I wanna be like Lee Mannix

Shit.... Lee Mannix..did you really have to die this week? I keep seeing your smile...and hearing the straight talk things you've said to me, and to hundreds of other folks.  I read the posts of your friends and clients and I realized another of the many reasons you are so loved.

I have dog stories...you have worked with all three of my mutts...and they are no different from the thousands posted here on the Lee Mannix Center for Canine Behavior fan page. No need to write about them... Talking to Kimberly Burgan, whom we both loved...who you LOVED SO WELL......it hit me as to EXACTLY what it is that endeared you to us all. 

You chose to be fully yourself....your unfiltered, smart ass, funny as hell, sly, prankster, laughing, crass,  boot-wearing-beer-drinking-copenhagen-dippin, smiling & magic with us all, self.  We love you so much...because you were able to do what the rest of us struggle with. You chose to live life exactly as you were....for the authenticity of it...and not the popularity.  Yet...you gained popularity and even more.  You earned massive love and respect...and a heart in the homes of thousands of dog- loving families. We love you so much, for not just what you did...but for who you were...because in our own little way..we long to be as brave as you were...and live this life TRULY being ourselves... exactly the way you did. 

I choose today, to be more of my true self...to be brave and live fully me...because you inspired me to do that. And...I will do it in my cowgirl boots more often! 

Love, 

Allison....and Hank (the dope)...and Daisy (the freak)...and Lulu (the little bitch)

I'll be at your party tomorrow...and I will wear my boots...and celebrate your fine ass and your magic spirit!

I'm one of THOSE people

Yep, I'm one of THOSE people: That woman that thinks her dogs are her kids. Well my dogs are part of my family. They are my pals and most faithful friends. All 3 of our pups live well in our house and fit in our lives...they are on our sofa's and our beds, go with us on rides, eat special food (when I'm the one shopping)....get walks (almost)daily.

I can't imagine not having dogs...THESE dogs in my life.
Hank is my autistic pup....one of 2 litters combined 17 dogs. He's rough and tough with other dogs, yet fears cats, beetles and remote controls. He has is AKC canine good citizen certificate and he has completed beginner, intermediate and advanced agility. His favorite is the tunnel...and he gets jealous if any other dogs are in HIS tunnel. Today...Hank is at the vet....having a little mass removed from his underside...and some of those floppy moles taken off. I want Hank to live forever.

Daisy Mae.... She was Billy's dog when we met. And as we were falling in love in 06...Daisy would ride with him to my house. Getting her in the car is never easy, but when he would say, "let's go to Allison's" up she'd jump. It wasn't easy for her to adjust to these new crazy pals, Hank and lulu...but she did. Daisy is the sweetest dog I've ever met. I swear she is related to my dog Chula that passed away in 01. I love that her tail actually wags. She can't cuddle very well, she just can't sit still...but she's a lover and everyone who meets her loves her. Even my non dog-person sister likes Daisy best. But don't tell her mutts that. Daisy is getting old...12 and her heart is enlarged. She's on meds that make her bad breath even worse. We're watching her little self...and praying for heath and longevity for our girl. I love her completely.

Lu-Lu...the Alpha dog...the boss of me and everyone else in the house. She is a big dog in a little dog body. By far the best cuddler of the bunch. Playful, bossy, demanding and while she never barks...she is certainly outspoken with her mannerisms. She lets me know when she needs attention with a hand/paw swipe or more kisses than I ever needed. I KNOW she will live forever....My favorite memory of her is when she was a puppy, she used to sleep with her tongue out all the time. She is allergic to bee stings...yet loves to eat bee's. It is funny to see her face all bumpy and swollen...and bendaryl is now stocked in large quantities at our house. Lulu reminds me of me. Such a boss sometimes...but also soft and loving.
Yep...I'm one of those dog people. Still have the dream of the dog farm...and it looks like my niece Fiona is following after me. :)

still dreaming of a dog ranch

I often kid with my husband and my friends....that i want to just stop everything else a go farm dogs. Well, really just ranch them...rescue them, let them laugh and play and run all day and snuggle up and cuddle with us all evening. 

After this video, I might be able to add elephants to my farm, too.  

Still just love the dogs....and how human they can be. 

Thanks to Malita for sharing on her blog (if she had "sharethis" i'd a shared via that!"

The Flanigin/Crow top 10 of 2008

1. Will and Manthie cuddle with the dogulars 
2. Hill Country Ride for Aids 2008
3. Hank, Daisy, and Lulu take over our bed AGAIN
4. Samantha is Diamond of the Week
5. Bill and Will at Will's Baptism
6. Allison and Bill hang with friends
7. Honeymoon in Tulum with Andy, Mark, Maggie, Todd, Malia & Jack
8. First dance at our May 3rd wedding
9. KW LTMC grand opening
& 
10. Our wedding at Town Lake Park with family and our closest friends

dog love to the extreme?

read this article in my "self" mag last night and could completely relate. sometimes it feels almost silly how much i love these silly dogs. bill has been walking hank almost daily this summer because he feels sorry for him. good for the dog, even better for bill. it has made me melt for him even more.

hank is such an amazing dog and complete punk at the same time. beautiful, soft, aloof, cuddly but only with his butt and not his face. hank is an agility dog, believe it or not...yes jumps, ramps, tubes, chutes...he's the king. he got there by being the aforementioned PUNK. after the big D and I don't mean dallas, "henry pink ears" suddenly became dog aggressive. 7 series of various training and agility classes, 2 home visits and one AKG canine citizen award later...hank is almost completely obedient and in most instances pretty decent with other dogs when properly introduced. just don't bring your pooches to our fence line where hank feels the completely uncontrollable urge to show how tough he is (HA)

did i mention he is afraid of the romote control? and cats.

next up....a little about lulu and daisy mae