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.