VALENTINE'S DAY DORA-DOG

POST # 346

It's that frightened look in her eyes.  If a book could be opened that would tell the tale of Dora-dog prior to my friend adopting her exactly one year ago today, it would be quite the read.  She was one very nervous bonehead to be sure.

Of course we can speculate forever on why Dora ended up at the Humane Society in the first place, but it would be just that, speculation.  We do know that she has an absolute fear of the sounds of trains, so that may offer a clue as to what she has been through.  And, any loud unexpected noise is another one of the things that she doesn't like.  Looking at that face it's almost impossible to imagine that anyone would have just abandoned her.  She's just so cute. But we'll never know.

Thankfully for Dora, my friend Mary came into her life a year ago today, and Dora (and Mary) have never looked back.  It seems to be a perfect match.  As an occasional visitor, it's been interesting to see the transformation take place.  Back in the early days, Dora wouldn't even want to get into a car, and once in, she would crawl under the front seat.  These days, she eagerly jumps in, and has the entire back seat to herself.  She moves back and forth between the windows and is now happy to watch everything that is going past.  What a change.

She used to skulk around the house and hide in (and sleep in) her crate.  That was her safe space.  Now she acts like she owns the place, and has convinced Mary, that there should be a dog bed in every room, so that she can choose the best location for napping.  She even sleeps in the main bedroom each night.  Dora has it very good now.

Dora has even managed a house move in the short time that Mary has had her.  She wasn't really sure what that was all about, and I wonder if there was another move in her past that brought back bad memories.  Once again, it's just speculation on my part.

She moved from being a lake dog to being a beach dog, and it took all of maybe a micro-second for her to decide that she loved the beach, and all of the wonderful driftwood that is there.  I happened to be at the beach the first time she jumped into the ocean.  Naturally, she took a drink of the water.  That was a surprise for her.  She had a very odd look on her face immediately afterwards, and I've never seen her drink the sea water since that time.  Dora is a quick learner.

Recently she's had the opportunity each day to play in the snow.  I'm not sure if this is the first time that she has experienced snow, but she just loves it.  We spend as much time as possible out in the yard chasing each other around.  And that's another thing.  She now has a yard.  She loves to run, and she takes full advantage of this latest opportunity.

All things considered, it seems to have been a very good year for Dora-dog.  At the end of another play filled day, she's ready to relax, and get some rest, so that she can do it all over again tomorrow.

No more frightened look in those eyes, which is wonderful to see.

I've had the great pleasure to know a variety of wonderful boneheads, but I have to admit that Dora-dog takes the prize for first place as far as I'm concerned.  I'm so thankful that my dear friend Mary, made the decision a year ago today, to adopt Dora.  She's been a wonderful Valentine's Day gift.

maximizing my moments,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

A MEMORABLE DAY

 POST # 439

 

For most Americans, yesterday will probably be remembered for what happened in Washington DC.    There is a new President now in charge.  Of course there are some of us that believe that the evidence of just who is in charge was displayed in a rather brutal way a very long time ago, on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.  So there is a new "boss" in town, but I for one find it impossible to believe that he is actually running the show.*** See quote at the bottom of the page.

 Even former President Jimmy Carter would agree.

https://theintercept.com/2015/07/30/jimmy-carter-u-s-oligarchy-unlimited-political-bribery/

And this as well. "Yes, we're corrupt." A list of politicians that admit that money controls politics.

https://theintercept.com/2015/07/30/politicians-admitting-obvious-fact-money-affects-vote/ 

For the Thoughtful Wanderer, yesterday however will be remembered for an entirely different reason.  Let me tell the story.

Every day, Mary and I like to take Dora-dog for a walk, and yesterday was no different. We decided to walk around "the loop" which takes us along the main road in the direction of the golf course and the marina.  It was a cool day, so I decided to put on a warm hat prior to our departure.  The outbound journey was routine, with Dora-dog stopping every now and again to sniff something on the ground and occasionally to be entertained by one squirrel or another.  All was well as we rounded the corner to head down the hill to the marina, and then start our return journey home.

