Guilty Dog Owner!

Guilty Dog Owner!

My dog, Chai, is an expert at making me feel guilty. She has facial expressions and puppy eyes that say, "If you loved me you would...[give me a bite of your grilled cheese sandwich]...[let me stay outside for a little longer]...[stop what you're doing and play with me]..."

I wonder if Chai actually knows she is manipulating me or if it's just her canine instinct and facial reaction to her woof-centered moods and wants.

Of course, as a guilty dog owner, I proceed to unwrap myself from her pinkly toe (finger?) and giver her what she wants. At this point I have to apologize to all of the dog trainers and people who think a dog should be perfectly trained into absolute obedience with manners befitting a tea party with the Queen.

I think Chai's manipulative manners are quite cute and they giver her and even more childlike stature. Now, if she wasn't in good health and a bite of the grilled cheese would harm her I would absolutely substitute the treat for a more healthy alternative. But, for now, she is happy, mannered to my liking, and in great health; so, Queen Elizabeth, we'll have to pass on the tea party unless you will give Chai a crumpet. You know what, come to think of it, it sounds a bit stuffy for me, too.

What are your thoughts on the manipulative nature of dogs?


Tom Berger
Co-Owner
Pretentious Pooch
Baltimore Maryland Dog Boutique
1017 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-7777
www.pretentiouspooch.com

Changing Me

This week I went to the Falls Road Animal Hospital. I’m not sure what happened in there but when I was finished my belly hurt a little bit and I have a weird cut down the middle. I don’t feel any different but I know something has changed.

I had to spend a night at the hospital. Everyone was very nice and I was a little tired, but staying in a crate all day wasn’t very fun. I was so glad to see my Daddies when they came to pick me up that I peed on the floor.

I found a new source of food. If no one is looking I can sneak up to the third floor and eat all the kitties’ food. It’s not as good as mine but I fill up anyway. But it has its consequences. When my Daddies find out I’ve been scavaging up there I get a mad look, a shake of the finger, loud voice, and sometimes get put in my crate—without a treat!

I found a new outside. In the back of the house is an outside made of wood. There are a lot of good smells out there and some good eats, too. I like getting after leaves and plants but I get in trouble when I do. It’s fun to get outside though. I like the running water, but it scares me a little.

It’s been rainy so I have been wearing my rain coat. I like wearing clothing because I get lots of attention from strangers. My Daddies took me to the park in my raincoat and took some photos of me. I had fun just walking.

Plop-Plop Fizz-Fizz

On Friday, I went to the puppy park where I was let off my leash for a little while to play freely with the other pups. Most of the other dogs were real nice, but one dog got a little rough and bit me. On Saturday, I went to the closer park and played with my flying squirrel. There weren’t very many puppies around. I played with one small dog and it got nasty and bit me.

I got sick in the night; really bad. I went all over my crate and had to lay in it until I could bark loud enough to wake my Daddies. I couldn’t help it. I had to get an emergency bath and I had to go out every 15 minutes. My Daddies stayed up with me through the night and that made me feel a lot better.

Sunday, I threw up my breakfast, which was just some rice and an egg. So, my Daddy took me to the doctor where I got fluids under my skin and some tests. Everything is fine now—I have special food and a little pill I take each day. While at the doctor, I got weighed. I know weigh 46lbs.

I feel better now, thanks to my Daddies.

Busy as a bee

It was a busy weekend. On Saturday, my Grammy came to visit. She brought me treats and toys – I love ‘er! We went to two puppy stores and where I got a new rain coat, a new fruffy collar, a treat, and a bunch of other things. My Daddies made me wear my Doggles to the first store and I HATE wearing them. I cried when Grammy left; I can’t wait for her to come back.

On Sunday, we went to a new park next to a lot of water. I played with my new flying squirrel, ball, and a delicious stick. I was very tired when we got home; I slept and relaxed the rest of the night.

Today it was back to work. I wanted to go outside so I rang my bell a bunch of times. Each time I rang it though, my Daddy only took me out to the grass for a minute and then I had to go back in—no playing was allowed.

I like having a toy in the car. Grammy bought me a pig that I keep in there. It makes riding in the car a little more fun; but, sometimes I drop it where I can’t reach it.

Bark = Potty

I had to pee real bad on Sunday so I barked one loud WOOF downstairs and Daddy came down and took me out. That worked well; I’ll try it again next time since I got a treat. At work, I have a jingle bell I ring when I want to go out but at home it seems I’m suppose to bark once.

