Toke's Tails

Spring is in the air!

2009-04-27T19:58:00.002-05:00

I just love my backyard! I love running around the backyard and running up and down the fenceline with my neighborhood Springer friends. I love to sniff around and eat grass and chew rocks. I love to sit on the deck as the sun is setting. No matter how many times mom asks if I want to come inside, I'd rather stay out here in the fresh air, listening to all the sounds and watching all the sights. I LOVE being OUTSIDE!

My baby sister has arrived

2009-04-26T06:58:00.003-05:00

We took a long trip to the airport yesterday and picked up my new baby sister, Splash. She is little and can be very loud. Flyer isn't too sure about having another puppy. He's kinda grumpy with her or just ignores her completely. I want to play with her but mommy says I need to realize that she is smaller than me and I can't roughhouse with her like I do with my buddy Tucker at agility class. I can't wait til she is bigger so we can REALLY play!

This morning she didn't finish all her food so Flyer and I got to clean up the rest of it. It was quite nummy - hamburger and rice. Mommy is feeding her that since it is a stressful time right now and it will be easier on her tummy. Mommy also said that it is good I helped break her back in to having a puppy because this time around she is having very little problem ignoring all the crying that Splash is doing. :-)

We all slept through the night pretty well 'cause we were all exhausted. It looks like it is going to be a rainy day today which mommy is not thrilled about and I'm not either - I love being outside and hanging out on the deck or running around the backyard. I'll keep you updated on the progress of my little sister!

Something New

2009-04-18T13:42:00.002-05:00

There are changes at our house! Last week, mom took away the wire crates and replaced them with these weird plastic things with our bedding in them. There is one wire crate left, but I can't get inside it. I'm pretty used to the new set up now. Mom says the wire crate is for our new sister who is coming next Saturday. Her name is Victory Gone Swimmin' and we'll call her Splash. She is black like Flyer. Not everyone can be a perfect liver like me I guess. Woof! I hope she is nice. I think it will be fun to have someone close to my age to play with too.

This morning we went for a ride and mom helped some people set up the agility equipment at our club training site. I got to come out and play with a couple of the dogs. We start agility classes again in a couple weeks. Mom says I'm doing really well! I like agility. I get to be a crazy dog when we do it and I'm good at that! I also get to be in a tracking class with Flyer. I'm not sure what that is all about but it sounds like involves having my nose on the ground and eating treats. I'm good at both of those things, so I should do just fine.

I have to go. Mom wants to go for a walk with us right now.

I'm a show dog!

2009-04-06T07:01:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, we got up REAL early and drove a LONG way to a dog show. This was my second time at a dog show and second time in the ring. When we got there, Grandma Linda was there and I was SOOOOO happy! My little brown butt wouldn't quit wiggling. Grandma Linda couldn't even look at me or I would go crazy.

Mom and G'ma Linda put some finishing touches on me, and then we were off to the show ring. I went into the 9-12 puppy bitch class with G'ma Linda on the other end of my leash. There were some good smells on the ground and I wanted to keep my head down there, but G'ma Linda wanted me to keep it up. I was naughty and wouldn't stand very still either. We got the blue ribbon. Of course, there was only me in that class :-)

After we came out of the ring, Mommy got my leash and we went back in and won a purple ribbon. Mommy seemed pretty excited about that. I was better behaved for Mom because G'ma Linda had worn me out the first time we went in. Then we got to go in one more time and the judge handed mommy a red and white ribbon and she was really happy. Mommy told the judge she had been too chicken to come in with me and the judge laughed.

Mommy says I now have a point. Geesh, I have lots of points, but does she ever listen to them? No! Humans. I just don't get them sometimes! Oh well, it was a fun day and I got a bunch of treats outta the deal, although I heard both G'ma Linda and Mom talking about me needing to lose a little weight. Mom has been calling me the chunky monkey.

P.S. Doesn't G'ma Linda's outfit look nice with me? I bet she wore that when she showed my mommy Snicker!

A Busy Life!

2009-03-21T13:37:00.002-05:00

I have been very busy lately. During the day, I have to try hard to stay out of trouble while Mommy is at werk. She says I'm doing much better. After Mommy gets home, most days she has been taking me and Flyer for a two mile walk in the park. There have been HUGE puddles, some deep enough to swim in, and I have been taking full advantage to get as wet and muddy as I possibly can. Mom just laughs at me and is happy I like the water so much. (She doesn't let me swim in the deep puddles though)

One night a week we go to agility class. I am very smart and confident. The stuff they are showing us is easy to do. I get lots of treats in class and love going to agility! Mommy thinks I will be an excellent agility dog when I grow up. She just hopes the snow finishes melting and the ground dries up so she can put out some of our equipment. She is also making plans to get new contact equipment this spring (the old stuff rotted out). I don't mind the wet and mud at all. In fact, I've been trying to bring as much of it into the house as I possibly can!

I might be getting a baby sister. If all goes well, we will have a new Flat-Coat puppy joining our family at the end of April. Mommy is excited because this puppy is closely related to another puppy she had named Bounce. She also thinks I will really enjoy having a playmate closer to my age. Keep your fingers and toes crossed that there is something in the litter for us!

Mommy's and my terrible experience with Gastriplex and WellVet.com

2009-03-21T13:17:00.003-05:00

Last October when I was still having tummy troubles, Mommy heard about a product called Gastriplex made by Thorne Veterinary. She decided to try some to see if it wouldn't help firm up my poop a little more and ordered some from www.WellVet.com. I started taking it as directed (even a little less than suggested) and by the end of the week I had bloody diarrhea. I didn't have any other new food or supplements or treats during this same time (i.e. for you science people out there, no new known variables were introduced into the equation). My poop, although soft, had been stable for a few weeks prior to starting on the Gastriplex. After mommy took me off the Gastriplex, my stools went back to "normal" in a couple days.

Mommy called the company to tell them what happened and try to get her money back because this stuff was expensive ($49 + S/H). The lady at WellVet.com was very rude. They have a very strict no-refund policy. Mommy even said she'd send the product back and be happy with just a refund of the cost of the product. Mommy says she should have known when she saw WellVet.com's Web site that they were going to be a very unprofessional company and shouldn't have ordered anything from them. She also contacted Thorne Veterinary, and although they had much better customer service personnel, they would not provide a refund because we did not purchase the product from them. They said they would refund WellVet.com if they sent the product back to them. However, WellVet.com was completely uncooperative when told this information.

Mommy says we will never buy a product made by Thorne Veterinary or anything sold by WellVet.com again because of our terrible experience with both companies.

Lost Privileges

2009-02-26T20:34:00.002-06:00

Life has been tough. After chewing up the dog bed, the next day I started pulling stuffing out of the quilt on the dog couch. I wish I could reach that stupid Web camera so mom couldn't see what I'm doing. So she caught me and that evening after work, Grandpa came and they moved the dog couch out of the dog room. She was concerned that I would eat the futon mattress next.

Now Flyer and I have two wire crates with blankets. Flyer is pretty upset with me. He says he has gone from being able to freely roam two rooms with comfortable furniture to one stark room with a crate and blanket. I think it's not that bad. In fact, I've taken to curling up in the bigger crate with Flyer. He just rolls his eyes at me. I've also taken up peeing on the floor. Mom isn't too happy about that.

Agility class is going great! I love agility. I wish we could do that every evening. I'm picking up the tunnel and chute fast. We are doing other stuff that gets us ready for the other obstacles. Mom is also talking about having someone build us the equipment. She used to have a whole set out in the backyard but over the years it fell apart and now is sitting in a big junk heap. We have lots of room in the back yard to set up courses. Mom can't wait - she says she can take me out back every night after work and run my little brown butt ragged. Haha. Like that'll happen. More like I'll run HER ragged. She can't hardly keep up with me on our 2 mile walks!

Today we had a HUGE snow storm. Mom let us run around in all the new snow. It only wore me out about 40%. That means I still have 60% of my energy left to burn tonight. As soon as I'm done typing, mom is going to do some inside training with me. That means I'll get treats!

This weekend mom is taking us to see Cindy. She is going to a seminar that teaches her how to give us massages. Mom says that SHE is the one who needs the massage. Especially after all the snow blowing she had to do after work. She's hoping her eyes stay open long enough to train with me tonight. Off we go...time to train my human!

We were naughty today!

2009-02-18T20:47:00.002-06:00

Grandma Linda tattled on us today. She caught us on the Web cam tearing the stuffing out of our dog bed. We got it all over the dog room. It was green and pretty and OH so FUN to pull out in big tufts! We were going to tell mom that the neighbor dogs broke into the house and did it and that we tried to stop them. But, no, G'ma Linda saw us doing the dirty deed on that stupid Web camera so mom knows what really happened. Well, she can't be too mad at us as we still got our supper and some treats after that.

I have more to write but I have pictures to go along with it and haven't had time to paw them into smaller sizes to load on this site. Maybe tomorrow or Friday I'll have time to get to it. Especially now that the dog bed is gone and I can't shred it anymore....

No more lunch

2009-02-08T11:41:00.002-06:00

It's been a rough time since I last wrote. Starting on February 1st, my lunches have mysteriously disappeared. Mommy says I'm a big enough girl now that I don't need to eat three times a day no more. Hrumph. I disagree! My favorite thing in the whole wide world is to eat! I eat whenever I have a chance. I don't think my tummy every is truly full. The good news is Flyer and I still get our kong treat at noon when Mommy comes home to let us out.

We had an exciting walk last Thursday. We've been going down to get some exercise and walk around the city park path which is 1 mile around. One the second time around we ran into a BIG rodent sitting on the park path. It wouldn't move and stared at us. Well, actually, Flyer and I never even saw it, but Mommy did and so she decided we'd just turn around and let it be. Fortunately, it didn't chase us. If you look up Opossum in Wikipedia, it looks just like the picture on that page - the one with the white scary face. Mom's a little nervous to go back down to the park path but we'll try to convince her to take us for another walk today. It's sunny out and warm! Well, warm in terms of winter.

