Editor’s Note – Running With the Dogs
We can smell it in the air, all of us, but especially our dogs. After an unreasonably rough winter, we can hardly wait to get out to run with the other dogs and tear around the pathways, meadows and woods to take a dip in the river frontage of the off-leash dog park.
Unfortunately, we’re going to be on-leash for a while. Our 7-year-old Lab, Rosco has since November, been diagnosed with a partially torn ACL tendon, so we’ve all been on “house rest” through the holidays and into winter. It hasn’t been easy on any of us, but especially Ross. Each morning he lays splayed out on the wood floor, looking like a forlorn dog rug with those never-straying eyes that look up and plead, “Is today the day, huh, if I look this pathetic, huh, pretty puuhleeeeezzzze?”
Until Rosco injured that tendon, we went to the dog park a minimum of four or five days a week, but hasn’t seen it since the end of October, and in dog months, that’s a very loooong time. At first, we all missed it terribly. Then, I took Sophie alone, but that poor dog has never made a move without Rosco, so as one might expect, she was lost without her own personal compass to look to for doggie direction.
I have to admit, it broke my heart to tell Ross he couldn’t go when Sophie could, so we all tried leash walks around the cul de sacs of our neighborhood. That clearly was not doing it for Sophie, and it felt like a punishment as she thrashed on the end of her leash and repeatedly body slammed her big brother to goad him into chasing her. So we called a detante’ and now Sophie runs leash-less along side the leash-walking Rosco.
Problem was, those leash walks around the neighborhood weren’t enough for me. As my waist expanded, I saw as a vital spark go out in their lives…they gained weight too, they got lethargic too, then in January, depression set in. How long would this convalescence last and could puppy Prozac be far behind?
The good news is, Rosco is doing much better. He can handle the stairs now and even can do a little wild chasing of his baby sister out in the yard without consequence. There are still those days when he favors that left leg a bit, and gets an aspirin and a glucosamine (his words for cheese).
None of us are getting any younger, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t mean we won’t be out on the pathways when the sun returns and the spring winds beckon. Even if it means running with the dogs with my dog on a leash. See you on the trail this spring! Woof.
NEW DOINGS FOR DOGS!
Party on, dog-lovers! We’ve had a productive winter and are looking forward to launching Dogmatism “Dog House Parties” in April. It’s a fun way to get friends, family and neighbors together informally to browse and buy dog products with the emphasis on all-natural! Products include our own Rubba Dub Dog and Mister Crumbs biscuit line, collars and leashes, jerky, dental kits, felted wool toys and dog coats, DogmaWear for human beings and two new products we talk about below! Plus if you host a Dog House Party, it’s a great way to get free Dogmatism products for your best friend! Find out more by e-mailing Cynthia at Cynthia@DogmatismDog.com
Hooray for the red, white and blue! We’re adding two American-made products to the line! Montana’s West Paw dog beds are so snuggly your pet won’t want to get out of bed! You’d never know it, but they’re made with shredded recycled plastic bottles, so you can feel good about that. The material won’t bunch or mat down like regular dog beds and the tailored slipcovers are machine washable. That’s something we all can appreciate!
In addition, we’re very excited to be selling Nature’s Logic, a premium dry kibble that’s made in Nebraska. It’s all-natural, nutrient-dense, so you use less food and you can pronounce everything that goes into it, right down to the vitamins, which are not chemically synthesized! If you sign up for home delivery in 2008, we’ll lock in your rate for the year, even though we expect our rates will probably increase. And for every ten 26 lb. bags you buy, we’ll give you a free bag! Check it out at www.natureslogic.com and don’t forget to read their testimonials, because they’ll knock your socks off.
Woof!
Cynthia Cherry-Schif
President
Dogmatism, LLC
