Patricia Furstenberg's Blog: Dog tales with tails. Take Two - Posts Tagged "pets"
Dog tales with tails – Take One
“We’ve got a puppy!” is what you’re most likely to hear people exclaim, joyfully. No one will ever say: “We’ve got a tail!”
That tail’s a tell-tale!
Tara, my first dog, had a docked tail when I bought her.
This was long before docking and cropping became banned in Europe.
Today, even without a federal law in place, most Veterinary’s throughout the world oppose these cosmetic practices.
But what Tara lacked in tail length she made up for in rear muscle strength!
When she was happy, she was HAPPY, wagging her short tail, her rear-ends and sometimes even her back!
Love me, love my dog
Before Tara we sheltered a lost Blue Great Dane puppy, Honda, for a few weeks.
Honda was a tall puppy, I thought… aged two, as her owners mentioned when they fetched her.
24 hours after we’d found her, our average-size apartment was already “tail-proofed”. Because Honda didn’t just have a tail, she had a secret weapon.
Luckily for us it was winter, no explanations needed as to why our legs were bruised.
We soon learned that when Honda stands, the safest place would be near her head, away from her pounding end.
“Mom, where are my keys, I’ve put them on the coffee table!”
“Mom, where is my book, it was on the side of the sofa!”
“Oh, found them, the dog just wagged them off!”
Honda would lay and wag, hit the front door in the process and I could vouch someone was outside, knocking!
When happy, Honda wouldn’t wag, she would hammer!
Dog-tails come in many sizes and so do their four-legged owners. Thin or curly, crooked or straight, short or lengthy, I love a wagging tail.
It’s the sound and sight of a dog laughing.
This article was initially written for mypuppyclub.net: http://www.mypuppyclub.net/dog-tales-...
https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Furst...
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
That tail’s a tell-tale!
Tara, my first dog, had a docked tail when I bought her.
This was long before docking and cropping became banned in Europe.
Today, even without a federal law in place, most Veterinary’s throughout the world oppose these cosmetic practices.
But what Tara lacked in tail length she made up for in rear muscle strength!
When she was happy, she was HAPPY, wagging her short tail, her rear-ends and sometimes even her back!
Love me, love my dog
Before Tara we sheltered a lost Blue Great Dane puppy, Honda, for a few weeks.
Honda was a tall puppy, I thought… aged two, as her owners mentioned when they fetched her.
24 hours after we’d found her, our average-size apartment was already “tail-proofed”. Because Honda didn’t just have a tail, she had a secret weapon.
Luckily for us it was winter, no explanations needed as to why our legs were bruised.
We soon learned that when Honda stands, the safest place would be near her head, away from her pounding end.
“Mom, where are my keys, I’ve put them on the coffee table!”
“Mom, where is my book, it was on the side of the sofa!”
“Oh, found them, the dog just wagged them off!”
Honda would lay and wag, hit the front door in the process and I could vouch someone was outside, knocking!
When happy, Honda wouldn’t wag, she would hammer!
Dog-tails come in many sizes and so do their four-legged owners. Thin or curly, crooked or straight, short or lengthy, I love a wagging tail.
It’s the sound and sight of a dog laughing.
This article was initially written for mypuppyclub.net: http://www.mypuppyclub.net/dog-tales-...
https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Furst...
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
It’s a Cat’s Life through a Dog Lover’s eyes
When I told my husband I want to write this article his reaction was: “Whoa, baby, mine-field ahead!” But I’m a mother and a writer. Therefore, I am brave. So I ventured into the arena.
I come in peace.
I happened to befriend this outgoing, bubbly mom. Our children attend the same school. We always chatted up a storm until we hit the pet zone.
“We have dogs. You?”
“We have Mr. Whiskers!”
“Oh…”
Of course she has a cat! I should have known. She’s stylish and elegant; she’s even got that feline walk, so graceful.
I have dogs. I’ve always been a dog person.
Dogs are pack animals and so are humans
We live in families with a well-defined hierarchy where each member has its place; the dad, the mom and the children. Or the mom and then the dad, come to think of it.
“Dad, can we…?” – “Ask Mom.”
