Saturday, September 27, 2014

One Dog And Counting PAWSit #5

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First came my dog Tidbit and it was not long before that little pup became my shadow. But what would happen when she was left home alone?

Oh my! Tidbit did not like being left alone! She only chewed a time or two, as I learned quickly to have plenty of chew toys lying around for her if I planned on being gone for any length of time.

Wood was Tidbit's favorite thing to chew on as a pup. Being part of a tree service family made it easy for me to accommodate her choice of chew toys. Really! That dog loved chewing on a chunk of wood. And, it kept her from chewing the wooden furniture!

Unfortunately, all the gnawed-up wood droppings from the dog had my floors looking wood chipped just like the yard. And I don't think my floor sweeper appreciated Tidbit's chips!

My Dog Tidbit the Ballplayer
Of course, puppy Tidbit wanted to play anytime she wasn't sleeping. Her favorite play toy was a tennis ball. But of course, she wanted someone to toss the ball and she chose me!

Tidbit, being an only dog child, appeared bored silly when I was not around. Ah! The cure for that I soon found!

My Dogs Tidbit and Scratch
Along came puppy Scratch and now there were two dogs in my house!

Sure, two-dog ownership meant a bit more work and two dogs were more expensive for me, but mostly it was double the pleasure in a give-and-take game with the two girls and me. Best of all, they kept each other company!

My two dogs were inseparable, naturally, as Scratch was Tidbit's daughter. Yes, Momma was the alpha dog but for the most part that worked for them and they were the perfect pair of canine friends.

Best of all, Tidbit no longer seemed to suffer from separation anxiety when I left the house. All she had needed was some company.

A couple of years later, along came NewBe—and then there were three! Are you counting with me?

My Dogs NewBe, Scratch & Tidbit Chewing Butcher Bones


I truly enjoyed living in a multi-dog household. At the same time, I rather enjoyed my time when it was just Tidbit and me, too. Yet I sometimes felt as though I were denying her the company of her own kind.


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How many dogs do you feel are too many or too few?



Tidbit, Scratch, NewBe, and I invite you to blog hop along with us on Saturdays (or anytime throughout the week.) Share a dog story of your own by adding your blog post link here on PAWSit Hop Saturday.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Watchdogs Acrostic Poem

I have penned an acrostic dog picture and poem for my watchdogs, Tidbit and Scratch, guardians of my soul.




My watchdogs are linked up with the Football Star for Wordless Wednesday over at BlogPaws.com.


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Sleeping With Dogs PAWSit #4

Nightshirt Says How to Sleep with a Dog
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I am of the mind that dogs do not like to sleep alone any more than humans do. And being single for well over a decade now, I can honestly say that I much prefer sleeping with my dogs than with that ex-husband!

My dogs, Tidbit and Scratch, slept in my bed from their beginnings, with Tidbit arriving first. She started out sleeping on my pillow above my head. She was tiny enough at a few weeks old to sleep there comfortably—for the both of us!

As Tidbit grew a little bigger she slept alongside me, under the covers if there was a winter chill in the air. Then she moved to that spot at the bend of my knees.

Of course, if I moved and bumped Tidbit in the night, she'd slide on down to the bottom of the bed. It was as if she knew I was having a restless night or dark dreams so she would lay at the foot of the bed, standing guard.

When puppy Scratch came along it was time for sleeping position rearrangement. Tidbit reverted back to sleeping alongside me, curled up near the pillows or at the crook of my knees. Scratch always slept at the bottom of the bed—Tidbit's rule—as leader of the pack, she made it clear to her daughter dog that I belonged to her, ha! That's alright, as Scratch was also an excellent guard dog.

Yes, I know! I am supposed to be the leader of the pack, but in reality Tidbit was, for the most part. And she knew it and so did Scratch, and we all were okay with that fact.

I also know that some pet professionals advise against sleeping with our pets, for a variety of good reasons. (Leader of the pack issues being one of them!) Personally, I ascribe to the theory that there is not a thing wrong with pets in the bed. I get a much better night of sleep with my dogs in my bed!

On the rare occasion that I would take an afternoon nap on the sofa, I could count on my dog Tidbit to crawl right up there with me. And I'm pretty sure she didn't appreciate the flash of a camera awakening her from her nap!

My dog Scratch could nestle in for a good nap anywhere. In fact, changing bedding was always a trip. Stripping the bed I would toss the bedding in a pile on the floor. But of course, Scratch would be quick to jump right onto the pile and make herself comfortable. She looks like a princess there, don't you think?

My dogs and I would love for you bloggers who are dog lovers to hop along with us on Saturdays (or anytime throughout the week.) Share a dog story of your own by adding your blog post link here on PAWSit Hop Saturday.

Feel free to grab our badge and link right to this blog post so others may find us.



Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.



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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Rock On My Dog Tidbit


For fourteen years my dog Tidbit was my rock in a hard place, making each day a pleasure to face. By her presence in my life I was truly graced.

Ruthi and Tidbit


Rock on, Tidbit!





Dog Pawsitive Tidbits is linking these dog pictures up with the Wordless Wednesday blog hop on BlogPaws.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Lost Puppy Camping Tidbits PAWSit #3

Tidbit jumps rope with the girls.

My first camping adventure with my dog Tidbit turned into a lost and found nightmare!


How might you feel if you lost your new puppy while camping? I can imagine that you would feel just like I did when I lost my dog Tidbit at our family reunion camping trip!

A couple of weeks after Tidbit became the newest addition to my home, it was time for my family reunion—a ten day camping trip on a five-acre plot of land owned by my Aunt Helen. It was tent city, with about fifty of us camped out in the clearing near the woods.

