My friend LaNette shares stories about her three pups and such wonderful insight into the way they help us navigate life and seasons while allowing us to be ourselves.
Transcript
Julie Jackson:
Hey, welcome to Happy Tales of Happy Tails, the podcast where you’ll hear stories of the way pups have touched our hearts and our lives. So for the next few minutes, let everything else go and just listen and smile. I’m your host, Julie Jackson. Hi, friends. This week, I’m sharing a conversation I had with my lifelong friend Lynette Hammond. She brings such a beautiful insight about the way that dogs help us navigate the challenges of life and even the seasons. I know that you will enjoy it. So listen and smile. Hello. Hello, how are you? I’m good. How are you? I’m great. Good. Gosh, it’s it’s so fun to see your face live.
LaNette:
Yes, it’s good to see yours. How are you? Good. Thank
Julie Jackson:
you. Thank you for doing this. Of course,
LaNette:
I thought when you sent me the message. I was like, that’s awesome. Like, I got some crazy weird stories. I don’t know if they’re published. But
Julie Jackson:
you know what, I love the funny ones. It’s totally whatever. Whatever you’re comfortable sharing. So awesome. So tell tell us about who? Okay, hold on. Sorry. I want to make sure I’m seeing you. Okay. Tell us about who you’re going to tell us about.
LaNette:
Gotcha. Well, I’ve got their three dogs. There’s the oldest is 12. And she’s a Havanese. And that’s my daughter’s dog. Her name is Bella. Okay, she’s probably the least like, cuz she’s older and she just doesn’t care. She’s the alpha dog, though. And she will be is not afraid to let you know that. The other two are just the ones that make life so interesting on a day to day basis. The next oldest is Penny the golden doodle, which was mine. And yeah, her name is Penny and she’s six years old. And then there’s the chip ski my son’s dog who’s three? And she’s just a hot mess all together. But he’s the smartest one around.
Julie Jackson:
And she’s is it Sophie Sophia. Is that? Okay? Okay with the eyes? Yes, she’s
LaNette:
got a blue eye and a brown eye.
Julie Jackson:
Okay. Okay.
LaNette:
So that’s just who they are, you know, by name and type of dog. But yeah, personality wise. So my dog’s a golden doodle. And she I wanted her to be a therapy dog. Because we got her the year my dad died. And so and it’s funny how we got her name. So my dad loved James Bond, and we were watching the James Bond movie. And he was like, I don’t know what, you know, Penny, money pinning. And so I would pick it up. I thought I thought, Oh, I’m gonna name her Penny after money. Penny. And anyways, so she is just she’s really sweet dog. She has a really sweet personality. But she’s goofy. And I don’t know how smart she is. But she has her other gifts. He does. She does. And so like if I’m she’s really good about. And this is why I wanted her to be a therapy dog. But we never followed through. She was just always like, when I’m hurting, or I’m upset, like she’s very attentive to those things. And she’ll nudge me and she’ll, like, just be right there. Like just right by me. And it’s really cool. There’s times when I am upset and she’ll get up on the couch, and she’ll place her paw on my chest. Oh, and it’s it’s really cool. Because it’s that’s her thing. And that’s what she does. And it’s pretty. It mean it does a lot like it helps me and stuff. So she just knows when mom leaves hugs, because my kids are older. Like I’m in my son’s room right now who’s like off at a baseball game and so he’s gone a lot. So they it’s that transition of the kids leaving and I’m like so who do I hug today? It’s so yeah, it’s a teacher’s very attuned into me emotionally. But she is so goofy like she’s doesn’t know cuz I grew up with a little dog. So I think the big dogs think they are little and they’re definitely not. And then the little dog gets on top of the sofa, like the back part and they try to do it and then the whole stuff goes oh my god, what are we doing? mean? So they’re just a hot mess. And then the Shecky the Sophie, she is she does not bark, she howls she’ll I say Tupac. And like if she, she wants to tell us stuff she howls. And so like there was a dog in our backyard because we resk had somebody the neighbor’s dog got out. So today she was howling. And she kept running back and out up and down that hallway and was like, I’m like, what’s going on? And she was telling me, hey, there’s a dog instead of barking. And it’s just funny. Like, if she does something she’s not posted and you get on to her. She’ll talk back to you. You know what?
Julie Jackson:
That’s so husky.
