Cats! (enough said)

So I ask myself, why do cats exist and better yet, why are there so many in this house. As far as I have seen, they do absolutely nothing but lie around all day and sleep. I on the the other hand, spend the day at the window watching for mom to come home, worrying about where she might be, why she hasn't called, when we are going to the dark park.

Mom moved a box the other day and the orange cat started going crazy, I mean, weird crazy. The next think I know, there is a bunch of green leafy stuff all over the cleanly vacuumed floor and the cats are rolling around in it. Stupid cats. I'm sure they must be doing something illegal.

I'm not sure what that stuff, but now I'm having to protect my big pillow bed with all my toys. They are going near my pull rope, and my rawhide ball, and my duck and squirrel toys (ok, those were theirs originally, but they NEVER played with them). Their eyes are dialated and they just keep flopping around on the floor, and then they zoom through the house. They are just annoying.

I must say though, they do have some tasty food, and when mom isn't looking, I like to mow down on the orange kibble until I hear someone yell at me to stop. Mom says that's why my poop is orange. Guess I don't care, I'm not the one cleaning it up.

It's been so hot out, that mom has water dishes everywhere. The trouble is, I can't find one without cat spit in it.

The worst part is when they band together and make a living road block so I can't get through the hallway. They like to do it when mom goes into the bedroom. If I'm not right on her heels, they will really fast run in between and lay down all the way across the hallway. And then, they will just STARE at me. Mom doens't know why I don't just jump over them, but she doesn't understand. They have the capability of flicking just one claw up and slicing me down the middle like a roast pig. Nobody likes a bleeding Corgi. So I wait at a safe distance and whimper and growl a little and finally mom will come out in the hall and scold the cats (they should be lashed a thousand times if you ask me), and then she steps in between them and me and I get to prance through. Prancing establishes that I won the battle.

I guess the second worst part is when the orange cat sits in moms lap. Well, he doens't sit, he's so freaking huge that he lays on her chest and his legs extend down to her knees. So I got no room. We sometimes catch each others eye when mom sits down (which is rarely) and then we race to the couch and who ever gets up first, gets mom. But the cat doens't play farely because I like to curl up on her lap, he will crawl all the way up on her chest, just under her neck and make himself fit. Then she has both of us on her. I'm not giving up my spot though. Oh he'd like that wouldn't he.

Anyway, the whole point of this diary entry is to vent my discontent with the cats that live in this house. They are passive agressive, lazy, they won't leave my stuff alone, and they smell funny.

Unfortunately, the cats seem to make mom happy and well, a happy mom is a good thing. So I'll just play their stupid cat games.

Koopa

Dog Day Afternoon

Went to the dogpark this afternoon, normal time, normal dogs.
There was a new dog there, big beautiful german shepard (that's how my mom describes him, not me).
Well, we sniffed and circled a couple of times, separated, I pooped off in the distance....
But then I headed back over to the dog pack when mom was cleaning up my mess and as she started walking back over, that's when she saw the problem start.

Now, I'm not saying it was all my fault, after all, I have just as much right to be there as he did, but it just all started and I wasn't going to back down just cause he was bigger than me. It all happened so fast, I heard barking, I saw teeth ( I think they might have been mine), anyway, I can hear mom yelling my name and there is this big guy there (one of the regulars) and he's pulling the German Shepard off of me, and well, then it was over. Mom got to me just seconds later. I don't know what the fuss was about, I wasn't about to back down, not in front of all of my new friends.

So then the German Shepard left the park and mom let me go play again and then there was another incident (not me this time), and then there was ANOTHER incident where picnic almost got beat up (some dogs don't have a sense of humor). Oh, and one dog got injured, a little jack russell terrier. we were all running and I didn't see him and well, I clipped him in the hip and he started limping. Mom felt really bad. But after the incident with picnic, mom decided it was time to go home.

It was weird, it was kinda like something in the air was making everyone on edge. Mom took me home because I jumped up on someone who had picked up his dog after he started rolling my friend picnic. It's just something I do, I don't know why, but I did the same thing when that little girl got hurt andher mom picked her up. Mom wishes she knew why I do that.

