Posts from the ‘For the love of dogs’ Category

Aug 23

7 Comments

Every Picture Tells a Story – It’s a Dogs Life

The Tree Fort

How I want to be a bird up in a tree

Singing songs and chirping, chasing bumblebees

I tried to build a nest, thinking maybe I could fly

Turn into a bird, and soar way up high

Gathered all the leaves and twigs, together to be bound

Now I am exhausted with a tree fort on the ground

Actually, it is quite nice, with all the leaves covering me

I can hide right here escaping, the bath that I so need

Bored

We are two dogs that are bored as can be

Lying on the kitchen floor waiting for a treat

A walk would be nice, out in the sun

Go to the park for a little run

The cat is upstairs hiding…….. from us right now

If he’d come down, we could chase him all around

Swimming at the lake would be lots of fun

Guess we’ll just have to wait for the time to come

Trim My Paws

Why do you look so shocked that I jumped up here

The groomer made me get on her table, so why can’t I here

I went to school today and got one paw groomed

So get out the scissors and please finish them soon

You saw how she did it, so please give it a try

Make the other ones pretty, I am not shy

One night after obedience training I asked the groomer/trainer how to trim the fur on my dog’s paws and so she took us into her grooming room and showed me on one of her paws. When we got home Magz jumped up onto the table as if to say “Okay now finish the other three”

I Wrote a Poem Just For You

I’d love to be able to write you a song

To let you know how much we belong

Side by side every day

Side by side all the way

If only I could find words to write

How I feel day and night

But it is hard to write with paws

Webbed they are but there is a flaw

No pen will fit between my claws

Just take me for a walk today

Feed me treats and I will stay

Right beside you not pulling away

Just tell me nicely to sit and stay

I promise not to be a rat

I’ll never again chase the cat

If you will feed me a bone or two

I will fetch for you a brew

When you come home at night

I’ll be waiting with delight

Wagging my tail to and fro

Just let me out to play in the snow

I know that it’s not polite to drool

Can’t help myself I am a dog you fool

I can read your mind with ease

I know what you want and how to please

But at times dogs just have to disobey

You took me to the vet and now I am spayed

You always fill my water dish

Sometimes I wish you’d throw me a fish

I am a Newfoundland dog you see

At one time fish were free for me

The liver you make my breakfast with

Is really quite delicious

However, if you could just double it up

You would make me a happy pup

So sorry that I shed like a bear

You would too if you had this much hair

I do not like to have my nails clipped

I would rather eat those potato chips

I have a wish for my birthday this year

I hope you don’t find it is too dear

But I would really like a steak

And please oh please bake me a cake

Linking up to PAWSIT Hop Saturday A new blog hop that is dog licious!

May 11

10 Comments

A Dogs Perspective Of Growing Old

When I was a puppy, we’d play every day

Now that I’ve grown older, lie down is what you say

I’d still love to fetch a ball even though I’m ten

A few years ago, I was your best friend

I hope I’m not too old for you, and you get a younger pup

Get rid of me because I’m old and you think I’m fed-up

Dogs do grow older every day

Please oh please don’t send me away

I have arthritis in my hips, but I still want to play

Let’s go outside and have some fun today

©Susan Zutautas 2019

This was written for a flash fiction challenge over at Carrot Ranch.

May 8

21 Comments

Training Maggie My Newfoundland Dog

Taking Maggie to obedience training school once week was a lot of fun for both of us and she really enjoyed being with all the other dogs. She knew exactly where we were going and got so excited each week to go to The Best Behaved Dog Academy.

She caught on quite fast and I was told by one of the instructors that once a Newf learns how to do something they’ll always remember what they’ve learnt and not to make them practice too much or they’ll get bored very quickly and lose focus.

Everyday we’d go across the street to the park and practice what we’d learned.

After class one day one of the instructors Gail Bishop who owned the dog kennels where we trained asked me if I’d like to come and work at the kennels with her and she’d teach me everything she knew and also teach me how to groom.

