Howdy blogaroos! Squirmy here on another wonderful Wednesday. And do you know what day it is? According to the Crazy Calendar??? It’s Spoil your Dog Day!! YeeeHaw!

The Warden laughed hysterically when she read that. She said EVERY day is Spoil your Dog Day in our house. I’m not sure what she means by that. Us? Spoiled? Just because everything the Warden does takes us into consideration- do you think that means we are spoiled? Because we eat before her, we’re spoiled? Because she is more likely to come out of a store with something for US rather than herself, we’re spoiled? Because we have routines that are strictly followed (or we’ll bark in protest), we’re spoiled? Because we have more toys than a daycare, we’re spoiled? Because she can’t plan a vacation until she FIRST finds a sitter for US, we’re spoiled? Because we get fresh blueberries and stuffed Kongs every day, we’re spoiled? Because we categorically rule this household, we’re spoiled?

OK. Maybe a bit. But today we get to be extra spoiled!!!! Plus let’s face it – we are worth spoiling!

Today is also Smithsonian Day. And if you don’t happen to live in Washington, DC – and you are interested in all the dog stuff they have (what else would you want to see?) – check out this link:

https://www.si.edu/spotlight/dogs

The Warden’s collection of old dog stuff probably rivals the Smithsonian. OK. Maybe not exactly. I think she has more….

Time to get out before the deer flies wake up. And time to be spoiled!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe.

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Greetings blog aficionados. Frodo here – planning a trip myself to a much cooler climate. The weather here the past few days has been dreadfully hot and humid. You would not BELIEVE what it can do to one’s hair. As soon as I exit the house, I wish to return home. I’m not even particularly interested in going on early morning walks. The temperature may be reasonable, but combined with the humidity- I walk almost as slowly as if it was raining. I perform my best imitation of a funeral match.

I definitely require a good brushing, but Her Highness worries about a heart attack . Either hers or mine. Because I DO pant very hard during the torture exercise and truth be told, I try very hard to escape. Combine my behavior with inferno temperatures, and she keeps putting off my brushing. Who can blame me?

The dreadful oven temperatures aside, I saw a rather unusual activity that some dogs in California do – to beat the heat. You may read about it here – and even play a video:

https://www.surfdogchampionships.com/

For me, this particular activity could not be any more dreadful or frightening. While they CLAIM that dogs enjoy this unique “sport” – I’m not so certain they do. I could not evem bring myself to watch the horror show. I’m not a fan of grisly films. And to me – this is one of THE most upsetting pieces of journalism I have seen. That being said, I would likely excel at the sport because I would try with every fiber of my being to keep from being submersed. Heat or no heat – I’ll suffer in silence rather then get wet. Count me out.

The photo you see is at our neighbors’ house. They were away for just a few days, and Her Highness went over to water their garden. Thank the heavenly powers that she went up yesterday morning. Had she not, she could have caused the demise of their potted basil plants. She doused the garden with water while I patiently waited. It is just as well that she did not plant a garden herself this year. Last year’s minimal return deterred her from attempting the farming routine this year. The fact that we canines did like to use the beds as a romping area probably did not help last year. I shall miss the tiny tomatoes though.

Well, we supposedly have rain in the forecast the next few days. I just hope it brings a close to the oppressive humidity. And I hope it stops raining while I must do my daily constitutional. Speaking of which, it is almost time to begin property patrol.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe.

Howdy blogaroos. Happy Saturday. I hope your weekend is fun packed and bath-free. I mention bath-free because yours truly had to undergo an unplanned emergency bath yesterday, and it wasn’t even my fault! For a change. Plus I could report the Warden for canine endangerment. But I won’t. If she pays me off in treats….

On Thursday, the Warden visited with two peeps who I mentioned a few weeks back. They lost their 16 year old Golden and are dog-free for the first time….ever. So they asked the Warden if she could use some dog supplies – instead of them throwing them out. Things like shampoo and ear cleaner. The Warden reluctantly took the supplies – as she does hope they will get another canine kid some day. But she understood their wanting to clear some things out. And heaven knows we can use bathing supplies. I’m saying that with my eyes rolling.

When the Warden got home, she put the supplies away and put a Detangling Spray on a wheeled stand that she has next to our grooming table. She figured it would be great to use during brushing.

