Oscar's Interpretation Services open for business

We’ve only had Charlie a couple of months, so although he’s settled in quite well, we still have the occasional misunderstanding. Yesterday evening Charlie began barking at me. I’d just taken them out for their early evening business, so I wasn’t sure what was up, although Charlie was more interested in playing footsie with the neighbor’s cat than getting down to business. He normally only barks when he can’t get Oscar to play with him – but he barks at Oscar about it, not me. I asked him what he wanted – another walk? play?- and never seemed to hit on it. He finally gave up and ran off to get Oscar. They had a brief conference nose to nose then they came over and sat down in front of me. Charlie barked once. I started the list again and when I said "poo" Oscar wagged his tail. Charlie looked over at him and tried to wag the same way, looking at me like “Finally. Duh!” Back out we went again, and sure enough… How sweet that Oscar agreed to be interpreter and how smart Charlie was to ask. I’m going to have to stop calling him a natural blonde…

Meet Charlie, aka His Dudeness

This is Charlie (formerly Charleston, formerly ???). We got him from the marvelous Homeless Pet Placement League yesterday  via the Petsmart location in Webster. He's a Lhasa Apso mix (probably with some Shih Tzu). A more gentle-hearted, laid back individual you'll never meet. In fact, he spends a good bit of time almost comatose, just collapsing, all fours akimbo, in the floor with a sigh of relief and a gently wiggle of his bushy tail. I call him "His Dudeness." He doesn't like to walk very far, but just lays down when you stop and gets up again when you resume. Verrrry laid back. His Dudeness, indeed.

He loves to be brushed and we even gave him a little grooming (just a little "off the top") and a little trim around the eyes. He loves belly rubs and has already chosen one toy as his own. He's taken to all of us.

He and Oscar (our Shih Tzu) are still adjusting. He's at least three times Oscar's size, but it's mostly fur. He and Oscar had a little dust-up this morning and each grabbed a bite of hair, but no fur flew and they just as quickly stepped back to allow the Alpha pack members (us!) to clear the air. Five minutes later, they were touring the front yard together like old war buddies swapping tall tails (ah...) tales. Charlie has a lot to adjust to: three people, a new house, front and back yards, and another young male dog. Considering how well they are handling it after even one day and night, I think things are going to be just fine in no time. We have a large, very open-barred kennel, and had Charlie sleep in it last night just to ensure him some downtime while we slept. His new pal Oscar slept just outside the door, giving Charlie a little wag of his tail each time we heard him stirring. Incidentally, this photo is not of Charlie and Oscar but Charlie and a toy.

The HPPL are a great organization of caring folks. Charlie came bathed, neutered, dewormed, vaccinated, and micro-chipped. The staff told me a great deal of his history and personality and is was obvious their care for each of their fuzzy charges is genuine. If you need a new furry friend, or just want to help, please visit their website at http://www.hppl.org/. Any number of great dogs and cats will appreciate it.

Oscar's Sunday

Oscar's been quieter than usual. He's still missing his dear friend Kissie and has been as lost without her as we have. But he did seem to enjoy his first Father's Day with us. Number One Son came by for a visit and brought lots of fresh farm goodies for the humans and lots of belly rubs for Oscar. Oscar has met Number One Son several times and really likes him. Hey, what's not to like? He's my brother!

Before Number One Son arrived, Oscar decided we needed goodies to serve, so he donned his special seat belt harness and ordered me to drive straight to the donut shop. He rides in the back because the car has airbags in the front, but he doesn't mind. We went through the drive-thru because the stores are prejudiced against four-legged folk (bad store people!) and it is just too hot to leave him in the car for even a minute, God knows. Anyway, when he was satisfied the donut lady had filled our order correctly, he tipped her with a wag of his tail, (what a gent!) and then away we went back to the house.

Once Harry, aka Number One Son, had left, Oscar then found himself in the bathtub. He was not happy about that, but patiently bore with me until he was shampooed, conditioned, re-conditioned, blow-dried and brushed back to his usual state of Joe Cool good looks. This is a picture of him after his re-release into the wild, sulking on his favorite rug. He didn't sulk long, though. Just enough to remind us that he should have more say in these matters. Then it was off for a romp with Number One Dad and his squeaky orange orangutan toy...