7/01/07 

 Most of you know that I have three kids.  In fact, every time I write something they all want to know if they made the headlines.  Today, I decided to write about my fourth child.  (No, it's not my husband although that sometimes does apply.)  I was talking about my dog, Cody.  

    Cody is this beautiful black lab/springer spaniel mix that is supposed to be Mike's dog.  Of course, when I  bought Cody for him last January, I knew that the dog would become my responsibility.  That's why I put off getting a dog for so long even when my kids told me, "Mom, everyone else has a dog."  Like they are deprived children, or something.  So with severe hesitation, I allowed our family to get a dog. 

   Growing up, we always had a dog or animal and for me to deprive my family of those good memories would make me a terrible mom.  By the way, we lived out in Lowell and even had a goat named Suzie.  We treated her as one of the family and walked her with the dog.  Quite the site to see and many people did

a double-take when they drove by us walking the goat.

   So anyway, this dog (who is not supposed to be my dog but is) has grown on me.  Alright.  I can even say that I love him because he definitely loves me.  He follows me wherever I go which is sometimes gets annoying. 

   If I'm watching T.V., he jumps up, lays right down beside me and puts his head right on my shoulder.  (This sometimes irritates the kids who think that that is their spot.)  Even, when I exercise and I'm doing sit-ups, he has to be right next to me with his head on my stomach.  Crazy dog, you can't help but laugh.

   Cody is so crazy that when we took him up to our cottage last year in the summer we weren't sure how he would react to the water.  He was still a puppy and wasn't quite sure of what to do with it.  We got him to go into the water by chasing a water ball but he would only go out to where he could touch.  Until   Corbin threw the ball and Cody into the lake off the dock.   He learned to swim very quickly.

   A few more times and he figured out the swimming thing.  Sometimes, we would leash him on the beach just to have some time by ourselves and not entertain the dog. 

    Like I said before... a dog can be just like a kid and after whining, and whining some more, I finally gave in and let him off the leash.  He wanted to come and play too!

   And just like a kid, Cody didn't know when to stop.  Jacob and I were playing with the water ball in the lake.  Once we let Cody free it became a game of keep the ball away from the dog, or dog in the middle.  We kept moving farther and farther out thinking the dog wouldn't follow up because of the deeper water.  Sure enough, here he comes.  Swims out to me.  Puts his paws on my shoulders.  Rests.  And then expects me to carry him back to shore because he's tired.  Just like a baby, expecting mom to carry him back in. 

I did bring him back to shore and Cody comes back out again.  Reaches me and wants me to bring him back to shore.  Good thing water makes things weigh less.  He still was about 50 pounds and not very light.  After that, he could whine all he wanted but he was definitely chained for awhile.

    Dogs trust their owner to take care of them.  Trust me when I say that as a Realtor, this is the right time to buy.  I would love to help you find your next home, cottage or piece of land.  There is something out there for everyone- so give me a call.