Fast forward to yesterday morning. It was super foggy during my sunrise walk- and the combo of my foggy wet coat with dried mud from the trail, made for a perfect mud spa appearance. Mostly on my feet and belly. So when I got home, I marched into the garage, all prepared for a quick rinsing in the tub – of my feet and belly. I stood like a little soldier as the water turned brown in the tub. The Warden lifted me onto the grooming table and gave me a good towel dry. So I was damp but clean. And then she had this bright idea. She would try some of that new detangling spray. She grabbed the bottle and spritzed some on my back and either side. With a final spritz on my butt. She sprayed some on her hand to check the fragrance. “Gee” she thought, “ it smells fresh and clean, almost like an all-purpose cleaner.” And then she looked at the bottle more closely. She had not sprayed me with the detangler she had been given – but household cleaner that she had been using for something the day before. And which she had left on the grooming table. Her eyes popped out of her head. She whisked me off the table and back into the tub and quickly doused me in water. Now I should add that this thankfully wasn’t a cleaner with caustic agents or bleach- but still, clearly not designed for dogs. She saturated my coat and then shampooed me. Three times. I think once would have been plenty. Then I was half dried with the jet engine dryer. All while the Coyote was still waiting for his walk. With his legs crossed.

Let me tell you, I was certainly clean at the end of my triple bath. Plus I think the household cleaner probably also helped brighten my coat. I’M JUST KIDDING. It wasn’t on long enough to do anything. I don’t think anyway.

The moral of the story. Make sure the fog on your glasses is WELL wiped off when you come in the house. And maybe coffee MIGHT be a good idea BEFORE we walk.

Good thing we love her…

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe.

Hey blogaroos! Squirmy here. So here’s a riddle? What comes out in hot weather? Has wings? Likes dark colors? And likes to bite? Nope- not a vampires. Deer flies. And they are are HERE.

Now the little flying blood suckers aren’t EVERYWHERE- and thankfully there are actually few around our house. BUT, when we go for a walk up the road, and onto the public trail- well they dive bomb from out of nowhere. They like my head and body because my coat is dark grey in color. They like dark colors. They don’t like the Boss or Coyote as much. They also like the Warden’s head. So when we hit certain spots on the trail, her arms are a-flailin’ trying to keep them out of her hair and off the back of my head and my body.

If you don’t know anything about the flying piranhas – here’s an article with photos:

https://commonsensehome.com/keep-biting-flies-away/

Now if your dog is bothered by flies, here is an article for Fido:

https://outwardhound.com/furtropolis/dogs/how-to-keep-flies-off-dogs

Frankly, I wasn’t thrilled with that article. I’m a clean guy – and the mini buzzards still chase me.

Most the articles we found talk about methods to keep flies away at home. But not many give suggestions for dogs out walking. Sure – humans can wear a cap – and some even wear caps with sticky strips to catch the flies. The Warden isn’t into picking flies off sticky strips. Ewwwwww.

It’s not so bad when it’s windy – and if you get up before the sun comes up, you’re probably safe. Then you’ll just run into bears and porcupines.

And speaking of the moving pin cushions, our neighbors have had numerous fruit trees destroyed by the prickly pigs. They can rip branches and chew bark better than a dog. They are on the look out for a live trap. I want to see what happens when they catch one. I’ll be on pins and needles to see what happens.

It’s hot here- so have to get walking early. Before the flies wake up.

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe.

Hey blogaroos. Squirmy here on another terrific Tuesday. We had a good weekend- and a quiet Monday – after my little walk-about the other day. The Warden said no more off leash for me for awhile. She’s SO dramatic. She wants me to be sociable – and then she gets annoyed when I am. Sometimes ya just can’t win.

So here’s some trivia for ya….. what is one activity that has the ability to relax the fear center in your brain – the amygdala. This activity reduces stressful thoughts and a restless mind. It’s easy. Kids like to do it. The answer: Live with three dogs!!! Hahaha haha. I’m joking. Remember, the Warden says living with us is like living with two year old triplets. Nope. Whatever it is, sounds like something the Warden needs to do. The real answer: coloring. And, According to the crazy calendar, today is National Coloring book Day. But you knew that, right?

So if you’re feeling stressed today, here are some websites that have what are supposed to be “free” coloring pages – of dogs. Some are for adults and some are listed for kids. I don’t think the Coloring Police would arrest an adult using the ones listed for kids or vice versa. I say “free” because some do have lots of ads. The first one is the best for different breeds – although you’ll note no Picard or PON. Color the Old English and cut off his legs a bit and you could make him look like a PON. Maybe. As for the Picard, take the Schnauzer, change his ears, give him a more shaggy wild coat all over, add a tail and voilà! He’ll look like a Picard wannabe.

https://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/cp_pets/dog-breed-coloring-pages-1.htm

https://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/dog-coloring-pages.html

https://www.justcolor.net/kids/coloring-pages-of-animals/dogs/

And THEN, if you live in a household like ours, you will need this article…

https://www.rover.com/blog/dog-eats-crayon/

Frankly, I think colored pencils would be more palatable.

OK. That’s all we’ve got today. Have a terrific Tuesday!!

Have a good one. Peace and paws up. Stay safe.