My dog is incredibly predictable. She poops when you let her out in the morning and she poops when you let her out after dinner at night. But, what I have come to realize is that she needs one more poop of the day but will only do so when someone comes with her to walk her. It can be the middle of the day or night, even after her dinner poop. But, if you do not walk her by evening, she is increasingly antsy and obviously has more to do than a solitary period on the chain will do for her. It is like she needs company just that one time, or is it the extra walking that gets it out of her?

Dogs are indeed fascinating creatures. Being at home now, I am coming to a greater appreciation of the canine species and what dogs are capable of needed and providing. They say a dog is as man's best friend and at 4:30AM when she wakes me up, I certainly remind my husband of that fact.

My dog reminds me of my children sometimes. They can be so self-sufficient but I have to remind myself of their need too for individual attention from Mommy on a daily basis. (No, they don't need me in the bathroom anymore, thank the Lord!) Lately, my daughter has been reminding me to pray with her at night because I let that nightly practice slide. I am so grateful that she remembers and I want to make sure I don't ever forget again because now is the time I have with them. Soon that time will be gone and while I will still be walking Carmel daily for her needs but they won't be asking me to pray with them and tuck them in. I hate when I miss those moments because of something I want to do (like being on the computer!)

My dog also reminds me of the importance of daily communication and love with my husband, too. Whether a simple "I love you" over the phone on a long distance trip, a squeeze on the shoulder at dinner or more (which I won't go into here), that attention is essential to a marriage and friendship among spouses.

What else about my dog? Hmmm. . . She reminds me of the importance of sleep because she gets some good snoozing all day long. I don't think I'll ever sleep that much but I will go take an afternoon nap right now in her honor! Otherwise the children will be home soon and my time to myself will be "dog-gone."

Rest, Be Happy, Be Positive, Be Daring. Be Yourself!

When the Baha Men recorded Anselm Douglas's "Who Let the Dogs Out?," one of them had to own a dog. They must have known the terror and angst such a question strikes in the hearts of dog owners. It hit such a cord around the world that the Baha Men actually won a Grammy in 2000.

In our house, the question is singular. Who let the dog out? Namely, one pesky yet lovable little beagle named Carmel. Note the picture below where Carmel is in our kitchen and still got in trouble.

(This shot of our little doggie was featured in the local newspaper for great pet shots in 2005.)

Carmel finally grew out of chewing up our shoes and furniture, but she does occasionally grab a stuffed animal to chew the ears off (Ear jealousy? Fetish? Any dog whisperers out there?) Her incredibly soft ears keep her lovable even after she has devoured another year's leather gloves and any fuzzy socks she can get. I try my best not to complain because I have a deep seated insecurity that if I do and my family chooses between me and the dog — I won't be the one still in the house.

The best part about the dog escaping the kitchen is that she really doesn't go after my things, other than my gloves. And, if she does chew something up, I get to throw it away! Yeah for throwing away! The kids have become much more responsible about keeping the dog in her zone. (I wonder why.)

One day, we came home and Carmel met us at the front door. The kitchen is the Carmel zone and somehow she got out of the baby gates (installed in my brand new house ruining my brand new walls just so my children can have live fuzzy ears to pet). Where are e-pets when I need them? Oh yeah, we have those too. Only they don't wake me up at 4 AM for a squirrel in the backyard.

Hmmm – no stuffing spread across the floor from a stuffed animal. No poop in my closet. What could she have been doing? Two or three days later, we figured it out.
"Mom, where is the candy that was in my Christmas stocking?"
"Where was your Christmas stocking?"
"In my room." said my daughter, holding up the stocking.
At the same time, we spied a gaping whole in the bottom.
"So much for the chocolate. Where is the gum?" The red plastic Santa halves with canine imprints under her bed answered that question and my husband confirmed some multi-colored poops in the backyard.

A couple of days later, we were in a hurry as usual and I headed to the car while my daughters grabbed their coats and school bags. I could hear the cry through the window.
"Who let the dog out?" I think it was me, hehe. Keep on walking.