One Year Anni-fur-sary

August 3 was my one year annifursary of Mom bringing me to my furever home! I can't believe it's been that long already. I have come a long way since then. I used to be a scaredy little pup that couldn't meet anyone new or get fussed at without piddling on the floor. Now, I only piddle when I am SUPER DUPER excited (like when my Grandma comes to see me - I love her)! I don't shake when there is a thunderstorm or a loud noise, I don't go poop on the floor anymore, I go night-night in my crate without crying... Mom has turned me into a well-adjusted young man. And even Dad finally likes me!

The best part of all, though, is that I'm no longer on the streets and I have a loving home where everyone pets me and snuggles me and gives me treats and tells me what a good boy I am. This has been the best year ever.

Vet trip

Mom took me to the vet the other day for my shots. I was a really good boy... even though I was scared, I didn't pee or nothin'! I just shook a little bit and tucked my tail. Everyone was talking to me and being sweet because I was trying so hard to be the cutest most bravest pup I could be. They always wanna stick me with things when I go, though, and I don't know why. It's not real fun. They did shots, and clipped my nails, and took some blood for a heart test, and tried to give me treats (that I didn't eat because I don't eat when I'm tryin to be real brave). It was pretty much like usual when I go to the vet.

This time, though, they stuck me with this BIG huge needle and now Mom keeps talking about how I'm "chipped". I'm really upset, too, because usually if I see a chip I can eat it, but not this time. I can't even smell these chips she's talkin about. I don't like when she teases me about food because I'm a good boy and I think that a little bit of chips now and then won't kill me. Especially if I didn't even cry when they stuck me with that needle. Hmph.

Oh no... she found one!

Mom was lookin at that silly dog DNA testing website again. Well apparently there's a vet nearby that decided to sell the testing kits! That means she may FINALLY figure out what it is I'm made up of. Then I won't have any mystery left at all. :(

Tag... I'm it!

Oh mah goodness, Ko Min tagged me!

I have to answer 4 Questions and tag 4 Friends!

Name 4 jobs you have:

1. Keepin people's laps warm
2. Bein really cute and makin people fall in love with me
3. Keepin my catbrother in line (even though he's bigger than me)
4. Dancin on my back legs to entertain my people

Name 4 places you have lived (or stayed at):

1. My big ol' house... and it is *mine*, I just let Mom and Dad and catbrother stay with me
2. My grandma's house with the Princess poodley dog
3. My mom's aunt's house with the big Gunther monsterdog
4. Ummm... I was a stray before Mom got me but I don't like to talk about where I lived then :(

Name 4 places you have been:

1. Pearsall Dog Park
2. McAllister Dog Park
3. Ko Min's house
4. the groomer... ugh

Name 4 places you would rather be:

1. hanging out with my San Antonio Dog Park pals
2. in the car takin a ride with Mom
3. in someone's lap
4. eating my catbrother's food :)

4 friends I am tagging...

Wexford
Ruffian
Yukiko
Kenny

Lumps and bumps.

Mom took me to the vet yesterday because I have a bump on my side that she noticed about a week ago. They poked it with a needle and Mom is supposed to hear back today if it's that big bad "C" word or not. The doctor said that it might be.

Wish me luck...

OMD, I'm a whole year now!

January 7th was my birfday, and now I'm not a puppy anymore. I was real scared at first. Would I still be as cute? Would people still go "awwwwwwwww" when they saw my dopey face and shaggy hair? I didn't know what to do. But Mom convinced me that I would always be her puppy, and that made me happy. :)

Now I just have to convince Mom that *she* will stay cute, because she turned 28 on Jan 8th - that's like a gazillion in dog years. I sure hope she was cuter when *she* was a puppy!

My daily routine.

Every Morning

Mom gets up outta bed about 6am or so. She feeds my catbrother and then she lets me out of the crate, which is right next to her bed. She always laughs at me, too, because she opens the door of the crate, and before I step out of it, I will root around in my crate find a chewie or a cookie or a stuffie toy that she put in there with me. I'll pull it out and run to the bedroom door with it so I can take it downstairs and play with it. It happens every time!

We go downstairs and I go outside to go potty - usually just pee, but sometimes, well, I have to do both. Then we come inside and I either throw a stuffie toy around or chew on a rawhide while she gets ready. She sits on the couch to eat breakfast, so I curl up beside her to keep her company (and that way I'll be close by if she drops anything good). Then she goes into the laundry room to pick out her clothes for the day. As soon as I see her go in there, I run run run as fast as I can up the stairs and wait for her at the bedroom door. She lets me into the bedroom where I promptly begin chasing my catbrother and chewing on his face. She wakes up Dad (who is always too grumpy to say good morning to me, dangit) and then finishes getting ready. Then she puts me in my crate with some food, water and a treat, and goes to work. (I hate that part, though I like it a lot better now that Mom got me a crate big enough for me to play in.)

