I'm obedient!

Momma is pleased to announce that I am now an obedient dog! They have been working on my recall, and today at the dog park they called me over and I came, then they asked if I wanted to go and I went to the gate and waited! Usually momma has to leash me to get me out of the park! My attention span has grown too, thanks to us doing agility!

I really love my agility classes. My instructor says I am VERY fast and eager, so the only problem will be keeping up with me! Last time we went I concentrated on momma all class and when another dog came over to sniff me I ignored him :)

My new kitty brother is settling in. He keeps pouncing on me and making me chase him and then he lays on his back and I nibble on his chest. When we're done playing he is all slobbery! He doesn't seem to like that, I can't imagine why! But then just as I'm getting into the playing he runs off to the basement - which is his safe place as I am not allowed down there! He's such a tease.

Springtime!

Mommy says it's Spring now. I'm not sure what that means but we seem to be going out for more walks. Mommy has decided she wants to get fit so she has started running with daddy and me. That's good because I like it when we're all together. We don't run as far or fast right now because mommy's just starting out, but I don't mind.

Mommy thinks she has me figured out now. She says that I am perfect and extremely happy when her and daddy and me are all together, but as soon as either mommy or daddy leave I'm not the same. I feel like something's not right and I don't want to play as much and I sleep a lot. I just want my whole family together all the time! Even when they're both home I can't settle if they are not in the same room. I have to go between them to try and persuade them to sit together with me in the middle! Mommy wonders if I am still afraid that they will ditch me like my previous owners did. The pound was scary - there were lots of other dogs but I wasn't allowed to play with them and they all barked all the time. I hope I can stay here - I have TWO warm comfy beds an lots of toys and I get treats! And lots of love. I feel bad for all the other puppies at the pound, I hope they can find a good home too :(

Quiz!

What's your name?? Dougal Jerome Hiles
What's your mommy/owners name? Cat and Ben
What breed are you? Collie/ hound/ jack russell maybe!
How much did you cost?? $110
What's your favorite toy? My ropes. I have 3!
Tap water or bottled water? Tap
Do you always walk or are you always carried? I always walk - I kick if I'm carried!
How many pounds will you weigh full grown? 35lb
Do you wear clothes? No, but my mommy wants to dress me up for Halloween!
Long or short hair? Short
Do you sleep with your mommy or in your own bed? I have my own bed in my mom and dad's room. I'm not allowed in their bed, it's the only hair free place!
What's your fave color? I like all colors
Do you chase cats or get along with them? I try to chase them. I've never met one close up.
How old are you? I guess about 1
Do you like to go swimming? I haven't tried properly yet! I'm unsure of the water but mom and dad say they will try to help me when it gets warmer!
Are you fixed? Yes, but I didn't know I was broken!
What color are your eyes? Brown and mournful
What color is your hair? My back is white with black spots, and my head is brown and white
Do you get groomed? I get bathed and clipped and brushed by mom and dad. I hate the bath but I don't mind the clippers and brush. I'm very brave!
Are you potty trained? Yes, except when introduced to a new house!
How much do you bark? Hardly ever. I barked at mom yesterday though because I was asleep and I didn't know she was there and she scared me! I scared her back!
Have you ever bit anyone? No
Are you friendly with other dogs or go you just attack? I'm VERY friendly. My first reaction to seeing another dog is to try and play with them! I'm getting better though and realizing that not all dogs want to play with me!
Does your mommy/owner have a carrying bag for you? No way, I'd hate that and I'd break the bag!
Do you do any doggie sports?? No but when I'm a bit older and better trained mom would like to try me with agility, see if I really do have collie blood in me!
How cute are you from 1 to 10? 100000000!
What is your favorite snack? Cheese, chicken juice, butter!

What a week!

Well this week my mom and dad took me to a place called Petsmart two days in a row... and left me there! I actually didn't even realize they were gone until about an hour after they left, and I didn't miss them much! There was so much to do. I was at a place called Doggy Day Camp. I made lots of new friends and played and tired myself out! When mom and dad came to pick me up I was more excited to see the Petsmart lady than my mom and dad, bol! Camp made me learn some new bad habits and made me forget how to heel and listen! I just do what I want :D

The second day after they picked me up we didn't go home to my apartment... we went to a different house! It has all my stuff and all the furniture and my mom and dad's stuff, but it smells weird! I didn't like it for the first couple of days, so I didn't eat very much and I had a little peeing accident in one of the bedrooms, but mom and dad just let me sniff around and get used to our "new home". I am doing much better now. I can watch people walk by through the windows, it's awesome! We have a yard now, and mom and dad say they will put a fence up when it's warmer, so I can run around with no leash! I do miss my apartment but I think I will like it in this new place. I was a bit scared the first time mom and dad left me by myself, and I whined and howled when they got home, but they didn't let me out of my crate until I was quiet! I was better the second time though. I have a new crate now, made from something called plastic, so I can't chew on the bars like I did in my old crate! I think I like it better, although I'd rather be free to roam around the house and chew wires and stuff!

Thunderstorms!

I experienced my first proper thunderstorm this morning! It was very early and the thunder woke me up, but I was quiet and I wasn't scared at all! My daddy tried to take me out to pee at 6.15 as usual though, but we got to the porch and I saw it was raining reeeeeeeeeeeeeally hard, so I turned around and went back inside! I didn't have to pee that bad!

A couple of days ago mommy was walking me. We walked past some condos which had their a/c units right next to the sidewalk, and someone had dumped a straw wreath there. I saw it and I freaked out! I'm not sure why though! It scared me, and I tried to run out into the road. Mommy was scared, but luckily she had a good grip on my leash so I couldn't get away. I didn't like that horrible wreath at all, it made me very sad and scared, and I was sketchy for the rest of the day!

Mom says we're 'moving' next week. I'm not sure what that means but there are lots of boxes around. I hope I don't get put in a box! As long as I have my comfy bed I'll be ok though :)

A fun day!

Very early this morning I heard another dog outside barking, and I wanted to talk to him. Usually I never bark unless I hear someone outside the door but last night I really found my voice and did some very loud barking. I was told off though, because I was too loud, and I woke my mom and dad. I was sad because I woke them up, but I went back to sleep and then everything was ok.
It was raining all day, but my mom took me for a nice walk anyway. We got very wet! I had to be dried with a towel which I don't like, it makes me sad. Then mom started using something called a vacuum cleaner - I tried to go up to this strange creature to make friends but it was making loud noises at me and I got scared. Afterwards I wrestled with my rope, which was very fun.
I got some cheese today for being good as well! No peanut butter but there's always tomorrow.

No cheese so far today

My daddy took me out this morning which was fun, I tried to chase a bunny but I wasn't allowed! I am feeling sleepy today because I had a very busy day yesterday making new friends in the dog park. One of the dogs there is now my girlfriend! My mom says she is a pitbull and colored like a cow. She is 1 year old like me, and she was also abandoned by her first family. She liked me so much she tried to come home with me! I hope I will see her again.

After lunch mom says she is going to take me for a walk. I have to go to my obedience class tonight. I have fun there, but sometimes I whine because I want to play with the other dogs but I'm not allowed. I like it though because I get lots of praise when I'm good and there is a lady there who tells people what to do and she has the best treats. I call her 'treat lady'.