Welcome To The Good Times Kennel

Technically I'm in violation of our city animal code. There are currently 4 dogs and one cat living here.Iyah Dogg is my senior fellow, 13 years old on April 15th. Iyah is half chihuahua/half tzih tzu. Della Irene is a 5 year old 6 lb. chihuahua. And SammiBobo, my little Japanese Spitz, you have met in a previous post. These three all get along with my rehabilitated (not really) calico cat named Cammy. And now we come to our little catalyst, my grandpup Hammer. You've likely read about Hamm on the Puffy Pink Sleeves blogspot. Hammer runs rampant through the house with Sammi. I've seen him run right into the doorpost, get up, shake his head and continue playing. He goes at breakneck speed and then a few hours later he jumps in my lap, flops over on me and takes a nap. Just before his nap he finds his favorite stuffed toy and, I kid you not, he proceeds to suck on the back of that teddy bear's head, all the while rolling his eyes around to see what the other dogs are up to. This makes him very drowsy and ready for his nap. One of Hamm's ideas of playing with Sammi is to mount him, continually. (The title popped into my head to call this blog 'One Hump or Two' but this story is much bigger than that topic). Sammi is surprisingly calm and patiently waits for Hammer to complete his whatever and then playing continues. They have gone through several stuffed toys, playing tug with them until something gives way, a leg, an arm, or a head and then the stuffing comes rolling out. I've been making regular trips to the thrift shops to replenish our toy supply.




Jealousy is rampant now. Della is used to occupying my lap but she has been usurped by a rambunctious Hammer. This makes Della disgruntled until we find a suitable place for her, which then crowds Iyah. Not to be outdone, I suddenly find Sammi on the back of my chair trying to wrap himself around my neck. I'm beginning to feel smothered, my life is out of control. I've turned into the human mattress and I didn't even get a vote. And it gets worse. Bedtime is a fiasco. The cat insists on sleeping beside my head. Her bed is a heating pad covered by a fleece baby blanket. Iyah, having fallen asleep around 8 p.m. in his doggy bed, I carry each night to the bedroom, cover him with his blanky, and position him just below the cat bed separated by a plumped up pillow. Della dives under the covers and puts her 4 cold little paws next to my warm body. Sammi settles down on the foot of the bed, most usually laying his head on my feet. I'm feeling crowded. And where to put Hammer who will insist on being right in the middle somewhere. Ah! problem solved! Cammy hisses and leaps off the bed, thus leaving a prime sleeping space available. Hammer lucked out. All is well....until tomorrow.