crazedparent

Luna Loves: Dreaming she's a thoroughbred...

There are some evenings when we notice complete serenity in our home. The boys are quietly reading in their beds. The husband and I are sitting together on the couch, sipping wine or limoncello, and perhaps reading a book (we still do that) or catching up on work on our laptops.

The dog is not snoring in front of the fireplace. Or on the couch. Nor is she bringing me her beloved stuffed dragon to play fetch with her. "Where's Luna?" one of us will ask.

A quick search of the house finds her outstretched on our bed, her eyes closed, her body still. She looks like a racehorse in mid stride. And you sort of just want to curl up next to her and cuddle.

Luna Lovegood: A bludger in disguise...

Luna Lovegood had a little visit with the vet for her skin allergy issues. If she were a child and I were describing her personality, I would say she is happy, spirited, anxious, and loving (with everyone except me).

But her vet decided we should describe her using, what else, Harry Potter lingo.

She called Luna a bludger. You know, that huge, leather ball used in a Quidditch match that speeds around and if you're in its path, watch the hell out because you'll get knocked over with the force of a hurtling elephant. 

I'm not sure how she got that impression. 

 

 

Make me a promise...

Luna Lovegood was attacked by a dog last weekend. The type of situation where one dog runs to play with another dog and that other dog growls and faster than you can take a step, turns around and jumps on your dog like a rabid wolf. Jaws gripping your dog's neck like a vise and squeezing tighter every second. That patch you see under her ear, above her right leg, is the result of that dog fight. A one-inch puncture would that had had to be stapled after her fur was shaved off. We were so, so lucky on many levels:  She could have had worse injuries. She could have been killed. My kids could have been with me and THEY could have been the victims of this attack. Because with a violent dog, everyone is fair game.

I have written this post twice and deleted it twice because I just ended up typing words loaded with venom aimed at two people I don't even know.

So instead, I'm just going to ask you, all my fellow dog owners, to make me a promise. Just this single, important promise:

Be a responsible dog owner.

Alerts others if your pet is aggressive towards other dogs, kids, males, females, anything that could trigger a violent reaction. Don't put your dog in a dog park when other dogs are around. And if other dog owners are about to enter that dog park, TELL THEM your dog is aggressive. Better yet? Leave that dog park. Stat. Be responsible. Take control of your dog.

Also? Be the kind of owner who isn't shy to ask another dog owner if their pet is aggressive. That was the mistake I made. I didn't bother to ask this question because I assume the best in people. I assumed these folks were responsible. When I allowed my dog to enter a dog park with two other dogs, those owners didn't make a peep. Instead, they told me after the attack that their dog "didn't like to be charged." I think my response was, "You're in a F&*#ing DOG PARK." Or something along those lines. 

Lastly, if you have kids, teach them how to safely approach a dog. Never touch a dog without asking the owner for permission. Never touch a wandering dog. Not all dogs are Pongo from "101 Dalmations." Or "Marley." Or that those adorable Golden Retrievers from the "Space Buddies" series."

As for Luna Lovegood, she is better. So far, no abscess of her wound. Just a staple that needs to be removed in a few days. She's not shying away from other dogs.

But I am.

Luna Loves: Visiting the vet (alt title: My dog has allergies...)

Because we haven't had our share of vet visits, y'all.

My neighbor and I were joking a few weeks back that since our dogs are so astute and perceptive, they sense when things are bothering us. That our dogs are mimicking our health woes.

During that same time period, I was undergoing environmental allergy testing to get a better handle on my asthma. The result? I am severly allergic to cat dander, pollen, grass (even the one in our backyard), a whole lotta trees, and dust mites.

Coincidentally, during that same time period, Luna Lovegood was experiencing some major skin issues. Her nickname was "Itchy" because she scratched herself so much.

Turns out Luna also has environmental allergies; the doggy name for it is atopic dermatitis. It is also called "Lick, Bite and Scratch" disease because that's what your pup does when he/she has skin allergies. The end result is usually a rash that gets infected. Ick to infinity.

