Dog-sitting Adventures
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| Max plays with his toy, while Maggie gets cozy. |
Last week, I
had the opportunity to dog-sit two Dachshunds, named Maggie and Max. Just from
looking at their short legs and long bodies compared to my Australian Shepherds’
long legs and large bodies, I knew that Maggie and Max were going to be very
different from Buddy and Magic! Everything from their bedtime routines to their
meal times were different from my own furry friends. However, over the course
of my stay, I learned that even Dachshunds and Australian Shepherds share some
similarities.
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| Maggie curled up on her pillow. |
Both pairs
of dogs have certain things that set them off. Buddy likes to chase deer and
play with a tennis ball, while Max prefers to bark at rabbits and play with a
squeaky toy he ripped all of the stuffing out of. Magic can’t stand bike wheels
or when we roll the trash can down the driveway, while Maggie is terrified of
the garbage truck and taking a different route on her walks. However, all four
seem to greatly dislike fireworks.
On the
evening of Independence Day, I could hear the booming fireworks taking place
throughout Maggie and Max’s neighborhood. As I sat on the couch watching TV, Maggie
jumped into my lap shaking from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. For
awhile she sat there as I tried to comfort her, but she still kept shaking.
Eventually, she started pacing and burrowing into the couch cushions, while Max
curled up on a pillow with his favorite squeaky toy.
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| Maggie and Max all tucked in and ready for bed. |
Attempting
to follow the bedtime routine, I took both dogs outside to do their business,
but Maggie did not want to be out for more than a few seconds with the rumbling
fireworks still taking place. On the other hand, Max decided to be the
protector barking as viciously as he could. When it was time to put them in
their kennels and tuck them under their blankies, Maggie finally seemed to be
relieved and the fireworks seemed to be slowing down.
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| Max wants a treat before going to bed. |
When I went
home in the morning, I heard all about how Magic and Buddy had handled the
holiday similarly to the Dachshunds. Buddy hid in my parents’ bedroom and Magic
snuck into the basement – both places they aren’t typically allowed. Magic even
peed on the carpet! It’s funny how dogs that seem so different can have so much
in common! How did you and your dog like the Fourth of July? I’d love to hear
about it in the comments!
At the
National Dog Shows hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, you have the
opportunity to see the differences and similarities between all the breeds!
Check it out and get your tickets in the links on the page, and find out what
your dog has in common with these Best in Show contenders!
One July 4th several years ago, neighbors were setting off some fireworks. Most of them were the loud booming noisy ones. Anyway, when all the celebrating was over (probably 11:00 p.m.) I heard a crying noise coming from the garage. Upon further investigation, I found a scared little black dog curled up in the corner. The little dog was shaking so much I was afraid to go near it. After awhile I was able to coax the dog out and found it had a tag on it's collar. I called the owner to tell them I had their dog. Turns out the dog lived about 1/2 mile away! The owners were very thankful!
ReplyDeleteAs much as Skittles loves the endless amounts of BBQ droppings that can be found in our neighbors' backyards, fireworks aren't his favorite. He barks non-stop just like Max did! He usually sleeps at the foot of my bed but I know the entire week of July 4th, he will be right next to me!
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