Dear Grandpa, I love you - from your grand dog.

We're Family. I'm yours. You're mine.

My mom and you and me and Grandma and the kids and creatures roaming our backyards.

I look up to you, Grandpa. We all do.

You taught us how to live - you gave us our last name - Ayers.

You showed us all how to rock and roll and ride through life.

Even now, that you don't feel so well.

It's Grandpa Grrrrrrrr time!!!!

Whether you're having a good day or bad - nothing perks us all up, like a good grrrrrr.

Grandpa, you understand, without words, just what I need.

You get my priorities! First project upon visiting: creating total mayhem.

When it comes to play time - you can really last all day! No one is as patient as you, grandpa.

And you get my 2nd priority after play time: toy box inventory.

You're a rad dad.

You taught your girl to be a rad mom. My mom.

Thank you.

Here you and my mom are, camping and riding bikes in the desert. I love camping! 

You taught us all, the whole family, the love of play time, love of nature, love of life.

And you've had the same grrrr friend for 67 years. Grandma Ayers. That's awesome. She's a lucky gal.

Here you are, horsing around on an anniversary, acting like kids. Yeah! That's the stuff!

I try to give back, Grandpa.

Here, I'm helping you with a brake job.  On thanksgiving day. When I'd REALLY rather eat turkey.

What I wouldn't give for a good brake job right now. With turkey and mashers. I miss you. We live too far away...

For you, I jump into a carry-on bag, Grandpa.

Put up with all that airplane travel...  just for you.

And do my carry-on bag dog thing.

You're totally worth it, Grandpa.

Because at the end of the bag - is your lap.

I can't imagine a day without you in it, Grandpa.

I love you, big guy. We all do.

Cutest couple ever. Of all time. Love you, Grandpa/dad, Grandma/mom.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org                                 

Here was our family 16 years ago, on your 50th wedding anniversary.

I wasn't even born yet, but my fellow grandkids made the picture. And mom's on the left, the one that writes Surf Dog Diaries with me.

 

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

 

 

 

And then, life changed.

We came back.  I did the carry on bag thing. But it wasn't a happy visit - we came to see you in the hospital.

I did my best Therapy Dog thing. So did the rest of the family.

We tried to help you get your memory back after the stroke. By looking at old photos.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Good times.

Bad times.

The ride.

The ups and downs of life.

 

 

Whatever life brings, we're in it together.

When you were sick, we were trying to act normal. So, we went out on the deck and had a little fun.

We were cheating at cards. You know, like the famous painting?

Here we are on the deck at the care place - playing cards. Or should I say, cheating?  My mom is shooting pictures - she's not that great at cards anyway.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

My advice to grandma: don't over think it.

 Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Just deal with the cards you're dealt.

We're all working on that. 

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

 

Yeah!! That's it, grandma!!  GO girl!       

 

 

 

 

Now it's my turn.... 

Here's my best card shark look:

My best Card Shark look.                                           Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org           

Doodle, top dog, of the Ayers family card game.            Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Super Jack - the hand. How fitting!       Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Woo hoooo! I'm top dog in the Ayers family card game!

Here's my winning hand, grandpa. Can you believe it?

I call it "Super Jack."

Cuz that's your name.

 

 Grandpa Jack Ayers!

Who knows what lies ahead?

All that matters is today.

And love.

Any good dog could tell you that....

SuperJack!!!

With love from your grand dog - your dinky doxie BFF - your Pen Pal.....

Doodle Ayers

Surf Dog Diaries

Taking a trip? Long hours at work? Tips for doggy day care and boarding

Do you have a tight schedule that takes you away from home with barely enough time to spend with your dog? Does your furry friend give you a sad face when you are about to leave for work? Dogs suffer from separation anxiety when they are left all alone all day. This may cause the dog to bark and whine due to insufficient socialization, and this may cause trouble with your neighbors.

Well, this is where a dog daycare and boarding comes in. A dog daycare operates the same way a human baby daycare does. You drop your dog at daycare on your way to work and pick him/her up afterwards, for a fee. In the daycare, your pooch is pampered and gets to spend time playing with other dogs and caregivers.

If you travel for work or take trips where pets can’t join you, finding a reliable dog sitter or leaving your dog at a boarding facility are the best solutions. Being away from home and pets is hard enough, so be sure that the boarding facility provides professional services to help your pet feel at home when you’re away.

How to choose dog daycare and boarding for your dog

Every Dog parent wants the best for their dog. When choosing a daycare or boarding facility, you need to

• Tour the facility. Get to know the staff and raise concerns to learn how they problem solve.
• Check if the staff is properly trained to handle, train and care for dogs. Are they staffed to cater to the number of dogs?
• Find out the sanitary conditions of the facility. What are the cleaning and disinfecting procedures
• Check the vaccination records of dogs your pooch will spend time with.
• Find out how your pet will be cared for in the event of emergencies.
• Look for a facility with amenities like Healthy Hound Playground which offers plenty of interactive options.

Benefits of taking your pooch to a doggy daycare or boarding

1.    Socialization

This is top of the list because dogs need company during the day. This eliminates separation anxiety which causes destructive behavior around the house. In a dog daycare, your pooch learns socialization skills and forms friendships as they interact with other dogs and their caregivers. The confidence level of the particularly timid dogs is also boosted.

2.    Love, care, and attention

Dogs need it, just like humans. So as a dog parent, it’s your duty to ensure that your dog receives attention when you’re away or don’t have time to walk them, cuddle and snuggle. Ensure that doggy daycare or boarding offers that.

