[Dailydrool] To Marty Needham(6/30/08) and from a new owner

[Esther Strom]

I'm glad that things are clear in your mind as to your relationship with Daisy. However, some of us DO view our dogs as our kids, and I find it offensive that you would look down on me for having an intense attachment to an animal in my care. 

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Esther Strom
Visit my Etsy shop: http://HookedByEsther.etsy.com



----- Original Message ----

RE:: Marty with the bad week and to all Daily Drool readers..
My Lord! I just read about your week with your two Bassets and the Cockers. 
I have had both in my life, I have a 5 month old Basset now,my very 
first ( and last). I have been working to make her house worthy.. but 
after I read your notes I don't feel so bad! 
 
Marty, didn't it occur to you to kick them all out of the house this past 
week? it is summer, they can play outside and knock off the rowdiness 
inside! Daisy has a fenced grass yard, shade trees and a well built, 
insulated dog house outside.
she also has her own pool to play in and loves it so I don't feel bad 
when I put her out. she is in and out during the day depending on her behavior. 
 
I also didn't knowtrimming nails was such a big 
deal until I was reading today's Drool. big deal,  she was at the vet's for 
spaying last week and  he trimmed her nails in less than 20 seconds . 
I never thought a thing about it nor did she, apparently. sometimes ignorance IS 
bliss! 
 
The old Cocker we had, Ed, was house broken in all ways by the time he was 
this dog's( Daisy Sue) age but I see the Basset doesn't want to adhere to 
the house rules very quickly. she is potty trained but it will be a long damned 
winter for her if she doesn't get her manners down this summer. we live in 
Colorado, it gets very cold and snowy here! 
 
She goes after Muffin, a 13 yr old Himalayan cat but that is to be 
expected, I just put the cat on my high bed and shut the door to Daisy. if she 
starts racing thru the house, she goes back out. she is getting the picture 
better these days
 
We walk 1 mile in the mornings, she races thru the edges of the prairie 
here on a 16' retractable leash, it is so easy to use. I give her her head most 
of the time unless a car is coming, then I shorten it to my side. she loves the 
fresh dirt, races like a pony thru it, galloping till she is exhausted. good! 
then we take another 1 mile walk in the late afternoon or early evening, she 
does the same thing. by 7pm she is in her kennel bed ( in kitchen ) with the 
gate shut. she sleeps all night till I let her out at 6am again. she has never 
said a word after being put to bed,
 
I read the Daily Drool and wonder what on earth is going on with so many 
folks and their Bassets! seems like all sorts of huge problems arise but I am 
not going to those places with Daisy. I am not her slave, she is a dog and 
I love her, take good care of her but she is still a DOG!  Out if you 
cant behave, In when you can. maybe some of you can simplify your problems by 
remembering these are dogs, not children. I don't know.. I just know this dog 
isn't going to run my house or my life. period.  happy days with your 
puppies , to all of you!  Suzan Pulsifer, Pueblo West, Colorado