My new favorite holiday

My faithful readers know that I had a really bad Thanksgiving. It was almost like I was in the way or something. And, I barely got any turkey at all.

So, as Easter rolled around I was hopeful about getting some ham or other good stuff. I saw a lot of activity in the kitchen. But, I was pretty worried about being locked away while the people ate all of the food.

Then a wonderful thing happened. My big brother Adam showed up with his friend Amanda.



Amanda brought her dog Chloe. WOW!!! I didn't know dogs could come to visit me. This was the first time in my life another dog had come over to play.


Chloe is beautiful (in a non-Golden Retriever kind of way).






She already knew how to play some great games.



She already knew how to wrestle.



She chased me, I chased her. It was a lot of fun. It wasn't the bark park, but not bad for being at home. And, I think the best part was, that Chloe like to chase Gnarly, so whenever Chloe was around, Gnarly just stayed on top of the couch... Ha! that was funny...



Except one time Chloe jumped up on top of the couch (even though no one is really allowed up there... that is right Gnarly you aren't allowed up there!), and Gnarly shot out of the room to hide. It was pretty sweet.

Then to top off an already great day, when my people were busy playing cards after they ate, I swear I heard one of them say something about "Gizmo", and "Ham", and "Go ahead"... So, I jumped up on the stove and made off with a pretty good sized hunk of ham. As it turns out I apparently misunderstood what they were saying, because they sure didn't act like they wanted me to have the ham after all... But, I think it is safe to say that ham is my new favorite food.

I'm looking forward to next Easter! I had a really good one this year, and I hope you did too.

Spring Walk

It is a beautiful Spring Saturday morning. Dad and I headed out for a walk. I like going to the Bark Park. But, sometimes my people like going for a walk. Walks are OK. But, I don't get to play as much.


Pear trees are blooming in the neighborhood.

Sometimes we even meet people on the walk that don't even have their dog with them. I try and jump and ask them "HEY!!! Where is your dog???". But, they just keep on going. Dad says not everyone has a dog, but that sounds wrong to me. Every dog I know has a person... just makes sense every person would have a dog.


C'mon Dad, try and keep up.



Entrance to the "Hoosier Woods"

We have a couple of different little wooded areas close to our house. I like walking though the woods a lot more than just walking down the sidewalk. Dad likes the sidewalk. But, I say to him "Who do you think this walk is for me or you?" And, then Dad says the walk is for him... and then I say "If it wasn't for me you would be on the couch watching cartoons." And, then Dad shrugs and we go through the woods.


The "Bunny Trail" Geocache.

Do you see the Cache in the picture? It is a little plastic Easter egg in the trunk of the tree. I have blogged about Geocaching before. It is a hobby that people do with their dogs. I'm pretty sure it is a rule that you can only do it with a dog. I know I only do it with people, so I think they can only do it with dogs. Makes sense. This is one that my mom hid. We decided to check on it while we were out. I had to put on my official Geocaching bandanna while I was on official business. The location of Geocaches is supposed to be top secret! But, I have a hard time keeping secrets.


In the "Hoosier Woods".

Back on my walk, just having fun now, so the bandanna comes off. This little section of woods is next to a grade school, where little people pups go to learn "sit", "stay", etc. If you walk all around in here, there are little experiments and things that the students put in here... Collect rain... grow plants... identify trees... You know... they are trees... Duh... how hard is that, not sure why you have to put a sign on them... oh well.



This is another little wooded trail. The trail connects two different neighborhoods. This trail is about a 5 minute walk from the "Hoosier Woods"


Back on official Geocaching business.

Dad likes walking on the trail, but you really can't have any fun in the woods until you get off the trail. Luckily there are a couple of the Geocaches in this woods too.



This one is called. Gizmo's Adventure. Hee-hee... yeah, named after me. It is one of my favorite ones. Do you see it there? it is a tennis can wrapped in tape.



Geocachers have put a little toy snake, and some other little toys in this cache. Geocachers are fun like that.


Heading on down the trail.


The "Grandma's House" Cache.

