While on my lunch, I managed to find and befriend a dog, meet some more neighbors, text a picture to the wrong number, speak to a stranger on the phone, become mixed up in a neighborhood mini-feud, and get myself invited to a Christmas party. Naturally, it all started with the dog.

Since moving to our new house, I generally try to come home for lunch on days that I know no one will be home. It gives the dogs a break and I can eat left-overs while doing a load of laundry or dishes. On this day, as usual, I drove up to collect the mail and rounded the corner to turn around when I saw a large-ish dog in our neighbor, B’s yard. I knew that wasn’t her dog and this one not only had no collar or tags but heavily resembled a dog I had seen posted as lost on Facebook. The only problem is that I couldn’t search and find that Facebook page, so I started texting the picture around hoping to get some assistance. The dog and I were around the corner from my house and he seemed hesitant to take a ride in the truck so I began motioning to people driving by, “Is this your dog? Do you know this dog?”

You always carry those tasty treats, Strange Lady?

My accosting paid off in that one guy called his wife to come outside, she called the neighbor whose yard I saw the dog in and left a message while another neighbor finally drove by who knew the dog. In the meantime, I found the FB page and texted the picture accidently to the wrong number and then to the right number. I followed that up with a voicemail and the lady called me back to say she had found her 14 year old boxer mix but thanked me for calling her. Also by now B was home and shouting to us that we should call “Animal Rescue” but the other neighbor was returning the dog.

I haven’t missed many meals.

I extricated myself from B who was intent on telling me what a nice person I was, how nice I looked and how pretty my purse is while saying that Animal Rescue needed to be called because her dog gets upset when dogs run loose in the neighborhood and something about other dogs in the neighborhood that have been loose…and some mention of racial profiling.

Back at home, my boys got their potty break and I was shoving some lunch down my pie hole when the doorbell rang. It turned out to be the neighbor who returned the dog, to apologize if she was brusque but that there were things going on in the neighborhood that were annoying and she didn’t want me to be offended. We had a nice chat about dogs, rescue, Allen County SPCA and the other shelter. It turns out the wayward dog belongs to her neighbor and it is microchipped because of its tendency to run loose. After we’d chatted about all manner of dogs she invited me to a Christmas party she is hosting. Apparently it is an annual event that has been occurring for 40 years and I might even meet the founder if we attend.

Sounds like it might be a good time and just for insurance I got the name of the dog. You never know who you might meet.

Along with those magical words, Breakfast and Dinner, they boys know quite a few more words for food. Treat, cookie, cheese, and bully stick are some of the top ones, though Ray also knows peas, jolly ball, tug-tug, and antler. Ray also knows all of our animals by name while Julius knows who Julius is.

Then there are the phrases. “Would you like…” always draws an adorable head tilt because while the boys are pretty sure they would like one, they need to know what it is. The most comical, though is the phrase, “Who wants one?” That phrase always draws a crowd of three because, no matter what “one” is, they all want one.

Simple phrases, to be sure, though Asia often tries to take things one step further. Ray knows that all treats like bully sticks and kongs must be eaten on a mat, which can be anything from an actual dog bed to a towel on the floor. He knows we always have that layer between him and the carpet so one of his “go-to” offerings is to run to his mat and wait to be treated.

It can get comical watching him run around looking for the nearest mat in order to get a treat but lately Asia tries to make him reason things out. Holding a treat she says, “If someone wanted something, where might they go?” Obviously, Ray can not reason, but since that is his go-to, it is funny to hear the conversation and to see him run to his mat as if he thought the process through.

I know I shouldn’t compare the two, but Ray is much brighter than Julius is. Julius is sweet and very simple. He’s easy to live with and eager to please. I admit I’ve been slacking on giving him individual training time, so he learns a lot by mimicking Ray.

There are two words, though, that Julius learned quite quickly and I believe they are two of his favorite words in the entire world. Breakfast and dinner. Some words are just so special that they require special fancy font, or at least capitalization. He knows when they are coming, he knows the routine and I love that he seems to know that Every. Single. Day. He will receive his breakfast in the morning and his dinner in the evening.

In the morning, I get up first and shower while the boys get to stay snuggled in bed amid a pile of blankets, pillows and various family members. Ray sleeps with me and Kevin while Julius sleeps with Asia and the baby. Occasionally Juli sleeps with us and there is usually a cat or two sleeping in our room. Once I’m out of the shower I round up the boys for their first morning potty break. While they are outside, I clean the litter boxes, feed and water the cats and vacuum the “litterbox room.”

Usually by that time, the boys are back in the garage waiting to come in but if not, I shout out the door, “Who’s ready for breakfast?” The boys come in and I measure out their kibble and again count down the months till Julius graduates from puppy food. I take the bowls to the counter and scoop out their spoonfuls of organic coconut oil to dollop on their food and sprinkle a pinch of grated bully shavings on Ray’s food.

Ray eats in the kitchen and he follows me to his spot, sits and waits for the bowl delivery and the ok to eat.

Julius by now knows that his breakfast is very near. When I turn from delivering Ray’s bowl, Julius will be doing one of two things. Neither of these boys are droolers, but when it comes to Breakfast and Dinner, Julius may often be found sitting in the middle of the kitchen with one long strand of Breakfast or Dinner drool running from his face.

Julius eats in his crate. He has always been pretty open to the concept of his crate, but I wanted to keep these good feelings going so this is were he eats those magical meals: Breakfast and Dinner. If he is not sitting in the middle of the kitchen being Drooli Juli, then he is already sitting in his crate waiting for Breakfast or Dinner.

What are your pooches favorite words?

Though the boys now sleep in separate bedrooms, they spend a tremendous amount of time snuggling with each other at every opportunity. Their Facebook page certainly showcases their affinity for snuggling on the sofa with numerous shots like this:

Quite often I can be found near the bottom of that pile on the sofa, but occasionally I am allowed to sit in a chair alone. Recently that very thing happened and while the boys were being their extremely cute selves, the paparazzi were swarming them.

Luckily Ray and Julius are used to the attention and were able to continue their nap uninterrupted.