What Did You Do With Your Dog(s) Today?

I read this thread every few days and it makes me so happy! Thanks to all for your posts.
@bitsybama - You are doing an amazing job with play and training and I love the photos of Bitsy with Perry and Winthrope (who names their dog Winthrope?) LOL
@1oldparson - Ginger's adventures and your posts (short and sweet) touch my heart.
@GoldenRetieverL0ver08 - Too funny on the bell. I have never trained it because of your experience. Gotta love it though -- attention needed -- "Ring the bell"
@Chelseah - Congrats on the training and we loved the video! Lucy and I watched. Ready for next level challenges!
@Sankari - Well, what can I say -- Lucy loves Ramses and a long-distance love affair has started. I comment on all his pictures and she sits, looks and listens.
@Megora - Lucy has a crush on your boys too -- I told her she may have to choose.
@SRW - Your training w/Lily and Jake is so impressive -- we are in awe.
@GoldenDude - Thank you for raising pups and sharing that journey. I don't know how you do it. It is so honorable.

Today Rosie and I celebrated her 12th birthday! It was a beautiful day with sunshine, little wind, and temps in the 40's. We got an extra long walk in downtown, with new scents and many people to greet. Her special birthday treat was a cheeseburger, all for herself. As you "golden people" know, if I would set that whole cheeseburger down in her food dish it would probably be gulped down in 20 seconds. Instead I cut it into small pieces and distributed it around my yard. I hope that isn't cruel! When I gave her the cue, she ran around, tail wagging and nose hard at work to find all of those little treats. And of course there was a new squeaky, crinkly smooshy toy for her as well.

Because I slacked yesterday and we unsubscribed from any real activities, we were out there doing it up today.

[I am a software executive and I have just launched my own consultancy, so I get to make my own schedule as I ramp up the business which is how I have so much time with Bitsy - I had a bunch of calls this afternoon but the late morning and midday was all Bits, all the time. After 30 years of working for others, I am really grateful that I can do this!]

In the morning we went to one of our fave parks and we hoped to run into our senior gentlemen friend Teddy and we did (!!) so that was great. Bitsy is (again, some more) learning to sit quietly for him - he’s very senior - and she must learn to be gentle, and every time we meet it gets better. After that we drove through Starbucks and got a pup cup, and because pup cups are LIFE for Bitsy, I decided I’d serve it in a new location. We are lucky to have a really cute Anthropologie/Terrain complex in our town, and they welcome dogs, so we headed over there after the park to practice being in busy, loud, new spaces. Lots of new vehicles (garbage truck) and noises (workers rolling dollies to set up for garden season at Terrain) served as good stimuli, and we had so much fun meeting two very lovely ladies who work for Terrain. They asked to pet Bitsy and helped me practice polite greetings. One had a lab that just got CGC and we chatted about that. The other has a baby turning one on the same day as Bitsy. Yes, I am that dog nerd who talks about my dog’s birthday in public and then celebrates with strangers at that coincidence! The ladies were so nice, and Bitsy and I walked all over the Terrain outdoor space. They let me know that dogs are welcome inside, too. Not for today but we’ll try it in the future. After that we went loose-leash walking in the ritzy part of town, passed a crazy lawn machine, and Bits was like no bigs whatsoever and pranced right along. Back home, we caught some rays in the yard and Bits got to pick her favorite toys out of her toy box.

At Terrain:



Lots of new sights and sounds!



Toy box pot pourri:

Annual vet visit today and I had my list of questions ✅. I had strong relationships with all of my service providers in 40 years of horses so I seek that with dogs now also. Our vet is really helpful to me and I value that. I have been reading a few articles recently about what a tough job it is to be a vet, can bring on depression or burnout, and I get it. If my vet team is stressed they don’t show it. They’re awesome. But I always try to come prepared and to be efficient with my asks in hopes of being one of the brighter spots in the day for the team if we can.

I was eager to learn Bitsy’s weight because I am deliberate with calories and exercise and keep an eye on her body shape. She was 57.6 lbs which is right where I want her and the vet said her condition was perfect, he gave us an A+. It’s a teeny thing but I’m proud of it because I’m a first-timer and I want to get things right.

It’s pouring here so we’ll have a lazy day recuperating from a few annual shots. I didn’t have to make a call on canine influenza vax today (many of you shared opinions on another thread), because there isn’t any inventory.

I was also proud of B’s behavior at the vet. Very polite, good girl! Can’t believe she’s almost 1!

Well, I hope this entertains or encourages those who really do something with their fur babies. After her breakfast, Ginger often waits in her favorite spot for me to join her while I eat my mine.


After I finished my Bible study we started to go for a walk since it is nice and sunny. We went to my neighbor across the street who is recovering from surgery so Ginger could get some pets and I could pray with them. On the way back I noticed some weeds that needed to be pulled. So I put Ginger in a sit/stay while I pulled them and we walked around the block, got the mail and then ate lunch and watched a little tv while Ginger lounged in her second favorite spot.


Then, while waiting for the elementary school around the corner to let out, I brushed her out. Here’s where we start.


And here she is waiting for love and attention from the kids who will come soon.


Then we’ll chill after a fairly normal day. Ginger is 10 and I’m 73. My bride of 52 years was with her group of young moms all morning.