When he got to the class he really would have preferred to play with everyone.  But that’s not the goal, so he was on a short leash.  He also lived up to his name – the Friendly Giant – because he TOWERED over all the dogs there.  A Papillon,  a couple of Cavaliers, a Boston Terrier, several Shelties and an Aussie puppy.  You know that old song from Sesame  Street-“one of these things is not like the others…”.  Well that about summed up the class.  He was probably the oldest dog there too.  

For those who have never shown a dog before, but have seen shows like Westminster or Crufts and it looks so easy to run around a ring with your dog…well I’m here to tell you, it’s NOT that easy.  You take a non-graceful human, and put her on the end of a leash with a wily coyote-like creature- and it looks NOTHING like Westminster.  They call it a success if neither of them trips.

Overall, though, the FG was pretty well behaved.  Although…he does get very bored waiting for his turn to run around the ring.  It’s the longest hour of my human’s life.   He lies down while waiting and tries to creep up to the dogs in front of him.  Most girl dogs seemed to think he was “interesting.”   But Jerome, the Boston who is actually much bigger than the FG (in presence!) basically gave the FG the stink eye which means “don’t even THINK of getting in my space.”  The FG didn’t even ATTEMPT to bug Jerome.  He knows better.

After one hour, he and my human were beat, but they still managed to stop at the pet store on the way home.  He came in the door, had his supper and raced into the bedroom to make himself comfortable on my human’s bed.  How can standing around for an hour be THAT exhausting?!

We’re not sure when he’ll be entered again in a real show.  He has two more weeks of classes – and then they will decide.  Maybe when he’s five.

In the meantime, I HEAR he will be doing something ELSE in a few weeks.  You’ll have to wait to hear about this one- it will NO doubt be even MORE entertaining than beauty pageants.   It is happening some time early in April….

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 29

So I really am thinking that my insurance idea is a good one.  Here’s an interesting fact reported in a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association:  What has more than doubled in occurrence in the last 13 years in adults over 65 years old? Bone fractures related to dog walking!!   Now my human isn’t yet in the over 65 category (although some mornings she acts like she is over 95) but she is an example of falling on ice while dog walking – and breaking her wrist a few years ago. It was a few months before I wrote my very first blog entry.  It was actually 5 years ago yesterday.

She had taken me and Einstein out for our morning walk.  There had been a dusting of snow, and she wasn’t 30 feet from the front door when her feet went out from under her and she sat down HARD.  With her hands at her side.  She knew INSTANTLY without even looking at her wrist that it was broken.  Einstein and I didn’t know why we were going back in the house. But we figured SOMETHING was not quite right. She called her sister, who drove her to the emergency department.  Yup.  It was busted- requiring a big old cast. They didn’t recommend wearing a sling – but they gave her one to wear on the way home.  She removed the sling when she got home – and in her dazed state, left in on the counter.  That’s when Bucket Head countersurfed and SWALLOWED most of it.  Less than a week later, Bucket Head had to undergo surgery to remove the sling. Here’s a blurry shot of him at that time:

In looking through the photos (I’m not posting the gross black and blue pictures of my human’s fingers) – I found this gem that dates a few days AFTER Bucket Head’s surgery when he was no longer wearing the cone of shame.  

I barely remember that bed.  Or that carpet.  They say bad things happen in threes- I guess that was number three.  I DO recall that this WAS a joint canine effort…. 

So the moral of the story – no matter WHAT your age – be careful walking Fido.  And you know, I wonder if fractures increase at the end of the winter season because humans are getting more “spring” in their step and are maybe a bit less cautious?  But don’t quote me on that part – I made that up.

We are back to dark morning walks now BUT the sun will be out longer into the evening.  Plus we even slept in until 7 today!!!!

I hear the FG is going somewhere today.  Maybe another play date after his poor manners the other day?   Or maybe something else.

Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 28

Don’t forget when you go to bed tonight to move your clock ahead.   It will  be the first time my human gets to “sleep in.”  Even though she loses an hour.  The clock will say she has slept in though. It’s all about perspective.

