Today my human meets MY puppy

So we had quite the party yesterday after my human left.  The Hulk is such a softy when it comes to giving us treats.  Mission accomplished - treat jar half empty.

Today my human picks up my new puppy.  She has driven to some place called Quebec.  People speak French there. I wonder if my puppy barks in French...

My training manual continues:

Lesson 4 - all dogs in this household are on 24 hour guard duty.  It is critical that you bark if you hear the doorbell.  Or a car in the driveway.  Or wildlife.  Or wind.  Or rustling leaves. 

Lesson 5 - do NOT go into the garage when our human calls you in there.  The garage houses the dog tub.  And the grooming table.  And assorted instruments of torture.  If our human manages to catch you and takes you in the torture chamber, it is imperative that you squeak while being groomed.  If you do so, you will get LOTS of treats. 

Lesson 6 - we have a banana routine in this household.  Immediately after eating breakfast, we RUN  to wait by the kitchen counter for a banana. And there will be a serving order.  Velcro dog first, then ME and then you - my puppy.  This is a big change.  I have always been used to being last in the line - up. I am finally no longer at the end.

Well today is THE day my human meets my puppy.  And tomorrow - they will come home and WE will get to meet him.  One more sleep.

I can't WAIT!

Getting ready...

Well my human is on her way.  And we will wait in anticipation.   While we party all weekend long.  Drinking beer.  Chasing rabbits.  Playing cards.  Eating treats.  Chasing rabbits.  Eating treats. Hanging out on the sofa in the former DFZ.  And planning how I am going to train my puppy.

I am starting to write his training manual.

Lesson 1- When humans are training you to do something - like sit, they will give you lots of treats.  Pretend you do not know what they want you to do - because the longer you hold out, the more treats you get. Finally, give in and start doing what they want.  They will be so happy because they will think they have trained you.  But we know the truth.

Lesson 2 - Learn the Stare Down.  I wrote about this is one of my earliest blogs.  There are numerous variations of this behavior - but the introductory level is simply staring at a human when she is eating.  And look as if you haven't eaten in several weeks.  Even if you just had your dinner. And even let out a mournful tiny little squeak.  But not too loudly as that can be annoying.  If you do this well, you are guaranteed to get some little leftover morsel of human food.  And if the human food is not fit for canine consumption, you will get a dog treat.  The very best time to do this, though, is when you have guests.  

Lesson 3 - Rabbits are meant to be chased.  And so are birds.  But not ducks.  And watch out for porcupines too.

That's just the beginning of my manual.  I have a lot of work to do before he gets here....

Have a great day!

A BIG Change.

Change is coming.  A big change.  First though, we have a change which may seem small to others - but it has been difficult change for my human.

I've been writing my blog for almost 2 years now.  And in my blog introduction, there is a tag line.  And in that tag line is Paxton.  Paxton was always a huge part of my blog. And a huge part of my life. 

He was fondly called "Bucket Head" and he was an amazing character who added so many stories to my blog - and so much joy to our lives.  I drove him crazy.   But I know he loved me.  And I loved him.   When Paxton went to the Rainbow Bridge, my human could not bring herself to remove him from that tag line. I mean he's gone - but he'll never REALLY be gone.   He is still with us.  We feel him. 

But my human has waited and waited to know what to do about that tag line.   It's not a big deal.   But she feels it's time for a change...      

And with that change will come a new addition to that tag line.  My human has packed a bag.  AND she has rented a vehicle.  She is going somewhere that she thinks is too far for Harold. The Hulk has NOT packed a bag SO it looks like it is going to be a boy's weekend here.  P-A-R-T-Y.   

And when my human returns, I will begin a whole new chapter in my blog.   I am SO excited.  Time for the big reveal.  I am getting a.....................BUNNY.   Just kidding.   I am getting a PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!  My very own puppy!!!!!!!!   But now you have to wait to see what KIND of puppy.  

This new addition will never, ever be a replacement for Paxton.  No one could EVER fill those paw prints.  He was ONE of a kind.  A very, very special one.  But I know my puppy will no doubt be the source of all kinds of new stories.  And I will teach him EVERYTHING I know.... Just like Paxton did with me...

Get ready for the big change. Stay tuned!

Checking for prints

 

On this day in 1858, humans began using fingerprints as a way to identify people.  Humans all have unique fingerprints.  But for us dogs, it's nose prints.  Just as no two human fingerprints are the same, no two nose prints are identical.  So my human is able to identify exactly who left the olfactory art on the deck doors.  While staring at a bird on the lawn.

The Canadian Kennel Club has been accepting nose prints  as proof of identity since 1938.  I'm not sure exactly how many people do it - as most people seem to use tattoos or microchips.  I have a chip.  So I guess that means I will beep if I go through security at the airport.   

And speaking of being nosy...my human went to buy our dog food at the gourmet dog food place.  And she came home with a big bag.  But she ALSO came home with a DIFFERENT kind of food.  I thought she was just switching our food.  But she didn't give us any.  Maybe she is saving it for some special occasion?  And there was something ELSE in the bag - but she didn't show it to us.  I started thinking...do you THINK I could be getting a PUPPY?!  I have wanted a puppy FOREVER.  Or at least a couple of months.  Anyway, she's not saying anything yet.  This is worse than waiting for the rabbit to appear.

