I underestimated the creepyness!

I was back in class for week 3 of training. It was a frustrating class. They were trying to work on me obeying commands while being distracted. So, they would give me a series of commands... like "Heal, sit, stay, look at me (people like it when you look at them)". Then while I am doing my stay, which is tough enough, they would bounce a ball, and I wasn't supposed to look at it. WHAT!!! I have no idea what the point of that is. I should have skipped this class. It was very frustrating, and since I keep doing "wrong"... or so they said... I wasn't getting any treats, which is very, very, very frustrating. So, after a while I just quit listening to anything.

Sam was doing OK, he can sit and stay for a pretty long time, but that ball is pretty tough not to look at.

After class I saw Santa Clause in the store!!! SCORE!!! I've been hearing about this guy. I was going to ask him for some bacon, and he would have to give it to me, it is like a state law or something.

So I took mom over to where Santa was sitting.


Saying "hi" to Santa.


When I got up close to Santa he really seemed, I dunno, a little off. Those boots weren't real boots, weird. And, when he talked his beard didn't move.


Upclose this guy doesn't seem jolly at all.

So, after saying "Hi", I decided I would just steal my bacon off dad's plate like always, and forget about asking Santa for it.


I changed my mind... I don't want anything for Christmas

But, now mom is all smiling ear to ear... the way people do sometimes, and she wants me to sit down for a picture. WHAT!!! sit next to the funny smelling guy with the fake boots, and beard that doesn't move!?? I don't think so.


I can't smile, and keep an eye on Santa at the same time.

I was ready to go home, but Santa decided he would "Help", by holding me in place. Yeah, thanks Santa! Don't you have some little kids at the mall to scare?


Santa putting me in a head lock.

So, they took a few pics, and then when Santa loosened his grip on me... I took off. But, that old guy looks slow, but he grabbed me right by the leash and held me back for a couple of more pics. Apparently the people didn't think I looked "comfortable" in any of the pictures they had already taken. Can you imagine... Sit next to the creepy, old guy, with fake boots, and a beard that doesn't move when he talks... now... "Look like you are happy". HA! I'll be happy when I'm outta here.


Ok, that is it... I'm leaving

Finally one last picture... they got me to sit, had the creepy, scary Santa behind me, and I just gently slid quietly under his chair. Maybe I can get away if I crawl.


I'm afraid to move

Finally, mom rescued me and we got outta there. Whew! But, then DARN!!! I realized after all of that, I was too scared to remember to ask Santa for my bacon!. Oh man, now I'm thinking about asking mom to take me back there

Higher Education

I'm back in school for some advanced training. I'm actually not sure what I want to be when I grow up. But, mom and dad think a good education is important, so I decided to return to school.


Mom and I listening to the professor

I already graduated from puppy class. So, I am pretty strong in "Sit", "Stay", my "Take it", is really good, but my "Leave it", and "Drop It" are admittedly a bit weak. So, I'm hoping to improve on those, and to also learn "Heal". I'm apparently supposed to really improve my listening while being distracted, and focusing on mom and dad while I'm on a leash. I might skip out on those classes, they don't sound that important.

The professor at school is Rick. He was my professor for puppy class. He told us during puppy class that he worked with dogs when he was in the Army, so I call him Sargent Rick. But, mom and dad just call him Rick.


Sargent Rick, Sam, and Sam's dad


On of my bark park pals, Sam, is in the class with me. I've known Sam for several months now. Kind of fun to be in class with him. When the people are blabbing away, Sam and I make fun of them.


Sam working on his "Leave It".

Mom says that after class we can stop by the bark park on the way home! Whooo Hoooo... fun! I love the bark park. Sam came to the park after the last class, so we had to sit there and pretend to be serious in class, and then we got to unwind together at the bark park. Good times!

