I was decluttering my desk and came upon some notes made by both Dawson and Grady.  I normally don’t pry into their affairs except when scheduling transportation but I couldn’t resist when I saw what appeared to be their New Year’s resolutions for 2018.  Dawson, as expected, has big plans for his year while Grady includes me in many of his goals.  I found their resolutions both inspiring and amusing so I thought I would share them with you. 

Here’s wishing you a 2018 filled with the kind of fun and adventure that only Grady and Dawson can dream of!

My goals for 2018 (by Grady Buford Huntley)
Love Mom more than last year (if that’s even possible)
Increase walking time with Mom
Snuggle 5 hours a day with Mom
Earn bonus treats every day
Help Dawson stay focused (and realistic)
Continue with plans for agility world domination with Mom
Figure out a way to get into the box of tennis balls

Dawson Earnest Huntley’s Best Year Ever: My plans for 2018.
Increase Abolish the Crate Federation membership by 50%
Petition the AtCF board to adopt as our theme song Tom Petty’s 1989 hit, “I Won’t Back Down.”
Present monthly seminars for Freestyle Agility
Run fast every day
Play with Grady three times a day
Finish my dissertation (current working title, “How Social Media Sabotaged the Return of Polka Music: A Grand Conspiracy, Part 1.”)
Earn an AKC tracking title because Mom would like that
Get clearance from AtCF legal counsel to present my research, “Einstein Got It Right: Incontrovertible Proof that All Crate Time is Relative.”
Go an entire year without running into Mom

A Winning Team

Dear Readers:

I wanted to title this opinion piece, “How To Be Successful In Spite Of Your Partner” but Dawson was adamant that I stay positive and kind.  I’m always kind but as you all know, it can be difficult to stay positive when your partner (who has thumbs so therefore has all the power), doesn’t do their job.  Not doing their job correctly is something I can deal with but when your partner thinks that they’re doing their job when they are not and also thinks that you’re not doing your job when you are… well, I get a little bothered. Dawson believes that I am persnickety with my training but I disagree.  It’s just that I notice where my partner has room for improvement.

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The Things You Love
A Valentine’s Day Commentary by Grady Buford Huntley

Dear Readers,

Everyone says that Valentine’s is a day to express your love but I am compelled to say that I strongly disagree.  As my fellow canines know, one day of the year just doesn’t give us enough time to express our love so we believe love should be shared every minute of every day with everyone and every creature we meet.  In fact, it would simply go against our dog-nature to do otherwise.  Plus, it’s a lot of fun!

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He sat still, looking out over the field, quiet as a church mouse.  The only thing I saw moving was the twitching of his nostrils.

I inhaled to calm myself since I was starting to feel very anxious.  “Deep breaths.” I said to myself, “You can do this.”  I was hoping this time would be different, easier, less painful than the other times. I secretly doubted I would be so lucky.

Meanwhile, he never moved a muscle.  Was waiting for the signal.

Waiting.

Waiting.

I reached over and switched his leash from his collar to his harness.  In response he whipped his head around to look at me as if to say, “Come on! I got this! What are we waiting for?!”

I paused and made sure I held the leash in such a way that my gloves would provide the most protection from the burning that was soon to occur.  Then, against my better judgment, I said the words he was waiting for.

“Find it!”

Like a bullet Dawson took off and I tried very hard not to grip the leash while simultaneously holding on for dear life.  “Just hold on to the leash but not too tight and let it slide through your other hand until he’s 20 feet away from you,”  my tracking teacher said,  “then you can move with him.”

R-i-ght.

Just so you know, it’s counterintuitive to stand still when you are all but certain that doing so will result in being pulled so suddenly that you never recover your balance.  It is as if you can see the punch coming your way but you can’t move because you’re frozen with fear.  So you surrender to the inevitable and hope to make it out alive.

This is tracking with Dawson.  I call it, “Bullet Tracking.”

