Summer

Summer

I have to say that I think that Summer has to be my favorite time of the year.  The girls and my Dad are both home most of the days during this time.  Makes for great fun.  Can you believe they took a picture of me passed out from all the fun?  Phhsst.

The only thing I'm not liking this summer is all the storms!  Whoa!  They really freak me out.  The family is really good to me, though.  If it is going to storm, they make sure I'm tucked away safely in my crate.  It makes it a little bit easier.

I mean, check out this picture Mom took:

Scary right?  That's what I think!

The other bad thing is all these fireworks on the 4th of July.  The neighbor puts on a big show every year.  The family says it is pretty good.  How would I know?  As soon as it starts, I'm again locked away in my crate.  I'm glad, though.  The noise is just too much for my ears!

This year they put off ones that Dad said he liked best.  They were bang, bright light and that was it.  It was like a canon going off!  Too loud.  Mom says it hurt her eyes.

Other summer coolness?  Well, Mom and Dad work hard in their garden.  I'm not allowed by it.  They make a huge garden.  I don't like most of what comes out.  They didn't know I snuck off with what they call a zucchini.  Blah.  I chewed a bit and then spit it out.  Yuck.

Lots of evening we spend down at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The humans make a nice warm fire to cozy up to.  And we all sit around it.

Gotta love summer.

Fetching and New Neighbor

Fetching
So my humans are nuts.  They throw a ball and then stand there.  They expect me to go get it and give it back to them.  What?  That's just silly.  If you want the ball, don't throw it.

Plus, I'd like to eat the ball.  Or at least shred it!  Depends on the ball...  I'm very fond of soccer balls.  They make great fun at shredding.

Last night, I appeased Mom and the older girl (Liz).  Of course, they gave me a treat if I brought it to them.  Check out the video...  Mom wasn't thinking when she shot it in landscape.

Ok - so the video shows me doing it very well.  I'll have you know that I did it one more time and then took that ball to the couch!  Curled up in the corner of it!  That's right.  Then Mom took the ball.  Boo!

New Neighbor
So there's just some things outside that freak me out.  Have I told you about the Coyote pack near me?  No?  Oh that will be a flashback story then...

Our newest neighbor that moved in is a Cooper's Hawk.  He's one scary looking guy!  Dad ran out at 6:45am yesterday to snatch a picture of him.  It worries me that he'll fly off with a chicken ... or one of the girls!  I don't understand why Mom and Dad are so excited to see him.  Dad asked Mom if she was worried about the chickens.  She said, "No, it's the natural order of things.  Let it do its thing.  Birds of Prey have their place in our ecosystem."  What?  Miss Mighty Hunter she is said leave it alone?  Is she nuts?  She says it is being a responsible hunter - not the crazy kind you see on TV.

Whatever ... check out this bird!

Orvis Reflective Dog Collar Review

Renew Your Dog License
So Mom bought me a Lifetime Butler County Dog License.  You can get that when you are microchipped.  I guess I will forever be tracked!  That's great that she is a responsible dog owner and makes sure I am in good standing in the County.

Her fear is that the tag will be eaten or lost.  What?  OK, yes I did try to eat the last one and it was mangled into pieces.  At least I didn't swallow!

What was her solution?  An embroidered Orvis Reflective Dog Collar.

Orvis Reflective Dog Collar Review
Love my new collar.  Mom had the idea that instead of putting my tag on my collar, to put the number on the collar!  So we got the Orange Reflective, Large Collar with my name and license number embroidered on there!

So now anytime the light hits me, my collar reflects it back.  She says it is good for spotting me during the night.  Here's two pictures of me wearing it.  One from the side; so you can actually sort of see it.  The other is of me reflecting that light.  

Orvis ToughChew Dog Bed Review

Review of ToughChews Dog Bed

So, periodically, I think I will talk about something Mom bought me.  She got me the Orvis ToughChew Dog Bed.  Supposedly, these beds are indestructible.  Note that to date, I have destroyed four beds.  So Mom was told that she *if* I chose to eat it, she would get her money back.

