Sleeps with Dogs : Tales of a Pet Nanny at the End of Her Leash

"Go behind closed doors and discover the secret lives of some of the most devoted pet owners, whether they're feeding their dogs home-cooked meals or leaving Animal Planet on all day to keep their pets company. As a round-the-clock animal nanny, Lindsey Grant shared a bed with countless dogs, cooked custom meals for exotic birds, broke up brawls between animals and spouses alike, weathered end-of-life care for beloved companions, and catered to the often obscure needs of her charges-and the bizarre demands of their owners. She offers a hilarious inside look at the pet care industry and the lengths people will go to for their furry friends. With a cast of unforgettable characters, from a toast-loving cockatiel to a gassy greyhound, Sleeps with Dogs is filled with tales of pets and those who love them."-- Provided by publisher "Follow My Lead is the story of how two rambunctious dogs and a tough Russian dog trainer named Irina taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about life, love, and happiness. It all begins when the author decides-somewhat naively-to enroll her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Nairobi and Sheila, into dog agility training. Unhappy with her failing love affair, her stagnant career, and even herself, she's hoping to find a hobby and straighten out her unruly but affectionate pets. She soon discovers that dog agility is not a lazy game of fetch-it's a highly competitive sport that requires owners to move their dogs through a timed obstacle course using only voice and hand signals. What follows is a life-changing experience: a learning process that teaches her not only about her dogs, but also about herself. As she continues, the training, and even the obstacle course itself, becomes a metaphor for her life. With humor and candor, Quinn shares the parallel story of how, with Irina's guidance and wisdom, she and her dogs develop a deep bond of love and trust, and learn to navigate the course obstacles with grace and skill; and how she, too, overcomes life's obstacles by accepting her flaws and finding the inner strength to move forward-away from her doomed love affair, fears, and anxieties-and become the alpha dog" of her own life. Funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, Follow My Lead is a story full of useful life lessons and homespun wisdom that will entertain and inspire readers of all sensibilities, whether they are dog lovers or not"-- "Follow My Lead is the story of how two difficult dogs and a Russian dog trainer taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about men, relationships, fear, success and personal happiness"--

Follow My Lead is the story of how two rambunctious dogs and a tough Russian dog trainer named Irina taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about life, love, and happiness. It all begins when the author decides-somewhat naively-to enroll her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Nairobi and Sheila, into dog agility training. Unhappy with her failing love affair, her stagnant career, and even herself, she’s hoping to find a hobby and straighten out her unruly but affectionate pets. She soon discovers that dog agility is not a lazy game of fetch-it’s a highly competitive sport that requires owners to move their dogs through a timed obstacle course using only voice and hand signals. What follows is a life-changing experience: a learning process that teaches her not only about her dogs, but also about herself. As she continues, the training, and even the obstacle course itself, becomes a metaphor for her life.

With humor and candor, Quinn shares the parallel story of how, with Irina’s guidance and wisdom, she and her dogs develop a deep bond of love and trust, and learn to navigate the course obstacles with grace and skill; and how she, too, overcomes life’s obstacles by accepting her flaws and finding the inner strength to move forward-away from her doomed love affair, fears, and anxieties-and become the “alpha dog' of her own life.

Funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, Follow My Lead is a story full of useful life lessons and homespun wisdom that will entertain and inspire readers of all sensibilities, whether they are dog lovers or not.

