Bad Bart

It's been a trying few weeks.  I'm always overwhelmed this time of year prepping taxes, sales taxes, commission reports, etc... the chore I despise most of all. Add in my illness and my sister being so sick and the insurance claim on my downed fences, the fact that my neighbors across the way can see right in my once private back door and the niece's wedding and you get one stressed Creekhiker.

And then there's the dogs. I have so many dog adventures from just the last SEVEN DAYS that my head is spinning! WHY can't I ever just have a normal hike... do I beg for trouble??

So much has happened and I'm too pressed for time to deal with many pictures so, I'm going to give you some bit-tids and a few teasers.

• Some days I think Bart has gone slap dab crazy. He bowed up and threatened to attack a biker and a jogger during two different hikes this week! The biker was very nice... the jogger? Not so much.
• WHY, when someone (such as a biker or a jogger) sees you trying to gather your dogs and get your leash, do they just barrel right on into the pack??? Do they want to get bit??? Or heaven forbid, when you ask them to stop... WHY keep on going??? Are they really that absorbed in their own little world?
• And while Bart does need some serious training, the bestie (Bart's owner) is in no shape to do the job and quite frankly, if I wanted a leashed dog, I wouldn't hike where I hike. But if the task has to be done, it's pretty much up to me to do it. Ugh.
• So, we've started training him with the electric shock collar. Bart does not obey on leash... he bucks and jumps so much that we've actually considered creating a workout video featuring "Bart moves." They are THAT funny.  
• After two walks with the collar on, he's already figured out that the buzzer is an audible warning to behave "or else." So... the Barticus hears the warning and ...stops the annoying behavior and non-nonchalantly does... anything else. And after a minute or two, he goes right back to the annoying behavior. I've decided to instead train him so that my voice is his only warning. 
• It wasn't ONLY the incidents with the jogger / biker that brought us to this decision...but you'll have to wait for that story!
• I'm so happy to say, we had an uneventful walk tonight! 

{Updated 2/1 - I felt the need to add... we RARELY see joggers and bikers! Maybe twice a month....not enough to punish the pups with leash walks but we do want to control Bart to protect him and the other people.)

Teasers from the last week:

• The great eye ball fake out or how to outwit four dogs at once.
• Mom put in her place as Mabel "meats" out punishment.
• What's freaking Bart out?
• Who's Dead Dog Is This? (Don't worry! It's funny! I swear!)

Laundry Day

After I finally stopped hacking up my lungs, I wanted some clean bedding.  I have so many comforter covers to prevent dog hair on the actual pricy part of the bedding and it can take the better part of a day to do all that laundry.

As I was going back and forth from the laundry room to the bedroom with my many loads of wash, I was kinda surprised at what who I tripped over...

 It seems Sweet Baby May thought that nice duvet was curled up just so she would have a thirteenth another softie bed for a nap. It was a rather chilly day and she napped there all morning. It took a late breakfast of bacon to make her rise!

Mabel Lou's Opinion

...on rising early on a cold windy morning....

Sunbaking Beauty

Old Dog Playful Pup

Another unexpected benefit to my leaving Miss Mabel Lou for 10 days is that I came home to a most playful pup. For three nights in a row, we had a rousing game of chase the red tennis ball!

Protecting her ball from the evil flashy beast!

Hiding the ball from the flashy beast!

Submissive

This girl of mine doesn't do submissive. Every pup whose ever owned me has readily offered her belly.  Not this one. About the only person who has ever gotten Mabel to go all submissive is The Rocketman (a/k/a the hubby of my Constant Crafter friend, Becky). Randy, my friend from film school, also has a magical way with Mabel. I... do NOT.

But apparently, if I leave her for ten days, she WILL allow me a few moments of "tummy time."

 As much as I relish tummy time, the duration away from my baby is hardly worth it.

Here's Looking At You

Still trying to get back on track from my illness.  Hope this photo gives you some idea of the intensity of my little nephew Bailey.