Leave No Poop Behind and Pay-It-Forward

WARNING:  This blog post is all about dog poop.  If that makes you squeemish, please click HERE.

If it doesn't make you squeamish, please continue:

I am now on my 13th year of living-in-a-city dog ownership, and I have developed a point of view on how to handle dog poop when on walks.  I had the strange epiphany that I have a POV on dog poop when on a recent walk at night with Rip.  He made me violate one of my rules, so I had to enact the other.

Let me explain:

RULE 1:  Leave No Poop Behind

I do everything I can to pick up EVERY turd that my dogs leave outside of my yard.

I know how hard it is for dogs to earn privileges to go places, and I know how upset people get when errant dog poops are found in parks, school grounds, their yards, etc.  I count myself as one of those people who gets upset at errant dog poop, so I do everything I can to pick up each and every turd my dogs leave behind.

Sometimes I even go to extreme measures to make this happen (think feeling around in the dark on the ground for something warm, and using random bits of trash as pick-up "bags" if I happen to have run out of bags in my pocket).

And I also have a favorite brand & style of dog poo bag.  It's the perfect size for the Cardigan Welsh Corigs, and has nice handles for tying and carrying.  Sure, having a favorite poo bag may be crossing the line, but there you go.

(I get them from PetEdge, by the way)

(this is an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper)

On our last night walk, Rip decided to roam while he pooped (so much energy.  can't stay in one place even to poop).  Since it's autumn, and it was night, and we were on a part of the street away from a streetlight, I'm afraid I may have missed a couple of turds.

Which brings me to my next rule...


RULE 2:  Pay It Forward

If I'm out on a walk, have an extra bag, and see another dog's poop that their owner hasn't picked up, I'll do it.  I pick it up and throw it away on behalf of the dog community.  This helps keep my neighborhood clean, helps keep my neighbors happy, and I think allows me a little bit of a "credit" to cover for the turds I may miss now and again.

Last weekend, for example, I picked up 3 dog poops from our local playing fields while The Small Human was playing on the playground.  I had some extra bags in my pocket - so why not?  (Oh, and special shame to those people who don't pick up poop on school ground.  GRRR)

I think of it as paying it forward - dog poo version.

So remember, if you're a dog owner who takes their dogs places, or walks them around a neighborhood or any other "public" place - Leave No Poop Behind and Pay It Forward when you can.

Advice on Choosing a Dog (for my "non-dog-crazy" friends)

Often I feel like I'm in the strange position of living in/between 2 worlds.  Let's call those worlds they "crazy dog" world and the "normal" world.  This post is not for my "crazy dog" friends - you'll know all this stuff.  This post is for my "normal" friends who decide they want a dog.  In case I don't talk to you before you take the plunge, please keep these things in mind before you get a dog:


DO NOT GET A DOG FROM A PET STORE.  
These dogs invariably come from a puppy mill somewhere (no reputable breeder would sell their dogs to a pet store) - meaning that dogs from a pet store are sending money to people who treat dogs like a cash crop, not like thinking, feeling beings.

FIGURE OUT WHAT TRAITS you want a dog to have.

Things like size, energy level, amount of training needed, how much grooming required, friendliness (to dogs and humans), protectiveness, and energy level (did I mention that already?) all really matter.  Think about what you want in a dog before you choose a dog.

BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR ANSWERS to the traits above.  

If you're not honest with yourself, you're asking for trouble.  E.g., a high energy dog means you'll have to exercise them a lot if both of you are to remain sane.  A dog may be really cute, but if it's not a good fit, both you and the dog will be miserable.

DO BREED RESEARCH. 

Find breeds that fit with the traits you're looking for.

There are a number of "dog breed selector" tools online that can help you narrow things down.  I also found a dog breed comparison chart online that I think is good.  Both of these can help you narrow down and/or compare breeds.

When you've narrowed it down to a handful of breeds do even more research to find out what the breeds are like to live with.  I'd start at the American Kennel Club breed index  and the breed club websites (just search for the breed name and "club" to get started).  What do they say about what it's like to live with this breed?  Go to some breeder websites.  What do they say?  Make sure your life fits with what the dog requires.

And YES, this matters even if you're getting a dog from a shelter.  Learning about breed traits means  you'll have an idea of what breeds/mixes you can live with - and those that you can't - when you're looking at a dog in the shelter.

FIND THE RIGHT BREEDER. 

If you're not getting a dog from a shelter or breed rescue, you want to find a great breeder.  This breeder will ask you as many (or more) questions than you ask them.  They will make you sign a contract, and provide references.  They'll check your references.  They will health test their breeding animals to try and minimize health problems prevalent in the breed. Their puppies will be part of their family.

BE WILLING TO WAIT.  

The right puppy from the right breeder may not be available right away.  This goes for shelter or rescue dogs, too.  Wait for the right dog to come along, one that really fits your lifestyle.

