As you know Riggins and I have had a doggie guest for the last few days. As a three-year old the unfortunately named Lousy, has the extreme energy level of a much younger Riggins. Recently Riggins started limping a bit so I put him on a long/walk and hike time-out. He has been spending his exercise time out in the backyard chasing squirrels or at the dog park. Lousy, on the other hand, needs some extreme tiring out. I have been taking him running around the neighborhood or around the Rose Bowl trails and up Runyon. Both dogs, no matter what their exercise routine, have spent valuable time outdoors and then feel like their indoor time needs to be spent snuggling next to me. Needless to say the two creatures needed a bath to make cuddle time more bearable for their human.

Normally, when I’m doggie sitting, it is an extra service and cost for me to give the dog a bath. This time it was on me! As I told my mother Lousy’s cleanliness was more for my sanity than his parents. I had hoped that Lousy would be a better bath candidate than Riggins but alas, I believe Riggins’ water anxiety was shared by his almost half-brother Lousy.

After coming back from the hill with Lousy I started to get the bathroom ready. Riggins immediately knew what was happening and took a solid stance on my bed. Lousy followed his lead and held firm at his own bed. When I went go get them I managed to get Riggins to budge and leave the protection of the bed/throne only to have him make a beeline for Lousy’s bed where the two of them put up a united front. It was the first time both of them could be found on that bed at the same time. If they were going down they were going to make sure they went down together.

I finally got them both in the bathroom closing the door and locking them into their destiny of being clean. First I got Riggins all bubbly and let him out of the shower into the bathroom, to chill for a while. His special shampoo (Yes he has special shampoo. He is a very fragile baby.) requires a 10 minute soak before washing off. While Riggins was in time-out bath mode, I got Lousy into the shower. As I washed him he pressed his nose against the corner of the door and wall sucking in the smell of freedom leaking in from the outside. Riggins stood on the other side of the door, their two eyes were locked on each other. I couldn’t tell if the two of them were plotting my punishment for forcing them to become clean or if Riggins was talking down his little buddy letting him know it would all be over soon. Once Lousy was finished I rinsed off Riggins and let the two loose. They ran around the house like they were on fire until they calmed down and accepted their fate as clean and wet creatures.

They may not have been happy with the whole ordeal but based on the muddy color of their bath water I would say my actions were necessary. Now both are clean and can be cuddled without me looking like I had been wrestling around in the dirt … well at least for right now.