Howdy blogaroos! Squirmy here on the shortest day of the year. We’ll be sure to get the Warden up extra early so we don’t miss a minute of daylight.

Today is also the first day of winter. You wouldn’t know it where we are. The grass is green and the Warden almost contemplated mowing it. Note I said “almost.”

Last night, the Warden took the Coyote in the garage. I was CERTAIN he was in there taking Christmas photos and getting treats. I obsessively yelled for him to come out. And I had the following conversation with the Boss:

Me: Hey – he’s in there getting treats.

The Boss: Nah. He’s getting a bath.

Me: No he’s not. He’s getting his photo taken. I just know it. And he’s getting treats. Come out! Let me in!

The Boss: He’s getting a bath. Listen. The water is running.

Me: He wanted a drink before the photo shoot. I know he’s in there getting treats. Come out! Let me in!

The Boss: Listen Treathead you can hear the blow dryer.

Me: They’re taking artsy photos with the wind in his hair. Come out! Let me in!

The Boss: Watch what you wish for!

Me: I want treats. Let me in!

After my continual yelling, for what seemed like hours, the door opened and a much fluffier Coyote emerged. Who promptly smushed his face in the carpet. And along the wall.

And the Warden called me into the garage.

Me: See! I’m going to get my photo taken. I’m going to get treats!

The Boss shouts: Sure you are.

Me: I am! Wha…wait a minute. She’s putting me in the tub! Oh noooo. Wha….whoa. I just tried to jump out and she caught me mid-air. She’s faster than she looks! Save yourself!!!

So yes. I DID get my pre-Christmas bath. I’m fluffy. Until I run in the woods. Although the Warden said something about being on leash until Christmas. Great.

Meanwhile, the Boss has a new routine. It’s called getting the Warden up when she’s sound asleep. It started two days ago. We usually get up around 7 AM, but the Boss wants to make sure it’s no later. Promptly at 7, he started barking. So the Warden got up, gave him his medication, let him out to pee, gave him a treat and then she came back to bed for 10 minutes. That’s all the time she could get before we all started getting restless.

So that was fine. Until that night. We went to bed at around 10:30 and we were all asleep, when promptly at midnight, the Boss started barking. The Warden thought that was odd, so she let him out to pee. He didn’t really need to go – but he did want the treat for coming in. The Warden told him to go back to bed. He trudged into the bedroom and went down in a hmpf.

At 7 yesterday morning, our new alarm guy got her up again. I think he just wants his treat. So he’s trying to train her to get up and give him one. We’ll see is the new routine continues. The morning one isn’t so bad – but the middle of the night request will not go over well. Thing is – the guy has age on his side. The Warden figures maybe he DOES need to go. He knows he’s got her. And THAT is why we call him the Boss.

It’s almost time to enjoy the daylight. We’ll see if the alarm goes off. Or if she beats him to it. And today, I think I’ll finish my email to Santa.

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

Howdy doody blogaroos. Squirmy here on this the final countdown to Christmas. We haven’t had any real snow yet – in fact it rained all day yesterday- so we haven’t been subjected to the annual Christmas photo shoot yet. We heard the Warden rustling around in the garage yesterday- and we think she was preparing for the event – but no sign of antlers yet.

To prepare you for Baby Jesus’s Birthday Bash, we viewed a LOT of dog Christmas videos and picked out our favorites. Beginning with some created as commercials….

https://youtu.be/XLmDiKwF40A

https://youtu.be/3T5gYLJBkWk

https://youtu.be/vhg7Xm4FXAY

Then we found this – which shows where I want to visit next Christmas. How awesome is this?

https://youtu.be/LmRDY3mCRKQ

There’s this old favorite of some very clever dogs…

https://youtu.be/W7XaVAIWIwQ

And I REALLY liked this one of dogs picking out their own Christmas gifts!

https://fb.watch/hu5Twzmqha/?mibextid=j8LeHn

If you have all your shopping done (unlike the Warden) and you want to spend some quality time with your dog, here are some good movies to watch:

https://www.rover.com/ca/blog/christmas-movies-watch-with-your-dog/?amp

The Warden said something about some of us needing a Christmas bath. As if presents are dependent on us being clean. Does Santa REALLY discriminate against dirty dogs? I think not. But I suppose I better not take any chances.

