Dog-Sitters

The weekend was total chaos. This is Miss Remi, also known as Mumsie (as in "Queen Mumsie"), also known as Ma'am, also known as Grilled Cheese (that's what Andy called her). She is the Pembroke Welsh corgi of some friends who went away for the weekend. She stayed at Paulson Place from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon and laid in this spot between the couch and the coffee table, next to my shoes, for about 65-70% of the time. (That big white thing in the front of the image is a Clover-Meadow paw.) Isn't she cuuuuuuute!!! Agh! Adorable.

Miss C. Meadow was in a total state. When Remi arrived, Clover lost her mind. She raced around in circles, she jumped back and forth over Remi, she made noises I've never heard before. Then — Grrrrrrr, said Remi. Grrrrr-WOOF!!! she said. And meant it. And Miss Clover Meadow backed up, snugging her quivering body against me, and looked very, very worried.

For several hours she anxiously sat in front of me, wherever I sat or wherever I was in the room, staring at her slumber-party guest. Her slumber-party guest who seemed to not want to have been invited to the slumber party.

How could it beeeee?????

What to dooooo?????

How to proceeeeeed?????

"I'll go see if I can jump on her head. That's a good idea."

Oh man. It was so funny. Once they warmed up to each other, early Friday evening, they started going everywhere together (and let me tell you, I thought having one little dog follow me every single place I went in the house was a handful, but having two little dogs under your feet for every step is insane). Then eventually the puppy-play commenced — and every few hours for about twenty minutes they'd start wrestling each other, a small tornado of teeth and fur as they tried to bite each other in the face or sit on top of one another. But it was fascinating because they really worked it out — Clover was bigger, much more obnoxious, physical, and pretty scrappy, but she was also more submissive than Mumsie, who, though older, crankier, and more stout, could with one warning noise or one haughty look have Clover flat on her back with her paws dangling limply in the air and those very-worried eyebrows arched into right-angles over those very-worried eyes — Whoops, what'd I do? Mommy? We tried so hard not to laugh at them. It was impossible. By Saturday afternoon, my sister picked us up to go thrifting, and Clover was ready to go upstairs and get into her crate and take a nap while we were out. Remi, who isn't crated, sat alone in the middle of the living room and looked at us with what we considered to be sheer relief at the prospect of having a few quiet hours alone. We returned a few hours later, and opened the front door, expecting to be greeted by our little guest — but the room was empty. Where was she? Upstairs, napping near the crated Clover Meadow. BFFs after all.

Comments

[marné]

Dogs are so funny! When we brought our sheepdog, Winston, home I was a little worried about how Bear, the golden retriever would handle it. Bear is not fond of other dogs, and can be a little skittish. Winston, however looked up to him like a big brother, and Bear warmed up to his new role pretty quickly. It was so funny to watch Winston watching Bear to learn what the 'rules' of the yard were, and how far he could push them.

They still have that big brother/little brother relationship, and play together every day, but Bear will put Winston in his place if he's done playing and just wants to be left alone. I just love my two boys :o)

[Lynn]

Oh Alicia, thank you for the story! They are too cute. I have a Pembroke, and would LOVE to have two corgis... even with the chaos that almost certainly would entail.

[Johanna Brinkman]

Thanks for the HUGE smile. We can learn so much from our pets. :) Those little furballs.

[handmadeducation]

Your comment about having two dogs underfoot at all times made me remember when I was growing up - we had FOUR golden retrievers for a long time, and when we renovated our kitchen, we built certain counters and our sink to accommodate the fact that there would always be a dog standing between your feet and the cupboard. We also got a special fridge whose doors only open on the top, so a dog could stand beneath it while you searched for dinner :)

[Jane]

thanks so much for producing pics of Clover Meadow and her sleep-over guest. it made my day, I almost laughed out loud at work...great lunchtime enjoyment!

[bobbi]

ohmygosh!

what great pics! i love corgis, love them. a friend's mom had one whenever i went to visit, and i always wanted to take him home with me :)

[Vivi]

Your writing makes me laugh alot. The pictures just add to it! I love the one taken from behind Clover Meadow looking at the slumber party guest. And some of these shots -- I would really like to know where you were when you were taking these pics -- were you crawling around the floor? Love it! Thanks for the giggles!

[Robyn]

I am not the type to giggle at photos of dogs - and yet, here I am. I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad you do.

[DJ]

They are SOOOO cute!

[ellen kelley]

What a sweet and funny story. I really enjoyed it! Thanks.

[Renovation Therapy]

Awwwww!

[Dyan]

Lols!I heart this.Thanks for sharing, I needed the cheer today.

[AmyKortuem]

Alicia, those photos are HILARIOUS! You should print them as notecards with little captions over their heads. Oh my God, I laughed. Animals are a true delight, no?

[shannon]

That is adorable. I just got two little puppies--one three weeks ago, one two days ago. Having two underfoot is completely different, but I love them immensely.
Thanks for making me smile:)

[Sharon M.]

Cute story! We have a corgi who lives a few doors down from us who looks just like your weekend visitor and I just love her! I always talk to her when my hubby and I take walks and she is just adorable--I call her Corgi because I don't know her name but I think it fits her. :)

[Deb]

Adorable story and photos Alicia!

[Jodi]

Aw... that is too cute. I think I'm catching corgi fever!

[gardenymph]

Cute! Cute! Cute! Glad they worked it out. :~)

[Melissa's Cozy Teacup]

Great story. Does it make you want to go out and get a little friend for Clover?

[Amy]

Let me just say..."Awwwwwwwwww!" We have a Pembroke, and I'm sure Dax would have happily played with Clover!! I'll just ship him out to Portland for a playdate, okay? ;) Clover's reaction sounds just like what Dax does with EVERY dog he comes into contact with. And every cat, human, leaf.....

[Crystal]

Oh, how sweet they are. Sounds like fun was had by all.

[Jean]

thanks for sharing this. too cute!

[Lilli]

C
U
T
E

!!!

[kassy]

"Upstairs, napping near the crated Clover Meadow."

Love it!!!!

[Julie]

What a sweet story and I loved the happy ending!