The Peacemaker

Guinness loves everyone, even if they don't love him. Once in a while, we encounter a malicious dog. With such a dog, Guinness might bare his teeth and bark back. But the norm is that he remains quiet, subdued, and backs away if the other dog's body language indicates he does not want to be friendly. With that attitude after meeting the hostile dog a few times, the oppugner begins to soften his demeanor towards Guinness until they are friends. This has happened in recent months with Shamus, a Wheaten Terrier (Terror? ha!), and a 15 year old yellow lab, Ben.

Guinness and Shamus

Dangers in the Park

Yesterday, Guinness found a couple of piles of birdseed shells/husks under spruce trees at doggie park. Apparently, some idiot cleaned out their birdfeeders in the park. It was futile to keep him away from the phony treat while off leash, so I reasoned: it will not hurt him; it will all come out in the end.

Late yesterday, he seemed to be gagging, so we ran outside. Nothing happened. In the middle of the night, he was barking in the den. We relented, allowing him to sleep with us so that we could sleep -- never considering that he might be in distress. This morning before daylight, Grant said he pooped everywhere, sometimes diarrhea, and to watch where I step when I go out. Then I remembered the birdseed shells. Oops! We went out again a couple of hours later, and he pooped quite a bit more! I saw that it wasn't diarrhea, but just all those shells coming out as small pieces.

I didn't want to take him to doggie park to eat more, yet how could I ever take him back if it wasn't cleaned up. So I decided to take the pooper scooper, a bucket and garbage bag, a sign asking the culprit to please not do this again, hammer, and nails. I tied him to the baseball field fence and went to work. I found four piles of the stuff and filled my 2-3 gallon bucket. After I hung a sign on the one deciduous tree that had a pile of the stuff under it, now cleaned up, I took a photo. ha!

Fun Day at the Park

Now that freezing temps and snow are here, no one is regular at doggie park. Whatever time of morning I go, I usually find some friends there. Today it was Crash (the other chocolate), two Wheaten Terriers, and Guinness (with the green collar). Guinness did his own thing for the most part this morning which included stealing my mittens numerous times. He also met the Wheaten Terriers' "mother" for the first time, and did NOT make a good first impression. He was determined to pull her gloves off and, since he smelled treats in her pocket, kept jumping on her. Meanwhile, the other three dogs played and played -- mainly erotic games. LOL They were soooo funny!!!! Usually one was at Crash's head and the other at his tail, but Crash loved it!


Friday, Shayla, a Golden, was there. When we arrived, she was racing around the field with a large, dead crow in her mouth . Her mother was desperately trying to catch her and remove the frozen bird, but Shayla was not to be caught. We two other dog mommies there tried to help. When Shayla was nabbed, only for a few brief moments before escaping, she had NO intention of giving up her prize. Once, while her mom held her, I managed to break a large part of the carcass, with entrails exposed, out of her mouth, then the mom was able to remove the rest. What a gross experience!

Time for a Car Wash

When I go out in the car, Guinness usually comes with me. Today, we traveled to my grocery store which is next to Petsmart. Guinness always hopes that the trip is for Petsmart, though we only shop there once every couple of months. He starts barking and jumping around as soon as we pull into the parking lot, and he continues to bark after I leave the car. Sometimes he gets all the other dogs in parked cars barking with him. Quite the cacaphony.

Today, a sloppy, snowy day, he was more insistent than normal that he was going shopping too. The little sneak! As I slipped out of my driver's seat, he rushed me from behind, pushing me through the door and escaping across the parking lot at high speed to the wide sidewalk between the two stores. A grocery cart collector was hot on his trail. He made a sweep past the automatic doors of the grocery store, opening them, but thankfully he never noticed! He ran to an elderly lady wearing a full length mink coat who was calling to him. She grabbed his leash (I always leave his leash on him in the car so that I can grab him if he tries to escape.). "I have had two labs," she said, "so I understand." Another store employee dressed in white came to meet this crazy dog. He jumped on her, leaving muddy paw prints on her work clothing. She said, "It's OK. I wear an apron anyway." Both women followed us to our SUV as I pulled out the ramp for him. They offered to hold his leash for me. I thanked them, but said, "He will calm down better with just me. Having you here will keep him excited."

After finishing my grocery excursion, I returned to the car to discover that his muddy, salty paw prints from his race around the parking lot, were smeared all over the front and back seats as well as the rear of the vehicle. This may have been his last time to go grocery shopping!

The Boy Goes Home

We had one inch of snow on the ground this morning! We skipped doggie park in favor of playing in the snow! Guinny was tied to a tree while Kevin made angels and slid down hill.

This character is not an angel, but he is cute.

On our way to the airport, Kevin started crying -- actually sobbing -- for at least 20 minutes! "I miss Guinny Winny. I love Guinness. Why can't he come too?" Poor boy. Nothing appeased him.

This evening, Grant could not find Guinness anywhere. Finally, he found him sleeping on Kevin's bed! He misses the boy too!!!

The Boy and Dog Have Bonded

Kevin had fun playing under the shelter of a grove of spruce trees at the edge of doggie park where I usually don't let Guinness go. So Guinness liked it too!

At the beginning of the week, I suggested to Kevin that Guinness could sleep with him. He was not overjoyed with that idea! However, he is so used to Guinness now and loves him so much that I thought it just might work tonight. After we read our bedtime story, I called Guinness in, he jumped on the bed, and I said "Goodnight." I expect they both will snooze peacefully until morning. Guinness will want to wake up before Kevin, so we will have to be diligent to not have Kevin awake at 7 AM too!

More Fun with a Little Boy!

It was late morning before Kevin and I made it to doggie park. Crash, the 21 mo. old chocolate lab we met a couple of days ago, was there again! They did some running together,

but also enjoyed just cooling it and sniffing together.

While Guinness rested on the grass, Kevin decided to roll around the field. Silly boy!

A bath kiss!

New Year's Day

We all slept in this morning, so we were late going to doggie park, but we finally had some friends there to play with! There were a 21 mo. old chocolate and two Wheaten Terriers. Kevin ran around with them as if he were a puppy too!



I am convinced that dogs know their own breed and even their color. Guinness always seems very happy to meet another lab, and especially a chocolate one!



Kevin brought two sticks in the car. He opened the little door between the back seat and the rear so that Guinness saw the sticks. Guinness forced his big body through that little hole to get the sticks. ugh.



Kevin chose Christmas carols for me to play on the piano and he sang along with me. At one point, I turned around and he was hugging Guinness, so I grabbed my camera. I couldn't choose one; I had to post four!