December 2014 – Page 2 – Viktorsviews. The Next Chapter.

Naughty.

December 20, 2014Leave a Comment

OK. Funny. Very funny. ANOTHER Christmas photo. My human thought this was a cute idea. Getting us to pose for these things may SEEM like a simple task…but guess again. And you can see that yours truly even tried to eat his sign. Frodo and I were both vying for the NICE seat on the bench – but Frodo obviously won. ..

To make up for this photo, my human took ME with her to run some errands yesterday. First we had to pick up a HUGE box at the courier office – I THINK it’s the indestructible dog bed!!! When my human opened the car door to load it, I decided I should check out the territory. I’m usually very good at staying in the vehicle, until I am allowed out. But yesterday, I just tried to sneak right by my human. But don’t worry that I would EVER get out – my human IS smarter than I think. One of the problems of having long hair is that your human can grab you quite easily as she is reaching for your collar. I did not attempt to go exploring on subsequent stops – unless invited!

Next stop was my human’s office. She is technically “off” for the holidays, but she still had to go in to do a bit of work and to pick something up. It’s been a while since I was in the office – and taking the elevator WAS a surprise. But it was fine. Then I got to meet some of her colleagues. For SOME reason, some of them knew MY name – but I didn’t know theirs. How embarrassing. I was so embarrassed that I even ducked away when they tried to pet me. I do that the first 5 minutes after I meet someone. After that, we’re generally good. Especially if they give me treats that somehow my human always carries. Anyway, it was nice to meet them and to put faces to the names…

I was quite comfortable in the office while my human did some work on her computer…

Next stop. The pharmacy. I couldn’t go in there, so watched the traffic from the car. Last stop the VET. My human needed to pick up something for Paxton – and I got to go in and be weighed. I sat on the scale like a statue. My human thought I was being good – but I was actually FROZEN because I was wondering what I was doing there! I was THRILLED to go back to the car afterwards. Our regular Vet wasn’t in. Probably still on the Round-the-World tour paid for by Paxton’s surgery. The new wing on the Vet clinic that Paxton built is really quite nice too. JUST JOKING. Sort of.

When I got home, the other boys were totally jealous. Sometimes being NAUGHTY pays off!

The elf.

December 19, 2014Leave a Comment

More attempts at Christmas photos. Will my human NEVER stop?! This time it was a shot with me and an elf. Kind of like the Elf on the Shelf.

That shelf elf guy is a big deal in the past few years. He is supposed to come out every day and watch kids – to be sure they are behaving. And he moves around each night. And kids can’t touch him. He’s kind of spooky – but basically harmless. Although some academics are complaining that the elf is evil – and it prepares kids for life in a “police state.” It also doesn’t allow conventional “play” as the kids can’t touch it. COME ON humans – it’s a TOY elf. My goodness, humans really can be crazy sometimes. Sometimes humans forget what the word FUN is. They overanalyze things. Not us canines – we love fun! Mind you – our idea of elf fun would be ripping his head off.

Anyway, for SOME reason my human thought I should take an elf photo. There was NO WAY she could take a picture with all three of us and the elf. I DID agree to let the elf near me for 30 seconds to get a few shots – but then, well…the elf ALMOST went to elf heaven before his time.

How many more days of these photos? WOW – only 6!!!!!!!!! My list was completed. I faxed a copy and also e-mailed a copy to the North Pole. I wanted to be sure it was there on time. In the meantime, I DO have to behave as I am mindful that Santa can change his mind. So I DO have to tolerate a FEW more Christmas photos….What scares me is that my human went to the Dollar Store yesterday. Remember last time? She came back with antlers. This isn’t going to be good….

Christmas baking.

December 18, 20142 Comments

OK. I like to think my human is smart. Not as smart as us canines, but still smart enough. But the other day– well.. I wasn’t so sure.

You see, she decided to bake us some Christmas dog biscuits. She found this recipe on-line quite some time ago and bought all the ingredients – so decided to give it a try.

The biscuit recipe called for overly ripe bananas, coconut flour, peanut butter, olive oil, flax seed and egg. The ingredients sounded yummy. So I watched the entire proceedings. I didn’t LEAVE the kitchen for a minute. I wanted to see how they were made – so maybe I could make them myself some time. Let me tell you – it was NOT a pretty sight.

