My Dogs.

This is what having a lil furry buddy is all about.. The world may not see or care about ya, your mates may move on without ya... but your dog will always love a tight cuddle!

Below: Boomer!

I should start with my earliest relayed memory. My mother tells me the story of one of our first dogs. We were living in Naples, Fl in the early 70's and we had a Boxer. She says that our favorite thing was laying on the floor.. He would lay down then I would lay my head on him and we'd be out in no time. Once I was on my own and working security for a hotel, I came across an American Terrier Pit Bull mix.. The staff came in, after trying to leave stating a dog was keeping them from getting into their cars. I went outside and the poor thing was just barking crazy.. he was scared and obviously away from home. I knelt down and put my hand out and he came right to me. I lead him around to the front doors and intro'd him to everybody. I got him some water some food, put him in my backseat and he slept till I got off work. The next day I called the appropriate facilities to notify I found the pooch. We spent about 2 weeks together and had a great time. I eventually got a call from his owner. He gave me the story of the circumstances that lead to his getting out, but was extremely grateful I had taken such good care of him. I had bought him all kinds of things and he had been meeting all my friends and their kids, who loved the pooch!. I was really sad/hard to see him go,, he gave me a few licks and off they went!
Then there was my boy "Amadeus" a purebreed German Shepard. While living in Trolley Square, Wilmington Delaware in the 90's I was fortunate to have him for a while. Through a rocky relationship, he was a steady and loyal friend amid some turbulant times. It was a shattered day when I could not find any way to take him back home with me. The only solice I could take was that he found a spot with an officer from Balt. Co and his new family provided him a loving home! We'd spend hours walking and playing in and around Brandywine Park. Most days I would take him to work; I managed the big chain auto shop attached to a BJ's Wholesale Club on Kirkwood Hwy, he would visit with the guys working their bay. I'd leave the car window down, and when he was ready for his nap, a quick trot out and a hop into the car.. he was out! In those days pets were allowed in most places and he became quite the local who's who.. He just loved meeting people and kids! Toward the end of our time in DE, we would leave work and head down I95 to Baltimore, the sun would set and he'd cozy up laying his head on my lap. Now the thing about dogs that amazes me is how they know where they are; I'd start into Essex and he would spring up excited just to look around. When we finally left De; after the car broke down and pop dropped out of site in his normal m.o., in the back seat of a tightly packed Firebird, there was a big change in both of our energy. We played more and he was back to being the happy go-lucky pooch! As we were staying at my sisters, more than a few nights though I slept outisde with him. The day finally came that I had to go to back to western maryland and no transport could be found allowing a dog. Ironically after giving him over, the bus driver told me that it would have been easy to have brought him along, Go figure! I was along time before another pooch came along....

In 08 Harah came along, A Min-Pin/Jack Russell mix.. She immediately melted our hearts and brought love and fun to the house. It is 2023 and she is still going strong; jumps like a mad hatter at feeding time, and just a wee bit cranky with the newest additions.. She took to the next member in 2015 rather quickly. Her name; at the time the new Battlestar Galactica was on, Harah is named after the hybrid child. It's now 2023 and she is just barely showing her age! Harah was a "last call" of the roomie's co-worker. It was the dead of winter, a blizzard outside and the roomie comes in saying "I've got something down here". I was piddling with my trains and was a bit reluctant to go down to see this "thing", but I did and he pulled out this lil scared pup barely bigger than my hand. We all went up to the train room, I sat on the floor with her, she fell off to sleep in my lap.

Below: Harah 2008

Oct 2nd 2015 We rescued "Spencer" a Pomerian-Dashund Mix as a pup headed to the pound.. He strolled into the house and was right at home. He's a loyal goon and like all the other dogs in the house..Smart. He is the 2nd Top Dog and it was because of him that 2022 brought us another household member! As we named Harah after a fav TV character, Spencer was named after the lanky "Criminal Minds" BAU Specialist Spencer Reed. Spencer as a pup was just adorable. He was being trained and at night put back into his crate and I would sleep beside on the sofa. I would wake with him cuddled up against me, paws in the air and on his back. Like Harah, the trait that I most like is their unwillingness to roam to far from home. We could let these 2 out and they would go no further than the front yard, though one day before Saphie 'moved in' he ran around front and was quite befuddled, He almost ran with her but he chose to stay put.