Have a good one.

Bagpipes

July 27. Today is Bagpipe Appreciation Day.  And living in Nova Scotia it's not hard to find a bagpipe player.  If one is looking for one.

Now some dogs are not too fond of the sound of the pipes.  And some dogs actually like to sing along.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJBgSsVyQns

I don't REALLY mind the sound.  To me, it's kind of like the sound of an angry cat.  When I am chasing him.  Music to my ears.

Not everyone has the access to the pipes that we do here in Nova Scotia.  My human really likes them.  So allow me to share a bagpipe song with you that I THINK even those who don't care for the pipes will enjoy.  Sit back, and enjoy this motivational rendition - straight from Scotland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOO5qRjVFLw

Have a great day!  Oh.  And three more sleeps until my human tells me WHAT is going on.  I can't WAIT!  I just hope it's not that she is going to take bagpipe lessons...

Tick Tock

Sometimes the best laid plans don't always work out the way you think.

So my human has this very, very old clock.  It's called a steeple clock and it is on the mantle in the room formerly referred to as the DFZ.  I say formerly because Velcro dog and I wander in there whenever we want, WHEN my human is home.  She still has a baby gate haphazardly propped against the entrance - but let's face it - we don't care.  Now mind you, Velcro dog was nearly evicted the other day when he started to dig on the cushion seat of one of the wingback chairs.  That's pushing things a bit.  Just do it when she isn't watching.

Anyway, my human has this old clock, which is SO old you have to wind it to make it work.  Can you imagine?! My human actually remembers WATCHES that you had to wind.  She really is old.  But back to the clock.

My human hasn't wound that clock since...well Velcro dog has never seen it wound.  So it's been YEARS.  And for some odd reason, she decided to try it out yesterday.  It has a melodic tick-tick-tick as the pendulum sways back and forth.  And it ALSO chimes.  Every hour.  Which seemed fine.  Until Velcro dog decided he needed to alert my human to the sound.  Every hour.  EVERY hour.  Even in the middle of the night.  He just runs and barks and stares at it.

So until this clock winds down, or until Velcro dog gets used to the chime, we will be reminded of the time.  Every hour.

Never a dull moment.  As the clock counts down the minutes until my big surprise.  I can't WAIT.  Now to figure out what I'm waiting for...

Have a good one!

Round and round we go

July 25.  Today is National Carousel Day.  A day to celebrate those historic amusement rides that date back to the time of knights and jousting.  According to some sources, in medieval times, knights on horseback would ride in circles, tossing balls to one another.  This required coordination and good riding skills.  Somehow, this game was imitated by commoners - and low and behold, eventually became a mechanized device for children.  Some of the early versions had wooden horses hanging on chains, which were powered by animals walking in circles or people turning a crank.

By the mid-19th century, carousels with wooden platforms were common at fairs in England, and by the late 19th century,  a carousel industry had developed in the US.   Immigrant craftsmen from Europe carved intricate animals and the "Golden Age" of carousels peaked in the early 20th century.

Over the years, with the advent of more modern and "exciting" amusement park rides, carousels in many places began to fall into disrepair.  But in probably the last 40 years, people have begun to appreciate the art and intricacies of these wonderful pieces of history.  Many existing structures have been restored.  

My human has always been fascinated by these whirling wonders.  Perhaps because her father was a woodcarver, and perhaps because one of the early factories, the  Herschell Company was located in North Tonawanda, NY - not far from Buffalo where she grew up.  You can visit the actual factory today - which is a museum.

So what does this have to do with DOGS you may be asking.  Well in addition to horses - which are obviously the most common animals on carousels, other animals were used including lions and tigers and bears.  Oh my.   AND dogs.  But reportedly, of the more than 50,000 carousel figures carved, less than fifty were dogs!  Which makes them quite rare.  And quite valuable.  In 1992, the highest price paid for a carousel animal at auction was for a Saint Bernard figure that sold for a whopping $174,000.  

In researching this topic, I found someone who actually carves dog carousel figures.  Check him out:  
http://www.timracer.com/index.html
I don't see a PON in the list of dogs he has done.  I think I would be a fitting subject.  And my carving could be put on a carousel.  Right behind the figure of a rabbit.   Perfect.

Have a happy Monday!
 

Hi. I'm Frodo.

According to the crazy calendar, today is National Drive Through Day.  We haven't been to a drive through since that ice cream fiasco.  Mind you, every time we do, or even if we go through a toll booth on the highway, Velcro dog barks at the person working there.  It's quite embarrassing. I couldn't care less.  But he's the vocal one in the household.  And heaven FORBID he sees someone walking down our road.  Like yesterday morning.  At 5:30 when we were out for our morning jaunt.  It was quiet.  And a bit foggy.  And peaceful.  With just the sound of the birds.  Until Velcro dog spotted some people coming along on our road.  So much for tranquility in the country.  And while the Tasmanian devil is looking like Cujo from the Stephen King story, my human launches into an incessant monologue about how "he's just trying to say hello- my name is Frodo" and "he's really very friendly."  It's moments like those that yours truly, the "wild child," looks an angel. 

