Two Years With Doppler

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Doppler arrived with a mysterious past. She’d been abandoned–purposely trapped in a baseball dugout.

When animal control in Wallingford rescued her, she was a mess! Doppler’s hair was long and matted and infused with dirt and worse. Her nails had begun to turn in.

At the pound they gave her a shave and pedicure. Her rehab had begun

Who knows what name she originally answered to? The pound renamed her Charlotte.

A few days later Helaine and I showed up. She was renamed again.

It’s difficult to believe there’s a more gentle, more sweet, more adorable dog than Doppler. How anyone let her go is beyond comprehension.

We don’t know her real birthday or even how old Doppler is. We choose to celebrate it on November 18, because that’s when she rescued us.

Happy birthday dear Doppler. Happy birthday to you.

Halloween In Irvine

“It’s the one night of the year I don’t hate little children.” – Stefanie Fox 2013

My wife and daughter love Halloween. Seriously. Love is not too strong a word.

We were prepared. A spider web was hung in front of our house. Pumpkins were placed strategically near the door. We stocked enough candy to open an all-night convenience store next to a marijuana dispensary!

I expected the first of the little ones around 4:00 PM. Nothing.

As the afternoon continued, I tweeted:

5:50 PM PDT. No trick or treaters yet. I am crushed. We have candy. Come on down.

And then, just as the Sun was setting, they arrived in clusters of two, three and four. Their parents stood safely nearby, letting the kids approach the house on their own.

It was perfect. Most of them were young–under five. All of them were adorable. The costumes were sweet.

In our neighborhood, loaded with recent immigrants from Asia, we had some kids trick or treating for the first time. At least one girl knew how to say, “Thank you,” but no other English words. Her father said she’d only arrived this month.

Through it all Doppler and Roxie entertained in their Halloween costumes. Though they both barked and Roxie was often defensive toward the kids, they kept their costumes on and didn’t make a fuss.

Halloween in Irvine was a success.

Doppler Is A Sock Puppy

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Dogs are flexible. They can put all four paws (and other parts I won’t mention) in their mouths. Sometimes that leads to trouble. For Doppler it was a hot spot she kept working at until it bled.

We needed to keep her paws out of her mouth. Unfortunately, it’s tough to talk sense to a dog.

Helaine and I both dismissed the idea of an Elizabethan collar. Would you want to wear one?

We tried bitter apple spray. I think Doppler has developed a taste for it.

I’d seen rubber booties and thought those would do the trick. When Stef was over this weekend I asked her to pick up a pair… uh… two pairs.

IMG_9535doppler sockNo booties, but Stef did find knit monkey face socks! There are little rubber nubs on the bottom for traction and, of course, a monkey face.

This is too easy. The sock is a success!

As far as I can see, Doppler doesn’t care, or doesn’t even know it’s there. She’s leaving it alone and has stopped going after her paw. We have to pull it up every once in a while, but that seems like a minor inconvenience all things considered.

It looks like the paw is healing… though she does look cute with one red sock. Maybe as a fashion statement?

Doppler And Roxie: Different As Night And Day

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Stef drove down from Hollywood to spend the weekend with us. Roxie came too. She saw me as the car pulled up and went a little crazy with excitement.

At the moment we’ve got three humans and two dogs here. We’re set!

Stef sometimes calls our dog, “Feather McFeatherstein.” At not quite ten pounds the name works for Doppler.

IMG_20131013_122719-w1200-h1200On the other hand Roxie was supposed to be a miniature dachshund, no more than 11 pounds. Uh huh. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned. Stef claims Roxie checks in at 20 pounds, but even that seems wishful thinking.

Roxie is the life of the party. She plays. She pulls. She chews (aggressively). She’s happy to be excited. She plops herself in my lap uninvited, begging for scratches.

IMG_20131013_133218-w1200-h1200Doppler is more laid back. A dog toy thrown in front of her will remain in place, totally neglected. An afternoon spent lying in her dog bed in the corner of the kitchen is just fine. She relishes pre-nap naps!

