dogaholics – Page 3 – Me and the Doods.com

A Very Copacetic Pack

A few days ago I was walking the dogs in the neighborhood when I saw a disturbing sign. Someone was looking for a home for their French Bulldog puppy because their other dog was attacking it.

Sadly, it reminded me of a time, years ago, when we had a couple of dogs that didn’t get along. It was challenging.

ELBEE For the record, I wasn’t one of them.

On the bright side, it made me incredibly grateful for the way our other dogs have bonded over the years, like Cody, a sweet Golden Retriever and Larry, an incredibly smart Aussie/Border Collie mix. They came together at a very difficult time in our lives.

It was the fall of 1995 and we were living at the beach while our house was being repaired after the Northridge earthquake. Cody had miraculously survived the devastation.

Then my brother Stan was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. After major surgery, he came to stay with us while he recuperated, bringing Larry with him. Cody and Larry connected instantly. When they weren’t running on the sand or wrestling, they sat quietly at Stan’s side or took walks up the beach with him.

My brother fought hard and even returned to work in San Francisco for awhile but lost his battle in the Summer of 1996. That’s when his beloved Larry became our beloved Larry. He and Cody comforted my brother when he was dying and then they comforted us. They were inseparable.

After Cody and Larry left us, Riley, another Golden, was our next dog. He was joined a few years later by his nephew Charley, our first Goldendoodle and my first therapy dog. Since Charley, we have been a Doodle family, adding Charley’s half brother Elbee to the mix.

ELBEE That’s all she’s going to say about me? Hello? I was a fabulous therapy dog.

Even though we had three, when Jack, my mentor at UCLA, called to see if we had room for Gus, a sweet natured Teddy Bear Doodle puppy, who needed to be rehomed, how could I say no?

Eight year old Gus, the only surviving member of that pack, is now part of a wonderfully copacetic pack that includes four year old Goldendoodle Stanley and sixteen month old Pyredoodle Henry. By virtue of his seniority, Gus should probably be the pack leader but I don’t think he wants all of the responsibility. They seem to take turns.

Whether running to greet Doug when he comes home from work, sprawled around us when we watch the Dodger games or simply sitting with their heads in our laps, the three of them offer such comfort and joy. They fill the house with unconditional love.

ELBEE Old people need that.

Thank You Brian

Have you ever had one of those weeks when nothing seems to go right? Word of advice, if you’re having one, don’t watch the news. To add insult to injury, I had a bad hair day and took a selfie in my baseball hat that says, “bad hair day” across the front.

ELBEE She is the queen of bad selfies and why did she do that to poor Henry?

Fortunately, I had a hair appointment and things started looking up. I’m sure I get that from my mother. As a little girl growing up in Syracuse, I still remember her weekly ritual. Rain, shine or snow, but maybe not blizzard, she went for her wash and set. It was before blow drying was a “thing.” It always made her happy.

My hairdresser and dear friend Brian, not only makes my hair look fabulous but he’s also very spiritual and uplifting. Sitting in his chair is like a combination haircut/therapy session. He’s caring and kind with a sense of humor, a winning combination.

Recently he did something for an elderly client that speaks to his heart. The woman had taken a cab to the salon but got so confused when it was time to go home. that Brian decided to drive her. When she was safely in the house, her mind cleared and she thanked him.

Brian and his partner Daniel are both dog lovers and have helped me with socializing the Doods. With the people, noise and distractions, the salon is a perfect place to train them for working in the hospital. Stanley even had an early photo shoot.

A few days ago when I stopped in with Henry, I was delighted to see how comfortable and sweet he was with everyone Actually, it wasn’t his first meeting with Brian. That was when he was only about four months old. What a difference a year makes!

There is a sign on a small table in the restroom of the Syndicate, that I have always loved. It is a drawing of Audrey Hepburn with a quote about empathy.

That sign makes me think about how our dogs function with such pure empathy. They offer a lesson of love for all of us.