Tidbit finds herself a chew toy.
At first I watched my little one closely, then realized the other dogs were friendly to Tidbit, even protective of her, the kids were playing with her, and adults were keeping an eye on her. So I settled down to visiting with relatives while Tidbit ran around, just glancing in her direction every now and then.

Then it happened—I couldn't find Tidbit! I was panic stricken. Soon, everyone was scouring the land, the wooded areas, looking everywhere for her, just as concerned as I was. 

Of course, nearly an hour into the search I was in tears and mad at myself for not leashing her up for her own protection. My poor little girl was lost and I just knew it was all my fault!

Tidbit asleep at our tent door.
Then I heard my brother Ronnie shouting my name. He had found her! There was Tidbit, asleep in the doorway of my tent! Ronnie picked her up, loved on her a bit, then handed her to me. Now I was crying again, but this time tears of joy.

You could see where Tidbit had clawed at the tent to get inside, but I'd zipped it closed and she couldn't get in. Poor little puppy was exhausted from all the activity and just wanted to take a nap.

With a dozen or more tents and campers on the property, it was amazing how Tidbit's natural instincts had led her straight to her tent by its scent. Perhaps that was my first lesson in trusting my dog's lead.

Tidbit and her buddy Ronnie.
For the rest of the day, if (and that's a big IF) I let Tidbit out of my arms and down on the ground, I didn't take my eyes off of that pup! 

Fortunately, Tidbit had taken a liking to Ronnie for finding her, I guess, so most of the time if she wasn't with me then she was with him.

The next day, Ronnie accompanied a group driving into to town for a grocery store run. When they returned, my brother had a gift for Tidbit. 

Click 'N Dig! Key Finder
Ronnie had ran into the hardware store in town and found a key finder to help us keep track of the puppy! After we tested the gadget to make sure it would work, he put the key ring receiver on Tidbit's collar and the remote in his pocket. 

We were in good shape now and we could all enjoy the rest of our family reunion—and I didn't lose my puppy Tidbit again!

TIDBITS: Learn more about how to prevent losing your dog.



PAWSit Hop Saturday is a blog hop created especially for bloggers who are also dog lovers. Write your own dog stories this week and link them up with us!

So that others may find us, be kind and grab the PAWSit Hop Saturday image and link to this article from your blog post.


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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Thunder Dog Guide At Ground Zero

Thunder Dog
On September 11, 2001 Michael Hingson and his guide dog Roselle employed faith, trust, and teamwork to climb down seventy-eight stories of stairs to escape the top of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust is not just the accounting of that thunderous attack at Ground Zero and the 1,463 steps this man and his guide dog for the blind would take to safety on 9-11. It is the real story of a man and his dog who live life to the fullest—before, during, and after that fatal day in September.

Foreward to Larry King Live

Larry King wrote the foreward for "Thunder Dog" and presented author Hingson and his dog Roselle on the Larry King Live show for an interview in 2002, one year after the 9-11 attack.


Author Michael Hingson and Roselle have moved forward from that devastating day. Both are an inspiration to others, with Hingson retelling their story of trust amid tragedy on September 11.

While Roselle has since passed over the Rainbow Bridge, Hingson continues as a motivational speaker encouraging all of us to trust in that which we can control, not to worry about that which is out of our control.

Roselle is to be commended as one of the hero dogs of 9-11, and in fact she was, having received numerous awards for her service on that day. As we reflect upon this day of attack on America, sixteen years ago, may we remember all of the honorable Dog Heroes of September 11th.


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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Sunshine Girls for Wordless Wednesday

I am delighted to share my favorite photo of the Sunshine Girls for Wordless Wednesday. What a fantabulous foursome we were when all together—Me and my dogs!


The Sunshine Girls



BlogPaws
I am excited to be linking up with a newly discovered blog hop this week too! It is Wordless Wednesday with BlogPaws!

I will be busy today having fun visiting all of the pets and animals and their paw prints, for sure.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Dog and Cat Goldilocks Tale PAWSit #2

There may be one thing more odd than coming home to find a stranger sleeping in your bed. Think Goldilocks and The Three Bears. That would be waking up to find someone in bed with you that wasn't there when you fell asleep.

As a puppy, Tidbit would often be found tucked into her corner of the sofa, sound asleep.

One day I walked into the living room to find Reunion the cat curled up right next to Tidbit stretched out in her sleep. Of course I had to capture the dog and cat sleeping together in a photo.

A few moments later, Tidbit rolled over and I'm guessing she realized she wasn't alone. Thankfully, I still had camera in hand and was able to snap another picture or two of her slowly waking up and her realization that the cat was sleeping alongside her. Needless to say ... Nap time was over!



But of course, I couldn't help but chuckle as it certainly gave new meaning to the storybook tale of The Three Bears with Goldilocks saying to Mama and Papa Bear, "Somebody's been sleeping in my bed and she's still there!"



Dog and Cat Can Get Along Well Together


My dog Tidbit and my cat Reunion got along just fine together, once Tidbit's sharp puppy teeth went away and she stopped accidentally drawing blood while playing with the cat as she did one of her chew toys!

Reunion wasn't the least bit intimidated by the dog. In fact, it was entertaining at times to catch her taunting Tidbit. More than a few times I caught her perched atop the back of the couch swatting friskily at the sleeping dog!


This is an invitation for you to join me each week for PAWSit Hop Saturday, created especially for bloggers who are also dog lovers.

Write your own dog story and link it up with us!





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