MISSING KOKO

I did something today I've been dreading...
I returned a bag of Koko food to PetSmart. I had purchased it in mid-July because it was on sale and we never opened it...
Taking it back solidified the empty space in my life. It hurts to live without her.


Oh, Sweet Koko...

And during my workout tonight, I started to cry when I did an exercise that she loved. With an exercise ball used for back support against a wall, I do my squats. Koko loved to stand behind me, between the backs of my legs and the wall, while I squatted. Don't know why she loved it so much, but she always came over to me and stood behind me while I did that exercise. Because I miss her so much, I want to both stop doing that exercise and do it all the time.

Just had to let some of the sadness out tonight...

GOODIES FOR GOOD DOGS

I'm so excited about the packages I sent to a K9 unit in the United States Air Force.
I listened to the book, "Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam" by Cynthia Kadohata, a fictionalized account of a human-dog team that found booby traps for troops during the Vietnam war. It inspired me to find out if there are still human-dog teams in the military. There are!
http://thehousehound.net/_wsn/page4.html

Through the Bruno Packs program, I was given an address to an Air Force Unit in Iraq consisting of 10 men, 2 women and 12 German Shepherds. I had so so much fun gathering goodies to send them!

I tried to take a picture of all that I sent, and I tried to get a lot of things from the wish lists of the soldiers. Luna helped me think of some stuff, buy some stuff and we wrapped and packed it all up into 3 military boxes from the Post Office.
We sent:
Travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, hand sanitizer gel and wipes, and Kleenex packets
12 pads of paper with a penny taped on each one - Penny For Their Thoughts!
17 ball point pens
7 magazines / doggy catalogs
22 citrus flavored Emergen-C packets
Black tea bags
baby wipes
11# of dog treats, some of Satchel's Cinnabones!
8 plastic frisbees that we wrote sweet things on like "You're Such a Good Dog!" and "People in Commerce Township, Michigan Love You"
12 doggy rope toys
LOTS of Ziploc bags in gallon and quart sizes
razors
lip balm
Q-tips
Strawberry Halls

gum

Mini First Aid kits
pony tail holders
panty liners and tampons
emery boards
Furminator dog brush

I was encouraged to send a letter so I did that too. I have no idea how long it will take for the packages to get to them but I hope we get some notification that the boxes were received. I know they are very busy, but we had so much fun doing it that I hope I get to know that there were HUGE smiles opening up all the goodies.

"Of course you're good for Satchel. He's over 15 years old and on this Earth."

When you have love in your life, it's easy to see the sweet side of things.
Take Satchel's increasing incontinence. There's a lot of carpet cleaning and Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in our home, but there's also outside time. Even if he says he doesn't need to go out, I get my Satchel down the ramp, and headed toward the grass, and he becomes an artist on the driveway...

Walking as he pees, Satchel makes a pretty pattern

I worry and wonder about Satchel night and day - if I'm meeting his needs; if he needs to go out, but is too tired to get up on his own; if he's comfortable - I just want his days to be stress free, and for him to feel I am able to speak dog and know what he needs before he even needs it.

I ask Jason to tell me how I am good for Satchel, and his usual response is, "Of course you're good for Satchel. He's over 15 years old and on this Earth."

I try to remember that, and I try not to say out loud or in my head, "But just being here isn't enough. I want him to be enjoying his day."

Then Satchel will lift his head and look at me, and I know he wants me to massage his neck and back. I ask/tell him, "You enjoy this don't you lovie?" He lays his head back down and is relaxed, and with that, he answers me. Our Satchel enjoys Us, and after all these years, we speak a little bit of Satchel and Satchel speaks a lot of English, and we know. We know there's good in every day because there's Satchel in it, and when Satchel's getting a massage....aaahhhhh, all is good.

Satchie enjoys a cool weather outdoor massage.
Isn't he delicious?!

CRAFT SHOW

While it was a beautiful day, and Luna and I loved spending the hours together, the craft show was not what we would consider a success and I'm sad.

Luna was of course the Star of the Day with everyone wanting to pet her, and everyone complimenting her on how well-behaved she is. My response is usually, "She's perfect," and I said that many many times. She just is.

