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We hope that you enjoy the DOT posts and the different views from everyone included. We promise lots of cute pictures, laughter, maybe a tear or two, and some information. Please note that the views and opinions expressed here are each author's own and do not necessarily represent DOT as a whole.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Doggie Spotlight for Murphy

Welcome to Dogs on Thursday!! Hope everyone is having a great week. We are feeling better this week and things seem to be going well.

I hope everyone is enjoying getting their packages together.

This week we have a Spotlight for Michelle from Insaknitty's Murphy. He is such a cute boy. If you haven't seen the new Knitty please go check out Michelle's design for the Paw Cozy. She had our poor dog lover's hands in mind when she designed it.

And here's Murphy.



Murphy was the 'all men suck' dog... Not that they all really DO suck... at the time though for me.. .that was exactly the case. I got him because I was sick of the dating scene, sick of feeling like I didn't rate, and sick of not being loved the way I felt I deserved... I made a joke one day to my housemate that the only man who would truly love me would be a dog! And she then suggested I should get one! So off I went to get Murph.. and wouldn't you know it.. one month later I met my husband! :-)
I say now that for me, it was about filling the void I had for love that allowed me to meet and fall in love with my hubby at that time... Murphy filled it so quickly and so completely that the rest of me was ready for the right guy to come along!

Murphy was adopted from the Bangor branch of the ASPCA Humane Society, in Bangor Maine on December 2, 1994, at 8 weeks old, and was one of two pups left from his litter. His sister cowered in the back of the kennel but Murphy ran right up to me licking and jumping on me…

he chose me… :-) I couldn't have asked for a better dog...

The folks there had very little information on him, but thought that he was a Springer Spaniel and Lab mix… but my gut screamed no.. he's got Border Collie in him… the way he looks now, you can't help but see the chunky adult lab in him.. but he still looks remark ably like a short haired Border… Murphy was smart at skills I've seen other dogs NEVER accomplish, like, deliberately walking around poles, sign posts, mailboxes etc, so that his leash wouldn't tangle… meanwhile Chewy would wrap herself around it so many times I'd want to just hit my head against the ground! Murph would never dream of pottying anywhere but a grassy or leaf strewn area.. while Chewy wo uld go right in the middle of the road if that's where she so desired… just silly things that I don't believe are 'trained' things… now… his intelligence stopped there… the poor thing gets himself into all sorts of ridiculous predicaments… and the word COME is not part of his vocabulary… he's been all MALE and selectively deaf since I can recall!

At the time when I got Murphy, I rented a room in a co-worker's home. Beth was one of the staff scientists at the Jackson Laboratory where I worked in research. She had a 13 year old dog, named Toby, and Toby became a surrogate Mom to my Murphy…
So often I found the two snuggled together on Toby's big bed!

They were adorable together. She taught him right from wrong and always kept him in line.. I have a very large stack of photos where Toby's so obviously telling Murphy who's the boss!


When he was really small, he could easily escape from Toby by running under the coffee table in the living room… but one day when he was bigger than he realized, he ran STRAIGHT into the side of the table hard… poor guy didn't even see it coming… he just assumed he'd still fit right underneath it… and if Beth and I weren't laughing so hard I might have worried for his poor little head for a moment ;-)
It still amazes me at how much bigger he got in the first two months I had him (don't know if you noticed the dates up there, but the upper photos, of him as a wee pup were taken in early December, and this last one with Murphy and Toby competing for the frisbee, is on Jan 27, 1995. Only 8 weeks after I'd gotten him!


Murphy is an athlete's dog… which means… he too is an athlete… Murphy did everything from Hike, camp, swim, kayak and run with me… His longest run was 18 miles, during my training for my first marathon. He was such a great running buddy, and just loved the trail runs, with stops for quick dips in lakes and drinks in puddles... I miss that as he's gotten older...

He adored our summer time blueberry picking hikes, and would lay in the shrubs and munch away at the berries.. he still loves blueberries today!
Blueberrying in Bar Harbor Maine, 1995


Camping/Hiking in Watkins Glen, NY, 1995

Kayaking on Kayuga Lake, NY (yes, he'd even climb into the kayaks after he got tired of swimming!)
I don't have any photos of our long runs together… but I do wish I did.. .they'd be so great!

