GOING TO PETSMART

Whenever we go to Petsmart, Rufus gets very upset. As soon as we take the exit off the interstate, he jumps from my shoulders and leaps into the backseat shivering. He knows it’s time for his grooming. So yesterday when I had Jesse with us, I decided to take them both just for shopping.

Jesse had no clue about the place and walked right in. Rufus, on the other hand, dug in his heels and I had to pull him into the store. I took both of them into the grooming salon so Daisy, his groomer, could meet Jesse and could see that there is a dog in the family who is meek and mild tempered. Rufus is always very uncooperative, squirming and biting whenever she tries to groom him. (Well, think about it – they shave his “private parts”! No wonder he’s nervous.) But yesterday he actually put his paws on the half-door to the grooming area and wagged his tail. I guess he was calmed down somewhat by Jesse’s presence.

Then I took them out into the store to shop. I bought a bigger bed so they could both sleep in one together and also an attachment that allows me to put both dogs on one leash. I certainly needed it in the store because Rufus got into it with a Weimeranner, and in the process got wound around my leg several times. I had a heck of a time getting out of there.

But I did make it and the new leash attachment, which I tried as soon as I got home, is a big success. The bed is less so, but maybe they will get more attached to it as time goes on.

Today really is grooming day, and without Jesse with us, Rufus will probably go through the trembling-in-the-backseat process all over again.