LaNette:
Yeah, you have what? Two or three, two
Julie Jackson:
Husky mixes? And yeah, both very one more so than the other, but both very vocal. Very busy. How they do they? A lot of times though, it’s kind of that Oh, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah rah? You know, it’s like, it’s like they’re saying something. Now our little, our little healer that we lost in November. He used to crack me up because I said, I guess he thought he was the littlest Husky because he would actually get them whipped up into full on house. And they don’t do it as much now that he’s gone. But I would I mean, it could be anywhere in the house, and I would go, okay, they’re singing the song of their people now. And we would every day sing the song of our people. And but they don’t do it as much without him instigating now, but yes, it’s such a husky thing. Oh,
LaNette:
my gosh. And it’s so comical because something like she’ll just how and I swear, she’s probably cussing me out in many ways, because I’m like, What did you just say? Words, I know that was not going to be good.
Julie Jackson:
I am certain that is not family friendly language. I just don’t know what it was like. I’m
LaNette:
glad that was a howl. So to be right at home here. And she’s so funny. So she’s so when she sleeps, or she lays down. Like, she’ll lay there. The little chair. I don’t know how she puts her big body in it. But she’ll lay down Upside down, twisted and her legs are like, dried up. And her mouth is open or tongues hanging out. She looks like a pop them that’s dead. And I’m like, the first time she did that. I’m like, is she breathing? And she okay. And that’s her way. That’s how she sleeps. It’s really, it doesn’t look comfortable. But anyway, she’s she’s just crazy. So, um, gosh, what other? What do they not do? It’s funny. Come on, I was thinking about this. I was like, I don’t think they do anything. That’s crazy. And then I started thinking, I don’t know, I think life with him is crazy. But it’s interesting. And it’s never a dull moment. And that’s dogs are wonderful. And I love them. They feed my soul in many ways. But um, she is like, when we go to dog park, she has to be the one like fuel the other to kind of keep to themselves. She goes around and she’ll sniff every dog’s butt. That like she’s like, Okay, y’all are cool, like, you know, and she’ll run around and if somebody else is playing ball, she just jumps right in and I’m like, Hey, that was not your ball. And then she’ll come like speak to me in her house. Like okay, Mom, where’s my ball?
Julie Jackson:
If that’s not mine, then I need you to provide one
LaNette:
come on now get with the other moms here TF She’s funny. So yeah, I just that and the two that two oldest ones the golden doodle and that the Shecky are like the best of buds they Sophie will instigate a lot of things with Penny about like, you know, play fighting. And of course, my dog is not very, like I said, she’s not she’s a follower. Well, she’ll Sophia, I’ll try to instigate it and then kind of step back and wait for my dog to see if she’ll do anything and a lot of times she won’t and sometimes my dog is like, Hey, I’m going to start this too. And then like Sophie will grab her because she’s got a lot of extra skin my dog does the golden doodle and she’ll just like flip around on her back and then like pounce and you’re just like what is happening? Yeah, gonna get hurt I don’t know and then they just you know do their dog little wrestle thing but it looks like it can be serious when they were first started that it was really I didn’t know what to think you know, because these are all three female dog. Oh, yes. And I’ve done male dogs won’t do it again. I can’t handle the pain in the house but so but they’re they actually all get along and they’re really great. That the When Sophie We got Sophie when she was smaller. Bella my daughter’s dogs, that’s the oldest dogs. We were all in the car, we go into the dog park, and my daughter was holding her dog. And as Sophie, the newer pup was in the middle, and Sophie started to NIF and kind of walk over chords, Madison, my daughter, and Bella her dog, like bit. So I’m like to really want to do as much in it, she has it split her time. And so it’s it healed that way. And it was just her trying to like, Hey, I’m queen over here, and you’re crossing over into my territory. So please stay over there. And so since then, Sophie knows her place. Like she’ll look at her, but she won’t instigate stuff like she does with my dog. It’s
Julie Jackson:
very funny how they communicate those boundaries. And they figure out quickly, what role each of them plays in their little ecosystem. Yes,
LaNette:
and it was like the weirdest thing to watch because I thought, Oh, no. Like, is this gonna go on, you know, has mad my daughter would pet all the dogs and I thought great. She’s gonna be territorial. This isn’t gonna work. But that was the only time that was the only time and you know, they were fine. So, but yeah, he’s got a little you can see it doesn’t even and that’s crazy.
Julie Jackson:
Yeah, it, I was actually talking with a friend yesterday and laughing because when Chuck and Barney, the flu Fs, who are the youngest, with the biggest, and their siblings, when they play, it starts to look like, oh, this could be bad. You know, there’s like, the TS bearing and you hear the chomping and they’re, you know, all doing, like the big lion, you know, and, and what a friend of mine saw and she goes, are they? Are they trying to establish their dominance? And I was like, oh, yeah, no, they’re not trying to establish who’s alpha because then I point to, like one of the small healers who’s 12 and she just totally, totally chill sits in the corner watches everything. I was like, oh, no, she’s the boss. And they’re like, What? No, I’m like, yeah, no, they’re not trying to be the boss. Because when she’s done, she will walk over and shut all of it down. And everyone’s like, Okay, we’re done. Yeah,
LaNette:
that’s our little dog is like, they know, okay, she’s queen, and we’re just, you know, the little pawns. Yes,
Julie Jackson:
yes. We’ll do our thing until she says that we cannot do our thing anymore. And then we’ll settle down.
