Back to Work & Loving It!

I got to see my kids again. Twice, actually.   And Mom worked up a really cool lesson plan for both days.  The idea was to let the kids read some of a book called, "The Kid's Book to a Happy Puppy.", or something like that.  They were supposed to read about how to handle a dog (Me!) to make the dog feel happy and loved.  (What could go wrong with a subject like that?).  Then we would move on to giving commands and training me to do a trick.  (There are some I don't know too well yet.  Like I'm not real good at staying in a sit or down for more than about 3 seconds.)

We all sat in a circle with the kids around me.  One of them would read and I would sit near the reader.  That was to encourage them in case they would be afraid to read.  They were almost all of them pretty eager to read to me.  I think that had something to do with how adorable I am.

I wish we could take pictures.  It was so cute how they all tried to cuddle with me while we did the reading.  But I found some pictures that give you the idea of how it felt.

And did I enjoy it?  You better believe it!

It was kinda sad, though.  Because except for one of the boys, all the others had a hard time reading words that were more than 4 letters.  I could tell Mom was a little thrown off.  We only managed to read two pages in the half hour.  In fact, she stopped the reading and instead, Mrs. Joy (she's the neat gal who helps Mom when we go to school), read a book that had 50 Ways to Make Your Dog Smile.  She would read one way, and one of the kids would practice it.  Like rubbing me behind my ears.  MMMMMM, this was even better than reading.

But I knew Mom was a little surprised and disappointed.  So we talked about it, and decided for the next time to make some index cards with the things she wanted them to know.  They would still read them, but she used easier words than the book.  She said that they really needed to practice, and they needed to feel that they did well when they would read.  So the next time, that's what we did for the first half of the class.  And during that time, they learned how to give me a command.

But THEN, we had a real fun surprise for the kids.  (And it wasn't bad for me either!)  The kids got to make treat bags so they would have treats ready to give me when they would give me a command.  Mom brought golf socks that didn't have matches.  (She had a lot of them thanks to me!  (I ate a lot of golf socks when I was younger.  But only one from each pair.)  She would roll them over in half and then attach them to their pockets with those clips they use for lots of paper.  It was pretty cool. 

She also showed them how to make a different kind of treat bag with the bottom of a water bottle.  Those were better than the socks because they would stay open and be easier for the kids to get to the treats.  (And the faster to give them to me.)  But they weren't as pretty as the socks.  Mom has lots of colorful socks.

Little Rosa was really creative and she wrapped her sock around one of the water bottle bottoms.  Now she had a pretty treat bag that stayed open!  Mom was pretty amazed that she thought of that and gave her a big hug.  I gave her a big kiss!

But the best part was the ending.  They all had a turn to give me a command.  Either Sit, Shake or Down.  Then they would give me a treat from their treat bags.  I got a little confused and sometimes I did all three - just to be sure.  I think they were going to give me a treat whether I did it right or not!

I think my kids are really liking me now.  And I really like them.  I kissed as many of them as I could. 

Hope you have fun things to do like I do.

Love, G

I Really Like My Sitter

Mom & Dad went to St. Louis without me.  Again.  But then, it's pretty cold there so I don't think I'd want to go there anyway.  So I stayed with Mrs. Jan and Mr. Tom and ThomCat.  I really like them.  They take such good care of me.  And I asked Mrs. Jan if she would help me write this blog and she said, Sure!  So here it is:

This is my new best friend Chloe.  She’s only 7 months old and comes over to Mrs. Jan’s house for doggy day care two days a week.  She’s pure French Bull dog. I think that's really cool.  I know my Mom likes French stuff and so do I.   I let her pull me around and she thinks she’s winning the game…..but we both know I could win if I wanted to.  (At least I think so!)

I’m being very good and enjoying our morning and evening walks around the neighborhood. I really love Mrs. Jan and Mr. Tom.  They let me climb into bed with them.  AND I get to play with Daisy, the dog next door.  I'm really glad Mom and Dad found Mrs. Jan and Mr. Tom to take care of me. 

Love,

Guinness 

Can a Shepherd Recognize Another Shepherd?

