Fight, Fight: Both sides tell their story

Last night, we were outside just being glad that the weather had cooled down. And, then it happened. We will both tell our versions of the BIG FIGHT but of course, I, Cinnamon, am right.

Francesca: She is not

Cinnamon: We were looking around for some toys to play with and our owner brought out the whole toy box. There were balls, torn animal toys and ropes. Too many toys. I spied my favorite grey squirrel toy and decided, to myself, that I would play with that one. All of a sudden Francesca went for that same toy. Why?

Francesca: I like the grey squirrel toy and decided I wanted to play with it and shake it. Cinnamon and I always play tug o war with toys. So what’s the big deal? So what if Cinnamon was going to pick it up!

Cinnamon: I had my eye on the toy and my body language said it was mine. Francesca rushed in and went for it ignoring my body language. So I lunged at her with a big growl to back her off.

Francesca: Usually I back off when Cinnamon lunges at me. Or was she playing? I didn’t know. So I picked up the squirrel toy. Then she came at me again. I got scared and decided to hold my ground. We ended up lunging at each other and rolling around on the ground both at each others’ throats. My adrenaline was running high. I didn’t back off.

Cinnamon: Our owner got scared and tried to break us up but we weren’t paying a bit of attention to her. Just to OUR FIGHT.

Francesca: Cinnamon wouldn’t back off so I couldn’t back off. I could taste her fur in my mouth. By now I had forgotten all about the squirrel toy.

Cinnamon: I was fighting for my life. Francesca wouldn’t back off.

Francesca: I don’t know what happened but somehow our owner broke it up and she was mad at both of us.

Cinnamon: Francesca started it.

Francesca: Did not. I had two tiny spots of blood on my neck so my owner got out the first aid kit and cleaned the whole area. It didn’t smell very good. I wasn’t cut or bleeding. The spots washed off.

Cinnamon: My neck was covered with Francesca’s slobber. I had no cuts or bites but our owner cleaned off my neck with antiseptic anyway.

Francesca: I was panting from the adrenalin rush.

Cinnamon: Our owner put away all the toys. I’ll bet we don’t see them again for many a day. Grrrr. So that’s it. The BIG FIGHT. I won!

Country Club Drama: Cinnamon Gets it in the Face

Here's the entrance to my Country Club

You would think that my Country Club stays would be all about fun and pampering. But in reality, there are some major challenges... challenges in affable facades. Let me tell all! (grab a cup of tea for this one.)

I had been at my Country Club for three days when the tide turned. I'd been playing with the puppies and the elder dogs, and resting too. Life was good. I got two squares and all the water I could drink. People played with me. Life was good.

Enter Goldie, the Golden Retriever. Goldie was one of those two faced Beverly Hills type dogs. Innocent on the outside.. only. She was a blue blood and probably had papers (I only have a rabies certificate!). She acted nice so she had the people fooled.

On Sunday, I was sitting next to Goldie minding my own business watching the younger dogs play. She was sitting there in all her blonde glory basking in the sunlight. The people thought she was so sweet. They petted her and brushed her golden hair. She was the darling of the play yard. Well, that's because they couldn't understand what she said. She was a two faced gossip. People don't understand dog language, that's for sure.

Goldie? Innocent? NOT!

Here's a gang of Mexican street dogs.
Goldie insisted that I was once part of this gang.

All of a sudden she started talking to me. And it wasn't pretty. She said she heard that I was nothing but a street dog from Mexico. What? I was from NEW MEXICO! She was really mean.

She taunted me and went on to suggest that I must be part of a Mexican dog treat cartel... Dealing in illegal dog treats. A Mexican dog treat cartel! Imagine!

Yo soy una buena perra! I am a good dog! I follow most all laws... really!

Then she started to tell me my nails were too long. I gave her "the look."

I think she was just trying to start something. She kept taunting me, insulting my heritage and my homeland. I had enough and told her to shut up! Cállate, I said.

See... New Mexico is in the US!

And that's when she growled and lunged for me. Of course she made sure no one was watching first. She took a nip out of the side of my face! Ouch! That me me mad! So I nipped her ear. :) She didn't like that and whined to the people in charge.

They ran over and looked at both of us. There was blood on both of us. I required first aid. They put hydrogen peroxide on my wound and it stung.  And they told me it was MY fault.. It certainly wasn't. She started it!

We were separated. No big loss, I thought. I think she was jealous because I am a celebrity. I am a well known blogger.  She was also jealous because word got around that I was getting a spa treatment before I went home.

