My Dog Smash OgreDog

Smash is a beautiful and loving dog. His favorite thing to do is take his humans for a walk in the woods. Here he is lapping water after a run through the woods across the creek. I love this picture with the reflection of him drinking water like a wolf.

Every time we go outside, Smash is ready to run! We just have to say "Let's Go!", and off he runs.

Here are a few sights along one of our walks.

  

Smash's friend visits the animal shelter

As part of a community service project, my son Caleb who is finishing up the 2nd grade at Sycamore Elementary School in Cookeville, TN visited the Cookeville-Putnam County Animal Shelter in April 2010.

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Smash and Caleb are very good friends. He has been a therapeutic dog for Caleb who mysteriously became scared of all puppies and dogs at a younger age. With the help of Smash, Caleb has become a little more relaxed around dogs as you can see in the photograph in the article.

Smash encourages people to spay or neuter their animals and to consider adopting from the shelter.

Hiking with Smash

Today we took Smash on a hike near the Conasauga river along the Tennessee Georgia border. This is a nice easy hike and since Janice is still recovering from her heart attack and Jenny was recovering form food poisoning, it was just the kind of place we needed to get some fresh air.

I am not sure of the origins of the trail but it looks like and old railroad grade as it is very level and pretty much straight. I looks like it was used to move logs from the forest to the lumber mill down stream.

Smash enjoyed being the leader most of the way. He did a bit of pulling on the leash when I had him but when Jenny's son Hunter who is four held the leash, Smash walked along very calmly.

The trees were blooming and were very pretty along the trail. Smash met a few other dogs along the way and they were all very well behaved. He got a lot of pet the puppy from some folks back at the parking area who all wanted to hear the story of his leg.

Smash and the trip to North Carolina

Last weekend I decided to take Smash for a ride and find a park to walk him. Unfortunately the weather became rainy so he and I just took a long ride. Being that we live in Southeast Tennessee we're not too far from Alabama, Georgia or North Carolina. I wanted to go up in the mountains so Smash and I headed towards North Carolina.

It was a very peaceful drive with the sun peeping out of the clouds every so often. Smash was hanging out in the front passenger seat for the longest time. It was obvious though that he was missing my kids. Smash would turn and look at the back seat wondering where my two boys Caleb and Hunter were. Soon after, Smash decided to lay his head down on the center console on top of my jacket. He looked quite sad his buddies as well as snack givers were not with us.

Smash and I stopped in Murphy, North Carolina to have lunch. Of course, I had to share my sandwich with him. With his excessive drooling I just had to give him a few morsels. He got a drink and so did I. In fact, I was hoping with his drink I wouldn't have to hold it for him this time. After a little coaxing I managed to get Smash to drink from his cup which he ended up splashing water all over the place including on my cell phone.

On our way back home Smash decided it was time to take a nap. He headed to the back seat to lay down. Every once in a while he would sit up to look around. I noticed when he was sitting up though he was sitting on my college textbooks and my laptop. Guess he was keeping them warm or perhaps protecting them.

Marley and Me

If you haven't watched the movie Marley and Me yet, I only recommend it if you have a strong enough heart. It is a good movie though if you love dogs, you will probably go and hug them after the movie. Perhaps even letting them lick your tears away.

A few nights ago, I was invited to my best friends house to watch Marley and Me. I didn't realize at the time that the movie was actually based on a true story. It had many comical scenes like the dog swallowing the necklance the character Owen Wilson gives to Jennifer Annistons character. Or the dog sitter who flipped out once they got home from their vacation (honeymoon gift) to Ireland.

Over half way through the movie, Smash's human dad, Mike, was very teary eyed. It started at about the scene where Marely was sitting by the road waiting for the kids to come home dropped off by the school bus. From then on his eyes were never dry. Soon afterwards mine stayed teary as well.

Of course the end is a sad one though deep inside I knew the dog had a great life.

After the movie ended, Mike got up went outside and spent some time with his dog Smash. Then again Smash didn't have a clue why his dad was crying and hugging him at all.

If you decide to watch it, make sure you have a full box of kleenex right beside you. It's a good movie to watch and it is also a sad one.

Smash takes a ride to McDonald's and town

Smash is a really great dog even if he is mixed. My kids love him almost as much as I do. We sometimes "borrow" him for awhile. The kids enjoy taking him for a ride. In fact, just about everytime I go out to his house he automatically walks to the passenger side door as if he is saying I am ready to go for a ride!

This past weekend my two boys and I had the opportunity to take Smash for a ride after some errands. Since the boys were hungry we decided to drive back into town and go to McDonald's. While waiting in line Smash looked as if he was about to go to sleep. It had been a very rainy day so it was understandable. 

As we approached the drive thru Smash apparently caught whiff of the aroma from the restaurant completely waking up. Of course the boys soon could not resist giving Smash a snack or two consisting of one chicken nugget and a few french fries. I also soon gave in giving the remaining bread from my double cheeseburger to him. At one time Smash had turned around towards the boys with drool dripping from his chops. My oldest son Caleb proceeded to ask me why Smash was doing that? I explained it is because he is hungry and loves the smell of our food. It is his way of asking for some.

