I'm an EDUCATED pup now...I GRADUATED!

I guess I've always been a fearful pup. When mom rescued me from the pound, I was practically afraid of everything. But my fear of other dogs had become a problem, and as a result of my constantly feeling the need to defend myself against strange dogs, I had gotten myself into several fights and even lost a couple of teeth. :(

Mom has worked with me with most of my fears, but she wasn't able to help me with my fear aggression toward other dogs, as she didn't want me or another pup to get hurt.

But, PETSMART said it might help me to take one of their classes! It would give me the chance to go over some of the basic things I knew already (sit, stay, down), but also to be around other pups in the class and maybe get over my fear. So, mom signed us up.

The first class was hard. I hid my tail, and tried to hide underneath the stool mom was sitting on. I was afraid of the trainer, even though she was very nice to me. We learned "look at me!" where I have to focus all my attention on mom and not all the other stuff going on in the room. That was hard! I also worked on "sit", and I learned the hand signal.

The second class we learned "down", and "LEAVE IT!" (I put that part in caps, because that is exactly how mom is supposed to say it.) "LEAVE IT!" is what mom says if I want to smell or taste or am intent on something that I'm not supposed to have. This could be food, a toy, another dog, or anything that might get my attention. I got really good at "LEAVE IT!".

The third week was "Stay". Both "Sit Stay", and "Down Stay". I already knew sit and down, but now I know that hand signals without the voice command. I was never very good at "Stay". But I am now!

In the following weeks we worked more with "Look at me!", "Sit", "Down", "Stay", "LEAVE IT!", and we practiced in the aisles of the store. We also worked on loose leash walking.

On the fifth week, after class was over, the instructor said we could have a group play. By this time, I wasn't nearly as afraid as when we started, and I got to sniff all the other pups, and they all sniffed me too. I growled a little at one very rambunctious pup who wanted to play a little too rough for my liking, but when I did that, I got a "time out", and had to sit facing the wall until I could behave properly. Then I was fine! No fighting, no one growled or attacked me, and I wagged my tail and wandered around the room and met all the other people.

On the sixth week, mom took me to the dog park after class. Tillie went with us too, she's been to the dog park many times. Mom had always figured I would never be a dog park dog. We got there about noon, and no one else was there yet. So Tillie and I ran around and checked out all the smells. Then a beagle came. Then a black lab. Mom was going to take me out, but I just wagged my tail, and looked so interested and relaxed, that she let me stay! And Tillie and I played with the other two dogs, and we all ran around and chased each other. Mom was so proud! I was a good boy and only growled once when the lab wanted to play too hard. Mom said, "AHHT!" and I knew I'd better quit with the growling. So I went back to running, playing, investigating, and enjoying myself.

I went to the dog park again last Saturday, and ran around, played, smelled everyone, and not one bit of fear or growling! Mom watches me close just in case, but I try not to give her anything to worry about.

Yesterday was my last class at Petsmart. I GRADUATED! I was tested on sit-stay, and down-stay, come, and "LEAVE IT!". The instructer lady took my picture with a graduation cap on, and can you believe it...I actually smiled for my photo?? Mom was proud of me, and I was proud of me too.

I'm a smart dog...I learned a trick!

Today mommy is so proud of me! I learned a trick today!

She's tried to teach me this trick before, the one that my sister Tillie knows about picking with your paw which hand mommy's hiding a cookie in. I never understood before, or so she thought. But today, she tried it with a really fragrant cookie...the Natural Choice Crunchy Treats, blueberry flavor...and it only took me about 15 minutes to figure out that I needed to put my paw on the hand I thought it was in. Mommy was so happy! And every time I pawed her hand, I got a delicious treat, so I was happy too! I got lots of hugs and praise. Then daddy tried the trick with me, and I pawed his hand for the cookie too. Mommy said I was so gentle with my paw, and only used my pads to touch her hand...Tillie is very rough and uses her toenails! Ouch!

I am proof that "old" dogs CAN learn new tricks. I really like this one! I can't wait to show the guy in the pet food store!

Toys from Fling and Levi!

We got a box addressed to "Tillie & Joey" last Saturday! Even though I can't read, I just KNEW that box was for us...it just smelled like dog things, definitely NOT people things. Mom made us wait a whole week, until Fling and Levi got our gifts, before we could discover what was inside our box.

Mom unwrapped the box, and cut the tape. Tillie got to look inside, while I waited for her to pull out the goodies so I could share them with her. The first thing was a baggie of good stuff! Rawhide chews, bully sticks, and cookies! There were two tennis balls, and a big fleecy toy, which I decided should be mine, and Tillie picked the IQube with the santa hat squeaky toys inside. We played all morning on Sunday with our toys, and mom let us eat all our treats because we were so good. I ate the cookie and half the bully stick, but I took the rawhide chew outside and buried it for later...and I'm not telling ANYONE where it is!

Mom and I tugged on the fleecy ball for awhile. She is teaching me how to play. Believe it or not, I didn't know how when they first saved me from the pound! I knew how to fetch, but didn't know about bringing the ball back so it could be thrown again. We've been working on that, and I have discovered that playing can be lots of fun. I enjoyed tugging on the fleecy toy, I even wagged my tail while I growled and shook it. I am having so much fun!

Thanks very much for our presents Fling and Levi! We are so happy to have traded gifts with you. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED!

I have been tagged by BONZER THE WONDERDOG!

(Copy and paste rules so no need to retype)

Here are the rules of the game!

Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Dogs who are tagged, need to post in their Diary the rules & their 7 pawsome facts. Then choose 7 dogs to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to bark them a pmail that they have been tagged and to read your Diary, or, send them a fun Rosette announcing they've been Tagged!

1. I survived death row at the pound...got rescued in the nick of time!
2. All tennis balls belong to me.
3. I am a mixed breed of Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Kelpie, and who knows what...anybody have any ideas?
4. When I growl, it sounds like I'm yodeling.
5. I am afraid of little kids, loud noises, and sudden movements, but I know how to give love and kisses too.
6. I discovered that I DON"T like camping! I really like living in a house with all comforts possible.
7. I like getting on the furniture with my pawrents, but I usually wait until I have permission

Here are the 7 pups that I have chosen:

Magnolia
Sadie
Louie
Gonzo
Buddy
Socks
Boris


Please play tag with me!

Our Camping Trip - According to Joey

Day One: Saturday Today we are going camping! I am just happy to be going someplace with my mommy and daddy. We all put on our backpacks and went for a long, long walk. I love going for walks! When mommy or daddy ask, "Joey, wanna go for a walk?" I always cock my head to one side because I really want to go. When they get my leash, I get so excited that I jump up in the air! But mommy says I am the perfect gentleman and I never pull on the leash.

But this time, we didn't wear our leashes! I'm not sure what to make of this. Tillie wandered all over the place on this long walk, half the time I couldn't even see her. But I was a good boy and always stayed near my mommy & daddy, even without the leash.

Day Two: Sunday It is so big here, much bigger than our yard at home, even bigger than grandpa's ranch. There are no other dogs, and we only saw a few other people walking by far away. We get to sleep in the tent with mommy and daddy, which is nice, but I think I like sleeping inside the big house at home in my cushy dog bed is better. Tille goes exploring, but I am afraid to because I might get lost and not be able to find mommy & daddy. So I watch Tillie explore, but I don't stray away too far, and always keep an eye on my pawrents.

We have to drink water out of the creek. Where's my water bowl? What-they didn't bring it? I'm afraid to walk all the way to the creek by myself. Thank goodness for mommy & daddy, they walk over there with me so I can get a drink.

Day Three: Monday Today I went swimming. I didn't want to, but THEY made me - and I sure wasn't happy about it. But I learned that I could swim! I swam right over to the bank and got out. I watched everyone else go swimming, but I didn't go back in. Tillie has been swimming every day-she goes across the creek to hunt. Not me, we are getting fed so good I don't need to hunt.

Day Four: Tuesday I wonder if this is where we are going to live from now on? I hope not, it is too big, too uncomfortable, and too cold at night. But the longer we stay, the more I think this is our new home. Oh well, as long as mommy and daddy are here, I'll be alright.

Tillie goes hunting & exploring, mommy & daddy go for walks or read or fish. I'm not sure what I am supposed to do, so I stay close just in case they need me.

Day Five: Wednesday Today we went for a really long walk. The weather has been really nice, so my pawrents thought it would be a good day to go. We left really early, and we climbed and climbed, but the sun went behind some clouds and it just kept getting colder and windier. Daddy was worried it would rain on us, and we hid in some trees for awhile so we could stay warm. Then the sun came out again, so we started walking some more. No one told me we were going to the top of a mountain! It stayed pretty windy, but warmed up a little bit. At the top, daddy said the wind was 50 mph. There were no trees to hide behind, only rocks, so I curled up in a little ball to stay warm. Mommy sat next to me to shelter me from the wind, and that was really nice. My paws were sore, but I didn't limp, so no one noticed until we got back to our camp that I had scraped them. Mommy felt really bad, she said I was such a good dog for staying close to them the whole way. She washed my feet and put some medicine on them, and then used up all of her extra socks for my sore feet to keep them clean. She said when we got home, I will get some special doggy boots to protect my paws when we go on hikes. I am such a tenderfoot!

Day Six: Thursday I am so sore! My feet hurt, and my muscles ache. Everyone is walking funny today, even Tillie. We spent the whole day laying in the sun, keeping our muscles warm. Mommy rubbed my sore hips and shoulders-that sure felt good! At night, we had a great big fire so we could stay warm, and then we went to bed in the tent. Mommy put more medicine on my paws, and then put her socks on me again. Daddy let me have his long sleeve shirt to help me stay warm. I got 4 doggy aspirins today.

Day Seven: Friday Still a little stiff, but feeling better! I even went to the creek all by myself to get a drink. What a brave dog I am-I know, because mommy said so. I am so proud of myself.

I love my mommy & daddy! I got lots of tummy rubs and booty scratches from them today, life is good! Tummy rubs, booty scratches, and pawrents who love me, what more could a dog ask for?


Day Eight: Saturday Today I felt so good that Tillie and I ran around and played in the meadow for an hour. I even watched how she chases the squirrels up the tree & I am trying to help her. They make a lot of noise at us when we chase them.

I found out today that we get to go home tomorrow...I can't wait!! I miss my doggy bed and helping Tillie bark at the mailman and my yard and sleeping in a REAL house and my hoofers and my blanket and laying under the desk when mommy's on the computer and did I say my doggy bed? I can hardly think of anything else!

Day Nine: Sunday Going home day! We walked for a long time, and mommy shared her lemonade with me in between streams when I got thirsty. The trail was hot, and my feet were tired, so we spent a lot of time in the shade. We finally got to our car, and mommy bought Tillie and I brand new bandanas that say "Kennedy Meadows" on them. Mine is red, Tillie's is blue - they match our collars, leashes, and backpacks! I am so happy to be going home where I can be pampered and spoiled again. I don't think camping is my thing.