Stay!

March 29, 2020

Most dogs know the word stay; especially when accompanied by an open hand in front of their face. Some people, well not so much.

It’s a trying time for our global community in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stay at home orders continue to grow state by state and, in varying degrees, Americans are heeding the advice and direction from our leaders and scientists. Privileged Americans that we are with all our civil liberties sometimes have a hard time being told what to do or when to do it. We are reluctant or even unwilling to adjust out routines for the better good of the world community. But “stay” is a very important word right now for all of us to hear, and adhere to. It’s our best chance to slow the spread of this virus.

Having said that I know that many two legged pack members cannot stay. Many are healthcare professionals treating the infected and helping them to get healthy. Many are working to keep stores open so those of us who are not sick have the basic supplies we need to stay healthy. And that list goes on for those who cannot stay. But for those of you that can, please….STAY! Don’t make me put my hand in front of your face…. 🙂

Meanwhile, life goes on without many changes for my girls. The biggest disruption for ~~Kali,~~ Kloe, and Koda is the wet weather we’ve had the past two weeks. It’s kept them mostly sheltering in place in the house instead of outside in the sun. Kali actually prefers to be in the house even when the weather is warm and dry. Her 11 year old bones are much more comfortable when she is asleep in front of the pellet stove or in a sun drenched area of the kitchen. She is a black belt at “down stay”.

I’m pretty sure the girls are enjoying the enhanced family time. But I wonder if there will come a point where they wish we would go just away for a while so that they could sleep in peace. The humans in this pack have been very good at stay but not so good at down-stay or sit-stay. We tend to move around a lot during the day. We’re constantly working, cleaning, and milling around. It’s not until evening that we allow ourselves to settle down and relax. I think the girls are exhausted by the end of the day from watching so much activity during what is usually their alone time.

We should also take some cues from our girls during this (hopefully) unique period of time and just settle. Those of us who remain healthy should first and foremost count our blessings. But then maybe find some sun and take a nap. Or take a long chew on a good book. Or maybe use our noses to guide us around the yard and sniff out something we have not noticed before. Because with continued adherence to stay, good science, and good leadership it won’t be long before us humans are back in full blown fetch mode.

From all of us at The Golden K we wish all of our Golden Kali followers and their families good health and good luck riding out this difficult time.

Stay! and take care,

Kali, Kloe, Koda, Michael and Holly.

Sheltering In Place Experts

The Story of a man who had never seen a dog

September 9, 2018

It’s always great fun when Smokey visits. Smokey is my daughter’s seven year old Morkie: half Maltese and half Yorkshire Terrier. He weighs 11 pounds.

Smokey met Kloe the first time after we moved to the mountains. Kloe was just a few months old but already four or five times the size of Smokey. Upon introduction Kloe became instantly enamored with Smokey. With puppy-pose in full force Kloe invited Smokey to run, play, wrestle and good old fashioned tug-o-war. Smokey played it cool, gave Kloe a sniff, and sauntered over to some bushes to leave some pee-mail.

Throughout that weekend Kloe would follow Smokey wherever he went. Kloe would initiate play, Smokey would give her some sniffs and a lick on the face, and then move along his way. When Smokey would jump on the couch to settle in for a nap Kloe would lay on the floor and stare at him. When Smokey went outside to do his business Kloe would follow in his tracks. Occasionally Smokey grew weary of Kloe’s attention and gave a snarl telling Kloe to back off. Kloe respected that and gave him his space. It was good that Smokey, this little miniature Ewok, established some ground rules for Kloe who is always eager and totally unaware of the size difference.

Fast forward a couple of years and things haven’t changed much. Kloe remains enamored with Smokey who is still just 11 pounds and still holds his own navigating in and around Kloe’s 80 pounds of energy and constant motion. Upon arriving for a visit the two of them greet one another with enthusiasm, some “kissy face” and both seem to enjoy the familiarity with one another

The Story of a man who had never seen a dog

A man had never seen a dog before arrived at our house a couple of weekends ago when Smokey was up for a visit This man thought Kloe and Smokey were two different species. The man said, “which one is the dog? And if one is a dog what is that other creature?” When I told him they were both dogs the man responded, “That can’t be true! One is barely 10 pounds, not much bigger than a squirrel, and looks like a fur ball in the wind. The other is 10 times that size, looks like a pony, and runs swiftly like a gazelle. No this can’t be so. They cannot both be dogs.” The man was puzzled and interested in understanding how these two creatures could both be dogs.

I explained how dogs come in many different sizes, have varied physical attributes, and come from many different walks of life. I told him that dogs have a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and qualities. I explained that although some dogs have been bred for specific purposes like hunting, or herding, or mousing they are all still dogs. I went on to say that in spite of these different qualities and experiences, and having come from all around the world, they are still all just dogs. Dogs who recognize each other as dogs. Not as a different breed. Not as a lesser or more superior beast. But as equals with a set of universal codes of communication, respect, and an natural ability to get along and co-exist in peace.

The man seemed less puzzled now and began to understand what I was saying. The man said, “So what you’ve told me is a lesson for dogs?”.

I said no, “What I told you is a lesson for men”.

