Sorry for all the dog blogging for those of you who could not care less about dogs, but I’m having lots of fun with the apparent new edition. Went to Petco, and there were no lost doggie signs up, so I have pretty much decided I have done my due diligence.
While there, I picked up a gate and am turning the spare bedroom into Tunch’s haven/eating area. That is the room he always sneaked into anyway because it had a made bed with great morning sun, so I will just make it official. Beware all who enter the throne room.
Also, got a tandem leash, and that was a spectacular failure. Rosie dragged Lily around by the neck, and the whole time the look on Lily’s face was “Look, I love you, and I think I’ve been pretty patient this week with this other dog thing, but WTF are you thinking?”
Finally, it appears that Rosie loves to play fetch. Also, squeakie toys. Lily couldn’t care less about either of those activities.
jeffreyw
Looks like a keeper then? Let the told-ya-soing commence.
Svensker
So, have you found the tape supply that Rosie is using to put those “Suckah!” signs on your back when you’re not looking?
Oh, and more pictures please.
TaMara (formerly Bad Horse's Filly)
Love is a funny thing.
You Don't Say
I did the same thing when I had two cats and a dog — put a baby gate up on the spare bedroom and put their food and litter box in there. It was totally their room and the only time the dog got in there was when I failed to put the gate back when I was changing water. I came back to find the dog deep in the litter box.
Donna
LAUGH…I knew from your first blog post about the JRT that you had another dog.
planetjanet
I love the dog posts, John. Can Tunch jump the gate okay?
Josie
This could be good exercise for Tunch, getting over the gate. Explain to him that is the upside of all this.
Sarah in Brooklyn
fetch is fun. my little cat Milo loves to play fetch.
yay new doggie!
Uloborus
I do not love dogs.
I am your ONLY reader who dislikes dogs.
I don’t think you have to worry about over-dogblogging!
licensed to kill time
What a great idea, giving King Tunch his own throne room. A safe haven for him from the (in his mind) idiot canines. I had to laugh at the image of Long Sufferin’ Lil being dragged around by Rosie. And who knows, maybe Rosie will get Lily interested in fetchin’ and squeakin’.
I really enjoy these tales from Cole’s Menagerie.
kommrade reproductive vigor
“Authorities removed 500 dogs, cats, gerbils, rabbits, parakeets and something with six legs that goes “Bloort!” from the home of a well known West Virginia curmudgeon today…”
I give it two years.
(I am a bit cranky because there’s a family of feral cats in my ‘hood that will scarcely allow me to feed them. So sue me.)
Lowkey
Tunch shall destroy all canine interlopers. He is merely biding his time. Make no mistake, Cole-person: the entire house is the King’s castle. The areas the King chooses not to visit are merely the servant’s quarters.
jeffreyw
Looks like a good place for this.
Sorry, Tunch. You had a good run.
CanadaGoose
We have the same setup: a gate so that The Cat can eat and poop in peace.
Only one of the two dogs is interested in the snack bar (litter box) but one is enough.
Alice Blue
I think Lily and Rosie will turn out to be the best of friends. Also, don’t forget to thank Tunch for letting the three of you stay in the rest of the house.
Keith
I’d still recommend crating the dog when you’re not around. Best not to take chances that Tunch can get hurt, and a terrier’s a terrier. Now, that being said, I leave my pit loose at home with my cats all the time, but he was raised around them since he was a puppy (not to mention all the cats are capable of being on top of the fridge in about 10 seconds if it came down to it)
scarshapedstar
I suspect that will change.
Taterstick
I KNEW it!
Welcome home, Rosie!
MikeJ
@Uloborus:
I don’t really dislike dogs, just their idiot owners.
There are two ladies who are on the hiking/running trail every single day with their very large dog off leash. Every day the dog growls, barks, does that puffed up fur thing…and every day they tell me what a sweetie he is and how he wouldn’t hurt a fly. I swear I’m gonna get a taser. To use on the humans. If I can keep them out of the park the dog probably won’t come by himself.
harlana peppper
Mr. Cole has a new dog? I sure am behind on the news. How wonderful!
(PS, I am a cat person, but I love dogs, too and there can never be too much dog-blogging although I am sure Tunch would agree that some cat-blogging might be in order to balance things out)
fucen tarmal
i think the bigger announcement is that tunch gets his own room.
“the locker room” after the the locker room with the other tunch and craig wolfley…btw i wonder if tunch ilkin ever googles himself and wonders what the hell this blog is about.
eemom
[absence of “I told you so” comment]
debit
Just got back from Chloe’s annual check up/vaccination vet visit and today we got the never before seen partner of our primary vet.
