Walking Puppies - the Terror of the Potty Bag

May 18, 2010
        It was decided by the puppies that they had enough of the "one at a time" walking since they have been exposed to "two at a time" walking. Do not mistake this for   "tandem" - we are not there yet!
        This requires four YES FOUR leashes because beagle puppies are little Houdinis.
        This also requires that I have walking sneakers (need new ones) and mommy jeans (deep pockets) and tissue (my ever-present running nose) and two potty bags (shopping bags and paper towel).
        Usually this also means a sweater or jacket with pockets.
        Here's the rub.
        If I put the potty bag (unused) in my pants pocket - like as not - it will have wiggled out and jumped to the ground unnoticed - leaving me without the ability to pick up poop.         This has happened once or twice and I do not like walking off and leaving things behind. I once carried hot poop in a couple of Kleenex in my hand several blocks back to the house. No - do not want that experience again!!! Oh hell no.
        Once I had to just abandon it and go on home and come back around with the other dog on poop patrol.
        Anyway - these experiences make you wary.
        If I use a jacket - I had, until this AM, assumed it was safe.
        Evidently not.
        So off we go on our two-mile hike. I have leashes wrapped around both hands. I have biceps. I have two potty bags shoved in two pockets - pants and jacket.
        Down Central and around the corner - and - Suky went off. I whipped out the potty bag and acquired the poop.
        We continued.
        We made it to the park - nearly - when Grace went off.
        I reached for the second bag, which I had moved to the jacket pocket for safety.
        GONE!
        Oh good Lord!
        Looking way back up the blocks we have walked - I see no white blob.
        Scarpered!
        OK - wait - I have tissue - and extra tissue - because I am paranoid.
        Tissue and a square of still clean paper towel, and I have disposed of poop number 2.
        I had to of course untie the potty bag, deposit the poop, and retie it.
        We go on. Around the park and up the back-side.
        Well, Suky evidently needed another round. A big another round.
        Now how creative can I be?
        Well, I could untie the bag and cover my hand with it and grab poop. She has distributed pieces nicely in a row.
        I have one tissue left.
        I untied the bag and looked at options.
        Tissue it is for the smaller pieces.
        Then I put the bag on the ground next to the major deposit and managed to use a corner of the paper towel and sort of scoop it in.
        I retied the bag.
        I am glad to note that they have well-formed poop deposits. These are healthy little puppies.
        Little???? 23 lbs and 18-19 lbs. Together they can yank my arm off!
        I am hoping beyond belief that we make it home with no more deposits, because I am out of tissue and creativity.
        We did it.
        Notice that I get to strength train my arms and upper back, my legs, and stretch my calves bending down to scoop up the traces that my puppies have been there.
        They of course, think this is great.
        They are learning when Mommy says STOP and WAIT that they had better.
        Because I will yank the leash and pull them back if they decide to drag me away from their "activity".
        At least not until I am ready to walk on.
        They are, at the moment, practicing to be Alaskan sled dogs. I am the sled.
        At least, so far, they have not decided to eat poop-cycles on our walk. Beagles do that. I try not to watch. (I have spotted this from the safety of the house so looking away is my only option. They would be done if I tried to get outside and stop said activity. We beagle owners compare notes.
        Those tongues and lips kiss me and lick my exposed body parts - ankles, hands, face, feet.
        I usually shower after playing with the fur children.

        Summer, who was left home while I did San Diego, has been making a bloody nusience of herself since I got home. She had to pin me to the bed for sleeping. Climb up on the computer and chase me from room to room. This is because she was down one can of cat food------She remembers these things. She expects one per day - would prefer two.        
        She is fast becoming as plump as Ranger.
        I was doing her a favor. She HATES being dragged to San Diego and trapped in a small carrier. Evidently being abandoned (with a TV running) isn't good enough either. Unless someone had been sent to come in on the off day and supply her with a full can of Fancy Feast Chicken.
        Demanding little brat!