My human likes to cook. And she can be crafty. And she attempts to repair things. But. She CANNOT bake.

First off, the bananas were not REALLY overly ripe. But she smashed them up anyway, and figured the little lumps would not be a big deal. Then she added the sifted flour and flax seed. So far, so good. Then the recipe said to add the egg and peanut butter and oil and BEAT all the ingredients. At which point she realized -uh-oh. Her beater was broken. A small but critical detail. So she stuffed as much of the ingredients as she could into her food processor. They didn’t all fit. And she turned it on. NUMEROUS times. And she kept pushing the ingredients down into the bowl. Over and over again.

Then she put the somewhat pasty, dough-like THING into the fridge for 30 minutes, as the recipe said. And then she was supposed to spoon the dough into balls onto a cookie sheet and bake. Except the dough was kind of flaky and falling apart. So she formed balls with her hands. And baked them for 30 minutes. They were supposed to form COOKIES. They came out like little golf balls. NOT pretty at all.

But. Drum roll. We still liked them! I mean seriously, you KNOW we will eat ANYTHING. And they smell awesome. And we don’t REALLY care what they look like.

So although I don’t think my human should quit her day job and open a doggie bakery, I do think we’ll keep her. After all, it was the thought that counts! And isn’t that what Christmas time giving is all about?!

Another Vik-Advisor!

December 17, 2014Leave a Comment

Time for another Vik-Advisor. Today we’ll talk about my FAVORITE thing to do – AND one of my FAVORITE toys.

As some of you know, I love to obsessifetch (v. the action of retrieving. Over and over and over and OVER again. Until the human’s arm can no longer throw the ball or toy.) Tennis balls are great – but I REALLY love a toy that I can carry. So my human bought the Chuckit Amphibious Bumper. http://www.caninehardware.comI LOVE catching this thing mid-air and it is soft and light to carry. It’s also easy to throw for an uncoordinated human like mine – although one of them WAS stuck on the roof for a few weeks until it eventually blew down in a windstorm. But she GENERALLY can toss it pretty far.

We need to have two of any fetch toys so when we race back with one, she can get ready to throw the next – and more importantly, it causes us (well me) to drop it without MUCH of a tug-of-war. Frodo automatically drops his – and Paxton well he just doesn’t come back.

So I LOVE my Chuckit. The only problem – my Chuckit doesn’t love me. Below you will see a photo of our current Chuckits. It’s almost time for my human to chuck it – into the garbage. So although I LOVE this toy…I can only give it a 2.5 PAWS rating – it needs to hold up better. And that’s NOT with us lying around and chewing on it – we don’t get to have the bumpers when we’re not retrieving.

Despite their low rating, I still DO have them on my Christmas list, because they ARE the best bumpers we have used SO far. We also have the hard bumpers my human used to use years ago when she did field training with her Lab – but I’m not CRAZY about them. I mean I’ll bring it back….but I like a softer version. So. The Chuckit is still on the list! Unless Santa finds us a different type…Hint. Hint.

He’s IN!!!!!!!

December 16, 2014Leave a Comment

He’s IN. Frodo got in. INTO the DFZ.

My human was in the DFZ doing some work on her laptop – and sitting by the tree. We were sitting outside the gate, which is secured to the pillars by the bungee cords. It doesn’t look too pretty – but it holds the gate very tight. We haven’t even TRIED to get in since these extra fortifications were put in place to protect the Christmas Explosion.Until now.

You know Frodo – he CANNOT be separated from our human. So the next thing you know, he had squeezed himself between the gate and the pillar – and in he went. He walked over to the tree – gave it a look and went to lie down by the fireplace all while my human sat there with her mouth gaping open. Honestly, I don’t know why she was surprised. She KNOWS him. Stretching a bungee cord and wedging himself in a tight area is no big deal for Frodo. He’s PONdini!

So she snapped a few photos as evidence that he was IN. Now she’s worried that he’ll get IN when she’s NOT home. And maybe he’ll hold the gate for me.

Frodo is really pushing the limits this week – first the dog bed destruction and now the mission into the DFZ. Ya better watch out Frodo – remember –“ he’s making a list…”

Yay. More presents for ME!