Most of the time they treat each other with benign neglect. I’ve napped with one on each side. No problem. I walk them and give them treats simultaneously. No problem.

It’s only when Doppler is in territory she feels is hers that sparks fly! Doppler will get intense, then growl, baring her teeth to show Roxie she means business.

I have never seen Doppler show aggression to any human, even little kids with quickly swinging hands and feet. She’s even good with other dogs–Roxie including. The one exception is when she feels her turf needs protecting.

I love them both as they are. I wouldn’t trade one for the other or change either one. They are as different as can be.

Dressing Doppler

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It is another hot and unseasonably humid day here in the Southland. John Wayne International Airport is reporting 92&#176 with a dew point of 67&#176. That’s uncomfortable by any definition.

With the Sun beaming down, it was even too hot for the convertible, as I discovered leaving the house with the top down! My mission, which would take me south to Lake Forest, was to dress Doppler.

We’re going to the coast this weekend. Doppler has nothing to wear! Stef and Roxie will join us on a trip to “Dog Beach.” It’s in Huntington Beach. Dogs are allowed to go leashless and frolic in the surf!

IMAG0509-w1200-h1200I made some calls this morning looking for a store that stocked sunscreen for pups. Petco, no. Petsmart, yes.

OK, before you poo poo this, please remember Doppler was groomed last week. Her freckled skin is partially visible as you look at her back. We don’t want a fried hot dog!

The sunscreen was far back in the store. I got the last can. It’s probably not a big mover.

IMAG0511-w1200-h1200Just to make doubly sure Doppler’s protected I also bought her a shirt. There was a really cute Tommy Bahama model in small (10-15 pounds). It was too small for Doppler, who checks in at nine pounds.

Dogs suffer the same poor sizing people do! She wears a small, honest.

IMAG0519-w1200-h1200It’s tough to buy clothes if you’re not there to try it on. See, dogs are like people.

I went back and brought Doppler. Unfortunately, no Tommy Bahama in medium. It’s a shame. She looked good.

There was an extra small which looked hamster size.

We ended up settling for the shirt you see on the left. It says “Expert Snuggler.”

She is.

Doppler Gets Groomed (With Photos)

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One of the biggest challenges of moving is replacing all the professionals and tradesmen you’ve grown to trust. Doppler’s fur (and before her, Ivy’s) was cut at Hot Diggity Dog on Whitney Avenue in Hamden. That’s a bit of a schlep from Orange County, California–our new home. Helaine went to the Internet and began searching.

Yesterday we tried “Glitterati Paw Spa.” They came with excellent reviews. They also came to us! The spa itself is in a trailer towed behind a large SUV.

I’m not going to lie. Doppler wasn’t thrilled with the experience. Would you expect different under the circumstances?

With more warm weather on-tap, we went a little shorter than usual. We’re happy with the result. She emerged looking and smelling pretty, just like she did when I met her at the pound in Wallingford nearly two years ago.

There is a price-to-pay for the convenience of ‘drive-by grooming.’ A haircut for Doppler is more than twice the cost of a haircut for me!

The Howl Of Coyotes

I was at my desk, not quite midnight, when I heard what originally sounded like a dog. It was an open throated howl on an uncharacteristically cloudy night. It sounded like it was coming from the UC Irvine ag fields, just south of me.

Within a few seconds the howl turned into a symphony. It’s tough to say how many, but the word pack surely applies. It quickly became obvious these were not dogs.

Welcome to California where coyotes still roam free.

I’ll admit it. I was totally freaked out! The wild animals near me in Connecticut seemed more shy… more docile.

Since coming to California we’ve allowed Doppler to freely walk outside. We live at the dead end of our street. She’s never more than ten or fifteen feet away.

As of last night her after dark walks will be on the leash. To a coyote, Doppler is just a tasty snack. Not on my watch.

We’re The Dogsitters (With Photos)

Cheryl and Steve had plans this afternoon. Unfortunately, humans only!

Bentley’s loss is our gain. We’re the dogsitters!

