Guilt

Well now that June if over and I have finally caught a weekend off from dog shows and work, and family obligations.......well not really off from work since my life with my dogs is 24/7 for the most part........but I do have a weekend where I can decide what I am going to do rather than the weekend deciding for me....But I have felt kinda guilty for not writing as much as I have wanted to......spending too much time on Facebook these days and not enough time here on Maroo's blog....And speaking of guilt.....Maroo has a new trick. I figured it would not take him too long but since my other dogs do this it was just a matter of time before he would start "giving me the eye" Oh it all started with my Liza who is an expert at parking herself right in front of you while you are either eating something that she of course wants........or there is a toy sitting out of reach from her and I can reach it for her. She would sit and stare at me and then if that did not work, she would proceed to lick my arms, hands, and work herself up to my face........all in the name of guilt. Well watching Liza and the others do this.....Maroo has figured out just how to get to my heart (like he has not already) and make his every wish come true at my expense :) He has also found a new game outside in the yard....It seems that he loves to hide from me when it is time to come in... This a skill that the others have also developed over the years.....Some call it "selective hearing" I call it just too funny for words........You can stand there at the door and call his name for him to come in and he will find a place to hide and just watch me as I continue to call his name.......finally when I bring the box of "cookies" (dog treats) to the door his attention is all mine again :) Funny how a little baked piece of dog goodness has worked miracles through the ages! But once inside all he has to do is park his little furry butt next to me and start licking my arm and giving me the look and it is back outside again with him..........As long as the day is light and the weather is beautiful I cannot see any reason for him to be inside anyway.......Oh guilt seems to be the name of the game these days.......but not in a bad way. I need to spend less time on Facebook of course and more time enjoying this gorgeous summer weather. I could bring my laptop out onto the deck and surf the web there but the last time I did that a very pretty blue bird flew over and dropped a present right on the middle of my laptop keyboard!!!! took me a half hour to clean it off carefully.............I wonder if that bird also felt guilty?

a busy month for running in the rain...

I feel really bad that I have not been updating Maroo's blog these past few weeks but things have been so busy that I have not had the chance to sit down without any distractions to type a single word........But this morning I am able to.

These past few weeks have been very trying as far as the weather is concerned since the sun has not been out all that much and it has been raining at one point each and every day! The dogs who do not mind the rain have actually have had enough of it! My poor Sabrina and Liza who normally won't set foot on wet grass in the morning just look at me like "you have got to be kidding" when I ask them to go out and "go potty" :) Of course as usual Maroo loves all that water in the play yard......He will run in that yard for an hour getting soaking wet without a second thought! He tries to get the other dogs involved with his running through the wet grass but they only look at him like he is nuts........but he just continues, running and jumping with a huge smile on his face. Then when it is time for him to come in I have to practically put him on the grooming table with the blow dryer to dry his coat again...The other day I brought Maroo to work with me to the grooming salon and he had is weekly bath.....he looked so good and smelled even better. Once he got back home and ran in the yard he looked like he just stepped out of the bath tub......but he still smelled great :) I don't know what makes him different from my other dogs as far as the wet grass and rain is concerned....perhaps it is that he really never had this treat to experience when he was growing up in the puppy mill........God only knows what other things we take for granted that he would get a thrill over? I only know that watching him have so much joy in his heart running through a soaking wet play yard can make my day even on a day when I think I have nothing to smile about........Maroo always brings me back to who I am and why I am here on this planet.

Luna and Maroo part two...

