February 2015 – Page 3 – Viktorsviews. The Next Chapter.

Who nose…

February 8, 2015Leave a Comment

Did you know that we canines have our own unique “fingerprints?!” On our NOSES! Our noses are unique – just like the fact that human fingerprints are unique. I didn’t know that – and it certainly is a fact that I will keep in mind in the future! It means my human can look at those smudges on the French doors, on the front of the oven door, on the sliding glass doors to the decks, on the fridge, on the dishwasher – all of the “olfactory art” and she can tell EXACTLY who did it! Hmmm….I wonder if I could market doggie ID cards with our nose prints…now there’s a money making scheme!

Speaking of money making – or more like money losing in our house – our human took out the Trubble Game that we got for Christmas, and decided to give it another try with us. Frodo has absolutely NO patience for it. He just sits and barks at my human – saying “this is FOOLISH. Find me some sheep.” Paxton tries to devour the entire game board. But voila – I am a Trubble superstar. Well, superstar MIGHT be a bit of a stretch – but I certainly played the longest. And I am STARTING to figure out that you PULL with your paw and you PUSH with your nose. I think if we play a bit more consistently (hint-hint human) I WILL figure it out.

The day before yesterday my human had the day off – so she and her mother went to do some shopping. And my human bought two new area rugs for the bedroom. Ahhhh. BRAND new rugs. So of course, I felt they SHOULD be “christened”… At about 4AM, my human heard the dreaded telltale urky gurky sound. The one that we canines make JUST before we are about to throw up. My human is a pretty sound sleeper – but that sound IMMEDIATELY wakes her up and she JUMPS out of bed. She managed to usher me to the hardwood floor where I deposited a lovely “product.” I think that’s the first time I have thrown up like that. Of course, in a rather odd human ritual, my human had to study what it was I threw up (sorry for the disgusting topic – but that’s life with us canines). She has a sinking feeling it MIGHT have been a poopsicle (and yes, that is even MORE disgusting). Anyway, I am feeling fine and dandy today. So anyway, the new carpets have been spared. For now.

I’m still vying for the favorite grand-dog spot…so far…so good. I think I impressed her with my Trubble skills…

Have a good one!

Good behavior…sort of.

February 6, 20151 Comment

So we are into Day One of company and my goal to be a “favorite grand-dog.” So far so good. I haven’t jumped up, and despite one SMALL indiscretion when I stole a tissue from a pocket, I have been very good. Oh and I guess there also was that moment when I was lounging with my human and her mother on the couch, and I growled at Frodo when he tried to come near the couch. My human QUICKLY reminded me that such behavior is “not acceptable” in our house, so I quit. It was a BIT embarrassing as I had been clearly in the running yesterday for favorite – but it set me back just a notch…

Holy moly, my human’s mother is popular. She’s had more friends call for her in 24 hours than my human has had in a week. I guess when you are her age – you have LOTS of friends!

My human didn’t take down those snowflakes yet – and she paid the price. MORE snow. The most snow I have EVER seen in my entire life. But then, I AM only 3.

We don’t quite know where to put the snow. Well – my human doesn’t know where to put it. The plow guy does the major moving and then my human shovels the leftover drifts. And then we jump in the drifts – and spread around the stuff she has just piled up. Great fun.

It’s also VERY cold out – so while it’s fun to run around for a few minutes – Paxton and Frodo are quite happy to go back in after they do their “thing”. Me? I don’t mind the cold. Although it IS kind of hard to find a perfect place to poop when the snow is so deep. The key is to follow in Paxton’s tracks.

I hope everyone has a warm weekend. Wish me luck in my quest for “good behavior.”

COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!

February 6, 2015Leave a Comment

Cel-e-brate good times – come on! We have COMPANY. My human’s mother has come to spend a week with her grand-dogs. And my human too. But I really think she’s here just for us canines.

She doesn’t actually live ALL that far from here – but my human thought a week in the woods would be a nice change for her – and us! My human’s Mom is like over 500 years old – in dog years. In human years that translates to early 80’s. Actually – mid-80’s at the end of March. But don’t tell that to anyone – she probably wouldn’t appreciate my sharing her age.

For someone in her almost mid-80’s, she is pretty cool. The first thing she told my human when she decided to come was that she was bringing her laptop – and she would need to be hooked up to wifi. She checks her email every day – and is also on Facebook. She even reads my blog! How’s THAT for a cool octogenarian?

