Rolling Dog Farm Blog

I hadn't seen this photo that Alayne took until I was uploading images from the camera onto my Mac, and it was a bit startling when it suddenly filled the screen … at first glance, it's not clear that there's a body attached to Holly's head.  But the "whole" Holly was indeed there, snuggled up behind blind Goldie.  Holly and Goldie are the only two dogs who have sleep-over privileges in the people wing of the house; they are quiet all night long, have impeccable potty habits, and don't scratch at bedroom doors looking for attention at 3 a.m.  We have, over the years, had to winnow this list down to just these two to get a decent night's sleep.

I should have titled this post "Chair Snatchers," because as you can see, they have made themselves at home on one of the only three "people chairs" we have in our living room — two simple Ikea chairs, like the one they're on, and a once-comfortable wing-back recliner that survived not only our six-pack of dogs in Seattle but also ten years in Montana.  It took Priscilla, one of our blind Poodles, less than 15 minutes a couple of months ago to shred the top side of the seat cushion of that chair.  We walked in and found leather and foam scattered across the floor.  She was standing in front of the chair, admiring her handiwork.  Now the seat cushion is flipped over and a blanket covers the chair, but it looks like something from a salvage sale. 

We have surrendered the two Ikea chairs to the dogs, alas.  You can't pry Widget out of one all day long.  I still insist on the recliner being dog-free, though Holly is quick to sneak naps in it when I'm not around.  She hears me coming down the stairs and skitters off the chair.  She knows.

I did, however, buy two new Ikea chairs last summer when we first moved in, and they are in our bedroom … the only dog-free room in the place.  They remain clean and white and pristine, just like they were when I set them up.  It's not that Alayne and I ever actually sit in them and relax, but still, I just like looking at them and knowing I could sit in them if I wanted to.  And at least I wouldn't have to shoo sleeping dogs off first.

—

The new Shelter Challenge started on Monday, January 10th, and ends at midnight on March 20th.  Grand prize in this round is $5,000.  There are no second- and third-place prizes this time, but new categories … please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.

And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.

You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.

Please note:  Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.

Because of your votes, we came in 2nd nationwide and won $5,000 in the Shelter Challenge that ended in December 2010.  Please help us win this round of the contest by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too.  Thank you!