Day 24, Monday, 4/2/12

Wowee! That was fun! It’s kinda hard getting enough exercise in our second-floor apartment, so Bob finally took the advice of Sue, the neighbor who likes me so much. He took me over to the basketball and tennis courts, which the humans here never use. Because the courts are fenced in, he was able to let me run off the leash to my heart’s content. I ran and ran and ran and ran and ran. Bob brought my new rope bone, but I wasn’t interested much in playing catch. I just wanted to run free.

When I was too exhausted to run anymore, Bob brushed me. I guess I shed quite a bit. Tony says that I produce about a gerbil a day. I’m not sure what that means, but all the humans seem to think it’s funny. In fact, they seem to think Tony is a really funny guy. Personally, I don’t get most of his jokes, but that’s OK. He doesn’t seem to get most of mine either.

Bob and Tony laughed at me last night. Ya see, sometimes I like to sit with my hiney on the couch and my two front legs on the floor. I don’t know why they think that’s funny, but they do. Bob even took pictures. He takes lots of pictures of me. I wish he’d let me have the camera so I could take pictures to show all my friends how silly he can be sometimes.
Well, I guess I showed Bob who’s boss around here. He went to the gym and left me locked up in the kennel, but I managed to get out. How? you ask. Well, I’m not about to give away all my secrets.

Day 25, Tuesday, 4/3/12

Well, this is the day that the humans call Tuesday, which is the day after Monday, which means that we had another training session last night. Tony wasn’t feeling so great, so I told him he could stay home. Bob is the one who really needs the training anyway. He did pretty well on greeting other dogs. I also led him around the store where Naomi, the trainer, had left pieces of treats. I was supposed to walk right over them and not gobble them up when Bob said “leave it.” Most of the time, I complied, but once or twice I must admit that I snatched up a morsel. Bob was also supposed to get me to come when he called me, but there was something about that store that I just didn’t like. Even though I’ve always come when he called me at home, I just wasn’t ready to do that in the store. Oh, well, Bob will figure it out sooner or later, I guess.
Bob has been telling people how amazed he is at how quickly I pick up on things. He even suggested that maybe I’ve been through this training before and am just recalling what I had previously learned. Frankly, I think he’s just jealous that I’m smarter than he is.

I went back to PetSmart today; they had doggie beds for half price. I thought Bob should have gotten two of them, but I guess one was enough. I got my vest back too. Aunt Laura sewed the straps back on for me after I chewed them off. She even sewed a pocket on the side so I can carry my important papers—you know, passport, visas, etc. Bob soaked the vest in bitter apple so I won’t be tempted to chew it off again. We’ll see.

I got to run around the courts at the apartments again today. I really enjoy that. It’s too bad Bob doesn’t exercise with me. He could stand to lose a few pounds.

Day 26, Wednesday, 4/4/12

When Bob took me to the volleyball court today to run, I dug in the sand a lot. Every time he told me to stop, I did, but then I went right back to digging. Later, when he was brushing me, I heard him remark under his breath that all the clouds in the sky must be made up of all the hair he brushed off me. I guess that’s two more things I’ll have to teach him: the importance of digging and the science of meteorology.

On the way back to the apartment, we met two other dogs, a basset hound and a basset/cocker spaniel mix. They were very playful, and we had a good time with each other. I don’t know about Bob, though. He sure gushes over me a lot. I mean, I know I deserve it, but sometimes he just goes overboard. I feel a little embarrassed for him.

Day 27, Thursday, 4/5/12

I went back to the vet today. When I was running around the courts yesterday, I hurt my leg. I don’t know if I stepped on a burr or twisted an ankle, but I thought it best to check it out. The vet decided to give me an anti-inflammatory to try for a couple of weeks. I’m glad because if he has to take X-rays, that could get pretty expensive, and I’d rather have Tony and Bob spend that money on treats for me.

And speaking of treats, I absolutely love the elk antler that Tony ordered online for me. I can spend hours chewing on it.

Bob spent a good part of the day working on his music. I like to sing along. He’s got some nifty videos on www.YouTube.com/IngramMusic, and one of them, “Betchya Can’t,” even features some of my furry little friends.

Day 28, Friday, 4/6/12

Bob refused to take me to the courts today to play—he said I needed to rest my leg—but I showed him. I compensated by running in circles around the coffee table in the living room. He tried to stop me, but I would not be deterred. Like they say, “It hard to keep ‘em down on the farm when they’ve seen the big city.”

Bob went out for a bit today and left me home alone again. I don’t really like it when he leaves me alone, but I behaved myself anyway. I wonder if he behaved while he was out. Hmmm….

Day 29, Saturday, 4/7/12

I look forward to the weekends because I get to spend more time with Tony. Unfortunately, he had to work this morning, so I didn’t get to see him as much as I wanted. Ya think maybe I should have a talk with his boss?

Day 30, Sunday, 4/8/12

Not fair! Tony and Bob went to my buddy Victor’s Easter party today and left me behind. They said there would be too many people there. Phooey! Fortunately, Victor’s dad took him for a walk later in the day, and I got to tag along.

Day 31, Monday, 4/9/12

Yippee! Class tonight. I get to show off again.

Oh, by the way, my leg is much better now. I don’t know if it’s the medicine or just the passage of time, but I’m back to my old/young self again.

Day 32, Tuesday, 4/10/12

Well, class last night was a mixed bag. Tony and Bob did all right in getting me to stay while sitting or lying down, but I don’t get this whole “shake hands” thing. What’s that about? And when Tony called me, I went right to him, but when Bob called me, I flew right past him and found myself a playmate in the store. Tony and Bob weren’t too happy about that, so I guess I’ll have to keep working on it. Next week is graduation from the beginning class.

Bob finally got a haircut today. Thank goodness! He was starting to look like an English sheepdog. I was embarrassed to be seen in public with him.
Tony and Bob took me to my friend Cassie’s apartment tonight. They had dinner with their neighbor Sue, and I was expecting to have a play date with Cassie, but apparently she did something she wasn’t supposed to do, and Sue kept her away in the bedroom all night. Darn! Maybe next time.

Day 33, Wednesday, 4/11/12

I like the fact that Tony works so close to our apartment because that means he gets to come home for lunch. Sometimes—like today—I get very excited to see him and tinkle on the floor. Today, he coaxed me out onto the landing so that I wouldn’t tinkle in the house, and I took advantage of the opportunity to run down the stairs. I didn’t go far, though, and came back when he called me.

My leg is all better now, so after lunch, Bob took me to the courts to run. I didn’t run as much as I did before, but that’s because it was kinda warm today. I’ll have to teach Bob to take me early in the mornings when it’s cooler.

After neglecting my coat for several days, Bob finally brushed me today. I guess this is what Tony would call a 3-gerbil day (see Day Twenty-Four, 4/2/12). Bob said it was more like there was a gerbil convention in town. I really don’t understand what it is with these guys and their gerbils. Jeez!