??

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Did you guys run while you rode for six miles?  What awesome exercise.....they must have been tired and very happy.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Wouldn't it be great if you could figure out how Groucho avoids ticks and spread the knowledge to the rest of us.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, they did run right by my bike, but I do stop quite frequently.  Harpo was tongue dragging, and drank a lot of water, but when we got to the dog park, he was right back in actionl.  That dog never stops!

I don't know how Groucho Too avoids ticks.  I don't give them Frontline because Harpo is always biting on Groucho's neck and besides, I do not like insecticides in my bed.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Yes, but I would not like TICKS in my bed either...this is a problem.  Interesting theory you have about the curly, dark or thick.  I know when we had Gracie Doodle up there two Christmas's ago she got ticks and Ms. Luna (Rhodesian) did not.  Though Gracie was poking her head in bushes and Luna did not.  Gracie is light, thin coated compared to Groucho Too and not very curly.  But then again, Luna is as sleek as a seal!  Go figure!

[F, Calla & Luca]

The Frontline is applied directly to the skin and dries quickly so that I don't think the chemical is likely to get on you or the bedding. The dogs sometimes get small ticks on their fur anyway and the idea of a tick in the bed is far worse to me. Luckily the dogs are light and I can usually spot them easily--or I hope so. After all, my dogs not only have Frontline but Lyme vaccine and I have neither : (

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We had our first tick of the season on Vern yesterday and the thought of one of those ending up in our bed gives me the willies. I guess it is the lesser of two evils, but I do Frontline Plus religiously. You are so lucky it is warm enough for you to ride and with your dogs too. I can't wait for Spring.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Bah humbug to ticks.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, I hate them too, but not much you can do about it if you hang out in the wild areas.  Actually, both my husband and I had ticks on us also when we got back from our ride.  They somehow get under your clothes and biking clothes are pretty snug.  We check each other and the dogs when we get home.  I had one under my bra (3 layers on top) and another was under my toothbrush (where in the world did it come from?)  We wash them down the sink or flush down the toilet and I don't think they could escape the septic system, but who knows.  I am going to start the Frontline as soon as the dogs have baths, but since we don't take it, there is still the problem of us getting ticks.  It is always an on-going battle around here with our walking/riding habits and locations.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

So I am wondering why I thought that ticks were not around in the cold, winter or snow?  I guess not!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Around here, NJ, they usually are gone from about Jan. to march or April. I haven't seen any yet but soon. I see more of them late fall.

[Joan, Louie and Mila]

Just saw the first one here in PA on Saturday...