This Collection Of Stories Includes The Heartfelt Thoughts Of A Range Of Women--those Who Rode As Children, Those Who Spent Their Girlhood Years Dreaming Of Owning A Pony, And Hose Who Have Made A Lifelong Hobby Or Career Out Of Riding. Each Story Reveals How Horses Have Made An Impact In The Lives Of These Women. With A Foreword By Best-selling Novelist Jane Smiley, Why We Ride Offers A Reflective View On The Relationships Between Women And Horses--cover Page 4. Note From The Editor / Verna Dreisbach -- Foreword : Number One Son / Jane Smiley -- The Racehorse / Verna Dreisbach -- Owning Clydes / Kate St. Vincent Vogl -- A Horse Of A Different Color / Penny Porter -- It's All In The T -- Or Perhaps The D / Jacqueline Winspear -- Getting Back On The Horse / Kara Gall -- Painted Christmas Dreams / Dee Ambrose-stahl -- Great-grand-mare / Vanessa Wright -- A Man Like My Horse / Valerie Riggs -- It Always Happens One Summer / Lisa Romeo -- Stop And Eat The Flowers / Kathryn Hohmann -- Horse Crazy / Diane Mapes -- Irish Mist / Linda Ballou -- Rearranging The Furniture / Emily Alexander Strong -- Riding Lessons / Janice Newton -- Journey Of A Champion / Jacklyn Lee Lindstrom -- Kiss And Tell? / Lynda Fenneman -- Outsiders In Navajo Land / Therese Zink -- Hoofbeats / Jane Ayres -- The Pros And Cons Of Bombproofing / Andrea Richards -- Thrown / Chansonette Buck -- Two Loves / Samantha Ducloux Waltz -- The Billy Dal Gang / Michele Scott -- Bear / Dobie Houson -- Akualele / Jill Widner -- Trevor / Sonia Saruba -- Learning To Love / Beth Sears. Edited By Verna Dreisbach. "Follow My Lead is the story of how two rambunctious dogs and a tough Russian dog trainer named Irina taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about life, love, and happiness. It all begins when the author decides-somewhat naively-to enroll her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Nairobi and Sheila, into dog agility training. Unhappy with her failing love affair, her stagnant career, and even herself, she's hoping to find a hobby and straighten out her unruly but affectionate pets. She soon discovers that dog agility is not a lazy game of fetch-it's a highly competitive sport that requires owners to move their dogs through a timed obstacle course using only voice and hand signals. What follows is a life-changing experience: a learning process that teaches her not only about her dogs, but also about herself. As she continues, the training, and even the obstacle course itself, becomes a metaphor for her life. With humor and candor, Quinn shares the parallel story of how, with Irina's guidance and wisdom, she and her dogs develop a deep bond of love and trust, and learn to navigate the course obstacles with grace and skill; and how she, too, overcomes life's obstacles by accepting her flaws and finding the inner strength to move forward-away from her doomed love affair, fears, and anxieties-and become the alpha dog" of her own life. Funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, Follow My Lead is a story full of useful life lessons and homespun wisdom that will entertain and inspire readers of all sensibilities, whether they are dog lovers or not"-- Provided by publisher Note from the editor: We're cat ladies, so sue us / Megan McMorris The cat that got away / Sophia Dembling Admitting Maynard / Jenna Schnuer Hang with Scrappy T (and other rules of the cat-show road) / Dimity McDowell Making the cat laugh: one woman's journal of single life on the margins / Lynne Truss Strutting the catwalk: seven habits of one sexy beast / Jennifer Jalalat Waiting for Fat Annie to die; not really; well, sorta / Barrie Gillies Life with an Indian street cat / Sue Dickman The cat from Oz / Kathryn Renner Call me crazy...my life as a cat lady / Lisa L. Goldstein A muse in training / Carol Driscoll Lessons learned from a blind cat / Linda Kay Hardie Hold me! Touch me! Love me! (a.k.a. the story of Sophie / Heather Gowen Walsh The neighborhood watch group / Judy Sutton Taylor Love triangle / Erin Torneo Cat call / Suz Redfearn Home free / Susan T. Lennon The feline-female connection / Clea Simon L.A. gossip: tall tales of a wild cat in the city / Valerie Cabrera Krause Saved by the cat / Melinda J. Combs An ode to the Murph Dawg / Susan Schulz Wuornos Cat trap fever / Margaret Littman Country cat vs. city cat / Amy Fishbein Brightfield True confessions: I was a reluctant cat owner / Lisa Guernsey Little black cat / Sarah Shey Planet catnip: my life with an alien cat / Leah A. Zeldes Our relationship went to the cats / Kristen Kemp You can't change a tiger's stripes / Tracy Teare Kittens think of murder all day long / Michele Mortimer On a scale of one to ten... / Megan McMorris. Some tall girls grow up to have perfect posture and are later seen gracing the pages of magazines. Some are natural athletes with toned legs that mask their overlarge feet. Then there are tall girls: the ones who are always tripping over themselves; who never look normal in any size of clothing; who literally don't fit in.Comedian Margot Leitman was one of these awkward giants, and Gawky is the painfully funny chronicle of her experiences growing up tall. Reaching five feet six inches in fourth grade—and approaching six feet in high school—Leitman realized early on that she'd always stand out from the crowd. To cope, she developed a thick skin and a sharp sense of humor, and instead of forever trying to blend in, she decided to embrace her center-of-attention status. Leitman wears funky, Ziggy Stardust-era jumpsuits (in the 90s); takes up any cause she can find (whether saving the public beaches or protesting prom); and generally makes as much use of her big presence as humanly possible. Leitman's memoir is a hilarious celebration of growing up gangly. Endearing and encouraging, is a cathartic release of everything awkward girls endure-and a tribute to a youth larger than life. Some tall girls grow up to have perfect posture and are later seen gracing the pages of magazines. Some are natural athletes with toned legs that mask their overlarge feet. Then there are tall the ones who are always tripping over themselves; who never look normal in any size of clothing; who literally don't fit in. Comedian Margot Leitman was one of these awkward giants, and Gawky is the painfully funny chronicle of her experiences growing up tall. Reaching five feet six inches in fourth gradeand approaching six feet in high schoolLeitman realized early on that she'd always stand out from the crowd. To cope, she developed a thick skin and a sharp sense of humor, and instead of forever trying to blend in, she decided to embrace her center-of-attention status. Leitman wears funky, Ziggy Stardust-era jumpsuits (in the 90s); takes up any cause she can find (whether saving the public beaches or protesting prom); and generally makes as much use of her big presence as humanly possible. Leitman's memoir is a hilarious celebration of growing up gangly. Endearing and encouraging, is a cathartic release of everything awkward girls endure-and a tribute to a youth larger than life.