Tomorrow night is agility. I'm having a lot of fun in that class. Last week we got to go through the tunnel! Mom thinks I'm gonna be a great agility dog. I already know that. I'm more concerned about her being a great handler. She agrees...

It's Finally February!

2009-02-01T10:46:00.003-06:00

Mom is excited it is finally February. That means it is getting warmer. Maybe Spring will eventually even show up!

I was naughty this past week. Mom put this crinkly thing on the couch we lay on during the day so in case I peed it wouldn't soak through. Then she put a sheet over the top of that. For weeks, we've been laying on it. But I decided enough is enough! I'm tired of the crinkly crunchy noise. So on Wednesday morning, I ripped the sheet open and pulled the crinkly thing through the hole. Mom said she saw it all on the Web camera. When she came home at lunch, she changed the sheet but left the crinkly thing on the couch. So on Thursday, I ripped the new sheet and pulled the crinkly thing through the hole again. Mom was not impressed. When she came home at lunch, she pulled the crinkly thing off the couch. Finally! Sometimes these humans are so dense!

Yesterday we drove a long, long way to visit a really nice lady who paid all kinds of attention to me. I got a good massage and accupressure and I feel in tip top shape today. Grandma Linda was there too - and I was ALL over her. I just can't help but get overly excited when I see G'ma Linda! I didn't piddle though. I also got to see my brother Onyx and momma Snicker. Everyone was talking about switching me off my kibble dog food onto something called Honest Kitchen. I hope so, because even though I'll eat just about anything..no, wait, I'll eat ANYTHING, this food sounds nummier.

This morning I barked my alert bark while we were in the kitchen making breakfast. Mom came to look and there was a BIG fox running along the fence line. It was not a dog. It was a fox and it was as big as I am!!! Mom was very surprised. She hopes it hangs around and cuts down the rabbit population - especially the ones that are living underneath our shed way out back.

It's time for me to go outside and play. I love being outside!

Into the deep freeze again

2009-01-24T17:53:00.004-06:00

This past week was pretty fun because it was warm out so mom let us stay outside for much, much longer. When I run around outside and we play out there with the toys and run with the neighbor dogs, I get more tired. Mom says a good dog is a tired dog!

Today, it started getting colder again. But we still got to go outside a bunch of times. On one of the trips outside, I found Santa! I carried him around the yard and swung him around by his Santa hat until he was very, very dizzy. Hopefully the reindeer will find him and take him home.

Last Monday, I went to the vet and they poked me and took a bunch of red stuff out of my arm. I also got a shot. I did really, really well. Flyer also got poked and his broken toenail removed (he yelped loud) and his bad ear washed out. His visit was definitely not as nice as mine.

I now weigh 44.5 pounds! Flyer weighs 75 pounds. I can outrun Flyer in the backyard very easily. Anyway, mom sent the bloodwork to Dr. Dodd's lab and mine came back all squeaky clean! Flyer didn't do as well. He has something called autoimmune thyroiditis. He has to take some drugs now every day to help himself not get sicker. And he has to get them on an empty stomach. Mommy says that will be very hard to do because of all the extra treats we get throughout the day.

Here is one last picture of me from today - hanging on the couch with my big bone. My sister Annie liked these really big bones too, and so do I! Must be a brown dog thing!

The Lady Who Talks to Dogs

2009-01-14T20:01:00.002-06:00

Last night we went to see a lady who talks to dogs. She was very nice. I licked her a lot and nibbled her ear. She talked to Flyer first. She said Flyer has some muscle problems in his back and maybe some joint problems. She didn't feel any cold or hot spots, which usually mean cancer. The spine is related to support and he is mommy's support. She says Flyer is kind of an introvert and holds all his stresses inside. Flyer also likes me a lot and likes to wrestle with me. He doesn't see me as annoying like mommy thought he did.

Then the lady talked to me. She said that I can't focus or concentrate - that I am just all over the place. All my anxiety is focused outward, which is good because then it doesn't sit inside of me and cause me to get sick. She said overall she was not picking up on any health issues. She sensed that ultimately, my core is calm and that I will be a calmer dog as I get older. Mommy just about fell off her chair at that news. She is thinking maybe the lady was hearing Flyer's voice when she thought she was talking to me and vice versa! She also sensed that maybe there was some connection with fungus and my nose but she couldn't remember what connection the nose had with mommy.

Mommy thought this was an interesting experience even thought some of the things the lady said didn't seem to fit. She really liked the lady alot. So did we!

I can JUMP!

2009-01-08T21:13:00.002-06:00

This morning while we were hanging out in the dog room, I heard the next door neighbor dogs, Oakley and Stella, barking outside. I wanted so much to be able to see them. I jumped against the back door and could kinda see, but not very well. Mommy had put a double gate between the dog room and TV room, and I looked and looked at it, and finally jumped over the top of it. Then I was able to get on the couch and look out the window and bark back at them.

Mommy was not pleased when she got home, although I guess she already knew I had jumped the gate before getting home at lunch. She has this new Web camera so she can keep an eye on us. Even though she was very busy this morning, she checked in a few times and noticed I was missing from the couch in the dog room. Then a few minutes later, she saw me looking into the dog room from the other side of the gate. That's how she knew I had jumped over the gate. I wouldn't jump back over it when she got home and I didn't jump over it in the afternoon. Maybe I'll do it again tomorrow. Or maybe I should just learn how to open up the back door! I should be a good agility dog when I grow up!

My Big Debut and Near Escape!

2009-01-04T13:37:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was my first real dog show. We almost didn't go. The weather was bad and Mommy didn't think G'ma Linda was going to be there because Auntie Meg had to have an emergency surgery, so we were getting comfortable on the couch. Then the weather forecast got a bit better and at the last minute, Mommy called G'ma Linda's house to see how Auntie Meg was doing. Grandpa Les answered and said that Auntie Meg was doing okay, so G'ma Linda had gone to the show.

I've never seen Mommy move so fast. She quick changed, let us pee and got us in the van. We drove FAST to see if we could make it on time to the show. Mommy swore a lot on the way down and in the parking ramp at all the slow people in our way. She was funny. We got lost in the big building where the show was, but finally found the ring. Unfortunately, we had just missed my class.

Some people convinced us to ask if the judge would still judge me because I was the only one in my 6-9 mos puppy bitch class, and that would then give the girls a major. A major what I don't know. But it sounded important. The judge was very nice and let me go in the ring with G'ma Linda. We runned around the ring and I behaved myself pretty well. I was kinda tired out anyway from all the running we had to do to get there on time! The judge gave us a blue ribbon and I got treats. Thanks G'ma Linda for showing us on such short notice!

As we were leaving, Mommy wanted me to go in the big noisy elevator again. I didn't like that thing. So she went to open the door to use the stairs instead and it scared me and I slipped out of my collars - yes, both of them - and ran! There were a few people around and one of them caught me and held onto me until Mommy put the leash on me. Then she carried me into the elevator, and then carried me down some steps. Next time she says she is bringing in my harnass because I scared the crap outta her.

Then we started driving home. Mommy had to stop to get some shoes, and after that the roads got very, very slippery. She did a lot more swearing and her knuckles started turning white. But we made it home in one piece. Mommy is glad we didn't have to go back to the show today.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T20:05:00.003-06:00

We had a quiet New Year's Eve - we hung out with mom at home and went to bed early. Mom says that is a good thing since we got her up at 6am this morning. Today we went outside a bunch of times since the weather was so nice. I like to run along our fence with my neighbor, Stella. She is a Springer Spaniel and is just a few months older than me. I can run faster than she can. I wish mommy would let me outside the fence so I could play with her.

Mom got a new Web camera so she can watch and listen to us during the day while she is at work. She can pan/tilt and do all kinds of things with it. It doesn't fill the dog bowls with food though. She still has to buy a special wall mount for it, so she doesn't have it turned on quite yet.

This evening, mom played the clicker game. She got me to turn my head and eventually look at a toy on the floor and then go touch the toy a bunch of times. Each time I touched the toy I got a treat. She tried the same game with Flyer but he didn't do so well. Mom thinks girl dogs are smarter than boy dogs. I agree. Well, except for my brother Onyx who is smart. But he's the exception.

Flyer and I wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with peace and senility. Or is that serenity?

Getting ready for my big debut

2008-12-28T11:28:00.004-06:00

Mom got a picture of me graduating from basic obedience class earlier this month. Don't I look smart?

Anyway, yesterday we drove down to the big city so we could practice for the big show next weekend. It's mostly easy - all I have to do is try to stand still (that's the hardest part) and then run around the ring. Grandma Linda took me into the ring the first time. She told the strange man that I was not her dog. :-) I tried hard to behave for her. I got treats and some strange man put his hands all over me. But I wiggled my butt and wagged my tail and was happy and got best girl and a squeaky toy. Okay, so there were only two female puppies and I was older and looked more mature, but hey, a win is a win!

Grandma Linda took Mr. O in next. He behaves much better than I do. They got best boy and a squeaky toy. Then Mom had to take me back in while G'ma Linda took Mr. O. Mom confessed to the strange man that I was her dog. :-) We all got to run around and look pretty. Mr. O looked very nice and ended up beating us. That's okay, he may be handsome but he knows I could kick his butt on the playground if needed :-)

Next weekend should be fun!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-25T12:15:00.002-06:00

It is Christmas Day and Santa brought us warm weather (hey, we'll take double digits at this point). We also have some treats and toys for later. I thought I'd write a short note before I take a nap. We just went out and played hard in the snow, then went for a walk and I'm beat! Well, at least for a few minutes.

This morning, mom slept in since she was up very late last night. While she was eating breakfast, I went downstairs and peed as a diversion. I gave her all the signs, but she was pretty tired from church services going so late that she missed them all. So she let Flyer and I outside and started to clean up my mess. It worked perfectly. Flyer pooped and then we started eating poopsicles. Flyer says it has been very difficult to get any poopsicles because mom has been so diligent cleaning up after both of us. Anyway, when mom let us in, she knew right away what we had been up too! I don't know how she knew. I mean, we were giving her kisses and her face grimaced and she pushed us away! Those were some nice Christmas kisses! She went out and found the remaining poopsicle. I tried to run off with it and roll it around in my mouth like a rock, but I dropped it and she got to it first. Oh well, maybe Flyer and I can try this again sometime.