Today on this day in 1959, Barbie made her debut at a toy fair in New York. If you happen to own one of those versions of Barbie Millicent Roberts – in the original box, in mint condition, you are holding over $25,000.  That’s a LOT of dog biscuits.  We have lots of old junk in our house but no Barbies.  The fact that my human and her sister “restyled” Barbie’s hair with scissors probably reduced the value.  To like $0.

But what connection does Barbie have to dogs.  Besides no doubt being a great chew toy for many canines.  Well here is a funny tidbit reported by Modern Dog magazine.  Did you know that Barbie once had a dog?  A golden Retriever named Tanner.  Tanner could “eat” dog food and would then poop!   But no worries about clean up – Barbie had her own pooper scooper – for the poop which was magnetic!  Sounds perfect!!  Unfortunately, the product was quickly recalled when the magnets were labeled as a choking hazard. Check out this commercial:

I think that toy was a great idea for teaching kids about dog ownership.  Pity about the choking problem.

There was also a Sugar Daddy Ken from Palm Beach who had a dog- a little Westie.  He was apparently geared to adult Barbie collectors.  Given that this idea COULD be deemed as politically incorrect, he wasn’t around long.  In fact I’m never sure he even was sold.

So that’s your useless Barbie trivia for today.  I didn’t bother searching to see Barbie or Ken had any cats….

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 27

My human had a message yesterday from a loyal blog reader.  She wanted to clarify about clicking info on my blog site – and whether we get pennies when someone goes to the blog site, or if you have to actually click on those ads you see on the sides of my blog.  Just to clarify – we don’t get any money when you click on the blog.  Just the satisfaction in knowing you have  read it!  The way we receive a payment is if you click on the actual ads.  Apparently you can’t always see them if you are reading my blog on your phone, but if you move the page around, you should be able to view the ads.  You don’t need to actually buy that cruise on the Rhine or that vacuum cleaner, but just by clicking that ad, we get a few pennies.  If you happen to get ads that are inappropriate- please let us know!  We have tried to filter them so they are NOT inappropriate- but one never knows with the internet!

This reader chatted with my human and as they commiserated with each other about “bad dog” stories,  she told my human a story which gave my human a great idea for a new money making scheme.  Insurance for pet owners.   No – not for pets- that already exists – but insurance for when your dog accidentally injures you! 

This reader has a young, active Weimaraner-who accidentally gave her an attractive black eye while he was sitting on her lap.  He moved his head back while she wasn’t prepared and BAM.  I am SURE many owners have been clocked by their dogs when they are in the wrong position at the wrong time.  And how many owners have had an injury when a dog goes to grab a toy that is being thrown, and actually catches a piece of his human’s hand?  Or a dog who is traveling at warp speed and zigs while the human zags and gets knocked over?

One time my human let us outside and she was standing by the front door with it partly closed and yours truly threw myself at the door- the corner of which met squarely with my human’s forehead.  She saw stars.

In all of these scenarios, we are not talking about vicious dogs or dogs who intend to inflict harm.  We are talking about the normal day to day accidents that happen.  Humans should be able to get insurance for that!  And heaven forbid we cause a hospitalization- the insurance could include coverage for dog care.  And the caregivers would be covered too!  Kind of like sports insurance. Who do I see about starting this up?!

Now obviously, there is nothing funny about injuries…but…well I did find a few videos that aren’t funny – but they are.  Hope they give you a chuckle – and no doubt many of you have your own war stories and the battle scars to prove it!  Please feel free to share them – misery loves company!!!! The joys of being owned by a dog…

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 26

Anyway, several days last week, we had extremely cold weather – with high winds on top. So we didn’t go for long walks – but the FG did get to go up to the road to get our newspaper. Obviously with my human.  One day, the paper had blown way down the road.  Another day, there was no sign of it.  So imagine my human’s  delight on a third day when the paper had blown down into the ditch – along with the package of weekly flyers. Now it’s no fun to go down into the ditch at the best of times – but 100 times worse when the slope to get down is icy.  She spotted the papers and immediately thought of her old Labrador who could be instructed to get the paper if it went in the ditch.  Heck, I hear he even retrieved garbage can lids from the ditch.  So she figured the FG should try – in fact he MAY have done it once before. When it wasn’t icy and snowy. 

