Sleepy Head

Patrolling the Yard

I have a ritual every night when mom lets me out in the yard.
I patrol.
I may look like I’m just sniffing around, but I’m a good watch dog. And I have to make sure no bunnies are getting into my yard.

And no, I’m still not pottying out there, much to my mom’s chagrin.






While we were out last night, mom kept trying to take my picture. But I wasn’t feeling it. I decided to be stubborn and kept looking away from the camera.





P.S. from Laney’s Mom:
Later last night, I kept noticing Laney wandering into my bedroom. I let her know that she wasn’t allowed on my bed unless I was in there. And she does pretty well. So every time she disappeared in there, I’d ask her what she was doing. Usually, when I do, she comes walking (or running) out to the living room. But last night, she didn’t come out. I decided to go see what she was doing, and there she sat, just staring longingly up at my bed. Several times last night, she’d just sit there patiently, for quite a while, just staring at the bed. Then eventually, she’d come out and go back to her bed in the living room.
She cracks me up! And of course, I had to take a picture (below). She never broke her gaze from the bed.

Stop Taking Pictures While I'm Sleeping

Home Video: Laney at the Dog Park

Ouch

Laney and I love going to the dog park to play with other dogs and visit with their owners. But this is the 3rd time Laney has come home a little beat up. After last night’s tangle with a seemingly harmless dog, I thought Laney was just scared because the larger dog barked and lunged at her. Laney cowered, with her tail down, and walked slowly back to me for protection. Since I had missed most of the altercation, except for the other dog barking loudly at Laney, I didn’t coddle Laney. But I was freezing, and we had already been there over an hour. So I decided it was time to go anyway.

It wasn’t till she was in the car seat next to me, closer to my eye level, that I saw the results of what really happened. A short, bloody scrape on Laney’s cheek. Not quite as bad as the photo above, from two weeks ago. But in nearly the same place. And of course, I got a bit angry this time. It would be one thing if she was a large or aggressive dog. Instead, she’s on the smaller side, playful. And while she tries to dominate, she’s never aggressive. And she has about the softest mouth; my old cat bit harder (with sharper teeth) than she does.

I guess I don’t have to worry about the same dogs attacking Laney, as she hides from the larger dogs that give her reason. But it’s frustrating that Laney gets the raw end of the deal here. I hope we don’t have to end up just playing in the small dog area, since everyone migrates to the larger area (small and big dogs alike).

Laney may be a SuperPup, but she sure isn’t indestructible!

Graduation

On September 19th, Laney graduated from her Intermediate Training Class from PetSmart! Our trainer Dennis was great with Laney, and helped us with several issues. By the end of our 8 week class, Laney can now do a long sit/down stay with distraction, heel/walk without pulling (unless she sees another dog), come, back up, and several other handy tricks. Best of all, Laney began warming up to other people and finally took treats from the trainer. She's the only Beagle mix I've heard of that's not food motivated!

Laney's Adoption Story

After my 31st birthday, I started joking around with my mother that I was thinking about getting a dog. Always a cat person and growing up with them, I was never crazy about dogs. To say the least. But one day, my mother and I decided to just go check out the dogs at the local Humane Society. I had no real intent to adopt a dog, I just wanted to see what was out there. I own my own home and had recently had my roommate move out. Most of my neighbors own dogs. And I began to think about a canine companion. Meanwhile, over several weeks, I began looking around online to read up on different breeds and if I were to get a dog, tried to figure out which breeds would suit me.

On my first visit to the Humane Society, I met a cute medium-sized mutt who was very sweet, but clingy and nervous. I decided to go home and think about it for the night. Over the next couple days, I had pretty much talked myself out of that dog, if not the whole idea of getting one. But my parents came down that weekend again, and once again, my mother and I decided to go to the Humane Society to look at the dogs again to check them all out again.

Instead, I didn’t even make it to the back rooms where the dogs were kept this time. Out front, there were a couple dogs that caught my eye right away. One was a really cute puppy, and the other was a quiet small-to-medium sized dog whose info sheet read that she was a stray, already housebroken, and had basic training. Then I noticed that this 2 year old mix was part Shar Pei, which was the one dog breed that I’ve always admired because of those cute wrinkles. She was mixed with a Beagle, so according to the one of the workers, she wouldn’t have the health problems that many Shar Pei’s deal with, such as annoying skin conditions. The office worker told the volunteer to have me walk the Shar Pei/Beagle mix first, whom they had named Mai Tai.

I knew within minutes that I was falling for this dog. I asked about her adoption price, and what it would cost to put a “hold” on her. Meanwhile, I had assumed my mother would then try to talk me out of getting “Mai Tai.” But instead, with tears in her eyes, she said, “I think God put this dog here just for you.” And I knew then that she was right, and started tearing up myself. And so, I adopted “Mai Tai” (whom I immediately renamed “Lois Lane,” but ended up nicknaming “Laney”) on April 26th of 2008.

Little did I know how much love I could feel for a dog. She’s my constant companion, loyal, sweet, obedient, playful yet calm, smart, loves people of all ages, loves other dogs, and has the cutest wrinkles. My world seems to revolve around Laney now. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.