The Life that makes me Smile

The Life that makes me Smile

Colette Jordan-Griffin

Animal Lover, Dog Groomer, Blogger, Mother and Grandmother



Colette

I have been in love with animals all my life, I've trained, showed, groomed, and have worked as a Vet Tech for as long as I can remember. Recently I starting blogging about my fun and exciting experiences with animals, and I love to share those experiences through my blogging here on Doggie Talk.  We would love for you to join blogger.com and share your comments and experiences with us, because there is nothing better than talking DOGS.

The candid photos of my little  Merry Band of Hairy Thieves

Miss Angelina

 Miss Angelina is the newest of our hairy clan. She was adopted last year from a local breeder looking to place her in a forever, loving home. Now 3-1/2 years old, Angelina the Princess,  (thinks) she is the total center the universe. She also thinks, just because she is a pure bred Pomeranian, that it should entitle her to the thrown of our house hold. I'm sure anyone who has more than one pet, has a Princess Angelina among them.
 I hate to say it, but it's all my fault, I spoil her rotten and give in to her every need. From rhinestone collars, bling bling charms, the best foods and treats, to sleeping in the middle of my husband and me on our King bed. Hmmm... none of the others sleep on the bed. Right...NOT.....
We love all that hair so much that we have to give her a bath every two weeks to help to maintain her long silky looking hair.  Right after the bath look where she lays, IN THE DIRT! UNDER THAT OLD DIRTY BOAT! and don't bother scolding her because, she smiles at you, turns over to expose her belly while wagging her tail a mile a minute, just so you laugh and say how cute. Don't be fooled the girl can work it!



Myles AKA the Ding Bat

And then there in Myles AKA the Ding Bat he
He was adopted in 2008, Myles was a result of the economic fall out.

One of our residents of our community, family pet had puppies, and couldn't afford to keep them. Myles was on his way to the pound to be destroyed along with his two sisters. When I saw the lady walking down the street with the pups, she told me there was no other alternative, she was on her way to the pound to give up the pups. Two of the puppies looked a very sickly and weak, they didn't look like they were going to make it.  But this little tri colored mouse, looked very lively and she seemed desperate to find him a home. 

We just couldn't resist that cute little face with these big bat like ears, so he became Myles, the #2 hairy thief in the house hold.  Myles to say the lease in a ding bat! He is very well trained, right............Why because he understands two things, FOOD! The reason I say two is because Food comes in Spanish and English, food is food no matter who has it, and he never goes with out his share, or everyone elses for that fact! I think he is part Rat,  because he IS a little rat! Part Super Springer, because he springs off all 4 feet, and can almost reach the height of 4 feet, in a single bound.  Part Bat, just look at those ears! and he literally flies off the couch, bouncing off anyone who dares to sit next to him, when food is served.

 He's just a ding bat! He will not listen to anyone, barks at everything that dares to cross his 7 senses. I say 7 because of the ding bat part, and lastly part squirrel. The dog can climb the oak tree out back and eats so many acorns that it gives him hives.  I give up trying to stop him and keep plenty of benadril on hand.  Non the less in spite of his pesky nature life just wouldn't be the same with out him, only because, he adds the spice to the mix, in our little marry band of hairy thieves. 

Tito and friend

Meet Tito the Cat (the center). This little kitty was adopted 2009, I'm telling you I need to stay away from the neighbors and their sob stories, need I say more! I pick up the strangest animals! Tito thinks his best friend is the statue of the Boston Terrier. I am thinking its, because it was a safe place, away from the ding bat!, most likely, and the only dog in the house that didn't chase him. Oh did I mention he is the one who started the chase to begin with!

Tito is convinced he is a dog. He comes on command, better than Myles, and responds to the dog whistle. His favorite place to sleep is on the TV with his tail hanging in front of the tube, during Animal Planet. When you ask him to move, you get that I'm positive you weren't talking to me looks. Cat lovers, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! 

 Tito loves the great out doors and prefers it that way. My husband will call...Tito Come! and in he comes, and out the doggie door he goes. I really have no idea why he comes to begin with, perhaps it's to give my husband that false sense of, Oh I love you Dad, or to give me a good laugh. He is the perrrrrfect pet, no littler pans needed in the house, and washes himself.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Then there is Ozzie, the Boston Terrier, purchased in earlier 2004 after the death of our sadly departed Roxanna, she was our first Boston. Ozzie was named the Wonderful Wizard of Oz because of the way he magically healed my heart after Roxanna's passing. He is the Big Boss of the band of hairy thieves. Every one knows that he is boss and if they don't he is sure to let them know the moment they get in his personal space. He love basket balls, bubbles, and anything that remotely looks like food, or fun to chase. We keep a steady supply of bubbles for entertainment purposes, out on the patio at all times. All you have to say is; Ozzie Bubbles! As old as he is, he comes flying out the doggie door to catch bubbles blowing in mid air.
 He will chase that basket ball until his feet bleed, and it's a blast to watch him in action. He loves it so much, but he gets too excited, we have to hide the thing from him because his feet bleed from running and we believe he will drop dead from all the excitement. Poor old guy but still of power pack of energy and love that keeps me smiling.