LaNette:
Yes, we held to the key.
Julie Jackson:
Yeah, they figure it out, though. That’s funny. Yeah,
LaNette:
they do. But yeah. So so. Oh, go ahead. No, go ahead. You’re good.
Julie Jackson:
I was just gonna say, either, either from each of them individually, or just as a pack, what have you learned from them?
LaNette:
Well, they’re each very, you know, obviously, different breeds. But they’re very, they are very, all very vocal and unique. And which is, you know, it’s really awesome to see like, even living in the household, how they, they’re all different. And they all really have their thing and the things that they do, and their personalities, right. And it’s a saint for me learning. It’s crazy that I learned this now, you gotta learn it back. Like in high school, like, you know, you’re all trying to figure out who you are, and try to be liked and stuff. And you weren’t necessarily comfortable with your own individuality. At least I wasn’t. Like, just through them just they’re all different. They’re all family, right? But they’re, it’s fun to see their personalities, and they’re, like, totally don’t care. And they let like who they are, they’re totally okay with it. And it’s weird how sometimes, like, God can use different things to teach you those things. And he used he knows I love animals. So yeah, he just that’s what I learned is just like it’s okay to be who you are. And just like, in your own skin and your own you know, how you recreate it and so for me, that’s good because it just helps me to try to be okay with who I am, you know, especially getting older. I’m 53 and you know, my kids are older and it’s just kind of a weird time transition time for me. And so I’ve realized like I said early like you know, get not that my kids don’t love on me but you know, they’re gone a lot so I I’m a very huggy feely person and I need so my flutes are the ones that helped me with that. So just kind of just being trying to be okay with who I am and my individuality and stuff. And so it’s crazy, but God uses those things that speak to you the most and it’s nature and my dog. I
Julie Jackson:
love that that I love that. That’s such a beautiful sentiment though. And that’s so true because they’re so unconditional impure. They don’t ever want Wake up and look in the mirror one day and go, Oh, I can’t I can’t go out like this. They know. I mean, yeah, I mean, they just wake up and they’re like, let’s take on the day.
LaNette:
Yeah, they just trot on it and like they owe the joint and they’re
Julie Jackson:
how I am I’m here. Let’s do it. I love that. No, thank you for sharing because I love that it’s, you know, it’s really true just to, you know, we were created the way we’re created. And, and because the gifts that we have serve a purpose.
LaNette:
Yep. Yes, most definitely. So I love it. And I was, it’s weird. We think about you know, my husband, I’m thinking about transitioning, you know, with the kids being gone soon. Like, oh, my gosh, and somebody had asked me, What are you going to do? When they’re gone? I’m like, I thought about it for a minute. And I’m like, I’m gonna keep doing this thing that I’m doing. Probably just, you know, I’m already scheming. Like, do we need another dog? No. But because I have a friend that just had baby puppies. It’s a it’s a great parodies and some poodle mix. And I’m like, Oh, yeah. So it’s, I don’t need another dog. But I want another dog. Those are two different things.