*****

Smokey arriving for a visit

Smokey: “I knew I should have napped on the couch”

Kloe, Smokey, and Kali

“Uncle” Smokey letting Kloe know who’s boss

Kloe’s head is as big as Smokey

Hurricane Harvey

August 26, 2017

As we sit here in the relative safety of The Golden K we are thinking about the impending impacts of Hurricane Harvey that, as of the writing of this post, will hit shore within the hour. Our thoughts are with Kali’s followers and anyone else who is or will be in harms way.

Prayers, positive vibes, good thoughts, well wishes – however you want to phrase it – we are sending all of them your way.

Its times like this that our country can show it’s greatness, resolve, and unity by helping one another regardless of race, religion, political affiliations, or sexual identity.

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
And try to love one another right now

-Jesse Colin Young

Kali and Kloe praying for the safety of Gulf Coasters. Let us know how you are.

One Lovely Blog Award

August 8, 2017

A few days ago one of our favorite bloggers, Miss Harper Lee, nominated Golden Kali for the One Lovely Blog Award.

Miss Harper Lee is a beautiful Golden Retriever who, with help from her human mom writes a fun, informative, and entertaining blog site called thek9harperlee. Click here to go to their About page and learn more about the site which at times is like a travel log for dogs as they spend lots of time traveling around New Orleans and surrounding areas.

Thank you so much Miss Harper Lee and everyone at thek9harperlee for thinking of us and for enjoying our blog site enough to feel we merit this nomination. OK, now onto the fine print 🙂 …

One of the guidelines is to list seven facts about yourself, or in our case about Golden Kali. Another element is to nominate up to 15 other bloggers for this award. We’ll start with the seven facts and then follow with our nominees. The full list of award participation guidelines are listed at the end of this post.

Seven Facts About Golden Kali (getting to know Kali)

Kali is a rescue from Taiwan who shared a commercial airline flight to America with 23 other Golden Retreiver rescues in May of 2014. She was approximately five years old when she arrived. No, we did not have to learn to speak Taiwanese (everyone asks when they hear about where she came from). And we didn’t have to because Kali spoke the universal language of love (and food, see fact #2).
Kali loves food. Hey, what Golden Retriever worth their two coats of fur doesn’t? You may have seen that video that went viral of an obedience contest where dogs are recalled at a distance by their owners. They have to trot past lots of treats and food and go quickly and directly to the owner when called. At the end of the video a Golden Retriever zig zags all over scooping up food as fast as possible while the song Yakety Sax plays (you may know it as the Benny Hill theme). The Golden is eating everything in site much to the dismay of the owner, a young girl who is quite embarrassed. This would be Kali.
Kali doesn’t walk – she prances. It may be an artifact of her bad hips but nonetheless she prances which generates a lot of smiles and comments when we are out and about in town. There have been countless times someone who meets Kali for the first time says, “oh look – she prances!”. When she runs she does an exaggerated version of the prance that looks like a steam ship (slow) on stormy seas (very bouncy). For every 60 pounds of energy exerted when running Kali goes about three feet. It is not very efficient but it is so very cute and makes me smile and LOL each time I see her do that. Which is usually on the way back from morning “business” as she heads to the kitchen for breakfast. Again, see fact #2.
Kali has a little sister named Kloe. When we brought Kloe home, also a Golden, Retriever, she was just nine weeks old. Upon meeting Kloe, Kali made it very clear that she was not in favor of this addition to the pack. As soon as the shock wore off Kali looked to me as if to say, “oh no. No, no, no. You take that puppy back where you got it.” But little Kloe possessed magical powers over even this larger and older dog. Kloe cast a love spell upon Kali and by that evening the two of them were spooning and cuddling. Kali, who we think may have been a breeder in Taiwan before she was stray, became a loving and caring surrogate mom for this little 15 pound pup. Kloe is now 80 pounds (compared to Kali’s 60) and still likes to cuddle with big sissy Kali.
The tagline of this blog site used to be “Kali’s new life in America. Then in 2016 Kali moved from San Francisco East Bay suburbia with Kloe, Holly and I to the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Kali now lives on five acres under the pines, oaks, and cedars. When we moved the new tagline became “Kali’s new life in the mountains”.
Kali does not play fetch. From day one she made it very clear to me, much to my chagrin, that if I wanted the ball retreived I should go get it myself. Initially she would run after the ball and sniff at it, look back at me, and then wonder off to smell other things. After several weeks of effort (on my part not hers) I accepted her logical reasoning to not throw the ball if I just wanted her to bring it back. With that logic I guess Kali would also choose not to snow ski if given the opportunity….
Kali recently received the American Kennel Club’s “Good Citizen Certificate”. To receive this distinction Kali had to perform 10 basic activities ranging from sit and stay, to recall at a distance, to remaining calm during distractions, heel while walking amongst a group of strangers, etc. She had to receive 10 out of 10 in order to pass. To top it off there could be no treats involved during the testing. Yikes! See fact # 2… We are very proud of this certificate because of the work Kali put in over the years to be that good very good canine citizen.

Golden Kali relaxing at home

Now for our nominees for the One Lovely Blog Award. Click the links below to go to the sites’s “About” page.

And now finally for the full set of rules should the nominees above choose to participate:

Thank the person (or dog) that nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
List the rules.
Display the award on your post.
List seven facts about yourself.
Nominate up to 15 bloggers for this award and comment on one of their posts to let them know you have nominated them.