weird dreams and doggie tips

[sarea]

I had a very weird dream last night where I think I was having some sort of lesbian love affair with a friend of mine from high school (whom I haven't seen since college). There wasn't any sex, but we had run away together and had a stash of cash that we were saving up ... it very well might have been a platonic sort of running away, except I seem to think that it was more than that. But maybe not. In any case I blame akscully and jade_okelani, because they were the ones who messed with Bonez's mind last night by claiming that we had all met in an orphanage as little girls, and then when we were older needed money and so participated in a low-budget film (ahem) together. Wait, that last part might have been my idea. I'm blaming them anyway.

My dad sent me two news clips -- one an interview with Keanu Reeves, because he's kind of behind the times and thinks I still harbor the same crush on Keanu that I did after Speed (although I still do like/respect Keanu, I don't care what anyone else says!), and one on how to make a "dog-friendly home." I thought I'd post this here for anyone else who has doggies that they have to leave alone at home for much/part of the day like I do. :(

A Dog-Friendly Home

Your dog loves nothing more than your company, but that doesn't mean he can't entertain himself while you're out. The secret is to appeal to his natural instincts and passions. Try these tricks, and your dog will be a happier, healthier, better-behaved companion when you return.

Make him work for his dinner. Dogs love the thrill of finding something you've hidden, so instead of putting all his food in his bowl, challenge him by concealing a few snacks around the house.

Give him a room of his own. Even if your dog's monogrammed bed is comfy for nighttime, he may actually prefer a more modest napping spot during the day. Just as wild dogs hang out in their dens when their search for food is done, your pet might wantto burrow into a "cave" -- in this case, a large box you've set on its side. It'll make him feel safe, while offering a wide-open view of what's going on around him.

If all else fails, fake it. Dig out a tape recorder, and use it to capture the noises of a typical evening: family chattering, the TV blaring, the dishwsher running. When you're on your way out the door, hit the PLAY button. The familiar sounds will alleviate loneliness better than any Baby Einstein-for-dogs video could.

Okay, now here's my take on these.

1) I'm a bit afraid that if I start hiding food around the house, he's going to learn to tear the place upside-down looking for snacks, whether any exist or not.

2) I'll try this, but I dunno, Talis is weird. He seems to enjoy his bed just fine.

3) Or in my case, the sound of WoW playing in the background, while members of my guild blather on about lava spawns and their big-ball-of-wrong love for each other.

Comments

[akscully.livejournal.com]

My dog does have a "room" of his own and he seems to love it. We got him one of those travel kennels when we first got him to help with training him. Put a blanket in there and boom! A lttle Den of Iniquity for the dog. He always goes in there to sleep whenever he sees people leave.

I agree with you about the snack thing. It seems to be asking for trouble.

Also, LOL @ u about that dream.

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try the kennel idea, but now he associates it with having to be dragged somewhere where there are many loud people with giant bags, then put into the belly of a cold, dark place that is extremely loud and makes his tummy feel funny, before being carried around by someone else he doesn't know only to be shoved through a metal grate thing where I am waiting on the other side. In other words, the airport. So I'm not sure he'll find it the place of comfort that your dog does.

I've often wished I could make a video of what he gets up to while I'm away.

[jade-okelani.livejournal.com]

1) Hiding food around the house is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

2) All my dogs have been claustrophobic and hated being "inside" anything.

3) See, we need the "best of" CD! Get on that. Though it's a damn shame last night with Bonez won't be included.

My favorite part, and the part where I absolutely had to have a closed mic/not be talking, because I was laughing SO hard, was when Bonez said something about his bedtime/his mom, or whatever, and Amelia went, "It must be nice to have a mom." It was so well played that I tip my hat to you, sir.

[jade-okelani.livejournal.com]

Whoa, weird. Why are there no returns?? I had returns in this... This reply is now a test to see if it was a one time fluke, or what.

Put this return in, damn you LJ!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Zomg, lrn2lj

I don't know if you guys noticed, but you were doing most of the talking last night. I only added the bit about Sister Emmaline. It's because I was laughing so hard I could NOT possibly have sounded serious on vent. That's why I was so impressed that you guys were both able to recover so admirably to keep the wounds fresh. I need my keyboard and computer screen to 'keep a straight face.' :))

I was also afraid that if I got myself under control enough to say something, you'd be saying something funny at the same time, and then I would have burst into uncontrollable giggles and given the game away too early.

[not-concerned.livejournal.com]

I agree - hiding food around the house, especially when you have a nutcase dog like mine, is crazy. When we go out, we normally put Hershey outside (otherwise he sets off the alarm), where he can sleep in the sun, bark at the golf carts going by, and eat laundry off the clothes line ;-) Sometimes we give him a bone bigger than his face, which he can then chew for hours. It seems to work okay for him.

[seldon.livejournal.com]

You are the best. I tip my hat to you.

P.S. That's why I prefer cats. They don't have any trouble at all being alone. We humans make perfect pets to cats. But as the son of a die-hard dog lover, I agree, 1) sounds like a very bad idea.

P.P.S. Where do I get a copy of this movie? Strictly for artistic review, of course.