What a Difference a Cloud Makes

In case you hadn’t noticed, What a Difference a Cloud Makes is my third title in a row that’s a play on a song. I think the weather made me do it.

ELBEE I don’t know if I’m impressed or horrified.

Speaking of songs, this morning my packet of Truvia said “SHARE YOUR VOICE.” Does that mean there’s still hope for my singing even though I’m tone deaf?

ELBEE No!

I complained so much about the heat, I really want to celebrate the break in the weather. I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to go for a walk with the dogs without having to worry about the hot sidewalk and the sun. Plus everyone seems so much friendlier and happier.

ELBEE That’s because they’re not sweating and on the verge of heat stroke.

For the past few days, Doug has been walking Gus and I’ve been taking Stanley and Henry out together. With two dogs that size next to me, I have lots of interesting encounters.

One man said, “Oh you have ponies.” A couple of people looked a little surprised and said “Good for you.”

ELBEE That was an age crack.

A quiet, older Russian man who smiles when we pass each other, made a heart sign with his hands and softly told me, “I’ve seen them five times. They make me very happy.”

My friend Linda, a true dog lover, was driving by when she saw me with the “ponies.” She stopped and came over. I knew that she had been going through a very rough time and hoped that Stanley and Henry could help.

One of her two beloved older dogs passed recently. Then three days later her other dog went missing. Despite her best efforts, she hasn’t been able to locate him. It’s almost as if he has gone in search of his best buddy.

Stanley and Henry immediately sensed her distress. Dogs may not be able to articulate what they’re feeling, but they are so incredibly intuitive. They began leaning on her and nuzzling her, encouraging her to pet them.

At one point they took a break to wrestle, something they do when they’re really trying to get your attention. Then they went right back to comforting her.

They may be big and energetic but they were very gentle. Henry even gave her a soft kiss on the face. They could feel Linda’s pain and were doing their best to make it go away. There is nothing like the unconditional therapy we receive from our wonderful animals.

Linda put it beautifully when she messaged me, “Kisses to Stanley and Henry, my two healers.”

A Short Sweet Encounter

Anyone who walks with a dog can tell you that canines will lead to more human interactions than you’ll have when you’re walking alone. Not only do they attract people, but somehow lead to more open conversation. I was out with Stanley and Gus when a man started laughing and asked if I knew that our hair looked alike.

ELBEE Do you think she could possibly resist telling him about “I Love You Man,” her one claim to fame? FYI they made fun of her for looking like Charley.

Another, who sort of recognized me from the neighborhood, stopped to tell me that a few years ago his wife had been in the hospital at UCLA for 59 days. She’d had several dog visits and they’d meant so much that he still had their trading cards.

I especially want to share one really sweet encounter I had when I was walking with Henry. It was a little moment but with the news being so depressing, anxiety provoking and sad, aren’t those positive little moments exactly what we need right now?

ELBEE She better pick things up. I’m getting stressed just reading this.

We passed two men who were detailing a car on the street. They waved as we went by. Then as I walked a bit further past their big, black truck a boy of about twelve jumped out of the passenger seat. With a huge grin on his face he said “I love dogs! I’ve always wanted a dog!”

He was just drawn to Henry. As he petted him, he kept telling me how much he wanted a dog. It was a warm day so I took out Henry’s water. I noticed the boy watching closely and smiling as Henry drank out of his bottle so I asked if he’d like to hold it for him. I got an enthusiastic “yes!”

He told me that his name was Vladimir. He also proudly shared that he had an app on his phone that let him order food for all of them. I was so impressed by his sweetness and his kind demeanor. Henry, who’s a cautious judge of character, was completely taken with him.

We stood in the shade and chatted for around ten minutes. When Henry and I had to leave he was disappointed but totally understood. As I started up the hill, he called out “Have a blessed day.”

