I can’t seem to go two weeks without a dog bite. This time Toby was fully awake. I was brushing his fur, and he threw a bloody tantrum when I hit a small tangle. I was trying to make things easier for his groomer when he goes for his first appointment, but now she is on her own. I’ve also started shopping for muzzles for Toby – only I am calling them “masks” and pretending they will keep him safe rather than me.
Look, I painted some puppies!
Oh no, wait. I only painted the one on the left. The one on the right is by Sir Edwin Landseer. I had the opportunity to see that picture at the museum a few years ago. Among all of those famous paintings, it was surprising to see something that reminded me of my own. (See? The secret of doing good art stuff is finding something you like and claiming you did it!)
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If you would like a pet portrait of your own, I work in various sizes and mediums. Just contact me a my shop and let me know what you are looking for. L Bowman Studios.
I was always tempted to get those for my dogs so they would have to carry their own stuff. (See how they like hauling around bags of poop for hours!)
Dear Ladies’ Clothing Designers: they’re not really “cargo shorts” if you can’t fit anything in the pockets!
Here is a sketch I did of Toby’s girlfriend from the previous post.
(I’m guessing she’s a half-Malt.)
Is it hotter than blazes outside, but you’re stuck inside with arctic air conditioning? The solution might be a hand knit tweed cardigan! This Olive Green Tweed Cardigan is as cozy as a hug. It is silky soft and is hand knit of a fine merino wool/alpaca/Donnegal tweed yarn. There is no scratchiness or coarseness to this sweater. The mid-weight fabric has a wonderful drape and a comfortable, broken-in look to it already. There is no stiffness as there are with some knits. The sweater is also generously sized to fit comfortably.
Figuring out what has been going on with Toby has turned out to be a painful adventure. For months, my otherwise happy puppy has been attacking me. Every resource I encountered mentioned checking the dog’s thyroid levels because low thyroid in dogs can lead to erratic behaviors. I had Toby checked; no low thyroid.
During the attacks, it were as if Toby were asleep. Sometimes he would “wake up” in the middle and looked confused or embarrassed about what was going on.
I think I may have finally figured out what is happening with Toby: Sleep Startle Reflex. Older dogs, deaf dogs – and for some reason greyhounds – tend to have this most often, but any dog can. Basically it is an old survival instinct where if anything – any little thing – happens near the sleeping dog it will attack instantly without even waking up. I don’t even need to touch Toby but make a noise near him and he will come running to growl at and bite me.
What made the condition even harder to pinpoint was that the attacks only happened in the evening or at night not during the day even though Toby sleeps at all of those times. Turns out that the SSR is only triggered during REM sleep. In the afternoons, Toby is merely napping, so he doesn’t dream then.
It felt good to find out that nothing is really “wrong” with my boy; he is just a sleepwalker…..er, sleep attacker. Experts recommend not punishing or yelling at your dog because he is unaware of what he is doing. To him, he just wakes up and everyone is mad at him. It is recommended that you put your furry attacker in a quiet room at night and block it off so that no one disturbs him. Little Toby’s heart has been breaking because I have been having him sleep in his kennel and not in the laundry. I feel awful that he can’t sleep in the bedroom with me, but this room is so small I can’t fit his kennel inside.
Maybe this will be incentive to get rid of some stuff so my puppy can toot contentedly beside me in his sleep.
I hate this kennel. I wanna come back and sleep in the laundry.
Dirty laundry – the bed of the gods.
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Come see what Bitey and Super Sleep-Bitey (otherwise known as Toby) have been up to, pick up a copy of Bitey Dog and Toby in Dream Our World! Inside the boys view the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.
For your very own lovely (pee-free) flowers, consider adding these embroidered pillow cases to your decor! The scallops and posies will bring an old-fashioned touch to your home.
Flowers and Scallops Embroidered Pillow Cases are available from my shop.
And if it weren’t for me, there would be nothing funny about this situation at all.
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While there aren’t any T-Rexes in Dream Our World, there are plenty of other scary things! Come with the boys to The Museum of the Imagination and view the world of art from their canine perspective.
Toby likes to make sure that it is next to impossible to clean up after him. Geordie at least had the good sense to go outside to do this.
Where would be the fun in that?
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If you would like to enjoy more of Bitey and Toby’s adventures, order a copy of Dream Our World. inside the boys visit the museum of their dreams and view the world of art from a canine perspective.
The other day, Toby was making quite a fuss at his toy box. I told him to take out whatever he wanted, but he insisted that I get it. Several times I asked him what he was looking for, and he kept saying “RAHru”. OK, let’s figure out what RAHru is. One by one I picked up the toys to offer him. He was completely disinterested until I picked up this tiger. Then his eyes got big and his tail started wagging. Evidently this toy is RAHru.
It seems that Toby wanted RAHru in order to have someone to frame for stealing socks.
Blue Puppy has company as Toby’s naughty sidekick.
You don’t expect me to take responsibility for my own behavior, do you?
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If you haven’t read Dream Our World yet then this is a perfect time to pick up a copy! Inside, my two naughty Cairn terriers visit the museum of their dreams and view the world of art from a canine perspective.
Toby got what will hopefully be his last bath from me today. Why the last? This dog is like the Tasmanian devil when it comes to grooming. After yet another bite, I decided it was time to look for a groomer. I had been avoiding groomers because of my allergies. I have problems with fragrances and with parabens. I have no idea if I will be lucky enough to find someone who uses products that I can tolerate. If not, this might end up being Toby’s last bath ever. Gross.
(In real life the toilet lid is kept down when not in use, so Toby can’t wash his face whenever he wants to.)
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If your dirt demon is really a little boy, consider getting him something stylish for Summer. Some states are opening, so there are likely to be weddings and possibly graduations coming up in the next few months. Dress your young man in clothes sure to make a statement.
She thinks this is by accident, but I do it all the time on purpose!
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Now is the perfect time to order a custom pet portrait for someone you love. They are a beautiful way to celebrate a birthday or a loving memorial to a beloved pet who has crossed the Bridge.
The Adventures of Bitey Dog 