Last Day

Dooley slept with his head on my pillow last night and now his eye goop stains are on the pillow case. He likes to snuggle up and give me less and less space on my side of the bed. He'll stretch in the middle of the night and push his body or legs up against me. Dooley always sleeps through the night and then wakes me up at about 6am to go outside. These last two days, I tried to get him to let me sleep in a little. No such luck, he's ready to go, sighing and looking at me, "come on lazy bones." 

On our walk this morning, we passed an elderly man coming out of his house to get the paper. I said good morning and pulled Dooley close. He asked how the dog was doing today. I told him, fine but he's been trying to eat a few bunnies. He laughed and asked if he could pet him. I said we can try it but sometimes he gets a little jumpy. Dooley sat down as the man shakily approached. I was impressed, Dooley licked his hand and the man gave Dooley a few pats. We continued on our way home. 

Once home, Dooley got the spins, he was tearing through the house, found his kong donut toy and insisted we must play tug of war. I hate tug of war, I always have. The jerking, the slobber, the whole thing. But I obliged. Now Dooley is napping in the sun in the backyard. I get up to check on him every few minutes and he always knows. I hate when he sees me because it's like he thinks he needs to come in.

I'm not sure how to end this Dooley Watch 2016 adventure. I wish I was able to film the Joe and Dooley reunion, but I will be long gone. Maybe Joe will give an interview afterward. 

I've learned that Dooley is not as lawless as Joe made him out to be. He listens extremely well, just sometimes decides against it. I only had to put him in time out three times over seven days, which is not bad. He didn't eat any of my stuff. He didn't jerk me around on our walks. He didn't steal any of my food. He really is a good dog.

Dooley Watch 2016 is coming to a close... Maybe we'll get to do another run at it in 2017. 

Interviews

Dooley played with Blu outside and tried to get Walter, Kate's cat to play as well. We don't usually let Walter and Dooley socialize because Dooley is just very untrustworthy and would probably end up hurting Walter. Walter snuck out while we are all outside and I had to put Dooley in a time out to get him to listen. Holding him down on the ground with my hand on his neck the other on his back legs, I wondered if he really understood why. I don't think he did as he continued to stalk Walter. When we left the Fincks, we came home to relax for the evening. We had a little rain and thunderstorm at about 930pm last night. Dooley didn't think much of it so we went to bed early. 

After our walk this morning, Dooley and I went to Panera Bread as I am out of the bread I like. He had his head out the window, cooling off. When he stands to do this, his foot hits the unlock button over and over. Click, clack, click, clack the whole journey. Dooley was excited about the new smell entering the pick up and tried to drink my smoothie. He's napping on the deck now while I write. I keep wondering if he'll forget about me when I go back to Fargo and Joe returns. I wonder if when I come to visit if he will smell me and remember how I stayed with him. 

It's going to be very hot today. We will work on "find" and play ball outside. One last visit to the Fincks tonight.

Here is an exclusive interview with the Finck kids (sorry it's so dark).

Caught the Scent

Dooley caught the scent of the treat. Which is the main goal. He was still out of sight for the placing of the treats and waited for my command to find. I do not think I will have the time to transition from a treat to a human scent. Maybe Joe can continue that journey with Dooley.

Dooley and I had a lazy day yesterday after our time with the Fincks. The wind was blowing and Dooley was warn out from playing with Blu. We played in the yard throughout the day but laid low. I did leave him to meet my cousins for drinks. He peed a river when I returned. 

For fear of rain this morning, we took a walk through the Capitol grounds as it is close to home. Joe had informed me that if it rains, Dooley won't want to go out to pee. It sprinkled a bit before we left. Dooley behaved differently on our walk through the Capitol. He was weaving back and forth in front of me sniffing everything, checking for bunnies, and other dogs who'd travelled our path. He pulled more for me to hurry along. When we walk through town, he is very good, never pulling, only getting a little antsy when we pass a dog or another person, but even then behaves. 

We returned home to get ready to go visit Little Ike, Tasha, and Nick. Ike had requested the presence of the "Do Doo Dog." Dooley had a good time chasing the ball and evading my attempts to retrieve it from his jaws. He got some pats from Ike and Tasha showed us a hike through the Coulee, for future adventures. 

We are off to the Fincks this afternoon to see what kind of trouble we can get in to.

Punishment

Before heading to the see Dooley's friends we tried "find" again. I have him wait in the kitchen and I hide the treat in the living room completely out of sight. He did exceptionally well waiting until I called for him to find. He didn't peak or scoot closer to see what I was doing. It was very impressive. 

We headed to the Finck's last night to get some play time in with the kids and Blu.