I liked her right off the bat when she sat on the floor to examine Chloe, then decided I loved her when she talked about one of her dogs, a Pomeranian brought in to be euthanized. Seems the owner had kicked it and shattered a hind leg and didn’t want to pay to fix it. She said after the owner left, they couldn’t bring themselves to euthanize it, tried to save the leg, but couldn’t and in the end, she took it home with her. And named it Voldemort.
eemom
Yaaaaaaaay! Woot! Huzzah! Drinks all around! Here’s to His Tunchship’s new dog-free throne zone and the double leash.
Could there but be a John Cole for every deserving animal out there, the world would suck way less than it does.
Hell, even one John Cole for every three such animals would do the trick.
licensed to kill time
This is OT, but have you guys seen the new GOP meme about the BP fund?
WTF?,over. Also, BWAAAHAAAHAHAHAaaaaa………sigh. Have they NO shame?
scav
Oooo! Oooo! fetch and squeaky toys! v. what were you thinking of v. The Throne Room of Absolute Personal Dominion? Ah, so pets exactly work like children. They all manage to be / have interests that are orthogonal if not antithetical and inimical to those of their siblings — no matter how many of them you combine, they somehow manage it. Geometrically nonsense but practically true.
Doctor Science
We just moved to a new house, and to our surprise our cat seems rather pleased. Sneakers has a physique best described as “Tunchesque”, but he actually looks slimmer (!) and more intelligent (! ! !) in the new place, because everything is so *interesting*. Things to sniff! Things to see! Ears alert, eyes wide open, ready to spring into action (or run away) at the slightest hint of difficulty — he acts much *younger* than he did at the old place. There are good, familiar-smelling places to hide, too, when it all gets to be Too Much.
Elisabeth
You’re doing a good thing, Mr. Cole.
You Don't Say
Hey, John, did the vet estimate Rosie’s age?
eemom
@debit:
one of my first doggies was a 3 legged miniature pinscher named Rambo. He was one of the most lovable doggies that ever lived. I was devastated when we had to put him down in 2002, at age 17.
And another one for the “go figure” files: we found him in the pound; someone HAD paid to have his leg amputated after it was hurt in a car accident……..and then gave him up.
Anyway, our vet mentioned that 3 legged doggies almost always get adopted. Another vet said a dog is actually a 3 legged animal with an extra leg.
Rambo was missed a back leg……but he still sometimes raised the other leg to pee and then he would take a few steps forward in the handstand position.
He had lots of other cute habits too and he was smart as shit. Totally bullied our other dog Max who was four times his size.
I wuved that doggie an awful lot.
EDantes
Excellent solution with the safe harbor room for Tunch. Good thing you gave that dog a name you could go with long-term.
Taterstick
@You Don’t Say: I tried to get two vets to estimate the age of the JRT rescue we had, and they were completely noncommital. Estimates of “less than 5” were all I could get. It’s apparently a crapshoot science.
TuiMel
Here’s to John Cole, the richest man in Bedford Falls (and here’s to that angel that just got his/her wings)!
Nicole
For those of us whose apartment buildings don’t allow pets, there can never be too many dog posts. I love living vicariously through the pet rescue stories.
Toast
Keep ’em coming, John! I’m allergic to dogs and cats, so I enjoy them vicariously through people like you.
caune
@Taterstick:
Yep, I got a Jack from rescue who they said was 2 years old, but I think he was closer to 6 months unless they grow 3 inches and 6 pounds after the age or 2, LOL
John, you are doing a great thing and count your lucky stars you found a fun and not totally crazed JRT. When they are good, they are great, when they are bad, they are just damn bad!
kdaug
Thanks for the tidbit about the tandem leash. We have a new 10-week old German Shepherd pup, and will soon begin leash training her along with our 100lb Golden Retriever who likes to pull a lot. We have a harness for the retriever which helps to keep him under control, but kind of pointless to buy one for the shepherd pup since she’s doubling in size every three weeks. I thought about the tandem leash, but sounds like we should stick to two separate ones.
South of I-10
Good for you! I love the name Rosie, I think that is what I originally suggested for Lily. I am sure Tunch appreciates having his own space.
Kristine
@debit:
I love this story, and would love that vet.
debit
@eemom: He sounds like he was quite a character. I can’t imagine how anyone could walk away from an injured pet and give them up. Bless you.
Catsmeat
If I got a dog, I would be afraid my cat would eat it.
