Slow news day

Now that Michael Jackson has been memorialized (not sure where the body is, so don't know about burial) and President Obama is in Africa telling them how to create a democracy, it is a slow news day. The big story was a barking dog in New Hampshire. Apparently that town had a rule that if a dog had barked for 30 minutes the police would intervene. That's probably to protect the owners. Yesterday I heard a barking, barking, barking dog. It sort of came and went. Later I passed one of those huge travel trailers and looked up to see the little yapper in the lap of the female passenger. Neither human was paying any attention to the dog, but even over the noise of the motor with the windows up and door closed, you could hear it. Several blocks away.

The best way to address the barking nuisance is exercise--helps the owner and the dog, particularly big dogs. Next, the owners need training in dog care--discipline, nutrition, kindness and health. It might even improve their relationships with people. Behavior problems, not disease or accidents, is the leading cause of death of pets--i.e. euthanasia.

Here are some doggie photos taken at Lakeside this week.

Lorenzo looks like he might almost be a full Lab, but he was a "rescue" dog, so I suspect not. The first year he barked at everyone, but his owner has settled him down a lot. He was getting up for a stretch as I approached.

This little cutie, a Chihuahua fawn and gray, is wearing a summer pinafore. She just had a baby in October, so maybe she hasn't got her figure back yet. She's about 4 lbs., just a snack for Lorenzo.

I don't see many fat Springer Spaniels--either they run in front of cars, or drag their owners on long runs and wear everyone out. They get their name from "springing" at their prey, or the person with the camera. This one was all over the place until she grabbed his collar.

This is a Lab doing what they love best, chasing something in the water. I don't know how she exercises this dog at home, but at Lakeside they are together at the lakefront every dawn for about an hour. The dog never gets tired of chasing that red knotted rag and eventually the owner has to go back to the cottage and get a nap. Today I also saw a golden in the water, but she was so wet I decided not to get within shaking distance.