Oh... and on a really boring, unimportant side note; My stupid niece Gnarly the cat is always laying around on any soft thing she can find. So after my last class mom bought her something, that at first looked like a really good chew toy, but I guess was actually some kind of at stupid cat bed. And, the stupid cat just climbed right in it like she knew it was hers or something. Mom and dad were all like "Awwww look at the cat...". And, I was all like "*ewww*... the cat lays down on anything soft... what a major surprise... she likes a cat bed.". Sometimes you think the people are smart... and sometimes you aren't so sure.


The stupid cat in her new bed, which would make an excellent chew toy.

Family talent show.

Sometimes during the holidays me and my family do some fun family holiday things. Like this dance we put on recently.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

It is a little embarrassing. But, you know it was the holidays and we don't all get together as family often.

I can't believe I let them put that costume on me, but it just made mom so happy... did you see how she was smiling during the whole dance?

Well... it was kind of fun. Hope you enjoy it.

The Red Dot. My enemy, we meet again!

Since it is starting to get colder outside, and darker earlier, my people like to stay home and sit on the couch with blankets over themselves. Every time they get up I run to door trying to remind them it is time to go to the bark park, but they usually just end up just flopping back down on the couch.

I do everything I can to encourage them to get up and do something fun. Sometimes I try and grab their blankets, sometimes I just jump up on the couch and try and make sure the see me by putting my face right in their face. I think they usually do see me, even though sometimes they act like they don't.

Every once in a while, this little red dot shows up and runs around the family room teasing me. That red dot really chaps my little furry behind. It bugs me almost as much as the stupid cat does.

Sometimes I have to chase it all over the place...



Chasing the red dot!

And, sometimes I have to pounce on it when it just pops up right in front of me...



Me trying to stomp on that darn red dot!

I've almost caught it a bunch of times. One of these days... one of these days... BAM!!! I'll get it, and no more red dot! HA! That will be a good day.

On a side note, my mom keeps messing up the family room by putting all my toys away. But, when she isn't looking I drag them back out and spread them around the room. I figure it is the least I can do to give mom something to do. It is a fun game for both of us.

Thanksgiving! or as I now call it, "No Gizmo!" Day

Oh man! Thursday started off as a great day! Grandma and Grandpa (Mom's p's) were at our house. They came up from Florida to have Thanksgiving with us. My uncle Scott (Mom's brother) was there, my sister Lindsey, and brother Adam, were all there! All at our house. Man I never had so many people to play with.


Grandpa, Uncle Scott, Grandma, and mom (of course)

I was really excited, and started doing lots of barking. I wanted to make sure everyone saw me and knew I was ready to play. I barked at everyone, often, and loud. I'm not sure they were really paying attention to me. So, I kept it up until I got some attention. Sometimes I would get petted for a while. Sometimes they would throw a toy around. Good stuff. I like all of that kind of attention. But, after a little while they would forget I was there or something. So, I had to start barking more to remind them.


C'mon you lazy guys, lets play some squeaky toy!

After a while everyone kept saying "No Gizmo". "Quiet"... "No Gizmo". I did not like the way this was starting to go. In the kitchen there was starting to be a lot of food getting put on the counters. Surely they must have known that I would check that out. But, as soon as I would get up on the counter, everyone would start going "No Gizmo! Down!". What surely they aren't serious.

But, then they would put me outside...

Hey, I've been out here for like a minute, it is time to come back in!

Each time they would let me out, I would start to play, and then there would be a bunch of "No Gizmo!" being shouted by everyone before they kicked me out into a new place... alone... by myself... I just wanted to play. Surely these people want to play with me.

C'mon lets play!

You have to be kidding me...

Locked away... again.


Oh wait... is there food in there?

You have to be kidding me...

locked in a room... I was just checking out stuff on the counter. Seems like you guys already have a lot of food.

But, what about the stupid cat.

Oh I guess everyone loves the cat now.

No one says no to the cat. Oh, I guess she is allowed to run around everyone loves her... stupid cat. When no one is looking she jumps on the counters and sticks in her head in all of the bowls and cups.