Tunch is big, yes, but take a gander at
Rusty
Delia
My mutt Pippin scoffs at fetch. He prefers keep away. Back when I lived in California we used to walk with his friend Sparky, a German Shepherd, and her owner. Sparky was a fetch fanatic and one day her owner brought a tennis ball to the park and she totally ignored Pippin and concentrated on that damn ball. Finally Pippin darted in front of her, grabbed the ball, and made Sparky chase him round and round the park, trying to get her ball back.
Toast
@Catsmeat: That is a large cat.
Boudica
I don’t like dogs either, but I love cats and will put up with dog posts for stories of Tunch. Plus, I love how John writes about it, like he hates being saddled with a new dog, but he really loves it!
Catsmeat
Forgot to add: Neither Tunch nor my big cat Rusty is as large as the heart of John Cole :)
moe99
This is one wonderful piece of news in a week that was mostly filled with crap.
Thank you, John. As someone who has three dogs (2 miniature dachshunds and an aging black lab), this is a good thing.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
teehee
I knew it. You are an open book senor Cole. And it didn’t hurt the cause for some of us to tell you that Rosie had to go. For the stubborn contrarian ones, it’s always opposite day.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch. Me and Charlie are getting ready to go hiking in the forest. That Terrier stare of “you better, or else” is boring holes through my person.
round guy
@Uloborus:
I’m not the world’s foremost dog fan either (I suppose it’s a general aversion to things that eat poop), but I don’t much mind the dog posting for some reason. Virtual dogs are dandy. In person, not so much.
Elizabelle
@jeffreyw:
That was hilarious.
Comment 13 is worth clicking the link.
Mnemosyne
@Sarah in Brooklyn:
Keaton loves to fetch, but the other two cats will rarely let him. Charlotte will fetch, but only the tiny leftover stub of a feather toy that she loves with an unreasoning passion.
Creature
Never too much dog.
I come for the politics, but stay for the cute.
donnah
I love the dog/cat blogging. It keeps me from screaming after reading the political news.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
shorter Charlie – “them deer ain’t gonna chase themselves”
phoebes-in-santa fe
I always say that I “am a cat lover, but a dog liker”. I am so glad you’re keeping Rosie. And have provided Tunch with a haven. Good for you.
jeffreyw
While we are on the topic of dogs and rescue, here are the latest pups to show at the shelter.
“Beatrice”
And a litter found by the side of the road in a cardboard box.
jeffreyw
…and after that, this seems the correct response.
jeffreyw
@Elizabelle: LOL! Yes, it struck me as funny. Nearly as funny as this one.
moe99
ps. both the miniature dachshunds fetch after being taught by the lab. The most fun is to see Scooter, the older dachshund retrieve in the water. His legs are too short to balance him, so his tail waves wildly back and forth as he attempts to stay upright bringing his floaty toy back to shore.
Betsy
MOAR PET BLOGGING PLZ
Phoebe
HA!
@You Don’t Say: HA!
@kommrade reproductive vigor: Have you heard about Alley Cat Allies? They have tips for dealing with feral cat colonies.
bystander
I had to go find a picture of a split leash. Oh, says I. I get the problem.
Lily and Rosie should have their own leash from their collar/harness to your hand. If you have a puller, like Rosie, it’s absolute misery for the other dog. Two solutions: one walks on the left, one on the right, and you have a leash in each hand. Or, you can put both leashes in one hand and handle them like driving reins on a horse hitch. If it’s hell on your shoulder, you could consider something like a Skijor Belt.
And, of course, you’re not using one of those damnable retractable leashes, right?
Elizabelle
Wonderful if unsurprising news that Rosie is now a Cole (where’s the Steelers collar?) unless her previous owners somehow materialize.
Like Keith’s suggestion of crating Rosie while you’re out, as a precaution, although Tunch’s bachelor pad/former guest room sounds like a good step.
It’s good you don’t publicize your address, or you would wake to find dogs leashed to your mailbox, Mr. Cole.
And zaftig cats in travel kennels piled to the porch roof.
KRK
I still feel bad for Tunch.
/curmudgeon
Elie
John:
I would make sure that Tunch has an easy way to get into the room even if it requires a little ramp over to this thing and then a clear path to jump in — especially as he gets a little older… its not fair that he has to work hard to have his bonafide place… I’m not against it and don’t have another alternative, but expecting him to jump it may not be the best solution.
You and all the “family” will figure it out, I’m sure.
CynDee
Every time you think the dog blogging couldn’t get better, it does.
AND we got to see the famous Mrs. J.
Congratulations to all, especially King Tunch. What a problem-solver you are, John.
