Frisbee, ball, tunnel

I had so much fun this morning! Mom set up the tunnel for me. It was great! I chased the ball through the tunnel, jumped over the tunnel to chase the Frisbee, and ran and ran and ran until I was really panting! Once that happened, Mom made me stop and go inside. And since she takes good care of me, she turned the air conditioner on so I could lie over my vent and cool off good.

Mom took a video, too. She said it's hard to juggle the ball, the dog, and her cell phone but I think she didn't do too bad. It's just for fun, you know. I wouldn't want it any other way.

After I rest for a little while, Mom says we can go down to the creek and then play tunnel a little more. I'd really like that!

Look at those muscular haunches!

Mom. 

Really? 

Instead of taking a picture of my butt, don't you think it would have been better to help me get my ball out from under the file cabinet?

(No, son. I told you I needed to get some writing done and to go pester your dad.)

Hey! I'm really getting muscles! It's from all the running and jumping I do, isn't it? I can jump pretty high to catch a Frisbee. Why don't you take a picture of that? 

(Because you see the camera and pose instead of catching the Frisbee, you little hammy knucklehead.)

Mom! Get my ball! 

(ahahahahahahaaaa! In fifteen minutes, son....)

Mom!!!

A really full Saturday morning

Mom and Dad have been uber busy the past two weeks. I'm not sure I was any help as they got the yard and house ready for winter, nor do I understand the fuss. Winter will come no matter what. I don't know how I know that, but dogs know lots of important things. Even little puppies know stuff. 

Dad's been on the mower a lot, chopping up leaves. He installed a new set of steps on the sunroom porch, too. Mom loves them, but I think it's easier to jump off the porch. Faster, too. Dad chopped off all the hosta and now my pee spots are gone. Really, guys. Was this necessary? Now I have to go all the way into the woods and find a tree.

This morning, Mom and Dad took Dad's truck for its semi-annual oil change. I wasn't happy because they put me in my crate. I mean, I got a griller treat and everything, but I would have gone along! It would have been fun! I didn't really need a nap.

Mom got home first and right away she busted me out of jail. We went outside and walked down the lane to meet Dad. I picked up what I thought was a ball - I'll never do that again. It was a walnut and it was nasty. Mom had the nerve to laugh at me and point out that she'd said "no" and I didn't listen. I really need to listen to Mom.

It was a bit chilly but I jumped in the creek anyway. I'm Deuce! I have a really thick coat so the cold water doesn't bother me much. Then I spotted Dad's pickup coming up the road. Mom and I got in and I smelled something really good on the drive up the lane to the house. Mom and Dad went to breakfast (without me) but they brought me a scrambled egg and a sausage link!  It's a good thing, too, because my bowls were empty. 

What wasn't good was Mom made me STAY to get pieces of sausage. I don't like to stay but it was okay - this time. 

After my snack, Mom took me out to play Frisbee. It was a busy morning! I wonder what we'll do next?

I'm so stylish for fall!

Fashion isn't just for girl dogs. I have a sporty new vest for long walks with Mom. Now, I ask you - am I not handsome in orange? Isn't orange the new black? I am firing on all four paws! 

I wasn't sure I'd like dressing up to go for a walk, but Mom explained the woods are full of nutjobs with rifles. She says just because they have a license to hunt doesn't mean they know the difference between a deer and a goat, or even a black dog. So between now and Christmas, I'm wearing orange. 

Mom's wearing orange, too. She says she's a little embarrassed to wear Dad's Baltimore Orioles windbreaker, but she will. I thought she liked the O's. They must have sucked this year. I know Dad yelled at them through the television plenty of times. 

But back to more important stuff - ME! 

It was a great day to go for a walk. I got in the creek every time our path crossed it. I even went down the big hill to the bottom where the cold spring bubbles out of the ground and becomes a different creek that flows into ours. It was a long way down, and even longer on the way back up to Mom. I don't know if I'll do that again even though Mom said I could. 

I was really glad to get home and get a snack. I ran so much Mom gave me an extra cup of puppy chow. Keeping me trim is important, but I'm still a growing boy. I just hope she doesn't take that cup off my dinner portion. Maybe I shouldn't give her any ideas, huh? 

Mom & Dad keep track of me

One of Mom's friends sent her an email to ask about my collar. It's very special. It has my name on it, so it really is mine! mine! mine!  It also has a global positioning device (GPS) on it. 

I didn't like it at first. I thought Dad didn't trust me, but now I know it's not that at all. Mom and Dad really love me and don't want me to get lost in the woods. But I won't get lost. 

