saying goodbye to my friend

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pure joy

pure_joy, originally uploaded by inzeye.

dog tussle

the cutest

apple of my i

this was noopy

 i got this snoopy 35 years ago. zu took a liking to him and he has been his security creature for the last year.  alas, as so many stuffed toys before him, snoopy lost his head in a fit of dog crazy.

zu remains unmoved by the symbolic meaning and is still attached to snoopy's body, so to speak.

mac dog

my furry friend participates in every aspect of my existence:  commandeering my macbook and skype conversations and dictating what feature films we watch (all things pixar at this time).  he also appreciates (and demonstrates) the newest addition to my sofa, a buckwheat hull pillow... just his size and firm enough to hold up a dog's chin. i thought i was marketing them for human comfort but of course, if we share our sofas chairs and beds, we share our pillows....

these many fascinating and endearing  qualities are still offset by his social skills with strangers. although i am having success reprimanding (using the word 'no' to which he has always been  extremely reactive)  to help direct him toward the desired behavior. this week he was seen nipping at a workman's heels as he climbed the backyard path.  given that there are a lot of strangers, workers and activity where we live and no fenced yard, i must remain ever vigilant but we are still making progress. 50 steps forward and only 3 steps back.....

new 'old' friends

Zu has started watching feature length shows. The Pixar feature 'Up' is a favorite partly because the animation is very dynamic, the action is not too fast and dogs have a major role. I found Thames TV version of 'The Wind in the Willows" series but thought the stop-action would be too slow but he follows the creatures as he does with 'Up". Last eve, he brought his own stuffed dog as he watched, like a kid with a blankee...

on the best road with my friend

the best roads are often rocky. having a fearful pup is not for everyone but thanks to my patient, good natured human friends, zuni had an enormous breakthrough this week when he walked with me past 3 men. they were familiar and conversing quietly but blocking the way down to my apartment . zu approached but did not bark or stall and followed me around them with confidence, down the stairs when i asked him to, with only a slight growl over his shoulder as he came.

to those of you who know fearful dogs you understand the enormity of this seemingly innocuous encounter. this certainly does not mean it will happen like this again in the future but reminds me that we are definitely on the right road, the one that over time, allows zuni to have confidence and enjoy his human encounters almost as much as he enjoys his dog friends.

to my dearest friends who have witnessed the challenges, the slow learning curve and yet nurtured us along the way, let me thank you all from the bottom of both our souls. it has taken a village to make a great life for this fearful dog. my confidence in my pup comes not from being sure of the path but knowing that love, patience, a sense of humor (and the fact that dogs are wonderful) will always ease our way. recognizing how we impact the behaviors of these special creatures teaches us about the sometimes rocky basis of our own assumptions and also what is essential to our lives. and reinforces that success is so often invisible to the eye....

i am a blessed to have found this furry friend and have our life supported on so many levels.
as all dogs are, zuni is the best dog ever

zu tubing

hug your vet

                     Half Moon Bay Veterinary Hospital

and today i mean a veterinarian ( but hug a military vet, too if you have one near). my vet has shepherded us  through so many events in the past 15 years. from puppies to seniors, fleas, foxtails and nail clippings, surgeries for injuries and cancers. she is an amazing diagnostician and surgical technician. her compassion extends well beyond her office when over the years she has come to our home for heartbreaking goodbyes to our many beloved creatures.

zuni is another reason I count on dr.laurie and her team.

today I faced his fear (and mine) taking him in for vaccinations.  the potential hazards- human strangers approaching him in an enclosed  room.  but thanks to a couple of very gregarious office cats, he  successfully waited in the busy waiting room (shaking but remaining attentive to me), he got on the scale (a bit reluctant but who likes a scale), he waited quietly in the exam room (attuned to the sounds outside the door but he slowly calmed and remained attentive to me) and then he  took treats (many) from dr. laurie. she put us both at ease, initially ignoring zu but nonchalantly luring him with treats.  she had me him sit him on a bench (not the metal exam table) and with treats as a distraction, gave  him his series of vaccinations without a hitch. 8 treats later he walked calmly out of the office (and he still loves me).

one more milestone for me, my pup in our wonderful,  supportive village.

Stella

Stella escaped out of and into backyards. That's how she came to be with our pack. She had already grown into a beautiful mix of a dog when we met her and she blended with our akita and jack russell perfectly.  She raised the fearful Zuni to be more confidant, welcoming his youthful energy into the pack, teaching him the ropes with people, playing, running, tug of war. We said goodbye yesterday.

What a good good dog.  June 10 2011

zuni at eg

zuni at eg, originally uploaded by inzeye.

zu discovers the muppets

pillow tester

i have to test the comfort of my buckwheat pillows and zune immediately comes to my aid, making certain there's room for a fuzzy face, too. this one passed the furry friend inspection.

a dog and his domo

zune and i were searching for some new videos to add to his zu-tube playlist.  he can get frustrated with the live action puppies and has indicated he'd like one of his own by boinking the screen and looking behind to see if they might pop out the back of the laptop. so i search various youtube themes- dogs playing, animals playing- looking for anything new he responds to. when domo kun robot dog came on he was immediately entranced. so was i.... love the little guy and his adventures. not as complex or talky as the muppets so i don't mind hearing them play over and over (and over).  zune likes the funny sounds and can track the  simple, graphic action without getting anxious when something runs on and off the screen.  now he has quite a few on his favorites list and watches about 5 or 6 in a row. maybe he'll be satisfied with a stuffed domo instead of a puppy?

Orson of Paris

A couple of years ago, I had the good fortune to visit France for my 50th and the 50th of my friend. In Paris our local cafe was particularly special because it came with a resident dog named Orson. Recently, Orson was featured on a Sunday morning segment on CBS. Watch, and enjoy....

Orson of the Cafe Conti