I've had dogs almost all of my life. They have been as much a part of my life as my siblings.

First there was Fritzi. A "Heinz 57" mutt, she was so ugly, she was cute.

We got Fritzi when I was 5. She lived to be 15, so I had moved out of the house when she had to be put to sleep.

I remember my dad telling me about how he took her to the vet when she was having trouble walking or squatting to "do her business." The vet said, "Well, the sooner we do it, the quicker her suffering will be over."

My dad was so sad about it, all he could do was agree with the vet and leave the animal clinic quickly. He said he went home and cleaned the whole house just to keep from weeping.

It's funny, in a sad way, looking back at how we took care of Fritzi, it's nothing like how I take care of the dogs I have now. Even though we loved her dearly, we just weren't very good dog owners, I'm sorry to say.

Fritzi got dog food once a day, when we were through with our dinner. (My current dogs get two small meals a day, plus a snack or two. After all, they get hungry between meals just like we do.)

Fritzi didn't have a bed; she just slept wherever she wanted to ... sometimes on the couches and chairs. My current dogs have four beds -- two apiece.

We also didn't have a leash for her. My dad would take her along every day after supper for his evening walk. But there weren't any leash laws back then. And Fritzi was free to poop in anybody's yard. My dad never even considered taking a poop bag with him; it just wasn't a common practice back then.

We let her fur get all matted and ridiculous, too. Again, dog grooming just wasn't the multimillion-dollar business it is today. She had terrible excema sometimes, as well, and when it got really bad, we'd go to the vet, and he'd prescribe some ointment.

I feel terrible for the neglectful way we treated our family dog back then, but I don't think it was much different than anyone else treated their dogs. I'm glad that dog ownership has now become dog guardianship. The whole focus has changed, and for the better.

I'm creating this site to provide information about dog health care, and generally, about how to take care of a dog. I love my doggies, and I wish all doggies had it so good!

My doggies today

My current doggies, Roby and Sammy, are like my perpetual toddlers. They're very well cared for. I don't let them eat at the table, and I don't dress them up in outfits, but they are certainly well-loved and appropriately pampered.

Roby is a cocker mutt. Sammy is a Lhasa-Poo mutt. I got them both from dog shelters.

Update: I took Roby for his last vet visit on June 30, 2009. He was 17 years old. Roby was a good, old dog.

They get brushed, go to the groomer occasionally, and get long walks every day (and, yes, I always have my poop bags with me). They also go to the vet regularly and get all their shots on time.

These dogs live a very comfortable life, and because they give me so many smiles and outright big laughs, I am happy to lovingly provide for them and do my best to keep them healthy and happy.

But, oh, my gosh, we've had some trials and tribulations! Read on ...