Julie Jackson:
Well, okay, so many thoughts here. That has to be the most irresistible puppy up here. And these poodle mix. I bet they’re just like little cotton balls. Oh,
LaNette:
they’re the yes. But yeah, they’re so cute. Oh, my
Julie Jackson:
goodness, adorable. And you know what I do laugh because of course, I don’t ever need another dog. But I say that. But then it’s funny, because some of the dogs that I have been rescued by, I have gotten during a period when I absolutely did not need another dog. And I knew that. But for some, for whatever reason, it was just very clear that they were meant to be we were meant to be family. And then it’s funny, because then then there’s instance after instance, where you see, you know, God working through that relationship and through that. So I think it’s kind of funny, too, because sometimes I don’t think it really is logic. Oh, it’s Oh, yeah. It’s
LaNette:
Yes. I feel the same way. It’s like with buying plants for me, too. I was at Home Depot just to go buy some soil. Yeah, no, I had to bring them to plants. And I look around and go, Okay, you really need to sell some of these cute up and up. But I might put you on a I can put our head we live in house. I could put him somewhere. Anyway, but yeah, logic, I think. Yeah. And it’s funny. What if now that you say that, but the times we’ve had other dogs in our life, it’s been like, why did you do that to other people are thinking having a child, your husband went overseas, like, Why? Why did you get another puppy? And I’m like, But I now I see. You know, I really needed that at that time. Like, I am an introvert but I love humans, but I don’t want to be alone all the time. Yeah. So yeah, and
Julie Jackson:
they one thing that you said that I also find very touching and sweet is the when you were saying how Penny will come and put her paw on your chest? And I mean, I they do they sense that, but I think there’s something maybe I’m just a big dork. Well, I mean, okay, that’s a given. Maybe it is the big dork in me, but the fact that she’s putting her paw on your heart. You know, like, not all the dogs do that? No, no mine, when they know that I’m, it’s funny, because occasionally I get to work from home, which I love. And they’re right there with me. And if things start getting stressful, or you know, it gets kind of chaotic. I know, they sense that because I will feel like a chin on my knee or a paw on my knee. And I know they pick up on that. And I know they respond to that. I think there’s something really intuitive about the fact that she that she’ll put her paw on your heart, you know, like, it’s okay. I’ve been like, yeah, no, they know where you need it. They know, or, you know, it
LaNette:
is i It is a black thing. Like I even this morning, i Everybody else went to church and I went after them. And because of the dog that we’ve rescued, and so who found the owner, the owner found them so it’s good. But so I was just, you know, it’s in senior mode, like you just your child just graduated last year, right? Yeah. So this is that this is my last one. And so it’s all these weird emotions lately, and they hit you out of nowhere and so I’m getting in the car AR and before I get in the car, I’m sitting there and I’m just slabs crying. And she did the same thing. Look what she did put upon me because I where I was sitting, but she put her paw on my leg and she turned a little face and, you know, and I always I’m like, Lord, You know what I need? And it’s just yeah, it was an emotional morning. So I was glad everybody else was gone. But, you know, the Lord knew I needed a little, you know, a little nudge a little. Hey, it’s gonna be okay. You still got me?
Julie Jackson:
You’re not alone? You’re not alone. Yeah, you don’t have to be with other people, which sometimes doesn’t always help. So you’re not alone. But you’re you have that space that you need to.
LaNette:
Yeah, and I can be who I am, even if it’s an emotional wreck. And you know, and I’m not okay with how I am. You know, like, you’re just like, Why am I always this way? Anyway, at least I think they’ll say,
Julie Jackson:
No, again, no, I get it. And so
LaNette:
it’s really good to have that nudge that reminder, like, it’s gonna be okay, I love you no matter what, even if you yell at me, I’m gonna be okay. You know. And so. And I think that’s just in a way how are, you know, Father God is with us. But in with my dog that, you know, it’s, it’s used through my dog. And so it’s neat to have that and it’s encouraging. It helps my heart, it’s what I need. And so it’s a blessing. So I just take it for what it is.
Julie Jackson:
I don’t think there are at least for me, I mean, but I don’t think there is a better picture or image for us to see with our own eyes of unconditional love than the one that that God shows us through dogs.
LaNette:
Yeah, and that’s maybe why I’m like, there’s so there. It’s just it weirdly feeds my soul in ways and, and I know a lot of people so I know that there’s people that are cat people that don’t like animals and all that and they think we’re very weird, and that’s okay. So, um, like, it’s just you got to understand, like, it’s just, it’s a it’s a thing. Yeah. That’s all I you know, it’s like people that aren’t vapes like, it’s like, a cheap thing, or whatever it is, you own a Hummer or whatever, you know, people are cat people, but that’s awesome. Dogs rule. But yeah, it’s just, it’s, it’s it isn’t a thing. It’s a language on its own. And, yeah, really, it’s cool. So everyone, I think God knows what we all need, and how things speak to us the loudest. And through me, it’s through, you know, my dogs, and it’s great. So, I’ve had friends
Julie Jackson:
that didn’t get the whole dog thing. And, of course, one thing that always comes up is I can’t stand the fur. How do you stand the fur? And well, I mean, I don’t love it. And I had someone gave me once a dish towel. That’s my favorite. It says dog fur. It’s both a condiment and a fashion accessory. And, you know, and I mean, and that’s true. And my house is never clean. By the standards, I would love for it to be and there are, you know, places on the wall where you can tell what their height is, you know, that I have to wipe down and, you know, there’s spots on the door where obviously sometimes we’re not getting it open fast enough. And there’s all those things I said, But you know what, I’m, don’t get me wrong. I’m so grateful for my home. I know that that’s a lot more than a lot of people have and I’m so grateful for my home and thankful but my home doesn’t bring me joy. My dogs bring me joy. You know, like it’s a true it’s a true sense of joy. So do I love that my house is not as pristine as others are as it could be? No, but do I lose sleep over that? Not at all, you know, because because the that’s if that’s the price that I paid for having that experience and that joy in my life, that’s fine. You know, and I know some people are like, I don’t get that. That’s okay. You don’t have to get that but yeah,
