SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - CIRCLE OF BONES

Hello Everyone
              Copyright © 2012 sammiethesnorkie All Rights Reserved

My dogs are in the routine of receiving a cookie bone in the evening for a snack.  When I am putting the finishing touches to this blog each night, right before bed, they know will receive an even bigger treat at that time.

I found these huge, real bones (they look like they came from a Woolly Mammoth) that Sammie the Snorkie especially finds fun and appetizing. Puddles The Poodle and Gabby the Shih Tzu also enjoy the hard bones as well, but, of course, I buy them the smaller ones.

Peaches the Chihuahua would love to munch on one like everyone else,  but with her little 'rice' teeth it would be quite a challenge for her.

To make things easier for me,  I thought I would just put cookie bones in a dish on the floor.That way the dogs can just help themselves when they get the munchies. I filled up a dish with some Milk Bone treats, set it down on the floor and left to prepare dinner. 

After about 10 minutes, (it was a frozen dinner, didn't take long lol) I walked back into the room and there sat Sammie surrounded by every bone that was in the bowl. She wasn't eating them, she just picked them out of the bowl, made a circle with them and sat in the middle. She wouldn't let the other dogs touch the bones or get in the circle, she nudged them away with her nose if they got too close. 

Well, was that just a fluke or did Sammie actually know what she was doing? You know me, I had to try it again. Picked up every one of the bones off the floor and put them back in her bowl. Sat down and watched....nothing. So I left the room and came back a couple of minutes later. There was Sam taking out the last of the cookie's and placing them on the floor to form her 'circle of bones' again. 
It's almost like those movies you see on the SyFy channel where everyone is sitting inside a circle with candles surrounding them. Except in this case it's cookie bones.

After about 15 min or so, Sammie the Snorkie had to investigate a noise she heard out in the back yard. Gabby took advantage of that opportunity to steal 3 of the cookie bones in the circle. She put them in her bed, and proceeded to lay on top of them. In comes Sam and first thing she heads for is her 'circle of bones'. Sniffing around she knows something isn't right and looks right at Gabby who, I think, is 'faking a nap'. 

Sammie knows it's a loosing battle trying to keep her 'circle of bones' in order. So Sam joined the rest of the gang and shared/ate the rest of the cookie bones burped, fell asleep, all with contented looks on their faces.



 

SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - WHAT I ASKED FOR....

Hello Everyone

A few years back I came across the following and would like to share it with you today....

WHAT I ASKED FOR, WHAT I NEEDED

When I got my new dog

I asked for strength that I might rear her perfectly,
I was given weakness that I might feed her more treats.

I asked for good health that I might rest easy,
I was given a "special needs" dog that I might know nurturing.

I asked for an obedient dog that I might feel proud,
I was given stubbornness that I might feel humble.

I asked for compliance that I might feel masterful,
I was given a clown that I might laugh.

I asked for a companion that I might not feel lonely,
I was given a best friend that I would feel loved.

I got nothing I asked for,
But everything that I needed.
I got a dog. 

--Author Unknown

Sometimes we take our pets for granted, and at times don't spend as much time with them as we would like to. I think the above keeps it all in perspective for us.

Have a Great Weekend my friends!

SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - BUYING A BED

Hello Everyone
              Copyright © 2012 sammiethesnorkie All Rights Reserved

Today was bed buying day in the Snorkie household. As I mentioned in my last post, beds for dogs can be quite expensive.

So I got to thinking, what do I have around the house the dogs can use as a bed?? I remembered I had some old feather pillows my dear Aunt Betty gave me a while back. I accepted them, reluctantly. You see, I am fussy about those kinds of things, don't like sleeping on someone else's pillows. Aunt Betty also gave me her 'granny panties', said she wore them once and didn't like them. I am here to tell you those things make great dust cloths. . .

Anyway, I stored the pillows in the guest closet for the times Aunt Betty would spend the night. And then it hit me, those pillows would make great beds for the dogs! They're soft, big enough for each one to lay on and best of all.....cheap!!

I gathered them up from the closet and laid each one on the floor in the den. Of course, all the dogs had to come over and sniff and poke them with their nose. Sammie, Peaches, Puddles and Gabby each picked their favorite one and proceeded to  take their afternoon naps.