Back on the job. Do you see the cache there? It is in a little taped up container.



HA! This cache had three little cars in it. Geocachers are really cool.


The Bridge.

The last Geocache is called "Grandma's House" because it is over the bridge and through the woods. I don't get it, but my people think it is funny. Whatever. I like to walk around the bridge.


Hanging out by the bridge.

Someday... someday... I'm going for a swim in there.



The other side of the bridge.

The trail continues on into another neighborhood. But, we just turned around at the bridge and headed back today.


It is was no trip to the bark park. But, all in all it was a fun walk. I think it is good for dad to get out and walk around some. Too bad he doesn't know how to chase me with the stick.

Why do my people like eveything clean?

I was all excited when mom and dad said we were going for a car ride. Car rides are always great, or at least they used to be. Sometimes we end up at the Bark Park, or the store where Sargent Rick does training.

But, this time we ended up a different store. This place had this awful looking things in the back of the store;



Mom and dad kept looking at them, and I knew I had a made a mistake to come along on this trip.

Apparently, you are expected to just happily walk up that little ramp right into the belly of that thing. I declined the invitation to walk up the ramp. Dad just bent down and grabbed me and plopped me down right in the middle of it.

I would have been mad, but Dad was wearing this little green apron and it was hard to be mad while I was chuckling at him.



Mom and dad hosed me down, and sudsed me up. Ugh! I hate baths. I refused to be helpful. I tried running away, but kind of tough in my little tub I was stuck in.



I finally just had to sit there and wait it out until they were done drying me off. What is the point of this whole exercise? They wet you down and they dry you off. I was dry before they started. People!!! I will never understand them.



When they were done, they were very certain I would just walk down that ramp. But, I really did not like the way that ramp looked. So, instead of walking down, I just jumped from the tub to the floor. Almost landed on mom's head... ha! that will teach you.

I told them the only way I am going back, is if they bring Gnarly the cat next time. And... I get to help suds up Gnarly... hee-hee.

I'm still on the job

Just like my buddy Amelie said, everyone is giving credit to the doctors for my mom feeling better. But, who was it that got her started on the road to recovery by licking her hands and arms before the doctors ever saw her? Hint: ME!

And, when Mom came home from the Vet, she wasn't ready to start running around and chasing the tennis ball. She still needed to take it easy. I didn't see any doctors in the house helping her out. Who was it that used their chin to keep her warm when she was laying in bed? Hint: ME!


Nursing Mom back to health

Mom has been getting better every day. She is playing more with me each day. We have even been to the bark park a couple of times.

But, she isn't quite 100% yet. So, when she gets tired and lays in bed I am on the job helping her get well. Lots of licking... lots of using my chin to keep her warm. And, the results are noticeable! You can see the improvement each day.



Won't be long before I have her chasing me in the back yard.

Gizmo the New Grad

Whew! What a relief. I just had my finals in Intermediate class. It was HARD! Much tougher than puppy class. And, since Mom has been under the weather I hadn't been getting much training. So, Dad and I did lots of cramming before finals.


First thing I had to do was "Go to my Bed".

That is my bark park pal Sam in the back ground. It was nice to have a friend in my class.

I don't really understand the need for this, since usually I just sleep on Mom and Dad's bed. When am I ever going to use this? Dad said he felt the same way about a Greek Culture class he took in school. But, he realized later it just kind of helps you be a better well rounded person. For what ever that is worth. At least for me it usually ends up with a treat.


On my bed!

I'm on my bed, but I don't really feel it. You know... first chance I get, I'm off and playing again. Need that treat first.

Second test was "Leave It". I've gotten pretty good at "Leave It". But, for the finals they used a hoof! What, I didn't study for a hoof! I love hoofs! They really through me a curve ball there.


Me, kind of leaving it... sort of...

I left it, and walked past. But, then I stopped and waited for the "Take it". But, no fair! Take it never came. Dad dragged me on and we just kept going. Sometimes school is a bummer.