At this point I was beginning to overheat, so I decided to remove my hat.  Being right-handed, I removed my hat with that hand.  I had Dora-dog's  leash wrapped around my left wrist at the time.   I wanted to put my hat in my empty left pocket, and in order to facilitate this, I needed to briefly remove the leash from my left hand and transfer it to my right hand.  At the precise moment that I was doing so, a cat ran across the street ahead of us.  And that was all it took.  Dora-dog was off, running down the hill after her intended target.  They both headed  down a side road and we lost sight of them.  Mary went one way, and I went another trying to find her, but without success.  Now what?  Eventually, I decided to walk along the road that I had last seen Dora-dog head down.  I found myself in a parking lot and I walked past a parked car heading back towards Shelter Bay Drive where Mary was standing.  Still no dog.  I turned around to head back towards the parked car, and much to my surprise and relief, there she was.  Dora-dog was standing next to the parked car, with her leash firmly anchored under its rear left tire.  It wasn't too hard to put the picture together once I saw that.  The cat must have run under the car, with Dora-dog in hot pursuit.  Thankfully, that is where her journey came to an abrupt end.

It took me the better part of ten minutes to pull the leash free from under the tire. With that task finally completed, Dora-dog and I headed back home.  Mary had gone home on the other road in the hope of finding Dora-dog.  We all arrived home at the same time.  Mary was pretty upset about the whole affair, and so was I.  The bottom line is that we all made it home safely.  It was just a simple case of bad timing and a stray cat.

So as I mentioned at the start, yesterday was memorable for most Americans because it was inauguration day, but for The Thoughtful Wanderer, it was memorable for the Dora-dog affair.  Thankfully I was taught a new lesson by my favourite bonehead, about making sure that I have a firm grip on her leash at all times.

                               RESTING AFTER  HER BIG ADVENTURE
 

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

***If you identify as a conservative and continue to believe that your prime enemies are ordinary leftists, or you identify as a leftist and believe your prime enemies are Republican citizens, you will fall perfectly into the trap set for you. Namely, you will ignore your real enemies, the ones who actually wield power at your expense: ruling class elites, who really do not care about “right v. left” and most definitely do not care about “Republican v. Democrat” — as evidenced by the fact that they fund both parties.                                                          

  Glenn Greenwald

   Pulitzer Prize Journalist

PS: And finally, my January 21st post wouldn't be complete without mentioning Madonna, aka my dear mom.  If she were alive today, she would have just celebrated her 105th birthday.

                                                                                                      

DORA-DOG'S ROLE AS CAREGIVER

 POST # 542

During the early days after Mary's hip replacement, Dora-dog was looking as exhausted as The Thoughtful Wanderer.  But through it all, she always remained focused on Mary.   Of course, it's impossible to know what thoughts were going through her head each day, but I could tell by her actions, that Mary was at the top of the list of Dora-dog's priorities.  She was perplexed by the walker that Mary had to use, just to get around the house. Eventually the walker was replaced by a cane, but through it all, Dora-dog has always been by Mary's side, wanting to be of any assistance possible.  Through many sleepless nights, Dora-dog is there to stand guard.  She is always there to protect Mary in any way that she can.  

Over time, the situation has become easier than it was when I arrived back on February 20th, and all three of us are very grateful for that fact.

Another way in which Dora-dog has been a great support for the two humans in the house is as a welcome distraction for us.  The daily ritual of play time has now come back onto the agenda, and Dora-dog certainly doesn't disappoint in this area.  We both appreciate the exuberance and happiness that she displays when some of her favourite toys are brought out to have fun with.  At times, it can almost seem like things are back to normal.  But we're not there just yet.  In the meantime, it has been great to have our four-legged friend offer her version of support.  It means a lot to the both of us.

I even had time the other day to go for a long walk with Dora-dog.  You most certainly can tell by the expression on her face, that she is enjoying her day out in the sun.  For a short while at least, she didn't seem to have a care in the world.  But as soon as we returned home, she quickly hurried over to Mary to make sure that she was OK.  

So yes, things are beginning to improve for Mary, and a big part of that improvement in my opinion has been Dora-dog's role as caregiver.  As my time winds down here, and I get ready to move on to my next house/pet sit, I am comforted by the fact that Dora-dog will remain here by Mary's side, ready to offer up whatever assistance that she is able, in order to help Mary make as quick a recovery as possible.  What more could you ask for, from such a faithful, four-legged friend?