Time to go fly over the puddles.

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

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here on this Friday the 16th of December. Did you know that today is Beethoven’s birthday?! The music guy. Not the dog. But speaking of the dog – how many of you remember this movie from 30 years ago:

https://youtu.be/ki8wHMR-yOI

And the Warden thinks WE are a challenge! Mind you, I suppose you could roll all three of us together and that’s probably equivalent to one Beethoven.

I went for a training session yesterday, and the Warden thinks I’m slowly catching on to this obedience stuff. I repeat slowly. Sometimes she cannot believe that the same dog working so hard and doing so well at the end of the leash, is the same dog ricocheting off her stomach in the mornings. I’m a mystery. Kind of like a magician – you never know what tricks I’ll pull. I have some big paw prints to fill – the Boss continues his roll as Wonder Dog. But check these photos out – I’m starting to get the idea…

Meanwhile, we have the Coyote. Our Zen dog. Whose favorite activity on the planet is to stand and stare…

We’re not sure what he’s staring at. Probably thinking how lucky he is to live with two PONs. Or how to chew through his leash to escape us. That guy is different. He does something that drives the Warden crazy. Maybe it’s a Picard thing. Any Picard owners can let us know if it’s a breed thing. Or just an Elroy thing. He loves to find the most grungy, muddy, gross, disgusting, stinky puddles around – to have a drink. And like we’re not talking about after he’s been out walking a long time. We’re talking just after he has left the house where there is a fresh, clean bowl of water. He makes a beeline for a puddle. There’s one area on our walk to the lake, and every day the Warden has to catch him before he takes a giant gulp. But does he drink the water in the lake? Nope. Just gross puddles. Ewwwww. Meanwhile, the Boss is walking as far from the puddle as possible- while yours truly flies over it. Yup – we’re all pretty different.

Anyway, before I close, here’s a little tribute to Beethoven. It might make your dog go crazy.

https://youtu.be/nlNqzexfNKA

You’re welcome!

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

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here after a very blustery Tuesday. Some areas of Nova Scotia got LOTS of snow, but we didn’t get any. We did get lots of wind though, so it made the cold temperatures feel MUCH colder. The one guy who was happy is the Boss. He LOVES chilly weather. As long as it’s dry.

Otherwise not much new here. The Warden appears to have finished decorating the Lindonian. There’s no room for one more Santa or elf or reindeer. It really is a Christmas explosion. I’m selling tickets and leading tours whenever she goes out. Contact me for times and dates. Just kidding. Maybe.

Anyway since it’s fairly quiet on the home front, I decided to check out the dog news in the rest of the world. The first is a holy moly good news story…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63952803.amp

Jazzy was gone for a LONG time. But isn’t it AMAZING that she finally was returned to her home. I think they should make a movie about this one!

Here’s a story about dogs helping out:

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-government-children-85b03030e7be58abc80bf501f3d8bf48

It’s good to know that kids who have been through so much are getting help – and we canines are playing a big role. Of course we are.

Finally, we have a new Guinness record breaker:

https://people.com/pets/meet-gino-the-22-year-old-worlds-oldest-dog/

Twenty two years old!!!! That’s pretty amazing!!! Sounds like his human took pretty good care of him. And it sounds like the good care went both ways.

Well, time for our morning mania. You have NO idea how crazy our morning really is. Complete with incessant barking (all of us join in – including the Coyote) and yours truly is in full-on ricochet mode. And it doesn’t end after walks – it continues until breakfast is served. And then we want stuffed apples and bread. It’s somewhere between 60-90 minutes from when the Warden rolls out of bed, that things MAY settle down. No wonder she pulls the covers over her head at 7AM.

