Doggie tattoos

Moments of excitement with your dog are such fun. Unfortunately, they can also be painful. A quick swipe of a paw can leave you with a scratch or bruise. Supersize the dog and you'll supersize the mark that is left.

In my case, I have a very sensitive skin, and I bruise pretty easily. The mark will remain for days, weeks, even months, depending on how bad it was to begin with. And so, I have affectionately called these moment of excitement marks my dogs accidentally leave on me, doggie tattoos.

I caught a glimpse of my bum in the mirror the other day and saw that I still have a nice sideways scratch from about a month ago. I also still have the remnants of a scratch on my leg that happened near the beginning of the year.

Because these scratches end up being pretty permanent for me, I try to avoid them. So my first words to the dogs when I collect them to go to the park are: "Don't jump!" Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work, because it's time to go to the park and that is very exciting.

However, it isn't as bad these days compared to when they were pups. When they were younger, Asha had a particular affection for grabbing my arm to get my attention, and so my arms were always covered in doggie tattoos. Thank goodness she doesn't really do that anymore, unless you get her really excited.

Howling

The first time it happened, I thought I was hearing things. The next time, I heard it well enough, and just burst out laughing.

My then baby dogs were howling, at the ice cream van.

I didn't expect Great Danes to howl. But thinking about it they are hounds, and hounds are known to howl.

Since then, they have howled for a number of reasons. The day that I had to walk to go visit them - when my car was bust for the weekend - I could hear them howling from up the road. I guess they were upset that I had left and that we hadn't gone to the park that day.

Apparently they howl every Sunday morning before I come to collect them for the park, and as my ex is leaving for church.

Whenever I hear the ice cream van in the area, it makes me think of them.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of seeing and hearing them howl at the ice cream van again. I love it and it still makes me giggle.