Episode #36: Vacation with Ashley

Bonnie

Clyde

This week we went on vacation and Ashley stayed at the house all week. This means she had her own dogs, Moxie and Penny plus Bonnie and Clyde. Brady was at the house as well to pull some of the slack. All four dogs do get taxing at times, but they are all good babies.

Right away, I know the little ones loved having the older dogs with them all week, 24/7. They always hate seeing them leave. But Moxie and Penny had to deal with “the younger sibling” effect all week. I know they got tired of it at times. I heard stories of Moxie staring at Ashley for hours, her communication to go home.

Turns out Ashley did stay over night several times but went home some too (for Moxie, I’m sure), leaving Brady hear to spend time with Bonnie and Clyde. I heard that Bonnie whined more while we were gone but overall, there schedule was as “normal” for them as we could arrange.

They got a new toy, a blue monster. Bonnie loves this toy and carries it from room to room. She will take the toy and goat Clyde to chase her. They run all over the house wrestling over it, but she makes sure that he never gets the toy.

Right before we left on vacation Ashley commented that her dogs loved Bradley, and our dogs loved her. Moxie and Penny have always loved Bradley. He goes on long walks with them. He allows them to dig, to hunt critters, and to run free (in the more deserted areas of the park); it is a hard act to follow.

When we got Bonnie and Clyde, Ashley was around all the time. She became VERY attached to the pups, arranging to see them every day. Granted, we were trying to blend Moxie and Penny into the pups’ lives, so she had good reason to be here; but the fact was, the pups began to adore her. They watched the window for her to arrive, Bonnie regularly fell asleep in her lap. Clyde loved sharing bananas with her. They were complete enamored with Ashley.

We secretly wondered if Ashley had a second motive. Did she want the puppies to love her more? Was she getting a small sense of satisfaction as pay back for Moxie and Penny? Well, she finally admitted it. “It has been a joy to steal these dogs from you.” Ah, ha, we knew it.

There are no hard feelings at all, we love that the pups have her in their lives. We wouldn’t have it any other way. We only wish that everyone else would love them as much.

Bradley and I, on the drive home, playfully bantered about who the pups would run to first. We both chose ourselves, of course, but only time would tell.

I don’t know why I tried pretending. Everybody chooses Bradley (dogs, kids, and most people) and the pups followed suit! I’m okay with that.

All four dogs were “wiggle butts,” our term for their tails wagging so hard that the back side of them moves as well. They all greeted me with enthusiasm as well, but this is the end result. As the picture clearly shows, that missed Bradley. Even Moxie squeezed up close to let him know ow much she missed him.

Turns out, the dogs have been allowed on the couch for a couple of week now. I was trying to invite them up, so that I could control those habits; but then they go and be so cute that I do want them to get down even when they jump up un-invited.

I’ve always thought it was cute when a dog would howl or make other sounds like talking. Now, I have noticed my dogs do the same. Bonnie does this yiping sound. It most resembles an Indian war cry. I wish I had a video of this.

And Clyde is just as interesting. He talks, like a child who murmurs gibberish, but low and deep. He says entire “sentences” and mixes in a howl (kind of) and a whine. Very weird, but cute.

I’ve often wondered why they do these things but wouldn’t trade it for the world. Why guys...just why?

EXTRAS

Ashley brought over a cordless speaker and Clyde was cute as a button as he tried to find where the voice was coming from.