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

CLOSING ANOTHER CHAPTER

POST # 332

It's the last post for the month of October, and also the last post from my current location near Bellingham WA, where my friend Mary has resided for almost three years.  I helped her to move in, and I am in the process of helping her to move again.  Dora-dog will be upgrading to a fenced yard, with perhaps a doggy door to let her come and go as she pleases.   She's already had a couple of opportunities to inspect the place, and she seemed right at home.  There will even be a four-legged neighbour for her to get acquainted with, so that is a bonus.

Dora will have to say so long to her favourite dog park, and the expression on her face seems to imply a certain sadness in her mood.  There is still time though, for a few more visits, and the plus side of where she'll be going is that she has an ocean beach to run around on.  She's already been there, and on her very first visit, she met one of her bonehead friends, so it was a great introduction to her upcoming location.  Dora was somewhat shocked when she decided to drink from this oversized "lake" which had a pronounced salty flavour to it.  It didn't take her long to figure out that from now on, it would be best to wait until she gets home to her water dish in order to refresh herself.

All things considered, this is looking like a positive move for both Mary and Dora.  How's that old saying go, "a change is as good as a rest."   In the meantime, there is plenty to do to get ready for the move, and Dora isn't really sure just what is going on, what with all the packing boxes and strange activity.  She seems to be somewhat upset by it all, and we wonder if at sometime in her past, she participated in another house move, which may have resulted in her ending up at the animal shelter.  It's an unsolvable mystery, but I think that once she is settled in her new location, she will relax, and finally come to realize that she is in a very good place with a very good person who will take care of her for as long as that is possible.

There will be things to miss, like the wonderful sunsets that take place from time to time,

 playing in the mud at the local off-leash dog park not far from here,

and in addition to all of that, Dora will have to say so long to her friend, Simon the three-legged furball as well.

No matter where Dora is, she will still have the opportunity to play with her many toys, and while doing so, bring joy to whatever human might be at the receiving end of her playfulness.

However, it's looking like a positive transition for Mary and Dora, and that is a good thing indeed, because Mary is one good person, and Dora is...

As another chapter comes to a close for The Thoughtful Wanderer, I would like to thank both of them for letting me participate in their adventure.  I am a truly blessed individual.

living in acceptance,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

DORA-DOG = HAPPY-DOG

POST # 347

A bonehead and her bone.  Dora-dog is very typical in this regard, and she loves to spend some of her time, chasing, then licking, and finally gnawing on any bone that happens to come into her domain.  However, when there is no bone to be found, a stick is an ample substitute.

And if the stick happens to be down by her local beach, all the better.  She has plenty to choose from at this location, and she could chase a stick for as long as you want to keep throwing it.  That is, until some of her four-legged companions arrive, and then it's stick schmik, and Dora-dog is off and running. No other bonehead can keep up with her, and she's had plenty of competition.  Running is without a doubt Dora-dog's favourite activity.  With the exception of the other day, I've never seen her voluntarily quit running around.  But two days ago, on our beach journey, it just so happened that  many of the neighbourhood boneheads were there as well.  Dora ran, and swam and ran and swam and ran some more.  Finally, she came up beside me on the beach, and sat down exhausted.  She had finally found her limit.  At least for that part of the day.  By afternoon she was at it again running around and around in the backyard, chasing squirrels and having a ball.

Here were just a few of her beach companions from the other day.

The look on Dora-dog's face tells you all you need to know.

In case you need a closer look at happiness, see below.

After all that exercise, it's time to return home, and relax for a while.

As far as she is concerned, it has been a good day to be alive.  There will be more activity before bedtime, but eventually it will be time to wind down and call it a day.

PRE- BEDTIME

BEDTIME

I will miss the company of Dora-dog and my friend Mary, as I wander off to my next house/pet sit back on Vancouver Island.  Instead of Dora-dog, it's time to meet Doug the dog.  The adventure continues.

maximizing my moments,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

A-DORA-BLE DORA

POST # 305

It is unclear where she came from and the answer to that question will remain locked up in her little brain forever.  But one thing is certain, and that is the fact that she sure is adorable.   Her name is Dora.

My friend, Mary had been looking for another dog for quite a while, and finally on February 14th of this year, her wish came true when she adopted Dora from the local humane society.  I guess that it was a happy Valentine's day for the both of them.

