an outraged ghetto – the before and after ….

by Sharon Santoni
[blank]Outraged!  That is the word that nails it today!   Ghetto is reeling in shock, still unwilling to believe that we took him to that woman with the scissors and the shampoo and the combs.
Our day got off to a less than ideal start when I took the dogs for a quick walk around the forest with their friend Rupert.  The idea was that Ghetto would  run off his excess energy and would be quiet and compliant with the beautician …. hmmm….[blank]
[blank]What I hadn’t planned for, was that he would throw himself into every available mud hole and then go AWOL, making us late, and leaving me little time to hose him down before setting off to his appointment.[blank]
[blank]Words cannot describe the looks we got as we entered the dog beauty parlour.  There were four other dogs there already.  Nice, clean, well behaved pups with ribbons in their hair and pretty collars around their necks.
Clients and beauticians took one look at the still slightly grimy Ghetto, then looked at me “Really?!”
I tried to laugh it off, muttering something about country dogs, and the joys of the forest, and the benefits of fresh air and exercise, but I don’t think I made much of an impression.[blank]
[blank]Still looking aghast that such an unkempt mutt could be on her premises, the nice lady with long manicured nails, impeccable make up and a dog salon full of chic French dogs took Ghetto’s lead from me between the tips of her fingers and suggested I came back later … much later!   “It will take time to fix this!”
An hour and a half later I collected an outraged pup.  Shocked that strange women had thought it appropriate to  inspect every nook and crevice on his tiny canine body.   [blank]
[blank]I loved his shaggy look, but  I have to say that the beauty parlour did a very good job (although Ghetto would beg to differ).  For a while at least, our French country mutt could walk down the most chic street in Paris and not look out of place.[blank]
[blank]And Gibson in all of this … well he just wondered why nobody wanted to take pictures of him too![blank]
[blank]It is indeed a dog’s life![blank]

55 comments

Magnolia Verandah June 7, 2013 - 8:56 am

All nice and clean! and so handsome now!

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mirella August 5, 2014 - 6:36 am

ma quanto è bello!!!!!! un amore

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Marla in the OC June 7, 2013 - 9:11 am

I have been quietly following your blog for a couple of months but I just must comment today: what an adorable pup! Both your pups, actually. Your photos are transporting.

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Ms Lemon of Make Mine Lemon June 7, 2013 - 10:35 am

"That woman" did an excellent job, but I must say he does look a little indignant is one of the photos. I tend to like him scruffy, but clean.

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Anonymous June 7, 2013 - 10:59 am

He looks so handsome the lady did a great job. Have a wonderful weekend. Regards Esther from Sydney. PS must not forget Gibson the heartbreaker.

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Roxane June 7, 2013 - 12:50 pm

He looks so grown-up & older in the "after" pictures. His colors show up so much better with a nice trim. He's quite a rascal, lol.

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miss flibbertigibbet June 7, 2013 - 1:29 pm

I have never commented before but the first pic just MADE me! Ghetto is the image of my sweet Katie who was my constant companion for 15 years! Katie LOVED to lie down flat in mud puddles when we took walks….sigh….annoying at the time, but I'd love to see her do it today! Thanks for the cheering up!

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Denise at Forest Manor June 7, 2013 - 2:03 pm

Oh Sharon, there is nothing like a terrier with attitude (which would basically be all terriers)! 🙂 I love Ghetto's shaggy look too, but now he looks positively handsome. I LOVE his new look — the beautician did indeed do a great job with him. What a wonderful, snazzy collar!

Our Scottish Terrorist hates to go the groomer, and I'm sure they hate to see him coming. 🙂 Dear Gibson is handsome, as always. Have a wonderful weekend!

Denise

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Gina June 7, 2013 - 2:32 pm

I don't blame Ghetto. After all he lives in the country and he is a country Gentleman. At least he didn't get into a porcupine or a skunk as our dogs have done on occasion.

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Jeanie June 7, 2013 - 2:42 pm

Amazing. Ghetto is ready for Westminster. 🙂

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Bleudelavande June 7, 2013 - 3:34 pm

Ooohhh,Ghetto is adorable!!!!!
Have a nice weekend

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Sarah Malone, European Farmhouse Charm June 7, 2013 - 3:39 pm

such a little devil that one, but so adorable 🙂
XO
Sarah

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Castles Crowns and Cottages June 7, 2013 - 3:44 pm

Oh dear! Your Ghetto resembles my BALZAC, a fox terrier that I love and met, named and was inspired by in Paris. He lives now in my head as a character that I draw!

He certainly is a character, and your guy here definitely benefited from his makeover!