Anyway, it was a Dog Day Afternoon, hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

Koopa

Picnic in the Park

So I finally got to go to the dog park. Mom was a little worried about how I would act, after all, I get a little frothy at the mouth when I'm on a leash and another dog tries to walk away from me.

My pup pal Picnic told me he likes to go to this one dog park and what time he would be there so I decided it would be a great idea to meet him there. Mom thinks it was her idea, but she doesn't understand the strength of my vulcan mind powers.

So we go to the park the first time and we see down at the bottom of the hill next to the swimming pool, some really big dogs playing around off leash. Mom is not that brave even though I wanna go down there, and we head up to a smaller area just at the top of the pathway. As mom is reading the dog park sign and getting to know all the rules (mom is big on following rules), another corgi and his mom and dad come walking up the pathway. It's PICNIC!

Picnic is super cool. He made me feel at home right away. Mom let down all her guards and even took off my leash which allowed me to do my sniff thing that we dogs must do. Then it was off and running. Picnic can move! I'm a little out of breath after the first few circles but he is still going strong.

Remember those bigger dogs I told you about? Well Picnic knows them and he took me down to introduce me to all of them. Wow, what a great group of dogs. We all did the sniff thing and then, it was a free for all, there was running and jumping everywhere. Dogs chasing tennis balls (not my thing), dogs chasing dogs (a little more exercise than I'm wanting), dogs niffing dogs (ok - that's more my style).

Picnic is a riot becuase he likes to play in the mud and he likes to run right through the middle so he gets all muddy, but can't be blamed for "playing" in the mud. I'm not used to getting dirty so I'm refraining from the mud bath at this time. I'm not saying I won't try it soon, but for right now, I think I'll stick to the cleaner water puddle in the pathway.

I'm really excited to have someplace to go in the evenings with mom so even if she's gone all day, I still get to go do something with her later. I'm glad Picnic shared this play area with me. He's a good friend, you would like him.

Koopa

Photophobia (and other baggage)

I can't help it. Everytime she picks up that camera, I get the eebiejeebies and run for cover. You know, in some countries, it's considered stealing your soul if you take a picture (without paying them first of course).

Mom thinks she can sneak a camera in but even if I'm sleeping, I can hear it turn on, then I hear it focus , and then, I run.

Another thing I hate is being left alone. I know, I know, they say they will always come back, but that isn't the point. The point is, I didn't get to go and I''ve got nothing to do but look at stupid chew toys and watch the E channel. How many times do I need to see that teeny weeny taco dog that Paris Hilton keeps trotting around with. Really annoying. Cause duh- that dog is out and about and where am I? Sitting at home! Doesn't matter that I'm not alone, doesn't matter that there are other people in the house, What matters is that SHE LEFT ME HERE!

Boy did I give her the cold shoulder when she got home! I followed her into the bathroom as I usually do, but I only sat with my back to her. Then, when I jumped up one the bed while she was doing something, I simply looked straight ahead and woulddon't look at her. Then, while she was sitting at the computer, I decided I would give her something to think about and I chewed the plastic snap part of my new $18 harness. Yea, I'll show her.....I sure let her know how I felt and I bet she doesn't do that again anytime soon!

"What do you mean I can't go because I don't have a harness"?????? I was astounded. After everything I put her through last night and now she is walking out the door and making up some excuse about the harness being destroyed and I can't go with her to get a new one. So fine, go without me, see what good it does you!

"Halti? What the heck is a Halti...hey wait, get that nose muzzle thing off me. Help, anyone, Help, I'm being killed, animal abuse" I scream. I hear the snap of the plastic clip and it's attached. OMG this is KILLING ME! Get it off, get it off....I slam out the front door and begin diligently working my paws to get this monstrosity off of my beautiful face. I look like Hanibal Lector when they put that mask on him to keep him from chewing other peoples faces off (that didn't work as I remember)......ok, raking my nose across the ground...almost....it's off - YEA!, the stupid thing is still wrapped around my neck but at least I don't have this muzzle crap on....

Mom puts it back on and I take it back off. It will take awhile, but I'll have her trained to keep it off soon enough....

