My new Furfriend

I am just so excited because I made a new furfriend today! Her name is Clair and she is visiting with the neighbor from across the creek. She is a very pretty chocolate lab and she is very playful. We went outside to play in the snow and something caught my eye. I would not stop looking in that direction and every once in a while I would let out a little bark. I was inviting her to come to my yard and when she caught sight of me she ran right over. Mom was happy for me have a visit from someone I can wrestle and rough house. It did not take us long to get so tired from running and wrestling in the foot of snow that we have. I was sad when she had to go home but guess what. Her temporary Dad said she may be staying permanently. I hope this is true.

5th class

We had our 5th class. It was mostly agility. Mom was suprised how well I did because I don't have very much interest in our backyard stuff. I raelly seemed to like the tunnel and at on point Cookie ran through one direction while I ran through the other way. I also did the weave poles for the first time. We now have ours set up in the basement to practice because the weather is terrible. I hope Mom gets the tunnel out too. We also worked on getting our front paws on a phonebook. I already have this mastered. When Mom says on and points to the phonebook I put my front paws up there. The trainer was laughing when she asked us to show her how we were doing with our new trick and I wiggled my ears when Mom says "EARS". This was not really very hard since this is a natural behavior for me. Mom just waits for me to do it, captures with the clicker, and says ears. I'm a quick learner. I didn't want to do jumps at first and kept knocking the bars off but Mom did not get mad. She knows I like rally better. We had a great time again!

My 4th class

Tonight was our 4th class and we had fun. I loved everything. First we showed the trainer what we would do with an empty box. I stepped in it, stood in it, sat in it, fliped it up on its side. I was very creative. Then we worked on our trick. Mine is to wiggle my ears. I'll do anything to make Mom laugh. Then we worked on agility. When it was my turn Mom told me jump and I plowed right into the bar and knocked it over. Oh well I guess that needs work. Actually later on I was doing much better but the trainer said I hop over it like a bunny, all four paws at once. Guess its a good thing Mom likes bunnies too. Then we got to play with the tunnel and Cookie and I ran through it so many times. Next we worked on a mini rally course and I can tell Mom is getting much more confident and I so want to do as she wishes. At the end we worked on heeling in circles and figure eights. Class was so tiring we are going to sleep good tonight!

Doggie Class

We had our 2nd class tonight. It was more work on rally commands and quite a bit on leash work. Mom was really happy about that because she would like me to stop dragging her down the street and although I am doing better she was glad for more instruction. Part of our homework for next week is to pick a behavior we do automatically and put a name to it so we will do it on command. Mom is going to have me move my ears around and say "tune in radio station". Silly Mom! The trainer is impressed with how responsive I am to Mom.

My trip to the Barkery

I got to go with Mom today to the local barkery. When we got there I was so surprised. I met the biggest dog I have ever seen. The owner of the store had her Great Dane there. I was a little nervous at first but she was very nice. We did very well with our introduction. The nice lady behind the counter tried to give me a cookie but I will not take things from people I do not know very well. Mom gave it to me when we got to the car and it was yummy.