TRUST THE BREEDER TO CHOOSE FOR YOU.  

Breeders get to know the puppies they have, and put a lot of thought into which homes they place which puppies.  You may think one dog is the cutest, but that one may not be the best fit for you.  Trust that they want to match the right dogs with the right homes.  After all, they want both you and their canine babies to be happy together for as long as possible.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

It may take a long time to find the right dog, but be patient and enjoy the journey.  Your new dog will be part of your family (if you're lucky) for a long time, but a time that's always too short.  So enjoy it all!

Rip: The Host with The Most

It's the holiday season and many people are traveling, or preparing to travel.  Hospitality is of utmost importance, so I would like to share with you why Rip makes visiting our home so truly special.

 He is The Host with The Most!

Before you arrive, he will prepare your suite.

He will greet you at the door.

He will warm up a place for you to sit.

He will call you to the sofa when the movie starts.

Depending on how the night goes,

he will party with you...

...or snuggle down to keep you warm.

He's a great drinking buddy.  No drinking alone with Rip around!

(p.s.- lest you think I'm a bad dog owner, Rip did not drink this glass of wine,

but he will stick his tongue in your glass if you're not watching)

He will ensure that your socks are properly aired.

No need to bring an alarm clock!  

He will wake you up with a leap and a lick!

He will even bring you Starbucks!

Well, sort of.

Wanna read the paper after breakfast?

No problem, he's "saving" it for you.

And after you've gone, he'll clean up anything you've left out.

And THAT, my friends is why Rip is The Host with The Most!

My life in blogs

I have been a lackadaisical blogger lately.  I started this blog as a crazy dog blog, but lately life has taken over, and I've had less time to be a crazy dog person.  I knew I reached an interesting point when I started to think about the blogs I'm reading most now...


What I can relate to:

Through a fellow Cardi-blogger's blog,  I came across a blog called "The Everywhereist."  The blog writer writes about the "joys" of travel.   I was captivated.  I could SO relate.  I wasted a frightening amount of time on this blog last weekend.

Her air travel posts are particularly wonderful --  I've thought many of the same things she writes about - but she writes them in her blog in a humorous way.  I just grumble (or laugh) to myself.

The blog:  http://www.everywhereist.com/

The air travel posts:  http://www.everywhereist.com/category/air-travel/

My favorite so far is the 10 commandments of air travel.  They are very true, and if you fly at all you must read this before boarding the plane.  If everyone read this and followed it, the world on a plane would be a much happier place!

So read it (please):  http://www.everywhereist.com/the-ten-commandments-of-air-travel/


What I can't relate to:

Well, I can't really relate to blogs that I probably "should" be able to relate to, given that I have a dog to show and all.

Like this one on being a newbie to conformation showing:  http://dogshownewbie.blogspot.com/

Or, some of the blogs in my blog-roll that relate to competing in dog sports.

What is happening to me, and...


What should I write about?


Right now it leaves me trying to figure out what to focus on in my blog.

Some things I'm thinking

• The project that is Wagmore Farm
• Ziggy's recovery (because I am determined to post about this until the laziest of all Cardigans actually walks!)
• Rip and whatever he'll be doing in the near future

With a side of:

• Maggie as an old lady
• Work travel 
• Who knows what else

Until next time, here's one of my favorite recent photos of Rip.  Favorite because it captures Rip's personality really well.  He wants to work, I want to watch TV.  Guess who won?

Cardi Claus arrived!

Cardi Claus and I must have passed each other in the air, as I have received news from The Husband that he showed up the day that I left.

The Cardis and I are very excited with what Cardi Claus left.  Many thanks to The Chronicles of Cardigan crew for the package.


Maggie, Ziggy, and Rip are looking forward to their treats - a crayon was even included as a bonus treat for Ziggy! 

The Humans are thankful for the very cute ornament!

Thanks, Cardi Claus and The Chronicles of Cardigan crew!!

Finally, a weight is lifted!!

Remember I said life was murky?  Well, here’s what was dragging me down:

You may recall that in February I posted exciting news that The Husband and I were buying a property in Southwest Washington State.  If you don’t recall, here’s the link:  http://wagsnwoofs.blogspot.com/2011/02/can-we-move-there-now.html

I outlined in the post how we’d been looking for a property for over a year – trying to take advantage of lower property prices to get our feet/paws in the door. 

Well, I posted the good news a little too soon. 

Shortly after that post we had a home inspection done.  While the house looked great inside, there were some problems hidden from view.  Some pretty big problems.  Problems like mold in the attic, a water leak from the upstairs bathroom that hadn’t been properly repaired, water in the crawlspace under the house, and more! 