Oh boy! Time to eat!! This is what I was waiting for! Lindsey, you are holding on too tight.

You have to be kidding me...

Now I'm put in my cage. I was just trying to enjoy dinner with the family!

Well, now that dinner is over,

Maybe I can help clean up a little bit. Surely I can do that!

You have to be kidding me!

Adam please put me down so I can help clean up!

My people really seem to look forward to Thanksgiving. But, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. Seems like it is a "no playing", "no Gizmo", "someone put the dog up", kind of day.

Tug-o-War

Mom said that Sandy sent out an email saying she was going to be at the bark park today at 2:00. That Sandy is OK! I told mom I would be ready to go at any time.


When time finally came to leave, I was really excited! I knew where we were going, and I sat up front to help dad drive.



I'm still getting away with out having a seat belt, for now, but mom really grabs on. I wish she would scoot over a little, she takes up almost the whole seat. I have to have my back legs on the floor, and front ones on mom's lap, just so I can help dad find his way there.




There was a good crowd at the park, some old friends, and some new pups too. It was great! In this pic I'm up near the tree, about to help Chloe do some exploratory digging.

One of my most fun things to do is to have the dogs chase me while I have a stick or a ball. But, right up there on my list of fun things is to play some tug-o-war. Abby and I each went after the same stick.


I think Abby is really pretty, but I don't tell anyone that. But, she can really play a good game of tug-o-war. We tugged...


... and tugged ...


... and tugged!!! But we were pretty evenly matched.

Then Blake decided he could out tug us both...

So, then we did a three way tug-o-war.


Man, that Blake is pretty good at tug-o-war too!

Well, I don't like to brag... much, but I did end up winning! I got the stick!! Yea! Gizmo!! But, after I won, and Blake and Abby didn't want the stick anymore, then I discovered I didn't really want the stick that much either. But, it was fun while it lasted!

Later on Eddie came in. Eddie had been at the kennel for the weekend, and had just gotten out. Boy was he happy to be there. It was good to see him again.

Unfortunately, a dog came in latter that has a reputation for picking fights. This dog almost never plays with other dogs, it just runs around trying to start fights, at least that is what it seems like to me. Poor Laney, one of my good buddies, ended up with a scratch on her pretty little face (I wouldn't ever tell anyone I think she is pretty, I don't want to be teased), it was bad enough to draw blood. Laney seems to get more than her share of scratches. I hope she is OK.

But, good day at the park... good tug-o-war game! Good time. I hope it stays warm a little longer!

Snow and Hot Chocolate

Mom heard that Laney and Fergie were going to be at the park at 2:00 today. When she told me I was so excited that I couldn't stay still. I just kept following Mom around saying "Is it 2:00 yet? is it? is it? what about now?"

Finally one time she waid it was! Whew!!! Dad heated up some water and grabbed some cups and packages and came along. I was glad he came. I was really hoping that there was bone cake in those packages.

The park was great. Laney, Fergie, were there, just like Mom said, but also Bronco, Bridget, and Eddie. Sam came in a little bit latter. A good turn out considering how cold it was. The people were all huddled up next to the fence looking really cold. They were all bundled up in their big coats, and gloves. They looked funny.

Apparently Dad brought something called hot chocolate which everyone told me that I would not like, but I was really very positive that I would like. I talked it over with the other pups and we were all in agreement that we all liked hot chocolate. But, no matter how I tried to explain this to Dad I didn't ever get any.

After a lot of playing, and even some "Betcha can't catch me while I have the stick" (I love that game), it actually started snowing enough that it was pretty steady for a while. Not a long time, but, I would say it definitely happened. I can't wait to play in the snow!

After we got home, Mom went out and bought some warmer clothes. I think that I a good sign that Mom is planning on bringing me back. I'm not sure about Dad he gets kind of whinney when he is cold. It wasn't really that cold. It was just right for lots of playing!