We have to behave while she’s here – no jumping on her – and NO racing down the stairs. My human has given her the dreaded squirt gun to keep us in line while my human goes to work. We DO have her well trained though – she knows how to share her almost empty yoghurt container – AND she shares part of her banana with us every day.

I intend to be good this week – so she will consider me her favorite grand-dog. She insists she does not have favorites – but let’s see if I can change that. Seriously. I’m so adorable. How can I NOT be her favorite? But it’s going to be tough being good. For a whole week….

Snow and MAYBE company?

February 5, 2015Leave a Comment

You know, it’s my human’s fault that we have had some pretty nasty, snowy weather in the past week. For two reasons.

1. She finally put her snow tires on just last week. She debated about putting the tires on the dog mobile this year, but after nearly sliding into the ditch on ice at the end of our road – when driving 10 miles an hour, she decided she SHOULD do it. Ever since then, it’s been one storm after another.

2. The snowflakes. This year, my human put these big snowflakes made out of clear plastic in some of the trees and bushes as you come down the driveway – for Christmas. And usually right after Christmas – she takes down all the decorations. But this year she thought they were “Wintery” so they could stay up. I think they should have come down. Take down the snowflakes – and the weather will improve. That’s my prediction. Look – if a groundhog can make a forecast, so can I.

The good thing about the stormy weather is that she has been able to stay home with us because her work was closed two times. But this snow followed by freezing rain IS a bit of a challenge. Poor Paxton kept breaking through the frozen crust into the snow. So did my human. Not Frodo and I – we are light-weights compared to the two of them. Frodo decided to simply roll down the hills on his back. Me? I just run and slide, run and slide.

Rumor has it, there is more snow forecast for tonight. Unless I can get her to take down those snowflakes.

Oh. And SOMETHING is going on. My human has been cleaning the house. Mid-week. Which usually means one of two things. She is going away – and the dogsitter is coming. Or. We are having company. I haven’t seen any suitcases…so we’ll see what happens tomorrow….can’t be Santa – he was here already. And it’s too early for the Easter Bunny. WHO could it be? The suspense is killing me….

GET THAT GROUNDHOG!!!!

February 4, 2015Leave a Comment

WHY didn’t I go? Seriously. It would have made ALL the difference in the WORLD. Where you ask? To see the Groundhog on February 2!

Groundhog day is a North American “celebration” of sorts. I understand it actually had its origins in European weather folklore – but the big celebrations SEEM to be in the US and Canada. Legend has it that the groundhog comes out of his den on February 2 – and IF it is sunny and he sees his shadow – he gets scared and runs back in his den and we will have 6 more weeks of winter. If it is cloudy – he won’t see his shadow and – well -I guess winter will be shorter – although the “official” date for Spring is March 21 anyway.

In the US, thousands of people go to see Punxsutawney Phil – in Pennsylvania- the most famous US groundhog– to find out about his forecast. Here in Nova Scotia – we have our own groundhog – Shubenacadie Sam. Who knew – there are loads of these critters across North America doing the same thing on February 2. And it doesn’t appear that they need to have 4 or more syllables in their first name (for example, there’s just plain – Fred in Quebec and Nibbles in North Carolina). Then there is also Chattanooga Chuck…and Susquehanna Sherman…

So. On February 2 – a bunch of hardy souls waited for Phil and Sam. And guess what? They both saw their shadows. Which means…dum da dum dum…6 more weeks of winter. Some people really believe in the rodent’s forecast. I say, that if they JUST taken me – and planted me outside Sam’s den – well – spring would be RIGHT around the corner. He would he have not seen his shadow because he would never have come out!

Maybe next year.

Compartments of the heart.

February 3, 2015Leave a Comment

These are Frodo’s eyes – he helped me with my blog today

We’ve had some very sad news in our house. My human’s aunt – her godmother – passed away after a short illness.

My human was feeling so sad – so I had to explain to her about the “compartments” of our heart.

Everyone is born with compartments in their heart. Humans – and even us canines. And in those compartments we store people – and pets! And the more time we have with someone, the more things go into the compartments. All the special times and all the special memories. Now I KNOW that life isn’t always happy times, but there really is no point in putting bad stuff in the compartments. It’s kind of like a safety deposit box at the bank. You wouldn’t put junk in a safety deposit box! Some people (and pets) have lots of different compartments for all of the people and pets they know – while others may just have a few. But there’s no limit on how many you can have!

But when a person – or a pet dies, the door on their compartment closes. We can’t put new things in there – because they are no longer with us.

