All Things Ellie

Ellie Jean Louise Davis

One of our friends commented that she views our blog "just to see photos of Ellie."  I know she was joking, but noticing that comment today gave me the idea to dedicate one day a week to "all things Ellie." (Thanks for the inspiration, Karen!)

Once I had decided that might be a fun endeavor, I needed to decide which day of the week to do it.  I decided it would be a day with an "E" in the name, for Ellie.  So that left me with Tuesday or Wednesday.  Since Wednesday is our busiest day of the week (we do two services back to back on Wednesday), I decided to make Tuesday our "All Things Ellie" day.

I will begin by giving you a little background on Ellie.  (If you have read any of our Ellie & Percival Series children's books, you already know a good deal about Ellie.)

Ellie is a beagle.  She will be five in March.  Her favorite thing in the world - besides eating, of course - is to smell things.  Most afternoons in the week, we go to a local schoolyard.  We put Ellie on a 30ft leash and let her go where she wants to go and smell whatever she wants to smell for as long as she wants, or for about 45 minutes.  She loves this activity.  Every afternoon, about the time we would usually go, she begins to watch me for signs we are leaving.   I enjoy doing this with Ellie.  Beagles are hounds, and as such, they are driven by scent.  The "smelling time" is as important for them as the actual exercise.  During a usual time at the schoolyard, we will walk over a mile, so she gets some exercise with it as well.

Ellie's Favorite Toy

Ellie's favorite game is "Keep Away."  She has a few toys which she loves for this.  She takes her job in Keep Away seriously, so not every toy can handle it.  My favorite -and most long-lasting- toys are made by the "Fluff and Tuff" company.  These toys have a mesh lining inside, and they hold up very well to Ellies vigorous pulling and my not-as-vigorous tugging.  They wash well, too. (I have not received any compensation for this review; I am simply amazed at how well they handle what Ellie dishes out.)

Several times during the day, Ellie comes to me with one of her favorite toys and drops it at my feet. I try to play with her whenever I can because I know how much she loves it and that it satisfies some of her innate needs.

Ellie is a wonderful dog, and I look forward to sharing her with you every Tuesday.