Here's what Goldie did to me. Click on the photo to enlarge it. You can see the scar on my cheek. :(

By yesterday I felt just fine. The swelling had gone down and, luckily, Goldie's owners picked her up. (I saw their Mercedes drive up the long drive to the Club.) My spa appointment time came. The people came and took me to the spa room. They had a fancy tub with sweet smelling shampoo. I told them I might need a facial after what happened to me. BUT ALL THEY WERE GOING TO DO IS GIVE ME A BATH! I put up with it and they washed all the dust out of my coat. I came out shiny and smelling gorgeous. I am sure Goldie didn't have it so good!

So when my owner arrived yesterday afternoon I was really glad to see her. I was shiny and smelled great. The lady in the office showed her my wound and told her version of the Goldie vs. Cinnamon story. But I am sure my owner BELIEVES ME!

I got home and was so worn out from all that drama, I just went straight to bed.

Love, Cinnamon, the good dog.




.

Is my modeling career over?

Here I am modeling a tiger eye Guatemalan necklace

I have received some supportive and thoughtful advice about the scars on my nose. Notice I said "scars." There are some short scars and then the big one you saw in the picture.

I know I am beautiful on the inside but I enjoyed looking young.

People thought I was a puppy. And, I am over five years old!

I spent some time on the streets, had a litter of puppies and came out of that without a scratch. So why now?

You know? I am worried about my modeling career. I had something going there... modeling necklaces in Santa Fe. I was muy guapa. I was a model. But now.... I don't know. Perhaps I will retire?

Here I am in my favorite turquoise necklace

Do they hire models that have scars on their faces? I guess I should ask Tyra Banks. Maybe she has some advice.

Love, Cinnamon, the former model

Jewelry by Santa Fe Rose

Cinnamon has a rough day

In case you want to know... I'm going to Dakota Dog Park today.

Yesterday was not what I expected. I was all excited to get to the dog park and do my sniffing and visiting. I got through the gate and headed for the notice board (I always check the notices to see what's new). A big yellow labrador came bounding down the hill to greet me. She was very sweet. We visited awhile and then I headed up the hill.

I went up to the area where the trees, meadow and great smells are and stayed there for awhile... smelling and rolling.

The nice lady who does doggie day care came by with her nice dogs. We greeted her and then I looked up toward the hill. There was a humongous animal looking right down at ME. Was it a dog or was it a horse? I wasn't sure what it was. It was just BIG! I was scared and it wasn't. I decided to bay... and bay I did. I howled my houndiest howl and let that BIG THING know not to mess with me. Eventually it came down the hill and actually ran like a puppy. It bypassed me and went to see the people. Phew!

So I thought all the problems were over. I headed for the upper gate and all of a sudden this blue "dingo-type" dog came up to me. I wasn't sure if he wanted to play or not. I turned around, kind of scared. Then it happened. He snapped at me. He growled at me. I got really scared. So I snapped and growled back. I haven't looked that mean in eons. But I thought that aggression called for aggression. He backed off.

I decided to check him out and see what he was. Was he a Dingo? Was he a Hyena? Or maybe just a mis-placed cattle dog. He saw me coming close and turned around, bared his teeth and snapped at me. I snapped back and it ended.

But that wasn't the end. Then my owner got scared and talked to his owner. She asked if she had a leash. Then she clipped MY leash on ME, hoping the other dog's owner would also leash her dog. I was led down the hill like a common criminal and I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! It was SELF DEFENSE! So, after all that excitement, we just left the dog park. I decided I didn't mind and gobbled down my treats.

Later, at home.... after my nap, of course, I was surfing the Internet trying to figure out what to do about the incident.

I came upon a discussion on thedogdendigest.com that was discussing dog fights at the dog park and the writer said: "Leash your dog. Reprimand him or her sternly. Then apologize profusely to the other dog's owner. If your dog was the instigator and has caused some harm or injury to the other dog, immediately and without equivocation offer to pay the vet bill."

Then I went to the DogPaw list of rules and it said: " Dogs MUST be removed from the park at the first sign of aggression." Well, DogPaw is in charge and I am TICKED OFF! As I was being led to the gate to leave the park, I looked up on the hill and saw that mean Dingo-dog running and playing. His owner did not "remove" him at all.

Today I think I will go to my old dog park, Dakota Dog Park. I need a break from all this drama!

Signed, Cinnamon the non-aggressive hound