...with 7 dogs, one is never alone.

Caring for seven dogs properly take a lot of work and money, but the rewards are well worth the effort.  With seven dogs, a human is never alone.  When I fill the dishwasher, Zac the BC is always with me helping to scour any dish that is not dishwasher ready.  If the phone rings, Lexi barks up a storm to let me know it must be answered.  If Ralph goes to a take out place to get us supper, Jazz the rough collie goes along for the ride so he can have his quiet time with "Dad".  Ralph tried to convince me that sometimes Jazz does the driving, but I'm not buying that!  When playing frisbee, Kati the sheltie grabs the frisbee from each dog after it is caught and she is the official "I'll bring it to mom and dad" volunteer.  I guess she likes the extra pats and the other dogs are okay with that.  Little Sam the sheltie is the dancer of the group.  When I take the time, he will dance with me for several minutes, doing his own little foot to foot step, a big smile on his little old face.  Our two new dogs, Lucy and Sadie, are still deciding what their duties will be.  For the present, they are both on bathroom detail... so no one in this house goes to the bathroom alone unless he/she can outrun the dogs and get the bathroom door shut before the dogs get there.  So in this home, every task one does has a dog who "helps".

Vacuuming involves around three dogs who just lie in the way and get that perturbed look when they have to move. Mowing the lawn takes about two dogs, who keep watch from the other side of the fence to be sure the human is doing it right.  The two border collies have to be sure the neighbors behind us are behaving themselves so check things out at the back fence often.  When someone comes to visit, all seven canines give the loudest, happiest greeting imaginable, including tons of kisses.  When mom or dad take a shower, there are two determined dogs who lap dry our feet and ankles when we step out of the tub.  On the bed in the evening, there can be anywhere from two to four dogs lying around mom and dad keeping us safe and warm.  The dogs keep the bedroom at least ten degrees warmer than all the other rooms in the house so help us save on our heating bill.  If Dad is at work, the dogs keep Mom very safe day or night, and would never allow a stranger to get close to me unless I gave the okay.  Every morning and evening, five of the seven dogs take Dad on a nice long walk to keep him in good shape.

Yes, with seven dogs, we are never alone.  How cool is that!  Works for us!