My mom, Wendi, and my dad, Bobby, take a lot of trips. You might think it is because of Mom’s blog, but really they’ve been doing this for as long as I’ve known them. Sometimes they are just day trips. Sometimes they are longer trips. I’m not sure why I don’t get to go along with them. I mean I’m just a 25 pound dog. I don’t take up too much space or anything. O.K. I will admit that I’m not the most obedient dog around. I will pull them when we walk. I also know they think I bark too much, but, hey, I’ve got a lot to say. So you’re probably wondering what they do with good ol’ Owney when they are out seeing all kinds of cool things. Not to worry, I have a great vacation home.
Whenever my parents go away, even on some day trips, they take me to my grandparent’s house (aka my vacation home). My grandpa, Bud, and my grandma, Dolores, love it when I come to stay with them. Their dog, Corky, a labrador-beagle mix, loves to have me come, too. We sometimes play chase, but that is a game we reserve for Mom and Dad when they come to pick me up. We run from the living room through the kitchen to the other part of the house and back. It’s great fun ’cause I can really go fast.
What I love about my grandparent’s house is that they have a fenced in yard. Do you understand what that means to a dog? It means that I don’t have to be tethered to some long leash or lead just to go outside. Also, I can do my business in relative privacy. Whenever I’m at home, my parents have to walk me. I usually do my business on our walks, so that means the farthest away they get from me is around 16 feet. That is what I think the length of my flexi-leash is. (I know my Aunt Randi hates those, but I like my freedom!)
Plus, at my grandparent’s house, they have a doggie door. That means I can come and go as I please. For an independent dog like me, this is awesome. I can go outside whenever I want. I sometimes sit on their deck. Sometimes I sniff around the yard. Sometimes I go stand at the gate and watch the traffic go by. It doesn’t really matter what I do, it’s the fact that I can do it whenever I want.
The last time, when Mom and Dad left me for the weekend, I convinced my grandparents that I needed a way to be in their front yard. This was because everyone (Grandpa, Grandma and Corky) were out front. Yes, Corky gets to go out front without a leash on–lucky dog! Anyhow, I was stuck in the backyard. While I enjoy the freedom to roam back there, I felt I was missing out on the action. So after much persistent barking, Grandpa rigged up a system that allowed me access to the front yard as well. You might say I’m spoiled and really, I’m O.K. with that.
In addition to the yard, my grandparent’s house has a basement. I like to investigate down there, too. Although it hasn’t been as much fun since their cat, Tiger, passed away. I used to love to find his hiding places. He wasn’t too happy about it and neither was Grandpa, but a dog has to be true to himself, if you know what I mean!
Finally, after a long day of investigating and playing with Corky and going in and out of the doggie door, I like to lie down on the chair in my grandparent’s living room. Sometimes I’m in a chair on my own and sometimes I’m with my grandpa on his chair. Corky doesn’t seem to mind me getting attention from Grandpa. Grandpa doesn’t seem to mind petting me and really I’m O.K. with that, too.
While I sometimes wish Mom and Dad would take me with them when they go on their trips, it’s not a bad gig for me to stay behind. I have a yard to roam in, a friend to play with, a comfortable place to sleep and grandparents who spoil me. Not bad for a dog, not bad at all.