When Spring Warren told her husband and two teenage boys that she wanted to grow 75 percent of all the food they consumed for one year—and that she wanted to do it in their yard—they told her she was crazy.

She did it anyway.

The Quarter-Acre Farm is Warren’s account of deciding—despite all resistance—to take control of her family’s food choices, get her hands dirty, and create a garden in her suburban yard. It’s a story of bugs, worms, rot, and failure; of learning, replanting, harvesting, and eating. The road is long and riddled with mistakes, but by the end of her yearlong experiment, Warren’s sons and husband have become her biggest fans—in fact, they’re even eager to help harvest (and eat) the beautiful bounty she brings in.

Full of tips and recipes to help anyone interested in growing and preparing at least a small part of their diet at home, The Quarter-Acre Farm is a warm, witty tale about family, food, and the incredible gratification that accompanies self-sufficiency.

When Spring Warren told her husband and two teenage boys that she wanted to grow 75 percent of all the food they consumed for one year, and that she wanted to do it in their yard, they told her she was crazy. She did it anyway. The Quarter-Acre Farm is Warren's account of deciding, despite all resistance, to take control of her family's food choices, get her hands dirty, and create a garden in her suburban yard. It's a story of bugs, worms, rot, and failure; of learning, replanting, harvesting, and eating. The road is long and riddled with mistakes, but by the end of her yearlong experiment, Warren's sons and husband have become her biggest fans, in fact, they're even eager to help harvest (and eat) the beautiful bounty she brings in. Full of tips and recipes to help anyone interested in growing and preparing at least a small part of their diet at home, The Quarter-Acre Farm is a warm, witty tale about family, food, and the incredible gratification that accompanies self-sufficiency.

