Blog Feed

It’s a big day today – it’s Einstein’s birthday. Yup – my big brother, Frodo turns lucky number 7 today.  Time sure flies.

I’m not a big fan of astrology, but I decided to check out his horoscope.  He’s an Aquarius – which is ironic given his aversion to water.  I found a variety of sites that described dog personalities – based on their zodiac sign.  This one was interesting:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/your-dog-is-in-the-stars-pet-personalities-and-astrology/

It is interesting as it says he is intelligent – and that is certainly a word I have used to describe Frodo.  Heck, I call him Einstein!  And the part about him wanting to do what he wants to do – well that DEFINITELY is Frodo. And he IS lovable.  When he WANTS to be.  He’s been a great buddy to Elroy and to all the dogs in this household – but he also enjoys his own space. Awkward as that space may be.

Despite his bad habit of incessant barking when he wants something, and his annoying PON-dini behavior – where he can escape from ANYWHERE, my human still thinks that he has been one of THE easiest dogs she has been owned by.  He’s the reason she decided to get me – a second PON because she thought I would be a clone.  Big mistake there.  But then, variety IS the spice of life, right?

So Happy Birthday to my big brother.  And please don’t forget to share your treats today!

So yesterday morning, before my human headed off to work, she decided to pay some bills on-line.  Yet another reason I am happy I am not a human.  Bills.

Anyway, she was rushing to do it and she gasped when she looked at her credit card bill.  Someone had charged over $1000 in purchases to her card – and it wasn’t her.  She didn’t recognize the names of the places where the charges were made – but they were not made in Nova Scotia.  She quickly called the credit card company to report the problem – and we were all instructed to be VERY quiet while she made the call.  Good luck with that.  Timex 1 and Timex 2 were barking, growling and rolling on the floor.  And I was sitting and staring at her – waiting for the alarm to go off which signals that it is time to get my pill.  I know when my pill will be coming – so I wait for it.  Some might think that my sense of timing amazing.  It’s easy to explain.  I just look at the clock.

Anyway, after several minutes on the phone with the credit card company, she was assured that she would not be liable for the charges.    And all was again right with the world.  Although my human wonders how someone would get her number and make those purchases.  She’s very puzzled.

So the big question.  How am I going to explain when $1000 worth of dog toys start arriving in the mail…

Have a good one.

So there was this thing circulating on Facebook.  Where humans were supposed to list a breed of dog that they would like to be owned by – in every breed group.  But they couldn’t list the breed that currently owns them.

So I decided to pick the breeds I would have – and interestingly, my choices were IDENTICAL to my human’s.

So here we go:
Sporting: Italian Spinone
Hound: Irish Wolfhound
Working: Lagotto Romagnolo
Terrier: Glen of Imaal
Toy: Havanese
Non-Sporting: French Bulldog
Herding: Briard

So we have a couple of candidates from Italy,  Ireland, France and one from Cuba.  Maybe I should be branching out more…

Humans are so funny.  They THINK they select us – but of course WE know it is the other way around.  

And if I had to pick another human (other than the one I own) who would I pick?  A movie star?  Nope – although the lifestyle MIGHT be nice, who wants to put up with even MORE pup-arazzi than I already have?  Veterinarian?  Nope.  Would be handy – but I wouldn’t want MY human hanging out with OTHER dogs all day.  Groomer?  NO WAY.  No offense, but who wants to be the guinea pig for new products or instruments of torture?  The current US President?  Agggghhhhhhhh.  No.   Queen of England?  Nah.  Too many corgis.  Who would I pick.  It’s really pretty easy.  A butcher.  Seriously.  That’s an EASY choice.  What dog WOULDN’T want to live with a butcher?

Tomorrow I’ll pick the breed of cat that I want.  On second thought, maybe I had better stick to fish.  Can you IMAGINE a cat in THIS house?!  Oh the blogs I would write….

Have a good one!  It’s FRIDAY!

Ah-ha.  So for a CHANGE, I am not the one in trouble.  This time Squeaky and Einstein have worked together – and they both caused problems for one another.

You see, Squeaky and Einstein LOVE to chew on each other and lick one another‘s ears.  And Frodo  recently ended up with a “shake-the-head” problem – because one of his ears was pink.  He had the problem a week ago and my human had to clean his ear and put in some drops.  He was fine the next day- because she caught the problem early.  Well Tuesday morning my human had us up EXTRA early because she needed to be in the office at 7:30.  Which means that in order for us to get our walks and breakfast and in order for HER to eat breakfast, the alarm goes off at 4:45. And on those days, everything has to go like clockwork.  But the clock stopped when Squeaky came out of his crate and she took one look at him.  His ear was going sideways.  “OH NO” she exclaimed.  This literally happened over night – his ear was all red.  Must have been all the licking by Einstein the day before.  So she whisked him into the garage aka grooming torture parlor aka minor surgical ward and examined his sore ear.  She carefully cleaned it – and thankfully still had ears drops left to make it feel better.  Of course as SOON as he was back in the house, Einstein wanted to examine the ear too.  And make it feel “better”.  At which point my human shouted “Leave his ears ALONE.”  She had to keep the two of them separated when she went to take her shower, and as always, they were separated when she went to work.

