Dog Life

                Well, it has been awhile since I told Part 1 of the story of how our high-energy, herding breed dog, Gimli, busted out of his crate behind closed doors and proceeded to destroy everything in sight.  There really are some dogs that need to be crated every night for their own safety and this guy is certainly one of them.  I really think all puppies and younger dogs need this, but there are quite a few troublemakers who may need the be crated when they can’t be supervised for the long term.  As Gimli just turned 2 this month,...

The last time I wrote about my life with animals, our English shepherd, Gimli, got all of the press.  I should say that there are 2 other dogs in our household, not to mention 2 Jersey wooly rabbits, around 10 laying hens of various breeds, and a duck named Watson. (My husband calls this motley assortment, along with our modest garden and 10 wooded acres our “microfarm.”)  Until a few months ago, we also had a small herd of 11 milk goats and 2 steers, but we have cut back now that my husband is in grad school.  I have...

Sometimes, life gets a little too comfortable and things need a little shaking up.  The best remedy for the mundane is the occasional proverbial curve-ball and life seems to provide those at the perfect time, whether we think we need it or not. That’s where this guy comes in.  Meet Gimli.  I reaaallyy didn’t want a third dog.  We had 2 already and things were going well.  They were both over the 2-year mark and starting to settle into doggie maturity.  We had a calm and distinguished older gent and his younger and slightly energetic lady friend, but all-in-all our...