When Mom and I walk in the woods, I mark my trail. I can find my way back home by scent if Mom wanders off without me. 

Maybe we need a tracker for her. 

I met a turtle and I liked it

I took Mom for a walk in the woods yesterday. I got in trouble and had to stay on the leash for a long time because I didn't listen to her, but that's another story. I finally redeemed myself and got to play in the creek. But the best part of the walk was the turtle! 

I think I might have seen a turtle when I was a really little guy. I'm not sure I remember but I think it hissed at me. Why would I remember that if it didn't happen? Anyway, I'm older - almost ten months - and I'll remember about turtles now. 

Mom saw the turtle before I did. I wanted Mom to unhook the leash and was having a temper tantrum...er...jumping around and almost stepped on the turtle. I really jumped when it moved! I barked at it and its head disappeared!

I tried and tried and tried to make it come back out but it didn't. Mom told me I could hurt it and I didn't want to do that. I just wanted to play. Mom said she thought it was a boy turtle because its bottom shell was curved inward. Having a shell sounds weird to me.

After we found the turtle, I calmed down and heeled properly, sat when Mom told me to, and even did three good stays in a row. By the time we got to the upper creek, Mom turned me loose and I got to play in the water.  

The turtle was gone when we came back, but that's ok. I was pretty tired from running through the woods. Mom told Dad we had a nice walk (even though I didn't behave at first). He gave me a Griller and I went into my crate and took a nap. I needed it!

I'm FAMOUS!!

THAT'S ME!!

I'M GREENBRIER SMOKEY DEUCE AND I'M ON A BOOK COVER!!!!!!!

I made it into the big pool!

I made it into the big pool! Yeah, I cheated a bit. Mom and Dad were draining all the water out for the winter. They weren't watching me too closely and I hopped in. 

What fun!! I splashed around for a bit, then Mom asked me to get out. She said my toenails might rip a hole in the bottom and that would make Dad very unhappy because he'd have to buy a bigger pool next year.

He should buy a pool I can swim in! I love to swim! 

Mom said she'd try to get up early tomorrow so we can sneak into the state park and I can swim in the lake before the rangers are even awake. I think that's a good plan. 

She also said next summer we're going to build our own dam upstream in the creek. A private spot for Mom & me to have fun just below where the clean, clear water comes out of the spring. I like that idea!

Throw it again!

I love to play Frisbee! I can even catch it every now and then. I'm getting better at protecting my nose, too. It stings when I miss and hit my nose. Dad says I need practice.

Another thing I need to practice is giving the Frisbee back to Dad so he can throw it again. I get so excited I forget! It's mine! Mine! Mine! 

I know Dad's right, and I know I can't chase it if he can't throw it. I'll get better and better and then Mom can get a video. I'm only nine months old. I've already come a long way!

Dad knows when I've played enough for one session. He told me to take the Frisbee to Mom, and then she took my picture. Then I dropped the Frisbee between the porch steps and it's still there. Mom says I have to figure out how to get it all by myself. I hope she changes her mind and gets it for me, but Mom's pretty tough about my toys. 

Guess I'd better ask her, politely of course, how to get it out. Then I'll be more careful. I always am after I've "lost" a toy. After all, they are MINE. 

Snip Snip Part II

The day didn't start out very well, but it's ending better. I did not feel good this morning. All I wanted to do was sleep and mope around. Then Mom crushed a bag of ice cubes with a hammer - don't let your Mom do that because it makes too much noise. Anyway, Mom made me crushed ice and I love ice. By the time I finished licking up all the bits and pieces, I felt better. And hungry. So Mom gave me breakfast and things started to look up. 

I went to the office with Mom. While she worked on the computer, I slept a bit more. When Dad got up, we all went out on the front porch. Remember when I told you people are crazy? Mom and Dad disassembled the table out there with a big saw and we hauled it to the dumpster. 

Mom was worried I'd be afraid to ride in the truck because of yesterday, but I wasn't. 

Then Uncle Bob came for a visit. I was feeling pretty good but he listened to Dad and wouldn't throw the Frisbee for me. 

I haven't licked my incision hardly at all. Mom took a peek at it and said it's not oozing at all, but I knew that. But, um, my little boy, um, well I'm not sure what to call it but it feels really weird. I was a little worried but Mom and Dad say I'm still a guy dog. I'm glad to hear it, too. 

(Mom wanted a picture, but I'm feeling camera shy tonight. Maybe tomorrow.)