The Rest Of The Story - Wyatt's Prize Winning Moment!

Wyatt giving his winning check to his favorite shelter!

Sometimes things just slip my mind! This post was one that got away from me - but needs to be here to complete the cycle of the dog photo contest.


Sweet Wyatt, I am so sorry I forgot to post this! I am scratching my head..no not fleas...just confusion...that I overlooked posting you giving your prize money to your favorite shelter.


So, here are the two photos and a short wagging "tale" of good fortune!


From March 23rd : Sue writes about Wyatt!

We took the check down to Project Pooch, with Wyatt in tow. The staff at Project Pooch were very thankful and loved the idea of the photo contest. We gave them an 8 x 10 glossy of his winning photo. They will be including it in their next newsletter. Wyatt was jumping all over and trying to eat the check...not our best photo shoot! Wyatt is getting so used to going into places, shopping and getting treats and hugs from everyone, he needs a refresher course on manners!

This week he was in the front seat of the truck, while I was putting a big bag of dog food behind the seat. He jumped out and ran towards the entrance of the store. I called him, he looked back briefly and then bolted through the front entrance, when the automatic doors opened. When I caught up to him, he was standing in the aisle with the rawhide bones and dog treats. (Everyone in the store was laughing) .......


Wyatt is such a great dog! Visit Wyatt's blog!


Now, as Paul Harvey would have said, 'you have the rest of the story!'

Contest Entry #3 Wyatt

Wyatt graced the pages of our premier issue of "Writer With Dogs:The  Magazine Where Dogs Meet Art". Here he is in his favorite spot - the garden!

Wyatt helped start tomato seeds early last spring. Then Wyatt helped prepare the soil and plant the tomato plants and water the tomato plants.

Little did Wyatt know, that we would have an extremely cold summer and the tomatoes would never get ripe! But Wyatt is a dog and he knows that sometimes the journey is it’s own reward!

Plus, green tomatoes are like tennis balls and make for good fun!

Happy Digging,

Wyatt

Visit Wyatt's blog Gardening With Wyatt.

Remember to vote for your favorite dog by leaving comments. Contest ends Feb. 14th and the photo with the most comments get the grand prize of  $300 for the winner's favorite animal rescue group.

#2 Ruby - Second Entry In The Love My Dog Contest!

Ruby- The Smart Lab - Being Caught On The Furniture!

Entry number two is Ruby! Her person is creative coach, Elizabeth Cassidy. See another great photo of Ruby and Elizabeth on her web, Coaching For The Creative Soul.

Remember the dog with the most comments win. You have til Feb. 14th to leave comments.

Trick Or Treat!

Trick or Treat

Dogs and Halloween, now there are two words to scare the bejeezers out of me. It’s a great time to keep your pet safe indoors and watch closely the candy you have placed near your door for little visitors. I have six unruly dogs when it comes to company and food.

My house does not sound goblin friendly when you walk past it. Six dogs sit in the picture window waiting to alert me of any movement they detect on the street. My fifties ranch is nestled behind tall loblolly pines, far from the road, in a quiet area by a dead end street. The window is floor to ceiling, and wide enough for six bodies to squirm, and wiggle past the table and chair immediately in front of it, to sit and watch. Their eyesight is keen. I never know which dog starts to bark, but you can be sure, five follow. I shudder wondering what the neighbors think as the crescendo starts to escalate.

The howling from my dogs on any given night makes the Hound of the Baskervilles seem demure. Halloween is an especially devilish time when my dogs are more aware of the little children that are crossing the street in front of my house. Their small shadows dart back and forth in the glow of the moon.  I wonder what monster they fear lies behind my closed door. For they never make the walk up my driveway. They just hear the sounds of my hellhounds echoing into the night and walk in the other direction.

“A hound it was, an enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smoldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

I still buy candy, but end up eating most of it myself, while whispering to the dogs, shhhh. They pay no attention and bark until I turn off the lights and sit by the soft glow of my TV, waiting for the evening events to subside. Their interest then turns to snuggling down under the quilts I have strategically placed over my leather chairs. Only then can I switch on the lights and breath a sigh of relief.

Halloween is actually a favorite holiday for me. I have just learned to appreciate it behind the scenes, keeping six dogs at bay.

Several thoughts come to mind to make Halloween safer for everyone.

Keep your candy out of reach of sniffing dog noses. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and many candies contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener, than can also be deadly to dogs. Don't leave candy wrappers where your dog can snarf them up. It would be easy for a dog to choke on these yummy castoffs.

I know my dogs are super friendly, but when strangers approach, I err on the side of caution. Even the calmest dog can be startled by a quick move from someone new.

When I was an antique dealer, doing the Lakewood Antique show each month, I was amazed at how many parents allowed their children to just reach out and touch someone else’s dog. As an adult, I still ask permission before I pet a dog I’ve just met. I want to give that courtesy to other dog owners that I would like for myself. Then it is a free for all when I get the OK to approach. Puppy dog tails and kisses fly through the air.

From my collection of Halloweenie doggies!  Early postcards to celebrate a holiday that is enchanting and magical.