The Pre-Christmas Miracle.

December 15, 2014Leave a Comment

The pre-Christmas miracle. Yes. Miracles DO happen. Although, quite honestly, we canines think every DAY is a miracle. We’re happy when we get up and we’re happy when our food dish comes out. We rejoice in simple things – and think that they are quite miraculous.

Humans, on the other hand, wait for something unique and different and exciting to occur – and they call THAT a miracle. Clearly they need to take OUR view of miracles…it’s a whole lot easier.

But yesterday, we decided to give our human a miracle. Remember last weekend? And the walk from h#ll? Where Paxton ended up in the swamp water? And then needed the marathon bath? And my human THOUGHT she lost her cell phone? Because she had taken ALL three of us on a walk TOGETHER? Well. She decided to try it again…

She got up early on Sunday. First – she got our food bowls ready, but didn’t feed us. I thought Frodo and I were going to LOSE our minds. We stood there – barking with every fiber of our being – trying to convince our human that we NEEDED the sustenance in order to be able to run. Our human had a different idea – if we were hungry enough, we would all COME back home. So she did NOT feed us.

Then all the bells and leashes were put on – and we headed out – with the cell phone ZIPPED in her jacket. Basically, a rerun of last weekend.

But this weekend was different. It was a PERFECT walk. Absolutely PERFECT. We stayed close when we were off leash. Well – except for a FEW minutes when Paxton took off in the woods. And of course I followed him. As I’ve said before, my human thinks he runs away to get away from us. But of course I CANNOT let that happen. But we were not gone long – and we even came back when it was time to put on our leashes. Frodo never strayed far – the ground was wet, so he carefully trotted alongside our human the whole time, trying to avoid every puddle. Whimp.

Anyway, when we got back to our driveway, our human took our leashes off and we RACED down the long driveway to the front door. Frodo stood there and barked while I sat and stared at the door – willing it to open so I could get at those food dishes.

Waiting at the door…

It was the perfect ending to a great walk. No one needed a bath. No phones or car keys or house keys were lost. No one ran away. We didn’t bark at any neighbors. We didn’t run into any ATVs. It didn’t rain on us. It was a perfectly miraculous morning…and I think our human would agree.

I hope YOUR day is equally miraculous – in every way!

I want to be a Corgi. For a day.

December 14, 2014Leave a Comment

Oh my goodness. Somebody find me a Corgi costume. My human heard it on the radio – and a quick Google search proved it true. A woman in Boston LOVES Corgis SO much – (probably even more than the Queen!) – that she wants them to be the bridesmaids at her wedding. She put out an ad – looking to pay Corgis to be in her wedding. Seriously. I told you that humans are strange. Personally, I think another member of the herding group would be an excellent substitute. IMAGINE a wedding party of PONs….

OK. But it got me thinking. I didn’t really like the antlers. And I’m not all that fond of dressing up – but I DO tolerate it. So this Corgi thing – if someone can find me a costume, I’m IN. I would LOVE a trip to Boston! Did you know, every year, Nova Scotia sends a HUGE Christmas tree to Boston as a thank–you for their help after the Halifax Explosion in 1917? If you’ve never even heard of it – the Halifax Explosion was the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb. There’s your history lesson for today. And you got it from a PON. So to be able to go to Boston and to pee on the Nova Scotia Christmas tree would be VERY cool – plus I would get to audition for the Corgi wedding.

SURELY I can find a costume somewhere….

Oh. And by the way. My human was able to get her money back for the dog bed. So Frodo is off the hook. And we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the steel bed. Well. Maybe Frodo and Paxton are. I’ve been managing to sneak up on my human’s bed at night. So who needs a dog bed anyway?

Dasher and Dancer and Destroyer…

December 13, 20142 Comments

The other day, my human went to the pet store – I think to get some of the things on my wish list. She’s helping Santa.

While she was there, she saw that they had pet beds on sale. In our house, the last bed…well the last two beds met with their demise after quite a few months. We had two of the same beds – and we rotated between them. And although we LOVED them – the urge to chew was too much. First we started chewing one of them. That was thrown away. Then we started the second one. I like to attack the zippers first, and Pax likes to pull out the stuffing. Frodo generally doesn’t touch them. After my human came home one day and found the dining room looking like it had been in a snowstorm, she said “no more beds.”