Sound a little dramatic?  Well, by this point I had been through two sets of gloves that Dawson burned a hole through because he pulled so hard and fast on the leash that it simply ripped through the material.  Did I mention the burning sensation that is produced as a result?  Pain plus fear equals trauma.

On a brighter note, thanks to the kind and patient salesman at REI (You rock, Ryan!), I had finally found a pair of tracking footwear that was light enough to run in while providing extra ankle support in case I landed in a hole or was unable to move fast enough to keep up with Dawson.  One of my fears is that he would pull me so fast that I would fall and break my ankle.  This in spite of my teacher’s helpful suggestion, “Don’t let him pull you.”  As if I have a choice?

So that’s where we are now, Dawson and I.  A green team for sure with one of us enthusiastic beyond words and the other nursing a sore hand (but with a really cool pair of tracking shoes).  It’s a good thing Dawson and I love each other like we do, since we are forever partners in our quest to, “Find it!”  And I suspect we will be tracking for a long time because no matter how painful (or in Dawson’s view, slow moving), tracking can be, finding the glove at the end is a great feeling.

Even if I need a stiff drink afterward.

Personal Correspondence

Camp Unleashed

October 15, 2016

Dear Dawson,

I think this was the best day ever at camp!  I was busy, busy, busy and I loved it, loved it, loved it!

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Personal Correspondence

Camp Unleashed

October 14, 2016

Dear Dawson,

Wow, what a day!!  More fun than a lively game of chase!  I was not disappointed at all.

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Personal Correspondence

Camp Unleashed

October 13, 2016

Dear Dawson,

I said I would write you about my big adventures at Dog’s Camp so here it goes.  Try not be be too jealous because I got to do a bunch of cool dog stuff with Mom while you had to stay home. LOL!

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Few things will occupy a dog’s time like the chewing of a bone. In fact, it is my go-to solution when I need them to be safely occupied and out of “dog-trouble” while I’m working (that’s a big deal with a 10 month old puppy). The comforting sounds of gnawing, chewing, picking up and dropping the bone while trying to angle it just right for a really good chew, these are the sounds that remind me of my dogs’ total focus on the job at hand. Chew, chew, chew until there’s nothing left.

I wonder why that is?

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Does your dog laugh? I thought about that question in regard to my pooches.  The Puppy Grady flashes a toothy grin from time to time but does he laugh?  I didn’t think so until I read what Alexandra Horowitz wrote in her book, Inside of a Dog.

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Day 13 of 14

I was beginning to believe that things were turning my way but I was in for a rude awakening.  I’m referring to my two day successful run with Tucker and his pill.  I suppose all good things must come to an end.

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Day 12 of 14

Another good day on the pill taking. Camouflaged in a very small portion of canned dog food was Tucker’s pill.  I put the dog bowl down in front of Tucker and walked away, without a backward glance.  About five minutes later, I returned and found the bowl empty!  Lots of praise for Tucker!

And, of course, more food.  In Tucker’s world, that’s always better than praise.

Day 11 of 14

Today is a day to give thanks!  The sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is good in the world.  I put the pill in Tucker’s mouth, held it closed and, miracle of miracles, he swallowed it without hesitation (well, not too much hesitation).

I’ll take what I can get.

Day 10 of 14

So I was thinking… maybe the fact that the antibiotic is the size of a horse pill is one of the reasons that Tucker resists taking it.  It could be uncomfortable to swallow.

I cut the pill in half and disguised half the pill in some food.  No interest whatsoever from Tucker.

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Day 9 of 14

Tucker’s actions yesterday revealed that he was not above pulling out all the stops when it came to avoiding taking his pill.  As is his personality, he was playing to win.  Since I had a fairly busy day yesterday, I hadn’t had time to seriously contemplate revising my strategy.  I decided to stick with the “shoving the pill down his throat” approach.

