June 26, 2013

• BACKYARD BATH DAY

  From September 2008

  I decided to save a hundred bucks or so by washing the dog myself.  We bought a blow-up plastic pool for eight dollars at a dollar store (I thought everything at a dollar store was supposed to be a dollar?) and blew it up using the air compressor. I tried using lung power, but I nearly passed out.
  
  After I filled it from the hose I waited a while for the water to warm up a little.  It never did.  We ended up hauling buckets of hot water from the basement until it was warm enough for bare feet. I reckoned that if it was too cold for me, there was no way I was going to keep Josie in that pool.
  
  I don’t know what Josie is thinking, but she had been watching the whole operation with an extremely high degree of wonder and concern. The great pyrenese dogs by their nature are very observant and curious.  They watch and protect with an awareness that is tempered by caution.
  
  It’s time to get her wet and start the bath process, but by this time I was almost worn out from hauling water and I had to drag a 125 pound dog into the pool.  Her legs got stiff and her toenails were dug in but I managed to get her front legs in and then lifted her back side and put the the whole dog in. 
  
  She was ok until I started to pour water on her back.  Then she bolted.  She wanted out of there.  Dog groomers have the advantage of a harness that restrains dogs that don’t want to be bathed. She managed to get her front legs out of the pool a couple of times, but I prevailed without losing much water from the struggles.
  
  Everyone got wet and Josie got her bath.  She got even with us by getting out and shaking water all over the just cleaned windows of the sun room.
  
  I had to restrain her with one hand and wash with the other.
  
  
  She’s giving me “The Look”.
  
  
  She’s looking for an escape route and I’m worn out. It’s time for my nap.
  

  • 7:39 am
  • 5 Comments