Julie Gumm - Author

Buddy goes rogue

by //

While I continue to marvel at how really wonderful our new dog, Buddy, is – last night he showed a little bit of his rebel side.

I had Jen & Stacey over for some dessert and coffee and we chatted late into the night. As they were leaving we were standing in the door chatting. Buddy sitting nearby just hanging out.

Before we knew it the crack in the door had widened and he was out.

And he BOLTED!

At first I thought oh, he’ll run a few doors down and then slow down and so I was kind of half-heartedly jogging after him. Then I realized he was serious.

It’s was after midnight and I was yelling his name as I took off sprinting down the street (in bare feet).

I hollered back for one of the girls to get in their car and follow me. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up with him for very long. He was around the block before he began to sort of slow down. He was running up toward each house front door and then side yard – maybe sniffing for friends, but about the time I would get close he’d run to the next house.

Jen pulled up alongside and I asked her if she had any food in her car. She had a Cliff bar in her purse which she handed me and she got out to help me kind of corner him.

As buddy came down someone’s driveway I started throwing bits of Cliff bar to him to lure him closer to me until he got close enough for me to grab and lift up.

Whew! I got in Jen’s car and she drove us home.

The really bad part is that the whole time I was sprinting I was realizing that he had no collar on. Two days before we’d finally taken him to the groomer and they forgot to put his collar on. They had called me about it just a few hours later but I hadn’t been by to pick it up.

I also realized I am REALLY out of shape. After we got back and the girls left I was hacking and coughing for a good 30 minutes.

Bad dog Buddy!

Does this mean the dog needs attachment therapy?? 🙂

Adopt Without Debt Workshop

by //

Yesterday I had the privilege of being in Birmingham to deliver the “Adopt Without Debt” workshop for Lifeline Children’s Services. This was the first time that I had done the full 2.5 hour workshop and it was a blast. We got through all the material (although I can always add more 🙂 and those in attendance got to share a few ideas as well.

I loved getting to chat with everyone during the break and after, and got to hear some cool stories and great feedback.

Thanks to all who came. I hope you were encouraged and found it useful!

Thanks to Lifeline for having me. Thanks to Paul from Alliant Bank for sponsoring the event. Thanks to everyone who came (including my high school friend Kelley who drove over from Atlanta and was the official photographer and book sales lady)!

I’ll be in Atlanta on November 19th to do it all again. I will post details as soon as I have them.

I don’t think he’s a real dog

by //

Maybe it’s just the adoption “honeymoon” phase, but we’re beginning to doubt if Buddy is, in fact, a real dog.

Why? Let me count the ways…

When you give Buddy a treat he sniffs, gently licks and then nibbles until he gently takes it from you. Seriously, he could eat from a baby’s hand. He’s so gentle.
Snickers would lunge at your hand and scarf down said treat while leaving a long string a drool from your hand to her mouth.

While we eat dinner Buddy lays in the other room and sleeps.
Snickers was always sitting next to the table, eyes darting from one person to the next waiting for an opportunity to lunge for some unwatched food.

At night Buddy sleeps on the floor in our room. He has not yet attempted to get on our bed.
Snickers would jump up on the bed and promptly curl up on one of our pillows. When you attempted to move her she would rumble/growl at you grumpily while moving.

Buddy has yet to swallow anything but dog food, treats and medicine.
Snickers was known to swallow/eat batteries, socks, eyeglasses, cash, and any number of weird items. It’s a miracle she lived as long as she did.

Buddy takes his medicine, squished in a bread ball, and eats it nicely.
No matter how well you disguised it Snickers had a unique talent for sucking off/eating everything BUT the pill which she would then promptly spit out. 

Buddy lays nearby watching while you load and unload the dishwasher.
Snickers would always have stand on the open dishwasher door to lick food off the plates and lick up any water. 

Buddy knows when he’s wrong. If you find him with something that isn’t his, say one of the kids stuffed animals, as soon as you start to walk over he stops chewing and lets you take it.
Snickers would latch on with all her might to illegal item and growl desperately while you used all your strength to get it away from her. 

Do you see why we’re wondering?

Not that I’m complaining! Goodness no! I am thanking my lucky stars we somehow seemed to have gotten the world’s calmest, most well-mannered 8-month-old dog.