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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Well,
I could write at least a chapter on this subject, let me tell you. First
let me say this about getting him up on sofas and such – ARE YOU CRAZY
WOMAN??? Let him lie on the floor by your feet, he'll survive. If
you could see how Sister Anna has totally slimed the sofa in the den until it
is permanently stained, you would think twice about letting a drooler up there.
Hanni Klinger very graciously sent me a really nice set of stairs that
Chiliepepper used to use so the girls could get up and down. Put them
together, they came with a really nice cloth cover, put it on, now let's move
them next to the living room sofa. Did that. Dogs looked at them
and moved to the other end of the room and will not get near the stairs.
Would you like them? Hanni said to pass them on when we were done with
them, and we sure aren't using them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The
BUV (the car or SUV to normal people) –Sister Gracie and Sister Anna are
60+ pound lard butts, and I have to lift them up into the BUV and also
down. Sister Holly weighs 40 pounds and after lifting the lard butts, she
is like lifting a feather. Anyway, I thought, let's get a ramp, lots of
other people have them and say they work great. Did a lot of research and
got a great ramp that folds so you can take it with you. Had it laying
flat in the house for a week or two, trying to acclimate the girls to it.
Followed the directions about using treats and making them walk on the flat
ramp to get the treats. They figured out how to get the treats without
touching the ramp. Kept trying, eventually Anna put half a paw on the
ramp and snagged the treats, that girl will do anything for food. Okay,
forget acclimating in the house, let's take it out to the BUV and try it.
Wish I'd had a movie camera trained on the driveway. Three dogs look at
the ramp leading up into the BUV, then BOOM, three dogs running in three
different directions. Do you need a ramp? I have a very expensive
one that has never been used.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>My
last thought on this subject -- have you ever heard of counter cruising? Great
big Bassets that are not agile enough to get on the furniture are rarely agile
enough to counter cruise. Be careful what you wish for.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=JanieHmkBold><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:JanieHmkBold'>Anita Woodrum</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a
href="mailto:awoodrum@clear.net">awoodrum@clear.net</a></span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
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