 No hair, but plenty of feathers

Joey

 Last but not least Joey the Congo African Grey Parrot. Joey is a New Yorker, A dang Yankee Bird! purchased for resale in my pet store in 1994. He was only 10 days old and had to be hand fed. His first word was Hello at 8 weeks old. No one would believe me so we had it put on the tape recorder just to prove it! He was a keeper, and has been with me ever since. He still has all his feathers and is as beautiful and smart as any bird can be.  He speaks two languages, Spanish and English and has a vocabulary of a 7 year old. Maybe more, with his sounds and words.  Talking to Joey is like talking to another human. He responds to questions, and answers at the most inopportune times. Answers the phone and carries on a full one sided conversations. Gives kisses and does a few tricks of his own. He whistles the Andy Griffin show and the Marine March. Sings, Twinkle Little Star, and songs he has made up all his own. He is quite the little entertainer. Problem is, don't dare try to handle him because, he bites. He bites so bad that he will draw blood every time.
I personally have never been bitten, because Joey thinks I am his Mom, and we have this very special bond, a trust that no one else has ever been able to match. Even my husband can't touch him. In fact, Joey has him trained to respond to his bell, Joey rings it, and he feeds him. How cool is that! Works every time! One day Hal said,  Joey's my friend and as he put his finger to the cage, CHOMP!!.  Hal now thinks better and loves him with a respectable distance.
 I have had to put a warning signs on the cage to ward off fingers. Some people just never learn!

Well now that you have gotten the Buzz on my Marry Band of Hairy Thieves, use the comment section and tell me a little about your pets. We love hearing your stories too.

And that's the Buzz on Doggie Talk
{{{{Huggies to My Doggies}}}}
             Colette

BiPiGis-Doggie Talk: Things I Think About

BiPiGis-Doggie Talk: Things I Think About:              Things I think about       It's three AM and I am wide awake thinking about the events of the day.   I can't sleep becau...

Things I Think About

 

           Things I think about   

   It's three AM and I am wide awake thinking about the events of the day.  I can't sleep because I am laying awake thinking about my past, my future, and things I have absolutely no control over. I think about how I acted or reacted to situations that had taken place in my day or what I need to order for the shop. But mostly I think about my furry friends, and hope they left me, happy and healthy. I think about the little ones I do that are young and so puppy who couldn't hold still long enough to tie a simple Bow in their hair. Were they treated kindly enough, did I leave a lasting impression on them so they would want to come back with their little tail wagging. Did I give them enough praise, did I remember to reward them for good behavior, or did I hurt them while pulling out some of those nasty tangles they get.

    I think about how many dogs I have groomed in the 40 years of grooming and begin to remember little puppies who came in for the first time, or those who were scared, Old timers who just didn't give a hoot anymore, and all of the rest in-between. Some left lasting impressions on my heart, and some left them on my arm or leg............. non the less a bond of trust was built between us.

   Those little puppies who come trusting and happy, full of love and life and all they want is to be played with. I understand this, so I do my happy dance with them, and then it's training time. A lot a patience goes into that first groom. The biggest concern is using the clippers or scissors safely as to not hurt them in anyway. Sometimes I have to call for help to hold the pup so I don't have any accidents. At times it can be stressful for baby, and being held onto causes fear and sometimes a little pain mostly caused from nail trimming or detangling as they try hard to excape it all. Trying to clip around a puppy's face for the first time, is very frighting, to them and me. But when it's done and that scary thing stopped it's back to the happy dance. Love and hugs and building a bond of trust that will last for years to come.

   I think about the friendships we make with our human clients, we become family and develop close bonds with you as well as your pets. We laugh and joke and sometimes cry with you. We get the updates of your world and you get ours. I think you would call that a friend. You are an important part of our lives, not just for business, it's because we share a common love for your pet and we become part of your extended family. I just love it when people tell me I am on speed dial! How much closer can you get than that!

   Then I think about the sad parting of good friends, and this is what makes me sad. I have lost several dogs over the years that has brought me to tears more than once. Most of them older pets that had given me years of pleasure to know and groom.  Then in the midst of a busy day you get that ever dreaded phone call that just stops your heart. But your so busy you can't let yourself think about it, then the night comes, and I lay in bed and begin to grieve for you and your little beloved dog that has just passed away and I remember all the things that made both of us smile, and I cry right along with you.

