Tuesday, February 26, 2013

LuLu and the TV

When Mommy feeds us, I always finish eating first.  It only takes me a minute to gobble up my food.  Then I go  watch my sisters eat.  Izzy always finishes second.  I think it takes her longer because she is little and her mouth and teeth are little.  And then there's LuLu.  I don't know what her problem is, but she almost never runs to her bowl to eat.  In fact, many times she just stays on the sofa and watches Izzy eat.

 Mommy used to get upset when LuLu wouldn't eat because she thought LuLu might be sick.  "Please, LuLu.  Go eat.  You'll like it."  Mommy would plead with LuLu but LuLu didn't care.  Mommy decided that LuLu was not sick and that she just didn't want to eat when we ate.  Her food couldn't just sit there and wait until LuLu made up her mind to eat. Izzy and I would fight over it and one of us might get hurt.  So Mommy decided a half hour was long enough to wait for LuLu to eat.  Then she would pick up LuLu's food and put it away until our next meal time.

One day Mommy got an idea about how to get LuLu to eat.  LuLu likes to watch animals on TV.  She watches all animals but puppies are her favorites.  Whenever LuLu sees an animal on TV she runs and gets a toy to chew.  Mommy wondered if the TV would get LuLu to eat.  One morning Mommy put LuLu's bowl was on the floor.  LuLu was lying on the sofa, not showing any interest in eating.  Mommy asked, "LuLu, do you want to watch the puppies while you eat?"

LuLu jumped up and ran to the TV.  She stood there with her nose almost touching the screen.  Mommy turned the TV on and found a show with puppies. LuLu took one look at the puppies, ran to her bowl, and started gulping down her food.  She gulped and then looked at the puppies and gulped and then looked at the puppies until all of her food was gone!  Mommy and Izzy and I were laughing and laughing.

Now any time LuLu doesn't eat, Mommy just has to say, "LuLu, do you want to watch those puppies?"  Sometimes Mommy  just says, "TV!"  LuLu comes running every time and eats up every bit of food -- fast!

I wonder what LuLu thinks about that.  Does she think the puppies might come out of the TV and eat her food? Does she like to have the puppies watch her while she eats?  Sometimes Izzy barks at dogs on TV but I know better.  I know they can't hear us or see us.  I run to Mommy for hugs and kisses while my sisters waste their time watching TV!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Five Years Old and Not Housebroken!

Friday was my baby sister's fifth birthday. Her real name is Isabel Victoria, but we mostly call her Izzy. She is a Jack Russell Terrier. When people meet her and hear her whole name, they usually say, "That's a big name for such a little dog!" We had a little party for Izzy's birthday. Mommy gave us cookies -- real cookies, not cookies made for dogs -- and we sang Happy Birthday Dear Isabel. Actually, we can't talk so Mommy sang and LuLu (our other sister) and I hummed along.

Izzy is sweet and smart. I really can't say anything else good about her. It isn't even her fault that she doesn't listen and she isn't housebroken. I am sorry to say it, but it is Mommy's fault. When I was four months old, Mommy took me to obedience school. Al, the teacher, showed everybody how to teach their dogs to follow the rules. Mommy practiced with me every day. When Mommy says "sit," I sit. When we are out walking and Mommy says "heel," I walk right next to her left leg. When Mommy says "stay," I know that means don't move. I try to be good, but sometimes I just have too much energy. "Stay" is the hardest command to do. Mommy taught me that I have the biggest bathroom in the world. It is everyplace outside. When I have to go, I sit by the door and bark. Mommy knows what that means and we go right outside. Mommy always praises me for being a good girl!

Now I will tell you about Izzy. She has never gone to school and Mommy never taught her anything. She gets in trouble every single day. If Mommy isn't paying attention to Izzy, Izzy goes all through the house until she finds Mommy's socks or gloves. She runs back and forth until Mommy notices her. Mommy says, "Izzy! Bring it! Bring it right now." Izzy wags her tail and gives Mommy a look that says, "You come get it." Mommy chases Izzy all through the house and finally gets her clothing back -- full of holes.

When Mommy and Izzy go for a walk, Mommy doesn't even bother to say "Heel" because she knows Izzy won't do it. Even though Izzy is small, she is strong and she pulls Mommy all over the place. Izzy pees outside, but that's it. When it is time to go home, Izzy starts picking up pine cones and sticks. Mommy says "Drop it" or "Leave it," but Izzy doesn't listen. They come in the house and you just wouldn't believe your eyes. First Mommy runs to get the vacuum cleaner. That is the only way she can get Izzy to drop the pine cones and sticks. Izzy likes to eat them, but they make her sick. So Mommy turns on the vacuum cleaner and when she gets close to Izzy, Izzy will drop everything. Mommy stoops to clean up the mess, and Izzy runs in and grabs the pine cones while Mommy is picking them up. Mommy gets so angry. After all of that is cleaned up, Izzy poops on the floor! You don't even want to know what my mommy says when she finds it. None of us understands why Izzy stays outside for a long time, and then runs in the house and poops.

Izzy does lots of bad things, but the worst thing Izzy does is she bites me. Hard. She used to do it a lot more, but Mommy used the vacuum cleaner to get Izzy to stop. She is a bully and she thinks she should be first for everything: going outside; getting fed; and, being first at the door when someone comes to the house. I used to get to the door first, but Izzy would get mad and bite me. Now we have a rule for people who are coming to visit. They have to call from the parking lot to give Mommy time to put Izzy in the crate. Izzy can't get to the door at all and she can't bite me from her crate.

