Hello strangers

I have not been very diligent about posting but what are you going to do, I am a pup with a short attention span. I am still living th egood life. Mom got a new SUV so I have more room than in the spoty 2 door she used to have. We have already made a couple road trips to San Diego to visit grandmom and dad; and to Malibu to go to the beach. The weather hasn't been great so Malibu trips haven't been as frequent. Mom is going to get a trainer to come to help with my bird and squirrel addiction so she doesn't have to be as afraid when I dash into the crashing waves chasing a pesky seagull. I still have been stalking Moby the squirrel, but we started walking a new way since our sidewalk opened up and curiously enough, it seems to have no squirrel sightings. I wonder if mom does that on puropse?

All in all it has been a great Spring other than having horrific allergies to contend with. I was the youngest puppy ever to graduate from off-leash training classes at my doggie day care K9's Only; and I am still doing agility and LOVE it. I am getting so confident and I can tell mom is really proud. In fact today on our morning walk we passed by a film crew getting ready for a shoot and was waiting to be discovered!!!

Talk to you guys later!!!

I just joined twitter

I have so much that goes on in a day that I don't have time to blog so my mom and talked about it and decided we'd try twittering instead. I have a busy social calendar between play dates, doggie day care, hiking in the canyons of LA or on the beaches of Malibu. So follow me as puppymax on twitter.

My birthday

I have been off line for a while and I am sorry. Mom has been busy and we got off track. I woke up this morning to the pouring rain, so my normal morning wakl was postopned. Yesterday we started out but only made it to my favorite first patch of grass before it started coming down like cats and dogs.

My first deluge was actually Christmas day. We were in San Diego and my mom took me for an extra long walk which was great, but it meant we were really far from home when it started raining. We were some wet puppies when we finally made it, but I love the rain so I had a gerat time even if it was a bit cold.

Mom has been taking me for walks on the beach in Malibu and that has been fantastic!! I usually stick pretty close, but when you are off leash and you see birds come on, what are you supposed to do? I am so brave that I even went into the water and let a wave wash over me in the pursuit of a pelican. Mom did not like that too much and I believe I see a life jacket in my future as my birthday gift.

My birthday party is tomorrow and I can hardly wait. We rented out my doggie day care. Friends from the neighborhood are coming. We are going to have puppy cake and some people cake. I think the people are going to have something called pizza. I have never had any but I know the aroma is intoxicating.

So I am off and will try to be more regular in my udates,
ciao for now public!

New discovery...crows!!!

Well a whole new world has opened up to me in the pursuit of the crow. These nefarious looking avians dare to walk on the ground; they have none of the grace of my squirrel quarry. I feel it is my duty to protect mom from this feathered ruffians who seem to have set up shop on our street. I get a thrill being able to exert my masculinity and show what a good guard dog I am. I pull so hard on the leash that I actually chase after them sometimes on 2 legs, like my mom and her friends walk, I figure I look bigger that way like a grizzly. The crows don't seem to intimidated though, so I add my bark and look very determined and put on my best ferocious look, and sometimes they hop away. I will try and perfect my technique the next time they roll down my street.

I also went to the dog park. Mom learned a lesson there. The tennis balls you take there, stay there. It was really smoky because of the fires so we only stayed at the park for a little bit.

I heard my first alarm clock this morning. Mom had to wake up at 430am for a webcast thing, and I came unglued when I heard the alarm. I have a feeling I am going to go to sleep early tonight...

Confessions of a squirrel addict

I have a problem and need help. Does anyone out there know of a 12-step program for withdrawal from these seductive bushy tailed rodents? I saw two on my morning walk today. I couldn't take it. I lost my pooping focus, and yanked my mom toward the tree base that represents my circle of hell. I was entranced into a dizzying timber dance around the trunk, only catching a passing glance at that glorious squirrel tail. The faster I ran to one side, my dodgy adversary would match my rhythm in the opposite direction. My mom had to drag me away like the squirrel junky I have become. I need a squirrel intervention!!!

Help!

Mom was suspiciously sniffing me today; not in the sweet loving way but the is-he-stinky way. I made a big mistake by stepping in some water dripped on the bathroom floor that left what I thought was a lovely black and white-checkered pattern in the form of paw prints. Does she have no appreciation for canine surrealist art? But I am afraid my romp through the muddy grass may have sunk me, and I feel a bath coming on tonight...aaarrrrffffff!!!!!

Catching up

Well mom has been busy with work so our entries slowed down a bit. But we are back!
I keep visiting the tree where my favorite squirrel was last seen, and day and night I run to it hoping for a peppy reunion, but I have not seen my little buddy. It's funny though how I can get mom to run and try and keep me from cutting off my oxygen with my collar and leash when I get so excited.

I went to the vet last week and I weigh 17 pounds! Who knew that 2 types of prescription dry food, and 1 type of prescription wet food coupled with half a Pepcid at every meal could pack on the pounds? It takes more time to prepare my dinner than my mom’s, but fortunately my tummy has not been upset since Labor Day so it is worth it. I have to go to the puppy ophthalmologist next, so you can bet we are really glad I have pet insurance!!

Yesterday early morning we actually had a little hiccup in our well-orchestrated first 6 months. Mom went into the walk-in closet to check on something; turned out the lights and left; the dryer was on and she started brushing her teeth...and as she was brushing she wondered where I was because I am usually pretty glued to her at home. She was pretty happy because she thought I was getting a bit more independent, but then she faintly heard my barking and realized -- she had locked me in the closet. Fortunately it was only for a couple minutes and she was more freaked out than I was, but I really liked the guilt liver treats I got after.

