Gonna Be Another Scorcher

Drive Doesn't Float

It's going to be how hot today?

To be honest, Drive doesn't care for the pool much. This is as wet as he'll get unless someone splashes him. Other pictures will show, however, that he has no problem jumping off embankments into rivers and mud puddles. A sandy beach area was met with suspicion, though.

When he was very new to home life, we took Drive to a relative's house. They have a lovely pool, about three and a half feet deep, with a deck, and Drive was intensely curious about the whole set-up. I had no plans to swim, so of course I was wearing jeans and sneakers when Drive decided to test his own divinity.

Apparently no one at the racetrack taught the dogs that sometimes, water has depth. Drive fully expected the water to support his weight. It failed. I had time to think, "My dog is going to drown! And I'm going to have to pay for this pool liner!" before I was in there with him, noodling him back up out of the pool until he flopped on the deck like a baffled 80-pound goldfish. Since then, he's had a distrust of any unnatural body of water.

Oh, of course I was in bed for the next two days with my back and shoulder muscles punishing me for lifting that much wet dog shoulder-high and then onto the deck. And of course I got a rash from having to wear wet jeans for the next several hours. I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible without buoyancy and adrenaline.

And I learned a couple things about how "smart" Drive really is. "S-M-R-T," to quote Homer Simpson. That's my boy.

An Award for Us!

Of course there are rules!

First, we thank the lovely ladies at Tales and Tails and Yoda at Barking Out Loud for this award. Thank you! I sincerely love the idea that my dogs and I might give someone a smile when they need it.

Secondly, we tell seven things about ourselves and then list seven others to receive the award. Since everything everywhere is all about Drive, he can be the topic of these little factoids.

1. Before retiring, Drive ran over a hundred races. He was Grade A when he suffered a career-ending injury. The report says "Rupture / Sprain, right front leg." Five months later he was on my couch.
   
2. It took Drive over a year to learn how to go up more than two stairs. To this day, he will actually close his eyes and run up at full speed to get it over with. Coming down is a little trickier...
3. If you see Drive looking directly at the camera in any picture, it is either because he is being bribed with food or there is something fascinating right behind me. He hates looking at the camera.
4. Before Drive, I had the sort of dogs where you could just leave kibble out and they'd eat if they were hungry. Drive is never not hungry. We have to watch his weight carefully.
5. Drive's human dad has a scar on his eyebrow where sweet, gentle Drive bit him. That was how we found out that Drive does not tolerate prednisone and, in fact, gets nasty 'roid rage. That was four years ago and we've never seen so much as a sneer from him since then.
6. Submissive? Even though he was the first dog in the house and he's obviously Mumma's favorite, Drive is actually the omega of our little pack. If it weren't for that "Mumma's Boy" status, he'd be the subject of a lot more snarking.
7. Drive actually knows several tricks. He can sit, lie down, shake, speak, and "show me your belly!" (Rolling all the way over proved a bit much.) He will only do these reliably in our living room.
   

Now lastly, we "tag" seven other bloggers. Because of the blog hops we've been participating in, we know lots of new friends. I'll just name seven of my new favorites and I hope you'll take a minute to check them out. In no particular order:

• Cult of the Greyhound I wish I could take pictures like that. Not just greys, either!
• For the Love of Chester My chocolate (lab) fix!
• Whippet Tales Breathtaking photography
• Cooking with Dogs Two of my favorite things. Pit bulls have a huge place in my heart.
• Two Little Cavaliers Ooooh I want to brush them
• Hope and Greyz Dogs and kids belong together
• One Pibble's Wish Every dog should be loved
  

Blog Hoppin'!

Hi. I'm Drive! Are you here for the blog hop? It's nice to meet you!

Pearls

So during my younger days, I didn't have much opportunity for dental hygiene. I've been to the vet about it a couple of times now. I hate going there! Every time I fall asleep at that place, I wake up with fewer teeth in my mouth.

And that's not even the worst thing a vet has stolen from me while I was sleeping.

Wet Wild Wednesday

Texlan Sensation, age 11

Let's take a moment for my beautiful brindle girl, my Lanie.

She is delightfully messed up in the head, but you can't see that in these pictures.

About a mile of snoot to kiss.


Sincere in her desire for cookies.


And finally confident in her belief that she's home forever this time.