Every Evening

I can hear Mom's car horn in the driveway when she locks her car door, so at that point, I immediately start whining and pacing to get out. She opens the bedroom door, feeds my catbrother again (he's so fat!), and then comes to let me out. She doesn't make a big fuss even though I'm making one - she waits until I'm laying down and quiet before she opens the door. I then do my "root-around-and-pull-out-a-toy-from-my-crate" routine again. Then it's off to the potty again!

Night time at my house is always up in the air. Sometimes I will nap all night, just to wake up when it's time for bed (that's my favorite!), while other times, Mom will play tug of war with me or run me around in the yard. There are stray kitties that live around my house that I love to chase in the yard. I never try to hurt them, though, even though they don't like me. I'm just curious. Catbrother often comes downstairs to let me chase him around the living room, too, which is lots of fun for me as well! Then at bedtime, Mom tells me "let's go night-night!" I run upstairs into the bedroom and immediately go and lay down in my crate. I found that if I do it just right every time, she will give me a treat, and I like that part. I don't fuss in my crate at night since I know Mom's still in the room, sleeping next to me.

Ain't We Got Fun?

My favorite deviation from my routine is a CAR RIDE! When Mom gets the leash out, I start whining and jumping in circles. I sit super-duper still when she attaches the leash to my collar, and then I am ready to GO! I always stop at her car and put my paws up on her passenger door to ask her "hey, are we going somewhere?" Usually, we are. We'll go to the dog park, or to Grandma's house, or to the vet (not my favorite). But I love my car seat and I love watching cars go by - motorcycles are my favorite!

I have a pretty uneventful life, but I like it. It's better than living on the streets like I did when I was a baby puppy. Dad says I'm "spoiled rotten" now. I think I can get used to that. :)

Turkey day!

So yesterday, Mom and Dad were running around the kitchen ALL day, not paying very much attention to me. That stunk, too, because there were SO many good smells coming out of there! I kept walking into the kitchen and Dad would shoo me out. Then the doorbell rang and all these people showed up. It was fantastic! While Mom and Dad were in the kitchen, everyone sat on the couch. I got to test out every single lap! There were big ones and small ones and snuggly ones and warm ones and cold ones... it was like heaven.

After awhile, everyone went to sit at the tables and I had to go night-night in my crate. I didn't like that very much - Mom always wants to put me night-night when things are just getting fun. Then, before I knew it, the best thing happened! Mom came and got me out of my crate, and I ran down into the kitchen, and Dad fed me ALL THIS TURKEY! It was so delicious! I ate until my little tummy was swollen. Mom scolded him for doing it, but I didn't care. He didn't seem to mind, either.

After all the people left, I slept for hours. Being popular takes a lot of energy! I hope my pawrents have Turkey Day again soon. I liked it!

I survived the dog park!

So mom put me in the car *again* today (are you sensing a trend?) and took me waaaaaaaaaaaaay far away to this place with lots of green grass and some benches and tunnels and ramps and stuff. I was really scared when I went in because all these huge dogs wanted to sniff me at the same time. I tucked my tail so hard that my butt hit the ground! After awhile they left me alone, though, and I got to go sniff all the good sniffs around the park. There were a LOT of them! Soon after, Ko Min showed up. I forgot who she was for a minute, but then I remembered. She's the one that never stops playing and always tries to chase me! Our moms talked while we got to sniff around and I kept dodging Ko Min and letting her jump over me like a hurdle. Then, even MORE little dogs showed up! I got to meet a pretty dachshund named B, a feisty min pin named Bruce, and another laid back dachshund named Chili D. I liked Chili a lot, because she was nice and quiet and let me sniff her without bugging me. I like when other dogs let me do whatever I want, but most of them don't! Mom kept sayin' she was so proud of me for being a good dog and not getting into a fight. Well DUH, Mom... I like the car rides, so of course I'll behave!

I can't wait to go again. Mom says we get to go again in a couple of weeks! I love all my new pup friends! :D

Obedience, schmedience.

This weekend, Mom put me in the car to go to that place that teaches me stuff for treats. Once we got there, some really big dog came over to sniff me, and I actually let him sniff for a few seconds before I tried to eat his face off. Mom is calling that "progress".

Anyway, we did some sits, and downs, and leash walking, and a little bit of stay, and then the big man with the beard handed Mom a piece of paper that said "certificate of completion" on it and we went home. Apparently, this piece of paper is supposed to mean that I am trained. Boy, that man with the beard must be pretty silly to think that I'm trained to do *anything* if there are no treats involved!

Mom is talking about putting me through another class at a different place because she didn't like the guy with the beard and the way he did classes, but I'm telling you, it's not gonna work. I have a mind of my own and I'm gonna keep it that way.