Doggies!

I’ve been thinking about…

…doggies!

“We” — meaning Jayne and the kids — have a new puppy. Since we love dogs, “Dotty” has been embraced as our newest “granddog,” joining her new sisters Penny and the grand dame Lily, and cousin dogs Hildy and Daisy.

Dotty is a really sweet, very cute mix that seems to be mostly Jack Russell terrier. Typical of that breed, she is whip smart, and full of energy. Fortunately for her, she has become part of a lively family of furry and human friends. The summer has been full of activities, including a road trip to Noanie and PopPop’s house and lots of loving attention from her people. But now that Jayne and the kids are back to school, Dotty continues to be well cared for and entertained by the big dogs Penny and old Lily, and her crazy cat pal, Gru.

Dogs have been an integral part of people’s lives for thousands of years. We know the stories of dogs who went on great adventures with brave explorers, who sailed the seas, who inspired popular literature, who were beloved members of the White House — sometimes more admired than the President.

There is a fascinating explanation of why dogs are so much part of who we are. It seems that dogs selected us. For the hundreds and hundreds of wildly different breeds of dogs, ALL have 99% DNA of wolves. Wolves figured out the best way to survive human hunters was to become helpers — clean-up crews, security teams, hunting partners, and friendly companions.

A must-see documentary on Netflix titled “Inside the Mind of a Dog” tells the story of how dogs’ learning and behaviors have evolved to capture our hearts. It is fascinating!

And if you want to do something special for your precious furry friends, click on ACTIVITIES where Jayne, Mallory and Jamie have clever ideas to create toys from repurposed “stuff” found in every household. Fun for the kids to make, and their pets to enjoy!