Pearl Jean and Rose

Well, I've told you about my first baby and about my love for Rottweillers. But, I have two other girls that have stolen my heart - they are Pearl Jean, who is a "daddy's 'boy'" and My Rosie Posie.

After Bo died, and E & B moved away - taking Sheba, Buster and Pebbles with them, Maddy was all alone. We would go to work and Maddy had to stay home by herself. So, we decided, she needed some company. And, Maudie - who worked at Ferndale, said her daughter had some pups she was giving away.

PEARL
We stopped by her house and there on their patio, was our most precious Pearl-puppy. She came right up to us and played. So we brought her home. Her mom was a pit bull and her daddy was a boxer. She is a brindle color with white socks and white blaze on her face.

The reason I wrote 'boy' to describe Pearl is for a couple of reasons. If a dog could be a "tomboy" - Pearl would be a tomdog. She won't stay in her yard, she squeezes, finagles, pushes herself through any hole in the fence that she can find to get out. - Especially if her daddy walks over to the neighbors without her and closes the gate behind him. She has to be near him if he's anywhere in the vicinty.

She will sneak out of her yard and go visit the neighbors during the day when Mom & Dad are at work. Alice, our neighbor, loves her visits and gives her treats when she comes by. She brings home all kinds of junk, trash, and dead things she finds while roaming the woods and surrounding area. (Which really delights Maddy, since she can't get out of the yard.)

And, another reason is: Tim will say to her: "Good Boy Pearl" when she's done something he's proud of. I don't know why he says that, I've asked and he doesn't know either. He just does.

And, she loves him SO MUCH. She loves me too, when I take my evening walk - Pearl MUST go too - unless I lock her up in the house or shop - but, I let her go - sometime.

ROSE

I've mentioned in a previous post, how I came across my Rose. She is such a loving dog, but we finally found out why someone "dumped" her.

She began shaking her head and scratching her ears, I thought she was going to scratch herself silly. Not only that, she would race down our fence-line and drag her ears until they were bloody. I was beside myself trying to figure out why she would do that. And, then there was this odor - no matter how often she got bath, she, and especially - her ears, would stink something awful. We tried everything to get the problem under control - to no avail. So, we loaded her up and to the vet we went.

Now, we find out that she's part bloodhound. And, once you know that you can see it. And everyday, she seems to be more bloodhound than retreiver. She has the same face that Jed Clampet's dog, Duke, had. Long snout, droopy-eyes, she's real laid back, snoozing most of the day and her ears are longer than your everyday golden retriever - which is our problem.

The vet said, that bloodhounds have a tendency to get yeast infections in their ears. They have ears that hang over the entrance to the ear canal, preventing the canals from ever drying out. This is an ideal place for yeast to grow and boy, does it grow.

I did some internet surfing and learned more - that Bloodhounds shed more than you might think - yes. Their short, coarse hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, and stick tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting - yes. Also, Bloodhounds have a distinctive "doggy" odor to their skin and coat that some people find offensive ---YES. And, slobbering. (And YES!, Rosie does drool.)

So, I'm guessing, that when we were looking for her "lost owner" after we had found her - they didn't want the problems that she brought with her and they didn't want to be found.

But, now she's mine. And, unlike some sissy-fied city family, I will deal. I love her stinky-self and she loves me...and she will always be mine.

The vet wants to do major surgery on her ears - about $1,200 worth. Which, eventually I may opt to do. But until then, I will give her baths regularly and doctor her ears - by the way - I've found a great solution....I went and bought some Monistat cream - well, it is for yeast infections. I wash her ears everyday and apply the cream. And, it's working great! The odor's not so bad anymore and she doesn't try to scratch them off her head anymore.

So, now you know my babies. Who knows, I may adopt more someday (ssshhh! Don't tell Tim.)

Love.

M