We went to the dog park yesterday.  Oh, joy!  Oh, joy!

There were lots of dogs.  Big dogs like me.  I didn't know any of them. They weren't doing much of anything except hanging around.  So Mom decided to take things into her own hands (and my paws) and pulled out - you guessed it! - my Frizbee!  WOW! Instant pandemonium.

First Sherm had it.  That's me in the back trying to catch Sherm.  That's Bella in the middle.

Then Bella got it.  And that's Camp trying to tackle Bella.  And me in the back again.

You might think I should be more anxious to save my own Frizbee.  But really, I just like to chase around with the other dogs and if it takes my Frizbee to do it, then so be it. 

I didn't tell you about Camp.  He's BIG.  And he came up to me when I came into the Dog Park.  He growled at me through the fence.  Mom was a little scared and she wouldn't let me out of the second gate until me and Camp talked a little through the fence.  When she was sure he wouldn't eat me, she let me out.

We did our regular sniffing dance.  And then he got to playing pretty rough.  Well I know how to play rough too.  So we tussled and hassled each other and he growled a little.  His owner asked Mom whether I had some Shepherd in me.  Mom told him she thought so.  He said that his Shepherd only plays rough like that with other shepherds. So maybe that answers whether I'm a shepherd or not?

When we got home, Mom helped me Google whether a dog can recognize it's own breed.  We found some pretty interesting stuff.  Apparently no one has done an experiment that shows that a dog CAN recognize his own breed.  Although there is some speculation that because a dog sees his brothers and sisters when he is young, he might recognize and be more comfortable with dogs that look like that. 

But there was a different question that they did do an experiment on.  And I didn't think about it, but I know when I see a Chihuahua that it's a dog like me.  I also know that when I see a Great Dane, it is also a dog like me. 

The experiment said that dogs can recognize their own species even though they are really different.  Lots different than say a human from Asia and a human from USA.  I think that's pretty cool.  We are all dogs.  Just like Asians and Americans and Iranians and everybody else are all humans. 

I think that might be what they call profound.

Go out and say hello to all your humans!

Love, G.

Their Baaack! And I'm in Trouble Deep.

So a couple of nights ago, Sutter and I were exploring, and we found Sutter's Mom and Dad packing up their clothes and things.  That was a little worrisome.  Until they said goodby to us and got in their car.  THAT WAS REALLY WORRISOME.  My Mom and Dad were gone and we hadn't seen them for almost a month.  Now Sutter's Mom and Dad had left us.  What would we do?  Who would feed us?  Would we ever get treats again? 

I told Sutter, if anybody ever came back, we should try to be very good.  Maybe they all left because we were not good puppies. 

So we sat and we waited.  And we waited.   And we waited.

After a long, long time, we heard the car.  And I heard something else, too.  Could it be?  Was that my Mom's voice?  I rushed to the door but nobody came.  Finally, the door opened and there she was--MY MOM.  I was soooo excited.  And then my Dad came in and I got even more excited.  Then Sutter got excited, 'cuz I was excited.  We tore around checking everybody and they were all there.  Oh, Joy! Oh, Joy! Oh, Joy!

So all 6 of us sat around and it was really fun.  I was so happy, I decided to make some confetti to celebrate. 

 That wasn't a good choice.  Dad was not happy with my confetti.  (I think my Mom was laughing behind her hand.)  Dad tried to explain that this was what feeds me.  It's called money and it doesn't grow on trees.  Well I didn't know.  So I went and Googled money and what happens when you make confetti out of it.  Google says not to worry.  As long as there is at least 50% of the money left  (that I didn't accidentally swallow), then he can get a new money from the Bank.  So Mom says he's not mad at me anymore.

I'm glad.  It's not good to be in trouble after they just got back.  They might go away again and I would not like that.  Especially since Sutter and his Mom and Dad left this morning.  It's going to be lonely without Sutter.  So I better have a good relationship with Mom and Dad!

I'm glad, glad, glad they're back.  (Even if I DO get in trouble.)

Love, G

I'm Jealous!