Merry Christmas to everyone - may you find peace and happiness today and always!

Santa Claus is Coming to my House!

2008-12-21T20:02:00.002-06:00

Mommy says I need to work on being real good this week, which includes NOT peeing on the floor or couch or anywhere else inside. If I am real good, then Santa will come and leave me a good present and some treats. This last week I wasn't so good all the time. This being left alone loose is hard work. I try very hard, but sometimes I just have to go! Mom says she doesn't think I have a UTI because I can sleep with her on the bed for 7-8 hours straight without having to go out or having an accident. Mommy is now leaving me in the dog room with Flyer cause she says it is easier to clean that up than carpeting and couches. I will try very hard to be good so Santa comes to my house this week. Hopefully Onyx put in a good word for me while he was working at the North Pole. I'm sure Santa would listen to him because he is a Canine Good Citizen now! Way to go, bro!!!

Here's hoping everyone has cold noses and warm paws!

A mostly sorta kinda uneventful week

2008-12-13T09:48:00.008-06:00

Not much to report here from Lake Wobegon as mom says. I had a slight bout of diarrhea mid week but that has cleared up. Flyer and I are having fun playing in the snow, although sometimes it gets a bit cold and I have to hold up a paw at a time to warm them up. I've found if you keep moving, it helps. We also have been eating lots of snowballs. Oh, and mom started leaving me loose in the house this week. I did pretty good - just a couple potty accidents. I'll do better next week cause this is MUCH better than being stuck in that stupid old crate!

One of our favorite toys to play with is the cow nipple tug toy (mom can't think of a better name for it). See me and Fly playing with it below. Flyer is slow. If I get the toy, I can out-run him. But he is smarter than me and knows how to corner me and get it back.

Also, mom tried to take a Christmas photo of us this morning. She says those people with untrained dogs and poor camera skills will be able to relate to the results she got. Seriously, Flyer and I think we look totally stupid. What is up with these humans anyway?

Dog Shows

2008-12-06T16:30:00.003-06:00

Mom went to a dog show today and didn't take me. She says my time is coming soon and that I will need to behave and be a good girl for Grandma Linda.

Mom also says the best part about dog shows is that you get to take your dogs home with you, and you don't have to take home any of the people! I'm not sure what she means by that?.....

Pampered Pooches

2008-12-06T09:58:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, we drove to the big city and Flyer got a LONG massage from our friend, Heather. Flyer was in heaven. His muscles were all bunched up and funny, and after Heather's magical hands did their work, he felt TONS better. Flyer and me voted to bring Heather home with us permanently! (I don't think dog votes count, however)

My bro, the O, was there too. He got a massage first. Heather worked her magic on him too, but he had a side effect that took awhile to "relax." Flyer had to have a dog to pup talk with him after so he understood a little more about what had happened.

While Flyer was getting attention from Heather, I got lots of attention from Grandma Linda. She fitted me with my new harness - thanks G'ma Linda! She also let me give her lots of kisses and gave me treats. I liked the styrofoam ones the best! Mom is always happy that my butt stays attached after seeing G'ma Linda. She's says I'd look pretty funny coming home without a butt. Plus it would make it difficult to do that "sit" trick we've been working on.

The drive home was LONG. It took us almost 2 hours and 15 minutes. There were accidents all over the road. Flyer and I laid down and slept most of the way. We were all pretty doggone tired when we finally got home.

Hmmm, looking back, *I* didn't get a massage. What's up with THAT?!? I guess I'd better speak to my union representative....

The Great Escape

2008-12-02T18:18:00.004-06:00

Wow - Monday was a great day! In the morning I was able to bust free of my crate. I somehow figured out how to unhook part of the end of the crate and I pushed through the little opening and out to FREEDOM!!! Mom was pretty surprised when she got home at lunch and there I was giving her my cutest dog look as she opened the basement door. I was even able to bend some of the wires on the crate. I'm very strong for a girl!

Mom took both Flyer and me to work that afternoon and we got to hang out in the van crates for the afternoon. I slept most of the time. It was hard work getting out of that crate! Last night, Mom figured out how to clip the end of the crate so it is more secure. She left me in it this morning and I pooped on my blanket for her when she came home at lunch. No runny stuff. Just a nice turd to let her know how I feel about being in that crate. It worked because she took Flyer and me to work in the afternoon and we hung out in the van crates again. Hopefully she'll catch on otherwise I'm going to have to take her to more obedience classes or something.

There are new pictures of me and my bro, Mr. O on the Flashback site - check em out by clicking on the "Pics of ME!" link under Favorite Links.

Seminar Day 2

2008-11-29T19:34:00.002-06:00

We drove back to the big city again this morning so mom could go be trained more. I sure hope it works for her. But I'm not sure how much hope there is...

We got to sit in our crates in the van all day. I got in a lot of ZZZZs so I'm pretty wound up tonight. I got to see my Grandma Linda again and my bro, Onyx. He is very well behaved. Flyer growled at him and mommy got mad. Grandpa Les will hopefully put up pictures of me and Mr. O on the Web site so you can see how we look right now.

I need to go outside and wear off some of this energy. Later!

P.S. Mommy said the training was fantastic!

The Seminar

2008-11-28T19:47:00.003-06:00

This afternoon we drove to the big city so mom could go learn more about how to train me better. She says the woman doing the seminar is totally awesome and she is going to try and sneak me into her luggage and send me home with her. Then when I'm all trained, I can come back. I think she was kidding?

Grandma Linda was at the same seminar with my bro, Mr. O! My butt barely stayed attached when I saw Grandma Linda! I just wiggle and wiggle and wiggle I am so happy to see her! She said I looked cute and gave me some cookies. Mr. O looks incredibly handsome and he is always looking at Grandma Linda and offering her behaviors. Mom was impressed. She says we'd better get our butts in gear! No way some stinkin' boy dog is gonna be smarter than a bitch! :-)

We get to go down there again tomorrow. I guess mom needs some remedial training or something. She couldn't quite learn it all in an afternoon. She's a bit slow.

When we got home, I was full of all kinds of energy. I tried to eat a bug that was on the outside stairs but it did something to my mouth. Mom looked at it and said it was a dead yellow jacket. She has no idea how it got on the stairs since she had vacuumed them earlier. Anyway, she says I'm not swelling up or anything so I can go play with my brother. I like to get on top of him and beat him up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T20:58:00.002-06:00

Mom has been talking about Happy Turkey Day all week. So today was the big day and we didn't get ANY turkey! What's up with that?? Instead, we got to sit in our crates in the van all afternoon and part of the evening while mom got to be inside eating lots of good food. And just cause me and Flyer weren't in there - don't tell us we don't know what's going on. We can SMELL you know!

Mom says we are going somewhere fun tomorrow afternoon. I sure hope I don't have to sit in my crate again! She says I will get to see Grandma Linda. I think that will be WAY kewl. I know my little rear ender will almost fall off from my wagging when I see her!

Mommy says she is thankful for me and Flyer!

A new chew toy

2008-11-24T20:59:00.001-06:00

Tonight mom was busy yacking on the phone so I found a new chew toy. It is the leather couch. Mom normally keeps blankets on top, but earlier, Flyer and I were wrestling and they got pulled off. So I laid down and chewed a small hole on the edge of one of the cushions. She caught me and told me I was naughty. I wish I would have been able to chew more - it probably is a very nummy couch. Mom says this is why she won't leave me out loose during the day. Too much chance of me getting into things I'm not supposed to be in! Oh well. Off to obedience class to train mom. . .

The makings of an agility dog

2008-11-22T17:24:00.002-06:00

Mom keeps talking about this thing called agility that she thinks I will do well in. I'm not sure what it is, but the other day we were playing in the kitchen and mom was throwing things for me to fetch when one of the toys went on top of the kitchen table. Without any hesitation, I jumped right up on the table (and I didn't need to use a chair as a step), grabbed the toy, jumped down and brought it back to mom. Mom has decided that she either has to a) not throw toys in the kitchen or b) remove the little cactus plant from the kitchen table. She is glad it is a very large kitchen table and that the toy landed on the end of the table away from the cactus. Anyway, after she recovered from the cactus scare, she was impressed with my jumping ability. She says I remind her of Bounce, which is a little good and a little scary.

Today has been a nice day with mom around for most of it. I got a big new plastic crate. We'll see if I like it. I also have been enjoying stalking Flyer, and then attacking him right as he is pooping. Mom is not impressed!

Brrrr! Baby it's COLD outside!

2008-11-18T19:42:00.003-06:00

It is COLD outside now. I need more fur. I'm glad mommy is not a big cold weather fan so we don't have to stay outside for very long. I do my business and am happy to come back in where it is warm. Flyer has lots of fur and he doesn't mind staying outside. He is sad that the ground froze and he can't eat much grass. But he told me that poopsicle season will be here soon.

Mommy says I'm doing pretty good in obedience. As long as she keeps giving me treats, I'll do just about anything except the down-stays. I don't like the down-stays. Like my brother Onyx says, they are way over-rated!

Six Months Old!

2008-11-15T17:48:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday to me! Okay, it's not quite my birthday, but I am six months old today. In celebration, mom had grandpa help us take pictures of me. I was wiggly, but we did get a few okay pictures. I updated my profile with one of them. Mommy particularly liked this one because my lip was caught on my tooth. My sister Annie used to have that happen too - on the same side of the jaw and everything. I think mom should give me extra treats today for making it to six months!

Mom won't quit laughing

2008-11-11T19:14:00.002-06:00

We went outside earlier and now that is dark, I could see the snow falling from the sky in the lights out there. So I tried really hard to eat it right out of the air but it kept disappearing. And mom just laughed and laughed.

