August 2015 – Page 2 – Viktorsviews. The Next Chapter.

Work Like A Dog Day

August 5, 2015Leave a Comment

August 5. Today is Work Like A Dog Day. The saying “work like a dog” apparently came from the fact that once upon a time, we dogs used to work . A LOT. Besides herding and guarding and hunting, in the olden days dogs also used to do things like draft work. For example, Bernese Mountain dogs reportedly pulled carts to the market. Paxton CAN pull a cart. And he’s actually not that bad. My human has never entered him a test, though, because he DOES have a mind of his own – and he IS a bit friendly – so she’s fairly certain he would “take his own route” on a test course. My human failed enough tests with her previous Bernese to know that it is NOT easy. That Bernese FINALLY did pass the test – and that was her “easy” Bernese. Paxton is not easy. I think it’s my influence. I have trained him well to think for himself.

Along with the saying “work like a dog” – comes the saying “dog tired”. It was only 150 years ago (which my human can no doubt remember) that we canines assumed a more sedentary role as pampered pets. Thank GOODNESS I didn’t live back then. I QUITE enjoy lying on my dog bed, under the fan that my human has running these past few days. Just for me. OK. For me and my “brothers”. Yes, we quite enjoy our creature comforts…

Excuse me while I go chew a bone and then ask to play fetch. And I must beg for more treats. And then I’ll go on bunny patrol – such a full “working” day…

Herding. The anticipation…

August 4, 2015Leave a Comment

Well folks. Life is great in Nova Scotia. My human is OFFICIALLY on vacation. Which means extra long walks, and lots of attention. Which I command. Yesterday I got to go for a run with my buddy Jackson, the Labrador from up the road. Frodo got to go the last couple of times – and I didn’t – all because of those few “incidents” where I took off on my own – and my human didn’t trust me to behave. But humans have short memories, so I got to go yesterday – sans leash.

We were just headed up the driveway to meet Jackson and he came around the bend. I didn’t expect him – so when I saw him, I HIT the ground. I guess it’s a flock-protecting-herding-instinct thing. I watched him as he approached. And when I recognized it was him – I jumped up. My human’s friend asked how my human trained me to do that. My human just laughed. She is very interested to see how I am going to do at something called a Herding Instinct Test next month. She figures that the entertainment I provide will be worth the entry fee. She entered Frodo too – but she’s not sure she will take both of us. Juggling double trouble could be a bit challenging. She says “we’ll see.” Frodo has seen sheep before. He thought they were OK. He DID inform me that they leave delectable morsels as they move around – so I’m curious to see what that will be like. Frodo had an interesting herding technique. He would lie in the middle of the round pen and simply “eye” the sheep. And they would move around the pen as he moved his head. He WOULD round them up physically if instructed to do so – but he preferred a more serious sedentary approach. My human thinks I will be just the opposite. No matter what – it WILL be interesting. If you want to purchase tickets to my performance, let me know! : )

OK. I have to go. It’s time to bug my human to play ball. Again. Come on – it’s vacation. That’s what we do!

Assistance Dog Day

August 3, 2015Leave a Comment

August 3. Today is Assistance Dog Day. Now these guys are pretty special dogs. I mean these are the real working dogs. According to some sources, assistance dogs can be divided into two groups – service dogs who help individuals with physical and medical challenges, and facility dogs – who work in healthcare and educational facilities. No matter what you call them, they all help humans – in a variety of ways – from hearing ear dogs, to seeing eye dogs, to dogs who alert people in the event of a medical emergency. They help people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and can provide peace and comfort to people in nursing homes.

These dogs are super smart. And they obviously love their humans. But we can’t forget those humans who train them – and foster them as young puppies. Those humans are pretty special too.

It’s clear, that none of the dogs in this household could have passed the service dog test. My human envisions that Paxton would walk a visually impaired individual into a wall, or off a pier, and people would NEED treatment for PTSD after spending a day with me or Frodo. But we DO provide service too – comic relief. On a daily basis.

Congrats to all the special dogs who work so hard and do us canines proud. Let’s face it – you would never see a seeing eye cat. Canine helpers – we salute you.

Continuing renovations

August 2, 2015Leave a Comment

Well the bathroom renovations continue. And of course, we dogs are not allowed in the construction zone. So, as you imagine, we want more than ever to get in there. It’s kind of like the DFZ. For those who don’t recall – the DFZ is the Dog Free Zone. It’s the only room in the house where we canines do not have free roaming rights. There is a baby gate, which has bungee cords securing the entry. But of course, it’s no match for a PON. It was no time before Frodo figured out how to wedge his way in. And yours truly followed. So now I delight in sneaking my way in there – usually when I know my human is getting ready to go out somewhere. And I make myself comfortable. Just on the other side of the gate. As if to say “here I am. I’m IN.” When my human leaves us to go out somewhere, she has to put ANOTHER gate in front of the “secured” baby gate. So far that has worked to keep us out when she’s not there. Or she THINKS it works.

We are VERY anxious to see the final results in the bathroom. ALTHOUGH – I hear that the new shower will be larger – and easy for us dogs to walk in. Which is a BIT concerning. Why would we ever WANT to walk into a shower? PONs and showers do not go in the same sentence. I certainly hope this whole renovation thing was not done with ulterior motives…

Play Ball Day

August 1, 2015Leave a Comment

August 1. Today is Play Ball Day. A fabulous day for a PON. My human remembers the first time she went to my “creator’s” home and she met my relatives. There she witnessed a group of PONs – most of whom were OBSESSED with retrieving a tennis ball. COMPLETELY OBSESSED. So it’s in my genes. I will retrieve and play ball until I am ready to collapse. But we can’t use tennis balls in our house. It is likely Bucket Head will either take one big bite and ruin it – or more likely, he would swallow the thing whole. So we use retrieving toys instead. Which can also be problematic because my human has THE worst throw anywhere. I mean she TRIES hard – but a toy inevitably ends up in a tree – or on the roof. And I run around frantically trying to find the missing toy. The things I have to put up with.

You know, I actually have a nickname – which also happen to be the name of a professional Baseball player. His name is Shane Victorino, and even though my human is not really a baseball fan, I have somehow adopted his name. It’s that thing that human’s do – they create a series of names for us – and then wonder why we never come when they call us. We don’t KNOW which name to respond to. Anyway, I am FREQUENTLY called Viktorino. And get this – Trino for short. And I answer to both. If treats are involved. So between the ball loving relatives and the shared name with a baseball pro, no wonder I love playing ball games.

Anyway, it’s a great day for us canines. We don’t need fancy iPawds or video games – just give us a ball, and we’re happy. But then, we’re almost always happy! Have a good one or should I say, have a ball today!!