Monday, April 30, 2012

Missy Goes Swimming

A kind reader asked about Missy and wanted me to give an update.  Missy is doing well these days.  She is now 6 1/2 years old, and she is slowing down a bit these days.  During the spring, Missy sheds an enormous amount of dog hair.  It is everywhere.  I brush, vacuum, and brush again.  This is a daily adventure in our house, and we are still afraid to wear dark colors.  This is the very reason that Missy will be our first and last English Mastiff.  I can handle everything about her except the mounds of dog hair in the spring and fall.  What is a frustrated pet owner to do?  This frustrated pet owner took her to the pond and encouraged her to swim.  I was thinking that maybe some of the hair would wash away.

We have avoided introducing Missy to the pond.  What is worse than dog hair?  The answer...a 220 pound wet dog with wet dog hair!  I overcame my fear of a large wet beast frolicking in my house and took her for a swim.  She was unsure at first.  She wanted to make sure we were watching her.  After all, if she needed to be rescued she wanted to know that we were available.

She eventually worked up the courage to actually swim.  She also realized that she could have a good time without over exerting herself, which was a positive from her perspective.  Now all I have to do is figure out a way to have her use a bar of soap!  By the way, the battle of the dog hair is still being fought on a daily basis in our home.  My advice to you...if you come to visit me don't wear black!

grace and peace,
julie

3 comments:

Carmen S. said...

LOL, what a good swimmer she is:D I use a "Furminator" on my shepherd, it pulls out TONS of fur but is a long process and I don't dare attempt it in the house! Outside on a very windy day is best:) Enjoyed seeing her again, I was beginning to have Missy withdrawals, LOL!

mitsy said...

I feel your pain! We have a 180 lb. Saint Bernard, and I've pretty much given up on having clean floors or slobber-free windows (or walls, for that matter) until we move to our farm and he becomes an outdoor dog (mostly, anyway). How long did it take her to dry off before you let her back in the house? :)

Bernice said...

Thank You Thank You!!
I Love big dogs but hubby doesnt:(
Missy is my kind of dog shedding hair and all:)
Thanks again, you made my day and week:)