#OurCritters

Time to introduce the boys. Over the years we've had lots of pets and they seem to adopt us in batches. For the past three years these guys have taken very good care of us:

Leo

He is a Min-Pin who will celebrate his 8th Birthday later this month.

At his best, he weighs 11#. 

He is a "talker" and chatters incessantly.

Laps are his favorite resting spots and he loves requires petting.

If you stop, you'll get a nose-nudge under your hand.

And it doesn't stop until you start petting again.

Storms are his nemesis and he absolutely must hide under blankets until the storm passes. 

Leo came to live with us about five years ago when 

his then-family decided they didn't want him any longer. How sad.

His forever home is with us and we love him to pieces. 

❤️

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Gizmo

Our 13# housecat chose us one day when on a whim we visited the cat shelter. In itself, that was a crazy thing for us to do because Hubs did not like cats. Or so he thought. This black beauty perched on the highest landing in the room and repeatedly batted my 6'2" Hubs on his head when he passed by. There was really no choice but to make him part of our tribe. 

Gizmo also has a June birthday and will be six years old soon. Like any feline, his favorite pastime is sleeping. Meowing for food is, I'm sure, ingrained in him because of the years spent toggling for food in the shelter. I try to feed him at the same time every day, hoping that he will be reassured of the next meal. In the past nearly 4 years that he's lived with us, this tactic has not yet worked. He starts crying for food about an hour before it is time to eat. We've tried petting him more during that hour, hoping that it is affection he craves. That hasn't worked either. 

And yes, when I say "we" it is so. 

Hubs retracted his I don't like cats mantra!

This boy is not a lap cat. But because Thirdborn has taken so much time helping him acclimate to human touch, he can be picked up and held closely. But not often.

❤️

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The Two Amigos

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Rocco

Since he is not our first Doberman, 

this Red boy filled a place in our family that only a Dobie can.

Full of piss and vinegar and an energy that is hard to wear down, 

Rocco will celebrate his third birthday in July. 

He has lived with us just 8 weeks shy of that and weighs in right around 85#.

There is nothing this gentle giant won't do for us,

except to quit stealing food from the kitchen counter.

And getting things out of the trash can.

And moving shoes around the house.

Well, you get the idea.

Rocco is Smart. He is Loyal. Loving. Protective. Nurturing.

Give him a ball and he is happy.

Throw it for him and he is ecstatic!

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These boys stand guard while I work.

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And they fight all day so they can sleep peaceably together all night.

❤️

#Mud

This is South Florida's Rainy Season.  

I love it - there is rain nearly every afternoon (woohoo, less time for me to spend watering the garden since Nature takes over for a while!). 

However -

Rain + BackYard = MUD

Mud + TWO DOGS = A Mess!

Our new couch was delivered this past week. I put the dogs out back so the delivery guys didn't have to worry about the Doberman eating them. 

After they left I just stood there a few minutes admiring the new piece of furniture and thinking about what a great choice we made with the style and fabric. As I was patting myself on the back I opened the back door and in rushed two very excited, wound-up canines who promptly jumped on that beautiful couch with all four feet. 

4 x 2 = 8 Very Muddy Pawprints

🐾🐾🐾🐾

Yes, I yelled. The dogs ran for cover in their kennels and I cleaned that fabric within the first 10 minutes of the couch's life with the Strine's. 

Note: LazyBoy was right- this fabric is amazing and cleans right up!

So then I covered the couch with blankets and that made me feel sad. OK, angry. We could have picked up an old couch at the thrift store and thrown blankets on it for the same effect. Why can't we teach these guys to stay off the couch? 

"Yes, let's do that," agreed with no Doberman Dad ever.

But something magical happened. Hubs showed me a Facebook video that involved teaching a cat to stay off the counter by laying down a long section of aluminum foil. 

💡

All I can tell you is that it works! 

Now no one - 

not human or canine -

sits on that brand new couch.

Foiled Again!

Update: 

Fast track a couple weeks and we are all enjoying this couch. 

Together ☮️

What's the use of having something if you can't use it?