Below: Spencer

Sept 2021 We met "Saphie", though at the time she was just "the gurl"... She would watch us as we moved into the new house, worked in the yard or whatever.. She would always have a horrible colar on with 2-3 ft of cable dragging behind her. When we finally moved in, she dropped in and met Spencer, She taunted and teased him until he finally started to play with her.. When she would leave, he would watch the corner of the house for her return. She would lay her mark over top of Spencer and Harah in the backyard and play. After a month she actually let me pet her, but it took a little more time for her to actually linger and accept affection. For 3 months her visits would be several weeks apart and each time her restraining apparatus was more horrible than the last. She would play and linger and just as quick..off again.. It was nice that she was comfy here, even coming into the house at times and causing a ruckus.. In Dec 21 January 2022, She bagan showing up at night and perching on the patio lounger, waiting for us. the last stretch was for a whole week. Then about Jan 26th she came to the patio, shaken and a little bloody... a 1 inch hole in her back dangeriously close to her spine. She let me doctor her up, for a few days she stayed a little distant, sleeping under a table in the dining room, Spencer would sleep with her at times. We tended to her wounds and posted some notices.. No one answered and she stayed.. An error on our part was soon to bring some surprises..In keeping with naming after charactors from fav shows, Saphie was named after 'Saffron Monsoon', daughter of 'Edwina Monsoon' of "Absolutley Fabulous!" I do have one 'regret', Saphie only had little less than a month to enjoy and get used to some attention, something once in awhile She still shows a little apprehension. That being said, more often than not she has no problem 'talking' and using her paws to grab attention or jumping up to give her own lil bits of affection! I realised sometime ago that we do treat her a lil differently than Harah n Spencer; she knows this is her home, and she is loved but she chooses to stay. We have to take measures to keep the dogs from leaving the property, but if she manages to get out there is always that tug at the heart that maybe, just maybe one day her desire to run the streets will be greater.. So far though, When she does get out, she may 'ignore' our attempts to coax her back in and just run.. After 20 min to an hour, When we open that door and call for her she runs like lightning and comes right in. There atre times I notice her yearning to be running free and she behaves a little sullen for an hour or 2 and it really tugs at me, I would love to let her just run one or 2 days a week and most neighbors but one wold have no problem with it.. but there is always one!.

Below: Saphie! Dec 12 2021

Below: Saphie and her injury Jan 26 2022

Feb 2022 We had never had Spencer fixed! Harah had been fixed at about 2 years old, so it completely caught us off guard when Saphie went into heat.. Then one day I heard them yelp, to find Spencers lil butt hiked up in the air, being dragged around backwards by Saphie.. So I calmed them down and limited their movement while he...ummmm...

Below: Saphie back to normal by the 18th

Below: Saphie and Spencer Mar 05 2022

April 1st 2022 I perched outside the area we set up for Saphie to birth. At about 10:35 pm number one popped out, 1130 number 2.. I fell asleep on the floor just outside her bed/box at about 4. When I fell off she had 4 pups so I was glad to see the last 1 had came out while I slept.. What a day!

Below: The First Breaches - 04 01 2022

Below: The First 4 - 04 02 2022 - 03:39am

Below: The Pups - June 24 2022

Names: the 1st "Boomer" [Middle Monster], the 2nd "Apollo" [Top] both from Battlestar Galactica], 3rd "Teddy" [Not Pictured] new name by new family, 4th "Lillie" [Bottom] after Lilith of "Supernatural", the 5th is 'Bubble" [Right] after Edwina's PA Bubble from "Absolutley Fabulous!"