We went to the dog park too. It was really fun. Sophie and Maddy came too, so I felt pretty proud going with my posse. I made some friends, but stuck close to mom.

Today is exciting because we are experimenting with expanding my world and letting me roam downstairs while mom is at work. I’ll keep you posted on whether I get some more liberty around the homestead.

RRRRRRRRruuuffff….

Prayer for a Poop (By my mom)

I look up to the heavens my dear
To ask for them to inspire your rear

I open the Gospel of the Caboose
and pray that nothing comes out too loose

I wish for you divine inspiration
and that your lack of movement isn't procrastination

Please don't make me wait for kingdom come
Just to get some action from your bum

For I know I will see angels descend as a troupe
Once my prayers are answered and you have done your poop

Ode to a Squirrel

Oh little squirrel
My love can have no deferral
You entice me so much
We could be friends and such
If only you would let me chase you

Your siren call is like a vixen
Would you come to me if I had a leash and collar from Kitson?
I promise you some sweet nuts
I am not one of the local mutts
If we got together I promise we could mix in


When I see you I quiver
My legs give a shiver
You are better than liver
And all I can do is pull on my leash

But if I anticipate
To my heart you are my bait
When I run it is too late
And I am left to hum to myself this pastiche


Oh little squirrel
I need a doctor’s referral
Your aroma is like an addict’s crutch
I promise I would have a light touch
If only you would let me chase you


A temptress you are
You dangle leaves from afar
You seductively pull me in

I am a gorgeous pup
And my ears and tail perk up
To show off for my heart’s twin


I see other dogs sniffing
But they are Pretenders spiffing
I know I am your one true love

As I go on my way
I look back at our tree and say
You truly were sent to me from above

Oh little squirrel
Our relationship is arboreal
I must bid adieu
I have other things to chew
But this tree is our symbol immemorial

My first diary entry

I am about to turn nine months old and already I have had so much fun with my mom. I started out a little shy with other dogs and people, but now feel more comfortable with both. There is one scaredy cat little girl in the building though who rattles me because when she sees me she has a fit and screams. I mean, has she looked at this face? But my day-to-day life is pretty good. I am adored by the people who live in our condo building, I have more toys than I know what to do with, and I have a nice Brit who walks me twice a day because mom has to work to keep the bacon on the table.

This month has been really exciting. I went to Santa Barbara and was allowed to go off leash -- I felt like such an adult. I got a little too deep when a wave came, but I stood my ground and even though the tide wanted to drag me in, I stuck my paws in the sand and stood my ground. I was also introduced to the sweet ambrosia also known as "eau du dead seal". I rubbed and rubbed myself all over this mystery lump on the beach, and before my mommy knew what was going on I had covered myself in the delictable scent that we both agreed was otherworldly (although let's just say I thought it was heavenly and mom may have thought it was from the other end of the spectrum). The magnetic pull was so great, that even when we were really far away I actually was brave enough to leave her sight -- which I never do -- to go rollicking back and make sure that I had absorbed the scent into every pore, and my harness and collar. What was really great was that I did such a good job, that after we got in the car even my car seat smelled like the deceased fellow mammal. It was great fun riding in the car with all the windows down and the sun roof open, I don't know why we don't always ride like that. When we got back to the house my paws barely touched the floor as I was whisked into the backyard where I had my first outdoor dousing of water. Not sure I liked it that much, the outdoor shower only had cold water. But it was OK, because no matter how hard she scrubbed, the divine scent still wafted up to my nose and everyone else's. So I also had my very first experience with this lady who came to the house, I guess they are called Mobile Doggie Groomers. Well her I was definitely not sure about. She found a hose and had warmer water, but she left me marinating in a special shampoo for a long time, I felt so exposed and skinny, and it was like I could see the little seal particles escaping into the air and floating away from me -- I was so sad. But eventually I got rinsed and conditioned and put in a funky crate that had a super powered hair dryer. (I could tell mom was jealous about how quickly my long locks dried.) And even though I no longer smelled of the sea, I felt quite proud of my aquatic adventure and it all ended with me looking quite sharp for our shopping excursions into Santa Barbara.

Last week I visited a new friend in Malibu named Bu. He has quite a spread. He and his mommy were nice enough to have me over, and my buddy Charlie came too. So we had a Cavalier puppy-palooza. Charlie and Bu are both 5 months old and Blenheims, so I felt very proud to represent for the ruby Cavaliers. Bu is shy like I used to be with other dogs, so we were very gentle with him, and by the end of the afternoon he was slowly coming out of his shell and playing with us. Bu's mom and had some amazing snacks for us that made my eyelids quiver. I tried to hide a couple but Charlie would always find them. Bu's house has not only an ocean view but an amazing heated pool. So my mom and I took a swim. My very first time to do the dog-paddle and I took to it like a canine Michael Phelps. My mom pointed me in the wrong direction at one point away from the steps which almost freaked me (and her) out, but I actually surprised myself an enjoyed it. I would run along the side of the pool as mom would splash around, and I almost decided to jump in once on my own but came to my senses. I came home exhausted and somehow I have a feeling that this made mom happy. Why does she like it when I am sleepy...???