I think Lily will really like having another doggie around. What a nice family you have.
Pics? Pics? Now we WILL be driving you crazy, John. We’ll try to hold back, OK?
When will we get new pics?
JMC_in_the_ATL
@Elie: In my experience, cats figure it out fairly quickly. So long as there aren’t health issues re: jumping, they get fairly proficient in a short time. My old buddy Marlowe used to purposefully jump back and forth over the gate to torment the Scottie.
beabea
I made a dog-free zone for my kitties using pet gates also. Ran into a little problem–girl cats could fit through the spaces between the vertical bars, but orange boy would get stuck. So I re-installed the gate to leave enough space underneath the gate, for orangie to go thru that way.
This created a new problem–beagle who wants the cat food and litter box snacks was now able to wedge his way under the gate. Solved that by purchasing some 1/2″ dowel segments and fastening them to all but one of the vertical bars, using plastic wire-ties, so that the dowels extend to the floor but leave a gap wide enough (at the one vertical bar where there’s no dowel) for kitty to go through underneath, but not doggy.
Just wanted to put that out there in case this idea would be helpful in easing Tunch’s passage into and out of his throne room.
Congrats on the new family member, John!
Violet
YAY! Welcome to the family, Rosie. Good for you, John Cole! You’re a good man.
Lesley
Photos please!
(Please don’t apologize. I live for these updates.)
IndyLib
@eemom:
We had a friend stay with us for about 8 months that had a MinPin. He was one of the coolest dogs I have ever known. He was a super- intelligent benevolent dictator with a Napolean complex and a huge heart. My blue-tick was heartbroken when they left. I’ve considered seeing if I can find one at a shelter or rescue group to keep her company when my sister-in-law moves back to Nevada with her lab mix that is her current playmate.
Kristine
@jeffreyw:
Puppies abandoned by the side of the road. In a box.
There is no ring of Hell hot enough for some people.
TrishB
@bystander: Both of those leash handling methods still get one dog going clockwise, while the other goes counter clockwise around my legs. Needless to say, this provides good entertainment for the neighbors.
Amy
We tried a tandem leash for our 2 goldens — total failure. And I can’t imagine the dogs for which it would work: each one dragging the other in search of a bathroom spot. After trying various different combinations, i’ve settled on 2 10-foot cotton leashes. This lets them get just enough distance from each other and me without causing total tangled confusion.
JCT
@beabea: We made our second floor the beagle-free. zone for our cats in a similar fashion and for exactly the same reason. I’ve had dogs and cats my entire life and these two naughty beagles are the only dogs who have ever shown interest in the litter box.
I’ve never had a Min-Pin, but my daughter’s RA at college has one and I hear more about that dog than her boyfriend. I’m pretty sure her first dog will be a rescue min pin.
Congrats John, nothing beats a new animal pal. And congrats to Tunch on his bachelor pad, even though our cat loves the dogs he does enjoy his dog-free zone.
elmo
@Kristine:
We got our first Great Pyrennees pup when my partner went to Home Depot and found a box of 6 week old pups in the dumpster. Seems the lady had tried to sell them at $200 a pop, and when they didn’t sell, bailed on the lot.
Oh, and it was 27 degrees and sleeting.
We got two more Great Pyrs when she went to the convenience store at 9 pm for buttermilk, and found two adult Pyrs tied to the dumpster there with baling twine. The store manager said they’d been there all day, and his employees were scared to take out the trash because of the two big dogs.
Both of those have their forever homes now; one’s in New Hampshire and one is with my stepdaughter in Atlanta.
I have lots more stories just like those. Anyone in rescue does.
elmo
Here is a pic of the dumpster pup. Naga.
Here is a pic of one of the two adult dumpster Pyrs, the one now with my stepdaughter.
Mnemosyne
@elmo:
Keaton actually had a somewhat amusing rescue story: a homeless person found him in a parking lot and he knew that Jan (from Happy Strays) rescued cats, so he scooped our future kitten up and kept him in his shopping cart until Jan came by again so he could give the kitten to her.
I guess the lesson for urban rescuers is to befriend your local homeless people because they’ll know who can help them when they find abandoned animals.
Mary
@jeffreyw: OMG..Beatrice is totally gorgeous, and a dead ringer for my Daisy when I first got her. Incidentally, Daisy was brought up to Chicago from an unknown to me shelter in Southern Illinois by a good samaritan who had the connections to get her in to New Leash On Life’s foster system. Given Beatrice’s current location and rather distinctive look, I’m beginning to suspect that someone is breeding flyball dogs but not making sure they end up in responsible homes.