Then we went inside and watched the big screen thing. There are just so many things moving around on it and funny noises, so my head tilts to one side and I keep watching it and watching it, and mom laughs and laughs.

Then mom was on her laptop 'puter. I was on her lap kinda. And this thing kept moving around on her screen so I kept trying to get it with my nose. Now there are prints all over the laptop 'puter screen and mom is laughing and laughing.

Hmmmm......what's so funny?

Snow cones and big screens

2008-11-11T17:17:00.002-06:00

Today was a nice day. Mom got to stay home with us. She says it is Veterans Day and we need to be grateful for our Veterans, both 2-legged and 4-legged.

More of that white stuff fell from the sky today. It piled up and I spent time eating it. It melts in your mouth and is nummy. Okay, so it really doesn't have any taste, but it is cold and fun to eat. Mom says eventually all the grass will be covered by it.

Mom also turned on the big screen thing in our room today. She doesn't turn it on that often. When it is on, I like to sit and watch it. All kinds of interesting things show up on it. Sometimes I hear a dog bark or a doorbell ring. I wonder how it does that?

I am getting bigger - this morning I weighed 35.4 pounds!

White stuff

2008-11-08T09:17:00.002-06:00

Mommy picked up Annie's ashes on Wednesday so she is home with us now. Mommy says Annie left her van crate to me in her will, so I get to ride in the big brown girl's crate in the back with Flyer now (even though I'm still a little brown girl). It has a much better view. She took my little crate out of the van. She also took the crate out of the bedroom and put that one in the TV room, and the one from the TV room went into storage. I haven't slept in the bedroom crate for weeks because she says I am "reliable" at night (meaning, I stay on the bed and don't go running to pee or poop somewhere in the middle of the night). I guess that means I'm growing up?

I weighed 34.2 lbs this morning. I'm not growing fast, but I am getting a little heavier! All my littermates weight lots more than me. Mommy says my auntie Bounce only weighed about 44 pounds.

This morning there was white stuff on the ground! It was on the deck too. I tried to eat it. There wasn't much of it. Flyer says it's called snow. It was cold out this morning too. But I still like to be outside. I don't do a good job of coming inside sometimes when mom wants. I'm finding out if I don't come in when she says so, I don't get a treat. This morning, Flyer went inside and got a treat. I didn't come right away so mom didn't give me a treat. Hmmm. I'll have to figure this one out.

A Sad Day

2008-10-31T18:24:00.005-05:00

Mommy, Flyer and I are sad today. Big sister Annie went to the bridge to join Lena, Spirit & Bounce. It was very peaceful and she is no longer suffering from her cancer. Mommy says that Flyer has to be the big man of the house now, and that I have some pretty large brown paws to fill.

Bye bye Annie - thanks for being my big brown sis and showing me the ropes. We're all going to miss you a lot.

Shasta Annie Thing Goes "Annie" 2/8/2000 - 10/31/2008

Happy Poops!

2008-10-23T06:55:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know I have been having happy poops now for almost a week! Mom weaned me onto my new food (IAMS low residue puppy formula) with some Tylan and Forti-Flora, and that seems to be doing the trick. The antibiotics probably helped too. So I have nice poops and she now smiles when I poop. The food is okay - not as good as the other stuff I was eating, but I gobble it up too. I have one eating mode - FAST.

Flyer says it is time to go out rabbit hunting . . . gotta go!

Rabbit Hunting

2008-10-22T18:08:00.003-05:00

Wow - we had an exciting morning! Mom took us out about 5:30am and Flyer caught a rabbit! Annie got the assist. I was on the flexi-lead and didn't get to participate. Mom was MAD!! She made Flyer drop the rabbit. Then she got the shovel and threw it on the other side of the fence. When we got inside she found three fleas on Flyer so he got some yucky stuff put on him. Annie and I don't have the fleas so we didn't get the yucky stuff on us. Mom says if Flyer gives us fleas he is in big doo-doo.

Jennifer came today to let us out at lunch. I pooped a nice poop for her and didn't mess my crate. It's raining today so we haven't gone outside much. I'm all wound up and no place to let off the steam.

Another Car Ride

2008-10-19T20:46:00.003-05:00

Today we drove down and met with G'ma Linda and my brother "O" to pick up my new dog food. It doesn't look quite as exciting as the other food I've been eating, but I'll give it a try. Onyx is a big boy - he is very sweet looking. I got excited and peed when G'ma Linda petted me. I LOVE seeing her! Mom says it is a good thing my butt is attached so well, otherwise, it would wiggle off!

After that we drove a ways and got to the birthday party for my cousin Anna. She turned 5 on Friday. We (Annie, Flyer and me) had to stay in the van. I got in a good nap. Mom came out every once in awhile to check on us and let us pee. We weren't there too long, and then on the way home, we stopped to pick up some dog food and treats. Mom bought me a new toy, but she hasn't let me try it yet.

Once we got home, I had a happy poop. My obedience class started tonight, but we didn't make it home in time. I have puppy class tomorrow night - my last one of that kind. Then another on Tuesday.

All that driving made me sleepy. I think it's time for bed!

On the Road Again

2008-10-18T18:55:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow we get to go to Anna's Birthday party! And we also get to see one of my most favoritest peoples in the world - G'ma Linda!!! I'm sure my little butt will wiggle off when I see her. We get my new food. I sure hope it tastes good.

Mommy put some special powder in my food today called Tylan. I haven't pooped now for 25 hours. I guess it is doing its job plus some.

Happy Poops

2008-10-18T07:14:00.002-05:00

Mom is happy - I've had pretty okay poops now for about 2 days. I am getting a little bit more food which makes me happy because I LOVE to eat! Thanks to G'ma Linda and Mary P - I will start a new kind of diet on Sunday once mom picks up the new food. I sure hope whatever it is tastes good.
This morning I am terrorizing my brother again. That is my most favorite job in the world. His ear is getting better so I can tug on it again. I think brothers like Flyer are the greatest toys ever invented!

Annie is getting sicker and sicker. She coughs and throws up liquid. But it isn't like the regurgitated stuff you'd like to eat. This stuff isn't appetizing at all so I leave it alone.

Tummy troubles continued

2008-10-14T20:29:00.002-05:00

Well, I continue to have tummy troubles and we haven't figured out why yet. Sometimes I have good poops and sometimes I have runny poops. I'm on an antibiotic right now but it doesn't seem to be helping much except I don't have mucus in my poops. It isn't much fun because I never get any fun nummy treats like Flyer and Annie do.

Last Saturday mommy and I went to a field seminar run by Robert Milner. Mommy said a lot of the information was good stuff to remember for regular every day training. Linda and Onyx were there too. Onyx was special - he got to stay in a crate inside the building. Annie, Flyer and I stayed in the car. But it was a nice day out, so we just snoozed.

Last night and tonight I had my puppy classes. We are going to start something soon called obedience. I wonder what that is? I hope it is fun.

Mommy got some weird kind of leash out tonight called a flexi. She said it is for when we go out at night. She says I have not been good coming back in and she also doesn't like it when I put a rock in my mouth and roll it around my back teeth. She says my dog mommy likes to do this too.
Annie is not doing as well. She is sick with cancer. Mommy tried changing her medicines but it doesn't seem to help. Annie coughs a lot and is more tired, but she still has a good appetite (like me!). She mostly likes to lay around and suck on her soft toys. She doesn't come up to the kitchen as much anymore either. I feel sad for Annie.

Flyer is sick too. He got a bad ear infection. Mommy doesn't know how it came on so fast. He has bacteria in his ear so he gets an antibiotic like me, and one to put in his ear. His ear is really sore. I bumped into it and he got very grumpy with me. I have to remember not to bump his ear.

Mommy is cooking me more food. I'm getting a little tired of beef and rice all the time. I hope someday I get to eat something more interesting.

To poop or not to poop....that is the question

2008-10-07T20:13:00.003-05:00

So mom has been freaking out lately because I'm not "regular." On Monday morning, I had some runny poops again. Then I didn't poop again until this morning. The first one she liked and gave it an "A-". The second one (about 15 minutes later), she only gave a grade of "C". And now she's worried again because I haven't pooped since. Geesh. All this attention on my poop. Surely there have to be more important things to worry about in life than what is coming (or not coming) out of my back end. Like whether or not Sarah Palin will get to use her life line if she is voted into office.

Lot's of catching up to do!

2008-10-04T09:39:00.004-05:00

It's been a long time since I have blogged and a lot has happened this week.

I like my new diet. I always look forward to eating. I don't know why mom didn't think I'd be food motivated. She must be a little slow. Now that I weight 30 pounds, my diet got adjusted again. Mom is hoping that Monica puts me on raw soon. She spent 2 hours cooking 15 pounds of beef heart and 10 pounds of ground beef last night. Then another hour and a half this morning doing rice and supplements. All of that for only 9 meals! But they sure are nummy :-)

I went to THREE puppy classes this week. Two free-for-alls and one that was more structured. Monday and Tuesday were my regular classes. I only have one more Monday night class, and we get next Monday off. I have about three Tuesday night classes left. These classes are fun because I get to run around for a while and play with other puppies. Then we have to sit quietly while the teacher talks about things. Mom usually does some quiet training with me while they talk to keep me from getting too bored.

On Thursday, we all went for a very long drive and ended up at a big building with lots of interesting smells. Then Grandma Linda and Onyx showed up!!!! I am always incredibly excited to see Grandma Linda! I didn't piddle this time when I saw her. We went to Bridget's puppy class and mom learned a LOT!! Mom wishes we lived closer because we really liked Bridget's puppy class. Bridget is a really SMART dog person. It was super nice of her to let us join the class for the night. And I got some really good candies from her. I hope mom can get some of those. After eating nummy stuff like beef heart and raw turkey necks, charlie bears just aren't cutting it! After the class, mom and Linda talked and talked and talked while me and Annie and Flyer had to sit in the car. They sure talk a lot. Then we had the long ride home and got home very late. Oh, but we came home with 15 pounds of turkey and 30 pounds of beef heart!

