Q and his views of cars and floors

We left yesterday afternoon to come to Minnesota. So in order to make up for my sad post of this morning, let me tell you some more adventures of our 'Q'. We bought the Honda Element after his second TPLO surgery. It has the side open doors, is low to the ground, which requires only stepping up and down into the car and the seats fold up to each side, leaving the whole interior open for him. He though, likes the seats down so he can sit on them for a short time, then lays down on the floor. We think he feels more secure laying between the seats, very crateish. The nice thing about the Honda Element is that there is enough room in the back seat for 192 lb dog to lay completely down and stretch out on his side.

We stopped for gas and invited him for a walk in a grassy, weedy area. He decided the bugs and field were not to his liking. He asked dad several times for permission to go back to the car and we finally obliged - and he ran and climbed right in looking very proud of himself. (Mind you, it didn't help that Alan parked the car, with the doors open - inviting the, please, please, please let me go back to the car plea).

We then arrived at Grandma's and the LAKE (which he won't go in but adores boat rides). That brought much happiness. Dogs do remember. He walked in and noticed right away that the girls were no longer there. (Amber and Crystal died this year, we think from the dog food tainting. They were teacup poodles - it was pretty terrible). Anyway, after they died, all carpeting was removed - the cork floor was left in place and laminated flooring was installed. The old tile was removed from the bedroom hallway and replaced with laminate flooring as well. Our house has Pergo in the kitchen/dining room and carpeting throughout the rest of the house.

Q hates the wood flooring at grandma's. He is standing in their bathroom - and refusing to come out. At home, we put carpet runners down for him. But grandma's house doesn't have that. With grandpa on crutches, we locked him behind the usual poodle size board (he knows not to step over it) and he refused to leave the bathroom because of the wood flooring. He goes from bedroom to bathroom, then tiptoes across the wood floor to the cork floor, where he can rest at last. I love this dog.

Alan is trying to convince me to go watch the fireworks on the lake. I am bleh tonite, sitting with mom. I think this year I want to sit with her and just watch it on TV. It doesn't even get dark until well after 10pm here. (Yeah, I am that far North). Well Happy 4th of July everyone. Have a safe and blessed holiday!