The Great Escape!

Imagine our surprise last evening when we returned home from a trek to the outlet mall, only to find our next door neighbor sitting on his front porch, accompanied by none other than Heinz. Hmm.  Yes, not only did he escape from our back yard, but when our neighbor put him in his backyard, he escaped from that as well.  Both of us have had smaller dogs in our backyards, with nary an escapee -- til now!

So Don spent some quality time this afternoon in the 97 degree heat, battling our rosebush for access to the only possible escape route. Don looks like he was in a catfight, but the route of egress has been blocked! 

The Dog Who Snorts Like a Pig!

My side of the story -- Today I was awakened by a ripping sound, followed by pig snorts!  In my dazed stupor, I pulled on my glasses and peered over the side of the bed to see Heinz, who had been freed from crate-tivity by Don, snorting and pulling on the velcro tab of my shoe.  I managed to retrieve my shoe, and get dressed to face the day's adventures!

Heinz's side of the story -- Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!  Don's coming downstairs to let me out of the crate and feed me!  Oh, crate's opening -- swoosh -- I am out the door, and outside on the deck where my exploding bladder is released!  Not sure why they keep wanting me to go all the way over to grass, but oh well, they can hose down the deck (again!)  Breakfast! Hey, where's that other person who lives here?  Let me go see if she'll play!  Snort, snort, sniff, sniff.  She's up there, but hey, this toy looks like fun, and there's two of them!  Hmm -- what's she doing taking my toy away?  It was in the floor, so it must be a dog toy?  Right?  Oh, she's putting on her shorts -- those are close to floor -- so I can grab those and run, right?  No?  She's getting a shirt off the hangar!  That's getting close to floor -- so that must be a dog toy too?  Right?  No? 

And, thus our day begins!

Our First Week with Heinz -- Our Rescued Cocker Spaniel

We just adopted Heinz, a seven-year old English Cocker Spaniel mix, from the Baltimore Humane Society, last week!  Now why would anyone give up such as loveable sweet-faced dog?  Let me count the ways!  Submissive urination?  No obedience skills?  Comes, if he feels like it?  Thinks our bedspread is a dog toy?

We certainly have our work cut out for us on this sweetheart!  Luckily, his good looks and sweet disposition are irresistable!  I've already called a professional trainer, who'll see us next Friday, and enrolled Heinz in basic obedience!  Wish us luck!

When I called Don from my conference, he said that last night he was in the shower and heard Jake barking up a storm!  Apparently Jake was "tattling" on Heinz who had decided that our bedspread was a dog toy! Luckily, the hole is small and I wasn't too fond of the bedspread!

Six more days until the trainer comes!