Show Dogs and Their Crazy Names

Last year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show winner was a beagle called Uno — his official name is Ch. (Champion) K-Run’s Park Me in First. What a mouthful! Purebred dogs tend to have long, crazy names like that. My mom’s purebred German shepherd Shashi was officially named Wildwoods Scheherazade. Shashi is a much easier name! So what’s with all the crazy names? Champion is actually a title — not part of the dog’s given name. A dog has to win a certain number of “points” in competition before officially earning that title at the front of his or her name. … Continue reading →

Courtney and Crew Present: The Case of Who Cut the Cheese

In a house full of little stinkers, who do you blame when a bomb explodes? That is the dilemma I found myself in this weekend. Lucky for me I have a bad nose. I don’t always smell the odors Murphy, Mr. Meow, and Tabby (and Wayne) freely share. But Wayne does. The SBD Release It was a peaceful Friday night lounging on the couch watching TV after a nice dinner out. Suddenly, Wayne springs up from his couch with his nose all scrunched up and shouts, “Ewww! Someone stinks. Bad!” He Who Smelt It Dealt It I’d seen the salad … Continue reading →

The Joke’s on Me!

Fellow pet owners, you’ve probably run into this one before: the moment when your pet makes you look like a fool. I had mine on New Year’s Eve. I had to work on New Year’s Day, so I wasn’t planning to go out on New Year’s Eve. But I did invite a few friends over to help me ring in 2008. We had a good time laughing and talking, playing with the dogs, and feasting on snacks. I was telling the story of how my dogs joined the family. Lally was a stray; I adopted her from a Vermont shelter … Continue reading →

‘Twas the Day Before Christmas…

‘Twas the day before Christmas And there was excitement galore. The stockings were hung And presents were piled on the floor. Garland graced the stairs And ornaments adorned the tree Just begging to be batted By Mr. Meow and Tabby. But good they were being Because if they were not The man named St. Nick Would leave them to rot. Stayed away from temptation Did Murph and the cats And steer clear they made sure Of tantrums and spats. For they knew the man who bore gifts Kept lists of the naughty and nice And desperate were they to prove … Continue reading →

Creative Messes

When it comes to making messes, it seems like pets are the pros! (Toddlers may be in the running for the Most Creative Mess title, too.) Something my dog Lally ate this week didn’t agree with her. (She tends to have a sensitive stomach.) I woke up to find little piles of barf (mostly bile) in the hallway. But they weren’t just any piles of barf — they were arranged in a circle, as if Lally was turning around as she was sick. If you imagine a compass rose, she had barf at all the cardinal points — north, south, … Continue reading →

Chaotic Cat Chronicles: The Potty Pact

Back in the dark days of this year when poor Tabby harassed Mr. Meow every chance she got even litter box time wasn’t sacred. There was one time, before her pregnancy hormones kicked into high gear and she got so nuts she’d attack him every time she saw him, that was kind of funny though. She decided to be a booger and planted herself in front of Mr. Meow’s potty box and didn’t budge until I moved her. (I wrote about it in Tabby Time: Adjusting to a New Family Member under the “Pottytime” heading.) But for a few months … Continue reading →

What’s the Deal with Mr. Meow?

I don’t know what’s up with my crazy cat, but he’s acting really weird lately. So much so I’m kind of worried about him. It’s not his physical health that’s causing me concern. He’s eating fine, using the litter box as usual, playing, and being very loving. That’s what’s worrying me –those last two things. The playing and the lovingness. Normally most people’s impression of Mr. Meow is that he’s kind of a creepy cat. Even Wayne’s intimidated by him and refers to him as his nemesis because he feels Mr. Meow’s always plotting against him. (Sometimes it just so … Continue reading →

Moose’s Rain Caper

I’m still laughing as I write this. I was just out walking the dogs. And for those of you who don’t know this, the Pacific Northwest is somewhat famous for its rain. So it’s no surprise to me that it started raining while we were walking. Unfortunately, we were at the far side of the apartment complex when the downpour started. Lally was making her characteristic unhappy face — squinty eyes and ears back. Moose? Well, not much bothers Moose, rain included. I do have a nice waterproof coat with a hood, but I felt bad for Lally. So we … Continue reading →

Bed Wars

I’ve written about dominance before — alpha dogs and omega dogs especially. And a few weeks ago, I mentioned how the balance of power in my four-legged family was shifting. For a long time now, we’ve had Bed Wars. Let me set the scene. (A black sky, white stars sparkling. Text scrolls upwards, a la Star Wars.) A long time ago, in a bedroom far, far away, two dogs were at war over a very important piece of territory: the bed. He (or she) who ruled the bed ruled the universe. The bed was a land of great prosperity and … Continue reading →

Chaotic Cat Chronicles: Crouching Meowy, Flying Tabby (Hidden Murphy)

I never could have imagined the even bigger strides that were to follow the end of Mr. Meow’s bed boycott back in June. Distraught The first part of this year was so incredibly stressful. I didn’t know what to do about Tabby and it seemed Mr. Meow had met his ultimate match. He was all freaked out and unhappy, which broke my heart. My poor little Meowy sure didn’t deserve Tabby’s harassment. I felt so guilty. After all, I was the one who’d brought her home and she’d immediately run roughshod over the cat who had previously reigned the kingdom. … Continue reading →