When did this world get so busy? For me, it’s busier than ever. It seems that things just keep moving faster and it’s impossible to keep up. I don’t think it’s just me. I talk with lots of people who feel the same way.
Anxiety is in the air. FOMO is raging. Everyone’s racing just to get to the next red light. It’s a crazy time.
If you’re in the fast lane and you’re feeling kind of exhausted, you may want to pull over. Don’t beat yourself up. Good things can happen in the slow lane.
I had a chance to take a break this summer. I needed to pull over. I wanted to unplug. It was time to do something decidedly different. But what?
Two weeks in Italy? I love Italy! Driving the Amalfi Coast? I love Positano! This sounded amazing! The thought of fine dining and fabulous food had me salivating on cue. What a perfect way to recharge.
But no, I would not be going to Italy. My neighbours were going. I offered to look after their dog. And, surprise bonus, their kid’s dog was part of the deal, too.
Counting our own, there were now three dogs in the house: our neighbour’s lovely 3-year-old mini-labradoodle, our 2-year-old mini-labradoodle, and the kid’s 1-year-old super-charged cavapoo (who I believe is possessed by demonic rapscallions.)
Determined to give our furry roomates the best of care, I asked the pet parents to give me some info to work with. In return, I got a lengthy, detailed spreadsheet on feeding times, sleeping preferences, favourite toys, playtime activities, pet tricks, and vocabulary. Yes, vocabulary. Too much, you think? Well, maybe not enough.
Before accepting the canine delivery, the property needed to be secure. The little one was an accredited escape artist. Kinda like my uncle Sydney Pozer who was an active strategist in the Great Escape - not the movie - the real deal. Despite best efforts, the little one still managed to leap a fence. Remember Steve McQueen's motorcycle chase scene? Kinda like that. But without the barbwire.
If you haven’t heard, dog sitting can be difficult. And it’s very time-consuming. Especially three dogs.
Yes, there’s more poop to bag, but dogs get sad when their humans leave. It takes time for them to emotionally adjust. They need lots of love and attention.
Luckily, these pups had met and played together before. And, most importantly, they were on familiar ground. They knew the turf of their internment. They’d enjoyed fun days on the lawn many times before. They just didn’t know how long they’d be visiting this time. Or how long their humans would be gone.
Whether happy or sad, eventually everyone gets hungry. Feeding time was tricky. New methods had to be employed. Kibble stuffed into food balls was the plan for breakfast. Formal bowls were used for dinner.
Feeding time required vigilant observation and patrol. Otherwise, the little one would have likely eaten everything. She’d hoover her bowl and head directly to another and bully her way in.
Food aggression is a concern when dogs are in a group, but these three pups got through 17 days with no problems. Dinner was served on the front lawn. Bowls were well-spaced. Behaviour was constantly monitored. Transgressions were quickly corrected.
Understandably, the first week was a bit bumpy. 2AM wakeups. 4AM. 6AM. Sleeping arrangements were adjusted. The older pups wanted to sleep on the king-size bed. Surprisingly, the little demon was happy to be locked up in her crate.
Nap times were interspersed throughout the day, and when the little troublemaker was down - everyone rested. We quickly fell into a pattern: up early for a bit of play, out to do their business, then followed by a long nap on the lazyboy before breakfast. These were my most cherished hours.
No one expects three playful dogs to perfectly behave. They were good for the most part, but there was some barking. And barking, if not quickly corrected, got a time-out. The little loudmouth got more than a few.
Time-outs were usually spent in the pink room where, ideally, the wall colour would subdue the agitated pup into a state of quietude. I’d seen this in a documentary on colour theory. A segment focused on prisons where pink rooms were used to tamp down violent behaviour.
It was worth a try.
However, the little demon just took her pause in the pink room as an opportunity to recharge her Beelzebub batteries. She’d return to the pack revitalized with new and even more devilish intentions.
Throw in a heat wave and you’ve got the perfect summer storm of malcontent. No one was happy for several days in a row.
I’m a shade-seeking animal. So are the pups. But when it’s 99 degrees in the shade, there’s no place to hide.
It was unbearable. But we managed our way through it by playing early, staying hydrated, and embracing extended siestas on the cool kitchen floor.
After a week and a half, I began counting the days to go. Then I started counting the sleeps. Then the hours. Then the poops.
Time was not flying at the Doodle ranch.
I was ready for it to be over. I dreamed of having just one dog to care for. One was enough.
I knew that I’d over-committed with my offer to dog sit two pups for two and a half weeks, but one has to develop their dog owner community. Plus, our neighbours had generously looked after our pup when we had to travel across the country for a family event. It was important to give back.
The return of the pet parents was a truly joyous occasion. The dogs went bonkers. It was beautiful. Those manic minutes of crazy love made the whole thing worth it.
Looking back, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience… because I won’t be doing it again. No more three dog nights for me.
I love dogs and would take on an extra one in a heartbeat. Two dogs would be manageable, I think. But three? I’m not sure I would do it again.
What do I miss? I miss the cuddles. I miss the dedicated playtime and the squeaky toys. I miss napping with all three sprawled across me like I’m one of the litter. I miss watching them wake my wife up with a thousand kisses in their morning ritual love alarm.
I may not return to my Doodle Ranch responsibilities, but I leave my post stronger and healthier. Managing three dogs took a lot of energy but somehow my batteries are recharged, my soul is enriched, and my head is clear.
I’m feeling lucky that no one ran away, and grateful that no one got hurt.
Well, we did get a few scratches here and there. Scratches of love. Doodle Ranch Memories.