My human looked at the FG and said “Get it.”  He looked at her and stared.  She repeated herself.  He stared.  She took his head in her hands and directed it to the two papers in the bright pink plastic bags, sitting in the ditch.  She pointed at the papers. He put his head up and watched a bird flying by.  Now you need to know that the FG does get to bring the paper every morning.  True, he tosses it and often just leaves it on the driveway for my human to pick up, but SOME days he carries it all the way to the door. 

So then my human picked up a chunk of ice – and tossed it onto the papers.  Well THAT worked.  Down he jumped into the ditch.  Looking for the ice.  She started repeating “Get it” and pointing to the paper.  He stood there and looked at the paper.  Like he had never seen such an amazing thing in his life.  Its’s a Picard thing.  Stare.  And then pounce.  And then, much to my human’s shock, he got the paper.  And jumped up out of the ditch.  She hugged him and told him how brilliant he was.  You would have thought he just won High in Trial at a big dog show.  So now the question.  Try for the second paper?  She repeated her technique, and he did the same.  Complete with staring at the paper again.  And he again brought it up.

My human was overjoyed.  You would have thought she won the lottery.   Until he tossed the paper he was given and it almost ended up in the ditch on the other side of the driveway.  Still – it didn’t, and he happily carried it home.   I think he was showing that he CAN be a good dog….

And speaking of Amazing Dogs, if you are a Facebook follower, you can look for a contest that is going on right now called the World’s Most Amazing Dog. Now I must say, Einstein could probably be taught to do a LOT of the tricks I have seen.  And some are far from amazing.  There was a dog who could balance a bunch of cookies on his head (Episode 4). Sorry, but I wasn’t that impressed.  Now if he tossed his head back and ate them all in one bite, THAT would be amazing.  Mind you, he did look cute staring upward at the stuff on his head.

Then you have the typical dog opening the fridge and getting a beer.  As IF my human would EVER teach us to open the fridge.  Need I say more.

I’m not exactly sure how all this voting goes – but the grand prize is $100,000.  That would buy a lot of treats.  And by the way, I didn’t see any blog writing dogs.  Just saying.

OK.  Time to get her out again.  It was icy yesterday, but we managed to waddle all the way down the road.  Well, my human waddled. We trotted.  And slid.  Just making it home with no one falling was amazing.  Hey – there’s a trick for that contest.  Winter weather walking in Nova Scotia.  

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 25

Today is the first day of Lent.   So I am giving up- I don’t know what.  It can’t be anything edible because I like food TOO much.  I honestly don’t think I have tried any food I don’t like.  So giving up food would be pure torture.  How about I give up barking as meals are being prepared.  OK – I admit I don’t do that now – it’s Einstein who does that.  He could give that up.  Then again, that’s another impossibility.  I could give up chasing bunnies.  Mind you I haven’t done that in ages.  The FG apparently saw one the other day, but he was on a leash so he couldn’t go anywhere.   I could give that up.   And I would probably be successful.  No point in giving something up if you have no chance for success.

You KNOW what happens as Easter draws near.  Think antlers at Christmas time.   Yup – she should be hauling out the rabbit ears any time now for the infamous photo shoot.  I could EASILY give that up for Lent.

We are gradually getting used to this retirement stuff.  Although it DOES interfere with our day long napping.  I mean EVERY time my human makes a MOVE, it is critical that all of us follow her.  Going to the garage? She has to hold back three canines.  Going to the refrigerator?  At least two of us must look inside on the off chance that a burglar could be hiding in there. Or she left a steak on the lower shelf.  Going outdoors to put something in the compost bin?  She has to run out before we all attempt to join her.  Going to the bathroom?  We’ll be right outside the door guarding her.  Going to eat some yogurt?  We are all there waiting to lick the container. Going to make supper?  We must all lie down in the kitchen.  And that’s the only time we DON’T make a move -so she has to step over us.  Unless the fridge door opens.

When she was working, she wasn’t here to take us out.  Now we NEED to go out every few hours.  But don’t leave us out there.  We want to come back in. And see where she is going next. 

