Thoughts on Murph’s Pooch IQ Scores

I have to admit I’m a wee bit disappointed Murph fell in the Above Average category after his Pooch IQ Test. While I would have been thrilled if he scored even higher than Pretty Clever (at Smarty Pants, Top of the Class, or Absolute Genius), I wasn’t expecting that. I have to admit I was expecting Pretty Clever, though. Maybe it’s just me being a mom who thinks her son’s smarter than he is, but I truly think he should have come in one category higher, at the Pretty Clever level. Why? Because there were descriptions after each IQ classing. … Continue reading

Murph Scores 100 on his Pooch IQ Test

I finally had a chance to administer the two remaining exercises from the Pooch IQ test kit I got. Which means I was finally able to tally Murph’s scores! Scoring All the tests ended with a letter answer to pick from. Kind of a multiple choice thing, but the answer we picked depended on how Murph performed during that exercise. After we took each test we went to the score sheet at the back of the book. All of the exercises attributed different point values to each letter answer. We had to find the exercise number and the letter answer, … Continue reading

Dogs Who Fake Limps for Sympathy

At Mr. Meow’s Thursday vet appointment to check his lump (which was nothing, just a reaction to his rabies shot. Phew!), I also touched based with the vet about Murphy’s hurt paw. (He’s still limping.) Healing Takes Time We know it’s not broken, because x-rays confirmed that. It could be something’s wrong with the tendons. But before the vet refers us to a specialist, she wants us to finish up the anti-inflammatory medication she prescribed Murph. She’s hoping we don’t have to go the specialist route. She’s encouraged by the fact the swelling has gone down, and hopes it stays … Continue reading

Do You Ever Feel Your Dog’s Not Living Up to His Full Potential?

I get both really inspired and really down on myself after I interview people like Beth Terrell or Joani Ascher. Inspired because they’re doing neat things with their dogs, like teaching them how to dance or grooming puppies to be Seeing Eye dogs. Down because Murph’s one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever had. I often wonder if I’m holding him back from living up to his full potential. At the beginning of this year I resolved to change that. I was determined to look into enrolling Murph and myself in a pet therapy program. Then my mom got sick … Continue reading