OK. Mania time.

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

Greetings blog aficionados on this Monday the 12th of December. Frodo here for your reading pleasure. Less than two weeks to Christmas. Her Highness still has much to do. Tsk. Tsk. Although, she must be happy today because yesterday, I gave her an early Christmas gift…

As some of you may recall, I emerged from my retirement in dog sports last year. In my younger years I competed in obedience and in rally – attaining a basic obedience title and what was the highest level of rally at the time – a Rally Excellent title. Some years after my retirement, the dog world added another level of competition-a Rally Master title.

When the Imp came along, he began attending Novice classes. As a result, Her Highness thought I might take a few classes at the Master level. I attempted my first Master trials exactly one year ago at this time- and largely due to Her Highness’s lack of “sign preparation” , I rather embarrassingly failed in not one, but two trials. Actually, I should not say “I” failed, but rather “we” failed.

After more preparation over the winter months, I entered my next trials in March 2022. And this time, the results were much more satisfactory. I passed both trials with scores of 98 and 100 out of 100 points. It was a joyful weekend. I now had 2 out of the 3 necessary passes for my Master title.

Over the summer and fall, there were additional opportunities to compete toward my title. BUT, and here is a little secret about yours truly that is not common knowledge- I do not particularly enjoy long car travel. No – I do not become ill. But I am very restless and by the time I arrive at my destination, I am panting and exhausted. This is in no way a reflection on Her Highness’s driving. At least that is what I am saying here. So, as a result, Her Highness did not enter me in any trials which were a long distance – except for our adventures in Team – which turned out well.

Yesterday, two trials were held in the same venue as the scene of our less than stellar performances last year. The beauty of this venue is its location – which is about a 15 minute drive from home.

For the past few weeks, we have been practicing and as you may recall, I was also in a fun match last weekend to prepare for yesterday.

Well. Drumroll after this rather long and boring introduction. No – let’s stretch this a bit longer.

We awoke at 5 AM. Keep in mind the venue, as I said, is only 15 minutes away. BUT – we all needed our morning walks, we all needed breakfast (including Her Highness) and she also needed to shower. I should add that yours truly had a bath on Saturday- because although this wasn’t a beauty pageant- one must still look presentable. At least that’s what I’m told.

We left home at 6:40 because the doors opened at 7. We arrived before any one else was there. Of course we did. Needless to say, it was still dark out. The Master class started at 8.

Now comes the REAL drumroll. Cast your gaze to the scoring list above. Yours truly was dog number 269. Yes. Not only did I qualify, I was the Highest scoring dog in the class for that trial. Which meant I had my third passing score. Which means I can now put the initials RM after my name.

I wasn’t overly excited about the result – I simply wanted my treats at the end. Her Highness, on the other hand, shed a few tears. She CAN be rather emotional about such things. I believe it was a combination of happiness. And relief. Let’s face it, I am not getting any younger. Although- I still can race that young thing for a treat. And win. Sometimes.

We were entered in another trial in the afternoon, because Her Highness planned that if I didn’t qualify in the morning trial, I would have a second chance in the afternoon. We could have competed for “fun” but we both decided to end on a high note. There was always the chance for a disaster in the afternoon, so we chose to rest on our laurels. Her Highness brought me home to the ever- excitable Imp and the curious FG who both wondered where I had been. The Imp was impressed by my ribbon. The FG, not so much. Her Highness left me to rest after my morning excitement, and she went back to help with the trial. For those who don’t know – putting on a dog show or trial takes many hands and volunteers are ALWAYS needed.

So today I shall relax and now I await the paperwork confirming my new title. We MAY dabble in some trials next Spring – just for fun and if I’m still wishing to do so. Her Highness believes I was probably the most senior dog at the trial yesterday- but I dare say my time was probably as good as any dog there. We shall see…

Now, I am off for my morning constitutional. And to wave my ribbons in the face of the Imp.

