Poor Poppy

Don’t be alarmed, Poppy is fine – but she has had a trying week!

Poppy is a sweet lovable WONDERFUL dog but she is like the proverbial Bull in a China Shop.  She is probably the most klutzy dog I have ever seen.  If there is a bowl of dry food left on the kitchen floor she will find a way to step in it and send kibble skittering all over the kitchen.  If there is an obstacle in her way she is more likely to plow right through rather than find a way around it.  She has even run full tilt into our patio door, not realizing the door was closed.

So, Poppy started her week with a trip to the lake for a nice walk.  Rusty loves to swim, but never ventures out very far.  Poppy is not so fond of water and only goes in up to her ankles.  It was a hot day and Poppy bravely waded out up to her “knees” .  We were so proud!  Then she steped in a hole and lost her balance and went clear over on her side.  She was not hurt but she was WET!  POOR POPPY!

Poppy loves to wrestle around on our bed in the morning.  She hops up there and I give her a morning “tickle” and she rolls around and smiles and just has a good time.  About a year ago she was having trouble jumping up on the bed so we removed our box springs to lower the bed for her.  We have a mattress on a board foundation but the dog is happy!!   Wednesday I had played with her and then walked away while she was still rolling around on the bed acting silly.  I looked at her just in time to see her rolling and wriggling towards the edge of the bed – NO POPPY! -  Couldn’t get to her in time and she rolled right off the edge of the bed – kerplop right onto the floor.  POOR POPPY!

We have firm foam blocks that we have put on the floor in the van to make a doggie area in the back seat.  There is now a solid area between the back seat and the front where they can sit, lie down, and be comfortable.  There is just a small wedge between this area and the door to give them room to get in and out of the van.  I was driving the other day and turned a corner just a little too quickly.  Poppy lost her balance and ended up face and front paws down in the empty area and no leverage to easily regain her position.  She scrabbled around and finally managed to right herself, none the worse for wear – just a little embarrassed.  POOR POPPY!

But the greatest insult to her dignity happened yesterday.  We went to Gresham to pick up our granddaughter, Bekah, and bring her home for a visit.  It is a 2 1/2 hour drive ONE WAY and not a fun drive.  We were going to our son's house where Poppy fell into the fish pond last time we took her there.  We decided the best decision was to leave the dogs home this time.  And so we did.  When we got home Rusty came running to greet us – so happy that we had returned and not left him FOREVER!  But where was Poppy?  I panicked and went running through the house calling her name.  What if she had somehow managed to get into the pool yard and drowned in the pool?

Then I heard Russ calling, “I found her”.  Now, if you have read my blogs about Poppy and thunder, you know she likes to hide in the bathtub when she is frightened.  However, this time she elected to hide in the VERY SMALL half bath off the laundry room.  It is TINY and you have to turn sideways to close the door.  How she got in there is a mystery, but she managed and then wriggled around and managed to CLOSE THE DOOR completely and she was trapped.  I don’t know how long after we left that she managed to find herself in this predicament but I can tell you the wooden door is in splinters all across the bottom, the toilet paper roller was dismantled, the trash was tipped over and Poppy was traumatized.  At least she had an emergency supply of water but given her delicate sensibilities, I doubt she would have used it.  No doggie messes on the floor but she was sure anxious to get outside to the grass!  POOR POPPY!

She’s okay but it sure makes me rethink leaving them home alone.  Normally I have my nephew come over and check on them if we are going to be gone all day.  Yesterday I didn’t call him and now I know better.  Poor old dogs just should not be left home alone.  They are so used to going with us everywhere we go and they are getting on in years and probably a little senile.  So lesson learned  - and at least Poppy is okay, even after a tough week.