Henry is so totally grounded.
Please humor me while I write about my dog.
Actually, this entry is about the kindness of strangers at the Palmer Park pet exercise area. This morning, I thought I'd treat Henry to a little off-leash jog in the exercise area. He likes the trails and is really good at sticking by me and coming when I call him. Except for today. Today, the little poodle was jogging up ahead of me. I got a text and when I looked up from my phone, he was gone. We're talking gone like Keyser Soze. And, of course, he disappeared at a point where five trails converged. I spent about 15 minutes calling for him, trying to figure out which path he took. Each time I saw someone else, I asked if they'd seen him.
Finally, one of the women I'd talked to said she had seen him by the road. (This was the woman with a dog named Abby, who helped find Henry when she told Abby to "go find the puppy!") She gave me a ride to the spot where she'd seen him, and a car with two girls (who looked like Craig students) was on the side of the road. They'd just seen him running in the ditch. I called a couple times and he finally came running up to me.
Of course, by this time it was raining pretty steadily. He was looking at me through his wet curly black fur, very much like a little Rick James. And he was miserable, because as the vet told me yesterday, Henry's ear infections are exacerbated by water. I'm sure his kennel cough situation isn't helped by the wet weather, either.
Thank you to the women who helped find my naughty little dog, who was very close to returning to his life as a stray.
And, Henry, you are grounded. You're staying on your leash, and we're not going to Dairy Queen for at least a month.
Jul 25, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.
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What a cute dog (I just found the photo on a previous column)!!! He is learning from you also, Beth ... Henry just texted me and wanted me to ask you if the "month" ban thing on Dairy Queen expires at the end of this month or if he really has to wait a whole month. If it's the latter, he wants to know if 28 days could be used for the length of the month. P.S. Henry also told me in confidence that he thinks you're the best buddy he's ever had.
Jul 25, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
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Even the best of dog owner's have had these mishaps. I say chalk it up to experince.
You don't answer a text while you and he are having a peaceful walk and he won't try to go to DQ wthout you.
Jul 24, 2009 at 8:14 a.m.
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For more info about Henry, read my previous dog blog. :)
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/clock...
Jul 23, 2009 at 10:48 p.m.
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Was Henry named after Henry Traxler or me?
Jul 23, 2009 at 4:25 p.m.
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I take bags with me when I walk Henry. We're conscientious! (But then he makes a big show of sniffing other dogs' piles on the way around the neighborhood)
Jul 23, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.
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Needless to say, I'm glad Henry is OK. Sorry about no DQ, though. Dang.
Jul 23, 2009 at 4:10 p.m.
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I'm not sure about retractable leashes. I had an experience with an idiot neighbor who walked his dog with one and he was the biggest bird brain. The neighbor would walk by, stay in the sidewalk and let the dog dump on my yard. (While I was standing there). I told him to stay out of the yard and he said he was on the side walk. The puke didn't know I was talking about his territory-marking dog. Other times, he would let the dog go the length of the leash and he would run after me in my yard while I was mowing, and wouldn't call his dog off. He said he was leashed and that was all that was required of him.
.
My point is that I don't believe people have as much control over their dog with a retractable leash as with a standard leash. IMO
PS. He was retired military. Should've had more respect.
PSS. I do like dogs though.
Jul 23, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.
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I should say my dog was a card-toting member...
Jul 23, 2009 at 4 p.m.
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If you're worried about safety, Paw Print Park isn't always the answer. I was a card-toting member for two summers--fenced in dog parks are good in theory, as long as you and your dog aren't fenced-in with unruly canines and their apathetic owners. Go at your own risk is all I'm sayin'.
Jul 23, 2009 at 1:26 p.m.
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Grounding is one thing, but no Dairy Queen for a month?!!? That is just cruel! :)
Jul 23, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.
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Okay, okay. I'll work a retractable leash and a permit for Paw Print Park into my doggie budget. We'll see how much the vet costs next week and whether Henry destroys all his tennis ball toys. ;)
Thanks for the suggestions.
Beth
Jul 23, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.
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Ummmm. You want off-leash dog time? How about trying the large fenced-in dog run called Paw Print Park on the south side of town (off of Hwy 11)?
You know, even if I feel confident at my dog's ability to stay near me off leash, I ALWAYS leash him--I cannot control other dogs or other things that may interest him--it just takes a second for something bad to happen.
I am glad that Henry is OK, now go to Paw Print Park!
Jul 23, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
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{{{Henry}}} My dog does not get off his leash. I feel bad for him, but I learned my lesson years ago when the one dog we let run, actually ran 3 days before xmas. We found him a few days after xmas, but it was the worst xmas ever and the dog was never the same. We think someone bad got their hands on him :( Glad you found some decent kids to help you find him tho. At least this has a good ending.
Jul 23, 2009 at 7:22 a.m.
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If you're texting while walking your dog, I can only imagine how frequently you talk on your cell phone when you're driving. TSK! TSK!
Jul 23, 2009 at 6:36 a.m.
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LMAO !!
Jul 22, 2009 at 3:32 p.m.
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OMG.
Jul 22, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.
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Next time - give 'em a lil taste of the peanut butter. He won't run off nowhere......
Jul 21, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.
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Probably a good idea to stop texting while you're supposed to be watching the dog. Entertaining story, though.
Jul 21, 2009 at 2:56 p.m.
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But he's been so GOOD! And I'm partially to blame, because I was messing around with my phone instead of keeping a real close eye on him.
Oh, and Gina asked how I knew they were Craig students. They appeared to be wearing Craig sweatshirts. But they could have been Parker students working undercover in Craig territory.
Jul 21, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
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beth, didn't you learn from that football field adventure? :P
i hope he's doing better! he's a cutie, even if he's naughty!
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