ITEM #4 AND #5--MARGARETS CLASS

We didn't post yesterday cos Mom has had a very rough week  at work.  We can't say alot about it but Mom went home and called all her girls and told them how much she loved them. You never know what your grown up kids may be going through.  Then a good biker friend of our Dad's passed away Monday night.  His friend was on the liver transplant list and was waiting but didn't make it.  Dad loved riding his Harley with him, and often when Dad was off work for the day you would see the two of them tooling all around the villages.  They were rough looking fellows with kitty--kat hearts and often joked about being home at 5 PM instead of 5 AM like in the old days.  He was a good guy and we will miss him.

ITEM #4 AND #5

We have a doggy scarf made by a local woman that sews, a little pretty bag full of catnip, a pig magnet and a beautiful ornament that has things from Van Buren County on it, and it says Keosauqua Iowa....and that is where we live.

We are almost done filling up our box.  We still have a few goodies up our sleeve yet...we are really hoping that we hit $200.00. So far we have raised $185.00.   I checked into sending this box to Canada and the shipping would be $45.00  whewwweeee alot of monies.  Thank you to all the doggies and their parents out there who have helped with our Mystery Box funding!


Well last night was Margarets first night of puppy classes.  Mom rushed home to get her bag packed and make some delicious treats for her.  She rolled up pieces of cheese into little balls, and then Murphy and Stanley's mom told her that she heard some dogs like nuked hot dogs cos they are rubbery and fun to eat.  So Mom nuked TWO hotdogs for her and cut them up in tiny pieces. Cos she knew MARGARET would need all those treats for everything she was going to learn tonight. Mom was so excited and Margaret was excited cos as soon as she saw her harness she THOUGHT she was going for a walk at the fairgrounds.  Gussie and I were snickering behind the chairs.

Why do I need to sit in the car seat and where is Gussie?


Thank goodness for air conditioning cos it was an hour drive to the school and it was almost 90 outside.  As soon as we got to the school we saw other puppies all around.  There was a Golden Retriever, 2 Huskeys, Basset Hound, Corgi, Boxer and two little dogs and MARGARET.  They were all jumping around, and playing and friendly but MARGARET turned her face into Mom's shoulder and hid.  As soon as she did that Dad's words ran through Mom's brain about Maggie not having the personality to handle class and that she should take Gussie instead. 

The teacher came over to meet Mag's and told Mom just to take it slow with her and try to get her more comfortable.  So Mom walked around with Mags (she kinda had to drag her) and she carried her around, and finally she just sat down and held her.  Class started and they worked on eye contact....everyone got a turn to work with their parent and the teacher EXCEPT Margaret cos its rather hard to work with someone who is lying UNDER the chair.  Finally Mom joked with the class and said, "well she sure does  the lay down and stay down really well!".  MARGARET spent the whole class under the chair.  She never came out to go pee or drink water and when it was time to go Mom carried her back out to the car.  Mom kept hearing Dad's words over and over.

Mom brought a big bag of dog food to the teacher cos she runs the DOG STAR SANCTUARY and right now has 19 dogs on her 5 fenced  acres.  Its a beautiful place for dogs who this is their last chance to live out their days.  Mom ordered us some good food from Mr. Chewy but the pieces were two big for us to eat, so instead of bringing Ms. Melody an apple we brought dog food instead.  I know every little bit helps her and her dogs out.  Plus Mom thought it might help Mag's get a star for the night. (lololol....a star...lolol....maybe a blanket and a pillow....)

Well, Margaret slept all the way home cos she was EXHAUSTED from laying on guard under that chair for a whole hour, and then when she got home she zoomed around like only a pug can do and played with Gussie for over an hour.  Mom sorta glared at her.  Mom talked to the teacher and she said we could try it one more time, OR we can bring Gussie next time.  The teacher said the class is really about Mom learning things and then working with us at home, and is a social time for the dogs.  She also said something that stuck in Mom's brain.

She said to imagine that Mom was in class and someone said they turned a rattlesnake lose , but that Mom had to stay there and attend class and learn everything the teacher was saying.  Well, my Mom hates snakes so immediately just the thought of that made my mom's bones hurt, she said that is how some dogs feel when they are brought into a new situation, Mom thought alot about that last night with MARGARET.  Mom should have taken me, cos when it was my turn to go out there with the teacher and Mom and the teacher wanted me to SIT I would have did my twirly dance for her just like I do my MOM!!!!  I would have gotten two stars!!!  Mom says my brain is wired a little differently.

P.S. Mag's was so scared she didn't eat one treat that Mom had fixed her, or even a yummy treat the teacher tried to give her.  Mom gave her treats to the dog beside her.
Stella Rose