SPCA Dog Walk

On Saturday I walked in the Maryland SPCA dog walk. I never saw so many dogs in one place before. I wore my pink frilly color and everyone loved me and wanted my picture. I met another American Bulldog about my size and after sniffing him up a bit I realized he was my brother. His owner called him Tank. We locked arms and bit a little like when we were just little pups. I was glad to see he got a good home, too.

The walk was OK – I had to wear my leader, though. At the end I got ice cream. It was very fun to see other dogs, but it was also very cold and windy so I was ready to go home. I got a bandanna to wear because of my pledges. Thanks you Grammy, Kelly, the Dowds, and Daddies for sponsoring me.

I can’t wait to go and see Tank again next year.

Park time

On Friday I went to Patterson Park. It was a gigantic park with lots of room to run and play. I met two other American Bulldogs who liked to play, too. I also met a chocolate lab named Molly who really liked to play with me. We jumped, rolled in the grass, bit each other’s ears, and pinned each other to the ground.

Then we walked down by a pond and across a weird wooden walkway with no sides. I tried to sniff the water but it was just out of reach. Then I went out on a rock to get a drink and I fell in! It was very cold, so I tried to pull myself back up on the rock but I couldn’t. After a few tries my Daddy lifted me back to dry land.

Next we went to an area where a bunch of dogs ran free—off their leash. They were much bigger than me but after a little shyness I ran with the big dogs. Then it was home where I collapsed with exhaustion from all the play.

Rinse and Repeat

It’s been an exciting few weeks. First I got company—sleep over company. Kelly came to see me and I loved it. I remember her from when I first came to my home. She is delicious to lick. She played with me and we went on walks and made it real fun. She brought me a fire hose chew toy that is fun (I love new textures). I was sad for a day after she left.

Grammy came to visit, too. Everyone brings me presents and I enjoy every one of them.

Before anyone came, my Daddies took me to the Yuppy Puppy Pet Boutique and I got a frilly pink collar and pink sunglasses. They also bought me a new color and matching leash because I’m getting so big. I got a leash with pigs on it because my Daddies say sometimes I snort.

After all of the action died down my Daddies realized that I had a cold; a cough to be specific. They though I may have asthma after going to the isolation ward at the puppy doctors’ I found out I just had kennel cough (even though I was vaccinated). Antibiotics quickly got rid of the cough and I feel better now.

On Sunday I got a bunny and carrot toy. The bunny is just soft and chewy but the carrot has crinkly paper in it and a rattle.

Daddy Chris broke my chair; so, for one night, I couldn’t lay with Daddy Tom. But, they came home late one night and had a new one. All is well again in puppydom.

Today Daddy Tom was on the phone talking about something called ‘spaying’. I’m not sure what that is, but I think it has something to do with me.

Otherwise, I’m getting into a routine: up, potty, and eat; back to sleep; go to work (sleep in the car); potty again; play; sleep; play; go home; eat; play; potty; sleep; rinse; repeat. Life is hard.

CATCH my latest

It was not a puppy weekend. My daddies worked in the house and I had to stay in my crate. Every once in a while they let me out and played a bit but my weekend was pretty boring.

I learned a new trick, though—CATCH! It’s easy. All I have to do is catch treats in my mouth. I like this trick: I don’t have to exert too much and I get fed—good deal!

Two nights ago I was frantically trying to get treats out of my busy ball. (Did I mention that I love to eat?) One got stuck in my throat. I started hacking, but it wouldn’t budge. I walked around and my daddies got worried. Then, daddy jumped up and put his finger in my throat and finally I got it out. That was scary. I better watch slow down and eat carefully.

Stairs and Stares

Ok, so I was walking up the steps at work today, not watching what I was doing, and suddenly I stepped off the end of the middle step and found myself hanging by my leash. My Daddy quickly dropped the leash and I fell to the ground. I hurt a bit but I didn’t yelp. I sucked it up and walked it off – I’m a tough dawg!

I also made the big time today: front page of DOGSTER! Who’s the Dog? I’m the Dog!

I’m a little dirty right now. My Daddy put a leader on my head and I rub by head on the ground to get it off. I’m trying to keep my head turned so no one notices. If my Daddy finds out I’m dirty he will make me get in the shower.

Getting a shower isn’t that bad, though. I like the warm water. I get real excited afterwards and rip all around the house.

My Daddies have been watching a lot of dog shows lately and now I don’t have to ware that stinkin’ leader anymore. Some guy on TV said that I’m not learning anything by wearing it; I agree.

My Daddy laughed at me today – out loud. We were on the floor playing and he said, “Are you hungry?” I immediately stopped playing and looked at him out of the corner of my eye and held the side stare. He started laughing at me; I don’t know why. If it makes him happy, I’ll do it again.