"Teddy", [We called him Chubs] was the only pup given away, others had expressed interests in Lillie with her 2 color eyes and Apollo. The offer for Apollo was quietly let pass, they made a comment about the 'yapping".. he was only 2 months old! The party that adopted Teddy did not have the time to be with him, A visit from their friend and Teddy was at their feet the whole time.. He was off to Texas and happily part of new clan and a companion of his own!

July 2022: The Bay County Humane Society: Saphie was intent on teaching the pups about survival and Boomer and Lillie were acrobats in fence climbing. In June they had gotten out several times and it was getting to the point of being hard to deal with..We made the tough call to give them to the "pro's" to home them.. I took them in and waited.. Keep in mind they were still pups and never been anywere but home.. So the goulish attendant, in all frankness was scarey looking and not much of animal loving vibe began talking, Boomer simply lowered his head and let out some quiet nervious whines and Lillie stayed up by my legs.. "We can't rehome these dogs, They're aggressive".. Now I've seen and handled some aggressive dogs.. So I reminded him that they were pups not even 4 months old and nervious.. He persisted with the "We won't be able to rehome them"... I was floored! they're supposed to be professionals and familiar with animal body language... I saw red and "Well you're not murdering these dogs!", I can't even say that I wasn't dragging Boomer and Lillie because I just left quickly.. Returning to the car I relayed the event and we decided to soldier on.. Honestly though, It was a tough decision to give them up and it really worked on me.. Looking at them now I couldn't imagine not having them around! Lillie is just a sweetheart and Boomer is all about playing and being affectionate... There are times when they are loud, nerve wacking goons.. But there is so much more life in the house these days!

April 13 2023: I would have to admit that keeping the pack together caused me a bit of a worry. Saphie isn't agressive or anything like that, doesn't exert herself as a 'top dog', but for awhile the pups were glued to her and I worried that might be a neg thing. Just as in the wild, once the pups were big enough her 'training' and attention wained and the pups just one day [literally] started listening on the first request. Now that they are mature Saph and the pups will do the normal greets and associated traits. It seems their desire for our connection, approval and affection kicks in. One interesting trait of Huskie and most dogs is the mis-understood 'licking'. Observed in the wild, dogs will greet returning members of their pack with a few licks of the nose. We try and teach these goons moderation, but even leaving for a few minutes and returning is cause for their celebration.

May 06 2023: Well over a year old now and coming along good.. House breaking was a little nerve bending. At times I 'expected' more than they were physically capable of at their maturity. Harah and Spencer will hold unitl they get outside, Saphie can be a little hard headed at times. Being part huskie there are native traits that are passed on, that for use humans are gross but for them is a matter of duty and den cleaning. I noticed it when the pups were nursing... well more specifically never noticed any poo in the box. A quick lookup and then observation revealed Saph would clean up after them. She stopped as soon as they were expelling larger amounts. It is also something the breed will do for a ailing, elderly member of the pack that can not leave the den and in lean times they will resort to 'recycling'.

Saphie has become more 'real' [a good thing] when it's time too eat she doesn't just wait till attention is directed at her, I figure since she has observed that the pups are 'part' of the pack and well recieved.. she has really let most of her guard down. She will now run up and give affection!

June 10 2023: For a wee bit, I had a little worry about the dynamics of everything.. The pups were naturally clingy to Saphie, even after they had started on dog food, on occassion she would 'produce' something for them.. [it has been awhile, now that they are over 1 yo]. They would tend to listen only on occasion and were themselves at times a little skittish, except on the sofa :-D. When Saphie did finally stop providng extras, one day the pups 'just listened'.. seriously! Called out that it was time to come in and they just ran in. It has been an amazing experience, Saphie seemed to like having the pups in the pen, at times running them toward the pen as we left them out! As they matured Saphie had never interjected during the training periods, though she did still maintain her insistance of tryng to train them to fend for themselves and how to jump! A few times they made it over the fence [or under it!] and my heart would sink, especially as the 2 smallest made it out! The first time We found little Lilly in a ditch scared to death because she was left behind.. The last time it happened my littlest darling 'Bubble' made it out..she is tiny! I was terrified she would not make it back.. One by One the bigger pups returned or were snatched up as they came to 'check in'..

