This is NOT cute!

So you think Loki taking a snooze on the counters on the patio is cute? Let me explain something to you. YOU are not a champion-bred Labrador Retriever whose great-great-grandfather got the highest score ever in field trials! Loki is not cute - he's a pain in my tail! 

Do you see that paw hanging over the edge of the counter? He swats at me with that paw! I do not like this! 

I don't know why Mom puts up with him. Okay, so he catches mice before they get inside the house. That's his job. My job is to keep Mom company and I can't do that if I always have to be on the alert to what Loki may do next. It's exhausting! 

It has been a quiet month, though. Mom and I haven't done too much because of how hot it's been. We go water what plants are left in the garden, but until yesterday, we didn't spend much time on the patio. We miss our patio time. We used to have patio time almost every day with Dad. I think Mom remembers that and gets too sad. I get sad, too, but dogs are smarter about such things. 

I don't mind Loki when he behaves. That's almost never...

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, country living, cats and dogs, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, rural, good dogs, black Lab, Tuxedo cats, bad behavior, summertime

Loki is soooo annoying!

I'm in a spot of trouble and I don't know why. Just look at the smirky expression on Loki's face. He plays all innocent-like and Mom falls for his act. I know better. 

Mom says I have to play nice with Loki, but that cat is an IDIOT!!!!!  He jumps at me all the time and I don't like it. Mom says he's trying to play with me and that's just the way cats do it. 

I DO NOT CARE! I don't like being smacked in the face! Yes, he keeps his claws in. Yes, his little paws are furry and soft. It doesn't matter to me. I DO NOT LIKE IT!

And I'll tell you something even worse. Loki has begun to sleep on the bed with the pack every flufffing night! Even Mom doesn't like this because he sleeps ON her feet, but she says he's a cat and there is nothing we can do about it.

Nothing? 

I'm Deuce, and we'll see about THAT!!!!

Deuce's Day, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce, black Labrador Retriever, dog with a blog, cats and dogs, Loki, pack living, rural life, country lifestyle, a writer's life, KC Kendricks

My cat Loki stares at me

I have a cat and his name is Loki. Okay, so maybe he's really Mom's cat, but she keeps telling me he's mine, like my little brother. What if I don't want him? 

He was cute when he was a little kitten, but now? Maybe not so much. He likes to jump at me and bat at my face. I do not like this. 

And he drinks from my water bowl. And if I get canned food when he happens to be watching, he wants to nibble some. I do not like this, either! 

And sometimes he sleeps on my bed! I really do not like this! There's only room for me, Mom, and Dad on the bed. Loki can sleep anywhere else he wants and I tell him so in no uncertain terms. 

I guess Loki is okay - for a cat. He spends a lot of time on the patio and he never claws the screens. He just looks out and watches the birds. Sometimes he'll go catch one, but not too often. Mom says he'll never catch healthy birds because they're too fast for him. He catches old ones that would probably die when the weather turns cold. 

But here's the thing - all of a sudden Loki is in the house all the time. What's up with that? It's like he's tired of fresh air or something. He watches me ALL THE TIME! Last night he sat and stared at me for a long time and he never blinked! He's making me nervous. I wonder what he's up to but Mom says I should ignore him. 

Seriously, Mom? I can't ignore him. I can't turn my tail on him because he'll jump at me! You say he's trying to play, but I say he's attacking! 

Mom! He's looking at me again!

Deuce's Day, black Labrador Retriever, country living, rural lifestyle, cats and dogs, dog with a blog, dog stories, a writer's life, tuxedo cat, Loki, black pets

He's daring me again

 Loki is one weird cat. Sometimes he likes to play, and sometimes he's a nutter. The other day I was napping under Mom's desk while she was working and he strolled into the office and flopped down on the floor and just stared at me.  I mean, he just stared! 

I didn't know what he wanted. He looked like he died or something. I tried to ignore him because he hates that and he'll leave and go do Loki things, but not this time. 

Bet me he was hoping I'd ask Mom to let me out the door so he could pounce on me. He's tricky that way. Mom says he's just being a cat but I say he's being annoying. 

Really, Mom. I'd rather have a puppy to play with. What do you say? Can I have a brother? 

*_*_*_*

Note from Mom: NO!

He's not amusing

Would you like to take a guess as to where my toys are stored? 

Mom's mom got that basket for her a long time ago. Mom used to keep magazines in it back when the only magazines you could get were printed on paper. Now she gets them on her Kindle. 

When Dad got his new lift chair, we decided it was time to store my crate. I sleep with Mom and I'm mature enough to stay loose in the house when Mom and Dad go away. They never go away for very long. Mom has a strict four-hour rule that says I'm never left alone in the house for more than four hours at a time. 

When Mom took my crate to the shed she needed a place to store all my toys. She put them in the basket since it has a lid. Now that skanky cat has decided to "guard" my stuff. 

This is not copacetic. In fact, I do not like this at all. It's MY stuff. 

I'm warning you, cat. You'd better be careful. If you mess with my stuff, I'll hide all your little catnip mousies you have strewn all over my house. 

I'm Deuce. I'm not going to take this lying down. 

Oh, yeah. One more thing, Loki. I heard Mom tell Dad the appointment is made for your snip-snip. I'm going laugh until I howl when you get home from THAT!!!!

A lesson in life

I've been a little sad the past couple of days. Mom and Dad took the cat to the vet. I didn't see him when they brought him home, but Mom explained they buried him up on the hill beside Jett, Callahan and Taz. Mom told me not to go up there and I think I'll listen to her on this one.

Mom told me I'd be the last dog to go on the hill. I wasn't too sure what she meant at the time, but she was sad when she told me. So I've been listening closely to Mom and Dad talk, and I think I have it figured out. 

I know that one day I'll get old, and I'll be tired, and it'll be time for me to go. Dogs know these things and we know it's ok. Mom's have a hard time with it. I think cats must get old and tired, too. I know Shooter was old. He told me in no uncertain terms he was too old to take any puppy nonsense from me. 

Maybe I should have been nicer when he slept in my puppy daybed. Mom said he wasn't hurting a thing by taking a nap in it when I wasn't using it, but I barked at him anyway. 

I think Shooter was ready to go, and Mom and Dad made sure it was easy for him. They said he's beside his best friend, Jett, who I never met. They say Callahan and Taz were buddies, too. 

Mom promised as soon as I'm done growing and know how to be 'easy' I can get a kitten of my own. I think Mom will be over being sad about Shooter by then. Having my own cat will be a big responsibility. It'll be up to me whether or not we're going to be friends because I'll be the older, bigger one. 

I think I can do it because I'm Deuce! I'm a good dog!

Not on my watch

Mom's working from home today. I have her all to myself for three whole days! My plan is to guard her while she's at her desk. Nothing will get past me! 

(Note from Mom - I won't get past him to get out, either.)

I'm really happy she's home to spend the day with me. Well, I guess she has to feed that skanky cat but there's nothing I can do about that. Did I tell you that nasty feline smacked me again? I really need to remember to stay away from his tail.

Anyway, Mom's home with me. First thing this morning, even before breakfast, we walked down to the mailbox and back - it's a long way! Mom says down and back is a quarter of mile. I don't know how she expects me to walk three miles at a time by the end of June, but I heard her tell Dad I'd be strong enough to do it by then. I trust her. Besides, she makes it sound like it will be a lot of fun! 

What gives?

This will NOT do. The cat was sleeping in my day bed again. I don't like this at all. 

Two weeks, buddy. Just give me two more weeks and I might be bigger than you, and you'd better watch it. That's MY day bed. 

Two weeks. You hear me, cat?