The Dog Days of January

 We've been dogsitting my brother's miniature Maltese for the past week while they took their daughters to Disneyland & The Rose Bowl Parade.

 We love "Louis" and always look forward to taking care of him while they are away...

 This is how Louis spends most of his days, but when he's with us, he's called Lou and we love to shake up his pampered little world!

So, we thought a great way to start 2012 would be to take Lou on a long walk by the bay.

Thank goodness my husband grew up with dogs, a beloved German Shepard named Heidi, so he knows when it's safe to let them off leash and keeps a watchful eye on the situation.

It was absolute JOY for us to watch this tiny little fellow allowed to run free and roam to his hearts content!

In no time flat his bony little legs were soaked to the bone.

He became a two toned dog, or as my mom exclaimed upon seeing him later, "he looks like he's wearing boots!"

 

We indulged his every turn and in the process provided much comic relief to all of the other dog walkers in our path!

  

I didn't grow up with dogs so Lou is "my dog in training."

 Every time I dogsit I get more and more comfortable with him and as my confidence grows so do my heartstrings.

I'm so impressed with my husband walking this pampered pooch passing our neighbors with their  Goldens and Labs.

 He just shrugs and calls Lou, "a chick magnet."

We thought this was the perfect spot for a photo op.

We call these photos, "Lou by the Bay."

Here he is taking in the view of 

"The City by the Bay." 

He loved the smell of the bay breeze!

Well, that is how we started off 2012.

Now we are getting ready to send Lou home to his family who are on their way home today.

It's getting harder and harder to give him back...

Here is a short video clip of Lou and some new friends he met on his wondrous and wild New Years Day walk!

Welcome 2012!!!