A friend of mine asked me what kind of present I was giving Annie on her birthday. My reply: Lots of one-on-one attention from me. Our dogs have plenty of toys, treats, and other stuff. But, because they spend a lot of their time together – as a pack of four – they all relish their time alone with me.
Annie and I started her special day off with an early morning pleasure walk. I call it a pleasure walk because there’s no training involved. Both James and Annie are extremely well trained and walk leisurely along at the end of a 6′ lead, not pulling, a little slack in the lead. On a pleasure walk we take our time, enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. Once back home and fed, Annie headed to the Bridgvale Farm Spa for the full treatment: trim, pedicure, ear and teeth cleaning, and a cool, soothing bathe. Annie loves this one-on-one time. She’s quite a little princess – a bit vain… she loves to look good! Throughout her time at the Spa, she was served birthday treats of broccoli rosettes. This is her very favorite treat. Our old girl Trudi, who passed last summer, used to get cupcakes on her birthday… yes – it was my excuse to make the famous cupcake recipe from the Magnolia Bakery in NYC… the ones people stand in line for – as long as two city blocks – and I’ve done it!!!! before I got the recipe, that is. So, Trudi loved her cupcake on her birthday – and she deserved whatever she desired, having lived to be 16 years, 2 months when she passed. But, Annie, her great, great granddaughter, prefers a healthy birthday treat – raw broccoli rosettes. She actually comes running when she hears me rustling in the refrigerator to get them.
Once her beauty treatment was completed, she headed out for an afternoon of hunting in the back field on the wooded hillside. I didn’t see her until dinnertime. This five year old girl had a very Happy Birthday – designed just for her.
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