I'm one of those pet owners...

I have a lab/ chow mix (Nikki) and a Golden (Liam). Both are very luv-able and cute and have distinct personalities. For example, Nikki, when she doesn't get her way, will pout. She'll curl up in a ball with her butt to you and every once in a while pick up her head and look over her back at you with eyes that say "I'm mad at you." (Did I mention that she's also very smart...) She's very stubborn and prissy. She won't pee outside if it's raining. really. It's been raining a lot here this summer. I advise the summer of 2006, although almost over, is definitely NOT the time to come and visit me. (thank god for the steam cleaner.)

Liam, on the other hand, is almost the opposite of Nikki. He's big (I mean really, too big. Tubby McGee just weighed in at 102 this morning at the vet) and luv-able too but he's, well, how to say this nicely? not too bright. This is the dog that looks back at you while he's walking, and ends up running into the door. Yeah, that kind of not-too-bright. But he's also good at shaking it off and going along with his busines like nothing ever happened. He's also a scardy cat. Do you believe it? A 100 lb sissy dog!! Did I mention that on occasion he thinks he's a lap dog? Yeah, this makes for some fun times - especially during thunderstorms.

Case in point - a few weeks ago David was traveling and I was home with the dogs (and cats) by myself. This particular morning the thunderstorms decided to roll thru the area early in the AM while I'm getting ready for work. I'm in the shower and I hear a crack of thunder. The next thing I know there's a dog nose poking at the shower curtain. I pull back the side and see Liam, all scared and shaking (literally - shaking). He sits at the far end of the tub with his nose stuck in between the wall and shower curtain. I'm thinking that's not so bad - if it makes him feel better to know I'm here he can sit there until I get out. Well, just sitting there wasn't all he had in mind. A few minutes later and another crack of thunder and the next thing I know is that I have a hundred pound dog trying to GET IN the tub with me. Well now, that I'm not going to go for. I had to grab his paws and push him back out of the shower. He sat there the whole time I was in the shower (it was a long shower, I had to shave my legs) and would try and get in every time it thundered outside. Yep - this is the ferocious, hundred pound guard dog we have...

Ok, so yo're wondering, why did I name this entry "I'm one of those pet owners"? Every now and then I load the dogs into the Explorer and go exploring. That usually means we're headed to the boathouse. Regardless of where we're headed, I always put the window down because Liam LOVES to stick his head out the window. For fear or some piece of debris kicking up and causing him undue eye problems, I decided to get him a pair of Doggles. They are SO COOL! His are black with flames down the side! I'll have to post a picture. They turned out to be so cool that I just ordered Nikki a pair too! Her's are shiney red!! There not in yet - but then they get here I'm taking a picture to post for sure!! I'm one of those pet owners....