3.    Grooming

A dog daycare and boarding that offers grooming services is a plus for you and your pooch.  Your dog gets professional services like a dog spa session that leaves him fluffy and rejuvenated.

4.    Exercise

Killing boredom is one of the most important reasons to take your dog to the daycare. At the daycare, the dog gets to run around, play and exercise on the playground with their friends and caregivers. This reduces anxiety and helps them to keep fit.

5.    Training

At the daycare, your dog learns various obedience commands which are essential in tackling behavioral problems that may crop up in their growth process.

There’s no place like home – but doggy day care and boarding can help

If you have to leave your pooch at a daycare or boarding facility, make sure it’s as homey as can be. Take personal items like blankets and toys to make your dog feel relaxed in new territory. This is because dogs rely on smell and familiar belongings to feel at ease.

Downward dog days of winter. Random thoughts on a grey Sunday morning.

Quiet stillness. Like something’s about to happen.

Oregon winter - a nonstop deluge of dreary grey skies. Downward dog days. Sometimes we slow down, go inside like nature intended. When fireplace is your closest friend.

Dog 'n cat curled up together in bed. The new 2-dog night after we lost our old dog besties - the basset brothers Dude and Elvis.

RIP Dude, soul surfer.   Photo: (c) barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

A year ago this week, we lost Dude in Snowmeggadon. Last winter was too much for him, the strong yet fragile one. It was all too much for the rest of us.

I can’t stop thinking about him now and how much I learned about plucky perseverance from his mighty dog soul, facing so many challenges in his 13.5 years (that's 95 for you dogs.)

Blind dog. Pirate surf dog. Cancer dog. Doggie Alzheimer’s. Grace and dignity. That was our Dude.

Doodle n Tia by the fire.   Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

Lap dogs Doodle and Tia.          Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

Double lap dog nights.

Tia and Doodle – burrowing under covers. Unwilling besties – not quite bffs, but it’s a start.

Same weight, 16 pounds each – she, the behemoth fatty catty and he, the doxie diminutive. Lion and lamb. Not sure who the lamb is….

Same overwhelming personality – no shrinking Violet’s here. Jockeying for, muscling out – Olympic trials for the best spot on her lap.

Oh that’s right – it’s me. My lap, my kiddos.

Doodle the doxie has a tumor on his head.

It came up, growing like a bad seed, out of nowhere, around Christmas. My deepest, Darkest Fear. We need to get that growth removed.

Remembering tumors of the past, the cancer and the surgeries. Why is it that dogs get sick, anyway? It's so not fair. I’m not ready for that yet.

No more medically fragile years for any of us, for a number of years, I hope. Doodle is a young dog. 

OK, well, now that I think about it, he's technically middle aged - 45 in dog years. But don't tell him that. Or the part about the tumor, please.

SUP pup day in winter - pares paddling!!  Me and my Doodle.  Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

HOOORAY for Doodle Day!!!

At the same time - saving grace - a raucous celebration! His 6th birthday – or really 6th anniversary of adoption day - tomorrow….  1/22/12 was the big day.

Wow, I just did the math. Six years ago this week, I adopted Doodle. And a year ago this week, we lost Dude on 1/20/17.

What’s the saying... “when a door closes, a window opens.”

Speaking of windows - there they are. At the window, quail, hunting for seed left under the bird feeder in our Mosier front yard.

My Mosier. The Twin Tunnels trail looking west through the Columbia River Gorge. That's Chicken Charlie's Island on the right.      Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

Small town living. Our small town - Mosier, OR.     Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

Undercover covey.

The fleeting quail family visit– so quick to arrive – so flighty.  I can't live without them, but clearly they can take us or leave me.

Their visit is reassuring. Everything is OK. The coo announces their arrival – Big Man Quail Leader Dude, calling his tight knit family of 17.

They sneak in, under cover, materializing as if beamed up from the Starship Enterprise, from the few plants in the yard that still have leaves. They hurry,  scurry, to their Leader Dude.

Selfishly, I leave seed where I can peak at them. They refuse to have their photo taken, try as I might for the last 10 years.

They commute the same paths, most every day from above our house through our yard, then off to the neighbor’s yard for another sneak peak viewing.

Ear flaps up, ready for take off.    Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

SUP dog days!

Fleeting friend sunshine comes out when you least expect her - HOOOOOORAYYY!!!!! 

Load up the board, quick, let’s hit the river before Ma Nature changes her mind! Bundle up SUP pup; we’re in our warmest wetsuits and vests. Double leashes, just in case, though neither of us has any intention of falling in.

Double Doodle reflections on the Columbia - Wells Island.   Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

Savor and celebrate the gift – a quick slice of sun, ever elusive. Not like that place we used to live, where all you had was ridiculous sunshine. Maybe more upward dogs live there today? I can just hear my old San Diego friends snickering.

Here, water is 45, air maybe 50. At most. And that’s ridiculously warm for Oregon.

And still, we love her to the depths of our souls. Her raw nature, her forest majesty. Her small town experience. Old soul, Oregon.

Tia, my 2nd "dog."   Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDairy.org

Snow is MIA – whassup with that?

Seriously now – you’re missing Snowmeggadon today, too? No way! I’m afraid to say that out loud. We’re bruised after last winter’s storms, but be careful what you wish for.

Looks like spring green has come early – hills are not barren and brown - Hooray!  But … pay now or pay later. Remember last fall’s Eagle Creek Fire. And the year before, a drought emergency.

As an Emergency Manager (aka Disaster Girl,) I worry about Ma Nature sometimes.

Syncline rainbow in our Mosier front yard.   Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Remember the window. The undercover covey, sent in for the rescue.

No endless downward dogging allowed.