LaNette:
yeah, I have a sign that I hang out on the door because what the Shecky was asking is oh my gosh, Nate, you just need and there’s hair. I don’t know it’s it’s everywhere. And I finally just bought this because it’s so true. It’s like your hand towel. It says dog hair is just another accessory in this home like don’t like it then you may not want to you know come in so just it’s everywhere like
Julie Jackson:
everywhere. You will appreciate this. A few weeks ago I decided I’m going to make this investment and I saw it recommended on one of the Husky Facebook pages and Um, it’s pretty slick. It is a vacuum like a little tiny. I think this one has like a three liter capacity because I need commercial grade honestly. But it’s all the dog attachments, like the Furminator comb, a brush, even like a little massager brush, a lint roller and even the shaver if we don’t ever shave hours, but if you do, and it all attaches to this vacuum, so it sucks up the fur, you know as you are, brush as you’re grooming them. And because they also say that I’ve had attachments before for my household back, but I think they say it does wear your vacuums out faster. So this one, of course is just a dedicated vac just for the dog for Well, now it’s and it’s not super loud. So now the challenge is we just have some of the attachments laying on the coffee table and we try to get especially the Huskies, we just try to brush them every now and then to get them used to it where they don’t you know, because anything new and they’re like, No, I’m not doing that, you know, you have to get buy in. And so to get them used to the vacuum, I would just set it out and just turn it on. So the sound was going and so I’m trying to get them used to both so that we can actually do it all at once. And both of them at one point have walked up and just turn the vacuum off so it may be the most expensive dog brush. I’m still holding out hope
LaNette:
they are smart that I did. That reminded our Husky sometimes she’ll get, you know, stuffing, like ear mites or something. Yeah. And so I use apple cider vinegar on a key tap. Well, I have it sitting out on the counter in the kitchen. She hears it’s crazy. I’m like, it could be a different bottle. I go to open it and she knows she will walk and go hide behind the table. I haven’t been opened it like it’s like, Pat’s was tuna like, they come running, but he goes the opposite way. We can’t do this. And
Julie Jackson:
yes. And they’re stubborn. They
LaNette:
are stubborn. They’re so it’s funny because I think oh my gosh, you you’re you’re too smart for your own good. Like, you know so much. It just like maybe she’s smarter than I am. I don’t know. But like she, oh my gosh, yeah, she gets chill. She used to run away all the time, because she was the youngest dog and we were training her. And so we just you know, started doing the treat thing where I’m okay, you get a treat. So she figured it out like okay, I come in. Well, then she’s thinking, oh, when you let me in from the backyard, I’m gonna want to treat to I’m like, No, that’s a given you should do that the front yard is? No, no, she gets a freakin treat. That’s like how Oh, she’s thicker than thicker. So she needs to probably because of all the trades, because she just looks and she’ll come in and she’ll look at me and she’ll go right to where the door is and to sit there and turn her head. Yeah. And then, you know, they heard a little aloof, and I’m like, can you please stop with the personnel?
Julie Jackson:
I know. I know. I’ve I’ve said this multiple times, but my dogs are far better people trainers than I am dog trainer. Oh
LaNette:
my gosh. Yes. I believe that with all my heart like, like you’ve got me you know, I’m not going anywhere.
Julie Jackson:
Yeah. So I the first dog that I ever I rescued she rescued me whatever. You know, the first bit she was the first one that I was my solo endeavor completely. And she was a little Corgi probably Sheltie mix she and loads of personality. She was built much like the ottoman and Beauty and the Beast like that, you know, she and? And yes, and she did. She lived for treats. She demanded treats, and she usually one out and so I love thicker than a snicker. I’ve never heard that before. It’s total greatness. And that I understand that was Ali. So I was like, we’re gonna have to cut back on the treats. And she was not excited about this. I lived in an apartment that had a second floor. But the only thing on the second floor was my guest room and kind of storage. So it was not a regularly used part of the house. So I thought I’m going to put the treat jar at the top of the stairs had a little table. And I thought that way to ditch because she would go to the treat jar and sit up and back. And I said that way she’s going to have to run a flight of stairs every time so she’s going to have to work for it. So we did that for a while and we would do the flight of stairs whenever she did something that she deemed treat worthy and she was insisting on the trait. And then it still wasn’t really helping. So I finally was like okay, well I’m just I have to cut the treats out for a little while. So I just cut the treats out for a while. And I kind of thought we were doing okay. I thought, okay, you know, this isn’t too bad. And then someone, a relative was coming into town and I was like, oh, I need to go upstairs and make sure that everything’s fresh in the guest room and get it ready for them. I walk upstairs. And there’s the table at the top of the stairs. And in a perfect semi circle, all the way around that table are equally spaced little piles of poop. Oh, no. How long have you been going on? Because some of them were clearly not fresh. Oh.