When the vet told me what Luna was suffering from, I laughed as I immediately flew back to the chat with my neighbor. My health issues are rubbing off on my dog!

The current solution is to have Luna on antibiotics and the equivalent of doggie Benadryl.

"Will it make her drowsy?" I asked, the vet sensing the anticipation in my voice.

"Your dog is so hyper that nothing will make her drowsy."

Just like the boys, said the voice in my head.

I once scoffed at the thought of pet insurance. Now? It's starting to look like a really good idea.

A typical Sunday afternoon in the kitchen...

Cookbook open (if using one), ingredients lined up in pretty dishes, food cooling on the counter, a requisite glass of some sort of white wine (other cocktails are best suited for Saturday dispatches from the test kitchen), and a golden stream of sunlight through the window.

Hovering in the wings is a sneaky, black dog who is poised for quick counter theft if and when the humans leave the room. 

Never! Her attempts are thwarted as she is always forced to leave the room with us and we close the door to the kitchen. I learned that lesson long ago.

I am currently smitten with Mad Hungry: Recipes and Strategies for Feeding Men and Boys by Lucinda Scala Quinn. The book is pictured in this photo. I was making my chicken broth and her recipe for cream cheese pie crusts, chicken pot pie, and apple crisp. Another dispatch, another day.

I am interviewing Lucinda next week in San Francisco and may have to hug her out of sheer joy because her book is so spot on when it comes to being a mom to and cooking for boys. And the stories about her sons made me tear up.

Luna Loves: Bath robes for dogs...

One of my simple, silly pleasures in life is taking a stroll through the Orvis dog catalog every month. Some of the products are practical, while others are just plain cute. I admit to loving a pair of dog slippers -- for me, not the dog.

Then there are those dog products that are completely outrageous. Like the doggie bath robe. And the doggie hair dryer. I remind myself that these products exist because people are willing to spend money on them, just like new parents are willing to spend inordinate amounts of money on unnecessary baby gear.

Either way, drying your wet dog need not be complex or expensive (neither does walking your dog in the rain). Just grab an old towel, chase your dog around and capture him or her, and dry dry dry while the mutt does an insane wiggle dance.

And if you want to test out a product that will the process more efficient, Luna Lovegood recommends this paw towel. Even better? Try a dog chamois, which costs less and works even better than a paw towel.

Luna Loves: Being a little devil...

Happy Halloween!

Luna's other costumes:

Pippy Luna

Cowgirl Luna

Bunny pup

Birthday girl

Luna Loves: Seeing dogs in rain coats (alt title: How to walk your dog in the rain)...

Luna is embarrassed for this canine companion. Luna covers her muzzle with her paws and hides her eyes. Every shred of alpha is gone while sporting a  yellow rain slicker. And the pet owner's bank account weeps for the squandered funds.

Since we're dealing with some early fall storm action in Northern California, I've been doing a lot of walking in the rain. I need the fresh air and since I'm maintaining a running routine, I am forcing myself to get outside, rain or shine. It doesn't take Luna but a second to start doing a shimmy-shake dance when she sees me with her leash and collar. Luna hesitates at first and then charges ahead while jumping over big puddles.

Dog owners take note: Your mutt can handle rain drops. In fact, your dog might even like walking in the rain. You just have to do it. Don't stop walking your dog because of a mediocre storm. Your dog needs the exercise. Think of it this way: You get cabin fever. The same thing happens to your mutt.

Some tips if you're walking your dog in the rain:

• Put some blankets/towels out for your return. You don't want to be searching for something to dry your wet dog when you get home. Have them ready beforehand -- you and your dog will be much happier.
• Plan a shorter walk than normal and go for routes that have some trees to offer respite from big drops and steady sheets of rain.
• Have a quick-return plan in case the storm gets worse. Know your short cuts!
• Upon returning home, offer extra treats, lots of cuddles and a warm spot to dry off.

Easy peasy. No need for crazy pet rain gear or dog umbrellas. Just get out there and walk!

Luna also loves:

Luna Loves: Raw ground beef (alt. title: Deciding to grind our own beef...)