Well, I love it.  It came in a HUGE box.  It's a beautiful blue color.  Mom and Dad drag it from my crate to the living room and back for me.

Here's where the story turns bad.  I chewed a nice sized hole in it.  Hey what can I say?  I like to chew. Mom contacted Orvis and received a full refund.  We didn't even need to send it back!  So I still sleep and chew on it.  It is a lot deflated now and Mom complains about cleaning up the pieces.  Oh well!

May 2012

Engaging My Nose

In an effort to prevent me from eating anything I want, Mom's been buying me all sorts of stuff.  She's been reading a book by Cesar Milan.  His belief is that she should be engaging my Bassett nose.  So she bought me some beef pizzles.  For those of you with weak stomachs, I'd suggest not looking up what that is.  It sure does engage my nose!  Yummy...

Has it helped to keep me out of stuff?  Nope.  You name it, I've chewed on it.  They had to order a new remote this month.  Not my fault they left it on the couch within reach!

I've also had at some pillows.  They have stuffing in them - how could I refuse to not pull it out?  There's nothing exciting, I've found on the side of the couch.  I get some attention, though if I start to chew on it!

Cat Fights & Mornings with Mom
Somehow Mom doesn't necessarily like me jumping up beside her in the morning.  It's such fun, though.  The cat has a fit and I get into the warm bed with Mom!  Mom relents and I get to stay with her, but I get some grumbles and hissing before all settles down again.  Although, the cat isn't too happy.  I can hear her under the bed growling...

 

Weather is Warmer!

I'm loving the warmer weather.  Except, because I got a bath today, only the kids are allowed outside.  Man, that is no fair!  I want to roll in the mud!  Ask K9 Grooming to come back again sooner!  I don't mind the Don's visits!

At least as the weather gets warmer, we spend more time outside.  Jimmy and Sue have come to play with me.  We are eating hot dogs and having a fire outside.  I'm a bit nervous about the fire part.  I'm also upset that I'm not getting any of the yummy smelling hot dogs!  ...wait...  HOT DOGS?!

February 3-9, 2013

...still trying to catch up on writing.  Too much to do, so little time.

Sunday
Superbowl!  Jim and Sue came.  They love sitting on the floor and playing with me.

Tuesday
Ate my bed.  Shredded it.  Only had it for three whole days.

Friday
Mom was home.  She let me outside.  I didn't come when called.  Nor when the whistle blew.  When I finally put my feet up on the window to say I was ready, she wasn't amused.  Then she dragged me straight to my crate saying I was soaked.

I heard her say she is buying Invisible Fence rocks for outside.  Wonder what those are...

May 2013 Storms

So I always put off writing, because I have to think about what happened next.  So while I will continue to document the first part of my life with my human family, I am also going to fill in with the fun things going on now!

May 2013 Storms
I so don't like these storms that keep rolling through.  The humans were watching the news last night and it just adds to my jittery-ness.  Think about all the animals that were hurt during the storms in addition to the people, too.

I have been getting upset stomachs when the bad ones roll through our town.  Dad wasn't happy the last time I threw up.  Mom said that I couldn't eat for a day just to give my stomach a rest.  I didn't argue.

Last night, Dad wanted to use an idea someone at work gave him.  He said that if we took one of his shirts and wrapped me up in it, I would be happier.  Mom obliged by picking one of his University of Pittsburgh shirts (like he has any others...).

I don't think it calmed me down, but it sure did distract me for a while!  We had grand fun with Mom and the kids wanting to take my picture.  Of course, I obliged.  Enjoy:

April 2012

Growing Boy
Hello, out there.  Here I am -- over 50 pounds and not looking so puppy-ish anymore.

As a side effect to my fast growth, I've become very protective of my food.  I'm a growing boy, I'm worried I won't get to eat.  So following another Cesar trick, Rachel feeds me.  I have to sit, wait.  She runs her fingers through my food while I watch.  Then she sets the bowl down, but I'm not to touch it until she walks away.  I get it, it's fine.  Don't growl at anyone while there's food in my bowl.  So if I bring it to you, will you fill it?  Yup!