BUT – there IS a key to the compartment. And we can open it any time. The key is good thoughts. Think of that person or pet and think of a REALLY, REALLY happy memory – and voila – the compartment door opens again! And you can reach in and take out all those special times. And treasure them! Like a good treat! And try not to be sad – because you are soooo lucky you had those times!

And the best part – you never lose the compartments in your heart. They are always with you. Just remember how to open the door.

So that’s my compartment story. Phew. It’s hard work explaining things to humans. But it DID make my human feel better – and maybe…it will make one of you feel better too!

If I was a human…

February 1, 20151 Comment

So my human took this quiz on-line the other day. You answer like 10 questions, and at the end, it tells you what kind of DOG you would be. See. Humans DO want to be more like dogs. Otherwise why would they make up this kind of thing!

Anyway, she took the quiz – and GET THIS – she would be….no not a PON. Or a Lab. Or a Bernese. She would be a CHOW CHOW. A Chow chow? She doesn’t have a blue tongue! Although in China they were called the “puffy lion dog” and she IS a LEO. That must be the connection.

Which got me thinking…if I could be a HUMAN, who would I be? Let’s see. I want to be a politician. How about JFK? No wait – that’s no good – he’s dead. Hmmmm – I’m smart. Albert Einstein? We have the same kind of wild hair. Nah. I’m not THAT smart. And he’s dead too…..A comedian…like…hmmmm….Steve Martin. A “wild and crazy guy.” That sounds like me. That’s a possibility. But wait -he plays the banjo. Scratch that one – I’m not a banjo fan. A writer…JK Rowling? She wrote all that Harry Potter stuff. Maybe I could write my own books and call them “Hairy PONter.” Nah. That would be plagiarism – and really, I can’t be her….An athlete….Tiger Woods? Nah. He hits the ball AWAY from himself. I bring balls back…..hmmmm…who could I be?…..A singer. Taylor Swift? When I go out in the rain I like to “Shake it off.” But no. I really can’t sing like her. But Frodo can…hmmmm…..An actor. George Clooney? I’m handsome like him. But wait. He just got married. And I don’t even have a girlfriend. A billionaire….Bill Gates? Nah – I don’t think the $20 we won in the lottery would qualify me for Bill’s group.

Hmmmm. If I were a human, who would I be? I’ve got it! MY human! THAT’S who I would be!!! I mean look who she is – a woman who lets 3 dogs RULE her life! THAT’S pretty cool – from a canine point of view. Yeah. I don’t even need to take the quiz. I know who I would be! Either her. Or Emperor of the Universe.

Other dogs…and a Vik-Advisor

February 1, 2015Leave a Comment

Do you know that besides Frodo, Paxton and yours truly – we have other dogs in our house? Dozens. All shapes and sizes. Our human is a collector of all things dog. Old things. There are a china dogs and plaster dogs and a bunch of carved wooden dogs. One of which SHE carved when she was a girl. It even has some teeth marks in it from a previous canine kid. After THAT episode, all the wooden dogs are kept in a glass case – for their own safety!

For Christmas, some friends bought her another carved dog for her collection. So went she went to put the new addition in the case with the other carved dogs – she looked at one in particular – and it made her smile.

This dog is extra special, because it was carved by my human’s father – many, many years ago. Her father is now at the Rainbow Bridge – throwing balls for my human’s dogs – and her parents’ dogs who went there years ago. But when my human looked at this dog, she started thinking how interesting life is. Her father carved this dog for her years and years ago. LONG before she ever even THOUGHT about getting a PON. Yet this dog bears a strong resemblance to a PON… how cool is that?

The other dogs in our household – are all VERY well behaved. You tell them to “stay” and they do. And they don’t eat much either! And grooming is a snap – you just need a dust cloth.

Speaking of grooming – my human is HOOKED on a product that she used on Frodo and me when we had our Christmas baths – a Detangle conditioning spray by Isle of Dogs. Catchy name. Sounds Scottish. https://www.iodogs.com/default.aspx It’s actually a US company – but the products started from some formulas used by a chemist in the UK. Anyway, it’s kinda pricey stuff– but boy, oh boy – it keeps our coats fresh and from getting matty. My coat is different from Frodo’s – I’m the easy kid to groom. With Frodo – all you have to do is look at him and you can see mats forming. But since we started using this product – well the torture of grooming is MUCH more bearable. And neither of us has as many mats!!!! I give this product 4.5 PAWS.

So…while we’re not as well-behaved as the other dogs in our house – and our grooming requires a BIT more time – we ARE so much more entertaining. And really, none of those other dogs has his own blog!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I will!