For Sale:One Muddy Schnauzer

Ever since Jake started roaming a little further from home than we felt comfortable with (ie. across the main road, without looking both ways, I'm sure), we started tying him up whenever he goes outside alone. The rope is 100 ft I think so it gives him quite a bit of area to cover and a lot of options for places to go to the bathroom. Since "mud season" started, Jake has had his fair share of rinse-off's, however today muddiness was in a league of its own.

When I glanced out of Colin's window and saw Jake in the ditch, with half his body in the drainage pipe we have underneath the path between our house and the neighbours, I knew he was not going to come back clean. What I met, on our front porch after a couple of barks, however, I was not prepared for. See for yourself...



He was beyond muddy. The clay, rocks, mud, branches, etc stuck to him were ridiculous. My usual rinse off technique in our mudroom sink was not going to cut it this time. Clearly, the bathtub was all that was going to do the trick. So, with Colin in his high chair, moved just outside the bathroom door, I started. Jake has never been one for water. He will walk a mile in the opposite direction just to avoid a 1 inch puddle. Therefore, bathing him is one of the most annoying things EVER. Not only are you dealing with a dog who is desperately trying to get out of the tub, you are also dealing with one who is shaking uncontrollably (and in this case, spraying bits of mud everywhere). After about 45 minutes of fighting, scolding and scrubbing, the pup was finally clean. Now starts the post-bath annoyances where he wants to rub up against everything. For this, he was sent to the basement and came back up like this...

He almost looks angry in this picture :).

While I was dealing with Jake, Colin was playing with toys in his high chair that I moved right outside the bathroom door so we could still see each other. I found it interesting that every time I raised my voice to Jake (which was quite often), Colin would stop playing immediately and look at me with a questionable look. I'm sure he has never really heard my voice like that, nor does he know why I was talking so loudly. Soon enough he will find out, and soon enough the word "no" will become a big part of his world, just like it is for Jake. It is hard to imagine having to get stern with him, discipline him, or even, dare I say it, yell at him, however I am realistic enough (I think) to know and accept that those days are coming.

At least it may take some of the heat off Jake.