I had to run to the grocery store to pick up a couple of things for dinner and left the four dogs snoozing away on their new beds.

When I arrived home, not one dog greeted me....never a good sign. Usually, as soon as they hear the garage door open, all four are at the back door, tails wagging, barking and jumping up and down. Happy to see who ever is home. NOT. THIS. TIME.

I slowly opened the back door and walked into the kitchen, still no dogs. Through the living room and down the hall...nothing, not even a sound. Even the parakeets were quiet. 

When I finally made it to the den there were all four dogs, covered in feathers, just lying there like, 'What?' Every one of those feather down pillows were ripped and the insides were everywhere. Inside the fireplace, on my couch, TV, end tables...everywhere. My eyes immediately went to Sammie and she looked right back at me with a smile in her eyes and no guilt whatsoever. Gabby the Shih tzu, however, had guilt written all over her. What gave her away was the feather still stuck on her nose and in her mouth. 

Now, I don't know how many of you out there have ever tried sweeping up feathers....the more you sweep, the more they fly across the room. The dogs loved it, and started playing with the feathers again as they floated in the air. 

While I was in the process of cleaning up the feathers off the floor and out of my hair, I glanced in the mirror... I looked like one of those feather dancer people.  

At that very moment, hubby came home from work, looked at me and asked, "Oh, are we having chicken for dinner tonight dear?"

A comedian is born.....
                                                            

SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN BED

Hello Everyone

               Copyright © 2012 sammiethesnorkie All Rights Reserved

If you own a pet, you know how expensive dog beds can be. I have four dogs and at approx $25 for each bed it can be quite costly.

One of the first ones I bought, I made sure it was the kind you can just throw in the washing machine when it needed to be cleaned. So a month or so goes by and the time comes to wash their beds. 

I picked one up, looked at it, turned it over...hmmm. No way is this thing going into my new front loader washing machine. 

Instead, I took the beds outside, shook them out and laid them on the grass to soak up some sun.

In the evening I brought them back in and sprayed them with some Febreze. My Aunt Betty swears by that stuff ( Uncle Kenny smokes cigars and farts a lot) so if she uses it I know it's good stuff. lol

The dogs all circled around their beds, smelled and poked and decided they would get in and put their smell back on it....all but Sammie The Snorkie. She wanted no part of her bed, one sniff and she headed straight for her pet door. I thought she was just being fussy and she would come around to it eventually. Later I found out how wrong I was....

After dinner I went to the den (where the dogs beds are) and settled down for a quiet evening catching up on a James Patterson book I just got from the library. Sammie still did not want any part of her bed, she laid on the floor as far away from it as she could.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I see Sammie's pillow on her bed moving up and down ever so slightly! I take my reading glasses off thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me. omg, there it goes again, up, down, up, down...... 

The movie, Paranormal Activity, flashes through my brain! I have a haunting in my own home! Trying to stay calm and not act the fool, I called for the hubby to get in here......'HURRY', I yell! He comes in and all I can do is point to the bed, my voice was no longer working...

He slowly walked over and gingerly picked up the pillow, and out jumped one of those Gecko lizard thingys....ugh.

  That little sucker started running across the floor faster than the speed of light. You wouldn't think those tiny feet could move that fast, but I am here to tell you they do and are as quick as anything I've ever seen with 4 short legs.

Immediately my feet are off the floor and under me on the couch. Sammie is running around the living room like she was possessed, hubby is chasing this thing with a broom, and the other 3 dogs are sitting in their beds, heads going back and forth, enjoying the show.

Apparently, the lizard thing hitched a ride in the bed when I had it outside airing out. And now we know why Sam didn't want any part of her bed.

By the way, after about 15 minutes, hubby finally caught the Gecko and placed him back outside. I found out the next day, after telling my neighbor about our safari hunt the night before, that those things are very hard to catch. And if you don't catch them, they multiply like rabbits in your home!! ugh...

My next blog on Wednesday I will share with you my experience pet bed shopping. I can hardly wait......

SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - CHEAP EXERCISE PART 2

Hello Everyone
           Copyright © 2012 sammiethesnorkie All Rights Reserved

I hope you all picked up a few pointers from my last blog, Cheap Exercise Part 1.