They may be known as man's best friend, but as the writers in this poignant, funny, and dramatic collection know, there's no gender divide when it comes to canines. Whether walking down the street, gathering at the dog park, hitting the open road, or spending one too many nights together on the couch in front of the TV, a woman and her dog are an enduring pair. And there are many who consider their dogs to be members of their family and themselves to be full-fledged dog moms, even if they're single.
From the family dog who takes on the anxiety of a family as the writer's sister battles breast cancer, to the compelling tale of a woman searching for her furry friend in the aftermath of September 11th, to the blind and deaf dog who teaches everyone about keeping on truckin' no matter what predicaments she gets into, the essays in this anthology get at the heart of love — and yes, sometimes love-hate-relationships women have with the dogs in their lives.

They may be known as man's best friend, but as the writers in this poignant, funny, and dramatic collection know, there's no gender divide when it comes to canines. Whether walking down the street, gathering at the dog park, hitting the open road, or spending one too many nights together on the couch in front of the TV, a woman and her dog are an enduring pair. And there are many who consider their dogs to be members of their family and themselves to be full-fledged dog moms, even if they're single.From the family dog who takes on the anxiety of a family as the writer's sister battles breast cancer, to the compelling tale of a woman searching for her furry friend in the aftermath of September 11th, to the blind and deaf dog who teaches everyone about keeping on truckin'no matter what predicaments she gets into, the essays in this anthology get at the heart of love—and yes, sometimes love-hate relationships—women have with the dogs in their lives. Follow My Lead is the story of how two rambunctious dogs and a tough Eastern European dog trainer named Irina taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about life, love, and happiness. It all begins when the author—unhappy with her failing love affair, her career, and even herself—decides to enroll her two Rhodesian ridgebacks into dog agility training. She's hoping to both find a hobby and straighten out her unruly pets, but she soon discovers that dog agility demands more from her than she ever expected. What follows is a life-changing experience: one that teaches her not only about her dogs but also about herself. With Irina's guidance and wisdom, Quinn and her dogs develop a deep bond of trust as they learn to navigate the course obstacles, and Quinn begins to accept her own flaws, allowing her to find the inner strength to become the'alpha dog” of her own life. Follow My Lead is the story of how two rambunctious dogs and a tough Eastern European dog trainer named Irina taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about life, love, and happiness. It all begins when the authorunhappy with her failing love affair, her career, and even herselfdecides to enroll her two Rhodesian ridgebacks into dog agility training. She's hoping to both find a hobby and straighten out her unruly pets, but she soon discovers that dog agility demands more from her than she ever expected. What follows is a life-changing experience: one that teaches her not only about her dogs but also about herself. With Irinas guidance and wisdom, Quinn and her dogs develop a deep bond of trust as they learn to navigate the course obstacles, and Quinn begins to accept her own flaws, allowing her to find the inner strength to become the alpha dog of her own life. Go behind closed doors and discover the secret lives of some of the most devoted pet owners, whether they're serving their dogs filtered water or leaving Animal Planet on all day to keep their pets company. As a round-the-clock animal nanny, Lindsey Grant spent her nights with countless dogs, prepared custom meals for exotic birds, broke up brawls between animals and spouses alike, weathered end-of-life care for beloved companions, and catered to the often obscure needs of her charges—and the bizarre demands of their owners. She offers a hilarious inside look at the pet care industry and the lengths people will go to for their furry friends. With a cast of unforgettable characters, from a toast-loving cockatiel to a gassy greyhound, Sleeps with Dogs is filled with tales of pets and those who love them. Part diva, part purring furball, cats always keep you wondering. Are they happy to see you? Mad at the world? Cats are subtle little comics, rubbing against your legs when you'd forgotten they were in the room, purring in your ear in the middle of the night. What is it about these sly, droll, and unpredictable creatures that captivates us? And what's the deal with the whole crazy cat lady stereotype, anyway? From a tale about how rescuing a stray cat ended up saving a friendship to an unapologetic piece by a confirmed-and proud!