Anita

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Catherine June 7, 2013 - 3:46 pm

I bet he feels a lot better having had a bath. Like you, I loved his curls but I am sure this is better for summer. He is very handsome in his new do.

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Bonnie June 7, 2013 - 3:53 pm

Ghetto is precious! I always enjoy his romps and adventures. Have a wonderful weekend. Bonnie

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Trouvaille en Haute-Marne June 7, 2013 - 3:53 pm

HAHAHAHAHA…could not stop laughing! Great story – it made my day 🙂

Thanks for sharing!

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Anonymous June 7, 2013 - 3:54 pm

Your dog is so photogenic and has a certain quality about him. Love the occasional Ghetto photo blogs!

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dawnineden.com June 7, 2013 - 4:22 pm

Funny, I can just picture Ghetto having fun in those mud puddles. It's amazing just how much joy they can bring to us. I'd have loved to see the face of the groomer though.
Thanks for sharing Ghetto's great before and after photos.

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wendi yates June 7, 2013 - 5:16 pm

I think Sharon you should play Ghetto ZZ Tops "Every Girl's Crazy 'bout a Sharp Dressed Man" and then let him strutt past some of those fine French girl pups and watch them "…come runnin' just as fast as they can. 'Coz every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that he might just see the upside of this hahahaha!!

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Mr. & Mrs. P June 7, 2013 - 5:22 pm

Ghetto is too funny!!!! Hes just so cute.. He would get along with our little chihuahua Joey

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The Buzz Blog @ Diane James Home June 7, 2013 - 5:25 pm

What a great looking pup – with and without the mud!

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The Blue Farmhouse June 7, 2013 - 5:33 pm

I love it! Sounds like a short story from the pages of cute book.

Rita

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artemanoCReativ June 7, 2013 - 5:40 pm

:o))) Oooooh, Ghetto! What a dog, what a story! Have a funny weekend.
Mil besitos, Christl

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Elena June 7, 2013 - 5:50 pm

Ghetto now looks handsomely Bourgeois! I love this story, too cute!

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Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns June 7, 2013 - 5:53 pm

Ghetto looks adorable. What an amusing story for a dreary and rainy Friday! Thank you brightening my day!

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peggy braswell June 7, 2013 - 6:09 pm

soo chic in his new haircut that Ghetto + must not forget Gibson, what a handsome guy he is also. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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Tish Jett June 7, 2013 - 6:26 pm

Hilarious!

(Better you than me. As I keep saying to you, it's a good thing they are so cute with those adorably manipulative personalities because otherwise there would be no excuse for owning them.)

I think the only time Georges really behaved was when he was on the table being groomed, but of course it was ultimately a waste of money.

xoxo,
Tish

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Anonymous June 7, 2013 - 7:12 pm

Too cute. The story made me smile. How did you come to name him Ghetto?

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Anonymous June 7, 2013 - 8:15 pm

Your pictures and stories about Gibson and Ghetto give me lots of pleasure and many laughs. Thank you!

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I Dream Of June 7, 2013 - 11:36 pm

The many misadventures of Ghetto never fail to bring a smile to my face. I'm sure he will manage to look like a country boy again in no time! Happy weekend, Sharon! XO

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Poppy Q June 7, 2013 - 11:58 pm

I love a little scruffy dog – maybe not that scruffy though. Little Ghetto looks smart after his hairdo. We love the dog stories too.

Julie and Poppy Q
xxx

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MelO June 8, 2013 - 12:22 am

Haahaha! I'm with you on preferring the shaggy look, although he does look dapper now. You were one of the inspirations for us getting a new puppy -A Moodle!! She started out so sweet and placid – I thought too much so for our family – but she has quickly fit right in and has become 'Feral'!!!!!She is a handful. My peaceful, controllable existence had become 'out of control'! It is Hard Work, but she is a joy too…..sometimes.

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Karenée H. June 8, 2013 - 2:13 am

Ghetto is adorable either way – scruffy or trimmed. I was really impressed the other day when he was sitting still for your brocante photos!
My family's Sunny, a Golden Retriver, lived to 14 1/2. For the first half of his life, we lived in Phoenix, Arizona. The long hair was too much for the intense heat of summer there, so we got him a nice short haircut every spring. The first time, he was easily as upset as Ghetto here. He walked around for a couple days moping and acting embarrassed: "What did they do to me?"
I love that our dogs can be as sensitive as we are about hair cuts!
Gibson always looks so patient. What a sweetheart.

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La Vie Quotidienne June 8, 2013 - 2:45 am

Oh! He looks so cute!