Dora is certainly one of the most timid dogs that I have ever encountered, and I suppose that her demeanor is directly related to the life she had prior to her arrival at the humane society.  However, in the short time that I've known Dora, which is about ten days, even I can detect positive changes in her behavior, and that's been a wonderful thing to experience.   There is no doubt in my mind, that the care that Mary has shown towards Dora has been a major factor in Dora becoming more open with humans. I suspect that as more time passes, the memories from her previous life will continue to fade away, and as a result she will become less timid, and even more adorable than she is already.


living in acceptance,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer

SHE'S BAAAACK!!!

 POST #667

She's baaaack!!!  And Dora-dog is one happy bonehead indeed.  Mary arrived back from her vacation to Hawaii last Saturday morning, so I took Dora-dog for a ride to the Shell station to meet Mary after she exited from the airport shuttle bus.

Now I know that Dora-dog enjoys my company as well, but Mary is still number one in her books.  And that is as it should be.  After all, it was Mary who rescued this frightened young puppy from the animal shelter way back in February 2018.  Who knows where she may have ended up if Mary hadn't adopted her back at that time.  

She's had a good run since then, but a very large part of her happiness is the fact that she gets to spend time each and every day with Mary.  

Here is a link to a post that I wrote one year after Mary adopted Dora-dog.

https://wherespaulnow.blogspot.com/search?q=dora

They've come a long way since that time, and I'm pretty sure that they would both agree that it has been a wonderful journey for each of them.

And one more photo of Dora-dog, as you can see.  Her number one human is back on the scene, and  she is very, very happy about that.

Okay.  Just one more photo to re-confirm that Dora-dog is happy.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

HELLO AND GOODBYE

POST # 374

 

 HAPPY MURPHY

Yesterday, I arrived at my current house/pet sit, accompanied by my dear friend Mary, and Dora-dog.  Mary generously offered to drive me here, and we arrived at Murphy's place in the early afternoon.  Murphy was out for a walk with one of his owners, so the three of us went looking for them.  Within minutes I spotted Murphy, and called out his name.  He came bounding across the field to meet us, and more importantly, to meet Dora.  The two of them hit it off right from the get go, which I had expected, but it was still a relief to see them playing together.

Back at the house later, the four humans, and the two dogs had time for a visit, prior to Mary and Dora getting back in her car in order to head back home to Washington.  As much as I am happy to be here for the second time, it was sad to see Mary and Dora drive away.  I took this photo of Dora just moments before they drove off.  Her face reflected my mood as well.  Such is the life of a wanderer, but by now I am very familiar with this feeling, and I also know that it won't last forever.  

In no time, Dora will be back chasing squirrels, bunny rabbits and deer, so I'm quite sure that she will be OK, as will Mary,  as will I. Perhaps I will make the transition a bit more effortlessly, because of all the wandering that I have done in my journey through life.  Saying hello and goodbye is as natural to me as breathing, however the goodbyes are always more difficult, and especially so, considering the world we live in, in late 2019.

But for now, it's time to settle in with Murphy, and enjoy my time here.  It's all that I can do.

 

 SAD DORA-DOG

maximizing my moments,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer

A DAILY WALK

 POST # 592

You just never know exactly what you may come across while out for a daily walk with Dora-dog.  We came across this sign the other day, and it made me chuckle, so I thought that I would include it in today's post.  The squirrels were nowhere to be seen, but if they had been around,  Dora-dog would most certainly have let me know about it.  She loves to chase the squirrels, but so far has never managed to catch one.  

Unless it's raining hard, a daily walk is part of the routine while I am here.  Sometimes it's just me and Dora, and at other times, the three of us head out on our journey to various places around the local neighbourhood, or to a dog park so that Dora-dog can hang out with some of her four-legged friends.

The other day, a neighbour called, to tell us that she was taking her dog Sully for a walk, and so we met up and the three humans and Sully and Dora-dog began our journey to the marina and back.  The two dogs know one another, so they were happy to have the chance to hang out together for a while.  I had the pleasure of taking Sully and Benson for a stroll almost three years ago, and so I wrote about that at the time.  Here is a link to that post.

https://wherespaulnow.blogspot.com/2021/04/sully-and-benson-day.html

Sadly, Benson is no longer with us, but the other two seemed to enjoy their walk in spite of their buddy not being with the two of them.