LaNette:
Oh, friend. That’s bad.
Julie Jackson:
So I was like, alright, we’ll come up with a new system.
LaNette:
Yeah. Oh, my goodness. So
Julie Jackson:
yeah, I know they the whole treat thing to balance.
LaNette:
Oh, it is. And so now bind back to treat every, you know, once a week. But she is the most active like, like I said, she is the one that will run everywhere. My son walks her. Because you know, and that’s the thing. So he wanted a husky forever. And I was like, Dude, I had a husky when I was in when I was younger. And she ended up running away because we just didn’t give her the attention. My brother and I, and they need act to be active. And their
Julie Jackson:
escape artist.
LaNette:
Oh my gosh, they are. Yeah. And that’s why the one we had growing up like oh, it was it was crazy. I swear. Yeah, we tried everything. So with this one, I was like, Are you sure you want to ask? Are you sure you don’t want something else like? But yeah, so we ended up with the Husky. And I was like, myself sometimes but I look but her personnel and who he is really makes up for it. And like I said, she’s smart for her own good. But she just knows all these things like if they’re okay, so we’re on a corner. So the back gate. It if there is an opening somewhere if something’s on lock, she will go around and find it and she goes away. And but she does come back. And it’s funny. Well, by the time we find her, she’s just sitting on the porch like, Hey, I’ve been here for 20 minutes. Where have you been? Oh, my bed. She knows how to open step or like if it’s a lot, she’ll find it. And so it’s really not good when she’s in a cage at the cage dog. There’s no way we can leave her at her own freewill or to roam the home. There’s no and what I’ve found really hard is because I love plants and I love dogs. And I some of my humans in this house think it’s okay to leave her on caged for a few minutes. Oh, I don’t have to be 10 minutes. Oh my gosh, she only needs five. Like she only needs five or less. Yes, as she will, like, untied a plant to mine and take it all over the house. She will go find toothbrushes. She has a thing with toothbrushes and she will chew those up I don’t know what it is. And then the trash she will take it and just all over the house and I’m like guys, we cannot like sheep. Like I think it’s because she wants to be with her humans. And she just doesn’t you know we create trained her from the beginning. So she’s really good in a crate. But she cannot the other two. We have the hallway gated off and so they have free run of like the kitchen living room area, which is all like, you know, laminate floor. Yeah, yeah. Which is fine. So if there’s accidents, whatever, they’re fine and then there’s the big tall gate because you just can’t with the bed with the bedrooms. So she just she cannot like oh my gosh, she and she just thinks it’s all fun like and when we get home and she’s escaped or something she just looks at it like look at the fun that I’ve done and like you
Julie Jackson:
miss the party. Yeah. Great. It’s ours. Ours are the same way we I say the boys the Huskies can they have to be created because they abused privileges. The girls there now they’re seniors. Now they’re frosty faces and that has a lot to do with it too. But they’re they’re both blue healers and blue healers are notoriously precocious and mischievous and very active as well. They both breeds not for the faint of heart. But yeah, they may come more Yeah, they like to they like to come visit. But I laugh because I said guys what kind of universe are we living in when the healers are the well behaved dogs like what is going on? But same deal the girls, we gave the bedroom and so they They can have but they aren’t in a crate because they’re fine. They just hang out. You know, they just lay around all day. The fluffs if we do not create them, we come home and it looks like we have been hosting a frat party all day long. Yeah.
LaNette:
Oh my god. Yeah, a frat party gone. Right? Like,
Julie Jackson:
yes. Yeah. And they, especially Barney, um, you know, not to name any names, but I’m talking to you, Barney. He, whatever he gets into, he brings all of it into our bed. I think I might actually do an entire episode of all the things that we have found in our bed. And it’s funny, but sometimes it’s like really did Yeah.
LaNette:
Hopefully he doesn’t find my dead animals and bring them in your bed. Well,
Julie Jackson:
they have brought them in the house, but they have not put those in the bed. Thank goodness. That’s a whole other episode two of the critter. That’s part two. Yes, yes, they are. Every day that and I think a lot of it is that Husky in them, which is so completely delightful. But also buckle your seatbelts. Like they’re not. They’re not easy.
