Friday, July 31, 2009

Drink More Water

Grits, of course being a dog, pretty much drinks water exclusively. Sure he likes to occasionally lick the top of a pop can that someone might have left sitting on the floor or on our deck.
One time, I left a tumbler of milk sitting on the coffee table: it must have held at least a cup; probably more like 12 ounces. It was one of those heavy wide glass ones that you would serve a highball in. Anyhow, I left the room for some reason, only to find upon my return, that my milk was mysteriously gone. The glass was exactly where I had left it and the only clue was my loving companion looking up at me as he licked his chops. Again, how can you be mad?
Still, I'm always impressed by how Grits always thinks to drink lots of water. After meals, after play, before bed. He even, if he knows we're going for a walk, will pre-hydrate before we leave the house. Good advice...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Home Security

Grits takes his job as home security specialist very seriously! For example, every Thursday morning he wakes up to find trash bags and recycling bins lining our street. So, just to be on the safe side, Grits sits in the window looking out at them and growling under his breath. This is just a warning: should one of them make a move towards the house he would go crazy and bark his head off. My husband and I are convinced Gritsy believes he scares the bags and bins away, because later in the day they're gone and therefore his work is done, 'til next week that is...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Charity


Grits' favourite charity is the Calgary Humane Society!
In 2006 he raised over $800 for the Dog Jog. Unfortunately, Grits isn't much of a jogger or walker for that matter and was unable to finish the jog without help from his 2 legged friends. Still he was happy to be included, as always.
If you are considering adopting a pet, please check out the link to the Calgary Humane Society. They have many great pets looking for a forever home... Here are just a few of the dogs.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Turn the other cheek...

Saturday night we were asked by our neighbors to come by for a back yard fire pit get together. They suggested we bring Grits along, so that's what we did. Now, Grits and their older dog Cheemo, another American Eskimo, are great old friends and often take turns peeing on either side of the fence as a way of saying "Hello". However our neighbors also have 2 younger dogs; both pocket sized maltese cockapoo crosses. As soon as we arrived one of the younger dogs, Lexy, went right after Grits and barked at him then gave him a couple of nips on the heels. I was impressed by the way Grits just turned away and stood still. Later, my nieghbor tried to introduce them again, and even though Lexy is about 1/3 of Grit's size, he exposed his tummy as if to say, "Okay, I get it, you're in charge around here!". For the rest of the night Grits sat in my lap or in that of my husband until we took him home early. I don't think he was really enjoying himself, not wanting to be where he wasn't wanted.
He could have snarled at Lexy or even worse bit her, but he chose to turn the other cheek. Way to go Gritsy!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Don't Leave Blue Markers Lying Around

I wish I had taken a photo last night of Gritsy and the devastation caused when he ate one of the blue coloring markers my great nieces left somewhere on the floor. We were visiting with some friends who, just adopted a newborn baby, and had walked over to say "Hi" when the incident occurred.

He didn't really eat it so much as chew it up into tiny pieces and spit it out. He managed to get blue ink, washable and non-toxic for kids luckily, all over the carpet plus bits of chewed up blue marker plastic. He ended up with a blue mouth and tongue too.

I guess the lesson here is not only to not leave blue markers lying around, but to make sure to pay a bit of attention to my dog when friends come to visit. At any rate, I got a good laugh out of it. Who could really be mad afterall?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Companionship


Sometimes it's nice just to sit close to a friend or loved one and not feel the urge to say anything at all.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Puppies and Toddlers


My dog Grits doesn't really care for puppies. He approaches them with an air of snobbery that indicates that he thinks they are a waste of his time. Perhaps he forgets that he was once a puppy too and needed to be taught just about everything about being a dog in a human world. That said, Grits always is patient and gentle with the puppies meets, putting up with their antics until they go on their way.

When we go to the park, we're stopped at least once on our journey by a small child or some parents with a toddler in tow. "Can I pet your dog?" or "Puppy, puppy!". We always stop and let the children give him a pet. The other day my niece came to visit with her 2 year old daughter. The little girl was fascinated by Grits and proceeded to hug him and pet him the way only a toddler can. When she pets a dog on the head he knows it. While he appeared a little shocked by the tiny hand slapping his head, he just sat there and took it.

Maybe he does remember after all or maybe dogs instinctively know more than we give them credit for...



Tuesday, July 21, 2009

If possible always sleep next to a warm body who loves you...


Grits was taught as a puppy to sleep in a kennel. Then one day he decided he didn't want to sleep there anymore and so we would have battles every evening about it.

Finally, we gave up and decided to get him a big doggy bed that he could sleep on at the foot of our bed. This works pretty well usually, but once in a while I get sucked into letting him up on the bed.

This is great for him because he loves to sleep pushed up against a warm body. It's not so great for me, because with the constant scrouging (crowding, squeezing) I don't get much rest... but at the same time I like knowing that he's there beside me.

Monday, July 20, 2009

You don't have to like everyone...

My dog Grits has a crush on the girl dog next door. She just moved in a few months ago and is a beautiful, white, American Eskimo. Who could blame him. Last night Gritsy peed on the fence (you know... pmail) for her then ran laps around the yard to show her how speedy he is.

But he hates the dog across the street! Every time Grits sees him he barks his head off. Today my husband was pulling weeds in the front yard and the dog from across the road came over. Grits was in the house watching out the window and went nuts!

So I guess, you don't have to like everyone... even if your a dog.


Friday, July 17, 2009

Have Fun!


The thing I've learned from my dog today is to take a few minutes 2 or 3 times a day to have a little fun... Get some exercise... Play a little...

Even if you only have 10 minutes you can burn off some steam and have a laugh or two! Grits tries to have fun every day, even if he is under the weather.

This morning before I left for work he somehow communicated to me that I should chase him around the living room and play fetch a bit before I left for work.

I think it did us both good...

Thursday, July 16, 2009

First a little about Grits... the food.


My mother is from Alabama but we live in Canada so the only way we could get our hands on grits when I was a kid, was if my grandparents came to visit. This only happened once every couple of years so grits was a big deal.

For those of you who might not know, Grits is a corn based porridge common in the the southern United States. It's similar to polenta but is usually white instead of yellow as it's made from hominy corn.

Growing up we had Grits at breakfast with eggs and toast. The best way was with some butter and salt and pepper added. Shredded cheddar cheese is also really yummy!

Grits is a comfort food and give you a warm stick-to-your-ribs feeling inside...

What does all of this have to do with my dog?

We named our dog Grits because curled up he looks like grits on a plate and he is the best comfort food for my soul!