Well yesterday was another big win for Luna at the dog show......much to my surprise the judge gave her Best of Breed over the champions entered....We tried our best in the group but the breed rosette is all we came home with :) Maroo came along for the fun yesterday and since it was finally a beautiful sunny day he totally enjoyed himself playing with Luna before and after she showed.....One of the biggest steps he has taken recently is how he will interact with my sister when she visits.......In the beginning he would shy away from everyone including my sister Gerrill.......but just this past week I observed him going right up to her and giving her licks and kisses with no prompting......She has spent much time with him over these past weeks since she usually helps me with my dogs when I groom or when we are going to a show.......so Maroo is very familiar with who she is......But the fact that he is treating her as a family member now is very exciting! You have to remember that this is the same dog who would zone out when anyone would approach him in the past.....It is very difficult because when I have him with me in public most people want to touch him because he is so damn cute! He still remains shy with strangers but is slowly coming around with the people he continues to see on a regular basis.....I also wondered if Maroo made the connection between Luna, who he adores........and my sister who is Luna's mom? Who knows what language is spoken between our dogs that we cannot truly understand........Perhaps Luna is saying to Maroo........."oh she is ok, she's my mom".........That would explain why Maroo has begun to trust my sister and give her licks and kisses :)

Maroo's new best bud.....

A couple weeks ago when "Webster" was returned to me I was very cautious when letting him play in the yard with the other dogs........There was no cause for me to be concerned based on any behavior he had displayed but when you bring a non-neutered dog into a pack.....even if that dog was raised as a puppy in that pack and left......things can become a bit dicey. Webby's temperament is lovely........he always interacts with other dogs very appropriate and I like to say he has manners! Richard his full brother and litter mate is very similar to him in temperament and personality.......the happy-go-lucky dog! But with 4 intact males in my pack, 2 being my almost 18 month old Nobu and Richard you still have to be very careful.....Of course my girls are perfect little ladies around new dog friends who are sharing the yard and house with them.........and with the boys they can be little flirts :) So I never have to worry about my boy crazy TT girls in the play yard.........And then there is my Maroo and his dad Archie (who I am still fostering)

Maroo, who is always looking for a new dog friend where ever he goes was very enthusiastic when he first met Webby.......almost to the point that I honestly think that he got on Webby's nerves a bit.........all that jumping and following him around and chasing after him if Webby decided to run.....got old real fast for Webby......Of course Webby did not become nasty with Maroo but would start to avoid him if they were in the yard at the same time........all of this mostly took place the first week he was back home with me. As the days passed by I noticed that Webby and Maroo started forming their own games while playing and Webster would be searching out Maroo in the play yard instead of hiding from him.....These past 3 or 4 days I have seen them running after each other switching who was chasing who every minute or so.........almost like a game of "tag" Maroo has learned when I let Webby out to play and with which other dogs.........If he is not included with that group, Maroo will become very vocal and let me know that he wants to be included with that group so that he and his new best bud can play together! If dogs could smile and most people believe that they really can, Maroo's face lights up when he is out there in the play yard in the middle of a game with Webster.....and of course Webster has found a new pal in Maroo......someone who looks up to him and can run as fast as the wind!

The picture posted above is Webster when he was a few weeks old.........A very cute puppy who has grown up to be a very handsome TT!

Well another long week is over....

For some reason this week forever to become Saturday........since the past 2 days have been nothing but rain and today does not look so good, more rain most likely I am sure this is why the week seemed to be so long! Yesterday I brought Maroo with me to the grooming salon for his weekly bat and boy did he look great when I finished bathing and drying him! But as soon as I got home and let him run in the yard while the other dogs needed to be taken outside he was soaking wet!!!! I honestly do not think that there are enough towels in the world when you have a house full of wet Tibetan Terriers to deal with........I brought an entire stack of clean fresh towels up from the laundry room before I let the gang out to run in the wet grass and rain......by the time I towel dried each and everyone of them off before letting them back into the family room I had a load of wash to do! Of course I also had to load up my crated dogs with extra towels as well because there is nothing worse than a wet dog laying on a soaking wet dog bed inside of a crate! YIPES! Maroo I think was the most wet out of all of them since I know he has a passion for water and all things connected to water :) Remember he was the little guy who fell in love with the garden hose a few weeks back.....Oh he will do anything to take advantage of the chance to get his little feet wet.......which would also include.....his legs, stomach, head, tail.......actually his entire body! It is a very good thing that he is small and does not require too much time to dry off....unlike my Richard who also shares this same passion.........I really have to watch him during a wet day outside........he takes a very long time to dry since his coat is very profuse and has much length on it right now........Oh the joys of a raining day and a house full of TTs........there are few things that compare....except perhaps a house full of ducks!

