Spring Cleaning Of The Third Kind

It was the annual spring cleaning of the Dackels today. I sequestered them all in the shower and then prepared myself for battle. Soap, scrubby, and plenty of towels for “after”.

I stepped in and turned the water on, pointing the icy stream of water away from us all. Gradually it warmed up and I knelt down. A shaking Arnie was the first victim of the soapy massacre. He shook and refused to look at me. I spoke to him softly, but he ignored my gentle words. Eventually I’d soaped him completely and it was time for rinsing. Splish-splash, it was quickly accomplished.

Greta was next. She is an old pro at this, as I bathed her for the first time when she was just 8 weeks old and came to me with dried ink in her tattooed ear. Green ink! Since that first bath she has accepted my sudsing with great patience and dignity. Needless to say, she was done quite fast.

Lastly, Anneliese. My little baby. She just figured that if she didn’t move much it would be over quickly, and she was right. Of the three of them, Anneliese was probably the easiest.

Once I got them done I quickly washed myself and then, demanded their obedience. I told them to remain in the shower while I slipped out and dried myself off.

Then one by one, I took each dog out and dried them off. Arnie, Anneliese and Greta. I’d shut the bathroom door so that I could dry them off before loosing the hounds on the rest of the house. As I dried them I sang this little song. (To the tune Three Blind Mice)

Three wet dogs,
three wet dogs,
see how they run,
see how they run,
they all run over the carpet squares
and jump on the towels tossing them in the air,
there’s never a sight that you’d care to share
but three wet dogs,
three wet dogs.

Soon they were dry and I opened the door and let them out. They jumped up on my bed, then off. They ran into the family room and then back again. It seemed that the baths had given them some sort of vim and vigor!

Later when they had dried completely, I got out the stripping brush and started to rake their coats. I pulled off a ton of fur from all three dogs, even Anneliese, who tends to have a shorter and more manageable coat. I have more work to do on them, but my goodness they look so much better.

In other Dackel News, our friend Dori was over last night. She is not only our friend, but works as a Vet Tech. She felt Miss Greta and she said she believes Greta is with children. Still……we will have to wait until the end of the month for the official confirmation!

Anneliese and Greta

Also, our little sweetie, Anneliese entered a Precious Pet Contest on The Wonderful World Of Weiners, and currently she is in the lead. The winner will be announced on Monday, and I’m hoping she will win!

It’s a funny thing, Greta and Arnie always get all the attention and special notice, so I hope Anneliese will have this moment in the sun. Go on over and say Hi to Hallie!

I got out and raked in the back yard today for about half and hour. I did this for two reasons. One, after a winter like ours where I just allowed the dogs to go anywhere, their, ah, poop, was all over the yard. We have had a lot of sunshine and dry weather so it was very easy to rake up and two, it is great exercise, and I am trying to move more so my dieting will perhaps get unstuck and I’ll start losing again!

And lastly, my boy Arnie is getting much better about going outside with Hubby and Fritz and just hanging out with the guys. Yes, he is growing up, and becoming one of the boys!