“Dad, have you seen my…?” – “Ask Mom.”
“Dad, where’s Mom?”
A pet dog will immediately find its place within this matriarchal unit; probably right behind Mom’s cooking spoon.
Besides, a dog’s body language is universally known and easily understood. They wag their tail or show off their fangs. You know right away at which receiving end you want to be: the faithful one. When dogs love you, they surely let you know it.
Cats are… cats. They resemble teenagers
Cats and teens are both elusive and with a mind of their own. Speaking the same language with us, yet words holding different meaning to them depending on their mood. Your disciplinarian monologue often ends with the youngster retrieving to the sanctuary of his own room. And the door slams behind because “it was the wind.” You can almost see that tail held straight up, fur puffed out.
Trying to discipline a cat is pretty much the same.
“Cat, you ate my tuna sandwich?! Come here when I’m talking to you! I said come… Oh, she’s gone.”
Up on her shelf she lays and you can almost hear that door closing with a bang.
For cats, being art of a pack is not a necessity and they usually prefer to hunt alone; but do expect them to gift you with their kill.
You can’t predict their behavior, coming or going as they please. Capricious like a teen, one moment sitting by your side if it suits them, the next moment removing themselves without apparent reason. Tolerating you. Negotiating their giving and taking, but on their own terms, quietly. Dogs, even when they’re silent they’re… noisy. Cats are inaudible. They’re there… watching you, maybe. Or maybe just ignoring you.
Except for night time; that’s when they’re sure to let you know who rules the streets.
Don’t take cats for granted
Cats can’t be persuaded into performing a trick just because you want them to. They’ll do it if it pleases them. After all, most cats act like they believe human’s sole existence is to serve them. Probably learned it from the ancient Egyptians who held cats in the highest esteem. See, cats do perform whatever part suits them best!
Cats are independent
Historically speaking cats have been kept around houses in order to keep vermin under control. On the Cyprus Island archeologists found a wildcat buried near a human, the remains dating since 9 500 years ago, the proximity of the two skeletons signifying that there was a close relationship between these two species It is only during the 19th century that cats have begun to be bred as companion pets intentionally.
Dogs give their love together with their heart, right from the start. And their claws do not retract. Dogs are predictable, conventional and constant.
Humans have to earn a cat’s trust. You have to earn the right to hold and enjoy that fuzzy, warm ball of fur and purr…
This article was written for mypuppyclub.net and posted here: http://www.mypuppyclub.net/cats-life-... on 11 September 2016Patricia Furstenberg
I come in peace.
I happened to befriend this outgoing, bubbly mom. Our children attend the same school. We always chatted up a storm until we hit the pet zone.
“We have dogs. You?”
“We have Mr. Whiskers!”
“Oh…”
Of course she has a cat! I should have known. She’s stylish and elegant; she’s even got that feline walk, so graceful.
I have dogs. I’ve always been a dog person.
Dogs are pack animals and so are humans
We live in families with a well-defined hierarchy where each member has its place; the dad, the mom and the children. Or the mom and then the dad, come to think of it.
“Dad, can we…?” – “Ask Mom.”
“Dad, have you seen my…?” – “Ask Mom.”
“Dad, where’s Mom?”
A pet dog will immediately find its place within this matriarchal unit; probably right behind Mom’s cooking spoon.
Besides, a dog’s body language is universally known and easily understood. They wag their tail or show off their fangs. You know right away at which receiving end you want to be: the faithful one. When dogs love you, they surely let you know it.
Cats are… cats. They resemble teenagers
Cats and teens are both elusive and with a mind of their own. Speaking the same language with us, yet words holding different meaning to them depending on their mood. Your disciplinarian monologue often ends with the youngster retrieving to the sanctuary of his own room. And the door slams behind because “it was the wind.” You can almost see that tail held straight up, fur puffed out.
Trying to discipline a cat is pretty much the same.
“Cat, you ate my tuna sandwich?! Come here when I’m talking to you! I said come… Oh, she’s gone.”
Up on her shelf she lays and you can almost hear that door closing with a bang.
For cats, being art of a pack is not a necessity and they usually prefer to hunt alone; but do expect them to gift you with their kill.
