While my nosehairs gently weep

Today, like most days, Katie and I took Pluto for a walk around the nieghborhood. We've been trying to get him accustomed to walking in the neighborhood without dragging us around like he's an ox dragging a plow, and the best way to accomplish that is by building healthy walking habits. So, apart from early this week we've been pretty regular about taking him on walks around the neighborhood and in the park.

So, this afternoon, we leashed him up and took him around the block and when we got back to the house we decided to cut him a little slack on the leash and let him run around in the yard a bit. He did great. He pulled a bit on Katie, but not like the eye bulging, whining, manic version of himself that scared the women and children in the neighborhood a month ago. He almost looked like a normal dog on a walk... until we let him have some slack.

He found himself a big pile of cat poo in the front yard and buried his nose in it. After determining that "Yes, this is the stinkiest substance I have ever laid my nose on", he flopped down into it and rolled himself around like it was aromatic gold.

Katie drug pluto inside where I had a bowl of food ready for him. She couldn't stand the smell, and was making gagging noises, so I rolled my eyes and took the leash from her. After all, how bad could it be? It's just cat poo. Give me that leash you silly woman... with your frail senses. I'll handle the poo smells around here!

Within seconds my nosehairs were threatening mutiny. It was, even after I've had several hours to think about it, the worst smell I've ever encountered. Wet, hot dog smell, topped in fresh cat poo. I just got a shiver... seriously.

Anywho, I let the dog eat as long as I could stand it, then drug him to the bathroom. Water was running when he got in the room, and he knew what was coming. We had treats, shampoo and running water and he was cornered in the room where he drinks from the porcelain bowl and gets yelled at... that's trouble. He received the least gentle bath of his life, and maybe the most gratifying for Katie and I.

Pluto got more than he bargained for tonight, and Katie and I got a lesson in plutology. He's a dog. If there's dirt, he's going to dig and track it in the house. Food, he's going to try to sneak it. Crotches, you better believe they're gettin' a sniffin'. We just have to outsmart him, exercise him and make sure he's not given the opportunity to get near dirt, food, crotches, and now cat poo.

We're learning... and preparing I'd say. Bring on the kids. Baby poo...? you've got nothing on cat poo on a dirty dog.