Play Date with Valentina

Yesterday, I had a play date with Valentina.  Mommy tagged along and visited with Valentina's mommy and grandma, Anita and Sophie.  I was glad Mommy had someone  to keep her occupied while Valentina and I were playing.

Most of the time, Valentina and I meet up at Sophie's house.  I like to push Sophie's door open just wide enough for my nose.  All of a sudden, Valentina runs to the door to greet me.  Then I push open the door and run in.   Anita always rearranges the furniture in the room to give us a big area to play. That is exactly what happened yesterday.  After Anita rearranged the room, Valentina and I started running in circles.  She tried to grab my ear while I was trying to grab her leg.  Sometimes we don't pay attention to where we are running and we run into each other.  Sometimes we crash into Sophie's chair -- while she is sitting in it!  We got scared the first time we did that.  We were afraid that we hurt Sophie.  We didn't.  Sophie looked at us and started laughing.  What a relief!  We sure do have fun!

When we got tired and settled down a little, Sophie asked, "Does anyone want a banana?"  I was first in line and Valentina was right beside me.  I love bananas.  Sophie didn't want her hands to get slimy from my drool so she handed the banana to Mommy.  Valentina and I followed the banana.  All of the people were laughing, but I am not exactly sure why.  Mommy looked at us and said, "Sit, girls."  We wanted that banana and sat before Mommy even finished saying it.  Valentina got the first piece.  I didn't mind because I knew Mommy would give me the next piece.  I was right!  Mommy went back and forth  between me and Valentina until the banana was all gone.

All of that sitting and the sugar from the banana got us up and running again.  After a few minutes, Anita called me over to her.  I excused myself from playing because Mommy taught me how to have good manners.  I promised Valentina that I would be right back. Guess what?  I found out that I didn't have to say anything to Valentina because we both got to Anita at the same time.  Anita gave us big hugs and we went back to playing.

I guess Mommy and the ladies ran out of things to talk about because they were starting to bother us.  Mommy said, "Valentina, come."  Valentina excused herself because she has good manners, too. She didn't have to do that because we both got to my mommy at the same time.  Mommy gave us big hugs.  She, Anita, and Sophie were laughing.  I said to Valentina, "Do you know what is so funny?"  She shook her head and said she didn't.  Then Anita called me again.  Just as we both got to her (even though she only called me) I heard Mommy say, "These girls are so funny  It's all or nothing with them."

I had to stop and think about that for a minute.  I realized that Mommy meant that if someone called one dog, they got both of us.  I asked Valentina if she thought that is what Mommy meant, and she agreed.  We also agreed that we were jealous of each other when our mommies were involved.  Valentina was jealous when Anita hugged me, but she didn't mind so much if Anita hugged Valentina, too.  I was jealous when my mommy hugged Valentina, but I didn't mind so much if she hugged me, too.

I wonder if it is all or nothing with our mommies.  If I could talk I would say, "Anita, come."  If Mommy came, too, I would have my answer!  Even though I sometimes get jealous of Valentina, she is my best friend.  I hope we have another play date soon!

LuLu and Lynn

Yesterday, after breakfast, Mommy said, "Girls, guess what?  Lynn is coming to visit today.  Isn't that exciting!"  I've know Lynn since I was a baby.  I was so excited that I ran around in circles, wagging my tail as hard as I could.  Izzy started screaming because she was excited, too.  LuLu is afraid of everyone so she started shaking.

When Lynn got here, Mommy gave her a big hug.  Izzy started screaming again, and LuLu started running back and forth.  I waited, patiently, until it got a little quieter.  Lynn gave me a big hug and scratched my back.  It felt so good.

Everyone knows and understands that LuLu is afraid of people.  When people come to the house, she usually runs upstairs and stays there until they leave.  She didn't run upstairs when Lynn came.  Mommy sat on the big sofa and Lynn sat across from her on the little sofa.  To our surprise, LuLu sat on the sofa next to Mommy.  After a few minutes, LuLu felt safe enough to lie down.

While Lynn and Mommy were talking, Lynn sat on the the floor.  She slowly eased her way across the floor, moving closer and closer to LuLu.  LuLu got nervous.  She sat straight up.  Her eyes bugged out.  But, she didn't jump down and run upstairs.  Lynn didn't want to scare LuLu, but she did want LuLu to trust her.  Izzy has to be in the middle of everything so she was on Lynn's lap.

Lynn played with Izzy and reached out and touched LuLu's paw.  Lynn played with Izzy some more.  Then she reached out and put her hand on LuLu's leg.  After a little while, Lynn was actually petting LuLu's head and then her back.  LuLu was nervous, but she trusted Lynn!  She didn't hide behind Mommy and she didn't run upstairs.

I sat and watched the whole time.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  Lynn and Mommy praised LuLu and told her they were proud of her.  LuLu looked at me and gave me a big smile.  She was proud of herself, too!  It might seem like a little thing, that LuLu let someone touch her, but actually it's huge.  Maybe one day, Lulu will trust all of our friends and family.

To Eat or Not To Eat - Off the Floor

My sisters and I know that Mommy works very hard.  She works hard at her job and she works hard at home.  We know this because she tells us, especially when we do something naughty and messy.  We hear, "What is wrong with you girls?  I work very hard all day and then I have to clean up after you!  That is hard work too."

We don’t like to upset Mommy.  We decided to try very hard not to make messes.  We also decided to help clean up Mommy’s messes.  Every time Mommy drops or spills food, we rush over to clean it up.  Sometimes we are lucky and happy when Mommy spills something delicious.

Mommy and I went to the Home the other day.  We were visiting our friends in their big living room.  Mommy was talking to Gary and he was scratching my back.  I was too relaxed to stand so I lay down.  I noticed things on the floor that I didn't notice when I was standing.  I said to myself, "Ethel Frances, it would be a big help to clean up the things on the floor."  I stretched out my neck with my mouth open and just as I was going to grab it, I heard Mommy's voice.

"Ethel Frances!  No!  Leave it!"

I certainly was surprised at Mommy's reaction.  I can't talk with words, but I have other ways to express myself.  I stood up and hung my head down.  I made my tail droop and I drew my eyebrows together.  I stared at Mommy, right into her eyes.  If I could talk, I would have said, "Mommy, what is the problem?  I just wanted to be helpful.  Why are you so upset?"

A few minutes later,  I saw something else on the floor.  I tried to get it, but the same thing happened.  Mommy scolded me and I was sad.  Mommy looked at me, right in my eyes.  She said, "Ethel Frances, you are such a smart girl.  You can't talk, but you told me with your body language that you are sad and confused."

She sat on the floor and gave me a tight hug and a bunch of kisses.  She said, "I know you were trying to be helpful by eating things off of the floor.  The floors here look clean, but the things on the floor are not always food.  That is why I don't want you to eat whatever you find here.  I am proud of you for trying to help.  You can help clean the floors at home whenever you want, but not here.  OK, honey?"

I kissed Mommy's face from her chin to her hair and I wagged my tail as fast as I could.  Mommy knew I understood.  She gave me another hug and a handful of cereal.  I was looking forward to going home to clean the floor.  Maybe tonight Mommy will spill ice cream!

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!

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!

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.

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.