I've 'tortured' Murphy through the years with Halloween Costumes

Crazy holiday photos

When Murphy was 6 we added human kids to the family, and he was a wonderful protector and playmate right from the beginning. He still enjoys his walks, and the occasional chase of a squirrel or chipmunk. We even find him in our pool each summer! He may be 13, but he still occasionally acts like he's 2...



Thursday, March 20, 2008

Dogs on Thursday Easter/First Day of Spring edition. :)

Happy Easter/First Day of Spring!! I hope everyone and their doggies are well. Paula is sick today so I'm taking over. Sorry for the late post. I feel like Paula and I have been sharing our sickness back and forth lately even though we don't even live in the same state. Please go over and wish health on Paula.

Welcome to any new members this week.

For those in the swap, hope you are having fun looking for goodies! The minimum price for the swap package is $15. Any questions or comments please email me or Paula.

You can still sign up for the Snuggle Project so please check out the blog.

For this weeks post I thought I'd share a poem about the beach because beach weather is approaching with the start of Spring!!


The 'Poem A Day' Project - Day 49

I’m a happy dog at the beach
If I had the power of speech
I would tell you all
To throw my ball
I’m a happy dog at the beach

I’m a happy dog at the beach
There are no new tricks you can teach
I’m bouncy and glad
And my tail wags like mad
I’m a happy dog at the beach

I’m a happy dog at the beach
My joy is always in reach
Whatever the talk
It’s the best place to walk
I’m a happy dog at the beach

I’m a happy dog at the beach
As I hear the seagulls screech
I chase and I bark
Long into the dark
I’m a happy dog at the beach

I’m a happy dog at the beach
And I don’t want to start to preach
But if you ask me
The best thing to see
Is a happy dog at the beach

Flying Lemming

Happy Dogs on Thursday!!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Dogs On Thursday Spring Swap and a Poem

Welcome to this weeks Dogs on Thursday.
It has been a very hectic week for Natalie and myself so this a quick post for today.


The Dogs Spring Secret Swap:
I have names all matched up and will be sending them out this afternoon with a questionnaire to be completed and posted on your blog somewhere where your secret pal
can find it.
It is still not to late if there are any of you that still want to participate in the swap. I have one name left that needs a match so please email me.

The Snuggle Project:
We need more people.
Please email me or Natalie.

In place of a Doggie Spotlight I am posting this beautiful poem by Kipling.

The Power of the Dog
by
Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect Passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?


Have a wonderful week!



Thursday, March 6, 2008

A Doggie Spotlight for Mercy

*sorry this post is running late today. Blogger would not let me upload pictures until about noon.

Welcome to this weeks Dogs on Thursday!

The Dogs on Thursday (DoT) Snuggle Project Blog is up and running.
go check it out! Here.
It officially starts today and runs until April 30th.
Each person who wants to participate can make a Snuggle and send it to their own Favorite Dog Charity.
To post and show pictures on the DoT' Snuggle Project blog please email me and I will send you an invite.
Also, for every Snuggle made and posted the Makers name will go in a jar and on April 30th I will draw a name and the winner will receive a basket full of Doggie (and People) Goodness!

We are still taking names for the Dogs Spring Swap.
It runs from March 15th to April 15th.
Please join in the fun.
We need more participants to make it a secret swap.

This Weeks 'Doggie Spotlight' is on Dana's little furbaby Mercy:

"Mercy came to us in May 2005. We should have known that she wasn't going to be a "lap dog" when we picked her up at the breeders and witnessed her running around with all the children! Mercy has always been a very independent dog.
Mercy is very active, and enjoys running, not walking.
I ran a marathon in 2006 and Mercy was a training partner of mine, accompanying me on many runs. Believe it or not, this little 7 pounder has run over 10 miles at a time! (With water and treat breaks of course!)
Mercy and my husband even won a man-dog 5-k race.
Mercy snuggles on her own terms, usually when she's very tired. She does weird things with her food- takes a piece out, rolls around on it, then eats it. She sprints to our bedroom when the television turns off, no matter what time of day it is. She is afraid of smoke and hates swimming.
She tolerates the sweaters I knit her and usually doesn't steal my yarn. Usually.
She loves to shred tissues, new or used; roll around on dirty clothes; and hide bones, then pretend that she can't find them. We are beckoned to come to her rescue and help find it.
The adventures never stop with Mercy!
Now our furbaby has a human sibling, our 3 month old daughter.
I think they are going to be great friends!"