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

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here from Christmas central. All the elves have emerged and the herd of reindeer are grazing on a shelf. The tree is decked out in a bunch of glass ornaments- which apparently would not stand up well against raucous canines. So that’s why it’s in the DFZ. We will no doubt be drugged to take photos in front of it. Just kidding. I think.

The Warden is trying to catch up with her tardy Christmas task list – and she completed one project just yesterday. Our annual calendar. One of our loyal readers – Jim from Florida reminded us that it should be done. The Warden sequestered herself with her computer and after much moaning and groaning and the odd word which I can’t write here, she figured out some computer glitches, and completed the calendar. And this year, it has lots of Where’s Wojtek photos! You can find it here:

https://www.prestophoto.com/bookstore/517816-Where-39-s-Wojtek-2023-Calendar

The postage is kinda crazy – we don’t control that. We make enough money from the sale of each calendar to buy a bag of dog biscuits. Well – more like half a bag. Last year, I think we sold two calendars. The Warden bought one and Jim bought the other – so we got a full bag of biscuits. Clearly this isn’t a money-making scheme!

Tomorrow, the Boss is entered in a Rally trial. He has passed two trials at the Master level and he needs to pass one more to get his title. The Warden has been studying the signs – because it’s more likely that she will fail than he will. He knows what to do. But if she takes him the wrong direction or tells him to do the wrong thing, it’s game over. Paws crossed he passes. He’s entered in a trial in the morning and another in the afternoon. They need ONE pass. Send them your good passing vibes – they’ll need it.

OK. Time to get out for a walk. We’ve had three days of rainy weather, and even I didn’t want to go out. I’m becoming like the Boss. I put the brakes on at the door. I think today we may see that thing called the sun. Here’s hoping!

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

Howdy doody blogaroos. Squirmy here on December 8. The Warden keeps thinking that someone took days away from November. She says she is way behind in everything. Bla bla bla. So here’s the deal – SOMEHOW she got all her Christmas decorating and gift buying done when she was working full time. And now that she’s retired, she has no time for anything. Mind you – her tardiness does seem to coincide with my arrival in the world. Surely I can’t take more time than every dog that has ever lived in this house. Wait. Don’t answer that.

Anyway, today, according to the crazy calendar is National Christmas Tree Day. And I’m pleased to announce that we do have a large balsam buddy sitting in the DFZ waiting to be dressed. The Warden went to a tree lot yesterday and picked one out. She wandered around looking at all the trees standing there, waiting for a new home. We weren’t allowed to go along. Picture us (or at least the Coyote) leaving pee mail on every possible purchase. She wandered around the lot looking for the perfect specimen for our home. She didn’t want a big tree this year. She didn’t want a fat tree. She didn’t want a pine tree. Yawn. Bottom line – she’s a fussy tree shopper. On a tree farm she can wander for HOURS. Apparently some guy who worked there saw her wandering and zig zagging through the pop up forest. Poor guy – he asked her if she wanted help. Big mistake. She sorta knew what she wanted but not totally. He started untying trees and spinning them around like tops. When he started climbing up the pile of untied trees to find her the perfect tannenbaum, she started getting nervous that he might fall down. She figured that would be her luck – tree salesman injures himself climbing trees to assist picky shopper. When he pulled a tree out of the pile, jumped down from the tree mountain, untied it and spun it around, the Warden barely looked at it and said “I’ll take it.” She didn’t want to be responsible for a tree-mergency.

When she arrived home, she sequestered us on the deck while she brought it in. Let’s face it- dragging a tree with three curious canines would not be an easy task. We’re busy, inquisitive guys – what can I say? Once the tree was safe from us in the DFZ, she let us back in the house. I watched as the Warden wrangled the tree in the stand and after it was secure, she took fish line and tied it to the wall. Apparently there’s some story about a fallen tree many years ago – before my time. So now trees are extra-secured. I watched with great curiosity. The other two guys didn’t care at all. The Boss said this is the 13th tree he has seen – so the process is pretty routine. He’s waiting to sit in front of the finished product for the obligatory photo shoot – with treats, of course. You’ll note I DID get to take one photo with the new green guy, much to the consternation of the other guys. Hey- that’s what happens when you pay attention to the proceedings.

