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My current dog Choppa is my ride or die pal. Let's switch that up and say. My Ride, Walk, Run, Beach Bum Buddy and down for whatever furry friend.
Back in the day I used to be a cat mom. Almost to the degree of Cat Lady in a small NY apartment filled with Purrfect Feline Fun. I'll never forget what my Veterinarian of 15 years said to me when I brought my first pup in for her first check up. "You know dogs are a whole different kind of beast than cats". "Cats are more independent." I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Don't get me wrong I knew that my new found friend would need the basics. Food, water, go potty walks, training, and of course Love.
I moved from my city apartment back to suburban living. Topaz was the only remaining kitty I had and he bonded with my Dad.
So I had plenty of Love to give to my new rescue pup. Cotton was her name. An American Eskimo. She came to me with a limited background history from the local shelter. But like many of us who walk that row of cages full of four legged critters longing for a home of their own, "The One" catches your eye and you just know that you know their coming home with you.
Can you find Cotton in the shelter?
When I had Cotton I was very active in outdoor activities. She kept up with me too. Camping and Hiking is how we spent most of my free time. She was the best. I knew I wanted her everywhere with me and I knew she felt the same. We were inseparable. I learned all I could about her breed. American Eskies are very intelligent and I wasn't surprised when I discovered they have a long history as circus performers. So I decided to test drive Cotton on my motorcycle. Patience and plenty of treats. She became a pro. With protective gear on, Cotton clocked about 1000 or so miles on my Harley that was modified for her to ride comfortably. We both got pretty dusty while riding and even more dirty discovering trails. Although a bath would be ideal after a long weekend trip, sometimes the timing of returning back to work would prevent me from doing so right away. I would give her a good brush. Which she enjoyed.
Regular brushing removes dead hair, distributes natural oils for a clean and healthy coat, stimulates the surface of the skin, gets rid of dead and dry skin, and helps you become familiar with your dog's body. It gave us even more mommy and me time and I was able to check for any unwanted hitchhikers after camping. You should brush your dog every couple of days no matter the length of his coat. Regular grooming relaxes the dog who's used to it, and it becomes a special time that you can both share. It makes you feel good, and the effect is the same for your pet.
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