dog love

I have a very weird relationship with my dogs. I think it is normal, but others find it weird.

I snuggle with them every chance I can get.

I kiss them on the mouth.

I talk to them like they are humans, even if no humans are in the room.

I want to leave social functions early because I don’t want to leave them home alone too long.

I buy them collars like it is an addiction.

I would let them lay on top of me even if I am suffocating just so they will be comfortable.

I wink at them when they wink at me. (Seriously, they wink at me.)

I just love them so much. They are the best things that have happened to Tom and I.

We took in a stray yesterday who we found at our fence. He was shivering and his paws were all bloody. We ended up bringing him in the house because with Clarksville being shut down basically due to this ice situation, we didn’t want to leave him out for who knows how long until we either found an owner or the shelter was able to pick him up. We kept him segregated from our dogs who were being territorial from about 9am until 4pm when the local shelter was able to pick him up. Tom and I took turns cuddling with him and giving him much needed attention. We spread “flyers” through Facebook, and Tom drove around the neighborhood and tried to follow the pups tracks back to his home. This poor sweet puppy just wanted a warm place to stay. If our dogs wouldn’t have been so jealous about “Carl,” we would have kept him longer. Grace and Crosby were not happy with us AT ALL though. So we sent Carl off with people who could see if he had a microchip and find his home. I almost cried though when they took him in the truck.

He was so sweet. I wish we could have kept him. I am glad we were able to help him at least be warm and happy for the day.

It makes me think about the lives that Grace and Crosby had before us. I am so glad that we are able to offer them a warm house, food, and most of all love.

They really do complete our lives. And they do things that surprise us every day.

When I was hugging the porcelain throne on Friday, Crosby laid with me the whole night. Grace came and checked in on me off and on. They are already taking this baby guard duty seriously.

This was early in the night, but Crosby stayed for every minute of this night right beside me.

This is where I was struggling, and Crosby was not happy about people disturbing his guarding. He takes his job seriously. There was one point in the night I had to puke over him because he was insistent on not leaving his post.

While some people think it is weird that we treat our dogs like humans and real children, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. If they are going to take care of me completely, why wouldn’t we do the same?

I just love them, and I hope that all dogs get to experience that at some point in their lives.

Oh my lovely doggy babies,

It has been awhile since you have been on the blog, but you two have been ruling my Instagram. I know you both get tired of me snapping photos of you, but you are just too darn cute.

You both have been so good lately. Dad and I are so proud that we can leave you out of the kennels now while we are out and about. Let’s be honest though, you haven’t been perfect angels have you? Grace, you like to dig through Mom’s lady trash and strewn it about the upper floor. Let’s talk about how gross this is girl. And Crosby, you like to get on the counters and pull down dishes that may or may not have remnants of the last meal we ate. That’s how we have lost a shaker cup and a few Tupperware items. But we have more days that you don’t do any of this than the days we do, so there is a plus. And Mom and Dad have gotten smarter about where we put things and what doors need to be shut when we leave. It is usually our lazy fault when we forget that you usually decide to get into stuff.

You sure do seem happy when we get home though!

I am sorry we haven’t gone on many walks lately. There have been so many things prohibiting it. The freezing temps, my constant sickness, and Dad’s training, haven’t really been nice to us schedule wise have they? Hopefully here soon, I will start feeling better, and we can take advantage of the warmer temps. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be just us for awhile since Dad has a lot of training to do. We will try to get out as a family every weekend, especially to take advantage of the weather. We know you both love your time outside!

I know that you all miss Dad when he is gone. You all whimper and pounce up at any loud truck that goes through the cul-de-sac hoping it is Dad coming home. And the way you all love on him when he is here shows me how much you cherish your time with him. Crosby, you do a great job ensuring that he is clean too with your constant licking.

Things are going to continue to change around here, and I know you two will be troopers and make the best of it. Grace, you have been through a deployment before. I know it was hard on you. I watched you lay on Dad’s clothes so many times hoping he would come home soon. Crosby, you have no idea what is in store for you, but you a pretty laid back, so I am sure you will do fine. On the plus side, you have each other now, and I know that helps during the day for you two to comfort each other. Although this time around will be different for all of us for so many reasons. So with the deployment and all the other changes that are going to occur in the upcoming months, I know you two will be just fine! And I know you will be a huge comfort and rock for Mom!

Speaking of you two together. You all just crack us up. You really have embraced each other as companions. You groom each other, you play together, and you take turns eating. I am usually rolling with laughter when you two groom each other. It is a cross between the sweetest and grossest thing I have witnessed. I often feel that I should leave you two along for your privacy. As far as sharing toys, Crosby, you tend to steal them from Grace quite often. However, I think Grace likes the chase and lets you do it sometimes because she never seems to put up a fight when you come in to grab the toy. When you cuddle together on the couch or chair upstairs it just melts my heart. I just love that you two are getting along so well.

We have figured out a pretty good sleeping routine. You both sleep in the middle of us. Grace you take the spot up by our heads and are sure to snuggle in real close to one of us. Crosby, you sprawl out at the foot of the bed like you own the place or something.

Crosby, you don’t seem to like the neighborhood kids. You bark at them every day when they are coming home from school. I know you are being a good guard dog, but I think we can handle a few 3rd graders.

Grace, you still sometimes will get jealous when Dad and I are giving Crosby some love and not you. We love you just a much, and please know that we haven’t forgotten about you!

You both make our days, and there is so much love for the two of you! We couldn’t be happier that you came home to us.

Love,

Mom

PS. We are not always nice parents, and sometimes we like to tease you. Our latest tricks are to enitce the whimpers out of you two. Crosby, we have learned that you do not like Maroon 5 since you bark every time Dad sings their songs. Your whimper gets me every time because it sounds like you are going hoarse and trying to force out a grunt or cough. And Grace you just don’t like being teased and want us to pay all of our attention to you, so you cry if you don’t get your way. Plus I think that it annoys you that Dad can imitate your whimper to a tee.

See example.