We had a lot of people stop by our table.

Our little I'm a D.O.G.! station for the day!

We received A LOT of compliments on the bandannas and sold some dog treats, but most people wanted to know the simple, one-step, one thing to do to get their dogs to be like Luna, and to tell lots of stories of why their dogs could never be like Luna, and some told the story of how their dogs came into their lives. We listened. We gave advice only when it was really being asked for...and I might have gotten a bit sun burned it was so nice and warm!

Luna got hot too!

Sure, some people will tell me it's because of 'This Economy,' but I don't believe it. I believe a lot of people have plenty of money and will spend it on what they like. One of the women next to me was selling Beijo bags and she sold 3 "It's a Cinch" bags for $95 each. She also sold a couple of other small purses and some of her mosaic artwork. She had a very successful day and was so happy. It was really enjoyable to have a nice person next to us. She had a tent and Luna sat with her for a little while and we called Luna her Good Luck Charm!

So I still have quite a few things left over. I'm going to send the dog treats to the Air Force Unit I'm sending a doggy care package to. I'll post pictures of all of that next time. Anyone who is on my Christmas list and has a dog can expect to receive "A Biscuit A Basket" for Christmas! We'll find a way to use everything. No worries. Just disappointment.

After some rest today, we're ready to start tomorrow and the next day with positivity and thankfulness for all we have!

GIVING IT A GO

Luna and I are going to a Craft Show on Saturday!
I'm not sure that I have the discipline and drive to be a Craft Show Person, meaning Craft Show People are continually creating their crafts, keeping up inventory, researching craft show opportunities, paying sometimes big fees to be in shows, traveling all over to get to the shows and telling everyone all the time where they will be! I haven't been great at any of this... BUT I'm going to try my second 'show' this Saturday:

Fundraiser Flyer
http://www.shopsatgreenoak.com/events.php

The last 'show' I was at did not turn out to be the success I envisioned, so I'm going to go to Brighton with all my wares...plus a little tweaking to improve the success rate...and plan to come back with NO INVENTORY! Yay!

I have 10 doggy bandanas in each size: Small, Medium & Large.
I'm selling them for $5 each

I have 28 bags of "Satchel's Cinnabones" - dog treats!
Selling them for $2/bag of 10 bones

30+ packs of what I call "Philosophy Cards" which are 6 cards of quick reference for how to develop a positive & strong relationship with your dog.
Selling them for $5/pack

And 18 "A Biscuit A Baskets" - 6 in each size of Small, Medium & Large.
$15 each


Luna will come with me for company, and hypoglycemia safety, as well as to show how awesome dogs behave. Look how ready she is to go!

The Saturn is packed up and ready to head to Brighton!

So wish me luck that I come back with Nothing, but a great story of success!

Little Tidbits

Just some things I've been meaning to share...no main point to the two things, just little tidbits about life and plans at Casa Curtin-Hess.

At Casa Curtin-Hess, I tend to be the idea person and Jason often is the only one who can make the ideas happen. For several months, I have been saying that Satchel needs a ramp. His mobility was being limited by his constant desire to hop down and up the side porch steps when he needed to go outside. I was concerned he would break his teeth if not his neck even with our support and supervision. Jason wasn't confident a ramp could be built with a safe grade. I said we needed something and researched the many kinds of hip support leashes and gadgets. It didn't appear that they would meet Satchel's needs. I said, "We can find a way honey!" And Jason did.

Luna 'models' the ramp built for Satchel's safety. It's been wonderful for him even though he doesn't like it and is SURE he can hop down and up the steps on his own without breaking anything...that independent Satchie!

Since it's all dog all the time at Casa Curtin-Hess, names for pets come into my mind all the time. I don't have a limit for the number of dogs I could live with...Jason does. His limit is 2 unless we are able to live on our acreage in Empire, Michigan where he feels he could live with 4. Our dogs are immortal in my mind, so I know I'll only have room for 2 more names, but you can't always know what your dog's name is until you meet him or her...no matter what name they come to you with. Here are the names I have to choose from for now. So far, the only way the list has changed has been to get longer...

