Thursday, August 26, 2010

My "Grandoggie" Blog


I was having trouble coming up with a topic for my blog. I had a couple ideas, but couldn't get them going. Well, I have finally come up with a topic. The last few times I have gone to church, as I have gotten out of my car, I have heard the dogs that live on a farm next door. I have been tempted to peep through the trees that separate the property, but haven't. You see, the dogs that live there, are small dogs. They sound so much like my "Grand Dogs", that it makes me really miss them. So, last night on the drive home from church, I decided that I was going to blog on each of the dogs. Maybe that will help with my missing them. The next 9 blog entries will be on each of my "Grand dogs." I will start out with the "Ladies", as it is only right. We all have been taught that "Ladies go before Gentlemen", so here we go.....

Dolly, a beautiful, warm brown, long haired Dachshund. Dolly is owned by my daughter, Emily, and her husband Jeff. I don't know exactly how old Dolly is, as she was a shelter dog. I first met Dolly when I was in Alabama, visiting Em and Jeff. They were volunteering at Little Tykes Small Dog Shelter in Daleville, near where they lived. Emily and Jeff took me up to the shelter to see what it was all about. My were there a lot of dogs there. They were all barking and running around. Dolly was off to the side in an enclosure, as she had recently given birth. The main focus was on the tiny ball of dark fur that she had produced. It was a female and it could fit in the palm of your hand. I don't know how Dolly ended up at the shelter, but it was God's plan, for which I am sure. With a heart for helping, the Gelzinis' brought Dolly and her newborn home to their house. I think the plan at first, was to provide some quieter surroundings, and some nurturing for the Mother and baby. Dolly had a medical condition at that time. She has a skin/coat problem. Perhaps it was due to stress, who knows. With some tender loving care, she was soon sporting a lovely coat. And with tender loving care, that "baby" grew and was named "Daisy." That "stay" turned into adoption. Dolly and Daisy never returned to the over crowded shelter, they had a new home and a new family that loved them.

When I think of Dolly, I have to smile. She is such a loving dog. It is fun to watch her eat. Mind you that there are now 9 dogs in the Gelzinis home. They all get fed at the same time. With a big self dispensing dog food bowl, Dolly will run up and grab a mouth full. She will then go find a quiet spot, away from the other dogs and munch on her food. When she is done, she will go back again and again following the same routine. It is cute to watch.

One of Dolly's "tricks" is to display her teeth in a grin, when she is told to smile. She will also do this when you say "cheese." It is really hard to get a good shot of her doing this, although I have a few, as she is usually jumping up your leg and the camera angle doesn't always get it. Dolly is also a "pants biter." She would never rip your clothes, or hurt you. It is as if she wants to get your attention. Living in a house with 8 other small dogs, you have to develop a method of getting your owner's attention, and she has.

One of the privileges that Dolly has, that no other dog in that household has, is to get to go to the groomers. When she goes and get's (excuse the pun), "dolled" up. She is exactly that....a doll. She comes back with a clean shiny, trimmed coat, smelling good, and with bows on her ears!

I hope this gives you a good "mental picture" of what Dolly is like. She is a true sweetheart. Just writing this makes me wish I could pick her up and get a snuggle.

Well, writing about the dogs, has not made me miss them any less....Perhaps even more.