Coneheads and my Itchy Stitches

Guess what tomorrow is? Come on…I’m waiting…still no guess? Well, I’ll tell you then- tomorrow is freedom day! Freedom from what, you might ask. If you haven’t seen me in the last 2 weeks then you probably don’t know about me looking like Franken-puppy. People may have thought I jumped the gun on Halloween, but the giant line of stitches in my neck are finally about to come out, woohoo!

You see, when I was very small (before Chad and Michele took me home), I must have gotten a little too close and comfortable with a rose or sticker bush. Turns out, whatever thorny bush it was didn’t really appreciate me being all up in its grill. Apparently it expelled one of its thorns that wound up getting stuck on the side of my neck (most likely hidden and trapped by my luscious golden locks), and then eventually got stuck under my skin! The pesky thorn never did find its way out of my neck.

So here we are, over 3 months after it happened and the spot where the thorn went in was still hurting A LOT, until 2 weeks ago when Dr. Hani cut that sucker out! Since I was knocked out harder than Gary Coleman in a celebrity boxing tournament, the doc pulled out 3 stubborn baby teeth, micro-chipped me, and took away my manhood before I even really knew I had it. What an ordeal! Then they had the nerve to stick this stupid plastic cone on my head that kept getting in my way every time I tried to scratch or lick my stitches.

Anyway, Dr. Hani and I have a date tomorrow morning at 9am and I’m looking forward to getting the stitches out and getting the all-clear for the dog park.

Happy tails!
Miller

Making a Splash: The Phelps of Fur

A gray sweater of clouds was hugging the sun so the sand was soft and cool. I could hear the distant pitter-patter of fellow furballs and became more and more anxious as we the topped of the beach entrance. I could see them then; their mud-caked fur with saliva flung over salty snouts and tails wagging furiously. I felt my own bottom start to wiggle as my tail grew more and more out of control. Michele and Kate took FOREVER to drop their pile of stuff and then FINALLY Michele unhooked my collar. I couldn’t contain myself anymore and sprinted to the shoreline into a pack of pups all shapes and sizes. I was happily sniffing away when it happened- the soft edge of a broken wave snuck up behind me and nipped me on the back of my heels. I whipped around to investigate and caught the offending water retreating back into the fold of the massive conglomeration of salty water in front of me. And so started a wonderful game of cat and mouse between me and the waves.

I was tentative at first. “Getting my feet wet” was a whole new ballgame at the beach. Eventually I worked up the nerve to chase Michele into the water and over an oncoming wave. Once I was out there, I found myself in water too deep for me to stand. What did I do? Well the instinct flicked on immediately and I embraced my inner doggy Olympian. You should have seen me out there! My swimming skillz sure puts all those short-legged dogs to shame.

That first swimming adventure was on Friday. I’m already counting the days until Mammoth this weekend for round 2 of my new swimming career. I heard there is a huge lake out there just waiting for a guy like me to show the mountain dogs how we paddle in the city.

Soggy tails,
Miller

Movin' on up! (To a new side of the scale)

That’s right folks, I am officially no longer a “small” dog. Look out all you Napoleon-complex suffering Yorkies and Chihuahuas. I’m a “medium” sized dog now and I’m not taking beef from all you mean little yappers anymore! Go ahead- just try and snap at me. I’ve got some new skills along with my new giant paws. I’ll knock you down with a bear hug and sit on your head if you mess with me. I’m not cowering under Michele and Chad’s legs anymore (well, most of the time).

As for the big dogs out there- I’m starting to warm up to playing with you, even when there is more than one of you big guys (and gals). You should have seen me on my first visit to Dog Park this weekend! I had a whole heard of 70lb+ Huskies frolicking around with me. Only when all that playtime started to catch up with me did I start dashing under the nearest plastic lawn chair to sneak in a couple minute breather before bounding out into the pack for another round.

So you heard it here first- I may be the friendliest dog in town, but I am through with being bullied. That goes for my neighborhood nemesis Deuce, too. If you’re out there Deuce, be warned that you are going to have to fall in love with me sooner or later. I know you’re jealous that I’m the new pup in town, but you had the neighborhood to yourself for two whole months before I moved in so now its time to share. Mark my barks, as soon as I move up to “large” status, we’re going to go from “Frenemies” to “Best Buds” and I won’t settle for anything less.

Medium Miller Out!

Pillow Fight! (The Week of a Thousand Slumber Parties)

I have to admit, I don't totally get the obsession some pooches have with soft, fluffy things. I like my naps on the cool, hard tile just fine. Don't get me wrong- I like investigating my fancy new LL Bean bed on a regular basis (my name is even embroidered on it), but I don't lay on it for very long yet. So when Sammie (black lab mix) came over for a two-night slumber party at our pad on Monday night, I was pretty perplexed with her infatuation with my doggie bed. Oh well...

It sure was fun having her stay over, though! Her parents are in Thailand on their honeymoon, so I think she's missing them a lot and I definitely helped keep her mind off of their absence by jumping on top of her, nipping her tail and staring at her longingly whenever we went for walks together.

I was bummed to see her go, but my first full day at Michele's office on Thursday quickly redirected my attention. They sure do love me there!

Thursday night Chad and Michele had to stay in a hotel for Michele's job, so I got to have another slumber party- this time with Steve and Jen! They sure do want a puppy of their own, but since they aren't quite ready just yet, they were pretty excited to have me over for the night.