I noticed my human cleaning out a crate in the garage.  Hmmmmm.  I wonder if she's into the "selling mode" again.  Why is it all the dog stuff gets sold?  Like that automatic feeder.  And the ramp?  Time to get in HER closet and sell some of those shoes.

Have a GRRRRRRRRRREAT day!

In trouble. Just like Prince George.

Busted.  

OK - I have been fairly well behaved lately.  If you don't count licking Velcro dog's ears.  Or barking at birds.  Or that ONE bunny chase the other day.  But yesterday I did demonstrate one other indiscretion.  

The Hulk is still with us for a few more weeks.  And by NOW you would THINK he would know me better.  He made himself a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.  He put it on the table and went to get his tea.  I THOUGHT it was for me.  Really.  So I jumped on his chair and helped myself.  Who knew it WASN'T for me?!  Busted.

And I wasn't the only one in trouble yesterday.  So was Prince George.  On his third birthday.  Seems he had some birthday photos published and horror of horrors- one of the photos depicted him feeding his dog Lupo some ice cream on a stick. Critics argued that it contained white chocolate.  Now some chocolate can be toxic to dogs. For example, dark chocolate or bakers chocolate can be very lethal.  However, according to one website, it would take 125 pounds of white chocolate to result in toxicity in a 10-pound dog. I'm thinking that his ice cream bar was FAR from dangerous for Lupo, unless George had three cases of them not visible in the photo - and he was ready to feed them to Lupo..  SURE - some dogs may have dairy allergies - but I'm thinking George's family would probably know that.  Seriously.  Some humans need to lighten up.

Well it's Saturday.  Time to get my human moving.   She told me that this is my last weekend before my life changes.  What the heck does that mean?  I hope she's not planning to do something like dye my hair purple.  Or change my diet to vegetarian. 

Have a good one!  And have an ice cream on me.

 

I'm not patient.

 So it's July 22.  A BIG day in our household.  My human completes a special program at work.  She then has one more week of work doing "paperwork" and then she is off.  Paperwork.  What a waste of time.  We dogs can show you what WE do with paperwork.  Anyway, once she finishes the "paperwork" she will be home.  With US.  For several weeks.  I cannot WAIT.  Imagine how many games of fetch she can play with us!!!!

She also promised that something exciting is going to happen.  She's not packing boxes, so I don't think we are moving.  And she's not building a barn - so I don't think we are getting a pony.  Now I saw her looking at a research study advertised on the internet that someone is doing in Newfoundland about two-dog households.  And she said we couldn't participate....so I started thinking that the surprise was a puppy!!!!!!!!  But then I saw that the study was just for people in Newfoundland. So that's why we can't participate.

Maybe it's a road trip.  Mind you, it probably won't be too far as Harold isn't sounding all that good these days.  Hey - maybe we are trading in Harold!  Nah.  I doubt it...

One of our neighbors is moving and they were looking a home for their cat.  Maybe he's coming to live with us.  Now wouldn't THAT be fun?!

 The suspense is killing me.  I'm not a patient dog.  This is worse than having to wait while my food dish is put down...She said she will give me more clues in the next few days...

Have a fabulous Friday.  Let the weekend roll!



 

Pulling and tugging

On this day in 1978,  a St Bernard was awarded the title as the World's strongest dog, pulling a 2909-kg  (5055 lb) load.  Since then, people still do this form of competition with their dogs, but it has been controversial.  Some people say it can be very hard on a dog and can cause serious injuries.  The proponents compare it to human powerlifting and strongman competitions.  I'm not so sure. 

Mind you,  Velcro dog and I could probably pull that amount of weight if you put a food bowl in front of us.  And just think how we were able to pull the Hulk during the whole duck fiasco.  And then we have pulling a cart - which Paxton used to do.  That's quite different than weight pulls- as draft dogs are not pulling  something the weight of a Volkswagen. 

The pulling topic kind of goes along with the fact that according to the crazy calendar, today is also National Tug of War Tournament day.  I LOVE to play tug.  But it is ALSO another controversial practice.  Some people argue that if you allow your dog to tug, he will become aggressive.  My human feels that as long as your dog is trained to release the toy on command, tugging CAN be fun.   And good exercise.  Even for the human.  Velcro dog is a good tugger and as SOON as my human says "stop" he does.  I'm not QUITE that willing to give up the tug toy.  But I will.  Especially if enticed by a treat.  Treats make my world go round.

The other thing that we dogs are good at is pulling and tugging on human heartstrings.  We excel at that!

Well excuse me while we go out for our morning constitutional.  And I promise not to pull.  Maybe...

Moon Day

July 20.  Today is Moon Day. On this day way back in 1969, two guys by the names of Aldrin and Armstrong took "one giant leap for mankind" on the moon.  My ancient human actually remembers it. 

The word lunatic is said to derive from the Latin word lunaticus which means "of the moon" or "moonstruck".    Lunatic can refer to mental illness or even foolish, erratic behavior.  It is a word occasionally used to describe me.  Actually, frequently used. 

The Full Moon is known to bring out unusual behavior in people and in animals.  One study reported an increase of 28% in dog visits to emergency rooms during the Full Moon.  My human decided to look back in my blog - and sure enough - SOME of my bad behavior was right around a Full Moon.  Like that encounter with the porcupine!  That explains it.  Mind you....there was lots of bad behavior and it didn't have ANYTHING to do with the phase of the moon.  But if I can find an excuse, I'll use it.