Grandmas Just Wanna Have Fun

Being a grandma is a great gig. You get all of the rewards without all of the work. As a mom, you have so many responsibilities and need some skills. As a grandma you can just have fun. Throw dogs into the mix and it’s a party.

Danielle, the youngest daughter, her husband Jay and their kids Bella and Ryder were here from San Jose this week. It was an especially wonderful reunion because COVID has made visiting so difficult over the past two years.

There was only one small snag. Our house is very “dog centric,” and six year old Ryder, to put it mildly, is not a fan of dogs, especially large ones. Danielle and Jay were hoping that spending time with the Doods again might be a turning point.

He’d met Gus and Stanley before and almost likes Gus because he’s little and cute. His only encounters with Henry were on Facebook.

Initially there was a lot of yelling and screaming.

ELBEE That was her.

Little by little Ryder made progress. He came out of the bedroom and played where the dogs could see him but couldn’t get to him. He posed for photos. He even petted Henry once or twice.

Eight year old Bella, on the other hand, loves the dogs and they love her. Not only was she petting and hugging them, she wanted to play dress up.

Despite the fact that it was Bella’s idea, Danielle blamed it on me, just because I have drawers full of accessories and never hesitate to use them. I mean who doesn’t love a dog in a tiara and sunglasses?

ELBEE Her daughters want to report her to PETA but I’m on team dress up.

Then we decided it would be fun to dress them up for different holidays. I got so carried away that even the kids were a bit concerned.

ELBEE I heard Danielle telling them “Grandma isn’t weird. She’s just eccentric.”

This photo says it all. What more could I ask for! I actually think it was good for Ryder. He got so into the spirit of what we were doing that he almost forgot about the dogs, although he did stay very close to Gus.

ELBEE Personally I think he had FOMO. For you old people, that’s “fear of missing out.”

When I asked Danielle to send me a few of her photos, I realized just how “dog centric” the visit had been. Except for one, they were literally all of the grandkids with the dogs. I don’t know how Doug managed to sneak into this one.

Tell Me Something Good

When I’m driving to UCLA on Wednesday mornings, I listen to KIIS FM on the radio. I like the music and it’s a welcome diversion from the news.

ELBEE She doesn’t know who half the singers are.

Ryan Seacrest does a segment called “Tell Me Something Good” which encourages people to call in and share something positive. Although I have never called in, I know without a doubt that as soon as I walk into the hospital with the dogs, something good is going to happen.

Actually at UCLA it’s often as soon as I drive up to the busy valet stand in front. Everyone is very welcoming, but there is one young woman who really stands out. She greets me by name and then peeks into the car as she asks “Did you bring Gus or Stanley today?” She’s an absolute delight.

Visiting kids in the neuropsych units, I never cease to be amazed at how the dogs can bring so much joy to young people with major problems.. Wednesday, several of the teenage girls were sitting on the floor with Gus smiling and chatting as they put French braids in his hair.

ELBEE They also told her she looked like Dolly Parton but quickly added that it was a good thing.

On a recent Friday, two more good things stood out when I took Stanley to Tarzana Hospital. We went in to visit a little boy who was around 5 or 6. His face lit up when he saw Stanley in the doorway of his room. As soon as Stanley walked over to the bed, the adorable patient started laughing, a great big belly laugh that only got louder as he petted Stanley and clapped for a few of his tricks.

Then I noticed his special dinosaur blanket on the bed, and coincidentally happened to have a pair of dinosaur sunglasses with me.

ELBEE Of course she did.

When I put them on Stanley, the boy burst into a such a huge laugh, he had everyone else in the room, including his parents, laughing.

When we were leaving the hospital, it was very hot outside and I was worried about walking Stanley on the concrete, even the short distance to the garage. A security guard, realizing my concern, said that he’d be happy to watch him while I got my car. A few minutes later, I pulled up to the shaded area where they were both waiting and thanked him as he helped Stanley into the back seat.