Well, it's just been another non-stop week for me so I think I'm going to have a nice chew on my new bone and call it a night.

Got Milkbones?
Miller

A dozen weeks old, a dozen weeks wiser

Wow- what a week! Chad and Michele have been keeping me pretty busy and tuckered out. Here's a little week-in-review:

Tuesday, 6/24- Uncle Evan came down from the OC to meet me and he came to the Velodrome with us to watch the bike races. He took about a gazillion pictures of me. It felt like I had my own personal paparazzi photographer "tailing" me! I got lots of gifts that night, too. Uncle Evan brought me a collapsible dog bowl that will come in handy when we go camping and when we are out on the town all day. Lola the boxer sent a welcome goody bag with her family, Kelley and Brendan. I've already polished off about a third of the box of biscuits she gave me, some of the mini chew bones and I love playing with the new toys she gave me! I'm starting to acquire quite the little treat and toy collection.

Thursday, 6/26- Many training treats later, I successfully mastered my new trick- lay down! I am pretty excited about this trick because it's really easy for me to rollover for belly scratches when I'm already laying down. I LOVE belly scratches!

Friday, 6/27-Sunday, 6/29- I met two more Millers! Andy and Carrie came in from DC to play with me for the weekend (they went to a wedding while they were here, too- but obviously it was just luck that it was the same weekend that they flew out to snuggle and play tug-of-war with me). Al, the non-Miller, also came out from DC and I had fun licking him awake when he was in a sleeping bag on the floor on Sunday morning!

Monday, 6/30- Back to work again! Everyone at Michele's office kept saying that I looked so much bigger than I did last week. Don't they know I'm a growing boy?

Tuesday, 7/1- My first lunch with Kate! Since Kate only works a couple minutes from our house, she is going to come for lunch and recess with me on the days that I'm not at work, or when Michele can't get home. We had a ton of fun on our first "lunch date" and I can't wait to meet Kate's dog, Stella (the miniature dachshund).

Today, 7/2- I sent my first email! Chad helped me send it to his parents and Uncle Evan. Here's what I wrote:
Hey Grandma Mags and Uncle Ev –

Check out my new collar (I can’t wait to pop this thing like the preppies on the East coast):

http://www.vineyardvines.com/index.cfm/fuseaction /products.detail/categoryID/67eb1ce2-01d0-47fa-a4ba-b08ec06a dfab/productID/dcdb410c-b2da-4907-9000-f07ecd509521/

Al sent it to me as a thank you for letting him crash here last weekend, I did not really mind since he is pretty cool. I am going to have to grow into it since it is quite large, but man once I do… watch out.

Kisses,
(Electronic Paw Print)

Well, that's what I've been up to for the past week! I'm looking forward to another fun-filled weekend and I'm counting the days until I can finally go to Dog Park!

Growing into my big feet,
Miller

Welcome to the Working Class : My first day at work

Yesterday I applied for a job as part-time office dog at Michele's office. The full-time position is already held by Ghepetto, the president's Austrian Shepard. Lucky for me, Ghepetto is only interested in what people food he can successfully scrounge, so he pretty much ignored me as I made the rounds getting lots of tummy rubs. A few of Michele's co-workers offered to buy me off of her, but she laughed at them and said that there was no way she'd give me up. Have I mention how I have my family wrapped around my little paw?

Anyway, I was so well-behaved for the whole afternoon (I only came in after lunch for my interview and as a trial run), and of course I'm so stinkin' cute that all of Michele's co-workers keep asking her when I'm coming back in. Looks like I've found myself my first job in the human working world!

Biscuits and puppy kisses,
Miller

New Beginnings : Moving Day

Well, yesterday was pretty exciting (and a little sad) for me. I had to say goodbye to my original family, Angela and Chris, and my brother, Jaxs. But then I started a new adventure with my new family!

Chad and Michele came up to Encinitas to meet me and, what can I say, I'm a such a heartbreaker that they couldn't help but fall in love with me instantly! They adopted me on the spot.

After a long car ride down to North Park, we arrived at the Neiderts (Curt and Ange) and I met my first big dog friend, Izzy (a Doberman and Akita mix). Izzy loves to play with other dogs and she didn't mind me jumping all over her one bit. She even helped me learn some new wrestling tricks!

Next, we walked over to Izzy's cousin Beaudy's (a Black Lab and Shar-Pei mix) house to borrow his old crate from his mom, Melissa (Ange's sister). I also got to play with Beaudy's roommate, Reese (a Black Lab).

Once Chad and Michele were nice and tuckered out from watching me play with all the big dogs, we piled back in the Subaru and headed home for the night.

Chad set up my crate in the living room and I was so pooped myself, I walked right in. I was a little nervous about being in a new place with weird smells and without my brother or my original family, so I wimpered and barked for about 10 minutes. Then the day just hit me in the face like a tennis ball and I passed out. I was perfect and quiet for the rest of the night and I even made it the whole night without an accident, not even one!

In the morning, Chad and Michele took me on a nice, long walk to Starbucks. I had so many smells to smell in my new neighborhood, I thought my nose was going to fall off!

When we came home, Michele helped me set-up my Dogster account so I can keep in touch with old friends and new. All this action so early in the morning has tuckered me out, though, so I think I'm going to curl up under the coffee table and take a nice nap.

Bark to you soon!
-Miller