Today I will share with you the final installment, Cheap Exercise Part 2.

Upper Arms: Throw the ball. Throw the squeaky toy. Throw the Frisbee. Repeat until nauseous.

Upper Arms: (alternate) Tug the rope. Tug the pull toy. Tug the sock. Repeat until your shoulder is dislocated or the dog gives up (we all know which comes first).

Hand Coordination: Remove foreign object from dog's locked jaw. This exercise is especially popular with puppy owners. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Remember, this is a timed exercise. Movements must be quick and precise. Sort of like fighting your mother-in-law for the last piece of steak at the dinner table.

Calves: After the dog has worn out the rest of your body, hang a round toy on your ankle and let the dog tug while you tug back. WARNING: This works  only for those with strong bones and small dogs. Have you taken your calcium supplement today?

Calves: (alternate) Run after dog - pick any reason, there are plenty. Dogs of any size can be used for this exercise. . .except if you own a Greyhound. See if you can borrow the neighbor's Wiener dog.....they have short legs and can't run too fast.

Neck Muscles: Attempt to outmaneuver the dog's tongue headed for your ear, mouth, or eyeball. This is a lifelong fitness program. A dog is never too old or too feeble to "French Kiss" you when you least expect it.

I hope this has helped you get your body back in shape. Now if you will excuse me, I am headed to the ER with Sammie the Snorkie smirking in the background.

SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - CHEAP EXERCISE PART 1

Hello Everyone
                 Copyright © 2012 sammiethesnorkie All Rights Reserved

During the winter we don't get to exercise like we should. You watch TV and see these skinny people trying to sell you all these very expensive exercise equipment that you just don't want to spend the money on.



If you own a dog, you don't need to invest in all of that fancy equipment. Sammie The Snorkie and I have come
up with a couple of exercises that you can do right in your own home...cheap!


First, we have the inner thighs. I place Sammie's favorite toy between my thighs and press tighter than she can pull. And please, do not attempt this exercise with bare legs. Your dog will look for a shortcut to the toy and try and dig it out. You will be damaged....

Second is upper body strength. I lift Sammy off of the couch, off the bed, out of the flower bed. Keep repeating...I am thinking as Sammie gets older the exercise will be reversed: onto the couch, onto the bed, into the car etc. 

Balance and Coordination Part 1: When Sammie runs to greet me across the length of the living room, leaps in the air and slams both her front paws into the back of my knees and I'm still standing, that's balance & coordination at it's finest.


Balance & Coordination Part 2:
This one I include all 4 of my pets. I try and remove Sammie, Puddles, Gabby and Peaches off of my lap to answer the phone before it stops ringing. I have a lot of calls going to voice mail when I do this exercise...

Balance & Coordination Part 3: 

This one is for those of you who own older dogs that aren't as fast. Attempt to cross the room without tripping over the dog. Getting off the couch without crushing any part of the sleeping, elderly dog is not as easy as it sounds. 


In my next blog on Friday I will show you how to firm up those arms and legs. 

Rest up now because it's gonna get ugly.   

SAMMIE THE SNORKIE - CRIME SCENE

Hello Everyone
                Copyright © 2012 sammiethesnorkie All Rights Reserved

Sammie the Snorkie just loves to play with toys, especially the ones that squeak and filled with stuffing. Plastic ones not so much, maybe because they only last about 5 seconds in her mouth before they are destroyed.

In fact, I have a room in the back of the house were stuffed and plastic animals go to die. These are the poor things that are just about on their last legs but not ready to be tossed in the bin just yet.

Sammie, Puddles, Gabby and Peaches have their beds in that room as well. It's where they take their afternoon naps, play and have their cookie bone snacks. 


Each day I go in there it's like a police crime scene. I should put yellow tape across the door. Dead plastic and stuffed bodies everywhere. A stuffed raccoon without a head, a troll doll without arms, a stuffed rabbit without the stuffing...well, you get the picture. 


So in I go with the black plastic body bag picking up bits and pieces of was once healthy and stuffed toys to be thrown out with tomorrow's trash.

Welcome to CSI-Myrtle Beach.