Mom thought it would be fun to get my DNA tested.  She's all worried that my dad wasn't really an Australian Sheppard.  Now why would you think that?  Could it be the rate at which I'm growing?  She wonders if I'm part Bernese Mountain Dog.  They bought the kit from the Internet.  They swabbed my mouth.  A week or so later, the results were in!

Play Time!
Mom bought me a hedgehog.  Totally love trying to destroy it.  It makes this squeak noise that drives me crazy!  Must destroy...  Nothing better than curling up with her and my hedgehog.

The weather is getting warmer, though.  So glad.  That means the kids are outside more often and I get to play with the boys next door!  Here I come, Nemo ... after I nap after our last playtime.

Puppy School
Mom says I must go to puppy school.  She took me to meet Val.  She's a pretty cool lady.  She has a bag on her hip filled with treats.  If I could only get some...

They put a thing on my nose to keep from pulling Mom along with the leash.  They called it a gentle leader.  I call it annoying - get it off.

So stepping out of the past to chat a minute and throw out a plug...  Val's helped get my manners into shape.  So I'd recommend her any day.  So if you need help with your manners, go see her.  I love going there to have fun with the other dogs and Mom.  Dad comes sometimes, too.  Val gets three out of four dog treats.  Why only three?  Because I can't be crazy anymore.  The humans know how to make me behave.  (If Mom has her way, Val would have four dog treats.  But I'm writing the blog here!)

Family Dog Obedience
http://familydogobedience.net/
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March 2012

I've been busy as of late to write.  So I apologize to my fans out there.  Let's see, the story of my first year picks up in March...

So the weather is getting better and is a bit warmer.  I had some time outside to run around the yard with the girls.  We had a grand old time ... but then Mom says I had to come in.  So I sat at the door at just watched.  I mean, really ... I'm tired, sure... but if the girls can keep going...

Car Rides!
I've been riding in the car a couple times now.  I can easily sit on the seat.  Mom even makes me wear a special harness that connects to the seatbelt.

See me in the picture?  I'm a perfect little rider.

Here's the problem with riding, though ... I'm not sure I like going somewhere.  Twice we went to see this guy who stabbed me with a needle!  Mom says I was really good for it, but come on...

She did take me to the pet store, though.  I got all sorts of attention and "how cute" ...  I also got a toy and a bone!

Sleeping
Hey, I'm just a pup, you know ... So I need a lot of sleep.  These humans keep me pretty busy.  They've been doing this thing called "yard work."  So they spend all day outside cleaning up and getting ready the garden ...  All I know is that it is EXHAUSTING.  And Mom takes picture after picture of me sleeping!  But check out how much I grew this month!  (Yep - longer than the stove at 4 months!)

Iditarod
So my family is fascinated with Iditarod.  We sat and watched the start of *all* sleds!  Wow, dogs really pull sleds like that?  Seems too cold for me.  Mom and kids stayed up one night just to see the first place sled come in.  All I hear is excited pups!  But I still don't want to pull a sled in that weather!

Groomer!?

So before Mom left for work one morning, she told me that the Groomer was coming.  So about mid-morning, this guy, pulled up in this huge van (big to me anyway)!  He came and got me out of my kennel.  Boy do I like him.  Plenty of love, treats...  I'm not too sure about the fuss about my feet.  And I soooo hate the dryer.  It's all good in the long end.  Mom says I smell better and look nice.

Even though I'm telling you my past, I do need to throw out a small plug for K9 Lives.  Check out their website at dalesk9lives.com.  You'll catch me mention him in a future post, too.

Mom and Dad love having him come.  He always does an awesome job.  They say my predecessor, Annie, a Golden Retriever, hated going to the groomer.  Plus the groomers didn't like her - she was a lot of excited dog, I'm told.  Dale always took good care of her (no matter her antics of rolling over in the bath!).  I look forward to the long future of his visits to keep me from being stinky!

Remember, it may take a bit to get on their schedule, but that is because they are so good!  I give him four treats.  (I don't do the star thing.)