Mommy can't train Izzy so she trained all the people who come to our house! On Izzy's birthday, Mommy kept looking at her and she kept saying, "Five years old and not housebroken! I can't believe I have let you live with us for so long." Then she looked at Izzy and said, "It's a good thing you're so cute and sweet. Otherwise you would be living with somebody else." Then she smiles and gives Izzy a big hug and kiss.

Mommy loves all of us. I just wish she had taught Izzy how to be good!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

I Won the Tickets but Mommy Went to the Game

Last Tuesday, I got a message on my blog page. It said, "Congratulations, Ethel Frances. You won two tickets to a Wizards game on February 6." Mommy read it to me because I can't read yet. She started yelling and jumping up and down and clapping her hands. I was excited, too. I love basketball. I have watched the Wizards play, but only on TV. Now I was going to see the game in person! Since I won two tickets, I decided to take Mommy. She loves basketball, too, and we would have an outing without my little sisters. Perfect!

As soon as Mommy calmed down, I experienced discrimination for the first time in my life. Discrimination means leaving someone out because of what they are. Here is what happened. As soon as Mommy stopped yelling she picked up the phone and made a call. She said, "Sharon! You won't believe what happened. Ethel Frances won tickets to the Wizards game. Dogs aren't allowed in so do you want to go with me?"

I heard Mommy say, "Dogs aren't allowed in," and I didn't hear anything else. I think I was in shock. Why did Mommy say dogs aren't allowed to go to Wizards games? I go to lots of places with Mommy and people are always happy to see me. Why do the Wizards discriminate against dogs? What did we ever do to them? I was so sad and confused and once again I couldn't talk to Mommy about my feelings because dogs can't talk. Is that discrimination, too?

When Mommy got off of the phone, she looked at me and said, "Oh, Ethel Frances, honey. I am sorry I was so excited. I guess I forgot that you didn't know that dogs aren't allowed to go to Wizards games." I looked at Mommy with my sad eyes look. I even had tears in my eyes.

Mommy sat on the floor wirh me and gave me a tight hug and a kiss. "I know you think it isn't fair, especially since you won the tickets. The Wizards don't discriminate. Dogs aren't allowed for many reasons. A lot of people are allergic to dogs. Some dogs aren't nice to people and that can be dangerous. Some dogs aren't nice to other dogs. Remember when Izzy used to bite you? That can be dangerous, too. So for all of those reasons, dogs just aren't allowed. I don't know if you understand, but I hope you do. You are a wonderful dog and if the Wizards knew you, they would love you. But I love you more than anybody!"

Wow! Mommy knew what I was feeling even though I couldn't tell her! I guess she is right and dogs probably shouldn't be allowed to go, but that doesn't make me any happier. The bottom line is I won the tickets, but Mommy and Sharon went to the game. Sometimes life just isn't fair.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Mommy Was Selfish

I had a great day with Mommy today -- almost. Then she kind of ruined it. After breakfast and a walk, Mommy said, "Come on, Ethel Frances. Let's go to the Home! Want to go see your friends?" Silly question. Of course I wanted to go see my friends. I ran over to Mommy and waited while she put my collar and leash on me. Mommy looked at my sisters and said, "Bye, girls. You be good. We'll be back in a few hours."

Mommy and I got in the car and Mommy drove us to the Home. When we got there, I was so happy. First we visited with Sophie and while we were there, Anita and Valentina (Anita's guide dog) came. I love to spend time with them. I still can't run, but Valentina and I managed to play without being rough. Mommy took pictures of us and she gave us Cheerios for cooperating.

 We left Sophie, Anita, and Valentina and went to visit a lot of my friends who were in the TV room. Today I sat with Gary longer than anyone else. He was patting my head and scratching my back and it felt so good. He always says to Mommy, "You are very lucky." I am not sure, but I think he means Mommy is lucky because she has me. He also always says to Mommy, "She is so beautiful." I know he means me. Isn't that nice of him to say that about me?

So far, I was having a wonderful day. If only we had gone home then. We got in the elevator and instead of Mommy saying, "OK, Ethel Frances. It is time to go home," she said, "Ethel Frances, let's go downstairs. I am meeting Althea in the lobby."   We sat in the lobby for a few minutes and then Althea came in. She and Mommy hugged each other, but no one hugged me. Mommy and Althea found a table and chairs and sat down and started talking. They talked to each other, but no one talked to me. Althea had her lunch; Mommy had soda; and, I had nothing but a hard floor to lie and wait for them to finish.  I looked at Mommy then I looked at Althea.  No one even looked at me.  I was bored and decided to try to take a nap.

Luckily, a lady came through the lobby and noticed how bored I was. She walked right up to me and leaned over and gave me a big hug. She talked to me and patted me for a while and then gave me another hug and left. Mommy and Althea were still talking. I was beginning to think they would never stop. Finally, I heard Mommy say, "Ethel Frances, are you ready to go home now?" Mommy and Althea both had their jackets on. Yippee! If I could talk, I would have said, "Mommy, you finally remembered I was with you." Of course I can't talk, so I stood up, stretched, and wagged my tail.

I thought, "Mommy is selfish. She wanted to be with her friend without even thinking that maybe I would get bored listening to them talk for such a long time." No sooner had I finished thinking that Mommy was selfish, she leaned down and gave me a long, tight hug and a big, loud kiss. "Thank you, Ethel Frances, for being so patient while I was with Althea. I haven't seen her in a very long time. You were such a good girl and I am very proud of you.  I love you so much!"

Well, Mommy was selfish, but at least she realized what a good girl I am.

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