Yesterday, mom took the afternoon off, came home, and cleaned the house. Then later on, some new people came to visit. They were mom's aunt Betsy and uncle Mark, and her cousin Lynn from far, far away. We had a nice time with them. I licked them all in the face and tried to eat Lynn's hair. Lynn had nummy toes too. I don't think Lynn likes all the licking though! :-)

I don't think we have much planned for today, but tomorrow we go for another long ride to Aunt Rebecca's house where we will see Ben and Anna and celebrate Grandpa's birthday. I hope mom remembers to get him something from us!

Teething casualties

2008-09-29T06:55:00.001-05:00

One pair of Teva sandals.....

Turkey Necks are GOOOOOOD!!!!

2008-09-28T17:51:00.005-05:00

Yes, I started on the next phase of my diet yesterday - cooked beef heart and RAW turkey necks (ground of course). They are quite nummy. I gobbled them up. And they stayed down. And I didn't die from food poisoning. And I didn't get the runs. Mom is impressed. Mom is also very glad because she would like to get to a point where I'm on mostly raw so she doesn't have to be cooking all the time. She says pretty soon the house is going to smell like a cow permanently! The bad news is I only get to eat 3 times a day from now on.

I saw pictures of Momma Snicker, Onyx and Izzie all having fun in their lakes. I think mom has forgotten that we have a lake about 3 blocks away. I haven't been swimming for ages. Maybe she'll take me this week. I wish it didn't get dark out so early in the evening. Then we could play outside longer.

Today mom and I went to a new place with lots of people and new smells. There was music playing and booths set up with stuff you could buy. I tugged hard at my leash and tried to go into the booths that had lots of breakables. Lots of people stopped to pet me. One guy thought I was an Irish Setter. Mom was in a good mood so she explained that I'm a Flat-Coated Retriever. And no, I'm not chocolate, I'm liver. They all thought I was very beautiful and that my coat was so soft. I have a little bit of puppy fuzz left on my ears and head. Other than that, my adult coat has pretty much come in. I now weigh about 29 pounds.

After we got home, mom tried to take a nap on the couch. While she was doing that, I chased flies on the couch. I found out that trying to chase flies on the same couch that mom is trying to nap on isn't a good idea. She didn't get much of a nap because then Flyer started whining and wanted to go out. Mom says boy Flat-Coats are whiny babies. The last two nights she kicked Annie and Flyer out of the bedroom after about the 2nd time out to pee and just the two of us slept on the bed. I was good and slept for 4-5 hours straight!

Mom will try to take new pictures so she can post one here for everyone. Oh, and my big sister Annie is still doing well - her cancer must be sorta in remission. Mommy is happy about that.

Here are some pics from today:

Who will win this tug of war?

Mom keeps calling me two-tone. Hmmm.

I'm good at retrieving!

Fun in Class

2008-09-23T21:41:00.002-05:00

Monday and Tuesday nights are a lot of fun with puppy classes. I get to run around and play with all kinds of dogs. Mom says my socialization is going very well. We also do a little practicing of different commands. I am really good at sit, and know down and stand fairly well also. I let mom adjust my legs and paws while I'm standing. Most of the time I will let her open my mouth to see my teeth. I lost a canine, but the other three puppy ones are still there.

Last night I got a little frisky with one of the little puppies so Julie put me in a time out hold for a minute or two. I was better behaved after that. Tonight, we had to do a trick. There was a tunnel thing in the room and during our play time, I was running through it. I knew what it was because we had one at Grandma Linda's. So that's what I did for my trick. We also walked over different surfaces like gates and blankets and such. That was really easy for me.

After we went to visit one of mommy's friends. She thought I was cute :-) We are all tired now. Especially mommy since we got her up three times last night. Should we try for four tonight?

Thanks Grandpa Les!

2008-09-20T22:20:00.001-05:00

Grandpa Les put up pictures of my adventures today. Check out my page at Flashback Retrievers to see them!

Turkey Necks and Beef Heart, oh my!

2008-09-20T16:14:00.002-05:00

This morning we drove down to Grandma Linda's so mommy could pick up some of the new foods I'll need for the week. Like turkey necks and beef heart. Doesn't that sound absolutely nummy? She says thank goodness for Grandma Linda helping us all the time with this natural diet stuff. I'm happier and my tummy has been much happier too eating real foods. Annie and Flyer are jealous. I say nanner nanner boo boo to them! Hahaha!

While we were there, I got to see my Dog-Mommy. She wasn't too happy to see me at first. She thought she had succeeded in getting rid of all of us except for Onyx. But she seem to warm up to the idea a little bit. Not much, but a little! Onyx and I ran around the backyard and almost gave Grandma Linda a heart attack - they have a real kewl backyard to play in as far as I'm concerned! But G'Ma Linda is afraid we are going to bang into something and get hurt. We got a lot of exercise and Grandpa Les took pictures. BTW, Grandpa Les looked absolutely AWESOME!!! His back must be getting better every day and we are all happy for that!!! We keep Grandpa Les in our prayers all the time.

The nice part about this real food thing is that I'll get to go down fairly often to see Onyx and Grandma Linda and Grandpa Les. They always have treats for me too. Mom says I need to quit peeing though when people say "hi."

It's been a long day...we are off to take a nap before dinner. Hope all my littermates are enjoying their homes!!! Hi to Teak, Izzie and Luna!

The Week in Review

2008-09-20T15:42:00.002-05:00

Wow - we had a busy busy week! On Monday, I had my third puppy class. There were more big puppies this time to play with, which was fun. While we were outside, I ran over the tops of three upside-down kiddie swimming pools. Mom says I'm gonna be a good agility dog!

Tuesday we went to another place for another puppy class. This was a longer drive and there were LOTS of puppies to play with. I was mostly interested in checking out the building, however. Mommy said the teacher had good things to tell everyone, like about leaving dew claws on, not spaying and neutering too early, and limiting vaccinations. She just wished this place was a little closer to our house.

Thursday evening we went one last time to the park with the music. There were lots of people, good food smells, and the Big Cheese came to walk me around by myself a little bit. Earlier in the day, Grandpa came to let us out over lunchtime.

Mommy was very busy at work Friday, so she hired a poochwalker to let us out. She first came over on Tuesday to meet us, then mommy had her come back Wednesday so we could get to know her some more, then on Friday she came all by herself. I was a little afraid and ended up peeing in my crate. But she was nice and cleaned it up and gave me a new blankie to lay on.

Friday night, mommy made my food for most of the week. I am gaining weight and am about 27 pounds now. I get to switch to a new diet on Thursday with some new foods.

Rainy Days and Tomorrow is Monday Already!

2008-09-14T18:47:00.002-05:00

It's been a LONG weekend because it rained most of the time and mom is tired of having to wipe up 12 muddy paws every time we come back inside. (Okay....Grandma Linda has 16!) We didn't get to go anywhere or do anything fun. We took a couple naps with mom. At least Flyer likes to play with me. Tomorrow we have puppy class, and mom is going to take me to another puppy class on Tuesday nights too. I weighed 24.4 pounds today and I'm 4 months old! If life continues to be boring, I'll start making up stories for everyone :-) At least mom had enough energy to make me more meals for the week. Hopefully this cold she has will go away soon.

Silly rabbits and loaves of bread

2008-09-12T17:30:00.002-05:00

It's been a relatively quiet week. Puppy class Monday night was small but fun. There were two other puppies besides me. Both were very small. I played nicely with them, but one of them was kinda nasty to me. He had to go into time out a couple times. I hope the bigger dogs come back next week. Mom is also going to take me to another puppy class on Tuesday nights.

Thursday morning we had some excitement in the backyard. When mom let us out at 6am, Flyer spotted a rabbit and the chase was on. Annie and I let Flyer do the hard work while we watched. Flyer got the rabbit and mom went ballistic. She made Flyer drop the rabbit, but it was too late. I think the least she could have done was let us eat it! Instead, she probably woke up the whole neighborhood with her screaming.

We had more fun last night too. Mom got preoccupied taking out the garbage. Annie seized the opportunity and was able to pull a loaf of special apple crunch bread off the counter. We feasted. It was awesome. I want to be an expert counter cruiser like Annie when I grow up. I'm doing pretty well already - I jump up and put my paws on the counters and check to see what's up there. When I'm bigger, I bet I'll be able to see better. Mom is trying to teach me "Four on the Floor". Whatever!

Our weekend is looking pretty quiet so far. Mom got a cold and isn't much fun. Maybe we'll get lucky and find another rabbit...

How Now Brown Cow?

2008-09-07T19:58:00.003-05:00

Me? Eating grass? Never!

Don't Drink from the Fountain

2008-09-07T18:00:00.003-05:00

This morning, Flyer waited by me like normal for me to finish peeing so he could then pee on top of mine. 'Cause he's bigger than me and he has to let everyone know that. So as he lifted his leg this morning, I turned around and starting drinking from his fountain. Mom just about had a heart attack! Geesh, I don't know what she was so disgusted about. I mean, for crying out loud, Flyer told me he eats poopsicles in the winter. Oh well, it's pretty clear I'd better not try that trick again!

It's been a good weekend. Mom is around a lot on the weekend. We went for a walk in Quarry Park today - it's a nice park with lots of great smells. The park attendant guy thought I was a cute chocolate lab. Mom thinks she just gonna start saying, "yup, she's a nice little chocolate lab" instead of having to explain that I'm a liver flat-coated retriever.

I played with a pheasant wing today. I wanted to chew it up but mom wouldn't let me. Instead, she put it away and made me practice down. I know sit really well. Tomorrow we have puppy class again - I'm looking forward to that!

I now have some permanent teeth in and I weighed 25 pounds this morning. I can't fit under the chair in the office and I'm even having a hard time getting under the kitchen table and chairs. Annie and Flyer don't think all my jumping on them is so cute anymore. Mom says I'm losing my puppy permit.

