2.05.2008

I'm a bad Mommy!

You all remember my adorable cocker, Charlie, right? Well, times have changed and he's not so adorable anymore. This is because I didn't know enough German to figure out how to find a doggie groomer for the little guy. After two months, his hair became very matted without a proper shampoo, cut, and style.

But last week when Charlie and I visited friends at the American air base in Kaiserslautern, I learned of a place that could make my pooch posh once again. And like every other small business in town, the owner spoke perfect English. You can imagine my relief that she understood, in addition to a hair and nail trim, Charlie's needed his anal glands squeezed as well. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to pantomine THAT request if she didn't understand.

Charlie stayed all day at the doggie salon, but the owner couldn't get his locks lovely once again. She had no choice but to give my fellow a buzz cut instead. Here's the "after" shot:



I'm none top happy, but neither is Charlie, who left a little present to show his displeasure. I think this was his way of letting me know that without his warm, natural, coat, long walks during the German winter would be out of the question. Yes, it's time to buy Fido a fleece.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Poor Charlie!!!!

So you are close to K-town. Brilliant.....I used to write for a magazine there. It's called Freestyle...it was for the American expats.....my wasband was stationed there....so I know what you mean about the commissary and the gas. ;)

Did the book club people ever get back to you?

running42k said...

Very funny post. Anal gland squeezing? Should I ask?

Sueellen said...

Aww I love the look of pure disgust on the little guy's face. Hope he gets some Fido fur soon!

Jamy said...

Poor baby! I need to knit him a sweater. :)

M said...

awww, poor little puppy! Look at his sad little hairless face.

Unknown said...

Oh no! I cannot help but laugh. He looks so cute, but also almost embarrased by his nakedness.

Sara said...

I should post a picture of C's cocker, Kit. She recently had to get her hair cut short due to matting too and they ended up shaving her legs. LOL! She looked like a torpedo on toothpicks! It was the funniest thing I'd ever seen (because she's a "pleasantly plump"). Poor Charlie.. bad Fur-Mommy indeed!!

Rachel said...

Awww...he looks so much smaller!

utenzi said...

Charlie was a lot cuter before the buzz cut but fur grows back pretty quick. I think Charles needs to get Mommie to do more brushing!

PS My Mom used to be a dog groomer so I've had a lot of experience with that brushing stuff. Oh, and if you get a matt splitter it'll help out a lot, Diane. They're essentially one sided razor blades in a safety setting that work great at breaking up matts in fur.

Anonymous said...

Awwwwwww.......poor Charlie!He looks so forlorn!

Anonymous said...

Short hair is very in right now. He looks very posh!

AmyB said...

Ohhhhhh, poor little buddy! He looks naked and completely embarrassed (and, um, freezing?) in that second photo. Wish I could give him a warm hug right now! ;o)

Don't feel too bad...you've been really busy trying to learn a new culture! No one would blame you for letting this one go a little too long. Good thing you won't let it happen again! And rest assured: dog hair DOES grow back! Ha!

zerodoll said...

thank you for the best laugh i've had in a long while!

Dan-E said...

that poor dog has a look on his face that says "get that camera away from me!"

i finished the meme, by the way.

karey m. said...

laughed so hard i actually snorted when i saw the after pic! and how delightfully passive-aggressive is his response!

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

Just look at that pathetic face! It's a cocker thing. My SIL had one on the ranch for a while...and it was constantly getting hay in its coat...so she had to be shaved rather than groomed...and she always had that EXACT expression on her face afterward!

Anonymous said...

Awwww, but he's still so cute. Adorable, really.

I found your blog via AmyD, and have a question about Charlie's leash.

I've been looking for a comfy harness for my doggie (who takes me for a walk rather than the other way around) and the harness in the first photo looks fabulous. Can you tell me where you got it and if I can see the details of it anywhere online?

Thanks!

Diane Mandy said...

Dawn - I wish I vould help you, but I bought the harness in Germany. Sorry!

Anonymous said...

This is, perhaps, the best post I've read today. I will most definitely be stopping by your blog from now on to check on Charlie's hair regrowth updates :)