The snowstorm bed…

But unfortunately, or in this case – fortunately, it seems that my human does NOT have quite as good a memory as we canines do. So in a moment of amnesia, she saw these “tough” beds made by KONG at the pet store while doing her Christmas shopping. She looked them over and figured that the name KONG is synonymous with TOUGH. And the fabric looked good. So. She caved. She bought ONE as a pre-Christmas gift for all of us to share.

She was sooo happy when she brought it home. She proudly put it down in the dining room. I immediately jumped on it to try it out. Then I walked away and Pax made himself quite comfortable on it. My human was sooo happy.

My human then had a phone call. At this point, Pax was off the bed and Frodo was lying next to it. My human was partly paying attention to him – but was also engaged in the call. And THEN she looked more carefully at Frodo. WHAT was he doing?! Why chewing off the corner of the bed, of course. At this point, the bed had been in our home for hmmmmm….less than an hour? “STOP” she shouted. Too late. Yup – a hole in the corner of the bed. So much for TOUGH.

KONG does provide a warranty on its products – but she’s not so sure about this. She’ll see if the store will give her a credit.

In the meantime, this bed thing now became a challenge. She went on-line and found these INDESTRUCTIBLE beds that she had seen at a dog show. She ordered the one made of steel. Sounds comfy. Two treats says it WILL be indestructible – but none of us will want to use it. Can’t wait for it to arrive.

Never a dull moment : ) I think Frodo should get one less Christmas present because he did this. And I should have his present – don’t you agree?!

Frodo’s handiwork

Decorations UP

December 12, 20141 Comment

My human received her first Christmas card in the mail the other day. Guess who it was from? Our Vet. Seriously. My human figures that Paxton’s surgery to remove her sling from his intestines in March, paid for ALL the Christmas cards the Vet sent out. And his cruise. And his new car….

All of the decorations are up – even the “real tree.” My human sequestered us in the other room while she dragged it into the house because she KNEW the whole idea of an indoor peeing spot would be too much to comprehend. She has kept us out of the DFZ and so far the bungee cords are working. Mind you, she KNOWS that if she leaves that gate open for a SECOND, we’re in. She TRIED to get a holiday photo of the three of us in front of the tree – she thought that would be so pretty. But my brain exploded the MINUTE I walked in the room. I mean LOOK at all the decorations. And top that off with some old toys under the tree – including an old Teddy Bear – and well – the pictures didn’t turn out too good. And that was even WITHOUT wearing antlers. We, well I, just couldn’t sit still. Maybe sometime this weekend – if she runs us around for an hour or so, I’ll be tired enough to stay still.

Well I had better go – I have to think if there is anything left to add to my wish list. Time is running out….13 days left!

Crafts…

December 11, 2014Leave a Comment

Crafts. A human thing to do. Well – it’s not like we canines don’t TRY to make things. We are creative when it comes to “carving” things – bones, sticks, pens, screwdriver handles, broom handles…..Typically, though, humans are not impressed with our work – and you could hardly sell it at a craft fair.

Our human loves to try new crafts. Which usually entails going out and paying a small fortune for all the supplies needed, and then no finished results. Lots of false starts. But few final products. She saw some cool artwork using dog pawprints – but the image of us putting our paws in paint was too scary to consider. Seriously. CAN you imagine us with paint on our paws?! I would like to try it – it would make for a GREAT blog story – but I don’t think she’ll go for it.

HOWEVER, our human DID make a new “craft” creation this week – and it is just in time for the holidays – AND it involves us too! Doesn’t everything?! Our human likes to “repurpose” things – so this was a simple, quick project that fit the bill.

She found some old tin Christmas tree light reflectors at a second hand store. And she made them into tiny picture frames for the dog tree. With US!

I like this idea because it didn’t take any time – like the hooked rug that took her 75 years to complete. None of us was around when she started it. And then when we go and lie down on it in the DFZ, she gets all nervous that we’ll do something to it. We’re CAREFUL. We’re GOOD. OK. There WAS that recent issue with the dead dog Christmas ornament. But don’t worry about these new ornaments – they’re pretty indestructible. That is…unless Paxton gets them.