Dog Eats: 5 healthy snacks for your mutt...

Seeing mutts in doggy dogjorns...

Luna Loves: Raw ground beef (alt. title: Deciding to grind our own beef...)

"Should I make chili or a pasta casserole for dinner?" I asked the boys on Monday afternoon while the sat at the kitchen table drawing pictures.

"Chilli!" yelled Q.

Seven, however, had a concerned look on his face. "Mom? Chili is okay, but can you use  Kim's recipe?"

"I don't have any turkey," I answered. And I quickly realized he was thinking about a discussion we had on Sunday afternoon about ground beef.

Seven saw me reading a New York Times story, "E. Coli Shows Flaws in Beef Inspection." He wanted to know why the young woman on the front page of the newspaper was in bed. Why she was in a wheel chair. How hamburger meat could cause her to almost die. I thought about how to approach this topic with him, but he was reading the paper over my shoulder. I couldn't sugarcoat it. Nor did I want to.

And so we went on to have a lengthy chat about meat, processing plants, germs, and how they can hurt you. It was easy for him to understand; my husband and I suffered a bout of food poisoning in 2007 after spinach we ate was tainted with E. Coli.

Seven was struck by the fact that the young woman in the article would never walk again because she ate a hamburger that contained germs. He couldn't understand why companies "were selling beef without being safe." And the doozy question of the day: "Why did God create a bacteria that could kill people?" (I had to table that one.)

My husband and I were honest with Seven about this safety issue with ground beef. I also shared with him that while I didn't want to be a vegetarian -- I love red meat -- I was considering giving up burgers and using ground beef in cooking until I could learn more about how our butchers at Whole Foods ground their beef every day.

But I had a pound of ground beef sitting on the kitchen counter that I needed to use. I hate wasting food, and I felt okay with the batch that I had just purchased from Whole Foods. I also was trying to balance respecting my kid's concerns while not causing paranoia.

"If you don't want me to use meat in the chili, I won't. If you decide that don't want to eat meat, I will help you with that," I said."But not all ground beef is bad. Just remember that."

"Did you find out if they (Whole Foods) are safe?"

"Let me do a quick check online," I said. My search query was: "How does Whole Foods ground their beef?" The result? Pages and pages about the company's recall of ground beef one year ago.

"Honey, we're going to pass on using this meat," I answered. A seed of doubt was now in my head.

I returned the kitchen to get the meat. The wrapper was empty.  And there was our canine character, Luna Lovegood, standing below the counter licking her chops and savoring the last remnants of one whole pound of raw ground beef.

Back to the laptop I went, only this search query was: "Is it okay for dogs to eat raw ground beef?" The result? Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes! Not only is it okay for dogs to eat raw ground beef, it's good for them. Dog crisis averted.

As a person who loves to cook, I really can't imagine not using ground beef in recipes that not only call for it, but where ground beef makes or breaks the meal. So we came up with a solution. I have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and a simple food grinder attachment will allow us to ground our own beef. In the end, our grocery budget may go up a bit because of the cuts of meat we'll be buying. But it will make our family feel safe about what we put into our bodies.

When your kids love food, you do what you can to foster a love of healthy eating.

So no chili on Monday night. Pasta casserole won, even if by default. (And judging by the look of victory on Luna's muzzle, she felt like she hit a grand slam.)

For the attachment pet owner...

For the dog owners who wants their pets to feel secure and loved at all times, behold the VersaPack Pet Carrier. It keeps little Chanel or Tucker "right where [he/she] belong––close to your heart." All for $100.

I could not make this stuff up. Okay, I could. But I didn't!

First it was the asinine concept of dogs in strollers. And the fools who fell for it hook, line and sinker. (Yes, Tori Spelling, I'm talking about you.) And now, Baby Bjorn-esque pet carriers. And slings disguised as pet messenger bags!

I can't wait to see the dog or cat co-sleeping bed.  You know it's coming because letting your dog or cat sleep on your bed just isn't good enough. And when it does, remember, it was my idea first!