Here's a black and white homage to Yes I Know, My Dogs Look Funny. This photo of Walker's shadow is reminiscent of her profile photo. I love to read about her Bettina, Her Royal Highness the Crown Regents of Fussypants, and her Little Boy Blue -
These are two of my new favorite videos of all time!
Budweiser's The Clydesdales "Brotherhood" - extended version
I hope that my hounds - and all greyhounds - had/have trainers who cared about them.
The shot of the young horse running beside the trainer's truck reminds me so much of my Truly. I'm not a crier but this video could turn me into one. :)
Dodge Truck's "God Made a Farmer"
I grew up in close proximity to a family farm. The life of a farmer, a real farmer, seemed dour . . . and lonely. He was up and out of the house, then to bed, before everyone else. The only time he was ever out late was when an animal was sick, hurt or being born. Then he'd stay out all night and start his farm work the next morning without sleeping.
No vacations, no holidays or sick days, watching the sky and hoping for/against rain, cold, heat - depending on the crop and the time of year. If he engaged in conversation, it was about the co-op. Since I didn't know what a co-op was, I didn't pay attention.
He had two dogs - Why and Whynot. He gave them those names, which I thought was odd because I knew him as a man without a humorous bone in his body. There was a fair distance between him and everyone in his life - except for those dogs. I can't think of him without thinking of them. They went everywhere he went, but not in the house. They slept on the door steps.
I admit I didn't have much use for him. I couldn't think of a thing that I could say or do that would interest him - he was always so busy.
One afternoon I saw him at the edge of the corn field. He was sitting on the ground in the shade of his truck. He got up and fed those dogs from a container he kept in the truck bed and gave them water from his water jug. I could hear that he was talking to them. I couldn't hear what he said but I could tell he was saying a lot.
I liked him after that. In fact, he's one of the people that I grew to respect most.
Sawyer's very "into" Marilyn Monroe. This is Tim's take on a Marilyn pancake.
My pancakes were not in any special shape - but they were very good!
We went to the store to get Sawyer a new bike. She outgrew the old one. She wants to ride it at the Riverwalk. I think the bike will bring some interesting exercise opportunities for Those Brindle Kids. More to come on this subject.
Why is there so much laundry for me to iron this time? Walker and Maggie didn't mind. They hung around in the extra room with me watching TV and napping while I did my chores.
Walker had to occasionally turn his eyes away from the Walking Dead marathon.
Maggie didn't. She loves zombies.
While making dinner, I dropped a piece of broccoli on the floor. Truly came out of nowhere and gobbled it up.
Hounds like broccoli?
Maggie came in and wanted a piece, too. Truly wanted more. I need to find out if it's o.k. for them to have broccoli before I give them any more of it.
Broccoli eatin' dogs.
Later in the day, I walked into the kitchen and wondered why the laundry room door was open. I saw this little gray brindle face looking at me.
Maggie wants to go outside.
Maggie wanted to go outside because she knew it was "turkey neck day" and she knows she eats turkey necks outside.
Truly and his turkey neck.
Sorry for the photo quality of these last two shots. The sun was shining directly at me.
Maggie and her turkey neck.
Walker and his turkey neck.
There were no pancakes this morning but there are only five more days 'til Sunday. Saturdays aren't bad either!
Today I asked Tim to go with me to take Truly and Maggie for their afternoon walk. He said he wanted Walker to go this time. I tried to talk myself out of taking Walker with us. It was way too much of a chance.
Since we brought Walker home in September he has not been out of the house - except to the fenced backyard. I previously described Walker's special challenge - idiopathic fear. When frightened, he bolts hard and fast.
We've seen a huge improvement in his spookiness but we remain exceptionally careful with him. A greyhound on the loose is a nightmare. A spooky greyhound on the loose is a certain tragedy.
I finally convinced myself that it was time. Tim would not let Walker get away from him and my fear for Walker was less important than his need to learn and grow. His growth here has been a direct result of desensitization - rewarding him for repeatedly overcoming his anxiety. It's worked so far.
It took about 15 minutes to get Walker suited up - that includes the time it took to get my hands on him. Once that was done, he had to have his harness with a leash and his martingale with a leash.
Tim and Walker
Taking a good, long look around.
All THREE of Those Brindle Kids out for a walk!
Doing good so far -
Some positive reinforcement.
Walker, with Tim, in front. Note Walker's tucked tail.
Still walking.
Good boy.
It's hot out here.
New smells for Walker.
I call this the spider web leash shot.
When we brought Walker home that very first day back in September, we had to get him from the car to the house. Tim held both of his leashes. Walker's behavior was erratic. He yanked the leashes and alternately crouched toward the ground and darted around and around Tim. His eyes were wild and he was visibly stressed. (Think Tasmanian Devil on speed.)
Today, he was still stressed but he did not pull on the leash or bolt. He followed Truly's and Maggie's steady lead. His gait was slow and smooth. He regularly looked to Tim for reassurance.
In the clip below, you can hear construction noise in the background. We thought the noise might scare Walker. He was curious and probably wished it would stop but he didn't appear to be frightened by it.
Sorry for the shakiness of these last two clips. I was walking. Seeing Walker look to Tim was so sweet.
In the clip below, Walker is no longer tucking his tail. The leash is loose and no pulling.
The SEGA folks told us how rewarding it can be to adopt a special needs hound. We've been rewarded over and over by seeing Walker progress by leaps and bounds since September. Today, though, was an enormous victory for him.
Who needs a Super Bowl? Walker went for a walk on leash today!