Hamlet - the Great Dane I will have one day - I have loved the play Hamlet since 1985 or so
Tallulah
Hud - one of my favorite Paul Newman characters is Hud Bannon from the movie Hud
Harper - one of my favorite Paul Newman characters is Lew Harper from the movies Harper and The Drowning Pool
Scout - daughter in To Kill a Mockingbird
Wrangler - LOVED my Jeep Wrangler 5-speed
Canaan - Biblical and really enjoyed the wonderful book The Rapture of Canaan
Otter
Atticus - the dad and lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird
Bosco
Ambler
Kaspar
Maillot - French word for 'jersey' as in cycling jersey as in Maillot Jaune, the Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France
Dashiell - loved this name since I learned of the author Dashiell Hammett
Rudy
Ruby
Bixby
Joao - pronounced Zhhh-wow, a name from Brazil
Chewie - LOVE Chewbacca from Star Wars
Wookie - since seeing Chewbacca's love for Han Solo, I've always wanted my very own Wookie
Persephone - great song by the Cocteau Twins
Trotter
Lucas Jackson - title character from my favorite movie of all time Cool Hand Luke
Jack McCoy - one of my alpacas' name - I love Law & Order and Jack is my favorite character tied with Lennie Briscoe
Lennie Briscoe - one of my alpacas' name - I love Law & Order and Lennie is my favorite character tied with Jack McCoy
Knave
Frank Galvin - character from one of my favorite Paul Newman movies The Verdict
Calamity

I do hope to have chickens one day too, so maybe some chickens will have a few of these names!

THE FUTURE

There have been changes to The Pack recently, and I know I need to accept those changes and update some things I have in writing, but I'm not ready...

What I am ready for is to think about The Future in one way...I know I will one day have alpaca, and during my visit to the Triple Diamonds Alpaca Ranch today, I was enlightened about a breed of dog I knew only a little about, The Great Pyrenees.

What I knew was from a couple of books and from a show I saw about an Italian sheepherder who sent his flock out with 3 Great Pyrenees each day. The dogs kept the sheep safe all day traveling many many miles and returning home. The sheepherder's most faithful dog wore a collar with huge spikes pointing outward so that any coyote or other predator of sheep would be hurt or killed if it attempted to attack the dog. When the dogs returned with the sheep in the evening they were given a big meal of pasta with red sauce!

Today I learned just a bit more, and I met one that was so big and so sweet and so good.

Lucca

~130# protector at the Triple Diamonds Alpaca Ranch

I was told that the Great Pyrenees will detect a predator by scent up to a 1/2 mile away and will bark until the scent is no longer detectable. It will also defend and protect the people and creatures to which it is loyal to its own detriment. They are huge and gentle and their coats are weather resistant allowing them to live outside in all types of climates. The owners of the Triple Diamonds Alpaca Ranch love them and protect their alpaca with Great Pyrenees only.

I asked many questions about raising alpaca and had a really nice visit. It was the Ranch's 2nd annual 'Alpaca Expo' and it looks like they've been doing it for many years. It was very organized and the Ranch owners were very kind and knowledgeable and made me feel like I was the only person there for a little while even though they expected to have over 800 visitors today!

These cuties were in LOVE with popcorn and walked over to whomever had some...being allergic to corn, I was definitely not very popular.

They were sooooo cute and soooooo soft.

I'm not sure when or why I started thinking about alpaca, but they have been on my mind for several years and I saw some snippet about a couple who left corporate life and started an alpaca farm. They were becoming very discouraged when their females gave birth to 14 boys in a row or something like that, but they kept at it and said that alpaca made them happy. Hearing that boys were less popular, I decided I'd be happy to adopt and care for the 'reject' boys who might not be profitable if their wool wasn't wonderful or if their bloodline wasn't award winning or something. I just want them as pets to enjoy so I'm not thinking I'm interested in the profitability that is possible with wool selling and stud fees, etc.

One of the boys...

The people at the Ranch were so kind in sharing information and suggested that when I'm ready, I could buy at least 2 alpaca because they are pack animals and need family members and board them at the Ranch for a year or so. During that year, I could learn all about how to take care of them. Brilliant!

