We Made Molly a Beach Bum

 For about five years, we owned a nice place at the Delaware beaches. So we spent a lot of weekends down there but you know, many places down there are not very pet friendly and so most of the season, we just hung out at our campsite. We did eventually learn that one or two beach spots allowed for pets during the season and so we set out to take Miss Molly to a beach and see how she liked it. 

“Hey Miss Molly….do you wanna —-“

Let me explain something about Molly. We have buzz words that we have to be cautious with while speaking in front of this incredibly smart fur baby. The phrase “Do you wanna” is one of these buzz phrases and so the very second that you’re probably at “you”, her ears have peaked, and she it sitting up ready to go on the balance of the question. 

“Hey Miss Molly….do you wanna go to the beach?”

Such a silly question, mommy and daddy. Of course she does. So up, perky and ready for the harness and leash. As soon as decisions like this are made, Molly is so ready that she demands we are ready to go immediately and therefore, we always find ourselves rushing to get out the door ensuring that we have everything needed. All this mayhem because we asked the fated, "Do you wanna---" before we ourselves were ready to go.

Upon arrival, Molly was a little hesitant and for good reason. This little doggie staring into the vastness of water...moving water with thunderous, crashing water and all the noise. So, what does she do? She runs amok around and near it until she decides to go a little further until she actually runs into the water. Of course, because she is so cute, we had to shoot video of this experience. so you can see for yourself. Does anyone else's Miniature Schnauzer act like this at the beach?

What a day for the little princess. She did eventually get into the water enough to get fully wet and she did her share of running around the beach. Needless to say that when we returned to camp, this little girl needed a big time bath to get all of the sand and salt off of her and she spent the next 12-14 hours sleeping peacefully. What a bum!

Feeling Froggy

Most likely this was mentioned previously in a post, but to remind you, the reader, Molly is by design, a ratter. Her dominant breed (Miniature Schnauzer) was bred to live in the barn and handle small vermin. Thus, when she is out for walks, she gives chase to rabbits, squirrels, other dogs and cats. She loves to catch and eat, flies, crickets, bees and almost anything else. Not slugs..no slugs. Every time she goes for a walk, there is a check of the house perimeter before leaving and when returning to the house.

Here is another trait that Molly possesses; she has a mind like an elephant. Almost never forgets anything. This is very true when she finds a bone on a lawn and we have to stop her from getting it or wrestle it from her jaws. Without missing a beat the next time she is on that walk she will be looking for that prize that got away.

So one day daddy (me) is taking Molly for a walk and she is following her usual pattern of checking out the perimeter of the house only this time she is checking out the shed with passion. I finally get her attention away from the check and we continue our walk. Upon returning, again she was poking her nose under the shed and I could not for the life of me figure what is was that she was after so badly. I thought nothing of it that day until the next day she was at it again. This is where the remembering things like an elephant comes into play. This time, she was trampling through Mommy's flowers to get different angles under the shed. So now I had to mention this strange and funny behavior to Mommy and told her that Molly was trampling through her flowers to get under the shed.

"Oh, yeah, she found a frog and chased it under there", Mommy says.

And now for a week, she has been on that shed like white on rice. One day we were walking Molly and we decided to take her through the backyard at the end of her stroll and away she went to the shed area. This time rummaging under the pallet alongside the shed looking for the frog. Truly, if she was not as chunky, Molly would have gotten completely under that pallet to get that frog. That is assuming that the frog is even there. She has been pursuing it for a week, one would think that the frog has moved on. Molly hasn't. Rest assured, Molly will continue this pursuit until she is totally satisfied that there is no longer a threat to the shed by a frog.

Midday at the Oasis

We have wanted a deck for a long, long time. In fact, we've wanted a deck for longer than Molly has even been around. But Molly was a definite factor in the the deck decision process. You see where we live, we cannot have fenced yards so you can't just open a door and let your fur babies run free. So by having a deck, we can install a gate and Molly can at least come out sans leash and enjoy the outdoors.