Tutoring

2008-09-02T17:54:00.003-05:00

After work, mom came and got me and Annie and we went to the vet to pick up Flyer. He got tutored today. I don't think he liked it much. And I don't think he's much smarter. He's walking around crying and mom won't let me play with him. I'm sad. I hope he feels better soon.

Labor Day Weekend

2008-09-01T19:12:00.003-05:00

It's been a relaxing Labor Day weekend for me. Lots of hanging around the house, going outside to eat grass, picking on my brother and sister, and long naps. What more can a young Flat-Coat ask?

Well, I could ask for a little more rice in my food. My mom is SOOOO stupid. We started this new diet for me and she didn't read the directions thoroughly, so she was measuring COOKED rice instead of RAW rice. Sigh. Good thing Grandma Linda figured this out early on or I could be a skeleton by now! She also mixed up the 2 salt measurements. Mom blames it on sleep deprivation. And not getting her parents' genes for cooking and baking. She is all thumbs in the kitchen and anything to do with MATH, especially fractions! Oh well, now that Grandma Linda set her straight, I'm feeling a little fuller...

I know I am bigger. I can't walk under Flyer anymore. And I don't fit under the TV room gate either. Mom says I'm getting into the ugly stage, but she still thinks I'm cute. We took a nap today on the bed and I cuddled right up to her. She said it was like sleeping next to a hot potato.

Flyer is going to the vet tomorrow to get tutored. He can't eat anything after 8pm tonight. Even grass. So mom is letting him bulk up on it right now. When he comes home he'll be REALLY smart.

Hmm, I just heard a noise in the distance. Mom says it is shot guns. I'm not scared. Just curious. She says we will hear lots of shot gun noises this fall around our house. She says hunting season is starting soon. If it flies, it dies. And then I get to go retrieve it. Hmm, wonder what that is all about?

A Birthday Party

2008-08-30T21:10:00.002-05:00

Today we went to my human cousin's birthday party. Ben turned 7 years old today. Happy Birthday Ben! That means Annie is one year older than him, and me and Flyer are younger. We drove a long ways. Mom says I am absolutely excellent on car rides and she is grateful for that! I don't mind them at all - I just lay down and sleep.

On the way there, we stopped at a store. Mom took me in. Everyone in the store thought I was really beautiful. They had never heard of a Flat-Coated Retriever, much less a "chocolate" one. Mom bought some good treats at the store and then we finished driving to the party.

The party was a little boring for us. We had to stay in our crates in the van. But mom came out a few different times and threw bumpers for us on the lawn. We also met the Golden, Bodie and a Weimariner. Across the alley were Chase and Zigi - they were Shitzus. Zigi is only 10 weeks old. We didn't get to play with them, though.

I also started my new diet on Thursday. I did good the first two days, but today I had some mushy poops again. Mom hopes adding in the bone meal tomorrow helps firm them up. Right now, I'm eating mostly cooked ground beef, a little bit of rice, some salt and NoSalt. Altogether, it's about 12 oz of food a day fed in four meals. I like getting fed four times a day. I'll have to see how long I can get mom to keep that up!

Oh, my brother Flyer is going to the vet on Tuesday to get tutored. I wonder how smart he'll be when he gets home?

A night in the kitchen

2008-08-27T21:27:00.002-05:00

Wow, mom spent something like 2-3 hours in the kitchen tonight cooking for just me! I must be way special or something. And she said all that work and it only made 6 days worth of meals. She hopes that this becomes more routine in the future. She also says if she has to spend this much time making my food, I'll never get trained! I like that idea. That means I can do whatever I want!

Tomorrow my big brother goes to the vet to get his leg checked out. Annie and I get to go along for the ride so we can get weighed. Mom also says she is going to check and see when Flyer can get tutored.

Mom says it has been a long evening and I need to get off the computer and go to bed.

Puppy Class #1

2008-08-25T20:55:00.002-05:00

Puppy class was a lot of fun!!! There was another boy puppy a couple weeks older and a few pounds heavier than me, but played very well together. He got a little rough once and had to go into time-out, but overall, he was pretty fun! There were two small mop-head type puppies too. One of them was just a baby and the other one's human was very protective of him. It's too bad because that is making him more aggressive.

So we played and played and played inside. Then we went outside and played out there too. We started to learn how to walk on a leash. And to look at mom when she says "Watch me!" We practiced some sits and some "Gotchas" where mom takes my collar but then lets me go play.

After, we came home and ran around the yard and played hard with Flyer. Mom couldn't believe I still had any energy left! But I'm pooped out now so I think I'll go to bed. I definitely liked puppy class!

The Dog Show

2008-08-25T17:26:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, we drove a long way and went to a place where there were all kinds of strange looking dogs. Mom had Flyer entered but they didn't do too well. Flyer must have gotten hurt so he was limping and got excused. Mom says that is the end of Flyer's show career and that it is time for him to get tutored. I hope he is real smart after he gets tutored. Then he can teach me even more stuff than just how to eat grass and fetch things.

The best part of the show was I got to see my grandma Linda!!! I remembered her and my butt just about wiggled off while I was kissing her face and trying to pierce her ear. Onyx did one ear and I thought I should do the other one. Then we walked down to a place where there were lots of flat-coats, only most of them were black. People fussed over me. I really revved up the cuteness factor for them. A nice guy offered me a potato chip, but mom wouldn't let him give it to me. He was kinda offended (so was I!), but mom explained my tummy is a bit sensitive.

Tonight we are going to something called puppy class. I think it is supposed to make mom smarter. So I'm confused as to why they call it *puppy* class - shouldn't it be called *humans* class?

Time to go eat. I love to eat!

A sad day

2008-08-20T07:07:00.001-05:00

I found out this morning that I don't fit under the chair in the office anymore. Now I don't have a hiding place. Mommy is happy, though, because she says that means I'm growing bigger. I am 22 pounds.

Sunday, Sunday, dah dah, dah dut dut dah

2008-08-17T12:16:00.003-05:00

It's a nice relaxing Sunday. Well, at least for us dogs. I found a new place to sleep. Don't I look comfy!?! Mom is doing lots of stuff around the house. Since she got me, and due to a few other recent changes in her life, she is getting LOADS of stuff done around the house and is quite happy about that.

We had a slight set back yesterday with my tummy. Mom was moving some stuff out of the dog food closet and forgot to shut the door, then got distracted. So me and Flyer and Annie made the most of it and ate right out of the bag of my old dog food. Annie and Flyer pushed me out of the way and my paw got hurt. But eventually, that felt better. Later in the afternoon I ended up with runny poops again. But today I am back to normal. That dog food is NOT good for me, even though it tastes SOOOOO good!

I get to eat the ground beef, liver and rice stuff until mom has a consultation with a woman who creates diets for dogs like me. This is good news because I'm going to be able to eat real food and that is better for me than the stuff in the bags. Someday, mom plans to have Annie and Flyer eat real food too. She says we are expensive dogs, though ;-)

Next weekend we are going to a dog show. My big brother Flyer will get to run around in the show ring and be a show dog. Mom says I should watch carefully and take notes because in a few months, it will be my turn!

New Game

2008-08-14T22:14:00.002-05:00

I learned a new game today. After mom got home from werk, we went outside. When we came back in, I brought in one of the soft toys. Mom went to make our meals. When she came back a few minutes later, she found the soft toy in the water dish. It was totally water logged. She was not impressed. I thought it was kinda kewl! I'm trying to hint to her to fill up the swimming pool again or take me swimming. Hopefully she'll figure that out soon.

Another think I like to do is bug my big brother and sister when they are trying to poop. I wait until they are in the squat position and then I charge them. They don't find that amusing. Geesh, doesn't anyone around here have a sense of humor?

We went to the big park with the people and music again. This is the last concert for the season. It was another really nice night and we had a good time chewing on sticks and leaves and getting Charlie Bears. Time for bed. Mom is hoping I sleep until at least 5am and not get up at 3:30am and then want to stay up. What can I say? I get a lot of sleeping in while she is at werk and I'm trapped in my crate!

And the week goes on....

2008-08-12T19:47:00.003-05:00

My tummy is starting to stabilize. I have finally trained mom to feed me beef and rice for all my meals. It's quite yummy. I'm not sure how long I can get her to do this, but I'm going to max it out for all it's worth!

It has been a couple of long days. Mom is back at werk. She comes home at lunch to let us out and feed me, but then has to go back during the afternoon. When she gets home in the evening, we go outside for a long time and play. I get tired about 9pm and we go to bed. Then I make sure to wake her up at 4:30am. I'm training her to let me stay on the bed then. She's fairly easy to train.

In just a couple weeks, mom says I'm going to go to puppy class. I'm not quite sure what that is all about, but she says it will be fun! She just wants my tummy to be on the mend a bit more before we start class.

Oh yeah, mom did my nails again tonight. I laid there nicely for her and got treats. She says I'm getting much better about having my nails done. Considering she is about sitting on me, I don't really have a choice, now, do I? Woof!

Tummy Troubles

2008-08-09T11:23:00.003-05:00

It's been a long week. Mom thinks so too. I'm having some tummy troubles that we are trying to get sorted out. I think they are finally getting it that I like real food and not that kibble stuff. Right now, I'm eating ground beef and rice - it is very nummy. My brother and sister are jealous. Mom lets me eat in my crate so they can't get my food. Grandma Linda has been very patient with us and sent me some things to put in my food to help me get better.

I have also gotten a little bigger and found a couple new places to sleep. Once place is the couch. Sometimes mom eats on the couch and I try to eat with her, but I've learned that is a no-no.

The other place I can now get up on is the bed. The bed is VERY comfortable. One night I had a tummy ache and so mommy let me sleep on the bed with her. I have now trained her to let me sleep on the bed with her and the other dogs when we get up around 4:30 for our potty break.

Mom has to cover the pillows on one side so Flyer doesn't leave hair on them. That's where he likes to sleep.

Mommy ordered a bunch of books on feeding natural foods this morning. Time to go watch her make more beef and rice!

