My Dog Life

I recently got my second haircut ever. (You may recall my first haircut earlier this year.) As evidenced in the first two photos above, my ears were so crazy long they had to be pulled back whenever I was given a chewy treat because otherwise I’d end up chewing my ears too. I went back to the same groomers I visited before and let’s just say, I remembered that place. I put on the brakes the second we approached the door. Unfortunately, since I am small my parents simply picked me up and carried me in. I had no choice in the matter. It’s really tough being a dog.

Alas, I was tortured, umm, I mean, groomed. The nice (?) lady who gave me my new ‘do a.k.a. my hairstylist told my mom I did great except for when she brushed out my tail. She said I screamed bloody murder but since I didn’t have any knots in my tail, she said I was just being dramatic. A little drama never hurt anyone, I say. Anyhow, I’m now sporting a sleeker, shorter (but still long-ish) look and my ears and tail aren’t getting in the way anymore. Dogs, when your tail starts picking up more dead leaves than a rake, it might be time for a cut.

Now, what I really wanna know is this — why didn’t Joey have to get a haircut? I hope his hair keeps growing out too so next time he has to join me in all the grooming fun. What’s fair is fair.

This post is a PSA of sorts. Dogs, do your ears hang low? Do they interfere with your daily activities? Do people make comments about your gloriously long ears? Well, it might be time for a haircut. Here are the signs your ear hairs could use a trim:

1. Your ears touch the ground when you’re sniffing around.
2. Your ears dip into your water bowl while you’re eating out of the neighboring food bowl.
3. When you’re chewing on a tasty treat (like a greenie or beef jerky) your ears get caught up in the action and covered in yuck.
4. Your ears pick up mulch and other debris from the park.
5. People make embarrassing remarks about your ears like, “He looks like a cheerleader!” and ask, “Are his ears that big or is it mostly hair.” How rude!

People, I may need a haircut. These ear hairs are growing wild and to be perfectly honest, my tail is dragging on the ground a little too. That photo above was taken a month ago so my hair’s gotten even longer since then! Unfortunately, my monthly allowance is going towards that pesky test at the veterinarian’s I told you about — not that I’m doing that — so my haircut’s gonna have to wait until next month. I can’t imagine how crazy my luscious locks will be by then.

Reunited and it feels sooo good! Finally, finally, finally my mom is back home with me where she belongs. I picked her up from the airport and my dad helped a little. He drove so I could focus on jumping all over her for just about the whole car ride home. While she was waiting for us to scoop her up, she spotted three other excited canines picking up their humans at the airport. We’re not the only folks who do this, apparently. 

It was a long two weeks without my mom and I experienced a lot more alone time than I’m used to. I think I even lost a little bit of weight; my harness is fitting a little more loosely. My dad took good care of me though and I must admit, we enjoyed our “bachelorhood” while it lasted. One of the first things my mom did when she got back was brush my hair real good and give me a bath. My dad didn’t worry so much about that stuff…which I liked! Now I gotta be all clean and well groomed again. Women.

I had to get a bath a few days ago because I, and I quote, “smelled like a dog.” What exactly do these humans expect me to smell like? As a dog I have very few responsibilities, most important of which are to act like a dog and smell like a dog. I’m just trying to live up to everybody’s expectations around here.

P.S. My blog just got an update and if you click on any of the above photos they’ll get really big and you can read the captions. Cool!

After a year + of growing out my hair and countless compliments on my luscious locks — especially my kooky long ears — I took the plunge and got a haircut. Believe it or not, this was my first grooming session! Try not to judge my parents too much, they liked my wild-ish long haired look. But things were getting a little well, hairy, and it was time for a trim. My ears were so long they touched the ground when I sniffed around. The song, “Do Your Ears Hang Low” could have been written about me. And my second trademark characteristic, my fluffy tail, was also earning a reputation for dragging on the ground ever so often. Both my ears and tail have been catching pollen strands the whole time I’ve been in Maryland. (We don’t have that problem in San Francisco.)

I was a little nervous about my first grooming experience but I put on a brave face in front of my mom. When she dropped me off for my appointment, I acted like I didn’t even know what was going on. And even though my mom worried about me while I was there, the doggie stylist who gave me my new look told her I did great! My mom even showed up a little early and peeked in the shop and saw me on the grooming table. I was doing just fine! I am braver than people think I am. I’m just glad they didn’t dye me blue like that poor pup who was there before me.