Day 2 of the Halti - She's putting it on again....deep sigh. Guess she didn't learn from yesterday. We go to Petsmart again....I just hate the way this stupid thing keeps pulling my head around everytime I go to do something. I showed my discontent by peeing on one of the poles next to the register. But then, we go back into the leash section and mom picks me out a nice blue inexpensive harness. She tries it on me and whala! I've got a new harness and that Halti thing has been taken off. One day, when she's not looking, I'll find it and destroy the evil thing. Mom got me a cool new chain to wear too and I now have identification tags to proudly display in case I get lost.

Ok, it was probably a bad idea to chew on my harness....peeing on the post at petsmart wasn't my best display either....I'll spend the evening looking cute and all will be forgiven. After all, she loves me more than she knows.

I'm good with Kids

So this little 3 year old girl comes over to play yesterday and as soon as she walked into my yard I was on her like glue! Safety people, safety, must make sure she doens't go into the dirt over over by the fence next to the road.....that's right, herd her towards the backyard and the play structure. She'll be safe there, right?

Ok, didn't consider the 3 levels and climbing ladders, ok well, stay right next to her so when she goes up a level, I go up a level, she goes down, I go down, she wanders through the grass aimlessly, I stay right at her side and guide her away from anything that could be bad (especially those cats).

Then her mom thinks what we are doing is cute and has to pick up the camera. Ok ladies, do you have to take a picture of EVERYTHING? So after she snaps our pic, I give her what for, while I'm standing on the second level of the play structure barking out obsenities (that only I can understand)...who does she think she is anyway....

So then the cute little girl starts to get tired and she jumps down but unfortunately, she jump down just as I'm moving towards her and we bonk heads. OUCH. But I didn't say anything. But the little girl started to cry and I was going to jump up and lick her and tell her it was ok, but then her mom had to go and pick her up and I thought that was totally uncalled for so I start barking "put her down, put her down this second" and I even tried to jump up on her to make her put the little girl down, but I only got to do that a couple of times before my mom pushed me into the house and slid the door shut so I could only see out the glass...."How am I supposed to help if I'm trapped in here" I howled. Nobody listened...

So I run over to the side of the bed where mom has thrown all her clean clothes up on top of the hope chest next to her window (cause she is too lazy to put them in drawers or hang them on hangers properly) and I jump up there and just as I do, dad comes walking through the bedroom door and demands I get down off of there....BUT HE DOES'T KNOW ABOUT THE LITTLE GIRL!....I'm furious.

Ok, so I get called into the front room and let out the front door and I go screeching through the front yard to get to the back yard to save the cute little girl from her mothers arms....and they are gone! Where did they go?

Was that them in that car that was leaving as I was rushing to be a hero????

Mom says they are coming back next Friday. I can't wait.

Cow Tippin'

Well, ok, I haven't really tipped one yet, but I seriously think I might like this herding thing.

Mom and Dad belong to this horse riding club and while I'm not hot on the horse thing (they seem a little to full of themselves), I kinda like the couple of days a week when we get to go out and make the cow run.

First we have to go get the horses, which takes about 30 minutes more than it should because moms horse won't get in the trailer like he's supposed too....I say let me give him a few nudges...

Then we head off to the place where they chase the cows. It's a huge grassy area where the cows are always just laying around doing nothing....except when I get in there...I think they see me coming though because even though the grass is taller than I am, I have to jump around to get over it and I think they see me then...anyway, they all start standing up, slow at first, but then they see I mean business (cause I bark at them) and everyone starts getting to their feet a little faster and they start moving towards the other end of the pasture.

Thats when I begin to give the real chase!

Man can those cows move. But watch out, they can kick too! One tried to kick me but I was ready for him and moved out of the way in the blink of an eye. Silly cow, thinking he can take me down....just made me bark at him more.

I'm still not allowed to chase them off leash, something about chasing them all over the place and having cows running amuk...Like DUH! - whatever, I know what I'm doing.

I'm pretty tuckered out once we get the cows into the big pen so that is usually my chance to lay back in the cool grass and take a little breather. Chasing cows is hard work , they aren't that bright.

