Anna Blake People said puppies are so much work. They said they were glad it was me and not them. Amen to that. I am glad it was me, too. I’m 70 and at the top of my training game. And by that, I mean I’ve finally figured out how to shut up while they figure things … Read more
Jolene is fine. But if I’m driving my truck and it’s midnight on a Saturday, it just means one thing. I’m taking a dog to the all-night emergency clinic. Usually on a holiday weekend because the wait is longer then. Let me start at the beginning. The week was going well. The dogs got their … Read more
In what most would consider the middle of the night, Jolene goes off like one of those alarm clocks with twin bell ringers on top. She wakes up early and with a hunger none of us can survive. Mister would never say no to a meal, but he does like to lounge a bit. Like … Read more
I do not know how long I will survive Jolene’s social life. She thinks I’m her chauffeur. Probably right. Last Friday, we went to Pub Dog Class. I put a clean shirt on and grabbed her harness. She was really fussy and even faux-limped. It was fine the day before when we went to test … Read more
Jolene would like you to believe she is very mature for her age. And by that she means listening bores her. She already knows everything. Unburdened by rules, she is a free spirit. She will let her freak flag fly. Is she just like me or what? Nostalgic, I thought about when I was certain … Read more
It’s still dark out, and I’m sitting on the edge of my bed trying to pull my pants on. Isn’t there an idiom about one leg at a time? It’s something about humility, that everyone still has to do the same basic, mundane tasks. I swear I’m not looking for special consideration. One leg would … Read more
Jolene, Mister, and I have returned home. Just in time for Jolene to transform into a charming but unrepentant hellion rebel. At 22 weeks, she is the dog equivalent of a ten-year-old who bullies ants. If anything drops to the floor, she grabs it and bolts. No amount of cajoling can get it back. If … Read more
We just got back from a clinic in Wyoming, a place where the weather controls the landscape and there are more animals than people. It was heaven. And they gave us a special welcome. This was Jolene’s first work trip. It’s not a simple job for a pro like Mister, so it’s a big ask … Read more
We are camping in the yard lately. Did you do it when you were a kid? I’m hooked. Evenings are my favorite time on my farm. A prairie breeze cools the air. The thunderstorms have scared the clouds from the sky, and we all settle in to wait for the sunset. Well, not all of … Read more
Mister has been studying Edgar Rice Burro, our farm’s moral compass, these last years. He recognizes the donkey’s buddha-like wisdom and believes himself to be the canine equivalent. Mister says he has the ears for it. And he’s a deep thinker. It only looks like he’s napping, but his belly is sticking out, which is … Read more