-crazy cat lady, the essays in Cat Women range from thought-provoking and heartrending to laugh-out-loud funny, all delving into the many ways these often aloof little divas touch our lives. Women and their horses—a symbiotic relationship based on trust, camaraderie, friendship, and love. In Why We Ride, Verna Dreisbach collects the stories of women who ride, sharing their personal emotions and accounts of the most important animals in their lives.This collection of stories includes the heartfelt thoughts of a range of women—those who rode as children, those who spent their girlhood years dreaming of owning a pony, and those who have made a lifelong hobby or career out of riding. Each story reveals how horses have made an impact in the lives of these women. With a foreword by bestselling novelist Jane Smiley, Why We Ride offers a reflective view on the relationships between women and horses. Women and their horsesa symbiotic relationship based on trust, camaraderie, friendship, and love. In Why We Ride , Verna Dreisbach collects the stories of women who ride, sharing their personal emotions and accounts of the most important animals in their lives. This collection of stories includes the heartfelt thoughts of a range of womenthose who rode as children, those who spent their girlhood years dreaming of owning a pony, and those who have made a lifelong hobby or career out of riding. Each story reveals how horses have made an impact in the lives of these women. With a foreword by bestselling novelist Jane Smiley, Why We Ride offers a reflective view on the relationships between women and horses. Some Tall Girls Grow Up To Have Perfect Posture; Some Are Natural Athletes. Then There Are Other Tall Girls: The Ones Who Are Always Tripping Over Themselves; Who Never Look Normal In Any Size Of Clothing; Who Literally Don't Fit In. Comedian Margot Leitman Was One Of These. Foreward -- A Very Tiny Grown Up Page -- Oven Door Of Sin -- Big Plans To Do Good -- Sticking Your Neck Out -- Leak Out Pregnancy -- Not Exactly A Horse Girl -- My Orange Unitard -- The Aids Cookie -- Lesbian Shoes And Baby Teeth -- Bubble Seduction -- He Looked Like A Man -- My Little Ben Franklin -- The Internet (a Place For Facts) -- Losing My Releve -- Epilogue. Margot Leitman. Cover; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Chapter One: Will Work for Pets; Chapter Two: Wild Birds of the East Bay; Chapter Three: Nanny Cam; Chapter Four: Wolf Pack; Chapter Five: The Farting Greyhound; Chapter Six: Alpha Females; Chapter Seven: Desperate Measures; Chapter Eight: Rain or Shine; Chapter Nine: No Heroics; Chapter Ten: Bachelors; Chapter Eleven: Forty Days; Chapter Twelve: Lost and Found; Acknowledgements; About the Author Making space Dirt Tofu of the West Sadism in the garden Sugar grows on trees Circus hens Mud The mysterious underground Magical fruit Weeds When good bugs go bad Pole dancing Water What weighs more a pound of mushrooms or a pound of diamonds Slow elk Mummification The history of food preservation as it intersects with the history of me You can eat that? A farmer critiques the Quarter Acre Farm Free stuff Victory. A whimsical and poignant collection of tales inspired by relationships between women and their canine companions includes contributions by such writers as Susan Cheever, Elizabeth Hightower, and Caroline Knapp, in a volume that includes the stories of a dog who sympathizes with a cancer-stricken family member and a woman who frantically searches for her canine friend after the September 11 attacks. Original. ""Front Cover""; ""Title Page ""; ""Copyright ""; ""Dedication ""; ""1. Will Work for Pets""; ""2. Wild Birds of the East Bay ""; ""3. Nanny Cam ""; ""4. Wolf Pack ""; ""5. The Farting Greyhound ""; ""6. Alpha Females ""; ""7. Desperate Measures ""; ""8. Rain or Shine ""; ""9. No Heroics ""; ""10. Bachelors ""; ""11. Forty Days ""; ""12. Lost and Found ""; ""Acknowledgements""; ""About the Author"" "Follow My Lead is the story of how two difficult dogs and a Russian dog trainer taught Carol Quinn everything she needed to know about men, relationships, fear, success and personal happiness"-- Provided by publisher Spring Warren's humorous account of her quest to grow most of what her family consumed for one year in her suburban yard