Ready to go

For the first couple of hours of the day Maggie hangs out with Nadia because Nadia gives her breakfast.

Then for the next couple of hours she hangs out with me because I take her for her daily walk.

This is Maggie making sure I know that she is ready to go the instant I step away from my home office desk this morning :)

Photo of a red/brown dog lying on a carpeted floor with her face right next to the caster of an office chair. The photographer has taken the photo while sitting on that office chair, looking straight down onto the dog.

Maggie is conflicted

We’re about to go for a walk — which Maggie is super excited about — but then she heard Nadia opening the cheese drawer in the fridge :)

Photo of a red/brown dog standing in a residential hallway. The dog is wearing a walking harness attached to a red leash that’s been stretched tight in front of the photographer because the dog is pulling towards the back of the house.

Not a fan of Halloween decorations

Maggie (our heeler/kelpie mix), the first time we walk by this Halloween decoration: does a double take, but keeps walking.

Second time: takes a hard look (still without breaking her stride) but then determines it’s some stupid human thing.

Third time: ignores it completely.

Photo of a fake dog skeleton placed on a flagstone among other Halloween decorations in a residential garden.

Lessons from dog

The best way to deal with the clammy, rainy, miserable afternoon we’re having in Melbourne today…

Photo of a red/brown dog sprawled out in front of a gas heater, with her front paws stretched out towards the fire. The dog is lying half off of the mat that’s been placed on the floor for it. The dog has her chin pressed up against the tiled area that’s in front of the heater.

Stopping to smell the flowers

Stopping to smell the flowers.

(Well, technically, stopping to smell which dog had peed on those flowers – but whatever.)

Photo of a red/brown dog smelling the bottom of two large flowering bushes on the side of the residential street. The dog is wearing a walking harness that’s attached to a lead that the photographer is holding.

Maggie, waiting

There’s a box of hot chips on the counter and, since Nadia and I have walked out of the kitchen, she is mightily concerned that she isn’t going to get any more.

(I came back. She did get a couple more.)

Photo of a red/brown dog standing next to a kitchen counter with her ears pricked and her attention focused on what’s on top of the counter.

Same dog, same kitchen counter – just a few hours earlier at doggie dinner time. Nadia is measuring the dog food before she puts it in Maggie’s food bowl.

Photo of a red/brown dog waiting in anticipation next to a kitchen counter. The dog is looking up at someone who is off camera.

Happy potato

Nice, long walk
+ routine visit to the vet
+ drying off in front of the heater (it’s a cold, rainy day)
+ pig’s ear treat
= happy potato (who is snoring gently).

Photo of a red/brown dog curled up and fast asleep in a comfy dog bed in a carpeted room.

At rest

Paws at rest…

Close up photo of a red/brown dog asleep inside a fuzzy orange dog bed. The dog’s paws are in the foreground of the photo, while its head is in the background and is slightly out of focus.

Chin at rest…

Photo of a red/brown dog sleeping on a grey dog bed. The dog’s chin is resting on the side wall of the bed.

Putting it all together: chin on paws at rest :)

Photo of a red/brown dog asleep on the floor. The dog’s chin is resting on its two front paws.

Quiet snoring

It’s nice to have a dog that responds well to antihistamines. Instead of congested snoring while you’re trying to work you get adorable, quiet snoring :)

Photo of a red/brown dog curled up and asleep in a fuzzy orange bed. The dog’s face is nuzzled into the wall of the bed, and it has its paws tucked up in front of it.

So. Close.

When you hit the jackpot on your walk but the asshole holding your leash doesn’t let you claim your winnings.

Photo of a red/brown dog amongst some greenery. The dog is straining at her leash, trying to reach some fast food that’s been dumped next to a bush. This food includes lots of chips, a burger, some dim sims, and more than half a large pizza.

Late nights

When the human has stayed up way past your bedtime…but you don’t want to abandon your awake human to go sleep in the bedroom with your asleep human.

Photo of a red/brown dog fast asleep inside of a round, fuzzy, orange dog bed. The dog is curled up on its side with its face smushed against the fuzzy wall, and with all four of its paws in front of it.

A little stressed at the vet

Maggie was only a little stressed at the vet today. Her visits usually end up net positive though, because the *second* the vet gives her a treat all her stress goes out the window :)

Photo of a red/brown dog standing in a large waiting area, looking up at the photographer. The dog’s mouth is open because she’s panting and her ears are pulled back slightly from the typical alert position. She looks a little stressed.

Comfortable dog

Making the most of the sun and quickly-growing grass (which I haven’t mowed yet).

Photo of a red/brown dog that’s been taken through a wooden trellis. The dog is sleeping on its side on the grass on a sunny day.