Happy Father's Day!

I've learned a lot from my Dad, even in the six short years that we have known each other. I've learned how not to complain, how to accept people the way they are, how to become more patient and how not to live in the "past". Those lessons were learned little by little, along the way of us developing a relationship. But I did learn one thing almost immediately after we met, that has given me joy I didn't realize I was missing...And that was how to LOVE DOGS.

I used to think dogs were just animals. Something that I didn't want around - especially in the house! I would see owners baby talking them, dressing them in cute couture and letting them lick their own ice cream cones and think, "Boy those folks have a screw missing!" Or I would visit a friend's house and their mangy mutt would greet me with a nose up my crotch and follow me around the entire time until I was vulnerable enough for him to get a leg up on me. I often wondered, "Why would anyone allow their dog to sleep in their bed or pay hundreds of dollars to have their dogs' teeth cleaned?" "A dog is a dog", I would think.

So you can imagine my dread, upon getting to know my Father for the first few times over telephone conversations, realizing how enamored he was over his own two dogs, Jake and Windy.

Being adopted at birth, it wasn't until I was 33 that my Dad and I were reunited. He lived across the country from me, so many phone calls were made trying to get to know each other. After a period of time I decided to fly out and meet him in person. I was thrilled to do so, but also pretty nervous about getting along with "the dogs". I came to understand over our chats that his dogs were like kids to him. And even though I had reservations about getting along with dogs myself, it did seem rather endearing that he was such a compassionate man towards them. But now it was time for us to spend time together, dogs included, and I was becoming apprehensive about interacting with Jake and Windy. I did after all, like all children, want my Dad's approval. And I could just imagine things going awry between me and the dogs.

But they handled me with kid gloves. They were perfectly behaved and the most polite dogs I had ever met. Jake was a gentle giant, a Newfoundland/Great Pyrenees/Saint Bernard Mix. Windy was a Golden Retriever and a very mild mannered lady. Perhaps they sensed my uneasiness, for they were both docile and willing to allow me to learn how to communicate with them in my own rudimentary way. We all walked and played around in a green space at the harbor on the bay and I grew more comfortable as time passed. Then my Dad remarked how Jake seemed friendlier to me than to most strangers and that was all I needed to hear. That declaration perked me up and it was like I'd liked dogs my entire life!

Over the next year, my Dad would comment here and there, that my boys needed to have their own dog. He felt it was part of growing up and an experience that all boys should get. "Every boy needs a dog", he would say. You know, 'man's best friend' hype. In return, I always had an excuse for why we could not get one, reciting how much trouble a dog would be, but secretly I was thinking through it in my own mind. Finally, the day came that I decided to get "the boys" a dog.

We chose a 6 month old male Labradoodle and it was love at first sight - for all of us! And, just as I thought, he was a handful! His first day home he bathed me in dog water drool and christened his new crate with diarrhea. We had to potty train him, crate train him, and leash train him. He was afraid of school buses and vacuum cleaners. We had some rough times that first week, but I realized the joy the he would bring me that first night, when the only way to keep him from whimpering in his crate was to move it beside my bed and sleep with my fingers stuck between the bars so he could feel that I was still there with him.

Since then we've had a lot of good times together. Learning tricks, going on walks, fetching, camping, hiking and just plain hanging out. We've treated him to ice cream and baby talked our hearts out. Now my boys are the type to bring in every stray they see on our street and we have even added a second dog to the family.

I realize now that he is 3, that you can't explain to non-pet owners the bond between man and dog. And this past year has brought some sad changes for my Dad. Both Jake and Windy have passed on and he is having to get used to life without a dog. I guess in the coming years it will be my turn to talk my Dad into getting a dog. I've mentioned it a couple of times and he's dismissed it, saying how hard it is to travel when you own a dog and likely remembering some of the more difficult times when they were medically fragile. But I'll keep nudging. Because after all...

EVERY BOY NEEDS A DOG!