These may all sound like simple moments but I barely had to think about it before I could tell you something good.

Grandma Doesn’t Know Best

My thirteen year old granddaughter Samantha has her act more together than I ever will. Aside from being mature, sociable and talented, she really knows how to dress. I can only aspire to the way she puts herself together.

ELBEE Sad but true.

Despite my bodybuilding past and the fact that her mom Jennifer refers to me as”crazy for Cocoa Puffs,” especially when it comes to the dogs, Samantha will sometimes ask my advice. She’s considering going to sleep-away camp for the first time and wanted to know what I thought.

Unfortunately, my one and only time at sleep-away camp ranks right up there in the top ten terrible experiences of my life. To begin with, the whole family used to spend idyllic summers at my grandparents’ resort in the Catskill Mountains, a lot like Dirty Dancing, so I’m not sure what possessed me to leave for camp in the first place.

I was a shy twelve year old nerd with glasses, braces and orthopedic shoes who’d never been away from home on her own. To make matters worse, Sharon Clark, the friend who was supposed to go with me, broke her arm in a horseback riding accident and had to cancel at the last minute.

ELBEE She can remember all that but not what she had for lunch yesterday?

After my dad dropped me off, things went from bad to even worse, when they led me to meet my tentmates… three blondes who were best friends! They had been hoping for another blonde to show up. At the time my hair color could best be described as mousy brown. It was before it miraculously turned blonde.

ELBEE One of the mysteries of the universe.

As I was sharing the saga , which didn’t get any better unless you consider swimming in an ice cold lake to be better, Samantha, who is very empathetic, was feeling sorry for me. Probably hoping to find a positive note, she asked, “Well, did you make any friends?”

In the spirit of total honesty, I had to admit that my only friend was a turtle. It had dug a nest in the dirt outside of the tent. I never saw the babies hatch but I did see the little white eggs.

Trying very hard to be kind, Samantha asked if I’d given it a name. If memory serves correctly, it was Sally.

STANLEY, GUS & HENRY That was one of the most pathetic stories we’ve ever heard.

ELBEE And she wonders why she’s not a grandma “influencer.”

On a brighter note, happy Fourth of July!

Don’t Judge

The other morning, Henry and I were walking on a tree lined street that borders a golf course. An older woman, a little ways ahead of us, suddenly stopped and glanced back. A moment later, she picked up what I assumed was a rock and crossed the street with it in her hand. I thought what a negative reaction.

ELBEE That’s not all she thought.

It turns out that what she had picked up was a golf ball. She took it over to a man sitting on a low wall on the other side of the street. He’s kind of a neighborhood fixture who makes a little extra money by selling the balls to players who ride by on their carts. I’ve seen him in the same spot on countless weekends. Although I’ve said an occasional hello, I have never thought to pick up a golf ball for him.

After doing her good deed, the woman came back over to say hello. When I introduced her to Henry she smiled and began petting him. As we chatted, of course I shared about Gus and Stanley and the work they do.

ELBEE Is anyone surprised?

It turns out that she had volunteered at the Jewish Home for the Aged and had seen therapy dogs at work. She totally believed in their power to comfort and heal. I had been so wrong about her.

ELBEE You think?

On another day I was walking with Gus and Stanley in a different neighborhood. I get bored with the same routine so I like to explore. It started to get warm so I headed down a side street that had a lot more shade.

Suddenly, a small house stopped me in my tracks. It had way too much going on. There were sculptures, plants hanging from trees, wind chimes, pinwheels, dreamcatchers, symbols for every religion. There didn’t seem to be an empty spot. In other words it was ungapatchka

ELBEE For those of you who aren’t familiar with the word, it’s a Yiddish expression for ridiculously over-decorated.

As I was standing there judging, the nicest man came over to say hello. The yard was his pride and joy. He told me that he’d been working on it for twenty years. It was his gift to children and pets.