So after a short break, we usually have to move half the cows up through a chute and thats when mom takes me off the leash and lets me chase on my own. I think the object is to keep them moving but when I get in front of them and bark, they just stop and try to go backwards....what's up with that. Oh well, maybe I just need more practice.

Between chasing the cows and resting, I spend a little extra time trying to figure out what the heck that four legged thing is next door. It's got a long neck, big eyes and a hump on his back . It follows me down the fence line when I chase the cows and I'm pretty sure he's chewing on a wad of something in anticipation of spitting at me. He hasn't made any noise yet so I'm not sure what he is, but mom said something about a Llama. All I know is that he smells funny.

There was this really cool thing happening in town the weekend my new family got me. It was a place where you could go to see what kind of herding instincts you had and I know I would have done really good. mom is keeping her eyes open for another one. I think she likes it when I chase the cows.

Koopa

A new home

Well, it all happened a few weeks ago. Life was getting pretty precarious at my house. My owner had to move and something about she couldn't take me with her. I should have known something was up when they unassembled my kennel, scooped up a bunch of my kibble in a plastic grocery bag, and threw boo-boo into the car. What did I care, I was getting to go in the car!

So I'm walking around the pet store (cause it's one of those cool places where they let people bring in their pets), and this lady comes up, and then next thing I know, my kennel, my kibble, and my boo-b00 are being chucked into her car. She takes my leash and she helps me into her car. FRONT SEAT no less!

I know I should be scared, I should be hesitant, I should be wondering what the heck is going on, but something about this person makes me feel really ok about the whole thing. She likes to talk to me, I like that. So when I look at her eyes and give her a little "ruff", she talk back to me - COOL!

Well, the drive is really short, I'm not kidding, not even enough time to get tongue spit all over the window. We pull in and the car stops. So I look at her and she looks at me and she opens the door and MY NEW LIVE BEGINS!

Wow! The smells, smells everywhere, dogs, squirrels, birds, cats - wait a minute - CATS? and then I see them!

They are EVERYWHERE! and they are eyeballing me like I'm the anti-christ.

On top of a red brick fence pillar sits a smallish pure white. Over there, in the middle of the weeds, I can see a medium sized grey striped. And sitting on the porch is a sophisticated black and white and a very large orange striped - are cats allowed to be that big?

Ok, no problem, I've seen cats before, I used to live with one. No biggy, I'll simply walk up, introduce myself, and we'll be good to go!

Maybe I was a bit naive? Did you know cats can grow triple their size when they hiss?

So the lady tells the cats they have to move out of the way and I'm allowed to enter my new home.

Wow, this place needs to be cleaned. But it's simple, feels safe, soft carpets, soft couches, I think I'll give it a go.

Getting used to things

Life has really changed. The first night here, I was kinda scared cause while I'm used to sleeping in my kennel everynight, I wasn't used to being in a room alone with my kennel and there were other dogs barking outside and I could feel those cats nosing around the outside of my kennel (I had my blanket over the top so they couldn't see me, but still, cats can be annoying and they smell funny).

Anyway, I howled most of the night. Figure by the way the family looked at me the next morning I might have kept most of them awake.

So the next night, they moved my kennel into the big bedroom and I liked that much better. My new owners were sleeping in there with me (well, they slept on the bed, not in the kennel) and I felt a little safer (plus those cats weren't in there slinking around in the dark).

Then you are never going to guess what happened the next night! I not only got to sleep outside the kennel, but I got to SLEEP ON THEIR BED!

Now I know what some people are thinking...he shouldn't be allowed to sleep on the furniture....well, all I can say is....GLAD I'M NOT YOUR DOG!....yea, this is the life.

So now, everynight, the ritual is...
1. Eat kibble
2. Step out the front door to make sure I'm the last dog to pee on the tree.
3. Down the hall to the bedroom (make sure the cats are not following).
4. Monitor all human bathroom activity.
5. Jump up on the bed (dang pillowtops make it a little difficult).
6. Do the snuggle gruff thing with the owners (extra snuggles with mom).
7. Once everyone is tucked in, jump back down and find my place on the floor next to moms side of the bed.
8. Give deep sigh so everyone can hear me.
9. Major puppy dreams.

Koopa