Visiting Jack for Thanksgiving

These two dogs are fast friends forever. They adore each other. Their play shows so much love. Guinness is dominant, simply by his size over the growing Jack. But he purposely lets Jack win their games. It is an equal split. First Guinness wins, then he lets Jack win.


Since my son-in-law's new lawn is not yet fenced, the dogs have to go outside on a leash. It is a trick to take the two dogs, one a trained adult on a short leather leash and one a half-grown puppy on an extendable leash, though I keep it at a set length. Of course, they want to go in opposite directions with the leashes becoming tangled. I imagine the neighbors watching the circus and laughing -- at my expense. After completing their morning constitution, I have to hold two leashes while pooper scooping with one hand. Yesterday, I decided it would be a good idea to put them back inside before picking up their leavings. When I came inside, one (or both) of them had grabbed the roll of poop bags and ripped a couple to shreds. Point taken: they were saying -- Do NOT leave us in the house while you complete the morning routine alone! This morning, my intent was to do the same thing. Sure is easier for me! After all their outdoor business was completed, I attempted to lead them back to the house. Guinness planted his feet and very clearly said, "Mom, you did not pick up our mess yet. You have to do that before taking us inside." OK, OK... I did my job with one hand holding two leashes and one doing the work. cNow I know which one shredded the bags.

Jack's rising yeast growth is bringing more strength. He has not gone to doggie school yet nor has training to walk with a master been taught,nor does he have a training collar. After two attempts to take a walk, I gave up. No more walks! It is impossible and dangerous for me as he is so strong. Guinness does his best to demonstrate walking at my side, but Jack is not comprehending the message. His only leash is a retractable one which I set at a length equal to Guinness's leather leash. Jack is just about strong enough to yank the handle of the retractable leash out of my hand, and grabbing the woven leash part is dangerous to one's hand.

As I blogged this morning, this is where they were --

After taking the picture, they began wrestling again.

Shopping Diva

Guinness LOVES to go shopping, but there are few places that allow him: my plant nursery, pet stores, and that's about it. I did go into a plate glass store recently, and they told me to bring him in! They had two Doberman puppies. Here is their fun...

Our grocery store is next door to PetsMart. He ALWAYS hopes, when I go grocery shopping, that we will go food shopping for him too, but that is not nearly as often as our trips for human food. This evening, I parked near the grocery store entrance. He was barking like a mad dog, as usual, with his barks saying, "Please, Mommy, please take me shopping!" He didn't like my answer, so he pushed me out of the car, ran across the parking lot while I yelled to everyone who froze in their places, "He's very friendly! He wants to go shopping!" Everyone was focusing on this crazy dog racing to the pet store. As he neared PetsMart, I heard someone say, "He IS going shopping!" The store has automatic doors, which parted, allowing him entrance all by himself. They also have interior automatic doors, but, thankfully, he made a sharp turn to the left where the shopping carts are stashed.

I ain't no dummy. I always put him in the car with his leash ON, for such instances as this. Luck was with me! The leash caught on the wheels of a cart. Meanwhile, I noted everyone INSIDE the store was staring at us too! Oh, my... Then I had to usher him in the store to explain how much he loves shopping before returning to my vehicle which still had the driver's door open.