Yesterday the Warden just put on the lights. So today will be the day to fully deck the halls. But not until after my training session this morning. We can’t miss that!

I guess I had better start working on my letter to Santa. Surely in this day and age, an email should be good enough. Maybe I can even text him. Still – I need to come up with my wish list. I’ll do that while the Warden is decorating today.

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

Howdy blogaroos! Happy St. Nicholas Day!!! It’s a day to celebrate a guy who was an all around good fella – who gave to the poor and did nice things. He was the model for the modern day Santa Claus and for many of my readers in Europe, today is a day you really do celebrate! Hopefully you put out your shoes last night and no canine chewed on them – and today you awoke to footwear full of goodies! Left by St. Nicholas of course.

The Warden didn’t leave her shoes out. She knows better. I MAY have told you the story of someone actually chewing on a boot that was in the closet. And it didn’t belong to the Warden. They were a nice, new pair of rather pricey boots, that somehow Joanie left here one day. Anyway….someone who has never been identified, decided to get a boot out of the closet, and leave a little artistic carving right along the edge – where the little tab was to help pull on the boot. Someone thought it looked like the tag didn’t belong there – and chewed it off. Along with a tiny bit of leather. The Warden bought Joanie a new pair- before she actually showed her what happened to her original pair. Yeah -St. Nicholas wouldn’t find any shoes or boots handy in this house.

So the Christmas explosion has happened here. More Santas than I can even count. The last thing to complete the explosion is “the tree.” Last year the Warden went to some tree farm to cut a tree – and she nearly collapsed trying to cut the thing down with her little hand saw. Thankfully some family came along and they had a chainsaw, so the Warden was saved. Yesterday she went looking for tree lots close by – and the closest one was out of trees. How can a tree lot in Nova Scotia – home to Lunenburg County – the self-proclaimed Christmas tree capital of the world, be out of trees on December 5? Anyway – there ARE plenty of tree lots and farms around – but the Warden was too lazy to drive around. She was exhausted from hauling 589 Santas out of hiding.

She figured she would put the tree up today – since we are sequestered- and she can’t go anywhere. Ludwig is in the shop – getting new footwear (snow tires). So the Warden is car-less. She may resort to cutting down a Charlie Brown tree on our property. I hope we get to go along to pick it out. Then again, she probably doesn’t want a tree that’s been peed on. I think she could just consider that part of the selection process.

Hey. What do you think of my photo taken at the match on the weekend?! I look like I know what I’m doing! Remember – this was BEFORE the stay exercise where I went to visit my Borzoi babe. So I CAN be good sometimes. Now if I could just get the Warden to take smaller steps. What does she think I am – a Great Dane? I’m flying to keep up!

Well, time to go celebrate St Nick’s Day. Thank goodness the Warden couldn’t find any bishop hats for us to wear. Because you KNOW what would have happened. We’re waiting for the antlers to come out any day now. The Coyote is already planning his escape….

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

Howdy blogaroos! Squirmy here on a sunny Sunday.

Well. We had a day yesterday. The Boss and I were in a FUN match. He was in Rally and yours truly was in Obedience.

So. The Boss did well. Some minor bobbles – but no major problems- which is remarkable given that he hasn’t t been to a match or a trial or a class in like…10 months. Tell him what to do and he says “how fast.” So he did a great job – even though the match wasn’t scored.

And then we have yours truly…..Now I keep reminding tbe Warden that she cannot compare me to the Boss because he’s 10 years older. So let’s start on that note…

So I was in Novice Obedience. Which, for non-obedience people means a bunch of things or “exercises” that your dog must do – when asked to do so. Without a lot of praise. Or treats. Or coaxing., You tell your dog- and he does it. Or not. Like heeling closely on leash and sitting when you stop. You heel at different paces like normal, slow and fast. And then you get to do it around two people in what’s called a Figure 8. And you can’t sniff, or stop to say hello or pee on them. And then you also heel OFF leash. And then in another “exercise “ you have to stand like a statue and not move when a stranger comes over and pets you. Finally you have to come when called and sit in front of your person after they leave you in a sit at the other end of the universe. Phew. How intense is THAT?’ And that’s just the basic intro level.

