A Special Play Date (not just for the dogs)

In recent years, properly socializing your canine member of the family has been emphasized so much. Back when I was a kid, dogs ran free all the time - all day long - and therefore were constantly meeting other dogs and interacting with them on some level throughout the day. I had neighbors who would open their doors in the morning to let Fido out and after dark call him/her back into the house before they turned in for the night. With the advent of leash laws and township ordinances regarding our canine friends, that has all stopped for the most part. We are therefore left to seek other ways to get our dogs socialized with others of their species to hopefully end up with what Cesar Milan refers to as a "well balanced dog".

Well, I too have been sucked into this philosophy. I have Freckles, an older dog, who couldn't care less if he ever crossed paths with any other canine creature. He's perfectly content to be the center of our human universe and very happy as long as I am somewhat nearby and he has something soft to sleep on - and he sleeps 22 hours every day.

However, I also have Ruby, a 4-month-old puppy, who would give her left paw for a playmate who plays as rough as she does and me thinks we may have found that playmate this week.

Meet Batman - isn't he a cutie?



Batman is a 2 year old Norwegian Buhund who has been very lonely (don't worry, he's been neutered) and he happens to belong to my best friend since childhood. We've been waiting for Ruby to have all of her vaccinations so she could meet Batman and so last night was the night of their first meeting.

They were cautious at first...



Then they felt a little more sure of each other....



Backing off and resting for a second....





Finally, an all-out rough and tumble brawl.



Yes, they got along famously and hopefully it is the start of a weekly rendezvous that leads to a lifelong friendship (just like their humans) - and the bonus is that my friend and I will also get to relax together every week and catch up....something that has been so long overdue since we have been raising our kids.