It’s Like This…
Being a dog dog walker who occasionally offers sleepovers, one of the things you need to get used to is saying goodbye. While I’m a master of saying hello — all wiggles and groans — I’m very silent and a bit put out of place when I must say goodbye.
So today is the day I must say goodbye to my new friend and recent guest, Woobie. While I know I’ll see Woobie in the future (on the trail, at the pea patch, and maybe even for another sleepover), it’s kind of sad to see her go. We’ve shared meals, we’ve shared beds, we’ve shared play time and down time.
And we’ve shared friends…well, I’ve shared my friends with her.
For her last night with us, Jessica and Quillette came over. Gretchen, of course, had to pose us on the porch and somehow got us all with our noses up. I think someone was grilling a few houses over. Then, while everyone watched the WNBA (Storm versus Sacramento…go Storm!), we all hung out sleeping side by side, our ears alert for any hint of human activity. When the game was over, we went for one last walk and climbed the stairs to bed.
As a special treat, Gretchen took Woobie and me to Marymoor Off-Leash Park and Woobie and I had a great time. I’m not sure if Woobie has 
ever been there, but she has a much different approach to the park than I do. The second I’m let off leash, I go running. Woobie is far more cautious. She put her nose to the ground and smelled the bazillion different scents covering the park. And yes, I mean a bazillion.
I play fetch until I can hardly catch my breath, but Woobie just put her nose in the hair and sniffed over and over. Then she’d shake, feeling the sun warm her long hair, and off she’d go to find the next scent or visit with another park visitor.
What’s great about Marymoor is that a river runs through it. No, not like Norman MacLean or anything, just a river where dogs are allowed to play. There’s nothing I like more than a park that offers off-leash capabilities, wide open spaces for playing fetch, and a cool river in which to refresh. Woobie liked it too!
I shrink when I get in the water. Woobie expands.
We had a great time and it was a perfect way to send Woobie off with her family. Until next time, Woobster!
Next up, some boy time. We picked up Marley who was thrilled to see us. He jumped and moaned and jumped some more. We walked over to Oshi and Perrito’s house and Perrito was as thrilled to see Marley as Marley was to see him. Oshi? Well, Oshi likes to stay out of the greetings when they are as lively as the ones between Perrito and Marley are.
We walked through the park thinking we’d play at the little field, but the tennis courts were open (surprisingly) so we head over there where the game of who loves whom more continued. I vote that Perrito is more in love with Marley than the other way around, but I could be wrong…
Perrito tried to teach Marley how to levitate…
"Almost, Marley. Just pick up that back foot!"
"You really must focus!"
"Keep trying, keep trying!"
"Would it help if I pushed from underneath you?"
"Oh, yes, yes, yes. You're almost there!"
"See how there is nothing under the ball? That's what we want with your feet!"
"Good gracious, Perrito. Give the boy a rest!"
"Yes. Perrito it is too hot for levitation practice!"
"Yeah (pant, pant, pant), okay. Enough!"
"Thanks Oshi. I was afraid he'd never let me rest!"
"Yes, Perrito is persistent if he is anything!"
"Whew. I'm tired. Maybe next time I'll levitate!"
After we dropped off Oshi and Perrito, Marley hung out at hour house for a bit. We were both tired so we crashed while Gretchen took care of her business. I hear rumors of another walk though.
Can it be true?
Until tomorrow,
Rubin
Monty really liked Woobie and the feeling was mutual. It’s hard to tell because she always turns away from Monty, but I could tell because they got along fabulously and did a lot of sniffing.
So much heat, so little water…
poodles (our breed). He tries though. I have to give him credit for that. He really, really tries AND he really, really wants to try. That’s the important point, isn’t it?
Last night there was a knock on the door. Our neighbor from a block up the street stood at the door with a dog (not hers) on a leash.
I’m actually a very good swimmer and with this current heat wave, we’ve been spending a lot of time at the lake so I’m getting lots and lots of practice.
of it — stepping down when I couldn’t really see the “down” in the reflection of the water — but now I fly off the step and splash in the water like a pro.
…hesitantly, I might add!
Of course, I had to share my toy with him because he liked it more than the tennis ball.