LaNette:
They’re not Yeah, they’re not easy. And that’s why I tried forever to tell my son like, he wasn’t going to get it because he just had a headset on, you know, a real one because we bind the stuffed ones. So it goes and he won’t even because he sheds so much. And his car is the upholstery in his cars black. Well, it’s black in mind, too. But I got flu hair everywhere. And I don’t care. And so nobody in this house will take them anywhere but me. And so and they hate it because they go to take my car and clean it. And I’m like, Mom, stop, bring in. You know, Sophie whiskey. I’m like, I can’t I can’t do that. If they all go they all go you know what out like you said about your house? Like I’m just I love the floats. And they’re going with me. So yeah, it’s just a decoration everywhere. Yeah. I was putting on lipstick the other day. And I’m like, What is this? Oh, it’s all here.
Julie Jackson:
It’s I know, I’ll yeah, I’ll be at work and look down at the keyboard where I’m working. And I’m like, Oh, that’s a fluke hair. Like, it’s just I feel like Pigpen from Charlie Brown. I just said the whole cloud of for that follows me now. And we’ve
LaNette:
tried everything. I’m sure you guys have done this. And if you know something that works better, like there’s we’ve tried, I’ve got the Furminator we have the little brush saying that supposed to be really it’s metal in a way to do that to get off, you know, because if you weren’t black in your house, like oh, I swear it looks like I never clean in my laundry. But it’s white hair, you know, and it’s bands out. So I try not to wear as much now. Um, but it’s it’s everywhere. Like vacuum. We’ve tried the little sticky rollers thingy. Yeah, and I just changed I got a new Dyson because Dyson was the best and yeah, so I’m sure my vacuum is not lasting a long time because of flue fair. But
Julie Jackson:
yeah, I know. And then you just have to go it’s just stuff.
LaNette:
Like the dryer there. The not the dryer vent, but that AC thing. Oh, gosh, yes. I’m like there’s a whole new dog here. For another talk on this, no wonder we’re not taking warm are all it’s funny
Julie Jackson:
because my daughter she loves to it, she more crochet she knits. But she’s taught herself how to crochet. She’s really good at it. And I know this is actually a real thing. But I told her I go, you should learn how to spin yarn. And I said you can spin the dog for people do that they spin the dog. And I was like, Can you imagine how warm that sweater would be? And she’s like, that’s so gross. I mean, I’m sure you clean it. I’m sure there’s a way to clean it. Right. I said that. That seems like a whole industry right there. Like there are probably some people that would love to have, you know, a scarf or a hat or something that is woven from all that.
LaNette:
Oh, I’m sure I mean, yeah. Like, I’m sure somebody would that you’re thinking of warm. You’re not thinking what’s actually in here.
Julie Jackson:
And then, you know, I don’t know, but she’s like, that’s so gross. And I’m like, okay, all right. Maybe a little but maybe it seems like there’s something we can do with it. Well, okay, so I it’s funny. I’ll just mention this before I forget but talking about the treats. Actually on one of these calls. Someone got me onto something that I’d never heard of before for the dogs and I need to check like calorie count. I don’t know. But have you ever given them freeze dried minnows?
LaNette:
No. Okay. It is
Julie Jackson:
in fact About a bag of little fish that are freeze dried. It’s talking about gross. It kind of creeps me out because they’re looking at you when you get the bag. But I am convinced that the fluids would learn computer programming, if that’s what it took to get one. Yes. Thank you love them,
LaNette:
they will do anything for them. But where do you get something like that? Amazon? Of course.
Julie Jackson:
Oh my goodness. Amazon.
LaNette:
Dried minnows. Yeah, does it sell? No.
Julie Jackson:
Okay. Yeah. And it did it kind of freaked me out a little bit when I got the bag, because you know, I’m looking at the bag, and it’s clear. And I’m like, I don’t know. I don’t know, I could put my hand in there. But they’re, you know, they’re freeze dried. So they’re not like slimy, or there’s no texture to them. That is disturbing. But yeah, and that I’m not kidding. I think that these, I think these dogs will do
LaNette:
anything for them. They like have that much they do.
Julie Jackson:
They do. They’re, you know, the whole, like you very accurately described the whole processes they will go through to escape. Chuck and Barney are especially obnoxious about that when they know the neighbor dogs are out in the neighboring yard. Because they so they, we honestly thought it would be a melee if it ever happened because of the way they behaved through the fence. But once they did finally manage to break through the fence and get into the neighbor’s yard, they’re all actually the best of friends. They play together great, but they act like total fools when that fence is between them. And and if we don’t time it right. And they’re all out there at the same time. I like I’m afraid one day, they’re just going to bust the whole fence over. And it’s very hard to get them in because they’re strong. And there’s two of them. And I will just go to the cabinet that the minnows are in and bang the cabinet door open and shut a couple times and then pull the bag out. And I can stand in my kitchen, rattling that bag and they come flying in.
