Once Upon a Time in the West: looking for just the right dog.

September 12, 2011September 13, 20119 Comments

I found my dog Tucker on the internet. I took one look at this little guy and knew I just had to have him.

It was the ears I think…

I contacted the seller and found that she lived in the Sacramento area. I told her that I really wanted her puppy, but that I would have to drive up to get him, and would she hold him till I got there. This is roughly a 400 mile trip one way! (Yeah, I’m nuts)

We talked a bit more and she asked, “Where do you live?”

I told her ‘Claremont,’ and she says, “Well, I’m going to be in Claremont in two weeks for a dog show, and I can bring him with me!”

He was meant to be mine, don’t you think?

Well, waiting was hard, but it was so worth it. When we met her there at the show she handed him to me. As I gently hugged him he tucked his little head in the crook of my arm, which is, if you haven’t guessed, how he came to be named Tucker. He was so tiny, and full of pistons and springs!

He still is

Over time we have learned that Tucker will eat just about anything he can get away with. Chicken and goose feed, pens, pencils, computer strap-tights, rulers, used tissues (gag) and CHOCOLATE, wrappers and all… Missing something? You’ll find it, in parts, under our bed!

BAD DOG!

We once found him under our bed with this stolen treasure… thankfully we got there before he had committed suicide by chocolate!

Well, the list goes on and let me tell ya, he is always gagging on it.

I recently noticed my little Tucker’s nose is going gray. Seems like he was a pup just yesterday. We had been under the delusion for quite some time now that he was only 4 years old…

The other day I asked my husband, “Why is his nose going gray already? He’s only four?” Then we sat down, and counting back, we realized he is 7 going on 8!

Where does the time go?

Shut up: there is no reasoning with a crazy woman

June 15, 201114 Comments

So yesterday my doorbell is ringing crazily, I get up and go to the door, open it, and… Nothing. No one is there, the mail lady’s truck is sitting at my post box and she is nowhere to be seen.

Weird.

I see that Helena my newest gosling girl is out and I run out for the tenth time to put her back inside her (electric) fence. (How does she do it?)

Suddenly the mail lady comes dashing around the corner and I make out something like…

DOG! CHICKENS!!!

I run to follow her as she goes back around the corner. And there he is. Twenty-five pounds of chicken terror on the paw and he has killed one of my chickens. I have been chasing that little dog out of my yard for weeks now and finally told the owner:

“Keep the dog in your back yard or I will call animal control!”

So after yesterday’s episode I called animal control. Later, when I thought the parents would be in I go to tell them what happened…

Lowlights of the conversation:

“This dog??? He’s been inside all day!” (NOT!) “That’s it this dog is dead!” (I don’t want you to kill your dog I simply want you to keep it in your yard!) “So the mail lady comes at 1:30, so why did you wait till now to come complaining?” (You were at work, I didn’t want the dog to get my baby goose too!) The lady marches to the back of the property and I hear “MARWAR!” (name withheld to protect the minor) “GIT OVER HERE NOW!!! The rest was unintelligible except for the part about killing the dog again.

At this point I loudly interjected: “I DON’T WANT YOU TO KILL YOUR DOG, JUST KEEP IT IN YOUR YARD!

We had this trouble (same neighbor) about a year ago when the two big dogs they owned then, got out and killed almost all of my chickens. Their solution? Send them to the pound. (You can read about that incident HERE)

Suddenly the lady is raging at me and calling me a liar, telling me her sons told her I had threatened to shoot them and their dog if they came onto my property again…

WHAT’S THIS?

Sorry lady but I don’t own a gun and I would never threaten anyone with being shot. I tried to reason with her (it didn’t work) and finally told her that her child had lied to her and left.

Meanwhile… the neighbors got an earful. I look over and there they are, standing there, just staring and cringing.

Why did I bother?

HINDSIGHT: When dealing with a lady who goes from a conversational voice to shouting in less than .00139 seconds, just shut up and leave. There is no reasoning with an irrational woman and in a moment you will end up sounding just like her. Honestly, just SHUT UP and walk away. It’s better in the long run.

Next time I’ll come prepared.

Good Boy!

January 21, 2011January 21, 20116 Comments

We went to bed last night knowing there was a fresh dusting of snow on the ground. And so it was that when I woke up this morning to the little dog’s whining and sniffing at my face to go out, that I found my self annoyed and not wanting to get up. Laying there all wrapped in my cocoon of flannel sheets and extra blankets I simply did not want to face the icy chill I knew was waiting for me.

But, the little dog was not taking no for an answer this morning. I grudgingly forced myself out of my comfort zone, and instead of letting the poor little dog out I thought, I’ll just let him out of the room and he’ll go find Bob. Bob will let him out! So I opened the bedroom door, and hearing those little tappy toes prancing down the long hall looking for Bob and the express pass to the outside for relief…

I closed the door and crawled back into my cocoon. Aaaah…

Just on the verge of sleep again I hear the little dog! BARKING! I snuggle down deeper into the warmth of my covers.

Arff…ARFF-ARFF-ARFF!

What the…!!!

I hop up to find the little dog sitting at the mud room door and barking at it. Apparently Bob was indisposed and little dog really wanted out! I feel bad now. Quickly I put on his little red jacket with the imitation fleece lining and send him out the door.

I’m up now.

Donning my robe and slippers I find my way to the kitchen, pour coffee, and then return to the mudroom to let the little Pupcicle in. Taking off his coat and wiping the snow off of his pads I tell him,

“Good Boy Tucker!”

Later this morning…