Molly Wants Her Own Pet

My apartment complex has these fat white/gray grub worms that are all over the place when I take Molly for her morning walks. Molly has taken an interest in them for reasons unbeknownst to me and she is always trying to dig them up. The other morning she was successful and she managed to sneak it into the apartment. She gently carried it in her mouth, all the way down the sidewalk and up the steps. When we got into the apartment, she spits it out on the floor and I finally noticed it a few minutes later. Molly looked at me like "It followed me home Daddy! Can I keep it?" My response was swift and immeditate. I grabbed a paper towel and went and threw it down the steps of my apartment building. Undaunted, Molly tried sneaking one in again this morning but I caught on to what she was doing and I made her spit it out.

Slowing Down

Molly and I are slowing down as we get older. The Fall of the year is on the horizon and as the weather turns a little bit cooler the steps in my apartment building are a little harder to go up and down for both of us. The other night I was taking her out for her last walk of the night and she stopped at the top of the steps like she didn't want to go down them. I encouraged her and told her it was alright and she slowly hobbled down the steps. She weighs about 55 pounds and if I pick her up, the only way we are getting down those steps is by falling down them. I briefly though of setting up a block and tackle system on my balcony, rigging up a harness for her, and lowering her to the ground that way. My neighbors would love that. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Molly's Personal Masseuse

Evidently Molly has a personal masseuse and it's me. The last time I took her to the Kennel, she ended up with a bad case of fleas and I think she is blaming me for it. As Jake Blues said in the movie The Blue Brothers "It wasn't my fault!" Now every time her back itches, she sidles up to me, growls or woofs in my direction, and I am supposed to scratch her back or rub her belly until she is content that I have served my purpose. Then about every ten minutes she will make up and demand another belly rub. She usually isn't too pleasant about it either.

A Beautiful Dog

All of my neighbors that make a comment on Molly all describe her as "a beautiful dog." It doesn't faze Molly and it also doesn't curry them any favor with her as she is still not going to let any of my neighbors pet her. A tail wag and a friendly little woof is about all they are going to get out of her. The lady that lives downstairs from me swears up and down Molly was smiling at her the last time I brought her home from the Vet's office but I believe that was more of a case of Molly was just happy to be home from the Vet's office. Molly is a beautiful dog and she has a soul and a spirit that is uniquely all of her own as all dogs do but she will always be the Diva.

My Bologna Has A First Name

Molly has graciously agreed to accept bologna in lieu of dog treats for her snack time now due to my procrastination in buying her dog treats. I have always hated to shop and now that has extended to buying her dog treats. Bologna is cheaper anyway but I cannot seem to get Molly to sing the Oscar Meyer bologna jingle from the old commercial. She is just not feeling it.

A Woof Over Our Heads

Molly has a Woof for all occasions. The Demanding Woof means it is time for a treat. The part growl and part woof means that she wants a belly rub. She saves her best woofs for the other dogs in the neighborhood walking by the balcony of my apartment. The howling woof is just an attention getter. The flat out bark is a warning sign that she is pissed at the other dog. She saves that for a select few. The playful woof means that she is ready to play. The desperate woof means that she needs outside now. I have learned to interpret them over the course of time.

On The Inside Looking Out

Molly was napping today and I needed to take the garbage out. I didn't want to wake her up just to take out the garbage but I knew she would be up like a flash as soon as she heard the door open. As I am walking back across the parking lot after depositing the garbage in the dumpster, I look up at my apartment and I see Molly giving me a look of reproach because I went outside without her. The look said, "You butthead! How could you?" Molly has mastered the art of non-verbal communication. I had to pacify her with a treat and take her for a walk to help make amends. I was forgiven and all is well now.

Let Me Sleep

I am always imploring Molly to let me sleep on the weekends and this morning she did. Kind of. She woke me up at about 3:30 which is about her normal time during the week so I can live with that. We both went back to bed and she let me sleep until 8:30. It felt good and Molly slept right there beside me. In fact, Molly has spent most of the day napping while I watched college football. We took a couple of long walks this morning and this afternoon but it was unseasonable hot so we didn't stay out too long.