   I hurt as you do, and I want all my clients to know your loved and appreciated and I too suffer your loss. This week alone we lost 3 members of our extended family,  Skully Belly, Daisy, and Yoshi. All part of my love and my life and I will truly miss them. I pray God gives them rest and their old tired bodies will be as new and they can now run the golden meadows of heaven till we meet again.

May God give peace and love to the families, and know you have our deepest sympathies.

and that's the Buzz on Doggie talk

{{{Huggies to my Doggies}}}

Love Colette

BiPiGis-Doggie Talk: The Joy of Dogs

BiPiGis-Doggie Talk: The Joy of Dogs: Lady Spot The Joy of Dogs So often we come across with pets that we become quite attached to, and it gives the impression that all groom...

The Joy of Dogs

Lady Spot

The Joy of Dogs

So often we come across with pets that we become quite attached to, and it gives the impression that all groomers do, is play with the dogs all day. I must admit that statement is sometimes true. For the most part Groomers are way too busy to play, but you can't help it when you get special dogs that come in that capture your heart. Lady Spot is one of many that has that special quality. She is always a joy for both Nestor and myself.  She comes every two weeks for her bath, brush and pedicure. I just love her, she is so cuddly and cute, she always does special tricks for us, and loves to come and see us. Last week she came in and while her owner Charley was out side waiting for her to do her business, Lady came and was scratching at the door to come in. There's Charley standing in the middle of the dog walk area, and she is at the door by herself. I just laughed. Now that's a dedicated dog.

She jumps right up on the table and allows us to do every bit of her grooming without struggle or hesitation, always giving us lots of kisses. I can fully understand why Charley loves her so.

Our job doesn't always come with kisses and wags, so we are very happy to get them when we do. What owners don't realize is,  sometimes it takes a little time for their bundle of joy to become warm and friendly with the new groomer. Often, first timers are frightened of the unknown and being away from the security of their home and loved ones can be a scary thing. It's like bringing a child for the first time to day care, kids scream to the top of their lungs at the sight of a new person and there Mom just walks away! OMG, life as they know it for sure has come to and end!
  I remember that feeling, I remember the day my brothers and I were separated for the first time, they went one way, and I was taken the other, and sometimes I still feel that sting. Those memories help me to comfort the new pets that come in, and my memories have given me a better understanding of how the pet feels.

  Animals are no different then people, some say they don't have the same feelings, I beg to differ, just because their DNA chemistry is different doesn't mean they don't feel. I have seen dogs go through deep depression, pain, anxiety, happiness and many other emotions.  I have handled dogs that were mistreated by others, and helped in so many surgery's putting poor dogs back together after their owners beat them half to death, and dogs that were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Shame on the people who do this to poor unsuspecting creatures.  All they wanted was to be loved and asked for so little in return for their devotion.

 When I see dogs for the first time that are frightened, I usually ask a lot of questions to help me with handling, as each situation can cause a different reaction. I don't even begin to pretend I know it all, but I do know that different situations call for different measures of safety to all involved.
 Dogs go through different stages, fright, flight, or bite, just to mention a few all of which can turn to trouble very quickly if a handler doesn't have previous knowledge of your dog.

 Owners please don't with hold valuable information, we groomers need to know the whole story so we can handle your pet effectively. Our lively hood depends on the care and consideration we give every pet. We love them or we wouldn't be doing what we do, but one nasty bite can put us out of commission for long time. In some cases early retirement.

I love my furry friends, I want them to feel comfortable, and in order to do that you as the owner has to feel comfortable with me. But the big question is how do you know your new groomer will be kind and gentle to your beloved pet? That's easy, make a random visit to your new groomer before your first appointment, take your pup with you, if the place is extremely dirty and the groomer won't answer your questions, or there's to many incontinent dogs chained to walls or running loose, that would be clue enough for me that this isn't the right place. Dogs in general like a peaceful surrounding, too much noise and hell breaking loose can be very scary, heck it scares ME!  You also can ask your neighbors for referrals or go on the Internet and see what others think about the place your contemplating on. Reviews are huge these days, and can be a big help in your decision.

 My opinion is, happy dog, happy customer. Communication with my clients is a must, I make sure every client tells me about their pet, so I know what to expect. I want to know his little quirks, what makes his tail wag, what health he's in, etc. This is important to me, I don't want to just grab the dog and run, that's scary!
 I want time to say hello, get to know each other a little, if for anything, to put the pup at ease.  Sometimes it takes a little coaxing from Mom, and then they soon realize, well this isn't so bad.  When I have completed my grooming service, which usually takes a couple hours, A kiss on the nose or scratch behind the ear, I then call my clients to come take them home.
 The next time he comes in, he already realizes his time with me isn't going to turn his life upside down.

