Happy Barkday to Meeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'm 5 today! It's very important that my pack knows this. I'm the queen today and furever! Mom made some snarky comment about me finding my brain and calming down now that I'm 5. I don't think she's very funny and I may have to bite her later... Anywho, not only is it my barkday today (I'm the only one that really has a barkday because I have AKC papers so they know for sure), but I also achieved my C-ATE2 in the last few weeks! That is the second C-ATE in ONE year! My other one was on January 31 this year!!! Take that brothers! Soooo, I'm kicking back here and taking all the special loving that my humans can bestow on me... Just like a queen is supposed to.

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C-ATE2 Dori

C-ATE Dori

Today my life changed.... OK, not so much but it sounded good. We took off at 0 dark 30 like always, we were smooshed in the back of the CR-V cause the truck got rear-ended this week and Devin has this sick idea that I make a great pillow... OK, enough of that. We arrive at our destination and get all settled in. Duffy wasn't walking right so he was sidelined in our crate all day. I looked after him as best as I could, but he's a grumpy old dude and grrrrr'd at me if I got too close. I ran the first course with dad and rocked it and then we went out for the second one and the place got reeeeeeeeeally quiet.... NOT GOOD! I did what dad asked me to do and by the middle of the course he relaxed and we had loads of fun. When the big ugly buzzer sounded we ran for the table and I got on it without hesitation and then the place went wild! Geez, I know I'm fabulous, but really!!!! Mom came running out all leaky and carrying a humongous ribbon and then dad made me run part of the course again and I didn't even get my cookies!!!! NOT FAIR!!!! Ok, so he overcompensated when we finally did leave the ring and I was hailed like the goddess that I am. Yes folks, I'm a C-ATE dog now. Up there with my stinkin brudders and loving life. The best part is that I got snuggled all over by loads of nice folks. I love being fawned over....

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C-ATE Dori

Today I turn FOUR!!!

I was born in RI four years ago today. I don't remember much about it, but that's what I have been told. I spent my first 21 months with my first mom up in Alton NH and then came to live here. I like it here. There is a huge yard to run in and a pack to play with. Mom and Dad even got me a new squeaky toy for my birthday. His name is Devin.... I chase him around the back yard and when I catch him he flips over on his back and his little legs go straight up. It's pretty funny so I keep doing it. He runs right under me when I'm standing in the kitchen. I think it's kinda rude, but I can't help but smile. He'll learn... So, they get me a puppy, they give me treats and hugs and belly rubs. Yup, I think I'll hang around for another year.

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Dori

C-ATCH Dori!

No, that doesn't mean "CATCH Dori" like I'm running and you should catch me (Buddy), but it does mean that I achieved my CPE Agility Trial Championship this weekend with Dad up in Skowhegan Maine. We had a 3-day trial and I needed two of one certain game. This game is the hardest one you can do because you have to work away from your human when the whistle blows. On Friday I got a Q in this game cause it was kinda simple and we had a load of fun, but on Saturday the course was really, really hard and only 3 other teams qualified! Dad and I ran out and I got a Bazzillion points in the first part of the course (you can make that part up just to get points) and then when the whistle blew dad lined me up on the first jump and I went perfectly through the hard part, turning AWAY from him at one point to continue down the course. The humans all cheered and mom came running from the other ring to kiss Daddy and me and then we took a victory lap. It was great and I have a very pretty purple and white ribbon that matches my collar. SWEET!

I'm pooped so I'm going to get Dad to rub me and love on me like I sooooo deserve.

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C-ATCH Dori

Poo List...

I'm on momma's poo list again... I was doing so well there for a few months and lately I can't seem to get it right. I run out the door and literally "take down" Doolin as he's chasing tennis balls, I "bite" anything that is running and have caused some damage to my sibs lately. Duffy got so angry at me that he snapped, I jumped and he put a hole in Duncan's side by accident. Yup, mom is really sort of fed up with me right now. I can't help it! I'm home all day with Dad, but only play in the yard. I think I need some big time job like pulling a cart to market or herding something somewhere. I'm BORED!!!!! Ooooo, there goes Doolin again....

I Ran With Momma!!!!

We had a USDAA trial (the harder group) this weekend and dad hurt his leg and couldn't run with Duffy and me. Mom said he's falling apart since he turned 40... BOL!!!! Anywho, dad asked mom if she would like to try and run us and she said sure! She was also running Duncan and Doolin, so we all sat back to see how this circus would pan out. As it happens, there were other human friends that stepped in to help run a few times too, but Mom did most of it.

