In case you think I have not noticed Journey's size, because I keep referring to him as "the little guy", well I guess it is partially that urge to keep him a baby and partly because he IS still a sweet baby, although he is growing fast, both mentally and physically. As to his size, well he is about as tall as his brothers and within a couple pounds. He is 10 months old now.
Journey has some of the cutest habits. How in the world do they all manage to come up with so many unique feats! I like to read in bed. I read before I go to sleep and sometimes when I wake up. I have a favorite bookmark; one with a blue tassel and pictures of whales and sea turtles on it. When I started to turn off the light and go to sleep last night, I could not locate my bookmark - not uncommon, it sometimes falls off the bed or gets lost in the covers. I used something else to mark my place in the book and I went to sleep.
This morning after I finished reading and was searching around the covers for my lost bookmark. My little friend, Journey, watched me for a minute or so and then he reappeared with my tasseled bookmark in his mouth. It was not damaged in any way, just a little damp. They never cease to amaze me. I don't know where he had it stashed.
About a month ago I had purchased some sod to repair a few holes in the dog yard lawn. The next morning when I got up and was walking through the living room I saw a pile of small pieces of sod all stacked in a pile. He had to have made several trips to bring it inside. Or maybe he chewed it into pieces after he got it inside. As I cleaned up and put the sod back in the yard I noticed something curious .....
Journey had placed his toys in a sort of curved row. I guess it could have been a coincidence, but hard to believe it was not done on purpose. Maybe to distract me from the sod on my living room carpet?
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Today is the 4th of July. We don't need to worry up here on our hilltop. The sounds from the town below are muffled and my threesome are not bothered. We are lucky! Spirit was never disturbed by the sounds of the 4th or thunder, when he was young but as he got older it worried him a little. I had the same experience with a Standard Poodle, "Fancy". She didn't mind the sounds when she was younger, but as she got older they worried her a lot - enough to pull the frame off of the doorway once, when I shut her in the bedroom. Both Spirit and Fancy were fine as long as I was with them, so I got used to staying home on the 4th. It seemed just not worth chance, to leave them alone. As Spirit aged, I guess his hearing was not quite as good and it did not seem to bother him the last few years.
We have a perfect location to watch the pretty showers of fireworks that they shoot off, over the river. I like to watch them from the deck. The dogs will probably still be in the pool. They have decided that late afternoon and early evenings are the best time for a swim. If I left the door open they would probably be in the pool on and off, all day. I feel that I need to keep order though and so usually they have to wait until I sit poolside and watch them. Much like kids, they like to run around the pool and need reminders to walk, or at least to slow down. I bought some runners - indoor/outdoor carpet - from Home Depot and they have made it much safer. We sure don't need any knee injuries.
Journey
The pool is up to 75 degrees and yesterday I decided it was time to suck it up and get into the pool so Journey would feel it was safe to come in. He had already progressed to the point of stepping onto the second step. Other than that he was just running around the pool with the other guys and watching them dive.
Journey & Pirate
The night before, I had watched a Dog Whisperer show. Cesar was teaching a Golden Retriever to go in the pool. I was inspired. The Golden was very frightened, unlike my boy, Journey, who was just not convinced he was going to know what to do when he took the last big step. It was very important to me that he did not get frightened, as that sometimes delays the process. I want him to love the water, as my other boys do. I have seen the results of some dogs being thrown or forced into a pool and they often never enjoy the water after that.
I wish someone had been there to photo the procedure. It was not quite as smooth as Ceasar did it, but we did okay. We did it in small steps, waiting after each one, until he relaxed. Finally when we got to the last step and he eventually was calm, we launched into the pool. He was a little surprised, but he immediately began swimming. I had my hand on his collar and directed him in semi-circles out from the stairs. I finally released him and let him swim back to the stairs. Today we will have another lesson and knowing Journey, I am certain he will be much braver. Journey is cautious, but he gets over worries fast.
Once when we were walking down by Lake Sacajewea, near the Japanese gardens, we approached a cement, sitting Buddha. Journey pulled back and did not want to approach it. I took him as close as he was comfortable and then we went on with our walk. The next time we were in the area I was prepared to work with him, using treats. However, this time he simply walked up to it on his own, sniffed it and continued with our walk. He had no concerns whatsoever. So much for all my planning. He gets over things fast. It would not surprise me if he went in on his own today. He seems to like to have a little time to think things over. I normally check to see how worried he is by offering him a treat. If a dog is very frightened they will not eat the treat.
Pirate
"I can help you carry the ball out, Pirate"
Quest getting ready to launch his bumper toy.
Pirate & his shadow, Journey.
Hope everyone has a nice and safe celebration of the 4th.
