Boys will be boys

Mom always says she likes boy dogs the best. This is a good thing for me because I'm a boy dog! But yesterday, I pushed it a wee bit far and I paid for it. 

We went out to work in the yard. Mom wanted to see if she could do some tractor work (still too wet) and I went to protect her from squirrels. 

I made a mistake and ran through the clay muck that came up out of the well drill hole. It was nasty. It clung to my fur and made my paws filthy. I showed Mom and she shook her head and told me no way was I going to be allowed back into the den...er...house without having my paws scrubbed. 

For once, I agreed! 

I was a good dog and stood still while Mom washed me with Dawn and then rinsed my feet really well with the hose. After I dried for a few minutes, I went inside and stayed out of trouble until Cousin Dave and Sadie walked up to see if we had anything exciting going on. 

But I stayed out of the mud! I'm Deuce and I don't like mud on my paws! 

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, rural living, country lifestyle, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, a writer's life, squirrels, dirty paws, Dawn dish detergent, family, good dogs

Mom says I can sleep on the bed

It's been raining for a WEEK!!!!  Every time I need to go outside to, you know, do my outside activities, I get wet. I do not like this!

I need to adjust my thinking about Mom's umbrella. Maybe it's a good thing she tries to shield me with it, but it feels weird to have that thing over my head. What if I can't see a deer or a squirrel because of it? I can't chase what I can't see. 

And then there is Loki. He's been sleeping on my...er...Mom's bed. Mom doesn't seem to care. She says he doesn't need to be out on the patio when the rain blows in on him. This does not bode well for the coming winter. I bet I'll have to put up with him on the bed all the time. Mom says I need to get over being petty about it because Loki is getting older and he'll probably stay in the house more. I like him better when he stays on the patio. It's screened so he's perfectly safe out there. 

Dogs don't measure time the way people do. Mom says Dad has been gone for six months now. I'll always miss him. I sleep on his side of the bed. Mom doesn't even fuss me for putting my head on his pillow. It's been quieter without Dad. I miss the sound of my parents talking in the background when I nap. 

I miss sunshine, too. Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I have to go push Loki off the bed. Just because I'm Deuce and I can. Does that make me a bad dog? I think not because it'll make Mom laugh at us. 

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, a dog's life, Loki, rural living, good dogs, Hurricane Helene, rain, sunshine, patio, dog parents