June is busting out all over.......

Well Memorial day has come and gone......Parades, cookouts, dog shows, friends, family, and most importantly...dogs! It was a great weekend and week for that matter....so much happening. Maroo has changed so much for the better over the past month...that once sad look in his eyes has been replaced with an actual sparkle! Playing outside with the other dogs he has become the fastest dog in the yard! No one can seem to catch him when he is running with a toy in his mouth. Oh they try but he seems to be able to maneuver himself in and out of bushes, around trees and patio furniture...up and down the steps of the deck...fast is the name of game with Maroo! Now that Luna, his heart throb has gone back home to my sister's house...."Sabrina" seems to be his new flame...They both are almost the same size which helps when you are chasing each other....The larger dogs seem to not be able to get around all those obstacles like smaller ones do. The weather has been perfect for all play yard activities lately and I know that my dogs are so happy about that.....nothing like sun bathing on a warm Spring afternoon just after having a wonderful meal or treat...chasing the hose as I water the flowers or spray off the deck.....or finding a bird or cat to study in the yard next door....Oh we are all very happy that June is finally here! Maroo seems to be busting out also...busting with excitement and happiness!

a dies ex abyssus or "a day from hell"

Late entry, events happened on 5/20/09

Well what was suppose to be a very positive and productive day turned out to be somewhat of a nightmare! First I want to let you know that Maroo is fine and nothing that occurred today involved him in any way.......Wednesdays I usually work from home grooming my client's dogs during scheduled appointments....I was to have 4 dogs today that needed grooming....Since my first dogs owner works very early at a local hospital and I myself am usually up at the crack of dawn I allow her to bring her baby to me on her way to work, which is around 7am........no problem at all. "Denzel" is one of my puppies from my last litter in 2007 and is also the litter mate and brother to my "Nobu" Denzel is solid black with a small patch of white on his chest........and he is as cute as a button! On the small side for a male Tibetan Terrier but what he lacks in size he makes up in personality! He is a joy to have here during his grooming days.......my next 3 dogs were scheduled at 10am and 1030am to be dropped off.........The 10am dog scheduled was "Webster" who is another puppy from my other litter in 2007 and he is also the litter mate and brother to my "Richard"......Webster's owners have had issues with him on and off since he first went home with them over a year ago......I really am too tired right now to go into any real details about this family but I will say that it is NOT Webster's fault! We are talking about people who ask for help, you offer or give the help, and they do what they want to do regardless of the advice you gave them..........This past Fall they wanted to return Webster to me and I was all set to allow this to happen.....just became so sick and tired of all the mentoring I did and it all going in one ear and out the other..........Poor poor Webster to live in a house where no body could get their acts together for his sake! Well this morning after being 40 minutes late for Webster's grooming appointment the owner arrived and told me that she no longer wanted Webster! She stated that he has had many issues and has become very aggressive toward members of the family! I asked how long had this been going on and she told me that it had been for a very long time now...........NOW, I have spoken to the owner several times during the past 3 to 4 months..........even had Webster her for boarding and grooming on several occasions.........and NOTHING was ever mentioned about any problem that occurred in their home concerning Webster???? I asked why they did not contact me or contact a trainer to come to the home to work with Webster......and she told me that they had met with a trainer and she gave them some tips on how to handle Webster's rambunctious behavior.......obviously it was not working since he was still doing what they did not like.......ok, I don't want to go into too many details or we will be here all night :) the bottom line is that she dumped Webster off at my house this morning and even if she did want him back.........it just is not happening!



