Daisy and Gretchen » Habits

The Irresistible Ponytail Holder

Heather — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:30:29 +0000

On the way home from getting Daisy and Gretchen, Gretchen found her way up to my shoulder and then found my ponytail holder. She pulled the ponytail holder from my hair, and lost it under the seat. From then on every time they are within reaching distance of my ponytail, they manage to steal the ponytail holder right out of my hair. Sometimes they go to extremes while trying to get the ponytail holder, like climbing my back if they cannot quite reach. Even though these 2 girls are 9 they are still up to their same old puppy tricks.

Unanswered Question

Heather — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:05:26 +0000

When the humans are away, the dogs will play! Or will they? The only way we will ever know the answer to this question is if we spy on the three of them with a video camera.

We were gone the majority of the day on Friday, which left the dogs up to their own devices. They are in the garage and had access to the back yard while we were away. You would think between the three of them they could entertain themselves. Play in the back yard, chase bugs, watch the birds, sunbathe, run around…

Not sure what happens while were away, but when we get home, it’s like we made them sleep in the garage all day long. They come in jumping, barking and mouthing our hands and arms, along with a couple of little bites (bites using just the front teeth, causing instant bruises on human skin). And then everyone has to go pee real bad, like they have been holding it all day long.

After everyone is fed and has gone potty, the craziness does not end, they all continue to run around like crazy dogs for the next 3 hours.

So the question remains, what do three German Shorthair Pointers do while the humans are away????

Hunting Bee’s

Heather — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:52:53 +0000

One of the dog’s favorite pastimes is to hunt bees in the back yard. When you hunt bee’s you run the risk of being stung. And that is exactly what happened in the picture. This is Banjo’s reaction to being stung in the mouth by a bee.

Need new drapes

Scott — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:11:30 +0000

I guess Daisy did not like the drapes! And yes that is her head through the bottom of the curtains.

Busy work

Scott — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:50:11 +0000

Now that Daisy has learned to open the screen door, it is a complete free for all. For instance, apparently both Daisy and Gretchen decided to bring in some busy work. However, I thought everything was a bit to quiet…caught in the act.

Like an Elephant

Scott — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:29:45 +0000

A memory like an elephant is an old adage that most definitely applies to Gretchen. However, the memory is not used as a survival technique to find food or water in a harsh environment, but solely a tool for entertainment. One of her favorite games is chasing a laser pointer and has since come to associate any type of writing utensil as a laser. Thus, writing in her presence becomes a lesson in patience as she sits and stares or even attempts to bite the pen in an attempt to initiate the light show.

Gretchen knows exactly where the laser was left last. Case in point, instead of her playing out front with Daisy while we wash the truck, Gretchen is in the garage staring and barking at the cabinet as if letting us know we have forgotten to set the laser free and start the fun. Mind you, she has not seen the laser for about 2 weeks, but she remembers exactly where I put it the last time I had it out.

If only she could remember where I put my keys, wallet, etc.

Rawhide dilemma

Scott — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:07:49 +0000

Two dogs, two rawhide bones, but only one appears to be edible. I’m not sure what Gretchen is thinking, but she definitely needs to see that the grass is not always greener…or should I say the rawhide bone is not always tastier on the other side of the fence.

A habit that she has cultivated to perfection over the years involves a few whimpers, a couple barks, and blatant stares at Daisy while she kicks back with a bone in the evening. Meanwhile, her unscarred treat lies motionless on the floor as if it were made of plaster and completely inedible (which by the way never stopped them before).

When all is said and done, Gretchen goes for Daisy’s scraps and eventually we have to pick up the second bone. The last thing we need is Daisy to choke down two rawhide bones in a single night. When will Gretchen ever learn?

Freedom!

Scott — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:02:58 +0000

Yes, the rain in Northern California has currently subsided, and just in time for Daisy and Gretchen. Being tethered to their human counterweights while on a walk simply does not suffice, which is about all they get when the hills are alive with mud. What these German shorthairs need is not a stroll on concrete, but an unfettered jaunt through native grasses. It’s all about chasing birds, catching a rogue scent on the breeze, and expending a week’s worth of energy with an hour long run.

Plus, we thoroughly enjoy two pooches completely worn out for the night.

Fresh cookies

Scott — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:29:06 +0000

In December while making Christmas cookies I decided to make some ginger bones for Gretchen and Daisy. This is a treat that has been made for the girls a few times before, so they know what they smell like, and were not going far from the kitchen. Well Scott walked in and let daisy lick the raw cookies that were sitting on the counter waiting to go in to the oven. Fast forward 2 months and Daisy will not stay off the counters.

Needing a few sweets, I decided to make some molasses cookies today for Scott and I. Since the molasses cookies have pretty much the same ingredients as the ginger bones, the girls thought that I was making their cookies and would not leave the kitchen. Hence, it was only fair to their watering jowls that I make a half batch of dog treats. When I started to make cookies for them, little baby Daisy (a nickname that has withstood the test of time since she was a scrawny puppy) again would not say off the counters. As soon as I pulled them out of the oven, both the girls and Scott were in the kitchen all excited and crying to get a nice warm cookie.

The moral of the story is that everyone loves a fresh-baked cookie.

Could they get any closer

Scott — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:28:03 +0000

I returned home late on Feb. 11 from my San Diego overnighter and found myself greeted with muffled barks the moment I stepped from the car. As I drew nearer to the front door I could see two ecstatic dogs bouncing behind the shear covered window, mixed with short barks, whines, and Heather instructing them to back away so she could open the door.

I received a complete smell-over as did my laptop case and bag. As usual, I decided the best way to accommodate their need to determine my whereabouts was to lie prone on my back on the floor. Actually this method works quite well in satisfying their curiosity quickly, but it does have an unusual side effect; Daisy must climb on my chest to lie down.

As I predicted in the post on the 10th, these two shorthairs found the perfect spot at bedtime and adhered themselves to my right side all night long. One would think a California king would have plenty of room but I find that the space I am allotted is nothing more than 24 inches of width…the edge of the bed on the left and two dogs on my right. Did I mention I am 6 feet 7 inches tall?