We Have a Problem.."Houston!"

We are getting it down to a science, taking care of Spencer the 7lb poodle, Chloe the happy Rotweiller and Houston the crazy Lab.

We are dog-sitting all three and visit them three times a day while their family jets off to Mexico. All three have different meals. All three have different potty habits. Houston is just a nut.. a super-hyper black lab who is sweet inside but a maniac!

Today we decided that most problems we deal with in the house are "Houston" related, thus our slogan, We Have a Problem: Houston. :)

But, we do have a great system, the three of us, as we visit our canine friends. We have now been on 9 visits. We feed most visits and take care of potty needs on all visits. We also try to fit in some lap time.

The biggest problem (Houston-related of course) is that he is nuts. And he LOVES food. And he can reach all the counters. And he has no manners. Well, no good ones. :) On the first visit I made the mistake of trying to prepare all three dogs' meals with Houston accompanying me in the kitchen. Mistake. He wanted to help. Bad. He wanted, really, was to eat all the supplies.

All three have different diets. The two large dogs have their own brand of dry food. They each get a couple of tablespoons of canned food on top. Little Spencer

gets a mix of dry (any brand) and wet. Spencer must eat with the door closed in the office so You Know Who will not gobble it up.

After they all eat, the Houston goes to do his business out back in the patio home yard which is very small. We must trail after him and police his business. This is why we are paid big bucks.

The other two get walks. Houston can't go. But, luckily he knows that, so looks mournfully at us as we wave goodbye to him as he sits behind the baby gate in the kitchen.

Spencer and Chloe get leashed-up and off we go. Each boy takes a dog leash and I get to handle the plastic grocery bags to pick up the you-know-what and I also get the mail. Spencer likes to sniff-sniff-sniff.. the run! We have extended leashes... so he can go. And he does! Sprinting like a little curly haired antelope!


Chloe is more measured as we make our way around the short neighborhood block.


Then back home to waiting Houston. Waiting and panting.

So, with a combination of 3 days of experience, baby gates and hallway doors which serve as our lock system and timed precision, we get them all fed and watered and out the door with a minimum of mishap.

Today, we had another wrench thrown in with massive T-Storms. But there was a break in the weather this morning and I got them out the door.

Tomorrow the family comes home.. I know the dogs will be smiling! We were talking about how much work these dogs are- more work than any other we have taken care of before. B says that he likes them the most because he has to do so much for them. Also, we really feel we earn our money. It made me think of raising children. All those hours you put in, the worry, the concern, the figuring out situations, rocking to sleep in the middle of the night, the sicknesses, etc... they help you just love your kids more. I think the boys are getting a small taste of that with the demanding dogs. And we also are feeling like we are doing something that tangibly matters- helping the dogs with their needs and helping the owners enjoy their travels with a bit less stress.