Saturday, March 13, 2010

Kili & Piko's Daily Routine with Aunty Liz

I feel very lucky to get to spend so much time with these two little monkeys.


I met their People, T. and R., when I started pet sitting for them a few years back. Well, now - I am working and actually LIVING on the property - so I get to be a sort of 'live-in pet nanny'. What's so awesome is that Piko and Kili (and the two kitties, who will someday appear on a kitty blog) are some of my closest friends. I'm serious! I really love just hanging out with them at home, watching TV, playing with various toys of the dogs', snuggling and belly-scratching...yoga. Yes, it's true, when T. and R. and I do our morning P90X workout routine, the dogs roll around on our floor mats, stick their tongues up our noses when we are in compromised poses and can't move, and lay right where our feet or hands are supposed to go when we're doing "Tree" pose or "Downward Dog". The funniest, though, is when they actually do the yoga moves themselves! No kidding! Piko does at least one Sun Salutation every morning. Kili likes the "Happy Baby" pose, which involves laying on one's back and rocking from side to side. She's pretty good, although - without the use of opposable thumbs - she has a hard time actually grabbing her knees.


At any rate, life is good here at the H. House.


T. and R. still travel often, whether it be for work or pleasure. And when they do, Aunty Liz takes over. When this happens, the dogs know three things for sure:


(1) They will be eating only their dog food - no scraps - because Aunty Liz has somehow mastered the ability to block out their precious gazes while (I'm) eating my human food.


(2) They will be on a strict exercise regime - a walk/run up the steep grade that forms our neighborhood - every day, no excuses! And


(3) They will be loved a WHOLE BUNCH!!!


Here are a few pictures from one of our daily walk/runs. (And a video - because R. doesn't believe me when I tell her the munchkins run UP that hill, right alongside each other, focused and charging ahead!). Enjoy!




Friday, March 12, 2010

Lili's First Day

This past week, I had the great pleasure of getting to know a lovely 2 year old boxer, named Lili. She and I had met only once, briefly. But, because of my insatiable boxer habit, I knew I wanted to spend some more time with her.


Lili's People, K. & J., let me know that she'd be in the yard alone for a few hours in the middle of the day, mid-week, and said I'd be welcome to take her out if I wanted. So on Wednesday, I happily picked her up, grabbed her leash, and off we went to see how we would work out as a walking team.

We walked for only a short time before I realized...that Lili is a DREAM DOG! She is extremely well-behaved on her leash, without much guidance or redirection at all! She's quite amazing, really. I imagined - and came to find out later from K. - that she has in fact had some in-depth behavioral training, (at Paws University, I believe). K. has worked relentlessly with her since she was a small, rambunctious puppy, and it has certainly paid off! I also believe that the GENTLE LEAD K. uses with Lili has a great deal to do with how well she does on the leash. I've walked many dogs, and used many types of leashes, leads and harnesses. I think I am a firm believer now in the gentle lead, which works just like a horse bridle. It fits over the dog's muzzle, and the leash attaches underneath the 'chin'. As it is uncomfortable for horses to pull with their faces, and the natural direction the lead 'goes' controls where they - the horses - go, the same goes for dogs using the gentle lead.

Because Lili and I bonded instantly, and were "vibing" with one another so well, I decided to try her out jogging. Boxers have tons of energy, and are very lean and muscular dogs. So I figured she would like running, though I didn't know if she was a regular running dog. But, as expected, she did wonderfully! She ran right by my side, at my exact pace, all the way from Magic Sands to Kahalu'u! That's about a mile and a half one way!



















We rested at the church, then cooled down in the ocean. How lucky we are, and what a beautiful day it was!























After our little break, we got busy again, and jogged all the way back home. There, we both enjoyed lots of cold water. And Lili seemed to especially enjoy the mini-massage I gave her, as evidenced in her one back leg, kicking and bicycling involuntarily, while I rubbed her belly, scratched her chest and back, and massaged her cute little (floppy) boxer ears.


Whoever says dogs don't smile...Well, they're just plain wrong!


Thanks for the fun day, Lili! I can't wait til next week. And don't worry, J., I promise to hose her down this time both before and after our workout! That is a great idea, and I know she'll appreciate it!