Even if there aren't any coyotes or predators around my area, it was recommended I get a Great Pyrenees to keep the deer away who may bring around parasites. I said, "A ha...I never thought of that."

While it's a long way off for me, you never know where your life will take you and I feel like I have a great resource in the people at Triple Diamonds. (www.triplediamondsalpaca.com)

With one of the pregnant lovies in their pack

I can just see Luna, Satchel and our Great Pyrenees living on our acreage in Empire, Michigan snuggling our alpaca every day...maybe even walking with them along the nature trail!

I THANK GOD FOR LUNA

No good dog owner would ever claim to have a favorite within her Pack, and that is not what I am doing here. I love my Luna and my Satchel to the ends of the Earth and beyond, but today, it's all about the Wonderfulness of Luna.

It's been a rough summer at Casa Curtin-Hess with many many Pack health issues and many many many daily and nightly needs of our beloved puppies.
Because Koko and Satchel's needs have required so much of my time and energy, I have worried about neglecting Luna. There hasn't been a day I haven't worried about falling short in meeting the needs of family...I'm sure many people can understand that, but I'm usually pretty confident that I'm doing right by my family.
It's been a rough summer.

Two bits of trivia about my dogs:
1. They don't wear collars much of the day.
It started last year when Satchel had surgery to remedy his laryngeal paralysis. He had a large cut in his neck and it was recommended that he be walked with a harness from then on to avoid putting pressure on his larynx that was healing and would now be tied open permanently. Satchel hasn't worn a collar since June 2008 and I noticed how quiet the house could be without the jingle jangle of the license and rabies tags. I took Luna's off during the day and put it on when we went outside. Then I stopped putting it on when we went out in the yard during the day because I could see her. When we go out at night, I put her collar on and turn on the 'flasher' I attached to it so that I can spot my entirely black dog in the entirely black night.
She also wears her collar and her tags when we walk at the Richardson Center or go anywhere else public. Other than that, my dogs are collar-less and walk around like we're in the wild.

2. Due to genetics and training, our dogs prefer to poop in the woods rather than in any yard.
I don't think it's all due to my training, but both Satchel & Luna will seek out tree cover and/or a pile of leaves when they have to poop. It's so nice really because poop scooping becomes a virtually non-existent job.

Why do I mention these things when highlighting the Greatness of Luna?
I'm not sure I can really even explain how helpful and fantastic she is.
I'll try.

A typical outing since Satchel's arthritis and vertigo problems:
Satchel needs human hands on him at all times to walk to the door, walk down the ramp (Jason built it for Satchel. I need to take a picture for you.), and into the yard. Once Satchel is slightly steady, I have to sprint back to the door to shut it, then sprint back to Satchel and follow him CLOSELY for 10-15 minutes as he enjoys the outdoors.
All the while, Luna could run into any of the woods around our house, run to any of the neighbors running, walking, biking by to greet them, or simply walk into the ravine and dig around for deer poop and other treasures.
But Perfect Luna stays close. She may enter the woods to find the perfect place to poop, but then she returns with her prancing pace, and walks with me and Satchel around and around as we attempt to calm his agitated tummy.

Luna may find an interesting scent, and for a few seconds or a minute I can't see her.
I worry, but I can't leave Satchel who may fall at any time and break his neck or at the very least break some teeth. I pray for her safety and sweetness and in her general direction calmly say, "LuuuuNaaaaa, where arrrrrre you?"
I whistle her whistle (Both Satchel & Luna have unique whistles that they come to - kind of like the kids in The Sound of Music...), and she may slowly or quickly come out of the brush and sweetly walk over. My heart leaps in a bad way when I can't see her, and my heart leaps in a beautiful, happy, loving way when she appears through the trees.

I'm not sure that this description remotely illustrates the wonder of Luna.
She's more than just a good dog who stays in her yard that has no fence.
She seems to understand the needs of her family and she not only doesn't cause stress, she reduces it. She is beyond great.
She's the greatest.

I try to tell her a jillion times a day how much I appreciate and love her. I tell her with my smile and my snuggles and the softness of my directions. She still needs some guidance each day, but she only needs a gentle touch or word, which she takes to a higher level of goodness where she simply Is.

Luna. Is. Good.