Just my size

Rumor has it that Casey and Dan are making the annual pilgrimage to Idaho to see the fam. (I know - It's totally not fair that Rajah and I are not invited. We wouldn't eat the cats - Promise!!)

But the regular kennel has raised it's rates to far more than "regular" prices. At least it's more than what Casey can afford ($20/day - PER DOG! and for NINE DAYS? Fuggedaboutit!)

So she had a recommend from a co-worker and a rescue coordinator about another kennel that costs less than half that.

So off we went to check the place out.
Indoor/outdoor kennels? Check.
Play yard? Check.
Secure fencing? Check.
Kind owner? Check and check.

So we are let loose in the play yard to make sure it suits us. The first thing Rajah and I do? Yep, take a nice post-dinner squat. Classy. Then, like usual, I have to clean up after Rajah.
Casey found this embarrassing and offensive to our prospective nanny.

"Oh, she's one of those," the lady said. "I have shelties, so I'm used to it."

Hmm...this lady might be alright!

Then, I saw the most amazing thing of all - just on the other side of the fence, was this curious dog-sized HORSE! It was about the same size as the Great Pyr guarding it!

I looked, and paced, and sniffed, and finally barked at it a bit. No response. Hmph.
Not the most friendly of creatures, if you ask me.

I guess they are used to dogs barking at them. I think I'll have my work cut out for me!

Summertime, and the livin' isn't so easy

Summertime should be a time to relax in my yard, lolling around in the sun on the lush green grass.

Unfortunately, summertime is also the time for hoards of Children At Large (CAL).

Being as we live on a big hill, the kids like to take their bikes and scooters up the hill, then ride or coast down, right past the fence.

Part of my yard-guarding duties are the moving along of children and all animals walking past our fence, which directly abuts the sidewalk.

So you see, pups, my summer so far has been far from relaxing.

Not to mention the vile zapper collar Casey makes me wear. This means I can't get right up on the fence to move these kids along. No. I'm stuck about 3 feet back, forced to yell at them until the move on.

Hmph.

In good news, my favorite neighbor, Tom, is back from his week-long vacation. This means he can resume his daily visits to the yard as he passes on his walks. I like Tom. He doesn't give me treats like my other neighbors, but he can give a mean ear rub. And that makes up for a lot!

Sending out some pei-love

Our pei-pal, Wrinkles is not doing so well.
They think it might be the big C.
Boo. :(

But at least she is getting the awesome mom-made chicken and rice! Yum!

So we're sending out some POTP love to this sweetie pie and her family...

Wudya look at that!

It seems that HQ has made me a diary pick today!
Not Rajah - ME!!!

neener neener neener! wag! wag! wag!

Okay okay, mom, I know that taunting is not very princess-like, but c'mon! Rajah always gets all the attention!

He always gets to spoon with you on the couch, while I am relegated to the knee pit.
He always gets his treats first, while I am forced to wait.
He always gets more food than me, while I get a measly portion.
He always gets the best spot to sun himself in the yard, while I have to lay in the less lucious grass.

See where I'm going pups? It's about time a princess got a little recognition. Thanks HQ!

*bluuuuurrrrpp*

Oh, pups, it's been a rough day.
I dunno, but I must have eaten something I wasn't supposed to, because my breakfast came back up so fast this morning, I didn't even have time to warn Casey and Dan. :(
So there it was, all over the basement and the bedroom. Pee-yooo!!!
Casey had to clean it all up, and I had to go outside in the rain.
Man, why couldn't this have happened on a nice day?!?
After consulting with the vet, she determined the next course of action would be to force chalky pink stuff down my throat with a spoon!! AACKK!!!
I'm not a fan, but I have to say, I did feel a bit better, and was able to sleep most of the day.
By the time dinner came around, boy was I hungry!!!
But what did I get a snoot full of in my bowl? Yucky watery white rice. blech.
Don't get me wrong, I ate it - I was sooo hungry - but I can't wait for some real kibble in the morning!!