Cookie Exchange (Tagged by Trish)

For our 4 legged friends I decided to submit a dog cookie recipe. I plan to make these for our friends who have dogs. I even bought a bone shaped cookie cutter. It should be fun. If you can't find baby food liver then just use chicken. Since I haven't made them yet, I included a picture of Phoenix enjoying one of our Christmas trees last year.

Dog Lickers 'Cookie' Treats

3/4 cup wheat germ

3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder

1 egg

1 tablespoon brewers' yeast

1 (3.5 ounce) jar pureed liver baby food

1/4 cup water, or as needed

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the wheat germ, milk powder, egg, yeast and liver baby food. Add water if necessary to make a workable dough. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from cookie sheet to cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer are starting to wear on Phoenix. Here's the Dude (short for doodle) chillin' out on the cool sun room floor with his shades on. I only let him go outside for a short time since we have been having 100 degree days here. He mopes around all day like a child who can't play outside because it's raining. Sometimes I get so hot I think maybe I'll try lying on the sun room floor too.

TUGALOO STATE PARK, GA

A boy and his dog...Eric and Phoenix at Tugaloo State Park, Georgia. Beautiful lakefront camping sites! Water level is pretty low this year, but makes for a nice strolling area along the shoreline.

MEET FRODO

Woof y'all! I'm Frodo, the Autry's 6 1/2 year old schnoodle. I came into the family this year because my previous owners couldn't handle me! That's right, I'm a spit-fire! What do ya bark about that? But hey, I'm potty trained, crate trained and I know some tricks that Phoenix doesn't! Speaking of Phoenix, it takes alot to rile that dogie up! He doesn't have near the spark that I do. I can bounce my 25 lb. self from the sofa to the wall to the kitchen in a single bound! This is a pic of me and my owner (one of the pale hair-less dogs that I live with). They call him Eric. How original! This was my first camping trip that we all took to Tugaloo State Park in North Georgia. Listen Dawgs, camping wasn't that much fun for me. The owners made a big deal out of going out there, packing up just about everything we owned, right down to my cozy dogie bed! They all acted so happy. But I was wondering, why didn't we just do this in our own backyard where there was at least some good grass! Phoenix and I had to stand guard the entire day on our leads and protect the owners from all of the wild animals out there. It was exhausting! Birds, squirrels, other camping dogs going by. I couldn't even bat an eye for fear that a skunk might come along. And that's not all. When night fell, the owners built a big fire and all sat around it for hours! Not me, I didn't want an ember to catch my lovely coat on fire! My guess is, that's how the owners got to be hair-less! Anyway, they finally came to their senses and drove us home after a couple of nights. I hear them talking about a long vacation this summer. Lucky for me, they're going to take me to the dog hotel this time! Bark ya later Dawgs!

MEET PHOENIX

This is our furry family friend, Phoenix. No, he's not a "KISS" wanna-be, he's a 2 year old Labradoodle. He's our first dog and he really has taught us the value of having a pet in the family. For no reason at all, we can't help but smile when we look at him. If you have a dog of your own, then you already know about that weird urge to say "Yeeessss" in baby talk when your rubbing his tummy. If you don't know about Labradoodles (a standard poodle/Labrador crossbreed) I'll tell you! He's the perfect family dog! Extremely agile and the perfect fetcher for great kid-play. A fast runner and an incredible jumper! The smartest dog we've seen as he potty trained and learned commands lightening fast. In this picture, he's a little dirty on a rainy day, but normally his coat is lovely with wavy curls and very light shedding. If you are in need of a "helper" he can open doors (with french door handles) and open the lid to the trash with ease (we all know why he does that!). Compared to our other dog, Frodo, Phoenix acts more like a human part of our family and Frodo is like our dog! So, as you can see, we highly recommend his crossbreed. Phoenix is very friendly, has lots of other dogie friends that he has play dates with, and loves to wrestle his Dad. He's camped and hiked and swam in a pool. He's managed to catch a squirrel, bird and a frog. Still on his list is the neighbor's cat and a rabbit that lives out back in the English Ivy. He has a weak spot for #2 pencils, rubber tub stoppers, leather sandals, and TOILET WATER! He didn't get the nickname "potty mouth" for cursing!