Every now and again, it was time to take a short break, and let them relax for a few moments and take in the surroundings.  

Eventually, Sully headed home with his owner, and we continued on our way back home as well.  Dora-dog appears to be happy that she is back home, but she's probably thinking about the wonderful time that she has just spent with her buddy, Sully, and perhaps she's looking forward to another journey with her four-legged friend, sometime in the future.

A daily walk is a good thing for all of us to partake in, but it is certainly more enjoyable, if the walk can be shared with four-legged friends such as Sully and Dora-dog.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

DORA-DOG'S RECENT LIFE JOURNEY

 POST # 708

I took the above photo of Dora-dog just this past Tuesday.  She sure looks happy, just as she did in a similar photo taken quite a few years ago, which can be seen on the right hand side of the blog (7th photo down the page).

And since last Tuesday, that is about the happiest that she has looked since that time.  But why is that?  Well in order to answer that question, we have to go back in time to last month. The vet noticed a small lump (lipoma-A lipoma in a dog is a common, non-cancerous (benign) fatty tumor that grows just underneath the skin) on the inside of Dora-dog's right front leg, and she suggested that we keep an eye on it.  Since that time it had grown, which resulted in a very pronounced limp, and so recently a decision was made to remove it, which of course meant surgery.

So this past Wednesday, we took her to the vet, dropped her off, and returned home without her.  It was strange being home, without Dora-dog.  In fact, in all of the time since Mary has had her, and I have been visiting, this was the first time that we were at home, and not had her around.  

Later that day, the vet phoned to tell us that the surgery had been successful, and that we could come and pick her up.  When we arrived she was happy to see us, but she was still getting over the surgery, so she was a bit groggy, not her normal excited self.

So she's now back home, and she is probably trying to work out why so much of her fur is missing.  She looks somewhat stunned by the new hair cut.

I suppose that she could look on the bright side of things, and pretend she now has some new "fur boots" to show off to her four legged friends.

But they really did remove quite a bit of her fur ( more than I would have expected) but I'm not a vet so what do I know when it comes to having a procedure such as she has just had?

It's going to take a long time for that fur to grow back, but it's really a minor issue.  The main thing is that the surgery was successful, and for that we are all very thankful indeed.

Of course, Dora-dog now has to wear a cone, to prevent her from licking the affected area, and she won't be able to go for any walks for the next two weeks.  TWO WEEKS.  

She gets all excited each day when she sees me putting on my shoes by the front door, because that is the signal that we will soon be walking out the door and heading out for our daily journey to town and back.  And then she can't work out why I am walking out the door and leaving her behind. I'm guessing that she feels sad, and I certainly know that I do.  But it is what it is, and we have to be thankful that she is now recovering, and eventually she should be back to her normal exuberant self.  We will both be very happy when that day finally arrives, and we can once again enjoy our daily stroll.  And maybe then, we will appreciate how lucky we are to be able to do that simple activity.  Like often happens, we take things for granted until they are not there. Thanks Dora-dog, for teaching this lesson to me yet again.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

PS: Here is a post from August 28/2019, when Dora-dog had her first encounter with a cone.

https://wherespaulnow.blogspot.com/search?q=post+372

A HAPPY WEEK FOR DORA-DOG

 POST # 604

It's been a great week for Dora-dog, and you can tell by the look upon her face, that she is one happy bonehead.

Earlier in the week, we drove to a location, not too far from Mount Baker to visit a friend that we had not seen for a long time.  Her bonehead, who goes by the name of Clooney, was there as well.  Dora-dog was happy to see, and spend some time with him, while the humans visited with one another.

We took time to go for a stroll around the property where our friend lives, and enjoyed the magnificent scenery located there. 

After an enjoyable visit, it was time to say so long, so we said our goodbyes, and headed out on the journey back to Shelter Bay.  Just prior to arriving home, the sun was setting, and I managed to take a photo of the event.

That was a few days ago.  In the meantime,  Mary's eldest daughter arrived for a short visit, on her way to catch up with friends in Oregon.  She brought along her bonehead, Fettie (short for Confetti), so once again Dora-dog had a four legged friend to spend time with.  So we've been dog-sitting Fettie for a few days, and she and Dora-dog get along together, so it's been fun to have her here for a while, and it has helped to make it a happy week for Dora-dog. 