A few seconds in, Blu body slams Dooley, which is most likely well deserved. Dooley and Blu were running about in the back yard when a lot of barking began. The dogs on the other side of the brown fence behind the evergreens were barking at Blu and Dooley, so Blu and Dooley barked back. Dooley was starting to get aggressive, jumping up, really barking, almost a snarl. The kids in that yard came up to the fence as well and I didn't want anything bad to happen so I yelled and yelled at Dooley to LEAVE IT. He would run to me and make a circle and continue to go back and berate the neighbors kids and dogs. So I went up there and got him and put him on the ground with one hand over his neck and the other over his back legs. I'd seen Joe do this many times when Dooley wouldn't listen. He understood what was happening right away and laid very still panting. After only a minute he tried to get free. I enforced my control over him and continued the time out. Afterwards, he didn't bark at the neighbors anymore. When he would start to run up in that direction I immediately yelled Leave It and he circled back to me. He really is a good dog.

After terrorizing the Finck's we headed back home where Dooley passed out so hard he didn't even realize when I had left the room. I could hardly coax him off the couch to go outside one last time before going to bed. 

This morning we went back to the Finck's for breakfast. Dooley and Blu played outside and Dooley barked at the door when breakfast was served.  Kate was coerced into making Carmel Rolls for the family. Our grandmother made them when we were growing up and Kate learned the skill directly from her. All uncles, aunts, cousins, siblings, and spouses desire them and must wait patiently for the mother of two to get to work. After they are made I am told she drives to everyones houses to deliver them. Often getting requests to wake up a 4am so they can have fresh Carmel Rolls with their coffee at 7am. I told Kate she should trade that request in for a night and morning free of kids. 

Sometimes Dooley over stays his welcome. I knew we were getting close when he tried to eat little Ellen's favorite stuffed animal "kitty" and little Graham's stuffed fish. Time to go home Dooley. Now he lays on the big pad in the kitchen snoozing in the sun waiting for the next adventure.

New Developments

Some more things I've learned about Dooley, he often has dreams. His whole body twitches and trembles, often joined by a yelp or whimper. He often just comes up to see what you're doing. Ask for a pet. He also wants to go outside but not by himself. So he will wait at the door, I'll let him out, he takes two steps, turns around and waits for me. Fortunately for him, I usually say what the hell and grab the ball launcher. 

I have also mastered the key to good workflow. Work for an hour, take dog outside, throw ball for dog for 15-20 minutes, take dog inside. Repeat. You're welcome.

Tonight Dooley and I are going over to visit his friends again. Blu seemed to need a Dooley break. Don't we all. So far Dooley hasn't ruined any of my things, stolen only a few and only once made me upset. He dropped his hard plastic bone toy and it slid under my foot as I was trying to get around him. He almost took me down. Accident of course. 

He is almost always underfoot as I am moving about inside the house, follows me everywhere, sticks his wet nose onto everything. And he will never ever sit still for a picture.

Dog Owner Worries

Dooley and I worked on "find" last night. He did a lot better. It takes him a few tries before he realizes what we are doing. He won't wait for me to place it and say go find until maybe the fifth time. Once I say find, he searches. I tried putting him in a different room from where the treat would be so he wouldn't be able to see me place it.

I decided to go shopping with my sister last night. This means I had to lock Dooley up in the kitchen and tell him I was going to work. Not ten minutes into our journey I expressed my concern for Dooley. Was he ok? Did he miss me? Did he know I was going to come back? What if he got into something, etc. Kate assured me he was fine. When I got home, he jumped up and whined and tried to hug me with his paws. He kept jumping up and down. We ran outside and the jumping continued. We played tug of war for a while and headed to bed. 

As if our walk wasn't enough... Dooley is giving me the look. Time throw some more tennis balls....

Lake Dog, Bat Dog, Stinky Dog

Dooley and I made our way to Lake Tschida this morning after a good three mile walk. I only include this because I was astonished by how much energy Dooley had at the lake.

With all the cabins empty, we had free reign. I felt comfortable enough to let Dooley have free reign, no leash. I started launching tennis balls. Joe had told me likes to chase a bunch at once. I then would have to walk to where I had thrown the ball and collect as Dooley was only in it for the best chase. I decided we should use two balls instead of six. This way he could have one, I could have one. As soon as he had one, he would look to me, usually lay down and wait. I tried to wait until he dropped the ball he had in his mouth before throwing mine. The times I didn't it was very comical to watch as he could not decide which ball to eat.

Sometimes he would run before I even threw it. He would never bring the ball back to where I threw it from. It is a very strange game of fetch. He would run into the water about every fifteen minutes or so. He did not want to stop. Although it wasn't too warm out yet, I decided a good hour and fifteen minutes was probably enough sprinting for one morning. 