My human said that being retired with three dogs is more work than work.  I think she was joking.  Maybe.

Well time to get her out for her walk.  For any human who says they are bored since they retired, I have the perfect solution.  Get a dog.  Better yet – get three. And by the way – my human says she wouldn’t have it any other way….

Have a good one. Peace and paws up!

Seizure free days: 24

Although we canines could certainly SAMPLE a bit of human paczki, it’s probably best if we have our own.  I found a couple of videos.  The first goes through all the steps to making dog donuts.  And they are pretty fancy:

But then I found this one, which is probably more my human’s style.  Fast:

The fancy, detailed creations are lovely.  But in our house, they would last all of 3.8 seconds.  At least when it comes to us PONs.   They would be gone before the icing was set.  So why bother making the detailed version?  Between us PON vacuum cleaners and the Picard who would just stare at them (and then probably just toss them around) there really is no point in making fancy versions.  Just give us a hunk of dough.

Anyway, tomorrow begins Lent – when some humans basically re-institute their New Year’s resolutions.  They give up something and pledge to do good works until Easter.  This is my human’s second chance to eat better and get in good shape.  Cranky days ahead – but more walks for us!!!!

Have a good one.  Peace and paws up!

Seizure free days: 23

Today is March 4, and according to the crazy calendar, it is Fun Facts about Names day.  I guess a day to look at where names come from and why you are called your name.

I have actually talked about this topic so many times before. I’ve talked about the most popular dog names – and how although humans agonize about picking the perfect name, you still call us OTHER names.  Like Elroy can be El, Ellie Bellie, Elmer, and Baby Schmaby.  Really.  It is no wonder he never comes when called.  It’s funny, when my human was watching him race around with Farley the other day, and she called his name, he of course totally ignored her – he was having too much fun.  Well, he MIGHT have looked at her, but he definitely wasn’t coming.  I don’t THINK she ever bothered to say “here” or “come” because she knew it was futile.  It actually DID cross her mind at that time that perhaps she should start over and give him a new name.   Like that would work.  She doesn’t call him FG – which stands for Friendly Giant (for those new readers who may have wondered) -I’m the only one who calls him that.

Anyway, when researching this topic – I found a cool link if you happen to be looking for a dog name.  It’s a free download – and I tried it out and it works.  Don’t blame me though if you get emails from the site – that is a possibility.  BUT the book has TONS of dog names.  Check it out!

As for our name origins- Frodo came with that name, so my human kept it.  He also responds to Fro and just Doe. I was named after my human’s grandfather -Victor – with the spelling changed so as not to offend family.  We know I respond to Viktorino, and Trino.  Elroy was named that because he looks like an Elroy.  And no – it didn’t come from the Jetson’s cartoon – for those who are as ancient as my human – because the dog in the cartoon was Astro. That probably would have been a good name for him – his brain is in outer space half the time.

If you would like some trivia about the origins of some dog breed names, here is a cool link:

On the home front, yesterday we woke up to a HUGE snowfall. The most we have had all winter.  And today? A special day of more snow and rain in the forecast. Let’s just say we have some nonprintable names for this crazy weather….Mind you – we SHOULD look at the bright side – no ticks!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up!

Seizure free days:22

So yesterday, the FG had a special play date- with none other than Willow- another Picard!!!  Willow is one of probably only four Picards (including the FG) that live in the whole province.  Well- at least four we know of.  She’s a very pretty girl – and my human has always wanted to meet her. So she and Willow’s human arranged a play date at the baseball diamond.

Willow arrived and the FG’s brain exploded.  It was like – “hey – one of my kind!!!!”   They did the introductory sniffing dance and then began the Picard pirouette- where they basically go up on their hind legs and jump on one another.  And then they would lie down – like you see in the photo.  They then proceeded to run around the perimeter of the field, checking out all the great smells.  And all was going fine.  And then Farley arrived.

Farley is a multi-breed dog who weighs about 90 lbs.  His human shouted the “he’s friendly” line as he entered the fenced field. Farley is part collie, part German Shepherd, and part something else big.  Probably moose.   The FG and Willow sized him up, and both agreed he could stay.  Bad move.  

