So, your dog’s been skunked

So, your dog’s been skunked. What should you do? (Aside from cursing the day you were born, of course.)

First and foremost, do not – I repeat DO NOT – let your dog back into your house. (Friends, I’m essentially writing this post for Past Me, in hopes that a rip in the space-time continuum will allow me to warn her of the events that transpired on November 18 and prevent her from opening that patio door. If she’d only known what Tavish had been up to out there…)

You’ve already let him back in the house, haven’t you? I’m sorry to report that it’s too late for you. There’sĀ only one way out. Continue reading

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That Guy! tells all

Today, I have a very special treat for you. In honor of our fifth Tavishversary, my husband (or, as I assume Tavish calls him, “That Guy!!”) has authored today’s Tavish-tastic tribute. Ā I’ll let him take it away…

Five years ago today, a very goofy furry little dude, who had just endured a derecho blowing through the shelter the week before, immediately jumped into my lap, licked me in the face, perked up his ears and said ā€œMine?ā€ ā€“ so of course he had to go home with us.Ā  (Have you seen his face?Ā  Itā€™s very tough to argue with those eyes and pointy ears of his, even if he canā€™t actuallyĀ talk to us.Ā  Although sometimes we joke about what he would say if he could hold up signs like a Looney Tunes cartoon character.)

Five years later, heā€™s still an absolute goofball who remains afraid of water, including his very own water bowl, and has yet to really truly grasp walking up flights of stairs ā€“ itā€™s more of a controlled upward fall than anything resembling walking, especially the outside deck stairs.Ā  Maybe this is why we have to have a water bowl on every floor of our house for him? Ā At leastĀ we’ve come up with a solution to his being scared of fireworks problem ā€“ we leave whatever 4th of July party we are at around sundown, bring him down into the media room, and turn the music up to 11. Ā He usually then sleeps through the whole thing, none the wiser that it sometimes sounds like WWIII outside.Ā  (Note to people who started their fireworks on Friday this year and decided to make it a four-day long weekend event ā€“ please, letā€™s do less.)

Nonetheless, he still has the boundless energy of a puppy, still revs himself up to run anywhere he goes in the house, and still only turns left (heā€™s apparently a big fan of NASCAR) when he runs in from outside and does his lap around the house because he is moving so quickly he canā€™t stop or change direction.Ā  He also has an uncanny sense of time ā€“ he knows exactly when heā€™s supposed to have breakfast, and dinner, and ā€œpaymentā€ (aka a treat) for allowing us the privilege of taking him for a walk, or when we leave for work in the morning.Ā  And, of course, he can hear the bag of treats crinkling from two floors away.Ā  Even if his 5:30AM wakeup calls arenā€™t always the most welcome (oh, are you trying to sleep in on a Saturday?Ā  Let me remind you itā€™s now time for my breakfast!), we wouldnā€™t have it any other way.Ā  Heā€™s our little dude, and we look forward to the next five years of his adorable cartoon character antics.

Fun fact: My husband is also the creator of the Inspector Tavish Twitter account. (We were obviously meant to be.)

Let's go Tavish! via wantmorepuppies.com

He’s ready for adventure!

What more is there to say? Ā Happy Gotcha Day, little dude!

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Looking for the silver whining

Stop the presses!* It has only been two weeks since my last blog, and I’m already back. I mean, i can’t promise I’ll make this a habit, but…

Anyway, today I decided to turn my comic energies in a different direction. I’ve begun to realize that some things I’d classify as bad might look pretty good depending on your point of view. For example:

Pain or gain | Want More Puppies

Honestly, Tavish is pretty psyched when the heating pad makes an appearance for any reason.** He also likes when I’m home sick, because it means he can stay in bed allllll day long.

Anyone else’s dog seem to enjoy – or at least, find a silver lining in – their misery?

*Younger readers, back in the day we had these things called newspapers. They contained our news and were printed on things called presses. So, if you had breaking news you’d have to stop the presses to add it in.

**Yes, the reason here occurs monthly, but it often appears to soothe other aches & pains as well.

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Tavish holiday tip #47

I know I’ve been notably light on the caroldies (and the blogging in general) this year, but I couldn’t let the holidays pass without sharing our traditional holiday tip. So, without further ado…

He's his own thing.

I’m Tavish S. Penguins!

Tavish Holiday Tip #47

This year, do your own thing. Make reindeer part of it. Any questions?

The best part of this year’s card distribution was the conversation with someone who was unfamiliar with the inspiration for this year’s card. He thanked me for the card, mentioned that it was cute, and asked me what was up with the reindeer.

Best day ever.

Also, I’ve got some plans to get back on the blogging wagon in the new year. Although the comic (which I would very much like you to check out) keeps me busy, I’m going to start posting at least a few times a month here. I miss this space… and you, friends.

Happy holidays!

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Tales of a neighborhood Facebook page

We live in a society. And in a society? There are rules.

I’m woman enough to admit that I don’t know it all. As a dog-having person living in a neighborhood, who can I turn to advice? How will I find out the social norms and expectations of my community so that I don’t end up cast out to survive on my own in the wild with nothing but my sixteen-pound dog for warmth?

Enter the neighborhood Facebook page. Continue reading

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