Busy August Days

2008-08-05T19:22:00.003-05:00

Wow. As Kermit the Frog says, time's sure fun when you're having flies! That's a bad joke my mom's friend, Dennis, told her. She says his jokes aren't very punny.

The weekend was okay but I did not get to go swimming. Instead, we helped mom paint a bathroom that she has been waiting to paint for over a year. She says she is a good procrastinator. I got my nails done again. And I keep trying to grow bigger so I can keep up with my big black brother. Here he is trying to suck on my ear:

And here is my wet ear. Whaaaa!

Yesterday, I got runny poops. When mom came home from work, it was all over my crate and me. She cleaned it up and made me a special dinner of ground beef and rice. It was very nummy. I got it for breakfast, lunch and dinner today, too. Mom thinks my regular dog food isn't agreeing with my tummy. She is researching other foods for me. I hope I get to eat that good beef and rice stuff until she figures out what to feed me.

Mom says I won't fit under this chair much longer:

I hope all my sisters and my brother are doing well. I miss them.

My first bath

2008-08-01T21:07:00.003-05:00

Mom took the afternoon off to spend it with me again. Boy, I must be really special. We played outside while mom mowed the lawn and did other outside stuff. Then she brought out this really big tub thing and put me in it and sprayed water all over me and rubbed me full of stinky stuff and hosed that off. I've decided that baths are not as fun as being in the pool or the lake. Flyer and Annie got baths too. They got dried off with the noisy air blower thing. Mom says I now weigh 22 pounds.

Another lesson learned....don't lick mom's computer screen.

I need to go outside. I feel a case of the zoomies coming on. . .

Music in the park

2008-08-01T06:41:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a fun day. Mom took the afternoon off again. I like when she does that. Being in the crate all day with only one break is BORING. After she got home and fed me lunch, we went back to her werk place and met lots of people. They were nice and petted me. I didn't pee on the carpet either, so mom was relieved. After, we went home and took a long nap on the bed. Mom let me up on the bed with her to sleep. It is comfy up there. I can't wait until I'm old enough to sleep on the bed with Annie and Flyer.

In the evening, we went to the big park with all the people and the music. The big cheese of the unit mom werks for at the university came over and sat with us. She took me for two long walks! I tried to chew her shoes but mom said I'd better not do that because she might lose her job and then there wouldn't be any treats or dog food for me. Sigh. But it's so FUN to chew shoes! Anyway, mom said it was nice for me to have my own personal dog sitter for the night and have some quality brown nosing time with the big cheese (that would be my brown nose and Annie's brown nose, of course). It was a really relaxing evening and I fell asleep right away when we got home.

This morning I am running around the house playing with Flyer. I can still fit under the chair, so I like to chase him then run under there where he can't get me and bark at him. It makes him whine. Hahahaha Flyer! Neener neener boo boo!

At the lake

2008-07-30T20:42:00.002-05:00

Today I have been living at my new home for two weeks. It feels like much longer. Mom says so too. At lunch, Grandpa came to let us out and feed me. This time, I made it off the deck before I peed.

For the third evening in a row, we went down to the lake and swam. Tonight, mom threw bumpers. She was pretty confident that I would retrieve them and she wouldn't have to wade out and get them. She was right. She threw a bunch of short retrieves and I picked them all up except one. There were lots of strange noises from the boats, but I was pretty good at concentrating on getting the bumper.

Three more lessons learned:

The toilet paper roll is NOT a toy.
Do not chew on the plug for mom's exercise ball (which doubles as her chair in her office).
When it is time to get my nails done, resistance is futile.

Mom also has a new nickname for me. Yo-Yo. I guess because I jump up whenever she has anything interesting in her hand and try to get it. Therefore, I am learning "off" and "leave it". She says she is amazed at how high I can jump.

Water and more water!

2008-07-28T20:18:00.004-05:00

I know what real life is now. It means long days in my crate while mom is at werk. Poor me.

And I am SO tired of hearing "leave it!" I chew paper on mom's desk and she tells me to leave it. I chew the leg on the furniture and hear leave it! I try to eat a nummy looking bug and I get leave it! I try to eat her toes and hear leave it! Geesh! Can't a poor little puppy have some fun?

When mom got home, we played outside. She discovered a yellow jacket nest in the garden hose holder. Fortunately, none of us got stung. This was after she set up the sprinkler. My sister Annie likes to attack the sprinkler. I helped her, but mom was too slow to get a picture of me helping. She did get a picture of Annie - see left. After awhile, I sat and supervised.

Then, mom and I went by ourselves to a HUGE swimming place just two minutes from our house. She clipped a long line to my collar and let me splash around. Then she waded in deeper and I followed. Mom says I'm a natural born swimmer. We found a stick and she threw it and I swam out and got it and swam back. There was also another big dog nearby jumping off a dock. That looked like fun too! Anyway, we didn't get to stay nearly long enough. I hope we do that again soon!

BTW, Mom says she has never had a flat-coat that gets the hiccups as much as I do.

Oh, and the yellow jacket nest is now history. Along with about six cans of hornet spray.

A trip to see Izzie off to her new home

2008-07-27T20:45:00.005-05:00

Wow - today was a blast! I got to play outside and inside at home, and then we drove to where I was born (well, kinda) and I got to see my sister Izzie and my brother Onyx. Except I don't know how to pronounce his name so I just call him "Bro." We got to play in the pen outside for a long time. Everyone said I'm the troublemaker but I'm not and I have the pictures to prove it. See? They are beating up on ME!

Here is me with Izzie and Bro...Izzie's new mom and dad are really kewl. She's going to love all that attention. She doesn't have to share her humans at all!

The left us in the pen so long, I thought I'd try to chew my way out.

Our mom stopped by for a visit, but she didn't really want a whole lot to do with us anymore.

After Izzie left, I played with my Bro for a little while longer. We whizzed around and around the backyard. By the time I left, I could hardly keep my eyes open. I slept all the way home so that I would have energy left for this evening. Which I did.

Annie went and laid in the pool right before we were going to go back inside tonight. Mom wasn't happy but can't say much cause Annie is sick with cancer. I know if I bug Annie too much, Flyer comes and barks and pushes me away and licks Annie's face to make her feel better. Anyway, mom took her to the basement and turned on this loud thing that blew air. I ran up the stairs but decided to come back down and check it out. Whenever I got by the table, I got a treat. So I guess it isn't that bad. I stayed by the table most of the time while Annie got dried off and munched on treats.

Mom says tomorrow the vacation is over and real life begins. I wonder what that means?

New sights and sounds!

2008-07-26T19:05:00.003-05:00

Wow - it's been an exhausting day! Mom took me for a long drive to someplace called Gilman. I guess that is where Grandpa grew up. There were lots of people and smells and sounds. I got lots of treats (but no cheese curds!) and pets and people thought I was a chocolate lab. Mom wants a T-shirt with my picture on it that says, "No, I'm not a chocolate lab!" I learned to drink water out of a bottle. Mom says I'm her first dog that has been able to do that. It's easy, I just bite on the cap and she squirts a little water in my mouth and I swallow. Pretty kewl, hey?! I slept all the way home. Mom even tickled my foot and I didn't flinch.

Grandpa Les put up more pictures on the Flashback Web site (www.flashbackfcr.com). I even have a page of my own!!!!! Thanks, Grandpa Les! I looked at the going home pictures and I can tell that Teak's dad is a good dog person because he let Teak lick his face. And Luna has it made with a boy all to herself - what a lucky girl!

I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight - I am so excited to see Onyx and Izzie tomorrow before Izzie goes to her forever home. Mom says she is going to take me on a 15 mile walk to make sure I sleep tonight (just kidding!). But she is going to spend most of the rest of the evening on the back deck so we can play outside. Great! I'm going to go terrorize the big black dog. Hahahaha! CHARGE!!!!!!! (oh, that reminds me of another lesson - don't charge a pooping dog!)

I know how to pee outside!

This is my big bro, Flyer

Annie, Me and Flyer...Who has time for pictures?!

Lessons Learned

2008-07-26T09:27:00.002-05:00

Do not wake mommy up early on Saturday mornings. (actually, mommy says it isn't necessarily such a bad thing because she gets a lot more chores done and got to watch the sun rise)
Do not bite mommy on the nose when she picks me up to cuddle me.
Do not pee on the basement rug.
If one of the big dogs has a toy, leave them be. Eventually they will tire of it and then it's my turn.
If I play tug of war with the big dogs, 9 times out of 10, they are going to win. So bet on the big dog - your odds are better.
Do NOT walk on mommy's laptop keyboard when she is typing. It causlkf0i aoifu s,m f sj spelling oisur erors.

Question to ponder: Why are there so many do nots in the world?

TGIF!

2008-07-25T21:18:00.002-05:00

Mom stayed home with us today! Yippee! I didn't let her sleep in, however. Once it gets to be about 5am, I think we should get up and eat and start the day! There are holes to dig, things to bark at, treats to be had....why waste a minute of the day?

So mom begrudgingly got up and fed us and started on some chores around the house and yard. The refrigerator guys showed up with the new fridge and put the old one downstairs. Mom says that one is all ours. She even put some frozen marrow bones and home baked doggie treats in it.

Grandpa came over to help mom with some outside work. Then mom left to pick up some food for lunch and Grandpa ratted on me. He told mom I barked and barked and barked the whole time she was gone - he could hear me outside.

We got lots of time outside today. We took a nice long nap in the afternoon. Mom has a summer cold, so her nose keeps dripping. I decided it was kinda gross so I didn't bother licking her face today.

It sounds like on Sunday I will get to see my brother Onyx and sister Izzie before she goes to her forever home. I'll have to tell her it ain't so bad.

I'm kinda tired....I played hard today. Think I will get some sleep so we can do it all over again tomorrow! Ain't life grand?!

A long day, but fun evening!