We started adding up repair estimates, and came up with a pretty significant amount of cash that would be required to get the house fixed.  So we sent a revision to the seller.  We finally heard back from them in mid-April (2 months into the contract).  They thought we were crazy and didn’t accept the revised price, so we were out.

We started looking for houses again. 

While all of this was going on, a property we really liked was foreclosed and auctioned/sold back to the bank.  We saw this property back in December, but the day we wanted to make an offer (literally, the same day) the property was taken off the market. 

Then, in late-ish April, we received word from our Realtor that this property was on the market again – this time listed for even less than it had been before!  We were so excited! 

Apparently a bunch of other folks were excited too.  By early the next morning, 2 other offers were already on the property.  The bank decided to give all the buyers (4 including us) until end of day Monday to put in their best offer. 

Our Realtor advised us to have the property inspected before we put in our offer, so that our offer was as “clean” as possible.  We took her advice, and had inspections done on Friday and over the weekend. 

We submitted our offer on Monday, and held our breath. 

A couple days later, we received the good news that our offer was chosen.  As an added bonus, we found out that ours was not the highest offer, but since there were no contingencies, the bank chose us!  Yippee!!

Well, sort of yippee.  We were soon to discover the joys of buying a foreclosed property.

Here’s a summary of the agony that has been the past 4 months for us:

• Bank sells property to us, but company specializing in REO properties (REO "experts") manage the sale for Bank.
• REO company has a very detailed, very strict contract - with bad terms for buyer (us) and no bad terms for them or bank.  How convenient.  We grit our teeth, curse at them, and sign anyway.
• Deal set to close in early May.
• Hassles regarding financing arise.  There’s a broken pane of glass and the roof needs $400 of repairs.  It seems like this will prevent financing (thanks, Fed Gov’t for those new rules!).
• Cr*p – if no financing we need to sweep cash from every corner to come up with purchase price.
• I tell our cats & dogs to get a job to help out with cash crisis.  They refuse.  The Child refuses to hand over piggy bank.
• We sweep up enough cash – but not before The Husband is nearly driven insane.
• Mortgage lender figures out a way for us to get financing.
• Previous property owner owes millions in back taxes so Fed Gov’t has a lien on the property.
• Oops, Bank doesn’t have the paperwork right.  Does bank own property?
• Fed Gov’t lien means we can’t close for another 90 days (Aug 5)
• Property listed as open space.  Sort out open space designation forms for county.  Nearly everyone in the county needs to sign form (or so it seemed…).
• Nearing August 5^th – hey, where has the county paperwork and title gone? 
• REO company doesn’t care where paperwork has gone, and suggests we just cancel the contract instead of them having to figure it out.  (insert expletive here) 
• Our Realtor says no way to cancellation.
• Our Realtor camps out at county office until paperwork is found. (Someone filed it in the wrong place…)
• August 5^th passes.  Contract extension until August 12^th.
• Other Realtors call our Realtor.  They have people who want the property.  Is it really going to close?
• August 10^th –The Husband and I sign all of our paperwork.  We’re ready to get the keys on the 12^th!
• Oh.  Bank still doesn’t have their sh*t together.  No closing on the 12^th.  But at least we’re in the queue (?!?)
• Contract extension to August 26^th.
• Title limping its way through the system. 
• The Husband bugs our title company and our Realtor nearly every day.
• Everything lined up and ready to close.
• Oh, wait, we need more of your $$ for taxes, since contract has drug on so long.
• My dad (bless him!) rushes a check for taxes to title company.

FINALLY, today it closed!!

We now, officially, own a house in SW Washington!

But now I’m worn out from typing this post, so I’ll share pictures and details tomorrow…

Right now life is a bit murky

I have been a bad blogger - it's been nearly 3 weeks since my last post.  Right now a few things in life are in flux and I'm just not feeling too inspired to post.  Nothing horrible is happening, just some things weighing me down.

Dog stuff has been weird.  Last week I had my trip to India postponed/cancelled for the THIRD time since March.  This stinks because each of the weeks I'm supposed to have gone there's been a dog show somewhat nearby.  Since trips to India consume two weekends, I haven't been able to enter.  The trip that was just cancelled overlapped with a 4 day show just a little over an hour away.  I didn't enter, as I was to be out of town.  The trip was finally cancelled two days after the show closed.  Grrr...

Since I didn't have any shows on the horizon, my training has been a bit haphazard.  Right now I'm:

• Working on dumbbell retrieves and drop on recall with Ziggy (in the great hope that one day he'll go into the Open ring).
• Working on various exercises with Rip:  teeter in agility, backing up, recalls and stays (this is a big gap for us now).
• Getting back into agility with Ziggy.  I made it into a local agility trial in early October.  It's at one of our local training buildings, so I'll have a chance to practice there a couple of times a week between now and then.

Hopefully some of the murkiness will clear up in the next week or so and I can get back to dogging and blogging.