You can’t predict their behavior, coming or going as they please. Capricious like a teen, one moment sitting by your side if it suits them, the next moment removing themselves without apparent reason. Tolerating you. Negotiating their giving and taking, but on their own terms, quietly. Dogs, even when they’re silent they’re… noisy. Cats are inaudible. They’re there… watching you, maybe. Or maybe just ignoring you.
Except for night time; that’s when they’re sure to let you know who rules the streets.
Don’t take cats for granted
Cats can’t be persuaded into performing a trick just because you want them to. They’ll do it if it pleases them. After all, most cats act like they believe human’s sole existence is to serve them. Probably learned it from the ancient Egyptians who held cats in the highest esteem. See, cats do perform whatever part suits them best!
Cats are independent
Historically speaking cats have been kept around houses in order to keep vermin under control. On the Cyprus Island archeologists found a wildcat buried near a human, the remains dating since 9 500 years ago, the proximity of the two skeletons signifying that there was a close relationship between these two species It is only during the 19th century that cats have begun to be bred as companion pets intentionally.
Dogs give their love together with their heart, right from the start. And their claws do not retract. Dogs are predictable, conventional and constant.
Humans have to earn a cat’s trust. You have to earn the right to hold and enjoy that fuzzy, warm ball of fur and purr…
This article was written for mypuppyclub.net and posted here: http://www.mypuppyclub.net/cats-life-... on 11 September 2016Patricia Furstenberg
And the Oscar goes to… the dog?
Tonight, I’m attending The Oscars. Front row seats. Imagine all the glitz and glamour!
I’m especially looking forward to “The Honorary Award”. This special award is given for lifetime achievements, outstanding contributions and services to the Academy.
Only that tonight it won’t be about the big boys. So often other performances get overlooked.
Did you know that no animal has ever won an Academy Award? Is it because they woof their lines and don’t sweat the small stuff? No.
Dogs are not eligible to receive an Oscar Award.
Think of a movie in which a dog’s performance has made a long-lasting paw-pression on you. There’s a whole pack chasing through my mind!
Is it Max the English Bulldog from the TV drama “Jake and the Fatman”? It was Buford the Bulldog who played the role of Max. Did you know that Max sired a son named Taker who appeared in the sitcom “Everyone Loves Raymond”? Like father like son.
Or perhaps your heart skipped for joy watching the numerous movies with Benji, the mix breed who took over the silver screen in the 70’s and the 80’s? Did you know that the first dog to play Benji was a shelter dog named Higgins? He appeared in other television series and lived to be 17 years old.
Any dog deserves a second chance.
The electronic dog from “C.H.O.M.P.S” was the first to make me wonder “what if?”
For a long time afterwards the child in me dreamed of owning a furry dog with beady eyes and superpowers.
Guess what, my dream came true! Over the years, each one of my dogs possessed superpowers… only I knew about!
Tara could read minds and go from couch potato to 35 mph in under 1 sec if Mom was busy in the kitchen. Gina could tell the time, especially the garbage day and the minute when the refuge truck would dive into our street.
Athos had… stage presence. He just had to show up and the street would magically empty itself of pedestrians.
Fast-forward 20 years and…
Never fear, UNDERDOG is here!!
A movie my family and I thoroughly enjoyed. Who can resist the charm of Leo, the lemon talking beagle who, every so often, gets it wrong?
What stayed with us this time was the unforgettable line delivered by Shoeshine / Underdog: “Give the dog your food!”
You can watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cotqL...
I’m not psychic, but so many times throughout my life I could swear I heard my dog speaking the exact same words. While I was chewing something… anything!
I remember my darling Tara, siting by my feet in the quiet kitchen while clear, distinct drops suddenly began to fall at regular intervals. Letting out a loud sigh I visualized my father in an attempt to fix the kitchen tap once again, his tools all over the counter.
But Tara’s mirroring sigh compelled me to observe her while taking another bite of my fruit. She was quick to evade my eyes, but, alas, I had spotted the source of the leak, the real one. My dog, a huge fan of apples, was drooling. I bend towards her and this time she held my gaze with her… innocent eyes, delivering the award-winning line: “Give the dog your food!”