So even though the Full Moon was last night, I invite all my canine friends to go out tonight and give it a howl.  

Have a good one!

Stick out your Tongue

July 19.  According to the crazy Calendar, today is Stick out your Tongue Day.  And no, I don't make these up.

Sticking out one's tongue is generally not considered to be a polite thing to do.  Unless you are some kind of rock star.  

Anyway, as we all know, my human LOVES to take photos of us.  And I have talked about how she takes 3,974 shots to get one that she likes.  Which requires that we dogs sit and behave.  Now sometimes, I will practice picnore - the art of looking anywhere, except at the camera.  Or when that fails, my favorite thing to do is stick out my tongue.  My human generally deletes those photos, but she decided to look back to the beginning of the year - and to see if she could find any.  And guess who was the consistent tongue sticker outer?  Moi.  Of course.  And here are some  samples for this year.

Getting two dogs to take a good photo is tough.  And three is nearly impossible.  It's a miracle my human actually got good shots of me, Velcro dog and Bucket Head together.  I think it's time we have three dogs again.  But I'm not so sure I will be able to convince my human.  But you never know...

Happy Tuesday.  And no sticking out your tongue.  Unless you are a dog and your human is driving you crazy taking photos....

Cool it

So I have decided I am not moving to Florida.  Or Texas.  Or anywhere hot.  Not that my human has any plans to do so - although I KNOW I will hear her saying that she wants to around mid-January. And no offense to anyone who lives there - but I just don't know HOW any of you dogs survive.  I mean we have had some hot weather - which is in the 80's - and CLEARLY not as hot as places in the south.  And even with our moderate heat, my human won't let us play fetch.  ESPECIALLY during the day.  Even when she DOES let us play in the early morning or evening, when the temperatures have cooled down, we don't get to play very long. I am SO bored.

Yesterday my human got this bright idea about how too keep us cool.  She remembered she had these canine cooler coats.  You get them wet, put them in the fridge and then put them on your dog. They are made of a chamois-like absorbent type of material, so although they are damp, your dog doesn't get wet.  Seemed like a perfect idea.  With one SMALL glitch.  Both of them were made for a Bernese Mountain dog.  So obviously WAY too big for us PONs.  Velcro dog didn't seem to mind wearing the cool, but oversized garb.  But me?  NOT. A. CHANCE.   I kept trying to chew it off - so immediately after my human manged to get the photo, off it came.  And I ran to the garage door to stare at it - with the hope that the fetching toys would come out.  No such luck.

Today is Monday, and the last CRAZY week my human has at work.  She loves her job, but her days are quite long right now.  Then one more week of work and THEN she will be OFF for a few weeks.  And she promised me that SOMETHING will be happening while she is on vacation.  Maybe we are going on another road trip?  Or maybe SHE is going somewhere.  The excitement is building and the countdown is on.  But I'm not sure what I'm counting for!

Have a happy Monday!  And keep your cool.

Emojis

July 17.  According to the crazy calendar, today is World Emoji Day. Emojis are those little symbolic cartoon-like images that first appeared in Japan on mobile phones in the 1990's.  They started with smiley-type faces and have now exploded in a huge variety of images - that include faces, clothing, animals, places, weather, tools - you name it.  People use them all the time to communicate.  No wonder kids can't spell today!

With the recent release of the film, The Secret Life of Pets (which my human has yet to see), there is even a site where you can create your own emoji to resemble your dog or cat.  My human tried it.  But it looked nothing like a PON. But here it is if you want to give it a try!
http://www.mypetmoji.com/

So in honor of World Emoji Day, allow me to write a very short story about my day yesterday.  In emojis!

 🌅 😴  🐶🐶  🔊  😩  🐶🐶   🔊  😕  🐾 🌞 🌲 💩💩 😊     

🐶🐶 🍲 🍌

🐶🐶  🎾  😓

🐶🐶 🍪  😐 

🐶 🐇 😳  😠

🐶 🏡 😅

🐶🐶 🍲

 🌠 🐶🐶 💤 😃 🍷


Have a fabulous Sunday!!   👍

Vote for me.

My campaign for DOTUS has begun.  Leave it to my human to find a website where dogs are running for President.  I think I may have started too late - because right now, I am in 1219th place.  With one vote.
https://wagwalking.com/dog-president/pres-viktor

My human thought it would be clever to put in a photo with me and George Washington - but my head is half cut off and I don't think it is my most flattering shot.  She should have used my Donald Trump shot.  Then again.  Maybe not.

Right now a pug named Moose is the front runner. With over 6,000 votes.

I was going to put in a photo of me and Frodo - because he would be my Vice President but I suppose I would have been accused of nepotism...But heck, I've never been bankrupt and I carefully monitor my emails.... So what's a little nepotism?

Interesting that other people are considering a dog for President...

As I mentioned yesterday, something is going on around here.  My human has been on the phone and talking rather excitedly.  I THOUGHT I heard the word "pony."  But I haven't seen my human building a barn, so that's unlikely.  I WONDER what is going on...

Have a great Saturday!