Bad pok'n's

Pups, it's been nearly a week, but I think I have just about recovered from the trauma to tell my story of the pok'n.
First Rajah had to go to the vet and get all doped up, and before I knew it, I was being dragged into that evil place.
Now, don't get me wrong - the people are nice enough. The ones I have met before are quite nice.
Casey and I sat in the lobby, waiting for my turn to have my annual blood draw, and then Casey escorted me to the back where the strangers laid in wait, ready to poke me.
But then they told Casey to leave! "We have enough hands," they said! But they were STRANGE hands!!!
Yo, this is no way for a princess to be treated. Just for this, I pooped and "expressed" myself all over them. Heh.
Finally, after a long wait in the lobby for Casey, they admitted they couldn't do it.
I was up on the table, tired and stressed out.
They didn't want to bring me back and repeat the awful process, and didn't want to dope me up and interfere with the heartworm test.
"She seems to be calmer now," they said.
Well, DUH! Casey is here, and she's giving me soothing pets!
"Let's try it again," the tech said. "She has such good veins with all that blood pumping."
Luckily, I didn't hear her. All I was focused on was Casey standing at my head, rubbing the itchy muzzle and petting the pressure points in my ears. Ahhhh..that's more like i......HEY! You just pulled a NEEDLE out of my arm!!! AACH!!!
"We got it," said the exuberant tech.
Hmph.
I was not pleased, but they did give me treats, so I might forgive them. Eventually.

Home Alone!

Casey took Rajah away this morning - without breakfast! - and left me home all by my lonesome to guard the yard - alone!!!
I did a good job, if I do say so myself, and when she returned with the big man in tow, I was relaxing in the sun after my hard day of solo duty.
But Mr. Q - oh boy! I'm glad I didn't have to go to the vet with him! He was so wobbly and funny and confused. You should have seen him trying to stay on his feet while he executed a #2 in the backyard. Hee hee!!!
But his teeth are very clean and shiny, and his breath is kissing sweet, so I guess it's worth it.
Casey put him inside for the evening and kept me out to prevent me from bugging him, she said.
Hmph.
Bugging him, indeed!
More like tending to his every need - I am Nurse Nali, after all!

Welcome Waggin'

Oh, the indognities Rajah and I have to suffer.
So Casey and Dan abandoned us at the kennel for the weekend. Luckily, now that the weather's nicer, we're back to Kotas, where we get much more exercise, and there's lots of other pups to play with.
Casey was grumpy because the raised their rates, but now I get a group play date every day! Woo Hoo!
The kennel lady was new, but very nice, and she gave me a very special job.
I was the welcome wagon!
Whenever a new dog came to join the group play, she had me introduce him to the place and be his first friend! Pawesome!
Rajah didn't play with us because he really didn't want to. So he stayed in the kennel while I went on my play date, and then got a special one-on-one play with kennel lady.
He is SUCH a grumpy old man - never wants to play!
Casey and Dan came back last night, and after making sure the yard had not been invaded in our absence, went promptly to bed.
Vacations are so exhausting!

Aw, Hail!

Yep, hail.
Just when Casey was getting off work yesterday and getting ready to take us for a trip to the island, it started hailing.
Just tiny, little fluffy hail, but still. Dan got home, and we had to walk around the 'hood instead, in case it started up again.
Hmph. There are many reasons I don't like 'hood walks as much as Island walks.
Sure, it's a chance to get out and stretch my legs, but staying on a leash sucks, pups! I am a free spirit who must run and play to my heart's content.
Princesses must not be restrained, that's all.
Plus, there are all sorts of evil threats of other dogs along the fences we pass, and because I'm on a leash, I feel like I need to protect Casey and Dan, and tend to get a little *ahem* carried away with my discipline.
Just trying to teach them a lesson, I say!
But we had a lovely walk down to the park and back, and we didn't even get rained on!

He started it!

I got to spend the whole weekend with Dan all to myself! Wahoo!
He even decided to take us to the island. See, he doesn't like it when I run off after other pups and don't come back, so he usually won't take us unless Casey comes with.
But Rajah and I have been very pent-up lately. The weather is warmer, and we have a bit of spring fevah.
So off we went in the Dan-Mobile down to the island.
It was a Sunday, and it was busy. I saw a friendly pup up ahead, so off I went. Dan was not pleased, but I wanted to PLAY!
Turns out, this pup was not so friendly after all, and the human had a big walking stick that made me VERY nervous.
So there was some snapping and snarling, and I had to walk on the very short leash for the rest of the walk. :(
Casey came back from her ladies weekend ski trip last night, and I was so happy to have her home! She promised to let me run at the island today! Hooray!