Introducing "Joey"

You may recall that it was with some trepidation on my part that Charlie met Roo. Like many dogs, Charlie enjoys taking apart his toys. However, he rarely stops there. Rather, he consumes them. Cloth, stuffing, rope... regardless of how unappealing it seems to a human, it all goes down Charlie's gullet. And then hopefully out the other end (although, as Curt knows too well, that part's not a sure bet).
Puppy Charlie, prior to the first toy "incident"
(which netted him a day at the vet's)
So when Roo arrived, I tried to be very careful. At first Charlie only had well-supervised visits. Then, as he demonstrated his trustworthiness, I relaxed. Thought he'd grown up. Grew complacent. Took for granted that nothing would happen, and allowed Roo to freely roam the house on his own.

Initially it was kind of minor - a detached nose. Well, that could happen to anyone, right? And he didn't swallow the nose. But then... then... one night, watching a video, I noticed Charlie holding Roo down with his paws and pulling at him with his teeth. And when I went over to inspect, Roo was missing his right ear - there was just a stub where it had been. And, worse, the ear was nowhere to be found!


So Roo went back to live on the mantel between play dates. And I began to avoid Roo posts, embarrassed that Charlie wasn't quite as grown-up as I'd portrayed and that I'd let such a lovely present be eaten.

But Brooke and Greg and Charlie and Opy of Dogs with Blogs, who originally sent Roo, found out. And a new package arrived in the mail last week. So, thanks again, Brooke & Greg, and without further ado... everyone meet Joey:

"For me? Really??"
Helping
"Hmmmm... what's in here?"
"C'mon outta there!"
"I'll put you down now & then give you the tour."
"...and this is the living room..."
"...and this is my friend, Roo..."
Charlie and Joey
Happy (supervised) family ;)

 

Roo - The Real Thing

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. ... Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Charlie and Roo
- Excerpts from "The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams

 

Rock Around the Clock

Charlie must be part cat. Because, like a cat, he's sometimes subject to the "witching hour" -- you know... that time around eleven or twelve at night when it's suddenly time to go nuts and PLAY!






Then, almost as suddenly... playtime's over and it's time to snooze.

W. A. L. K.

What part of this don't you understand, Mom?

Buds

Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

Rainy weather's going to move in tomorrow, so Charlie and I decided to get a little yard play in today.

Why Do We Even Call Them "Walks"?

April Heaven

After a long cold spring that delayed the flowers by weeks, now suddenly it's warm and sunny and everything's popping -- perfect for walking or a good romp in the yard.

Biscuits, Baby!

Lazing in the Grass

A Little Tongue Action

Helping Mom Bake Cookies

Everyone knows that licking the beater is the most important part!

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut...

MY Weeds!

A Day Without Roo

...is like a day without sunshine.

Poor Roo has had an apparent nose-ectomy.


Did he catch a cold and blow too hard? Did he stick it into places it didn't belong? Did a plastic surgeon misunderstand his intent?



Inquiring minds want to know!

 

Intruder Alert

Fair Weather Friend, Indeed

The joke around here is that Charlie is "glued" to my side. He keeps a constant eye on me, and if I leave a room, even for a minute, he follows me. To-date, there are only a couple of exceptions to this (that I've noticed), one of which can be that he doesn't feel well. So I was puzzled and a hair concerned at first by his behavior this morning.

Still fighting off a virus, I had gotten up early, before a decent hour, to move into the living room and hack in privacy. Charlie followed shortly. He came over to say 'hi', but he didn't settle in next to my chair as he usually does. Instead, he paced.

He walked around the living room. He went into the kitchen for a minute. Then I saw him pacing in the dining room. Then into my office, Out again. Back through the living room and down the hallway to the bedroom, into which he disappeared.

I have to say I felt slightly betrayed, thinking "fair weather friend, who'd rather go sleep on his cushy dog bed,"... when back he came ... with Roo in his mouth. He'd apparently been looking everywhere for his little buddy. And having found and retrieved him, Charlie settled in at my feet and went to sleep. Silly me for ever doubting such a loyal friend.