The Basset Routine

Meet Willow and Belle


Willow  
Age:  3-4 years old (acts 2)
Temperament:  Squirrely, vibrant, energetic
Likes:  Never met a toy she didn't like
Loves:  Treats, turning circles, lunchtime and breakfast, sleeping, the sectional, blankets, Belle, and being with her people.


Belle
 Age:   9
Temperament:  Mature, in charge of security, past the toy stage.
Likes:  Tricking Willow on occasion -  yet very protective of her, curling up against Mom's legs to sleep at night.
Loves:  Treats, lunchtime and breakfast, sleeping, the sectional, blankets, and being with her people. 

After we have been gone for a weekend or longer and have had the dogs at the "spa" there is always the same routine to Willow and Belle getting reacclimated.

First is getting picked up at the spa (aka: the vet's where they board and are spoiled).  They come down the hall to greet us barking like crazy (Belle) and "arooing" gloriously (Willow). It is hard to tell if we are being chewed out or praised at this point.  I choose to believe the latter.  

Then they jump in the car and get harnessed up for a safe ride.  Amazingly Belle is always able to jump in the car herself when ready to go home, other times she would like assistance, please.

Once home they run in the house (still barking and arooing) just long enough to head to the back door.  Then they go outside to do a security check and make sure the backyard has not changed in their absence.

Once the perimeters are judged to be secure, they run back in the house and drink what seems to be gallons of water  - like they haven't had any for days.  And in true basset form, they each walk away from their water bowl leaving a trail of water drool as they go so we can easily track them if needed.  We keep a towel nearby for just this reason.

They run into the dining room, around the dining room table, back to the living room, down the hall to the office, back out into the hallway and repeat the process until worn out (aka:  The Basset 500)  - all while barking and "arooing".
(During this part it is just best to stay out of the way or injuries could occur.  Bassets may look slow but they are not! And to get in the way of 2 running at top speed through narrow areas at times is just asking for trouble.)

  They then throw themselves on the floor and rub their backs on the carpet and moan.   I guess in the dog world this is pretty awesome and means "Ah, I'm finally home!"  Maybe it is akin to how we feel when we get back in our own bed and sigh?

And last - jump onto the sectional, claim a blanket, nest, and crash hard. 

And I do mean hard.

They are guaranteed to be out until bedtime...only to rouse themselves enough to go outside, get a treat, and head back to bed to sleep... again.

I don't know what goes on at the "spa" that has them so exhausted, but I do know "what happens at the spa stays at the spa."  

It's a ruff life.