An animal lover, he was completely taken with Gus and Stanley. He even suggested a photo with them. He was so kind and jovial, I felt as if I’d been passing judgement on Santa Claus and his place in the North Pole.

Happy Birthday Stanley & Henry

This was a big week for the Doods. Henry turned one on the 16th and Stanley will be turning four tomorrow, on the 23rd. I have friends who celebrate their dogs’ birthdays by buying them In-N-Out Burger, serving them doggie cakes or arranging parties at the park.

I didn’t go quite that far, but I did hang a banner and put them in festive accessories.

ELBEE She forgot to mention that she took Henry to be neutered and to have a cyst removed from his tail! Happy birthday!

I confess. You may have noticed that he’s wearing an e-collar with his tiara and sunglasses.

I was a nervous wreck when I took Henry in for his surgery but he handled it like a trooper. He was raring to go when I picked him up the next morning and yes, he was wearing the e-collar or, as some call it, “the cone of shame.”

ELBEE It’s actually an Elizabethan collar named after ruffs worn by wealthy English landholders during that era. Hey, I dabble in history.

Surprisingly, Henry didn’t have a problem with it. It was almost as if he forgot he had it on. He just wanted a little extra attention. Unfortunately, he was bumping into doorways and chairs and into me and my husband. We have the bruises to prove it.

As a backup, in case there were problems, I had bought a ZenCollar, an alternative to the “satellite dish.” It’s made out of fabric and is inflatable.

The label said it would protect your pet as well as “shins, furniture and walls.” It would also restore “doggy dignity.”

Even though Henry was doing fine in the e-collar, after a few days of recovery, I thought he’d be more comfortable in the Zen version. It took him a few tries to figure out how to lay down with it on but then he looked positively relaxed.

Since the collar seemed to be working so well for Henry, I wondered why not give it a try. Couldn’t hurt and might work for me too. I mean who doesn’t want to find their Zen.

ELBEE I’m embarrassed for her.

Does Your Dog Have Quirks?

Recently, someone asked me if my dogs had quirks. Without even having to think about it, I said, “absolutely!”

ELBEE If anyone wrote a post about her quirks, it’d go viral.

Gus, for instance, is a clothes thief. When I have the nerve to leave the house without him, he heads into the closet, grabs one of my shirts and drops it in the hallway. Generally, it’s the last one I wore.

GUS I like the smell.

ELBEE He’s over attached.

If Gus wants your attention, he’ll tap you with his paw until you pet him. It doesn’t matter if you’re awake or asleep. And speaking of sleeping, his favorite position is sprawled on his back, often with his paws up the wall.

GUS It’s very relaxing.

Stanley has a habit of grabbing his leash and jumping up and down like a kangaroo when it’s time for a walk, but it’s his fixation with area rugs that’s really unique. Often, when someone comes into the house, he’ll grab a rug from the bathroom and prance around with it. It’s as if he wants us to see him but pretends that he doesn’t.

Henry, who views Stanley as his role model, has picked up the rug behavior. It’s not unusual to see both of them carrying rugs around or playing tug. I probably should stop them but it’s so entertaining.

Stanley and Henry share another quirk. They are both fascinated by my work outs.

ELBEE Sadly, that’s why they’re so cooperative when she wants to bench press them.

They will hang around when I’m using dumbbells or doing crunches on a bench but their favorite is when I sit on the floor to use work out bands. It puts me at their level so it’s easy for them to get involved. They will stay right by my side through every rep. Sometimes Gus will even join them.

The Doods aren’t the only ones who like to be part of an exercise session. My friend Jen sent me this photo of her dog joining her for yoga.

Henry has another quirk that I’ve never seen in any of our dogs or heard of from anyone else. It’s personal and I probably shouldn’t share it, but I can’t help myself. As soon as Henry poops, he sprints across the yard to get away from it.

HENRY Someone is not familiar with the phrase “TMI.”