So tonight’s Oscar for best performance will go to… (drum role) OUR DOGS!
For their role in guarding the yard against… pigeons, from their shady spot underneath the lemon tree. Always captivating the audience!
And for acting like a pack of starving animals (even though they’ve been just fed) only because you are eating something. What commitment!
Oh, and for delivering killer lines even at the wee hours of the morning. Talking about dedication!
* Thundering Applause *
Patricia Furstenberg
This article was initially published by mypuppyclub.net http://www.mypuppyclub.net/oscar-goes...
I’m especially looking forward to “The Honorary Award”. This special award is given for lifetime achievements, outstanding contributions and services to the Academy.
Only that tonight it won’t be about the big boys. So often other performances get overlooked.
Did you know that no animal has ever won an Academy Award? Is it because they woof their lines and don’t sweat the small stuff? No.
Dogs are not eligible to receive an Oscar Award.
Think of a movie in which a dog’s performance has made a long-lasting paw-pression on you. There’s a whole pack chasing through my mind!
Is it Max the English Bulldog from the TV drama “Jake and the Fatman”? It was Buford the Bulldog who played the role of Max. Did you know that Max sired a son named Taker who appeared in the sitcom “Everyone Loves Raymond”? Like father like son.
Or perhaps your heart skipped for joy watching the numerous movies with Benji, the mix breed who took over the silver screen in the 70’s and the 80’s? Did you know that the first dog to play Benji was a shelter dog named Higgins? He appeared in other television series and lived to be 17 years old.
Any dog deserves a second chance.
The electronic dog from “C.H.O.M.P.S” was the first to make me wonder “what if?”
For a long time afterwards the child in me dreamed of owning a furry dog with beady eyes and superpowers.
Guess what, my dream came true! Over the years, each one of my dogs possessed superpowers… only I knew about!
Tara could read minds and go from couch potato to 35 mph in under 1 sec if Mom was busy in the kitchen. Gina could tell the time, especially the garbage day and the minute when the refuge truck would dive into our street.
Athos had… stage presence. He just had to show up and the street would magically empty itself of pedestrians.
Fast-forward 20 years and…
Never fear, UNDERDOG is here!!
A movie my family and I thoroughly enjoyed. Who can resist the charm of Leo, the lemon talking beagle who, every so often, gets it wrong?
What stayed with us this time was the unforgettable line delivered by Shoeshine / Underdog: “Give the dog your food!”
You can watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cotqL...
I’m not psychic, but so many times throughout my life I could swear I heard my dog speaking the exact same words. While I was chewing something… anything!
I remember my darling Tara, siting by my feet in the quiet kitchen while clear, distinct drops suddenly began to fall at regular intervals. Letting out a loud sigh I visualized my father in an attempt to fix the kitchen tap once again, his tools all over the counter.
But Tara’s mirroring sigh compelled me to observe her while taking another bite of my fruit. She was quick to evade my eyes, but, alas, I had spotted the source of the leak, the real one. My dog, a huge fan of apples, was drooling. I bend towards her and this time she held my gaze with her… innocent eyes, delivering the award-winning line: “Give the dog your food!”
So tonight’s Oscar for best performance will go to… (drum role) OUR DOGS!
For their role in guarding the yard against… pigeons, from their shady spot underneath the lemon tree. Always captivating the audience!
And for acting like a pack of starving animals (even though they’ve been just fed) only because you are eating something. What commitment!
Oh, and for delivering killer lines even at the wee hours of the morning. Talking about dedication!
* Thundering Applause *
Patricia Furstenberg
This article was initially published by mypuppyclub.net http://www.mypuppyclub.net/oscar-goes...
Dog tales with tails. Take Two
The reproachful sigh (part one)
“I was watching my favorite show last night”, my mother once told me.
She’s a huge NCIS fan. “I was caught up in the action, the next moment the blood froze in my veins.” ...more
“I was watching my favorite show last night”, my mother once told me.
She’s a huge NCIS fan. “I was caught up in the action, the next moment the blood froze in my veins.” ...more
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