Deaf dogs

Well the front page of the Halifax paper had a story on some special dog news.  In fact, the news has also been on TV and radio.  A local dog just got a Canadian Agility Championship title.  Which is cool but she is certainly not the first dog to get one.  But what IS remarkable is that she is believed to be the first DEAF dog in Nova Scotia to get one!

The nine year old Border Collie was surrendered to the SPCA when she was a pup - because she was believed to be untrainable.  But that didn't stop her owner, Adina MacRae from trying.  And after 7 years, the dog (named Seven) attained the challenging title.  Seven learned to follow her owner's body language and silent gestures as to where to go on the courses - because we dogs pick up a LOT from human body language.  So after hard work and perseveration, they made it.  I guess Seven really IS a lucky number. 

My human was encouraged to know that a deaf dog CAN be trained.  Because as we all know, I CAN be deaf at times.  But my deafness is selective. BecauseI sure can hear that treat jar being opened - no matter WHERE I am!

And in other news, something ODD is going on around here.  I'm not sure WHAT it is - but I have a sense, something is about to happen.

Stay tuned and have a great Friday!

Jumping Popularity

So my human saw another one of those crazy lists about dogs - you know the ones - "Best dogs for kids;"  "Happiest dogs;"  "Best dogs for fetching;" "Dogs you can carry in your purse;" "Dogs who are smarter than humans"...  OK- I made some of those up, but you get the drift.

The most recent one my human saw was the "Dogs who jumped the most in popularity in 2015."  Dogs who made the list include the Xoloitzcuintli and the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno.  No surprise there.  I sure have been seeing LOADS of those breeds around.  Not.  Who makes up these things?  PONs didn't make the list and I would think people would be lining up to have one.  Mind you.  Maybe they are read my blog.  And I scare people off.  I'm going to have to start lying about how well-behaved I am.

On the other hand, popularity is NOT always a GOOD thing.  When breeds become popular, everybody wants one.  And when the demand is there, some people begin breeding just to produce puppies - without any care for health or longevity.  Which obviously is NOT a good thing. 

When I am out in public and if, or should I say WHEN I misbehave, if someone asks my human what breed I am, she tells them I am a Nova Scotia Lobster Retriever.  Or a Ploodle - a Polish Lowland doodle.  She tells people to Google them.

So while I may NOT be on the rising popularity list, I definitely should be on the "Congeniality" list. Or the "most adventurous" list...

Have a good one!

Memories...

July 13.  On this day in 1939, Frank Sinatra made his recording debut.  Apparently Ol' Blue Eyes had a passion for dogs!  Sources say that he didn't have dogs growing up - so he made up for it as an adult.  He had many different kinds of dogs (and cats and horses too) but he was said to have a soft spot for Cavaliers.  Reportedly, his daughter once asked him where heaven was.  His response: "Where all animals go."  Well said Frank.

And we've been thinking of heaven a lot in the past few days.  Every day my human gets "memories" that pop up on her Facebook page.  And the memories usually include photos - of me.  And Velcro dog.  And Paxton.  Life certainly goes on when a loved one goes to heaven.  But life is different...

Frodo still seems to be sad at times.  Probably because he lived with Pax longer than I did.  But I do miss running off into the woods after Pax.   He taught me that.  Those were the days.  Crashing through the brush on the heels of my giant buddy.  With obedient Velcro dog back at the house with my human.   My human always figured Pax was running off to get away from me.  But of course, I couldn't let THAT happen.  There we would be over at the neighbor's house. Just stopping to say hello...

Velcro dog and I have worked out the "pecking order."  He's the boss.  I concede that.   Well actually, my human is the boss.  Or we let her THINK she is...

So even though we sometimes feel sad - and we know our human does too - we wouldn't trade a single minute we had with Bucket Head.   And we know he looks over us every day.  All of those in heaven do...

A lesson for humans

Humans.  Humans.

Several years ago, a team of researchers from France did an interesting experiment with 9 dogs.  They wanted to see if dogs could recognize the faces of their own species. They saw 144 pairs of photos drawn randomly from the two different pools - one was a pool of images of 3000 different dogs - purebred and mixed breeds - the other was a pool of images of 3000 other animals and people. 

The dogs were rewarded for indicating the dog in the pair. And despite the huge diversity in the photos of the dogs that they saw, the dogs in the experiment consistently recognized and selected the photos of the dogs - they knew which photo in the pair was a dog. 

They didn't care what the other dogs looked like.  They recognized one of their own.   Short hair, long hair, white dogs, brown dogs, dogs with floppy ears, dogs with bat ears, dogs with narrow muzzles, dogs with pug-like faces....they were all dogs.  Underneath it all - we are all the same.  The dogs didn't show prejudice or ignore certain dogs, based on the way they looked.  And their reactions were all the same.

Given the horrible events last week in the US...perhaps humans could take a lesson from us dogs...remember underneath it all - you are all the same...

And while I realize this analogy is simplistic - remember - I'm just a dog...

Dog news

It seems British Columbia, Canada is all about dogs these days.  On Saturday, in Vancouver, they held the annual Wiener Dog Races.  Check it out.  But don't blink - because it will be over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yFVtGfs138

Not exactly the Kentucky Derby. But apparently the prize winnings aren't too shabby - $2500.  That would keep some dog in treats for a few months. HOT dog.