We were supposed to know a couple of tricks. I know a bunch! Well... three or so. So, I did "Shake", and "Rollover". Two tricks. I needed a little extra credit after that stumble on the "Leave it" part of the test. I did them both very well, if I do say so myself.


Action shot of my "Roll Over".


This was kind of like the essay part of the final. I had to do a "Sit", "Stay" combo. Then I had to wait for what seemed like forever, but Dad said it was more like 10 seconds, and then I had to walk to Dad on the "Come" command, then I had to "Leave It" when I got to the hoof. AND!!!! All of that with no one holding my leash. I could have just taken off and ran out of the store if I wanted. I don't think anyone could have caught me. But... I did it... walked to Dad, and sat in front of him like a good boy.


Finals!

Whoa! talk about tough. But, Dad and I had practiced all of that, and when the time came, I was able to remember what we studied, and I pulled it off!.

I also had to do some "loose leash" and "Heal" walking. I was able fake my way through those.


Passed with flying colors!

Dad was pretty proud! Not really sure what I am going to do with all of my education now. I think Mom and Dad plan on having me continuing to study for a while. Guess you don't want to spend all that tuition money and then just forget everything.

I don't think that Gnarly the cat has ever been to any training at all... and... that is OK... I guess... I mean she probably needs to learn some commands... if she was able to, but maybe she... I don't know... I guess she is doing OK. As long as you don't look at her or try to touch her.

On a side note. Mom is home now!!!! YEAH!!! It is a lot more fun around the house with Mom there.

Snow Day!

Today we had a lot of snow. Dad stayed home from work said he was taking a "Snow Day", but for me I'll call it a "Fun Day".

Usually, on a typical old boring day, when I go out into the backyard, I don't spend a lot of time out there. But, on a Fun Day. I like to hang out back there. I like to roll around and play with my toys.



Ha-Ha! The stupid cat isn't even allowed to go outside. And, she tries to sneak out every now and then. But, today she doesn't even seem to want to go outside. She doesn't know what fun is. Cats! Why! Why mom and dad, why?



I like sticking my face in the snow and pushing my toys around in it.



Guess I know how they came up with the expression "scaredy cat" now!



I have my toys lined up, so I can keep track of them.



I think this is how you make a snow angel... or at least a snow puppy.



I wish every day could be a snow day.







It is fun just to romp around!





Ok, couple of side notes. My mom is in the hospital. She has been there for a few days and is going to be there for a few more days. But, the Dr. has figured out what she needed and she is getting better every day! We are looking forward to her coming home. But, Dad was sad this morning that he couldn't get to the hospital. He will probably try and get down there later today. Not sure why he doesn't just come out and play in the back yard. That is what mom would do.

Also, Dad gave me a cookie and said it was from Alley Cat. Alley Cat kind of scares me. I wasn't sure about the treat. It took me almost 1/2 a second to decided to take a chance and eat it. Turns out it was pretty good. Maybe Alley Cat isn't so bad after all.

There are a lot of things I don't know

I don't know why some dogs are mean. Most are nice. But, every now and then you run into a mean one. I don't why they are mean.

I don't know where my parents go when they are gone, or why I can't go with them all of the time. I always like to go. I try and be good company when we all go some place. But, sometimes they go, and I stay. I don't know why.

I don't know why my people feel bad sometimes. Sometimes they walk around sneezing and they sit on the couch with blankets. That isn't too bad. But, my mom has been feeling even worse than that lately. She has been spending a lot of time going to the vet over the last couple of weeks. We haven't had much time for the bark park or for blogging lately. Dad said he thinks the vets are going to have mom fixed back up pretty soon. I sure hope so. I don't know why mom has to feel bad.

But, there are a few things I do know. I know that if I lick something it heals faster. Not sure how I know that. It just makes sense, kind of the same way that I know you can't have too much of a good thing. And, I know that the more I can hang around mom the better she feels.

Mom took this picture of me taking care of her a few days ago. She was in bed, and I was keeping her leg warm with my chin.



I hope you feel better soon mom. We need to get out to the bark park!