The funniest part had to be when I stopped to get gas. Smash did not like it at all when I got out so when I attempted to get back in he was sitting in my seat. Needless to say it was a task to get him out of my seat and into the passenger side. Instead of sitting as he usually does, he chose to turn around facing the boys in the back seat. Of course with them finishing up their fries, Smash had the chance to sniff the both of them. They pleaded with me to make Smash turn around. As he was attempting to, he sat on my sweet tea nearly squishing the cup in the cup holder in half. I quickly rescued my drink!

Eventually Smash was tired and turned around plopping his head down on the console on top of my arm. And soon we were back to his house where he quickly ran over to his bed.

Dog-sitting for Smash

For the last three years I have been dog sitting off and on for Smash as well as the felines of the family. Smash enjoys having me out at the house because he knows that most likely, Jennifer is going to take him for a ride into town.

As a treat I sometimes will go to Sonic and get a fresh fruit slush for me and a water for Smash. By the time we get home, I am done with my drink and give the rest to Smash. He loves this.

For a few days this week I am once again getting to dog sit (and kitty sit). Smash is happy I am with him. Today we went for a ride into town since I had to do some errands. Smash kept wanting to be with me cheek to cheek. If not that, Smash wanted to drool all over me. I did stop at Sonic. Many dogs don't mind getting a nice cup of water and drinking it wherever it is located. Not Smash.

Smash prefers we pick the cup up and hold it so he doesn't have to bend his head over. Talk about a spoiled dog! As I am hand watering Smash he is splashing cold ice water all over my arm along with his drool. I know he was enjoying this entirely.

When we arrived back home, I almost forgot to get him out of the Jeep before I put it back in the garage. So I was getting cups shuffled around and other stuff settled when Smash inadvertently poked a hole in my cup of water with his claw. A gush of very, very cold ice water ended up on me. I quickly tossed it out of the Jeep then got Smash out.

The longest time I have had to dog sit Smash was for a week. In March, his "skin" brother, Will along with their parents Janice and Mike went to Ireland as part of Will's high school band having the opportunity to perform in the St.Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Smash and I had a blast. At least for the most part. I did give him a bath the day they were coming home in hopes he would be around when I had to go and pick them up from the school. About an hour before we were to leave, Smash disappeared and I was disappointed. Once we arrived back home, Smash didn't show up for probably about 15 minutes or so. I think he was highly upset his family had left. He had felt they had abandon him.

Other than that, Smash and I are buddies for life.

Smash and the birthday cupcake

On Monday, July 14th my youngest son, Hunter turned 3. Since he had been at his dads the week before, his step mom took cupcakes to daycare for his class.

When I picked him up that afternoon, there was one cupcake left. Hunter wanted to take it home to eat later.

We ended up going to Smash's house to have pizza and celebrate Hunter's birthday.

I decided to go ahead and let Hunter have his cupcake since it was his birthday. After a few bites, Hunter didn't want anymore. So I started to finish it.

Hunter wanted a sucker so we gave him one which he quickly decided he didn't want anymore. With the cupcake in one hand and the sucker in another I just sat there and didn't know what to do.

Smash did.

His tongue quickly snatched the birthday cupcake, paper and all out of my hand.

My jaw hit the ground while his owner began laughing hysterically.

Smash walked away with frosting on his nose and fur while I had an empty hand.

Later on it looked like Smash was having a tummy ache although earlier he was enjoying the cupcake.

Because I didn't get to finish the cupcake, I ended up getting an ice cream cone later.

Natural healing for dogs

I have recently received my Reiki atonement so I have been practicing on Smash. My wife and I have always practiced a form of hands on energy healing so Reiki is a natural extension of this for us.

I noticed the other day that we have been focusing too much energy in to his healing leg because the hair on the scar there had completely grown back while his other scars on his side and front leg are still surrounded by very short hair.

We have made a greater effort to spread out the energy all over him more.

I recently learned that dogs and horses have an extra chakra called the brachial chakra just above the shoulder area. This chakra is a balancing chakra for all the others. we have been working with this one to help balance him out.

Seems that most of our would be Reiki sessions end up being mostly just a lot of pet-the-puppy with is his favorite activity.

I have been amazed at what he has learned to do with his healing leg. He can now lift it at the appropriate times, and he can stand as it there was nothing wrong with him.

He still has trouble with the "sit" pose. He just can't get that leg to cooperate just yet.

But yesterday I got a surprise when I bent over to pick up one of his toys. I have not idea how he did it but I felt both of his front paws on my back as he somehow jumped up on me. Normally I would scold him for this behavior but I was very happy to know he had learned how to jump again.

I still intend to have a whole healthy dog.

Telepathic Dogs?

Have you ever noticed that dogs seem to know exactly what you are thinking?
Smash knows when I am ready to head back home during a walk even before I pull the leash that direction.

Do dogs really know what you are thinking? Do they pick up on body language, smells or do they really read thoughts?

This book describes an experiment where dogs were monitored by cameras while their owners were away. The dogs went to the door to wait for them when their owners simply had an intention about coming home.

Amazing stuff.

Funny Dog Behavior in the snow

Dog Behavior



It is always fun for me to watch a dog the first time the experience snow. Smash saw his first snowfall today.

He ran around sniffing and biting at the snow for a while. Then, when we got out our makeshift sled, he loved chasing us down the hill.

I am not sure what he enjoys more, playing in the snow or having everyone outside with him.

Either way, is really fun to just sit back and enjoy his funny behavior.