My first remembrance of Bentley and Doppler was at the Wallingford Animal Shelter. They were in the midst of some sort of family feud. Bentley was the aggressor, which seemed strange because Doppler was much larger and more powerful.

They had about 30 seconds of that today, then settled down. At the moment they’re both on the sofa taking it easy.

I love these family reunions.

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Doppler Notes: Do I Taste Like Liver?

Once in a while, for reasons beyond my ability to explain, Doppler will start licking my arm. Fresh out of the shower or after working up a sweat, it makes no diff. She is driven.

Take a look for yourself!

My Little Dog Is A Little Hoarse

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Doppler leads the good life. Her biggest daily decision is stay asleep or roll on her back for a belly rub? She barks sparingly.

That probably hasn’t been the case the past few days. After spending time couchsurfing with Bentley at Steve and Cheryl’s, Doppler moved on to sleepover camp. Camp features daily (and probably nightly) concerts with all the pups.

Doppler came home hoarse! This is a new one for me. Helaine caught on first when we got her around 7:00 AM. I heard it distinctly this afternoon as Doppler announced a neighbor at our door.

“Do you think she wants a lozenge,” Helaine asked this evening?

A few days rest and Doppler will be good as new. She’s working on that right now.

If Dogs Could Speak

If dogs could speak they’d let you know they never want to leave your side… even when traveling.

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How Many Dog Miles Is That

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If today’s weather in Connecticut was the norm, everyone from California would move here! We have spectacular beauty close at hand. It’s the most stunningly picturesque place I’ve ever lived.

This afternoon Helaine and I went to one of our favorite pretty spots, Sleeping Giant State Park. We brought our short legged child, Doppler, with us.

The Tower Trail is 1.6 miles long. How many dog miles is that? This is a tough hike for Doppler!

When we arrived, the mountain’s parking lot was mostly full. That’s normally reserved for weekends. Today was that nice.

The trail was pretty crowded. There were runners from Hamden High School, a woman pushing a stroller with a crying baby, couples, singles and loads of dogs… dogs of every shape and size.

We planned to walk around halfway up to a pretty overlook. It’s been a while. None of us are aerobically fit today. Doppler was especially grateful to turn around and head back down.

When I posted an ‘in-progress’ Sleeping Giant photo on Facebook a few people wondered if we’d miss the mountain when we leave? Absolutely. Sleeping Giant is one of the coolest benefits of living where we do.

What I won’t miss are the few scattered spots where the mountain still has snow on April 8!

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Doppler Didn’t Want To Be Recycled

I’m not sure what was going through Doppler’s mind when we drove to the transfer station, but she did look a little worried!

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Doppler In Stealth Mode

We had a bunch of people stop by the house over the last few days. That really messed up Doppler’s schedule.

She says she needs at least 20 hours a day prone. Why argue with success?

Today, with just the three of us around, Doppler became invisible. Consider this catch-up day.

At one point I asked Helaine where Doppler was, though she was in the room with us! She’s that good.

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The Perfect Dog

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“She’s polite,” I said to Helaine this evening while explaining Doppler’s last trip outside.

img_4402-11102012doppler the shag rugDoppler was sleeping on the sofa. I was watching TV.

She got up, walked over and climbed vertically up my chest. She was perfectly positioned to lick my face. This is her way of telling me she’s got to go.

We walked to the front door. As I picked up her leash I realized its little reel of plastic bags was empty.

There was a minute or so of busy work to get more bags and put them in their enclosure. I looked down. Doppler was at my side, her head up, her butt down. Motionless. Waiting. Patient.

Doppler get her hair cut-IMG_7897-05272012-h700We took her shopping this afternoon. Doppler rode along in a travel bag. She didn’t balk. She didn’t kvetch. She was glad to go with us.

Good dog.

She is every bit the good dog her photos portray!

This is the one thing Helaine and I still have trouble believing. She is amazingly sweet and endearingly cooperative. She is a go along, get along companion.

She doesn’t even shed. That would be out of character!

We really did luck out when we rescued Doppler. She did OK too.