Dooley and I loaded up the truck and hit the road for Carson.  The Bismarck/Mott clan love the Carson butcher. I told them it was my turn to make a run to Carson. I left the skylight open for Dooley as I went in to get our order. I kept peaking out the window to see what he was doing. Moving from passenger seat to driver seat. Panting. Intent staring. Panting again. My return was greeted by some sincere whining. I think he starting to like me. Starting to believe that I can take care of him until his master returns. After I was settled in the driver seat, he insisted on keeping his face inches from mine. After a few minutes I finally got him to settle in again. Then we hit road construction. The kind with a pilot car and a stop light. Yesha-shumdia. Now at this point, Dooley wants to get home. He also had a bone the night before and now he was stinking up the pick up. It was a major issue. The stink would not leave. I was forced to keep the window down.

Bat Dog.

Dooley is beat. I am too. What are we going to do tomorrow?

Behavioral Changes

The Dooley we all know has slightly dimmed... I think he is missing his best friend a little bit. He wanders the house and then looks at me and gives a big sigh. I keep assuring him that his master is coming back. He doesn't seem to believe me and insists on moping about.

Finally, I took him to "see his friends." Bunker and Blu, two Finck dogs. Blu and Dooley wrestle non-stop. He perked up a bit in on the ride over, looking more like himself. This is the first tail wag he's had in my pick up.

When we got home, he again searched the premises. No Joe. Big sigh. As I was washing up, I noticed he wasn't around. I found him in the dark on Joe's bed. Before I could photograph the act, he was gone. Finally, I got him to liven up a bit with some rough housing... followed by a good 45 minute tug of war session with some kong toys.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Lake Tschida in the morning for some free running and ball chasing. Then a quick stop in Carson to fill up on sausage for the Bismarck clan. Until tomorrow....

Squirrels and Find

Dooley and I woke up at 6am. We stretched and got ready for a morning walk.

I learned two things about Dooley on this walk. He wants to eat squirrels, badly. He does not like sprinklers.

Post walk snooze in the sun.

After we had our breakfast, I decided to try "Find." This is the 7th or 8th attempt... He might just get it, with the help of some gesturing... It's only day one, after all. My hope is by the end of it, I can get him to wait out of sight and I can hide the treat or myself, yell FIND, and he will find.

It's only about 9am now and I do not know what else we can do. We meander outside, perimeter sweep. All clear. Play tug of war with some kong toys, Dooley wins. I let him bark at some squirrels in the tree then call him over, he comes frantically.

I explain to Dooley I'm getting the vacuum again and we're going to clean up. He's unsure.

After a thousand more LEAVE IT's, enough is enough. Outside we go...

Journey to Mohawk Street & Vacuum's

It's always a good sign if Dooley pees when you arrive. It is the dearest welcome he can give. Although, it did mean another layer of pee on Kate's floor. Leaving Kate's, Dooley was happy to jump into the pick up and go for a ride. I told him over and over, "we're going home." He seemed to really try to grasp what I was conveying by tilting his head back and forth as dogs do. Yearning to understand but just not quite.

I found a new quality about Dooley on the drive. Solemn. He stood in the passenger seat, not panting, not whining, not making a sound. He was still and calm. Once we were about a block away he perked up a bit. He leaped out after me and we headed for the back yard, in case he needed to pee again.












After making sure the yard was secure, I led Dooley in through the garage. Entering the estate, Dooley eagerly awaited my opening of the child gate. Immediately he made a run of the upper level. I, however immediately needed to check the basement for the boogie man, I called for Dooley's assistance. After careful consideration, we both deemed the basement secure. I unloaded all my gear through the garage, Dooley watched from the bay window then ran to meet me at the door to smell all my bags. After some unpacking, I brought out my vacuum, which he was not sure about.










Leave it, Dooley, leave it.

As things settled down this evening, I started writing in the living room chair. Dooley seemed to understand and settled in at the end of the couch. He is softly breathing. We are feeling peaceful and sleepy... Until tomorrow....

Preliminary Considerations

Excitement. Anxious. Ready.

My beginning thoughts going into babysitting one of the world's most....rambunctious, boisterous, lawless hounds. I keep trying to imagine what it will be like, for those of you who know Dooley...I imagine my voice being very hoarse after only a few days, LEAVE IT! That's just one thought. I also imagine thoroughly enjoying Dooley's constant company and his silliness. 

Bat Dog

 Visiting the Fincks, often running amuck. 

Destroyer of all things.

Sweetheart. See you in a few days Dooley.