A Dog's Life

I'm Duncan the Westie.  I am 56 years old...that's eight in people years and a full-time RV dog.  Everywhere I go people remark that I am the happiest dog alive.  I find that a peculiar statement.  What is there not to be happy about?  I am loved, well-fed, get plenty of fresh air and exercise, and I go to the groomer once a month for my spa day.

I overheard someone describe me as spring-loaded.  I don't know what that means, but people seem to find me so adorable that they go out of their way to pet me, talk to me and sometimes even give me a delectable treat.  

Speaking of treats...my favorite time of day is tea time with Mom.  I wait patiently for her to make herself a cup of tea and to arrange the cookies on a saucer.  She gets one people cookie, and I get two dog cookies.  I get my cookies after I raise my right paw and shake hands with her.  It's kind of silly, but she makes me do it, and I don't really mind as long as I get my cookies within two seconds after complying.

Currently I am in the desert of Arizona.  This is my first desert experience.  It was an adjustment.  With no green grass anywhere, I wasn't sure at first where to do "my business."  But, I got the hang of it and found that telephone poles and low scrub bushes serve well for lifting my leg on.  It can be tricky business though with all the prickly stuff out here.  Every once in awhile a miniature tumble weed will attach itself to my furry flanks.  I freak out and try to run away from it, but it clings tenaciously to my backside relentlessly chasing me all over the place until the bushy beast finally lets go.

My legs are fairly short carrying me low to the sandy ground, so I breathe in a lot of dust.  As soon as I go outdoors I sneeze about three times before I can get serious about sniffing and investigating all that is stinky and putrid.  My Mom is not into this and gets pretty impatient with my inability to keep moving.  She is a gem though, going around behind me with a plastic bag picking up "my solids."  Dad takes me for my first walk in the morning and last walk before bedtime.  I've trained him to carry two bags at a time just in case.

Spa day is awesome!  But, now that we're gypsies I no longer have a regular groomer.  I go to the local Petsmart for grooming.  Mom is pretty particular about my haircut.  Lately, the groomers have been cutting my back too close which makes my skirt look too bushy at the hips.  Once after Mom and Dad picked me up from my spa day, Mom was not happy with my haircut, and I overheard her say to Dad, "Does my haircut make my butt look big?" 

In between spa days, Mom sometimes gives me a shower depending on how disgusting I smell.  I don't really notice the stench.  There is no tub in my 5th wheel rig, so the shower is a new experience too.  Mom seems to get nearly as wet as I do.  What...where you expecting a shower photo?  A little privacy please!

I love visiting my neighbors who just happen to also be my Mom's brother and sister-in-law.  Here's a photo of Mom, Dad, and Richard and Donna.  I took this photo myself.

Arizona has been a great place to pass the winter with its mild temperatures and perpetual sunshine.  I love sunbathing in my chair.

        And the sunsets can be amazing; painted by the very hand of God.

                      After a long day of lying around I hit the sack. 

                                 

Recently I heard Mom and Dad making travel plans.  It seems we are heading for Texas soon.  Where did I put my cowboy hat?