LaNette:
Wow. That is awesome. Yeah. So
Julie Jackson:
it might be I don’t know, like I said, I haven’t actually checked the nutritional value, but they might actually be a little bit healthier and maybe low calorie enough that you know that if if someone’s demanding treats, it’s not a big deal to give them. Yeah.
LaNette:
Well, because that I mean, when we were training her to camp Sophie to come back into the yard. Oh my gosh, it was we you know, we would try the rattling of whatever bag of treats or whatever, you know, you try everything to get them to obey and listen. And so that’s a good idea. I mean, if they’re, you’re inside the house, they know.
Julie Jackson:
Yes. And Chuck is our most food motivated. And he it’s so hard for him to resist. If there’s anything edible, it’s so hard for him. And with that I can hold it in the palm of my hand and put it up against his nose. And he won’t take it until I tell him to eat it. Yeah, like I’m, I’m like, I think that they would learn to do our taxes, like
LaNette:
whatever it would be. Let me know. Yeah.
Julie Jackson:
I think that it’s so crazy. So yeah, I just thought I’d pass that little nugget along because it was on one of these calls. And the funny thing is she was sitting in her kitchen. And I could see the door behind her opening and closing but I thought that it was like a door maybe going into a room. And then she mentioned that it was actually one of the dogs opening the pantry and then coming up to her and then going back because they wanted some freeze dried minnows.
LaNette:
That’s awesome. It’s funny. Oh my No, they’ll sit right in front of the counter. And we’re the dog treat thing is especially soapy. She’ll just look at me. And she’ll look at the jar and she’ll look at me. Like, come on. I’ll look away and cheese. Oh my gosh. Yeah, they are never a dull moment with those dogs. Which is so great.
Julie Jackson:
I don’t want to keep you all day but have thoroughly enjoyed this and appreciate you so much. Oh, well. Thank
LaNette:
you for asking. Like I’ve like I said I was like I don’t know if anything is exciting. But you know, now that we start talking like oh, yeah, I guess there’s a few things.
Julie Jackson:
They play such a huge role in our lives. And I think I think that when like we realize it, but sometimes I don’t think we realize it until we start talking with other people. And then we’re like, oh, yeah, that’s and that’s one thing that has been a real They need to experience for me doing this is not tell people I say I really hope people want to listen, because these aren’t stories about, like, my dog rolled a car off of me in the middle of an accident. You know, it’s the stories of every day, but everyone, there’s something that comes out of it. That’s so sweet. And just so beautiful and so heartwarming. And I said, it really just kind of reinforces my understanding of how special they are. And it also renews my faith in humanity, because dog people are just lovely. You know, yeah, it’s so nice to it’s so nice to talk to dog people, because they’re, I mean, usually very selfless, because dogs are like toddlers that never learned to talk. And, you know, just and they appreciate the, the strength of that bond. And I don’t know, it’s just, it’s been a really sweet heartwarming thing that I hope other people get the same out of it.
LaNette:
No, it’s great. I’m glad you’re doing it. I think that’s, you know, it’s I think if we find more things that bring us together than things that would tear us apart, I think the world would be a better place. And so I think dogs play a part of that. And yeah, I mean, my Instagram is full of it. So separate than my Facebook, like Instagram. It’s all the things I like, it’s, it’s working out, it’s dogs, it’s gardening, you know, eating healthy, all those things. I love it like, so. i Yeah, I’m really glad that I have dogs because it really does feel a big, you know, a big thing in me, and it does with so many, like, I’ve had friends that never had dogs, and then they had them they’re like, oh, man, this is what you’re talking about. Like, yeah. So it’s it’s great. You know, it’s good to hear stories of what how people, you know, have rescued each other from their, with their dogs. And yeah, and I find you’re doing this as a positive thing. And I think it’s great. So I’m honored to, you know, share parts of this with you. And, you know, whoever, it’s great. So I’m so glad you’re doing really
Julie Jackson:
well. I am honored that you agreed and appreciate it.
LaNette:
This was so much fun. Thanks for the invite Julie. It was great. It’s always good to talk to you and yeah, let me know more about this. You know, with you Tusa you know, launch it and stuff. That’d be awesome. I’m looking forward to great,
Julie Jackson:
thank you have a good one. All right, you too. Bye.