I started working there the very next day and I have to say it was one of the most full filling jobs I’ve ever had.

This was written for Six Sentence Story.

May 7

1 Comment

Our Newfoundland Dogs

my two best friends

Maggie and Bruce 2 Newfoundland Dogs

All my life I’ve had dogs. When I first met my husband he wasn’t too keen on the idea of getting a dog. We talked about it and decided to wait until our three boys were older. This way we would have the time to care for and be able to focus on training a dog.

For several years I researched different breeds of dogs, their temperaments, longevity, health issues, intelligence, and so forth.

My husband had a Newfoundland dog when he was growing up, and from the pictures and stories I saw and heard of Shauna, this was one of the breeds I paid close attention to.

Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds

In this book, there are over 150 different dog breeds. It covers everything thing from why the breed was developed to which breeds are suitable as family pets. Health issues are included and much more.

Newfoundland Dogs – The Reasons We Chose This Breed

Gentle Giant: Both my husband and I like large breeds. Don’t get me wrong I love all dogs big or small, but with a large breed, there’s more to love and cuddle with. The saying “Gentle Giant” is so true when it comes to this breed.
The Newfoundland breed makes a great family pet. They are great with children and are very loyal. Newfies are sociable and get along well with other dogs and cats.
Newfs are an intelligent breed. My two were very easy to train. Once they learn how to do something they never forget.
The average lifespan for a Newfie is 8 – 10 years. I wish this was a lot longer and I have met Newfs that are 15.
They love water and snow so this is perfect as we live close to two very large lakes, and we get a lot of snow in Orillia, Ontario. Mine get excited just like children do when they see the first snowfall each year.

Maggie Magz

Maggie our First Newfoundland

A year before Maggie, our first Newfoundland dog came into our lives, I started my search. I checked with several Humane Society’s on a weekly basis to see if a Newfoundland dog was in need of a home. I contacted several breeders in Ontario, Canada, to see if they were expecting puppies.

I found a breeder that invited me to come out and meet with all of his dogs. He had both the mothers and fathers right there at the kennel. After visiting with all the dogs and speaking with the owners of the kennel it was decided that when a puppy was available to purchase they’d call me.

Late one Sunday evening in September of 2006, the breeder calls to tell me that one of his females delivered a healthy litter of twelve pups on August 22nd. I was ecstatic, to say the least.

After visiting and getting to know my adorable little pup I brought her home in October.

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”

— Josh Billings

Bruce

Next Came Bruce

What’s Better Than One Newf? Two Newfs!

Maggie turned out to be a great dog, easy to train, smart, and a very loving dog. When she was seven months old we decided to get her a buddy, and we brought Bruce home.

Some people say that you should wait until your first dog is at least a year old before bringing another dog into the family, but personally, I’m not sure that I’d agree with this. Everything worked out well for us.

When Maggie saw Bruce she was so excited and happy. Poor Bruce didn’t know what to do so he hid under a chair in the kitchen for the first hour. By bedtime that night they were hanging out and having a great time together.

Items For You and Your Dog

Dog bowls: for water and for feeding. You can always use bowls from your own cupboard but you’ll probably want your new furry family member to have his or her own. If you are bringing home a puppy keep in mind that this puppy will grow and may need larger bowls in a few months.
If you are going to be crate training the dog you should have the crate in the home before bringing the dog home. Keep in mind again that this puppy will grow so be sure to buy the appropriate crate size.
A blanket or a large towel for the dog to sleep on. Later on, you may wish to purchase a dog bed.
Grooming tools such as; a comb, a brush, scissors, nail clippers, and shampoo.
Dogs love toys. If your new furry friend is a puppy he or she will need chew toys.

Waiting for dinner.

Dogs just want to have fun!

These two wonderful dogs were a hoot and more. We miss them every day that goes by. I think shortly we’ll have another Newfoundland dog to share out lives with.