Something Fabulous
@elmo: Gosh, they’re beautiful! Isn’t that the breed the poster Chuck has? Where’s he been, lately?
slank
It took about two months, first every third time, then every second time but my dogs now walk well tandom. One is bigger than the other but the smaller one is more determined and a tad bitchy so they have reached a compromise of sorts. It is much easier on me to have one leash, particularly when scooping!!
elmo
@Something Fabulous:
Thanks! And I didn’t know Chuck had Pyrs.
The pup in the first pic, Naga, died suddenly about two months after we picked her up. She’s why we are now the East TN rescue coordinators for National and a few other Pyr rescues. Fell in total love with the breed. We’ve fostered ten of them since then, plus a litter of nine pups for four weeks — so nineteen in total. Have two in foster now, and we were about to take in another litter of four pups, but one of the current fosters has come down with severe kennel cough so we’re quarantined.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
For those who requested Charlie pic, click my handle.
Elie
@JMC_in_the_ATL:
I hear ya but in my case, my 18 y.o. Tabby, Bill with bad arthritis would not be able to do that. Nor would I want him tormented in any way trying to get away…
Different situation I know..
Just sayin he should watch things.
Elie
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
Charlie continues to charm…
Lucky you, living in NM — true land of enchantment…
SiubhanDuinne
@John Cole – top:
*I’m having lots of fun with the apparent new edition.*
John, I’m pretty sure you meant new *addition* not *edition*. But that’s what a life in academe will do to you. Either way, YAY for Rosie, and cheers to Lily and Tunch for adapting so well and so quickly.
John Cole
@elmo: So when Naga misbehaves, do you get to say “Naga, please?”
The best thing about having two dogs so far is being able to yell “C’mere bitches” at the park and have them come running.
Kristine
@elmo:
Beautiful dogs.
I just…it sounds trite, but I don’t know how people who do things like that can sleep at night.
LiberalTarian
@John Cole:
Funny.
I knew from the first picture that dog should be a Cole household edition. Her big rosy heart just beams out her eyeballs. Hm. That metaphor sounded better in my head than it does in type. Rosie probably doesn’t have laser beam eyeballs.
All this dog love is really making me want one. But, I am afraid the cats would kill me. They already want to keep me awake all night. But still, a Naga of my own …
TrishB
@John Cole: There used to be a herding dog show on PBS, Sunday mornings. I think the whole thing was a set up for the narrator to use the phrase ” what a cunning little bitch.”
Jebediah
@MikeJ:
The dog might be a sweetie, but raised hackles should never be ignored. For whatever reason, the dog may have taken an unshine to you. Forget the taser – get some pepperspray. I started carrying it after a dog I was sitting for got into it with a big stray. (Stella got seven stitches out of the deal.) I am a big fat softie when it comes to dogs, but you need to make sure you don’t get bitten. Bad for you, and the dog might end up getting put down. Better that he gets a snootful of pepper (from which he will recover.)
And for fuck sake, why do they have him off-leash? My very sweet, gentle, aging Otto is ALWAYS on-leash when we go out.
Nonie
Photos, darn you! PHOTOS!!!
[lurker, unlurking only for this moment]
Sarah
As someone who has gone through a LOT of squeaky dog toys in our house (black lab), let me recommend our new favorite toy, the Ruffian Chicken. It is fun to squeak, not too annoying, and can also double as a fetch toy as it can be easily thrown or kicked. And it’s pretty cheap. And it will make the other dogs at the dog park jealous.
http://www.petco.com/product/108580/JW-Pet-Ruffians-Chicken-Dog-Toy.aspx
asiangrrlMN
Welcome to the Cole family, Rosalita. Just don’t cross the king (Tunch), and we’ll get alone fabulously.
As for everyone else–thanks for all the heartwarming stories of rescued animals. Though it sucks that there are people in the world that dump animals, it’s great that there are so many willing to rescue them/adopt a stray.
Lysana
The abandoned puppies just break my heart in so many ways. And it’s sad to hear Naga died so quickly, but at least you’re helping a lot of Pyrs because of her. Also, yay for the rescuers. All of you.
mclaren
As soon as Tunch learns how to do this, the dogs are toast.
lawguy
We ended up getting gates for two of our rooms to keep the dogs out and away from the cat food. They work really well, unfortunately not until the dogs got too big to go through the little entry way for the cats. Are you sure your dogs being the size they are won’t be able to wiggle through (oh yes and Tunch being the size he is will be able to)? Oh well, good luck.