ADOPT 09 CONTEST

I heard about this interesting contest and since I am adopted I thought I would enter. My name is Yogi and my story of my new life starts 2 years ago in South Carolina.
I don't exactly know how I became a stray. I am not sure if I was lost or if my family turned me out because the could not keep me. I probably wondered around for quite a while on my own because when I did get found by a nice lady, I was in pretty bad shape. As I mentioned a nice lady found me and this female dog I was hanging out with. She managed to catch us and put us in an outside pen. She tried to find out who we belonged too but I guess they were not looking for me.
This nice lady managed to find a home for the female dog, and knowing I was an Aussie she decided to call ARPH (Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline). Dogs in Rescue programs have a very good chance at getting adopted by the right type of home. But before I could get in the program I had to be evaluated. The volunteer must have thought I was a good candidate and here is where I started my journey.
My foster family in SC could not keep me long term just for a little while till another place could be found for me. Nobody in the area was available and since our rescue is all over the US and part of Canada the word was spread that I needed a place to stay.
Enter Auntie Carrie and Uncle Mike. They live all the way up in Pennsylvania but had recently placed the Foster dog they had. So Auntie Carrie raised her hand and said she would take me in. But how would I get from SC to PA. Well a transport was organized for me and another dog Buzz who was in North Carolina. Many nice people volunteered to drive about 1-1 1/2 hour each to relay Buzz and I up to PA. The big day came and my foster Mom down there must have been sad because she sent a big bag of toys, treats and other goodies which were to go with me to my new home. I think I must have been scared to keep getting transfered from one vehicle to the other, but everyone along the way said I was such a nice doggie and they wish they could keep me. Finally I met my Aunt Carrie, Uncle Mike, and the lady who would eventually be my new Mom. I was exhausted from my travels and curled up into a ball and rode the last hour of my ride on Mom's lap.
Mom had never felt so skinny an animal and she thought she could feel every little bone sticking out.
This is the story of my health scare. I had been on medicine for parasites but it did not seem to be working. I was losing even more weight,was lethargic and had other disturbing symptoms. My foster family took me to many vets trying to get to the bottom of what was wrong. They even drove me to New Jersey to stay for a week with a vet who gives the rescue a discount. One vet we went to said she thought I had a liver shunt which means the blood bypasses the liver and thus does not get filtered. She said if it was that I would only live for about 1 year at most. Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mike had decided that if I did have it they would keep me and give me the happiest life they could with what I had left. Luckily she was wrong and finally after 3 months I was straightened out enough to be posted for adoption.
There was one problem though Mike's sister had gotten very attached to me. She already had a Border Collie who was working through fear aggression issues with other dogs. She was very pleased that Cookie did not seem to mind the fact that I was around. I had met Cookie many times but Mom thought she should see how Cookie felt about me in her house. I think she liked having me around and was not the slightest bit jealous that I was there. Mom decided she needed to adopt me.
We have been together for 2 years now and I bring her much happiness everyday. She is just so glad that rescues exist to help unfortunate animals and that from so far away we found each other. She still wonders though if there is somebody out there who misses me.

Here is more about me....

1. What color is your collar?
Lupine square dance pattern- red, aqua, yellow and blue block design
I'm on my second because Mom ran the first one over with her ridding mower. She left it outside, but fortunately I was safe in the house.

2. What kind of food do you eat?
Iams Premium Protection and Natural Balance

3. What are your favorite treats?
Barkery treats

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other??
No, I'm available

5. Do you get Table Scraps?
Yes good things

6. What is your favorite toy?
Stuffies very soft with long arms and legs

7. When is your Birthday?...
? My official adoption anniversary is 4-14-07

8. How many times a day do you get to eat?
Breakfast, Dinner and usually a snack at lunch

9. Do you have a favorite color?
I think I like all colors

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary?
Yes, I can't wait to see their response.

Fun Day with Mom

Let me tell you about my day yesterday. I got to spend the whole day alone with my Mom. It was so fun to be spoiled. We went to the barkery, the doggie toy store and for a long walk. I usually share Mom with my sister Cookie but she was at the vet having her teeth cleaned. I was glad to have this special time but even more glad to see my sister again when Mom picked her up. Mom made me wear a doggie seat belt on the way home so I wouldn't bump against Cookie in case she was sore but I gave her a kiss as soon as I had the chance. I also let her take my favorite toy to stay with her at the vet so it would remind her of me so she wouldn't be so scared. I think it worked because she was a very good girl! I'm so glad to have her back.

December 3,2008

I had my obedience class tonight. We had the pre-test for next week when we earn our certificates for the class. I was 2nd in the rankings and the top dog took the class before. I only lost 4 points and that was because I wanted to follow Mommy when she told me to stay and walked away. I think it was little bit of an anxiety thing from my days as a stray before I was adopted. Not to worry Mommy told me even if I don't do good next week, she loves me anyway.