I have so many times, had dogs turn back to me after handing them back to the owner, as if to say thank you, I had a great time! My response is your welcome baby. and they turn back to the owner with their tail wagging out the door. Now that makes it all worth while :)

(Don't forget my next appointment Dad)

 The main reason, why I work by appoinment only is, I don't want pets to sit in my shop for 8 to 10 hours.  The poor babies get tired, they have to go to the bathroom, their hungry or thirsty, and when they get frustrated they can get over heated in that warm cage. Not to mention, their owners get impatient, they have a life too, and waiting all day for one little dog to be groomed is and should be unacceptable.

Groomers wake up and smell the coffee! Over booking too many dogs, for all day stays is frustrating for everyone involved including you, the Groomer!

Who needs it! Too many injuries and bad mistakes come from frustrated, rushed, Groomers who loose sight of why they started in this industry to begin with.  Take time to play, and get back to the Joy of Dogs! That's the tail waggin, face lickin ear scratchin truth of it all!

And that's the Buzz on Doggie talk!
{{{Huggie's to my doggies}}}
Colette

My Dog, My friend, think I'll keep him!

The very best of friends are the hardest things to find, and when you do, how do you treat that friend? Are you Catty or impatient, jealous or over bearing, mothering, and smothering always sitting on each others door steps on a daily basis? Do you love each other enough to say so? Do you ever really say thank you when the person goes out of their way for you, or do you just take it for granted that, it's owed to you some how? Is the friend supposed to be a mind reader and know your every thoughts, and should the friend respond on those thoughts with out question? Do they make you hurt or angry over the silliest things? Hmm.... interesting questions.

Seems I hear the phrase "The more I meet People the better I like my Dog", more often now that I am older, then ever before, in fact, I almost think I invented that phrase I say it so much. Reason being, people always seem to let me down and my dog doesn't. Why do you suppose that is?   Could it be that we expect people to be like our dogs. Have we tuned in so much to our pets that people become secondary in our lives. I don't know about you but it would seem that's how it is for me. I just never know what to expect out of people, they are forever changing creatures.

I know what to expect from my dogs. They are so happy to be with me or go where ever I want to go. They don't disappoint me because I know they are just animals and they are subject to minor set backs such as taking a whiz on the carpet, OH NO! my fault I didn't open the door and let him out, am I angry? only at myself because "I" didn't let him out and now I have to clean it up! Did I get angry when he didn't stay when I said so, Yes, but not for long because I know that dumb dog never stays when I say so. It isn't the unforgivable sin. It is totally what I expected of him. He isn't going to change unless I change. Animals are like dancing to the beat of beautiful music, the dance is always the same until you change the routine.

I just love it when my dog sits vigil at my bed side when I am sick. He never leaves my side, he knows I am sick, he knows I need love and attention. He is my guardian and reads my every thoughts. The dog knows instinctively when danger is around, he knows what time is, when the food dish is empty, when the mailman comes, when I'm happy, down in the dumps, angry, fearful, quiet times, all these things he knows and responds to. Humans don't, that's why we give that phrase I spoke
of consideration.



Animals don't talk so they don't annoy me. I think that's why I like the dog more than people. They don't come up with things to say for a lack of anything better to do then to say something stupid! Like the lady who came into the Vet Clinic I was working at to find out if her hamster was dead! Stiff as a board, belly up, bloated, and starting to stink of decay and she wanted to know if it was dead or hibernating for the season! Come on lady where's your sign?! Sorry people but you don't have to know rocket science to know if a hamster is belly up stiff and stinking to know if it's dead or not!

Most people will repeat something they heard and think they know the facts because that's what they heard from someone else. Or better yet they saw it on the Internet! When you need professional help you need to seek professionals. Keep in mind just because it says professional in front of their name don't always mean they are 100% right. Just because you saw it on TV, read it in a magazine, or on the Internet don't always mean it's right. If it worked for one it may not work for you. Life is a trial and error process and we must learn what is good and right for ourselves. You are less likely to say something stupid if you have the facts.
  Like the lady who told me don't put a bow on the dogs head because he gets a head ache.  I asked her how she knew the dog had a head ache, did he hold his paws up to his head and wine like my husband does, wheres the aspirin? She gave me the strangest look and started to laugh because she at that point knew she didn't have all the facts. The fact is her dog hates bows and does all he can to pop that sucker out with in 5 minutes or less.  I don't know if Dogs don't get head aches, the jury isn't in on that one LOL.. I do know they get annoyed with the bows tied in their hair.

Don't get me wrong, I do love people, animals, and children. and I do have some pretty wonderful friends out there, who have committed themselves to be my friend, and I theirs. But the fact remains in a relationships that they come and go in your life, people move away, pass away, or we say something stupid and the relationship ends. You don't have to worry about that with animals, the love is unconditional and the light never goes out.

My Dog, My friend, think I'll keep him!
and that's the Buzz on Doggie Talk

{{Huggies to My Doggies}}
        Colette