Dog For Sale

Anyone want a dog? Cheap? Better yet, free? Right now he is standing in the driver's chair with his feet up on one arm twitching at every bird tweet and dog bark within a 20 mile radius. That, after waking me up at 7 a.m. because  . . . who knows why? ACK! Yesterday I was "allowed" to sleep in til 8. I was awakened by the sound of a tennis shoe being whacked on the floor. He had eaten off part of the back of one of Jeff's new tennis shoes. He is only alive because they were a $12 pair of Costco specials. 

(Jeff, of course, was out fishing - his morning routine.)

(He is now pawing at me and licking my elbow - better go take him outside to see if he needs to "do" anything - he just peed a few minutes ago - outside!) No - he just wanted to play tug-o-war with the leash. I put him on the outside leash and left him there. UGH! Yesterday we decided to make a run to Wal-Mart for essentials, like a bath mat so we don't slip and kill ourselves after a shower. (Now he's whining outside the door.) We left him inside in his kennel with a little water. We were gone 2 hours tops. Mya went in to "release the Kraken" and he comes flying out of the RV sopping wet. He apparently spilled the water that was in his drinking bucket and taken a bath in it. Water all over. (I just let him in. He has wrapped the cable leash around the picnic table twice and got muddy feet. He's laying here now looking at me - now he is licking his muddy feet.) 

You are probably thinking "Just take the poor dog for a walk". Well, I have my morning routine too.  I get up, take my vitamins and drink my vitamin water, make a cup of tea - or two - and read an inspirational passage to start the day. Walking the dog does not fit in there anywhere. (Now he is lying on the couch looking morose.) 

Otis needs some reassurance.

We have had fun with him. We bought him a life jacket and so we all went out on the boat Saturday. He comes too. We like to find a cove and just splash around in the water. Great relaxing way to keep cool. Otis has been before but we didn't let him jump in because we didn't have the float coat for him. He was dying to jump in, but scared. This time he made the big leap! It was hysterical! He was paddling like crazy and he'd come up to one of us and we'd have to protect ourselves from his razor claws. We all have bright red stripes down our backs and arms from him pawing us. The jacket has a handle on the back so he can be hauled out of the water and into the boat.

He's having fun now,

Finally, after about 3 sessions he calmed down enough to enjoy it. Jade swam as fast as she could away from him and he went after her. He can swim FAST when he's got a goal. Really rather beautiful to see how athletic he is. We've also found a huge clear grassy area where we can take him off leash and let him run. He is one athletic dog - when he stretches out to full speed it's a marvel to watch. We still need to work on getting him to come back to us instead of ignoring us though.

Relaxing after our swim

Today we are going to take him out to swim from the shore without his float coat. He needs to learn to swim without it. He is a Portuguese Water Dog after all. He's even got webbed feet which would explain why he could swim after Jade so well. Not a fair competition - lol! 

Well, I've got my tea. Guess I'll go put on a pair of shorts and walking shoes and take the "Kraken" out for a stroll while it's still a little cooler. Otherwise, he'll get too hot, lay down in the shade, and I'll have to drag him back to the RV.  Fast Dog - Free to a good home!!!