My Wonderful Walk

My mommie took all of us for a walk today. I was so excited! New walking places are the bestest!

Mom took her friend some food because her friend has bronchitus. He husband answered the door and took the food inside. We had to wait in the car while she went to the grocery store and then to drop off the food. And then the best surprise walk.

We walked for about 2 1/2 miles. I wanted to run in the field but it wasn't safe for me. We walked on the sidewalks surrounding this great new place. When my mom looked behind us towards the end of the last round, she saw some kind of a critter. It was a dark critter and she thought that it was either an enormous skunk or a badger. It was so fun.

I clearly wanted to cross the street and walk on the other side. Mom picked me up so that I could get a good look at the sheep in the field. I was looking in the wrong direction and didn't see them. Andy cried because he wanted to be picked up so mom put him in the baby carrier. Riley just stood patiently by her side. I finally saw the sheep.

Everyone stood still and mom picked me up for the second time. The sheep always ran away from mom her friends when they came close by the fence. This time, the sheep were very curious. The all walked towards us and stopped. I finally saw the sheep and mom put me down. I my goodness! One of the sheep came very closeby and I was really scared. I looked towards the street but I'm not allowed to go into the street. The sheep just came up close and scared me (not Andy or Riley though) and I was panicky so mom told us to cross the street and we made our getaway.

It was a fun walk even though the sheep were really sca-a-a-r-r-r-y!

Citronella Collars

My mom has been putting the collar on me every day and I pretty much have stopped barking at the the kitties or anything else. So fortunate since mom was beside herself with worry over my being sprayed in the face all day with Citronella. She came home the first day and I really smelled of it. By the third day, no smell. What a relief.

Those kitties better stay out of my yard though! Mom thinks that they're really cute but I just don't want kitties in my yard. I have been very good about the barking even though those kitties like to sit on the top of MY fence and tease me. My mom hopes that one day I just stop barking so that I never have to wear the citronella collar again!

Barking

I've lived with my mommy for 14 years now and a new renter has moved into the townhouse next door. She doesn't like dogs so some of the complaints are a little petty. She's only complained once so we should be thankful for that as well. Anyway, mom hated to be disturbing anyone but the tone of the letter was so rude that she's still a little peeved. Mom has asked the other neighbors if the dogs were too noisy in the recently and they have told her that they were not.

I AM barking more than ever the past few weeks though. The neighboring townhouse is replacing all of their fences except our shared fence and have been for a couple of weeks now. I don't like cats (unlike Andy & Riley) and in addition to the fence coming down, a young kitty has decided to nap right on the other side of MY fence. My goodness I've been so frustrated.

Anyway, mom bought a Citronella collar for me since I've been barking alot outside. (When mom comes home, I'm running up and down along the back fence without making a peep. My little face smells like Citronella and it looks like I have a stye (sp?) in my eye. It seems to be working and she's thinking of buying one for Riley 'cause he might be barking alot inside of the house.

Dirty Face

Yesterday morning, mom was getting my breakfast ready and I was outside barking at something. When I came back in through the dog door, it looked like I had a mesh net over my face with dried up Crepe Myrtle flowers stuck all over it. It was spider webs or something holding it together. Mom laughed and asked me if I thought I made a fancy ladies hat. I didn't even try to rub it off, I let my mommy take care of the stuff. I was happy to have it off though 'cause it was hard to see. That was yesterday morning. This morning, I found some mud somehow and had mud all over the hair around my muzzle. Yicky! I just like mommy to give my little face some attention like she does for Riley!

Walkin' on a Coupler with Rascal

All of us slept together last night except for Jimmy. Five dogs on a bed. I slept above mom's head on top of a really long neckroll pillow between mom's pillow and the headboard. Rascal slept up against mom's legs and under the covers as always. Riley slept at the foot of the bed below Rascal but outside of the covers and Tina slept between them. Andy slept curled up under mom's left arm. Jimmy had to sleep in a kennel in the bedroom but he seemed okay since he could see everyone.

We all woke up and went for a walk together except Riley. I walked on a coupler with Rascal since we both walk at about the same speed and like to check out the same things. Mom carried Tina and Andy walked. Tina was happy but mom had to dig her out of the cuddly carrier when she got back home. Tina just wanted to stay there. That's no good since the next item on the agenda was breakfast. I love walking and food so it was a great morning.

Trade Ya!

My mommy has never seen or heard of a dog trying to trade for food. "Where does this come from?", she often wonders. Today I had a wonderful breakfast of Bench & Field, non-fat no-salt cottage cheese and strawberries. Afterwards, my mom ate her weird stuff... beans and potatoes with a side of television. I tried complaining loudly but mom ignored me. So, I brought a chew toy and jumped onto her lap (she was sitting on the couch). I set the toy on her lap and immediately turned and faced the bowl. She still ignored me. I got another chew toy and set it on her lap and turned to face the empty bowl. Finally! Results. I happily licked the bowl all over 'cause there weren't any onions in the beans.

Mom says I am one amazing dog. She's going to research on the web and see if wolves ever do such things. She thinks I'm just one highly adaptable smart little cookie. She means "doggie".

Mistress of All I Survey

I love my yard and especially since mommy cleaned it up for me. She waters every night. There is some direct light on the patio in the afternoons but it's just perfect for tropical plants. Mom still has some planting of a couple of pots to do but she has to wait for her boo boo to heal. Everything is so clean now. Every evening, mom goes outside and turns on the hose. That's my que to scoot back inside 'cause the hose makes me nervous. She picks up after everyone and sprays the slate surface with bleach, waters all of the plants and then washes the bleach into the river rocks arranged around the patio. For the first time ever just last night, mom looked out and saw me sitting on the doormat smack dab in front of the sliding glass door. I was just sitting and enjoying my property. Well, maybe I was guarding it!

My Backyard

Last night, mommie cleaned up the backyard late when it was cool. She thinks the flowers irritated her eyes but she's glad that she cleaned the place up spic and span. Mom's enormous bougainvillia almost died this winter and she trimmed it back a few weeks ago. Last night, she cleaned up every remaining twig from the plant. I love my yard and now I can relax and rummage around all through the yard without a worry in the world.

The Beach is the Best!

We left very early in the morning to go for a walk in a special place. Abby and her mom joined us an hopped in the car where we were all waiting in the driveway. Off we went towards the beach. As soon as we pulled off of the highway, I started sighing my signature exhale whenever I'm very anxious. It's very quiet so mom never scolds me. I was so excited!

I jumped for joy as soon as we got down to the beach and began our 5 mile walk along New Brighton Beach. It was about 8am and foggy but not very cold at all. It was so fun that mom had some trouble with me tangling her up. Mom had to stop and let me run a bit so that I could blow off some of my extra energy. What a fun morning just walking along with my family.

My July 4th Celebration

My family was invited to Lake Elizabeth for a 4th of July picnic. I was so happy to go that I was pretty well behaved. At first I tried to scare two little dogs that just wanted to say hi. I calmed down really quick when a Roteweiller came by to say hello. I'm smart enough to know better than to make a Roteweiller mad at me. The rest of the day, I just laid around or begged for food. I love picnics!