And in Victoria, BC a new app was launched to connect dog owners and dog walkers. The Uber app has dog walkers sign up for a fee - and owners can call to have their dogs walked.  My human doesn't QUITE get it - she thinks that part of being owned by a dog includes walking the dog, but I guess there are people who are too busy to do it - so they hire walkers.  And I suppose if someone was sick and couldn't walk their dog, a walker would come in handy.  There is  $1 million in liability coverage for each walk. And dogs are tracked with GPS - so their owners know exactly where their dogs are at all times - and they even know when they pee and poop.  My human said I would need $10 million in insurance coverage. For the safety of the walker...

And in my neck of the woods, a major street in Halifax just announced a dog friendly initiative.  It's called Paws Here - and it's a list of 42 businesses that allow dogs INSIDE -and another 15 that welcome dogs outside with water bowls and leash tethers.  How cool is that? 

We dogs are SLOWLY starting to take over the world.  One paw at a time.

Have a good one.

Bee safe

July 10.  According to the crazy calendar, today is Don't Step on a Bee day.  Since humans often like to walk barefoot in the summer,  stepping on a bee could obviously be a real problem.  And SOME dogs can have serious problems if they are stung by a bee.   Because some dogs like to chase bugs - and eat them, a bee sting can result in a very swollen mouth, or muzzle.  If you see that your dog is crying or drooling or pawing at his face or his face is swelling - you should seek medical attention.  Some dogs can actually suffer from anaphylaxis, a severe, life threatening allergic reaction to a bee or wasp sting.  In this case, a dog could have difficulty breathing due to swelling of the throat.  This is a SERIOUS emergency.  My human had a friend who was walking in the park one day with her Golden Retriever, and the dog was stung.  He collapsed.  Her friend had to carry the dog to her car and quickly get veterinary help.  LUCKILY she made it on time - but it was a very tense and dangerous event.

If your dog is stung, many sources say that waiting for an allergic reaction may waste precious time.  If your dog is in any distress - GET help.

Bees are good for the environment - but allow me to warn my fellow dogs - don't chase or eat them.  Squirrels.  Yes.  Bunnies.  Yes.  Ducks.  Yes.  But not bees.  They are right up there with porcupines. 

Have a  sting-free day.

Wimbledon

July 9.  On this day in 1877, the very first Wimbledon tennis championship was held. 

Today, the women's final is scheduled and tomorrow will be the men's.   Oh.  And by the way... a CANADIAN is playing in the men's singles final.  It's quite the event.  BUT - it IS missing something.  Dogs.  In this video, you will see how we COULD be involved.  Mind you, I'm not sure I would want to use the slobbery ball after the one fella gets it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK_83cnHbE4

Can you IMAGINE me doing this job?!  Chaos.  It would be IMPOSSIBLE to hold me back while the players would be volleying back and forth.  And then I'm not SURE I would always give the balls back...  I love balls.  Actually I love anything a human throws.

And in other tennis news - in Australia, The Queensland Tennis Centre decided to put their used tennis balls to good use.  It seems that due to regulations, balls cannot be used after a certain time. So they had LOTS of balls in storage.  So what did they do?  They donated thousands to the RSPCA for the dogs!  Some smart human had a good idea.  Can you picture me in a room of several THOUSAND balls? It's would be dream come true.

But please keep in mind - that for some dogs, tennis balls CAN be dangerous.  Some dogs COULD swallow them or attempt to swallow them- and some dogs CHEW tennis balls which can be a problem if pieces are swallowed. So if you DO allow your dog to play with a tennis ball, do it under supervision.

Well I must go and get ready to watch the women play.  And THEN,  it's MY turn to play!

Have a ball today!

Going squirrely

First it was the crazy bunnies.  Then the killer duck.  And now it's official - we are being terrorized by a new woodland creature.  The squirrel.

Remember how the squirrel got stuck in the bird feeder - and my human worked valiantly to release him from his bondage?  And she eventually did - but she fears she may have caused some trauma to the squirrel during her efforts - and now - he is ANGRY.   REALLY angry.  He keeps hanging out around the door to our deck.  Literally.  Yesterday morning while my human was at the dining room table, she heard a "clunk" on the deck.  She looked up and there - hanging on the screen door was the squirrel.  Obviously trying to get in.  My human QUICKLY got up and although we didn't notice the squirrel - when we saw her quick movement, we sprang into action.  We didn't know what we were going after - but we were going after SOMETHING.  Luckily the glass door was closed.  

So now we have to be ever-vigilant if the deck door is left open.  And if the screen is pulled, we have to put a dog gate in front of it - because my human is just a LITTLE tired of repairing that screen door.  It wouldn't be the first time one of us dogs went through it.  

Can you IMAGINE if a squirrel got loose in our house?    Just the thought makes my human weak.  Of course, I think it could be QUITE entertaining. 

Ahhhhh.   The joys of country living.  

Have a fabulous FRIDAY.   Let the weekend begin!

Viktor for DOTUS

July 7.  According to the crazy calendar, today is Tell the Truth Day.  As a result it will be a day that politicians will have to keep their mouths closed.  Honestly.  I suppose I shouldn't paint ALL politicians with the same brush - but in looking at the current state of the US elections, I don't think truthfulness is exactly a strong attribute.