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Ggomez June 8, 2013 - 4:33 am

I adore how you love your dogs! We also let ours get shaggy
they really don't want me to comb them so it's bad when they go!
I think the groomers think we are mean aweful horrible people to our dogs….ya NO they sleep in our bed!
Sadly get feed from table and command couches of their choice! They run the house!

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Irina June 8, 2013 - 4:46 am

Oh, I just love these two!! And your writing too, a lot!
Sending them hugs from Hong Kong 🙂

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mimi the zookeeper - June 8, 2013 - 6:05 am

oh that handsome boy! love him. someday (i promise myself) i will get over there to see him in person. it is truly a dream of mine to visit france; to visit all of france! love that country. xo

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Colleen Taylor June 8, 2013 - 6:42 am

You can't help but love this pup Sharon, fluffed up clean or dirty. He's precious & certainly knows how to mug up to the camera. Wonderful post! xo

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Sarah B June 8, 2013 - 7:02 am

I love the shaggy look too, but the new 'do' is much more practical, especially as he loves to get into mischief so much. What a cutie 🙂

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Anonymous June 8, 2013 - 8:20 am

Lol, what a cutie! And awesome forests, I would look a mess too if I could walk through such awesome forests!

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Anonymous June 8, 2013 - 10:35 am

Ghetto's a real dog NOT a trophy dog. He loves and lives life to the fullest. I too love his shaggy look. Deidre.

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Cynthia Watson June 8, 2013 - 2:13 pm

What a sweetheart!

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Marsha June 8, 2013 - 2:24 pm

I adore Ghetto! I have a little jack russell with broken coat and I just love all dog antics!

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CAROL June 8, 2013 - 3:52 pm

I am in love with Ghetto.

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Dana June 8, 2013 - 3:58 pm

Love your stories and photos of Gibson and Ghetto. They always make me smile.

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Anonymous June 8, 2013 - 7:20 pm

I love the first photo that says, "I may never recover from this." "I was a scamp about, and now a gentleman." Such a darling story! Laurie'

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Anonymous June 8, 2013 - 7:50 pm

I love this post, and I believe you can read ghettos mind very very well!!!!!!! Ever think of giving your "furry babies their own fb page? A DAY IN THE LIFE OF GIBSON AND GHETTO.

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Leslie in Portland, Oregon June 9, 2013 - 12:21 am

These photographs are priceless! Ghetto's exasperation and Gibson's patience are so vivid. They are such a gorgeous, wonderful pair! Do you address them in English or French…or both?

We too have a nearby forest in which we walk our dogs (Henry the Golden Retriever and Bob the Long-Haired Dachshund) daily, and after all such walks, they each get hosed off thoroughly. In fall through spring, that cleans them, and in summer, it cools them (and us!). I have to make sure that I don't have any work obligations right after the noon walk, because it is so difficult to predict when the walk will be over and its consequences dealt with!

Needless to say, I love the Gibson and Ghetto posts. Thank you for them, Leslie

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Cathi June 9, 2013 - 6:19 am

Both of your dogs are so adorable! xxoo

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PamLuvsPink June 9, 2013 - 9:25 am

Hi Sharon!!!!

It's funny that you took Ghetto in to get beautified because my little girl Sasha, went in today to get beautified herself. We love her with her shaggy paws and her little face peeking through her beautiful soft fur on the forehead.

They look like rebels with their shaggy fur and like children they can't resist a muddy puddle. I could just imagine the faces when you walked into the "Beauty Parlour" with your little gem.

Ghetto looks great and fluffy with an up-to-date hair style (LOL)!!! And Gibson can't see what all the fuss is about…Adorable.

Enjoy the weekend!!

Pam
xox

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Karen (Back Road Journal) June 9, 2013 - 1:34 pm

Such a rascal but boys will be boys when it comes to mud puddles. He is very handsome all clipped and groomed but I know he is just waiting to go play in the dirt again.

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Mol C. Nichols June 9, 2013 - 6:02 pm

Such great stories, living a beautiful life.

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Susan VL June 9, 2013 - 11:32 pm

Completely adorable!

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Anonymous June 17, 2013 - 3:08 am

So Classic… As soon as my wire haired fox came home from the groomer he immediately looked for something to roll in. Ghetto looks incredibly handsome.

Lisa in Maryland, USA

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Erika Kaptein August 10, 2014 - 9:55 pm

Sharon,

I just love your doggies Gibson and Ghetto! We have a little toy poodle and she runs our household and my 6 ft. 4 in. husband!!! Even though she is only 10 pounds!!

I adore France. We especially love Yvorie, France, where we enjoyed parts of our 25 Wedding Anniversary celebrations!

Take good, good care, Boujour, Trés Jolie, Gibson et Ghetto! Merci, Erika

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