Along the way, I (daddy) was hesitant. I mean I was excited that Molly would have new horizons with a deck but at the same time worried that she would not take to it because frankly Molly is not good with change. 

What was interesting is that after the main portion of the deck was completed it was another three days before the gate would be done so we had to use a child gate to keep Molly in. But like we always brag about, Molly being the smart cookie she is would not come out on the deck unless and until the child gate was put up. Truly amazing. 

Now that the deck is complete Molly is loving it. It has become the perfect extension for her as she gets to come outside more often and bark at everybody and everything that comes by her path. She also has her own pool on the deck so she can take a quick cool dip after a long summer's day walk or just come outside to cool her belly for a bit. 

So if you are looking for Molly this summer you will probably find her deck-side with Mommy taking in some pool time and guarding the ole homestead. 

The Doctor's Visit

First an apology for not writing in a while, it has been very busy.

Last weekend, Molly had to go to the doctor's for her yearly checkup and some shots. What was pretty cool about this visit is that I do not usually get to accompany Mommy and Molly because of work. But this year we got ourselves a Saturday appointment and we also got to see Dr. Richard, which is always a treat.

Molly has been bugging to get outdoors and go bye-byes a lot lately and that is because she was able to go with us to a few places in the car and now she is all excited about that and it was no problem getting her to go. After all, in the past week she took a car ride to Uncle Paul and Aunt Jen's house, she took a ride to the groomers and she took a ride or two to her favorite little walking parks. That is a lot of car trips for one week, eh?

OK, so we had a good visit with the doctor. Molly is doing very well and she passed all of her tests that she had and that is super-duper! No flea issues, no parasite issues and she was real good for her blood draw and her shot plus she has to do this nasal mist for Kennel Cough and Dr. Richard says that she takes it textbook-style. Of course, she is OUR MOLLY!

I was glad to have gone because I wanted to talk to the doctor about Molly's diet. Because she had bladder stone surgery when she was one year old, she is on a special diet of Royal Canin SO and then of course her treats for going outside. I thought that because, like every other dog, she eats cat poo if/when she can get away with it that maybe we should supplement her diet with some fruits or vegetables. But sad to say that Dr. Richard said for maximum effect of the dog food prescription, that it was recommended that nothing else be given. We only want what is best for our girl and not have her or us go through that pain again.

But for now, we can report a straight A report card for Molly!

Mikey & The Rainbow Bridge

Early in May, I believe the 6th to be somewhat exact, Mikey passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. Mikey was the last of our three chihuahuas and he had been sickly for some time before passing.

Just to give you some background, Mikey and Tippy never gave a hoot for Molly. In the two plus years that she has been here (nearly three this Autumn), these two just never liked her at all. But after Tippy passed away we would catch Molly and Mikey sleeping together; especially when they were waiting for Mommy. You know...the frienemy of my frienemy.... But mostly nothing but barking and growling and general dislike was the order for the day....all day...every day!

Since Mikey has left us, Molly seems to be more clingy than usual. She seems so much more sad when Mommy is not around and probably worse when we are both gone at the same time. It is almost as if, even though her and Mikey never really got along, she knows that she is the only one there. Like the sheer presence of Mikey was enough to satisfy her when Mommy and/or Daddy were gone.



Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

Of Fireworks and Thunderstorms

With today being Independence Day and one of those "Fireworks" holidays, I thought I would relay some information about Molly that many may already know; being that most dogs feel the same. That is that fireworks scare Molly (and most of her canine kind).

So since last weekend, random fireworks have been going off in the neighborhood. It is bad enough that we have to deal with Molly's fright and panic attacks on the very night that the local university and local amateur pyros do their thing but then we have to deal with this about nightly for a week. So now let's compound the issue...thunderstorms. Thunder, like the boom of fireworks, drives Molly crazy. Poor girl shakes a mile a minute, cannot get comfortable and runs about not knowing what to do. Our recently and dearly departed Mikey had the same issue but he was also a radar. If Mikey came up

From Top: Joey (2000-2009) &
Mikey (2001-2014)

to you and was shaking profusely and the sun was out, it meant he could hear fireworks in the distance, felt a storm brewing or knew war was imminent. We should have named him RADAR.

