<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>Hi all, it's me,</DIV>
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<DIV>Snoopy and LuLu are doing well, very well. They have become even more affectionate with each other. They usually sleep with either LuLu's head on Snoopy's butt or else Snoopy's head on LuLu's butt or with their butts pressed into each other. They are almost always together. They act like they are brother and sister and have been together since birth.</DIV>
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<DIV>Since Cyrus went to the bridge there have been some major changes at our house. Nobody barks anymore if someone comes to the door. I never realized it before but it was always Cyrus guarding the door and he'd bark and the others would join in. Now that he's not there to start the chorus .... no one barks. I may need a "please be careful not to trip over the guard dog" sign. Snoopy has taken up laying in the entryway where Cyrus used to lay (and where he died). But he doesn't bark if someone knocks on the door.</DIV>
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<DIV>Another big change .... food. Snoopy doesn't guard food anymore. At all. We cooked steak the other night on the grill and he never made a sound. We sat down to eat and he never said a word. He always went crazy before worrying over the steak. Cyrus was so big he could (and would) rest his chin on the kitchen table checking out the food and it made Snoopy crazy (Nepolianic complex?)</DIV>
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<DIV>Feeding time is a non event. Snoopy eats in the kitchen on his mat and LuLu eats in the kitchen on what was Cyrus mat. When they both finish they each go over to the others mat and lick out each others bowls. The other day Snoopy went over to LuLu's bowl before she was done and stuck his snooter in there and she barked ... once .... and he pulled his snooter back out and waited until she was done.</DIV>
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<DIV>Toys .... I cleaned out the toys and removed the huge heavy balls and the soft flying discs and anything really well loved. I got out 3 or 4 toys and Snoopy has been playing with those. He seems unwilling (or unable) to go dig through the toy basket .... that was always Cyrus' domain, he loved toys. But if I get some out he'll play. LuLu has never played with toys ... but she WILL rest her muzzle on one of the braided pull toy from Wen and the bounders and even mouths it sometimes. If you have a dog that won't play with toys maybe you should try one of those from the bounders, seems to work for LuLu.</DIV>
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<DIV>One point for concern is now on walks LuLu seems worried about my safety. Before she always ducked behind Cyrus on walks when a stranger approached. Now she still shys away but several times she has darted out as we walked past a person ... turns out she is a little ankle biter. Well, ankle mouther .... she doesn't actually bite but this behaviour is not good. The other day she grabbed a ladies ankle very suddenly as she walked past us and I apologized and pulled her off and she looked up at both of us as we stood there and grabbed the ladies other ankle. She didn't try to bite and she didn't leave a mark or hurt the woman but she didn't let go until I made her either. She was making it clear that the lady better leave her mama alone. She's done it a couple of more times and really startled people .... and me too! So now whenever somebody is approaching us on our walk I pull both LuLu
and Snoopy over onto the grass or parking strip and insist that they both sit and "pretend to be good dogs" which they will do .... for praise.</DIV>
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<DIV>I miss my big boy but I've mostly made peace with it. It is what it is. Glad I have Snoopy and LuLu to get us all through this. They are such cuddle bugs.</DIV>
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<DIV>More later from the clueless momPerson with Snoopy and LuLu</DIV></div></body></html>