They both look very happy to be spending time together.

They will get a few more days to do that, but I will be heading out tomorrow to my next sit on Vancouver Island.  This will be a return visit, and I'll be hanging out with Blanca for a couple of weeks.  We get along great together, so I am very much looking forward to seeing her once again.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

STRESSED-OUT DORA-DOG

POST # 365

Dora-dog knows nothing about the 4th of July except for this.  She hates it.  At least she hates the noise which results from the almost endless rounds of fireworks that people here seem to think is the one and only  thing to do during this time.  Above, is a photo of her cowering in her crate.  What you can't see is the constant fast paced breathing that is part and parcel of her stress.  I find myself feeling helpless to comfort her, and my friend Mary, who owns Dora-dog feels the same way.  It's tough to watch.

July 4th was without a doubt the worst day this week, but the fireworks started days before that, and they continue to this day, but at a reduced frequency.  I guess that we should all be grateful for that fact.

I took another photo, later on which shows the sheer exhaustion on Dora-dog's face, after a very long,  very loud, and very stressful day.  She's worn out with all of the stress, and it makes me very sad to see her in this condition.

Perhaps the worst of it is over with by now, and with any luck,  Dora-dog will be back to her normal happy disposition,  and the memory of this stress-filled week will fade away, and she will once again have this look on her face.

I could go on a rant about all of the craziness of the 4th of July, and take this post in an entirely different direction, but maybe I'll save that for sometime in the future.  Right now,  all I can think about is helping Dora-dog get back to normal.

maximizing my moments,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer 

CONEHEAD BONEHEAD VERSION 2.0

POST # 372

According to the dictionary definition, the words conehead and bonehead are words to describe a stupid person.  Dora-dog takes exception to that, and so do I.  For many years now, I have been using the word bonehead as a term of endearment for dogs, and as far as conehead goes, I think the photo above makes a good case for a second definition of that word.

How did Dora-dog end up in this pickle?  It started a little while ago when the dewclaw on her right front paw was injured.  Dora-dog is such an exuberant runner, that I am amazed it took until just recently for this injury to take place.  No doubt it hurt, and she licked the affected area on a regular basis, so Mary her owner decided to take Dora-dog to the vet last week to have both front dewclaws removed.  It made sense to do both at the same time, in order to prevent a similar injury to the left dewclaw in the future.

Hence, the conehead bonehead.  Now instead of just looking cute, she looks both sad and cute.  She is adapting to this new arrangement and her wounds are healing as time goes by.  The follow-up appointment with the vet is for September 4th, so she still has about a week to go before she can go for her first run and swim.

So why the Version 2.0 in the title?  Let me explain.  I first met my friend, Mary almost exactly seven years ago, back in September 2012, as a result of applying for a housesit at her place, in order to take care of the dog she had back then, named Tika.  On a subsequent housesit in February of 2013, Tika developed a sore on her right front paw, and as a result, ended up at the vet as well, and came home with her own conehead to deal with.  Tika was a rather large Malamute, and when she wanted to eat or drink, she preferred to crouch down on the floor.  This arrangement didn't work well with the cone, so I ended up having to crouch down in front of her, and hold her dish up to her mouth, so that she could eat/drink.    Here is a link to the post that I wrote back then.
http://wherespaulnow.blogspot.com/2013/02/cone-head-dog-and-other-stuff.html

Dora-dog as Version 2.0 is much easier, as she has no problem at all eating and drinking with her cone.    Yesterday, I decided to remove the cone for about an hour in order to give her the opportunity to lick various parts of her anatomy, and to allow her to feel normal for a least a little while.  But in order to do this, I had to be watching her constantly, so that she wouldn't attempt to lick her wounds.  For the most part she ignored her front paws, and was way more interested in attending to the hind parts of her anatomy.

So the conehead bonehead will have to put up with this arrangement for just a little while longer, and then everything in her world will be back to normal.  But in the meantime, one advantage to the cone is that when Dora-dog wants to sniff something on the ground, she now has the ability to encapsulate the smell within the cone, which probably accentuates the fragrance for her.

She's looking happier by the day.

By early evening,  it's time for some well deserved rest.

maximizing my moments,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer