A daily dose of dog fun

It’s been a while since we had a visit in the pool by a giant iguana but we can hardly walk out the door without seeing lizards dash away to avoid our steps.  Our dog, Jackson, has come to love lizards.  Unfortunately, the lizards don’t love him.  They don’t have a chance against his relative Godzilla-like size and force.  Jackson simply cannot control himself when he spots a lizard though.  Lizards most hold the same attraction for dogs (well, at least Jackson) as does catnip does for cats.  Lucy, our younger dog, is interested in the lizards but is not obsessed like Jack.  I think she actually prefers watching Jackson chase the lizards.  She enjoys “hunting” squirrels and the occasional stray cat on the neighbor’s roof much more than the numerous tiny reptiles. 

Here’s how a typical day goes for Jackson. 

 

Jack thinks he has spotted a lizard  – note the intense gaze and initial panting as he prepares to dash outside.

Where is the lizard?

This is the poor little guy on the back left corner – how does Jackson even notice him?

I think Jack has doggie ADD – he’s already distracted by something else….but his attention eventually returns to the sofa and out the door he goes!

“I know I saw him…where did he go?”

“Was he in the basket?  Oh yeah, that was yesterday….”

“I’m getting the scent…he’s here somewhere!” 

“Getting warmer….” 

“This is it!  This is the spot – wait, where did he go?  I must be too late…what’s that over there?…”

“Wasn’t there a lizard here last week?  Let me look again…” 

“A little help, please?”

Here’s the best part – although I took these photos 45 minutes ago, Jack is still out there ‘hunting.”  I can at least say he knows how to entertain himself. 

(Please note:  No lizards were harmed in the making of this blog).

 

Doggie Daily Double

This morning was quite a morning!  I am still recovering. 

Around 9:30, Lucy (remember our little dog who doesn’t like having her picture taken?) was running door to door, squeaking.  Of course she had seen something outside and was dying to get out there and chase it.  So, I opened the sliding door as she dashed out along with Jack (he goes where she goes and vice-versa).  The next thing I knew, a huge iguana went flying into our pool!  Oh  My Gosh!!!! 

I was immediately freaked out.  I had heard of iguanas in pools here in South Florida but had never witnessed it myself.  What was my plan of attack?  I ran to Cub’s bedroom to see if he was awake because he had to see this!  As I opened the door, he startled me since he was standing right there.  He jumped and I laughed and yelled, “There’s an iguana in the pool! …and the dogs are trying to get it.”  Cubs quickly dashed out the door to see all the excitement.  I stayed inside, safely behind the glass sliding doors of course, so I could take photos – from afar. 

I was able to get Lucy to come inside by yelling, “Treats!  Lucy!  Come get a treat!”  Now usually, Jack will knock over whatever is in his way for a treat – but not today.  His treat was in the pool!  Jack loves to chase lizards – this must have been like hitting the daily double for him.

I knew that getting the dogs inside the house would be the only way that iguana would ever get out of the pool.  I had Cubs help me get Jack inside by using a leash. As soon as Jack was dragged inside, he and Lucy pushed their way through the glass doors in the living room.  Before we knew what happened, Jack and Lucy were back outside again trying to get at that iguana!  So, Cubs and I went through the whole routine again and finally got both dogs back in the house.

Lucky for us (and that iguana), the pool guy showed up at that time.  This was a pool service person who had never been here before.  He had come to repair something on the pool.  When he came to the door, he told me who he was and why he was here.  I didn’t waste time with small talk – I said, “How good are you at getting iguanas out of the pool?”  After asking how big it was, he was very helpful.  He used the skimmer to scare the poop out of that thing (literally…several times…ewww!!!!!!) and it swam to the other end of the pool before swimming into the skimmer. 

(Look closely, the iguana’s at the end of the skimmer pole)

He then quickly lifted the lid off the skimmer and it was like a Jack in the Box (the toy, not the fast food chain)  –  out came that iguana!  It moved so fast I never saw where it went, but apparently it climbed to the top of the nearest palm tree beyond the back fence.  Ewww.  Gross.  I am totally creeped out and disgusted.  On a positive note, thank goodness for the kindness and timeliness of others!!! 

So much for a day in the pool. 

If anyone has any idea of what I’m supposed to do to de-lizard my pool after skimming out the poop (yes, I’m a do-it-yourselfer…when no one else will do it!), please let me know!

 

Happy Jack

 

After all of this excitement, I couldn’t let the day go by without selecting a song to commemorate it.  I think this one is appropos. 

I wish I was back
In Ti-a-juana
Eating barbecue
Iguana

If you are a child of the 80s and recall when MTV first began, when we were all glued to the television and fell in love with Mark Goodman and Martha Quinn (I digress….), then you are already singing along with this song by Wall of Voodoo. 

 

Santa Jack and his holiday adventures

This is Santa Jack:

He brings wet kisses and lots of fur to children all around the house.

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The only reason Jack-Jack cooperated with this photo was because he knew he was already in trouble.   Earlier today, he and his compadre, Lucy, ran out the front door all by themselves.  The first time, it wasn’t so bad.  I just noticed they weren’t hanging around at my feet as they usually do,  so I began to call them.  No response.  I called again.  Still nothing.  So,  I went to the kids’ rooms to see if they and their friends had involved the dogs in an imaginative game of “hostage,” but unfortunately the dogs were nowhere to be found.  I quickly opened the front door, called them, and lo and behold… it was a Christmas miracle, they both playfully bounded from the front lawn to the inside of the front door.  Whew!  That was a close one.  About 2 hours later, however, a visitor left the front door ajar as she stepped inside.  While no one was looking, the dogs were out like a shot of lightning.  Of course, I called, but no one came.  I took off down the sidewalk calling loudly, “Jack!  Lucy!  Come!”  Yet no one came.  Those two dogs even went different directions.  It’s as if they had been sitting around inside planning it all out.  “I’ll go left…you go right…we’ll meet at the hydrant down the street to regroup.”  It took a while, but Jack finally came to me.  I guess he was getting a little tired…and hungry.  Then there is Lucy.  It was as if that little pup had suddenly become one of Santa’s reindeer!  She flew around like she had the fire of Santa’s sleigh in her belly.  I was not amused.  Luckily, Jack and Lucy befriended some passers-by and as I dragged Jack by his collar several blocks down the street, the kind strangers asked as they grabbed Lucy by her collar, “Is this one yours too?”  Yes…by all means, yes.  We were lucky though.  A car was driving by and Lucy knows nothing of fear (well, at least not of cars…she is very familiar with fear associated with cameras (who knows why!) and loud, unusual noises…but no, not cars!).  The kind strangers called to her as she ran into the street, then they scooped her up and asked if they could bring her back to her home.  YES, kind strangers, please… YES.  So, they did just that.  They rendered help to a fellow man (woman)…and saved the day for human and canines.  …and that my friends is the tale of Santa Jack.    Merry Christmas to all…and to all a good night. 

For the photo, Jack  knew he better sit still and indulge the rest of us in a little holiday merriment.  He didn’t even budge.  

Just for kicks, here’s photos of the pups right after their neighborhood excursion.

 

“Hey Lucy, lay low… and maybe she’ll forget our little adventure.”

 

Boca creatures

We do live in Boca Raton – translation: “mouth of the rat.” 

Speaking of rats…

This evening, Cubs was letting the dogs in from the back yard (as we all do  – so many times each day) when he said, “Oh my gosh!  There’s a dead rat out there.”  So we did what all families would do – we rushed out to see it!  However, we didn’t stay long because the odor was already so bad…as were the flies.  

That’s Dear taking care of business – while I take photos!  (I am SO supportive).

You’ve seen the photos I’ve posted of iguanas and the racoon but who knew the rats here were so big?  I swear that it was a good 6 inches long!  Apparently, rats are about as prevalent here in Boca as iguanas.  It made me think of a funny story a friend told us when we first moved here.  She was attending a nice outdoor party one evening in a very well-to-do neighborhood here in Boca.   Everyone was having a lovely time.  All of a sudden, my friend saw a huge rat run through the backyard – as did the hostess.  Instead of acting as if her luxury home  should be exempt from the furry little creature, the gracious hostess said, “Well, it IS one of God’s creatures…so I guess we will have to love it too.” 

 

Patience, my friend

 

Why do we wait here together so patiently, along with our little chew toy? 

 

Are we just well-behaved canines?

Not really, we just want what’s above our heads on the table…

We are willing to wait as long as we have to. 

What’s on the table, you ask?

It can only be one thing.

 

 

FOOD.

By the way, it doesn’t have to be visually appealing…we’re dogs.