Snow day!

Hi everyone!

Boy, it's really been awhile since I've been able to get the computer to myself! Today, my mom woke me up from a nap in my favorite chair to go play in the snow. Yipee! But first, I had to sit in her lap like a big baby and get my boots on and my "Woof!" hoodie. Now, lotsa people laugh about dogs in boots, but I gotta tell you, you really need them in NYC. There's lots of nasty salt and de-icer tossed on the sidewalks in front of big buildings. And that can crack our poor paws. The de-icer is even worse, because it heats up to melt the ice and that burns my paws - and then when I lick my paws to cool them off, it gets into my stomach and I get a bad tummyache. Not good. There is salt/de-icer that is pet and children-friendly. If your people need to use it, ask them to get this kind. (You can find it online.)

Okay, so once I had all my silly clothes on, we went over to the playground and I got to run, run, run after my favorite green rubber ball. There were some kids playing there and they'd throw the ball for me, too. This was the first real snow we've had all winter and it was so much fun. It's still snowing now, so I'm taking a big nap in my favorite chair so I'll be ready to go out later with my pal Bear.

Snowballs to all my pals!

Your pal,

Petey

Soggy doggy!

I'm back from a week at the beach, visiting Grandma. Our plane was delayed for 3 hours but everyone was very immpressed with my good behavior, as I was in my case for seven hours! Mom whined more than I did.

I got to run off leash on the beach every morning - chasing my favorite blue rubber ball (and a few seagulls). I'd run and run and then plop down in the ocean to cool off. Mom tried to take me past the breakers to swim which I really didn't like. I'm a wader (though I think I may be part Labrador Retriever too!)

Now I'm back to pavement and dipping into kiddie pools! Oh well - now what's this I hear about "dog days?"

Hey! I'm 3 now! I had a birthday yesterday.

So in dog years, I'm really 21 - old enough to drink! My mom told people that I wanted a stripper for my birthday, but frankly, I'd settle for a barrel of tennis balls to peel like bananas.

I did get a present from our friend Nishi the pug - a furry pink high-heeled shoe with a brand name of "Bark Jacobs!" (I have two "Jimmy Chews" - I think I'll soon have as many fancy shoes as my mom!)

Snow over my head!

Hi everyone!

Today we had record-breaking snow here in NYC! 26.9" to be exact. The first time we went out this morning, it hadn't been plowed or shoveled, and since it was light and powdery, I felt like I was swimming in it! I pulled my mom to the playground and immediately started burying my head in the snow, I just knew there had to be a tennis ball in there somewhere. When I'd pull my head out, my mom would laugh because all she could see were my eyes and nose. I looked like a snowdog. I made a new friend, a Jack Russell named Jack, whose dads' had brought a tennis ball! It was like we were running through mazes, trying to find it. I usually am the first one there, but not today. When I finally had so many snowballs attached to my chest, legs, and muzzle that I looked like the Sta-Puf Marshmellow man, Mom took me home and dropped me into a hot bath to thaw me out! At least I didn't get a shampoo!

Later in the day, we went out again - this time, she made me wear my sweater with sleeves and elbow patches AND my raincoat, but at least I didn't get covered in snowballs. The snow was packed down a lot more and there were pathways between the drifts, which were now really high because it had been shoveled or plowed. I had to scramble over hills twice as tall as me just to cross the street! We played ball again at the playground, then I ran into my pal Moose. He's a black lab from Georgia and it was his first snow! He had on a yellow cape and his Muttluks and looked like a superhero, while I looked like his loyal sidekick in my yellow raincoat. People on the street would laugh and take our pictures! I can't wait for my last walk of the day - then it's going to get too salty and dirty and icy to be much fun. But boy, did I have a great time today!

City dog in the Country!

Boy did I ever have fun yesterday! My mom signed me up for a Canine Country Day with Blue Sky Dogs. (If you live in the New York area, check it out at www.blueskydogsny.com) I was picked up at 8:30 in the morning and got to ride in an SUV with 4 other lucky dogs as we drove an hour outside of Manhattan. I got to wear a really tough looking harness and everything! Then we hiked through a park with lots of trees, rocks, streams, logs, and a big lake. There were two golden retrievers that I tagged along with, though sometimes they'd head back and I'd be so busy sniffing something irrestible that I got left behind. So sometimes I had to go on a leash, but mostly I got to run around and have fun. I even got some snacks, but it was most exciting to just be outside all day long. When I got home, I was so tired I went to sleep at 7:30 p.m. and didn't wake up until my Mom made me at 9:30 am! I've been napping most of the day, which for some reason, makes my Mom very happy. I can't wait to go again.

Trick or Treat - Part 1

Beautiful day here so I got tied into my Halloween costume so we could go out trick or treating! The doorman very politely averted his eyes when I came into the lobby dressed as a scary devil. (He laughed when I first wore my muttluks - to prevent my paws from cracking from the salt on the sidewalk in the snow - and I was so embarrassed, I hid under the bed for an hour!) I got a nice piece of juicy turkey from my pal at the deli and some focaccio from my best friend the maitre d' of the Italian restaurant around the corner. Saw lots of kids in costumes who somehow thought the scary devil was "cute" and my fiery horns made them want to pat my head. Every now and then I'd have to shake my head and the horns would spin around. I wasn't too crazy about them, until Mom said that without them, I just looked like Little Red Riding Hood! Saw a French Bulldog dressed as a bumblebee and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dressed as Superman. The three of us agreed that if we could only talk, we'd have our parents on Dr. Phil!

My pal Otis the poodle is moving away!

Way to ruin a good walk on a cool day! We stopped by one of the shops in the area to visit my friend Otis. He's a very handsome miniature French poodle with curly black hair (I think he's made out of chenille pipecleaners) who always has some fun toys to play with when I visit. He likes to put my leash in his mouth and pull me around the store. Sometimes I pull fast and it looks like he's waterskiing behind me. Well, we'd no sooner excavated the squeaky yellow ball from behind a pile of boxes when I overheard Otis' mom tell my mom that they're moving next month -- we only have 12 more days to play together. I was so distressed I came home took a nap in my crate. I'm bummed.....

Only 4 more days until Halloween!

I love it. I know every store in the Village that hands out dog treats. Wait until they see the Devil Dog standing in their doorway - they'll be handing over ALL the snausages and liversnaps. Last year I was a pirate in my sweater with the skull and crossbones on it. The year before, my mom put me in the same sweater, but with a faux diamond necklace instead of my collar and I was a gangsta rapper!

Woof, woof, wooooo!

Petey