2008-07-24T21:17:00.003-05:00

It was a long day today. Mom had to go to that werk thing again. Personally, I think she should just skip werk. It doesn't sound like any fun to me. I know I'm way more fun to be with than werk. She had to werk the past couple of days too, but she took the afternoons off to be with me. Yesterday, we took a long nap on the couch together.

Today at lunch a guy that I've met a couple times before showed up to let me out and feed me. We saw him again tonight and he told mom I'm a real chow hound. He couldn't believe how quickly I ate my lunch. Hey, I'm a growing puppy, whaddya expect? Anyway, this guy is mom's dad, so I guess he's my human grandpa and he does doggy relief duty once a week for mom so she doesn't have to drive home and let us out over lunch. It sounded like he followed mom's very detailed instructions to the letter. Although I don't think he noticed that I actually peed on the deck when he let me out!

Tonight we went to that park with all the people and the music. This time, all three of us got to go. Mom brought bribes for us to chew on while we were there. We got lots of attention. Mom's friends, Dennis and Bethany, also stopped by for awhile and played with me. I could tell they were dog lovers. They smelled like it.

Tomorrow morning we are getting a new refrigerator. The new one goes in the kitchen and the old one goes in the basement for us. Mom is talking about switching us to raw food and says we'll need our own refrigerator and probably an extra freezer too. Hmmm, this could be an adventure!

I'm quite tuckered out so I had better go get in my night crate. I hope to have more adventures to share with everyone very soon!

The Ankle Biter

2008-07-21T20:53:00.003-05:00

Today was interesting. Mom was home sick all day, so she wasn't a whole lot of fun. But, it did beat being stuck in a crate for most of the day. I found a nice place to sleep under a chair. Mom says I won't fit under it for too much longer. But it was nice and cool and dark and the other dogs couldn't pester me. I even took a nap in my day crate all by myself later in the day.

Some things I am learning:

Do not eat the wood chips around the trees in the back yard.
I can run faster than mom.
I am not smarter than mom, however, and she will eventually catch me.
Mom is not amused when I bite her ankles. Or toes. Or face. Or hands. Or.....
The kitchen towel hanging from the stove is not a play toy. Although running off with it does make mom laugh.
When I'm done eating, if I sit quietly, mom will let me out of the crate.
The inside water dish is NOT a swimming pool. Just because the swimming pool outside is not full of water does not mean I can try to go swimming in the big water dish.

Whew! There are lots of things for a little girl like me to learn. Mom also has figured out that when I am bad, then I am Linda's puppy ;-)

That's all for tonight. We are going to bed early since mom still isn't feeling too good.

A pretty good Sunday

2008-07-20T20:33:00.003-05:00

Mom says I was a pretty good girl last night now that I am getting less and less fussy about sleeping in my crate. Whatever. I get some treats out of the deal, so I guess that's alright. She let's me sleep with her on the bed at 6:00 a.m. after we've eaten breakfast. It takes awhile to settle down, but eventually, I fall back asleep laying next to her. I tried to eat her face this morning and she wasn't very happy about that. Oops.

We played a lot outside today. It was a really nice day out. We got to nap a lot too - that's important for a growing puppy you know!

Mom ground down my nails with this noisy thing. She said they were getting too long and sharp. She has the scratches to prove it. I wasn't thrilled but I held still (mostly) and after each paw was done she played with me and gave me treats. I guess it wasn't so bad afterall.

I forgot to write that yesterday, mom's 6 year old nephew, Ben, and four year old niece, Anna, came over to meet me. I guess when they got picked up this afternoon, all they could tell their dad and mom about me was that I had sharp teeth and nails. Geez...didn't they notice how cute I am????

Mom had a friend stop by this evening. He showed up on a noisy machine with two wheels. I wasn't so sure about it so I backed up and watched from a distance behind the fence. He seemed nice and thought I was cute. He took a picture of me and mom that I posted below. While he was here, I found Santa Claus and was playing tug with my brother, Flyer. That picture is below too.

I need to get ready for bed. Mom has a sore throat so she said we'd head to bed early tonight. She has to go back to that "werk" place tomorrow. I hope she isn't gone too long.

Starting to get a routine . . .

2008-07-19T21:36:00.004-05:00

It's been a good day. I've gotten in lots of playing and naps and lots of food and treats too. This evening we played outside for a long time. I ran around and around and around and mom laughed and said I had the puppy zoomies. I also kept attacking the clover flowers. After playing so hard, I took a nap. I was completely pooped out. Now I think I might be able to stay up all night. We just played a fun game. Mom sat on the floor and I would hear a click sound and get a treat. Then when I looked at her, I would hear the click and get a treat. Time for bed mom says....we'll see!

Sleep at last!

2008-07-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

I decided to give my new mom a break. I slept last night from 10:30 to 1:30am. I even slept in my big crate. Mom threw in some soft berber stuff that was pretty comfy. Then my big brother Flyer wanted to go out, so we all went out and pottied. Flyer likes to go out at night because he is hoping to catch another rabbit.

When we came back in, I fussed a little bit but mostly just whining and not much barking. Then I fell asleep and we slept until 6:00a.m. Mom was very happy. We had breakfast and then went back to bed. I got to sleep on the bed with the other big dogs. Although they ended up on the floor, so I snuggled in next to mom and slept for a couple more hours.

It's raining this morning so we haven't been able to play outside much. I got to walk out to the mailbox with mom this morning to get the paper. There are lots of interesting things around here to chew on. Some of them are okay and others mom tells me to leave alone...like the big roll of papertowels and the tag on the bed quilt. Sigh. Eventually I'll get it right. I'm feeling a bit tired right now so I'm going to go take a short nap.

Day Three

2008-07-18T21:08:00.000-05:00

It's been a pretty good day even with lack of sleep. Mom stayed home with me most of the day and I got to play outside a bunch. I have learned to go up and down all the stairs in the house and off the deck, although I prefer to hurl myself off the deck and skip the steps. I also got in a few good naps (although Mom didn't).

This afternoon, mom put me in the outside ex-pen (the big backyard is fenced but there are a few spots where I could probably get out) while she got on this noisy machine and rode around outside the fence. I barked and barked but she had things on her ears and couldn't hear me. She was out there FOREVER! (okay, it was only an hour and a half) It was a nice day to be outside.

After dinner, mom left for a little bit, but when she got home, she played with me. She threw a stick like thing and I went and got it and brought it back about 4-5 times. Mom was pretty impressed and made a huge fuss over me every time I brought it to her. It was fun!

My house training is going pretty well. I've only had a couple accidents and mom says they are both her fault. She has to remember that when she thinks to take me out, she needs to do it THEN and not wait until she finished with whatever task she is doing.

Tonight we are going to try some new sleeping arrangements. I will let everyone know if I like them or not.

The Second Night

2008-07-18T10:50:00.001-05:00

Mom says she thought she ordered the sleep package with me, but they forgot to send it with. We didn't sleep much last night. I keep trying to tell them I don't like being in this crate at night, but they won't listen. They just ignore me, so I bark and bark and bark. Finally, after we got up this morning and had breakfast, we all went back to bed and mom let me stay on the bed with her. We all slept for 3 hours straight. See? If she'd just let me sleep on the bed to begin with we wouldn't have these problems. Mom thinks I might have "sepherashun angziety."

Well, it's time for me to go back to terrorizing the big black dog. I keep trying to bite his face and he growls at me sometimes. The other brown dog is quieter. She lets me walk all over her and doesn't say much. I think she is the big cheese of the house, so I don't mess with her too much. Mom says it's a darn good thing I still have my puppy permit.

The Second Day

2008-07-17T13:56:00.000-05:00

My new mom had to go to someplace called "werk" today. She says she has to go so she has money to buy dog food and dog treats. She was gone forever! I stayed in a crate, and my new brother and sister stayed with me. I was very good and didn't potty in my crate.

When she got home, we got to go outside and play and I got to eat my lunch. I puked up my breakfast outside. This moving away from my brother and sisters is a bit stressful. But I'll adjust - I just need a little time.

I went to the vet this afternoon to get checked out and get my vaccination. They all thought I was cute and had good Con Information. I didn't even feel the shot! Mom thought I was a good girl.

After dinner, mom took me to a nice place where they were playing music and there were lots of people. And some dogs. But she wouldn't let me go near any of the dogs. In fact, she carried me from the car to the park and put a blanket down.

Well, I'd better go rest up a bit so I can keep mom up again tonight. :-)

You know, it might not be so bad here after all. But I still miss my brother and sisters and my mommy. . .

The First Night

2008-07-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

It was a long first night away from all my littermates and my moms. I barked and barked and barked to let my new mom know how lonely I was. She was about 5 feet away from my crate in bed, but I wanted to make sure she heard me loud and clear.

We got up twice to pee. After the first trip out I was still pretty sleepy so I only fussed a little bit when we came back in. After the second trip, I barked for 1/2 hour. Then mom took me out and I pooped. We came back in and I barked for another 20 minutes. Mom tries to play this waiting game with me where she doesn't say anything and hopes I'll quit barking. I won the morning round :-) She finally grabbed her pillow and a blanket and laid down next to me on the floor next to my crate. On the hard wood floor. By then, we both were so exhausted we slept for an hour. Then it was almost time to get up.

My new mom says that God makes puppies cute so we don't kill them. Hmmm. I don't get it.

My New Home

2008-07-16T16:25:00.001-05:00

Today my new mom came and picked me up and took me to my new home. Mom says I have very healthy vocal cords. Eventually, I fell asleep on the ride home.

My new home is pretty kewl. I got to meet my older sister (who is a brown flat-coat like me!) and my older brother (who is a black flat-coated retriever). They were very nice to me. They even let me play in their pool. After, I was so tired I took a long nap.

After my nap, the big kids got to eat dinner. Mom took me for a ride to meet Grandpa and Grandma. I guess Grandpa will take care of me once a week at lunchtime. He seems like a nice guy. Grandma doesn't like dogs. She was afraid of me. I even tried to look really pathetic and sweet, but she still didn't want to pet me.

After we got home we played outside some more and I got some more treats. Then I played inside with the big black dog. More to come...