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Day 8 of 14

Over the half-way mark for Tucker’s pills!  Today I hoped he would consume his canned dog food and not suspect that there was a pill tucked inside.  Tucker began to eat and I started to say a prayer of thanks.  Suddenly he stopped eating, stood before his food bowl for a moment, then walked away.  He left most of his food untouched, including, of course, the pill.

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Day 7 of 14

Today I’m half-way through the fourteen days of trickery and, I must admit, Tucker’s starting to wear me down. I even had concerned friends say, “Is everything okay?  You look a little tired.”  Honestly, I’m a bit nervous that I’ll run out of ways to convince (okay, trick) Tucker to take his pill and I fear I’ve become a little obsessed about it.  It seems to be all I talk about and I’m starting to wonder if I need therapy.  That dog is in my head.

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Day 6 of 14

Since yesterday’s ham yielded such an immediate and positive reaction from Tucker, I decided to use it again as a decoy for his pill.  I neatly packaged the pill in a slice, handed it to Tucker, who took it, dropped it, sniffed it and looked up at me as if to say, “Nice try.”

No coaxing, cajoling or bartering would get Tucker to eat the ham.  In fact, Tucker wouldn’t eat peanut butter, bread, pizza, yogurt, or ice cream.  I offered him a virtual smorgasbord of foods and he wasn’t having any of it. I was at my wit’s end.

Then I did something I thought I’d never do.

With lightening speed, I grabbed Tucker’s muzzle.  With an even faster reaction, Tucker clamped his mouth shut so tightly that it reminded me that I needed to purchase some superglue for a project I was working on.  Carefully I applied pressure to Tucker’s jaw and somehow I managed to get the pill in his mouth.  I held his mouth closed, rubbed his nose dry and stroked his throat.  Low and behold, Tucker swallowed the pill.

Now I’m not proud that I had to resort to the use of force.  As a psychologist I know that it is better if you can get cooperation when people (or dogs) believe they have freely chosen to participate.  After all, nobody really likes to be forced to do something and Tucker’s no different. He can be a rebel with a really good memory for injustice so I wondered how this would affect him.

I let go of Tucker and we both stood up. Tucker gave me a look and I silently agreed that what just happened, never happened.  We then proceeded to walk quietly away from the scene of the incident, in opposite directions, each with our own thoughts.

Perhaps Tucker was wondering what was going to happen tomorrow.

I know I was.

Day 5 of 14

Thinking the pizza crust would work again, I eagerly offered Tucker a piece with his pill concealed inside.

He declined to take it.  In Tucker’s 12 years of living, I have never, ever, seen him refuse pizza (it’s one thing we have in common).  I thought perhaps he couldn’t see or smell the yummy pizza crust that I held in my hand.  I waved it in front of his nose, held it before his eyes and still, no response. Complete disinterest in both me and the pizza crust.

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Day 4 of 14

Thankfully, not much to report on Tucker and his pill.  I sneaked it into a bite of pizza crust, held my breath, and watched him wolf it down.

God bless you, Pappa John’s.

Day 3 of 14

Getting Tucker to take his pill today will be easy-breezy I said to myself (and to The Puppy Grady who wagged his tail in agreement).  I prepared the bread like yesterday, called Tucker to the kitchen, and, for starters, offered him a piece of pill-less bread.

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I really didn’t think Tucker would give me a hard time taking his pill today.  After all, yesterday’s experience with Dr. B. showed me that all I had to do was offer it to him and he would take it, no questions asked.

No such luck.

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Day 1 of 14

Today I was lucky.  Tucker was given his pill by the vet, Dr. B., although he didn’t go down without a fight. In the past, whenever Dr. B. tries to give him a treat, Tucker responds with the doggie snub and heads for the door as if the office is on fire and it’s every man, woman, and child for himself. So, rather than offer him the “treat,” we decided that Dr. B. should just, well, shove it down his throat. What I saw next will forever traumatize me.

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