Sidney's Time

This is the most peaceful time of my day. The young dogs are outside - probably annoyed, as it is COLD here today - but generally chasing each other, playing keepaway, tugging, wrestling and watching for rabbits. If I hear a blood-curdling scream, it will mean that Josie has spyed a rabbit. The scream will be Josie, not the bunny. When she's excited she lets out a shriek. In the summer, when the neighbors have windows open, I either calm her down or bring her inside. This time of the year I let it go, knowing she will only do it a couple of time. She's not a nuisance barker, and in fact is very quiet - she just screams, "I SEE ONE, I SEE ONE" for rabbits, squirrels or the neighbors' cats. Argus also has some odd vocalizations, but Watson rarely says a thing and never ever barks.

Until this past Sunday, Indy would have been a part of the group too, but she has her own cats to play with now. Poor things, they are probably thinking, "Well there goes the neighborhood".

Coral and Sid like they time of the day. They have the house to themselves and can doze wherever they wish, with no competition for the dog beds or cushions or dog hassock. Coral prefers the raised bed next to the loveseat, so she can be as close to Ron as possible, when he is sitting in his regular place. Sid likes the hassock, so he can be higher than the other dogs, or the cushion by the back door. He's the Keeper Of The Bitches, and does not allow the younger boys to sniff around the back door when there is a bitch in season in the basement. Annoys them no end, but Sid is in charge.

This is also Sid's time to play with his toys. Because the young dogs are tough on squeaky toys, especially the furry ones, Sid's toys are only taken out when the others are outside. Then he can play with them in peace, "playing" the toys to get an enormous variety of sounds from them. When he was young, he had a toy called the Fuzzy Chicken that was kept in a certain drawer and taken out only for him. That toy is long gone now, but Sid will occasionally stand by that drawer, talking to himself, wondering whatever happened to his toy. If I do an imitation of the toy and go "cockadoodle doo, wake up, wake up!" he moans in anticipation of his beloved toy. I've never been able to find another one, and although he still enjoys toys at the age of twelve, he still misses that one. Me too!

It's always been a rule here that we keep no more dogs than we can give adequate attention to. Each dog needs to have a "special time" each day, and be kept groomed and exercised. A breeder friend once joked that I was the only Dal person she knew whose dogs were always in show condition, even the oldsters. I try to keep it that way - although I see I missed doing nails again this past weekend. UGH. It's important for the dogs to have individual attention every day rather than just feeling part of a very small pack. Sid especially, needs HIS time, when he does not have to compete with the younger pushier dogs. I love old dogs, especially this old dog, and appreciate every moment we still have left. Give your old guys a hug!