How Do You Greet Your Doodle?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Recently, Jane (Jane, Guinness & Murphy) wrote a discussion about "Our Energy."  She talked about how her DH would get her dogs so excited before taking them for a walk that they did not listen. All through her discussion, I was thinking about when I return home and saying to myself, "I do that...yep, that too...uh oh, I do that." My husband has long said that I contribute to the "excitement" level in our house.  Several times he has said that he thinks loud noises are contributing to the dog's energy levels.  The last time he said it, I had to stop singing long enough to ask him what were the loud noises he kept mentioning and all he said was, "I wonder."  Now, I have read tons of dog training books and I know what I am not supposed to be doing, but I just can't help myself.

 

We are homebodies, my DH and I, and most of the time when I travel, I start wishing I had Dorothy's red shoes that I could click together and get back home faster. One of the first things you see when you walk in my house is a large sign that reads It is good to be home.  My dogs are a big part of this feeling and here is the way I see it. My DH and I are in our 50's. Fudge and Vern might be the last dogs we have....our kids are grown and I don't have to set any examples. When I walk through the door, I am happy to see my dogs and I guess sometimes I do sing loudly or dance a bit, but Fudge and Vern are really the only audience I have that appreciates my dance moves and my renditions of Play that Funky Music White Dog or Sugar, Sugar, Fudgie Wudgie.

 

Truthfully, is there anyone else in your life that greets you as warmly as your dog does? When you come home, how do you greet your dog??

 

Waiting and Watching for Visitors:

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Well, of course you should be first in Bodi's affections :)

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Ha ha, well first it's a rare thing that Daisy is not with us. Yesterday she went with DH to her favorite walking trails at Sunny Lake (I have a horrible summer cold)...when they returned DH told me how there was a plant sale going on at Mobius which is the little nature hut there and thought that I might like to come down and pick a few things as they were really cheap. Even though I have this cold I couldn't pass up cheap. I first had to shower, dress, dry my hair, all the while Daisy is milling around figuring something is up. I was telling her how Mommy and Daddy were gonna be gone for less than an hour, she milled anyway. When it was time to go Daisy was the first one at the door. It's not easy picking plants with a 65# dog but that's what we did.

I also sing to Daisy...her name fits in so many different songs. She looks at me from over the back of the SUV's rear seat, this usually prompts a song, she stares at me through the rear view mirror, like "not again Mom" and flops down so I can't see her. Ha ha, I don't need DH to tell me to stop, Daisy does it for me.

Today we are going over to DD house for a couple of hours, it's gonna be too hot for Daisy in their yard and one of their dogs, the queen of the family Sophie, does not like Daisy so she will have to stay home. Already I can see her little sad eyes :o( We also prefer home and so does DD so we have to compromise sometimes. When we return Daisy will be at the back door waiting with a toy, it will be a loud and happy reunion.

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, Have a good time. How dare another dog not like adorable Daisy? Feel better too!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

If dh has been dogsitting - then I started calling Rooney the moment I step throught the door from the garage.  He'll already be heading in that direction because he heard the garge door go up and we share hugs and kisses right then.  If I've left him home alone in his ex-pen, then when I come in I try to ignore his adorable self while I put my purse, groceries or whatever down.  Then I'll go let him out of the pen.  His breeder taught us (and we don't do it on a regular basis - bad mommy) that we should ignore him at first as rushing up to him gives him the signal that he is pack leader.  Like we are paying homage to the king.  I try not to do it.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

It would hard not to shower Rooney with hugs and kisses the first minute you see him!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Laurie-the waiting and watching picture is just like Chloe & Myla-They jump all ove us with so much excitement, I think I do the same as you although I am not a singer-I know this is not proper but I miss them when I'm gone. You are not supposed to show excitement or talk to them and turn your back and ignore if they jump up blah, blah, blah! They're my babies and if this is one of the best parts of my days to see them so happy we are home! You are not much different than a lot of us I'm sure!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Jennifer! It does seem like most of us love to come home!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

That's really cute Laurie. I dance with Sophie too, and make up songs in her honour. She loves it. When I come home though she is always sleeping in her crate and pops her head up with the funniest bit of bead head sticking straight up. I let her out and she just yawns sleepily while I pet her. All of 10 seconds later the mood changes, and "hello sweet girl" turns into "SOPHIE! LEAVE THE KITTY ALONE!!" and that usually continues until I take her out to the dog park. Poor Penelope doesn't get any attention from me until later in the evening when Sophie has finally worn herself out and is too tired to be bother being jealous.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Our cat hates our dogs. She won't come near them and prefers to stay downstairs, where they are not allowed to go. We block their access with a small plastic lid and 90 pound Vern and 50 pound Fudge will not knock it down or jump over it.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I don't have a basement but I gate off the living room from everything else. But the kitty just sits at the other side of the gate and meows and gets Sophie all riled up. They're hilarious.

[Dori & Rua]

Situation 1 - I come home first and Rua is in her crate (happens most often):  Rua is in her crate and not making one single sound.  She is sitting by the time I walk through the house to the bedroom.  I usually say "How's my sweet girl?" or some other calm greeting.  I open the crate and move back so she can start her stretching routine.  First front paws out, butt up in air, stretch...then she comes out 1/2 way, repeat.  Comes out completely, repeat.  This whole time I am on my knees, backing up as she comes out.  I put her collar on as she is doing this.  When she is out off of the way she flips herself on her side and starts making snuffling noises as she buries her head into me.  I get up off the floor (easier said than done) and we go outside to go potty.

 

Situation 2 - I come home (DH is home so Rua is not in her crate) and open the back door.  She doesn't bark but makes little grunting noises.  She does try to do a bit of jumping which she'll get a "no jump".  I'll crouch down and she'll flip over on her side and repeat the last part of above.

 

When Papa comes home and she sees his truck pull in or hears the garage door, I'll say "Papa's Home" and we will run to the back door.  He comes in and immediately crouches down and we repeat above.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Dori, It sounds like you and Rua have your routine all down. I laughed at your getting up off the floor comment. I know the feeling :)