The dynamic had began changing as the pups reached about 9 months old, Let out to do their biz and run around for a bit.. said 'time to go in' and they all turned around and ran in! Feeding time was bit of a helter kelter, but done in baby steps they went from just eating first and from a communal pile, to individual pile to individual bowls..Around Feb, feeding time changed up to the adult dogs getting fed first then the pups as the adults ate.. The pups were fed by order of portion size.. to prevent the littler ones from raiding the larger bowls. I don' know if it had been mentioned but, I don't train the dogs to do anything special except feeding time.. I do make sure and make feeding time orderly.. Harah and Spencer of course were easy, as Spencer learned alot from Harah, and so it went with Saphie.. They should sit and wait for the "Go Get It".. about 3 weeks ago the routine was changed up into the new normal..everyone gets their bowl at the same time.. That has went well, but as anticipated, the smaller dogs with their smaller portions do have the time now to try and raid the others.. But they do sit and wait for the Go signal!

July 29th 2023: It's pretty easy to overlook how long one of our furry members has been with us.. Harah has been at our side for 15 years..15 years of ups and downs, relocations, jobs, loss of jobs and the other multitude of life events... She has a tendancy to be a little finiky when it comes to eating.. she can get quite stubburn when she is 'over' something. She had stuck out eating dog food for about 4 months.. So it seems to be a case of that issue; but on the other hand it could be a sign that she's on that road to passing through... I sit and watch her, and a little part of my heart breaks when the reality that she will not be there someday. Last evening, to aid in making her eating time less stressful with the pups lurking around her, we place her and her food in the pantry so she can eat at a lazy pace. I had the other pups bowls all lined up and getting them calmed down, only to get a glimpse of feeding time without her.. It will be very very difficult!

Aug 26th 2023: Harah passes away at 01:30 in the am..

Sept 21st 2023: House training is always a bit of a challenge. With Harah, I was aweful at it, problems in life had at times just made me impatient and there were times I would not keep my voice at the intended tone, causing her a lot of distress trying to figure out what I wanted. Luckily I would see what was happening.. err what I was doing and re-group and we came through it ok. With Spencer and his pleasing demeaner, Harah did most of his training honestly. He would watch what she did and just follow along. Now Saphie was another story! But I should note that as an adult she did catch on very quick! OO there were times she'd do her 'dog' thing on the oddest places, even as it happened I would remember she was just trying to mark out her inclusion and association.. One night as we all went to bed, she made her way upto the head of the bed, I remember thinking she wanted to sleep up close but she went over the pillows; she did love laying on pillows.. Imagine my eyes when I realized she was stooping to do.. you know what on my pillow. Now I can not deny that I did yell out No and tap her little buttkiss [ I don't believe in abusing a dog but as in child rearing a tapping when appropriate is ok ] She has done great ever since. The pups were a complete excersize in patience and revisting house-breaking timelines. The tough part was remembering that their little bladders can hold for a time equivelent to age. We employeed a simple 'bad boy/bad girl' and heavy praise when they did good. There were little accidents as their bladders were growing, but this month has been great! One inside #1 accident, my fault not paying attention to time and one overnight #2 accident, just a out of sync occurance.

Nov 01st 2023: Things have gotten back to a normal feel, the pups are just goons and wild at play after any of their many nap times. We do have to get the 2 girls, Lilly and Bubble fixed soon. Though I have to say, if Bubble does go into heat their is no icky part involved; but poor Lilly is just like clock work and wow it's not pleasant! The vet did warn Us as Spencer was fixed that some mature male dogs do get a tendency to get aggressive; well he hasn't gotten aggressive, he has got a little more growly lol.. Touch him when he's all comfy and he lets you know it's not welcomed! He is easy enough to get back to behaving. I have to admit, the building of the new bonds with the pups has been heart mending.

CLICK HERE for Smartlife App to download to Tablet.

CLICK HERE for Alexa App to download to Tablet.

CLICK HERE for Browser App to download to Tablet.

CLICK HERE for Keyboard App to download to Tablet.