When it was time for us to run she fed me yummy treats and played tug with me and then off we went. The first run wasn't so great, but after that it was better and better. I Qualified in every run after that including Standard! Mom was so excited!!!!! I hit my contacts and sat the start line allowing her to lead out and everything! My jumpers run was a thing of beauty according to her and she gushed all over me when we were finished. It was good cause for a while there she didn't like me so much... Now she is all warm and fuzzy and wants to run me all the time.

She also qualified with Duffy on his Standard run. What is strange is that in 7 years of running agility with this pack, mom and dad have never run each others dogs until last weekend. Dad wants a chance to run Doolin and Duncan now too. We'll see how that goes. First he has to get back to walking straight!

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Dori

Getting to know your furiends...

Copy this diary entry, and paste it into your diary. Read and then delete my answers. Then you can fill in your own! We can get to know our pals better!! Have fun!! Then send a rosette or pawmail to 4 pals and ask them to post it in their diary!!!!

1. What color is your collar?
When I wear one, it's Dress Stewart Plaid

2. What kind of food do you eat?
Solid Gold kibble in the morning and Nature's Variety with Garbonzo and salt-free green beans added in at night

3. What are your favorite treats?
ANYTHING THAT MY BROTHERS ARE EATING and the cats...

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other??
My little fluffball Mulligan the Bichon

5. Do you get Table Scraps?
Yup, only after dinner is finished for the humans though

6. What is your favorite toy?
Harley the cat...

7. When is your Birthday?
December 13th I was 2 years-old

8. How many times a day do you get to eat?
Twice with Snacks between

9. Do you have a favorite color?
Does "cat" count as a color?

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary?
If they want to...

I will send this to

My handsome Mulligan
Kiba
Frodo
JR

Ouch!!!!

I did something to my front paw yesterday and Dad wouldn't let me run with him at the agility meet. I had to spend all day in the crate while my stinkin brothers were tearing up the courses! Even my handsome little Mulligan was there and we were crated just feet apart and I didn't get a whole lot of Mully time! It was sooooooooo unfair! So this morning I was favoring my paw even more and mom did a quick exam to find out if I had shattered a claw or if I had something stuck in a pad and she found a big lump between two of my toes. She knew I had a cyst or something, so off to the vet I went. Both my pawrents went with me cause I hadn't been there before. I was a very good girl and didn't even bite the tech when she stuck that thing where no one should stick anything! I didn't bite the vet when he looked at my paw either! He said that the cyst was open and draining and then he made sure that it was going to continue draining and I'm on some yucky pills and pain killers. He did say that if I was good and it healed, I might be able to run in the big meet next weekend. We can only hope because being crated all day and listening to how GREAT the boys are is a bit taxing. The good side of all this was that the Vet and Techs were all gushing over how pretty I was and how well I behaved. Yup, I sure made a great impression on my first visit. I hope I don't have to go see them again any time soon...

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Dori

I Think I have Won Her Over...

Mom has been a pretty tough nut to crack since I came to this home. She really didn't want a purebred, non-rescue, larger dog and here I was. I kept getting under her feet, crawling into her lap, and generally making a nuisence of myself. Well, she finally melted. I think the fact that I finally calmed down a lot and started trusting this family that did it. Also, my beard finally grew in and softened my face and she keeps telling me how BEAUTIFUL I am. Now when she comes home I greet her very nicely and when she sits on the couch I HAVE to put my head on her leg. I look at her with my soleful eyes and she goes all mushy. She loves to pet me and for the most part Duncan and Doolin allow me some mom time. It's pretty cool since they own her and are being really nice about sharing her. Doolin has become a good furiend outside too. We run and play and really have a good time. I think it's cause I'm the closest to his age. All in all I'm really loving my new home. I make my pawrents laugh a lot and have a ball with them and my brothers. I'm still too interested in the other furry critters that inhabit our home, but mom is pretty strict about us hunting them. POO!

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Dori

I have a voice and I'm not afraid to use it!!!!

Yes pups, I have a lovely voice and I'm finding that I get loads of attention when I use it. Last night while mom was fixing their supper, an event that is usually her relaxation and down time cause she likes to cook, I thought it was far too quiet and let out one HUGE WOOF!!!! Mom jumped and Doolin thought it was time to bark and started throwing his two cents in and then Duncan started. So much for mom's relaxation time! She didn't think our voices were that good and asked us to stop. OK, we'll stop *for now*.

We have been finding out more and more about my past life from people who actually knew me. It seems that I had a voice back then too, but it took a while for me to use it here in my new house. Now I love to go out back and bark with Duffy. Mom and Dad discourage that behavior and say that the neighbors do not share in our appreciation of fine voices, but I say poo on them! I'm going to raise my voice every chance I get and let the world know that I have found a fine new home where the humans love me and I get my face smooshed on a regular basis. YEAH! WOOF!!!!!!

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Dori