What a circus.  My human is preparing the spare bedroom for the steady stream of visitors escaping from the US.  It will be a mass migration.  My human becomes extremely agitated watching the news each night.  It's interesting to watch the candidates.  They pander to every religious group, every race, every gender, every occupation, every age group ... BUT - so FAR I have seen no candidate speak DIRECTLY to people owned by dogs.  Hello?  Who are their campaign managers?  Don't they KNOW how many dogs are out there?  Mind you, there is not much either candidate could say to make me want to vote for them.  I joked months ago that I should run for President.  Right about now, I think I would have a good shot!  Here are the reasons why I would make a good DOTUS:

• I'm adorable (who can resist a PON?)
• I'm full of energy - I will need it to put up with Congress and the Senate
• I always have a happy-go-lucky attitude - which would make me popular with other countries
• I would put together an outstanding "cabinet" - full of treats and goodies
• I encourage dynamic conflict resolution (like with Velcro dog) - and I usually LET him win
• I'm motivated - as evidenced by my constant attempts to get into the room where the toys are stored
•  I am excellent at decision making (when treats are involved)
•  I will defend my land - from terrorist ducks

We DO have a SLIGHT problem with the fact that I was not BORN in the US.  But my human was - so that should count for something.

While my rambling is clearly a joke - there are no doubt people who HONESTLY would vote for me at this point.  And THAT'S the truth! 

Time to begin my campaign...

Keep your cool.

So summer is really here and we are loving it.  So far, mornings have been a perfect temperature for our daily constitutional and days have been a comfortable 75-80ish degrees Fahrenheit. Velcro dog and I enjoy lounging on the deck while it is shady.  But one DOES have to be careful in the summer heat.  And I'm not talking about being left in hot cars.  I already discussed that issue.  And you KNOW how I feel about that one.

I'm talking about heat and exercise.  Like retrieving a toy - 4, 653 times.  Like the way I do it.  But in the heat, one must be careful.  To be sure we DON'T get overheated, my human will only play fetch with us either EARLY or LATE in the day.  Never in the afternoon.  No matter how much I beg.   And even then, one must be careful as the temperatures can still be warm.  Like the other night.  We played after 7PM - and only played for a few minutes.  And Velcro dog was fine - but yours truly tends to go a BIT crazy for fetching.  I don't exactly PACE myself.  My human even watched in horror as I actually made a somersault in my frenzied attempt to grab the toy.  When my human cut our game short, I didn't want to stop.  But when I did, I was panting like crazy.  I mean crazy.  So we went downstairs to the rec room and I relaxed on the tile floor.  Which is nice and cool.  With my human watching me like a hawk.  I was FINE.

But one DOES need to watch us dogs in the heat.  We need a shady spot if we are left outdoors.  And LOTS of fresh water. If you see that we are panting excessively and loudly, if we are drooling, if we are extremely thirsty, if we have a bright red tongue and pale gums, or if we have a rapid heart rate - we could be suffering from heatstroke. Sources say that you should check our temperature with a rectal thermometer.  A dog's temperature is normally between 99.5 and 102.5 - and if it is 103 or more - we are definitely overheated. If we appear disoriented, if our gums turn bright red or purple, or if we collapse, we are in REAL trouble.  We should be moved to a cool location. And we can be cooled down with water - maybe a hose - but not at full pressure. We should be encouraged (but of course not forced!)  to drink a bit of water.  We dogs have sweat glands in our feet - so make sure our feet are uncovered - and exposed to cool air. You can wipe us down with a damp towel - but some sources say that draping us in a damp towel will actually trap heat in.   If you think we are suffering heatstroke - you should get us to a Vet ASAP.

So enjoy the great summer weather.   Enjoy being outdoors.  Enjoy a barbecue.  Enjoy having a hotdog.  Just don't become one!

Stay cool!

I don't heart grooming

So on the long weekend, when we were SUPPOSED to be having joyful, fun-filled days of walks, treats and games, we also had several hours of not-so-much-fun.  We were groomed.  I had been brushed during the week, but after my bunny hunt, my coat had the addition of some "accessories" that my human felt needed to be removed.  Sticks.  Mud.  Leaves.  I was hoping she would just consider them fashion statements.  But no such luck.

And poor Velcro dog had not been groomed in 6 months.  OK.  Maybe not THAT long.  But a few weeks.  So he had to undergo 12 hours of torture.  I'm sure it felt that long to him.  The only good thing about grooming - one gets copious amounts of treats.  You see in the photos the pre and post grooming photos. Personally, I like the wild and wooly look.

But if I think OUR grooming is bad - check out THESE dogs:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/multimedia/taiwanese-pet-stylist-sculpts-bizarre-teddy-bear-cuts-1.3644496If my human attempts this, I'm leaving.  She can do it to Velcro dog. 

Honestly, the whole grooming thing seems like such a futile effort.  Within 16.9 seconds after the groom-a-thon is over, we shake ourselves off, or roll in  the carpet so we no longer look all fluffy and perfect.  Better yet, let us outside, and we'll roll in the grass.  Let's face it, real WORKING sheepdogs don't smell all flowery and have clean feet.  Mind you, they also like to herd sheep...And they probably don't bother munching on the sheep poop like we do.  To each his own.