The FG decided Farley could really put up with his tough play, so he totally ditched his cute date, and ran off playing wrestling and boxing games with Farley.  Poor Willow watched in dismay as her date ignored her.   Then, ANOTHER dog arrived – a HUGE Rhodesian Ridgeback.   What started out as a wonderful idea, was now becoming my human’s worst dog nightmare.  We don’t DO dog parks.  You KNOW how she never lets us in the ball field if strange dogs are there.  And while she totally trusted Willow, and Farley seemed OK, one worries when numbers are increasing – and the dogs are unknown.  The new human shouted the “he’s friendly” line, but my human held her breath and had the FG’s leash ready to lasso him if necessary.   No reason to stress.  The FG and Farley checked the new arrival’s credentials and then went back to continue their boxing match.  They didn’t care about the Rhodesian, whose name they never even caught- because he hung out with his human.  And the other humans.   So you had four humans, a Picard and a Rhodesian, standing and watching the FG and Farley exhausting themselves.  The only two dogs getting any exercise.  Farley’s owner said he was a rescue, who never comes when called.  The FG had met a kindred spirit.  Great.  Two bad dogs.  After over an hour of watching the WWF, my human tried to go and retrieve her dog.  At one point he stopped to lie down- he was STARTING to get a BIT tired – so she nabbed him. He was soaking wet – from rolling in God knows what and from Farley drool. My human wanted to get a photo of the FG and Willow- besides the photo you see above (pre-Farley).  Willow wasn’t all that enamoured with getting close to the FG now – and who could blame her – he looked like a drowned coyote and smelled a bit rank as well.   Note her leaning away from him:

Not to mention that while trying to get the photo,   they had to fend off Farley who now decided that Willow was his next wrestling buddy and who took her on a run around the perimeter- while the FG moaned because he was now on leash. 

When they circled back, Willow’s human was able to grab Farley for his human – because his human reportedly could have been there for a LONG time trying to capture him.  

They then did manage to get a photo of all four of them, once Farley was back on leash.  His human kindly took the photo. Note the slumped exhausted wet coyote and the pretty, pert, OBEDIENT Picard…

My human and Willow’s human agreed that they would meet up again some time.  The FG and Willow would no doubt have fun together.   And they DID like each other.   She’s just a bit more cautious about entering into full on wrestling on the first date.

And although he really was a very nice dog, Farley won’t be invited the next time. You really don’t need a third wheel on a date. 

Have a good one. Peace and paws up.

Seizure free days: 21

Today is the birthday of Theodor Geisel.   You may better know him as Dr. Seuss – the author who wrote LOTS of children’s books (as well as books for adults too) – and who made famous a certain feline who wore a chapeau.  He also made the word “Grinch” a household name.  Hey – I don’t know if I have ever heard of a dog named Grinch….Mind you, it’s not exactly flattering.  Kind of up there with Miser, Bully and Loser.   We won’t name my next puppy Grinch.

Anyway, while one MIGHT think that Dr. S was partial to cats, he apparently really liked dogs.  He even kept a stuffed toy dog that he had received as a child – for his entire life.  It was named Theophrastus ( who happens to be an Ancient Greek scholar).  Good thing it was a toy.  If it was a real dog, by the time someone finished calling his name, if he was running away – he would be long gone.

Here’s a nice article with photos that talks about Dr. Seuss and his love for dogs:

https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2016/feb/02/dr-seuss-dogs-what-pet-should-i-get

It’s too bad Dr. S is no longer alive.  He wrote The Cat in the Hat.  He could have written a book about me – The Dog in the Fog.

OK. That was a groaner. On to other news.

The FG is going somewhere this morning.  He is all excited.  He is going on a “play date.”   Given how hard he sometimes plays with poor Pig Pen, I hope his new friend tells him off if he gets too crazy.   My human is taking lots of throw toys.  She’ll stuff her pockets with treats – but that’s kind of a waste of perfectly good edibles – he rarely wants one.   This should be interesting.  Where is he going?   Tune in tomorrow to find out WHO he met….

Have a good one. Peace and paws up!

 

Seizure free days:  20