Mom's been gone for a week now.  She sent me a picture to tell us how she's doing.  It's a picture of an animal she met in Australia.  I remember her telling me she always wanted to "cuddle a koala".  I didn't know a Koala was a real animal.  I thought it was something stuffed and soft and fuzzy. 

Well this is the picture she sent to me:

This is a real animal.  It DOES look cuddly and cute.  I don't know if I like her getting too close to one of these. 

And then she sent this picture.

She really IS getting too close to that cuddly, cute animal.  I'm getting pretty mad and jealous.  Mom you better come home and don't get any closer to that cute thing!

I'm telling you Mom,  I'm not happy!

What am I going to do if Mom brings one of those Koala things home?

Please help!

Love, G

New Kid in Town

I knew something was going on when Mom and Dad invited another couple and their dog to our home.  Her name is Sutter.  Yeah, like the baseball player only she's a girl.  I mean that's the dog's name.  And she's smaller than me.  And lots older.  But I guess she's nice.

I try to be a good host whenever we have visitors.  Especially puppy visitors.  Sometimes it doesn't work so good, like when Sasha hid in the closet to keep away from me.  But Sutter didn't hide in the closet.  She just made herself at home.  She even jumped up on one of my favorite chairs. She's a little silly, and she's kinda fun to be with.

She had dinner after she got here with her own bowls.  She has really big bowls.  I thought she might offer me some of her dinner, 'cuz she had lots more than me.

 I was very patient and waited until she would give me a chance at her bowl of dinner.  She never did.  Mom said I could not expect to eat any of her food.  She said Sutter has the same amount as I do, but I get to eat mine twice a day and she eats only once.  Oh, well, a dog can dream, can't he?

We've been playing keep away with my Frisbee and a ball in the park.  Sutter is better at that than some of the dogs I've tried to teach.  In fact, we played so hard, we both had to zonk out in the living room together.

I get the feeling Mom and my new Auntie Cindy want us to play well together.  I think maybe Sutter is here to stay for awhile.  I told you something is going on.  There are other clues, too.  Like the suitcases in the back bedroom.  Mom has been filling them for the last two weeks, and it doesn't look like there is any room for me.   And Mom has been especially cuddly this past week.  She keeps promising she's coming back soon.  But she hasn't gone anywhere.

Yesterday, she and Dad left they house in the morning and I went on a walk with my new Auntie Cindy and Sutter.  I thought that was kinda weird.  I kept looking around for where Mom and Dad had gone, but I didn't see them.  But after we came back from our walk, there they were.  Today, they left Sutter and me and all four of them went in a car with the suitcases.   Mom gave me a big marrow bone and told me that she and Dad were going away for a few weeks, and that I was to take care of Auntie Cindy and Sutter.  I KNEW IT! I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON!

You can't put anything past this dog!  So it's me and Sutter for a couple of weeks.  I think I can deal with that.

Love, G

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

I am resting comfortably contemplating my bones, after watching the ball drop last night.  So I thought I should make some good resolutions for the New Year.

So here they are:

1.  I will respect all of the dogs at the dog park and on my walks.  (Especially when they are bigger than me!)

And when they have disabilities, like only three legs.

And even when they are shy.

2.  I will be good to all my Aunties, 'cuz Aunties take good care of you.  And sometimes Aunties need me to make them feel good too!

3.  I will work hard for the kids who depend on me to be a good Therapy Dog.

4.  I will go to the vet when I need to (even though I hate to go to the vet).

5.  I will do my yoga excercises so that I will be fit and trim (and the vet will not yell at me for weighing too much.)

6.  I will learn how to use the Doggie Door so Mom doesn't have to get up every ten minutes when I think I want to go out and then I come back in right away.  (That's frowned upon in our house.) 

7.  I will play and relax so that I can work hard for the little kids and do all my other resolutions. 

I think that's enough New Year's Resolutions.  I might have to pare it down.  Maybe I could put off #6 until next year? 

Hope you have some good resolutions.  And I hope you can keep them all.  Have a great 2017 and keep in touch!

Love, G