Well, it's another Tuesday.  I hope your day is happy and groom free.  Have a good one.

Oh say can you see...me chasing a bunny?

 Happy July 4 - Independence Day in the US!  My human is a US and Canadian citizen - so I think she should stay home from work today.  But no such luck. At very least we had better have apple pie for dessert today.

Yesterday we had a wonderful walk at 5:30 AM with Jackson and his human.  No sleeping in for MY human on a weekend.  And everything was going great.  I was on and off leash at various points in time, depending on whether there were any possible areas of "distraction" - like ducks or compost piles.  And juuuuuuuuust as we were in the home stretch and all was right with the world, what did I see - before the humans?  A bunny.  You could hear the "Oh nooooooooooooo" in unison- as they watched me disappear into the woods in hot pursuit.  Jackson's human exclaimed - "Man he is FAST."  And they could hear me barking like a beagle in the brush - and although they couldn't SEE me because of the think brush - they could also figure out my general vicinity by the sound of the bell on my collar.  Jackson's human kept shouting "treats...treats...."  My human on the other hand kept trying to head me off by taking another trail.  After 5 minutes of humans shouting, and me barking, juuuuuuust out of sight but within a distance of about 10 yards, I emerged from the brush.  Soaking wet because it had rained the night before.  And covered in tiny sticks and brush.  And this is always an interesting moment for humans.  While the urge to strangle is is definitely present, humans know that they can't punish us, because we will never come back when we are bad.  So, as expected, my human calmly put me back ON leash and we continued on our journey home.

Another peaceful Sunday morning.  Love to get human adrenaline going.  And I usually do!

Happy Independence day to all my US friends and family!  Have a star spangled day!

Record breaking

So.  A dog has broken a new Guinness World Record.  Not for the largest dog or the smallest dog or the oldest dog.  This one is really very unique.  This dog broke a record for breaking 100 balloons in the fastest time.  Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-_tqd7e_D8

 I looked into other records by dogs - a Briard holds the record for the Fastest 30 meters on a scooter.  Really.  A Newfoundland holds the record for the Fastest Time to Retrieve a person from the Water.  OBVIOUSLY I can't imagine doing that one - given my dislike of the water. There are dogs who hold records for walking on their front legs and on their hind legs. Again.  Not for me. There is a record for most treats balanced on the dog's nose.  Obviously THAT was not a PON.

In fact, no records HAVE been broken by a PON that I could find.  So it got me thinking, what record could I break?  I don't think I would be into the balloon thing - so I have to come up with something else.  Dog who chased the most wildlife in a 24 hr period?  Most trouble a dog can get in without really trying?  Dog who stares the longest at the door to the room where the retrieving toys are kept?

And Velcro dog?  Dog who can escape from any enclosure?  Dog who can balance longest in an attempt to get into the food bin - which obviously is NOT set at dog level?

I'll try and think about this more.  And if you have a suggestion, let me know.  But don't even THINK about the treats on the nose thing.  Treats are meant to be EATEN.  Anything else is foolishness if you ask me!

Have a happy Sunday!

Patios.

It's the time of year when humans like to go to restaurants - and sit outside on patios.  Now some restaurants are progressive - and they allow dogs on the patios.  It seems to depend on the city and the local ordinances.  My human thinks that Europe seems to be more liberal with this practice - and North America (in general) often falls behind.  Some cities seem to be more dog friendly than others.  If we dogs could vote, that would change things.

There are certainly some restaurants in Halifax where dogs are allowed on patios.  Velcro dog and I have YET to visit them.  Something about rowdiness - and staring at other patrons to beg for food would undoubtedly be frowned upon.  I'm thinking that why we haven't enjoyed a snack on a deck downtown...YET.

Yesterday my human took us for a good walk, then she and the Hulk went for a 50 km bike ride.  Which seems all healthy and fit.  But it's an illusion.  She comes home, sits on the deck and promptly falls asleep.  I decided to put an end to that by jumping on her while she was lying on the lawn chair.  That's the up close and personal shot you see. Did she honestly THINK she could nap on a day off?!  What is WRONG with her?  Of course we then got to play.  And have some snacks.  More like it.

She is off again today.  Maybe she'll take us to one of those patios.  Doubtful - but one never knows....

Have a good one!

Oh. Canada.

July 1.  It's Canada Day. A national holiday.  Which means all major businesses are closed, government offices are closed, there is no mail AND my human is OFF.  Thanks Canada.

During big holidays like this, lots of events are scheduled.  Parades.  Picnics.  Fairs.   And fireworks.  Which can be a scary thing for some dogs. Some people suggest wearing a Thundershirt if a dog is very fearful.  In the Italian town of Collecchio, they take the well-being of dogs very seriously - they instituted a law that fireworks must be silent. They say it is to reduce stress for all animals - so I think it's a brilliant idea.  Frodo and I have heard fireworks in the distance, and we didn't mind them - and we don't mind thunder - but we're lucky.  We're probably just used to the loud sounds of my human shouting at me when I run off.  Kind of like thunder.

Anyway, time to go and get my human moving on OUR day off.  I have so much planned for her!

Happy Canada Day!