I realize that there is nothing that we can do to stop fireworks and thunderstorms. One is nature's arguments and the other is a spectacle that is undertaking by proud Americans to celebrate the birth of freedom in the USA. But for dog mommies and daddies you have to make sure that you do not get frustrated over the actions of your furbabies. They are scared and unsure of what is happening and the idea of not knowing what the noise represents is a huge catalyst for fear. So please...love them and hug them and make them feel safe. After all
, it really is all they want when the noises happen.

Molly Investigates; A Noir Story

It was a hot and downright muggy morning. It was only 6 AM but I knew this was gonna be a barn burner today. You know the kind.

I was laying there minding my business while my people slept. I was working on a good piece of raw-hide when my one person, Big Daddy, woke up. Big Daddy. That's what Mommy calls him so I guess it's his name. So he gets up and rattles me for the morning walk. Boy I'm dreading this. Never really anthing exciting on these morning walks except a pee some and maybe have a morning constitutional while I am out there. It all depends how I feel, you know what I mean. Maybe today is different; I think its Wednesday so maybe I will get to see those big trucks that come through on Wednesdays. Of course, it occurs to me...how do I know its Wednesday? What is Wednesday anyway?

So we're walking along. Good Lord! It's hotter than catfight in the middle of August out there. But up the street we go. I'm sniffing around not really getting any vibes. Haven't seen a cat yet. So hot the cats are hiding. Bitches! The worms are dead and dried up along the pavement. I better not stay out here too long because I don't wanna turn out like them. Well, I ate one. They sure are tasty. For some reason I don't think Big Daddy shares in my enthusiasm over them. His loss.

Something's happening around here. I can hear it. It's a familiar sound that I have not heard in some time. Let me think on it some more. Mine as well punch out a number two and make the 'rents happy while I think. You know what I mean...

That's done and the sound is getting louder. Wait a minute; I know that noise. It's that raspy lady person who always yells at her dogs while they amusingly drag her down the street. Here she comes with her dog. Hey Big Daddy, let me go. C'mon, loosen the strap, man! Geez, my person is strong. He is not budging at all. The raspy person and the dog are passing by on the other side of the street. Dammit! I missed again. It's like Groundhog Day or something. Groundhog.....groundhog.....food...... Wait! Gotta clear my head.

With them gone I must investigate. Gotta drag Big Daddy along so I can sniff around and pick up the scent of everywhere that big boy was at. If I have to sniff and lick every blade of grass in this nieghborhood, I will. I must get to the bottom of this mystery. Finally, something to take the opprssive heat out of my mind. I must find the scent of that dog. Alas! This is his pee on this pole. Well, we cannot have this type of behavior so I will just apply my own scent here. There. I realize this isn't everyone's cup of pee but it's how we roll in the pet world.

Now there is a site for sore eyes. A cat on a hot car roof. How did it get there and why can't I get it? This is crazy. Big Daddy keeping me at bay and what do you mean I can't has the kitty? I don't get it. Is this not why I am here? To rid this complex of vermin such as cats. Well have it your way. I'm just trying to help. Now we are back at the house. I think I just heard Mommy at the back door.

Wait! What was that noise? Cats are fighting. I have got to check this out. The problem is that Big Daddy keeps holding me back. I have to figure out what is wrong with this guy. Geez so much for entertainment. Well, at least we are home. It's much cooler in there and I have to get a drink of water.

Now that I got a snack; which by the way is the best part of these journeys. I had plenty to drink now I will just lay up here with Mommy for awhile. But don't you worry because it won't be too long now that I will be back on the hunt and watching up and down the street. You can count on seeing me conduct my investigations 4 or more times a day. So I'll be watching. I'll be watc....zzz zzz zzz zzz