Also this morning my sister who will help me out with grooming on occasion agreed to give me hand all day with my scheduled dogs......She said that she would be there at 9am which would give us plenty of time to even grab breakfast at the local dinner up the street....very good food btw..........Well she showed up at 11am after I called her when she was not here at 9:15.........she over slept.

Well after my sister arrived and we started to groom "Melody" and "Domino", my good friend Susan's two dogs I realized that both dogs were matted pretty badly.......This was very strange because Susan is fanatical about brushing her dogs......but with the change in the weather and some rain that we have had it was understandable that both of them would be starting to "blow coat"......During the grooming of both of these dogs I realized that I would not have time to run to my doctor's office to pick up a prescription that he wrote for me so I asked my sister if she would not mind going while I stayed home and finished Domino............she agreed and asked if she could take my Van.......I said yes. While she outside of the yard near the driveway she called to me and much to my surprise she was holding Luna in her arms! She told me that Luna had gotten out of the yard!!!! I was shocked because the gate was closed and locked and there was no other way for her to exit? I asked her to bring her back in the yard and go out again to see if Luna does it again and to also find out WHERE she was escaping from? Well she left the yard, locked the gate and headed toward the driveway.......In a flash quicker than a blink of an eye Luna ran to the far corner of the yard near the driveway and escaped through a hole in the fence that I could not even imagine a rabbit going through!!!! The first time she escaped she ran right over to my sister but not this time.....she ran right past her and into the street! Well this is just not any street.....at this time of the day there are plenty of cars and trucks and Luna was right in the middle of all of them!!!! My sister ran into the street to block the traffic in both directions and kept calling to Luna to come to her......no such luck........Luna was free to run and play this very dangerous game she thought was fantastic! I yelled to my sister to stoop down and call her like she was playing a gamed........Luna finally came over to her and my sister grabbed onto her hair around her neck and secured her by picking her up.......Both of our hearts were pounding so fast and my sister almost started to hyperventilate once the episode was over.....she told me she needed to use the bathroom......no surprise there since I would have l lost all bodily fluids if this had happened to just me and one of my dogs!!! She brought Luna into the house and proceeded to go through the gate between the kitchen and dinning room......this gate is in place to separate both my "Luca" and "Adam" since they do not get along in the slightest and would fight with each other in a New York minute! While I was still outside I had heard some pretty intense growling coming from the family room....I quickly went inside to find both Luca and Adam standing up like two Bears in the wild ready to fight! I immediately grabbed hold of the first dog I could reach and lifted Adam above my head to bring him out of the reach of Luca........in the midst of doing this Luca had gotten a hold of my right index finger and produced a very painful puncture :( I honestly was not his fault since he and Adam were in the middle of a dog fight.......and I placed myself in the middle by removing Adam.......Once both dogs were removed and safe I took care of my finger by rinsing it and applying a pressure dressing on it........Once both my sister and I had calmed down she left for my doctor's office.........about an hour later she returned and things had calmed down.......at least we thought that they had :) I was in the kitchen when I heard my sister call me into the yard with a frantic tone in her voice...........I arrive outside and see my "Olivia" (the other escaped artist) in my neighbor's yard behind my house running with her dog!!! Now their yard is large but it is NOT fenced in.........I called to Olivia in a loud voice and she stopped running and stood there like a statue..........oh she knew she was in trouble.......but with what had happened during the entire day I was in no mood to even get upset about this at all.........I very quickly lifted the bottom of the chain-link fence up and called to Olivia to come over and get her cute little butt back in our yard.........she did with no problem! I did not even have the energy to scold her and actually laughed once I realized what had happened.......So, this was my day from hell........That night when I was all settled in and the dogs were all around me....I was able to reflect back on the events of day and thank God that no real damage was done.......except for my poor finger which was very sore to say the least.