What a week!

Last week I was asked to be an administrator in a group, Furiends Furever. I was nervous at first, I've never served in that role before. But I'm having a lot of fun! We play a lot of games there. And new members are joining all the time. I made a fun new furiend, Mini.

Today a newsletter arrived from our apartment community, and there I was on the front page, Pet of the Month! It was funny, because I had just been out on my afternoon walk, and a lot of the neighbors I love were also out. Everyone wanted to pet me, and one called me a "neighborhood celebrity," but I didn't know why. I just like to wag my tail and make everyone smile.

I met a new puppy around the corner, Dodo, who really likes to play tag! We had a great time, even though I was on leash. Dodo wasn't, but he's only three months old, so I guess his daddy doesn't think he's going anywhere. We're always s'posed to be on leash here, though.

Tomorrow is Friday, which means my Auntie Myrna will come to take me for my walk at lunchtime. I like her a lot, and she gives me lots of treats! Tomorrow night my sitter, Susan, will be here! I get so excited when she comes over that I jump around in circles! Fridays rock!

Walking daddy

Last night when daddy came home I took him for a walk at Fort Fun where I can go off-leash. Most of the time mommy comes, too, but she is slower! When it's just me and daddy we can go fast, and last night I taught him a new trick: Come! I'd run off ahead and wait for him, "Come, Daddy!" And then when he caught up with me I'd run ahead again. We had a lot of fun and he said I was a very good boy because when I ran ahead to the parking lot, he told me to Stay so he could put my leash back on, and I did!

Today I'm at the groomer. My fur's gonna be a lot shorter, now that the warmer weather will be coming. And the burrs and foxtails coming, too! So it will be easier for mommy to brush me every day. But right now I'll need a blanket, I think!!

Training mommy

The weather has been warmer and dryer. That means longer walks, and sometimes a romp in the community dog run. I've been training mommy to fetch. She's a slow learner. She's good at throwing the ball, and I like to chase it. I can run pretty fast! But then when I find it, she just stands there, as if she's expecting ME to bring it back to HER. In fact she says so: "Fetch it, Hershey! Bring it here!" Clapping her hands, smiling. Oh, no. No, no, I do not fetch. I chase. Eventually she figures it out, comes and picks up the ball and throws it again. I chase it, turn around and say "I found it!" And then she starts in all over again. Humans! But I know if I keep working with her, she'll have it down by the end of the summer.

What I Learned from Billie-Bob

I don't know if this was a really good day or a really bad day. My furriend Billie-Bob had to go the the Rainbow Bridge. He was an old doggie, he got to the Bridge by way of his vet-dogter because he was getting very sicky. So now he's feeling much better and meeting old and new furriends. That makes it a good day! But he's not with us anymore, and his mom is very sad, and he's not in his office at P.I.F., and what if he forgets to keep sending us young ones his good advice?

I learned a lot from him.

*It's important to always have a job, like hunting varmints.
*Even if someone has to help you up, a ride in the car is always a good idea.
*You're never too old or too busy or too sick to make new furriends.
*You can find something to love about ANYBODY.
*When someone is scaredy, sometimes all you have to do is lie down quiet next to them and they feel better.
*No matter how bad you feel, going outside will make you happy.
*If it's green, pee on it.

I'll miss you, Billie-Bob. :(

Dog tired

I'm worn out. Yesterday, because the rain finally stopped and it was Saturday, we were able to go to Fort Fun. Lots and lots of other furs were there, too, and I was so busy sniffing and peeing it took us almost an hour to go from one end to the other. I had to run a lot, too, because sometimes mommy and daddy would get separated and I always have to run between them until mommy catches up!

Then today I spent the whole day at All Day Play at the Wag. And it was so nice out that we went up on the roof, wher ethey have a nice big play area! First I jogged all around it, checking it out, and then I ran laps with some of the newer doggies. And then I played some ball with the big dogs. Boy did I have fun! When mommy and daddy picked me up, all I wanted was my dinner and then a place to stretch out and s-l-e-e-p.

I will dream of my sweet friend Katie Lynn, who just went to the Rainbow Bridge. Someone poisoned her. I am very sad, and so are her mommy and daddy. We'll miss her very much.

Diary of the Day!

Wowrf!! Thanks, Dogster, for choosing my diary! The best part is, I got to make friends with a whole bunch of furs I never met before! It makes me feel so special. (Mommy says I'm special all the time, but you know...she's my mommy.)

A very very good boy!

Mommy says today I was a hero. She thought I was being very very bad, when really I was being very very good. See, she spends a lot of time every day upstairs punching at her computer. She calls it working, but she barely moves. Anyway, I usually hang out with her up there, or I sleep on the couch downstairs. But sometimes I'm just not sleepy, and sometimes I want some attention, and sometimes I hear murderers outside and, well--sometimes a fur's just gotta bark. Mommy doesn't like that very much.

Well today we were all quiet and going along, and I was downstairs and all of a sudden I had to bark REAL LOUD. And no matter what mommy did I would NOT stop. And I would NOT come when she called me. She warned me a couple of times, I knew she was getting mad, and then she came down, too. And then she saw what I saw: the front door wasn't closed. It was open and the wind was blowing and ANYBODY could have come in! (We live on a very busy street.) So instead of being put in my crate to be quiet, I got a great big snuggle and a lot of "Good good boys" and a yummy rice cookie from the doggie bakery.

I expect I'll be getting a little more respect around here from now on.

Cold and wet

I really don't like to be wet. It was storming on my Gotcha day three years ago, and it rained almost every day while I was being housebroken. I guess I didn't mind it then, but my coat wasn't as long and thick then either. Now when I go out in the rain I have to get rubbed all over with a towel when I come back in, and even then I'm not really dry for awhile. That makes me shiver and itch. And it's been raining a lot here lately. Last week I went to the groomer, then got rained on. Today mommy brushed me all up, and it wasn't raining so we went outside, but the rain caught us before we even got around the block. Back to the towel, back to the uncomfortable messy fur. I just want to be wrapped in a blanket and snuggled in mom's lap.

Spaniels Rock!

We're all smiles today because a spaniel won the Westminster Dog Show again this year, like two years ago. Stump isn't a cocker, but a spaniel is a spaniel the way we look at it. Mom thinks he looks like me in the face. I marked the occasion by going to the groomer!

Look! Look! Look!

Today I've had a lot to bark about. I barked all day. Here are some haiku we read on Quinton's page. Guess which ones applied to me today. Which ones apply to you?:

I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You will ever be.

I sound the alarm!
Paper boy -- come to kill us all
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I sound the alarm!
Garbage man -- come to kill us all
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

Today I sniffed
Many dog behinds -- I celebrate
By kissing your face.

How do I love thee?
The ways are a numberless as
My hairs on the rug.

My human is home!
I am so ecstatic I have
Made a puddle.

I HATE my choke chain
Look, world, they strangle me Ack!
Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack!

Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot -- no greater bliss -- well,
Maybe catching rats.

Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as much as I do.

The cat is not all
Bad -- she fills the litter box
With tootsie rolls.

Dig under the fence -- why?
Because it is there. Because it’s
There. Because it’s there.

I am your best friend,
Now, always, and especially
When you are eating.

I happily drink
Water for the porcelain pond
You close the lid. Why?

My owners' mood is
Romantic - At their feet I
Let loose a loud one.

I lift my leg and
Whiz on each bush - Hello Spot
Sniff this and weep.

-author unknown to me