Well. Yours truly did pretty OK. Just like I do in class. No fireworks. But I did the job. In a real trial, your performance is based on points and you have to score a minimum number of points to “pass” or “qualify “. I MIGHT have qualified in the first part which included the heeling and recall parts- but then we had the the last part – the dreaded “sits and downs.” At the junior level (like me) all the dogs in the class, line up next to each other and have to sit and stay for one minute while our person stands and stares at us from across the room. Then we have lie down and stay for three minutes.

Here’s the deal…if a human is told they have one minute do something, they freak because it’s not enough time. But leave your dog alone in a line up of other dogs and one minute feels like a year. And the three minute down stay? It feels like a decade.

Now I’ve been PRETTY good on my stays in class. So in the line up when the Warden said “stay” she thought I might behave. But here’s my side….

So I sit. She leaves. I look at her. And then I glance to my left and notice Chloe- my Borzoi bestie from class. Well. What can I say? She’s pretty. I like her. I know her. So I just HAD to go over and say hello. Big no no.

Holy moly. I have never seen the Warden move so fast in all her life. She raced over to me and promptly told me to leave my girlfriend alone. Who KNEW you weren’t supposed to be sociable?!

I sat for the remainder of my minute, and when it was time to do the down stay, I plopped my head on the ground in total exasperation. And I never moved for the required three minutes.

So let’s just say I’m not entered in any REAL trials any time soon. There actually is one next weekend- but I’m not QUITE ready. Maybe next Spring. Or Summer. Or Fall. Or in 10 more years…

Good thing I’m cute…..

Oh. And so maybe I’ll eventually learn some basic heeling and stuff. But not sure I’ll ever be able to do this, which happened at a competition earlier this year. It’s called Dancing with Dogs.

https://youtu.be/TtjY_YgZEzo

Yeah- I’m not ready to try that. Not to mention the Warden isn’t that coordinated either….

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

W

Yo. Blog people. Elroy here on this the first day of December. The countdown to Christmas craziness has begun. I’m not big into writing a list for the guy in red because there’s not much I want. Toys? Nah. I get bored after 5 minutes. Food? Nah. Necessary evil. My tastes change. Like I was into blueberries for a week or so and then yesterday I said “no thanks. I’ll pass.” The mops get all shakey and excited about anything edible. I’d rather have a piece of bread. Some days anyway.

About the only thing I’d want for Christmas is sheep. And the likelihood of that? Slim to negative 85. But I DO enjoy them. It’s one thing I’m better at than the mops. We just found this cool video showing Picards herding. Check it out:

https://youtu.be/1ZRliuij5Sk

Yup. That’s for me. We’ll see if Santa delivers.

What else is new? Oh yeah. Today is December 1st and it’s something called Eat an Apple Day. The mops are really into the the yogurt stuffed frozen apples. Pass me the sour dough instead. They love those billiard-ball like frozen orbs – and geez they can eat one before Her Highness even sits down to eat breakfast. Kongs last longer – but I guess there are good reasons not to chew on rubber every day. May that explains why the Imp is so crazy. Rubber overdose.

Last night we had crazy wind and rain. The Imp kept barking at every noise. The Boss and I just rolled our eyes at him.

Her Highness posted the above photo of me on Facebook and someone said it looks like I’m meditating. More like trying to think of a way to escape the Imp. That guy is still crazy – he races around for no good reason in the morning with the Boss shouting out instructions about how quickly he’d like breakfast. It’s crazy. It’s morning mania – every single day. Thank GOODNESS they have me as the Zen Master – to keep things cool and calm. Unless I get off leash…

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