Pacific Northwest Gardening: Who Are Your Garden Helpers Part Two, 0 by Rarejem

Rarejem wrote:
I went and visited Mom right after work last night, and we took a nice long walk in both gardens with the entire "wolfpack" to introduce Phoenix to her new brothers and sisters. It went fairly well...my big dogs sniffed her and went about their business...Mom's shorthairs subtley terrorized her by playing run and chase games and changing their courses just enough to run over the pup and send her head over heels. I am thinking that as long as the terrors are up at your house Mom, you won't have to worry about Phoenix hanging out there...at least until she is a little bigger!

Kathy, It has been ten years since I have raised a pup, but fortunately I went into it eyes wide open about the work involved. You do sometimes have lapses in common sense though...for example, I was so tired by the time I got home last night that I didn't bother to shut all of the doors in the house. Had a good laugh when the pup ran by with DH's boxers in her mouth! Then I shut the laundry room door, the bedroom door, the back room door... I am sure she will keep reminding me in similar subtle ways that my house isn't fully puppy proof!
Also, we can sympathize with your and Katye's anguish regarding the "turnaround areas" in beds. We call them "dog paths" in our world, and we have bunches of them. We learned long ago that when they create one, you best not plant anything there....just sigh and live with it. There isn't a rock, log, stake, etc that will deter them from an established route. I just don't understand why they always seem to pick some of the best places for plants to establish their routes. You have to love them though!

Does this look like a face that would chew shoes?