Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Gwen, Part Two

A tired dog is a good dog.
--Every trainer who ever lived
The pupster got her spay stitches out last night, so now she can run and romp with Meadow. They're outside right now playing ball with Chris. The routine seems to be:

1) Chris throws ball.
2) Gwen chases ball.
3) Meadow chases Gwen.
4) Ball lies forgotten while Meadow and Gwen wrestle for ten minutes.
5) Chris gets ball.

Repeat until one or more dogs collapse.

The vet tech confirmed that she is about 7 months old (Gwen, that is), which according to Puppies for Dummies is part of the puberty stage. Here's a quote I need to tape to my forehead (backwards, of course, so I can read it):
The toughest thing to control during puberty isn't your dog; it's your temper. Having the right attitude is extremely important. We humans are a control-oriented bunch and we want our dogs to come when called, stay calm in exciting situations and control their gamy impulses. But these dogs want to play! Have fun! Chase a butterfly! They are often unimpressed by your frustration.
Yeah.

Okay, now they're running around the yard displaying their breed-specific behaviors. Meadow the greyhound is running in a large, swift, counter-clockwise circle, and Gwen the collie is running a smaller circle inside Meadow's circle, looking like she thinks she's in control of this large, skinny, freshly sheared sheep.


Another cute thing about Gwen? Next to Meadow's sleekness, her fluffy coat makes her look like she's wearing puppy pajamas, as if there's another dog inside her wearing a costume.

Next Release

Shade

Jeri's teen debut — May 4, 2010, from Simon Pulse, for ages 14 and up

First in a worldwide generation of ghost-seers, Aura's relationship with the dead changes when her boyfriend dies and comes back to haunt her.

More about SHADE

Pre-order at Mysterious Galaxy, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Latest Release

Bad to the Bone

Bad to the Bone (sequel to Wicked Game) — now available in mass market paperback!

“Smith-Ready pours plenty of fun into her charming, fang-in-cheek urban fantasy” — Publisher's Weekly, starred review

Order at Mysterious Galaxy, Amazon.com, or Barnes and Noble.

Book 3, BRING ON THE NIGHT, will be released August 2010, and Book 4 will follow in August 2011.

Sorta new!

Wicked Game

“A colorful premise and engaging characters” — Library Journal

Wicked Game is now available in mass market paperback

Order at Mysterious Galaxy, Amazon.com, or Barnes and Noble.

About the author

Jeri Smith-Ready

Jeri Smith-Ready is a Maryland author of adult and teen urban fantasy.

Learn more about Jeri...

Photo © 2006 Szemere Photography

Sign up for Jeri's newsletter


    • First draft of SHIFT (sequel to SHADE)
    • "Crystalised" by the XX