When she got home from work, his ear looked MUCH better.  She cleaned it again and put in more drops.  But TRYING to keep the ear lickers apart is no easy task. They are obsessed with doing it.  My human is threatening them with cones.  You know the line – “it’s all fun and games until somebody ends up in a cone.”    To keep them occupied, we had several rounds of Find the Bunny the other night.  My human uses a “bunny” which now looks NOTHING like a bunny.  She basically picks any stuffed–type toy and calls it a bunny.  It’s an alternative truth.   No wonder when we first go to look for it we have no idea what we are looking for.  But despite that – we all did well with the game, and it kept the licking down.  For at least an hour.

So anyway, I have two new nicknames for Squeaky and Einstein:  Timex 1 and Timex 2.  

Sorry but I couldn’t resist.

Have a good one! 

Several months ago I shared a movie trailer for a film that is soon to be released, called A Dog’s Purpose.  The trailer alone made my human cry.  But this week, a video surfaced which showed a dog in the film supposedly being forced to go into the water – and he was reportedly terrified.  I say supposedly and reportedly because my human could not bring herself to watch it.  She has a hard time watching videos of animal abuse – and honestly, just won’t do it any more.  Of course, since then, there has been a boycott on the film – and subsequent versions of the scene have apparently been shown.  Now I don’t know if the dog was abused or not.  It certainly IS possible that the dog was forced to do something he did not want to do.  And that would be awful.  But honestly, forcing a dog to do something happens in my house, too.  If given the option, I would NOT choose to be groomed.  But I do it – and I get copious amounts of treats during the process – so while I am being “forced” to do something I don’t WANT to do, it would hardly be considered abuse.  At least not in my mind.  But please keep in mind that I didn’t SEE the video – so it may have actually been abuse. And THAT we don’t condone. AT ALL.

But the other thing to keep in mind is that the movie was filmed 15 months ago.  With animal control officials reportedly watching.  The video that was just released was a short, edited version of the scene.  Note I said edited.  What happened before or after is hard to know.  But then again, IF it was abuse, it was abuse.  It’s interesting, though, that this video was released JUST before the film was to come out – perhaps to get the MOST attention.

Which brings me to the BIG thing to keep in mind.   That is who released this abusive segment of film.  None other than PETA.  Yup.  The organization who on the surface looks like it genuinely CARES about animals.  HOWEVER – IF you own a pet – of any sort, PETA is NOT, I repeat, PETA is NOT your friend.  PETA does NOT believe animals should be used in medical experiments, for food, for clothing OR AS PETS.   While some of their campaigns (like Save the Whales) might be a good thing – IF YOU OWN A PET, PETA IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE.  PETA advocates that you adopt a dog from a shelter – and you should spay and neuter.  Which is all fine – and there is NOTHING wrong with adopting a shelter dog.  NOTHING.  But read further – and THINK further.  PETA portrays dog breeders as evil people.  PETA says we have “enough” dogs in shelters and there is no need to breed.  So let’s take PETA’s stance.  No more breeding.  Adopt.  Spay and neuter.  No more puppies.  No more puppies.  No more dogs.  Ever hear the word “extinction?”  THAT’S what PETA wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  PETA does NOT want dogs as pets.  Purebred or otherwise.  PETA does not want ANY pets.     READ THE WEBSITE.  I think it’s ironic that an organization that supposedly protects animals is so dead set on seeing the extinction of dogs.  But then, they don’t believe in domesticated animals at all.  PETA says that humans are “selfish” to own pets.  And here is a direct quote from their website about pets: “They are restricted to human homes, where they must obey commands and can only eat, drink, and even urinate when humans allow them to.”  Yup.  As you know – life is VERY tough for the pets in THIS household… 

Because some of their work for wild animals may be good, people tend to overlook their REAL agenda with pets.  If you agree that 200 years from now there should no longer BE Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, or Labrador Retrievers, or Berger Picards,  or Poodles or ANY purebred dogs – go ahead and support PETA.  And don’t kid yourself – their campaign IS working.  There is a HUGE number of people who have been swayed to thinking that shelter dogs (spayed and neutered shelter dogs) are THE thing to own, and in some circles, it’s considered uncool to own a purebred.   And let me repeat –  there is NOTHING wrong with adopting from a shelter.  What the shelter dog supporters who support PETA don’t realize, is that in PETA’s plan – someday THOSE dogs will be gone too – along with the purebred dogs.

Now I am NOT saying purebred dogs are without problems – that’s a rant for another blog (!).   BUT if you love your dog – purebred or not purebred and if you believe in the unconditional bond, love and support in owning a pet – ANY kind of pet – watch who you support. 

Phew.  That’s my rant for today.  Who KNEW I could be so fired up about a political topic.  See – I SHOULD have run for President….

OK.  We made my human scream yesterday.  I mean really scream.  Not at us.  Well – maybe partly at us – but more like a scream at the universe – with her head back shouting at the heavens.

Yesterday was her day off.  Which means it’s a day she doesn’t go into the office and doesn’t get paid for that day – but she does all the work she doesn’t have time to do at the office Tuesday through Friday.  Go figure.  Humans.

Anyway, we were sure to get her up nice and early.  I told you that I think sleeping is overrated. She took us out in the dark and promised long walks in the light of day.  We had our breakfast and she was eating hers when she noticed Frodo standing and listening in the middle of the room.  She didn’t pay much attention – the radio was on and she figured he just heard the wind outside.  And then SHE heard the sound too.  A high pitched beeping sound.  Hmmmm.  She walked to the other room and heard where it was coming from.  The laundry room.  She opened the door and found water on the floor.  And the washing machine beeping madly with lights flashing.  She had thrown a load of dog towels in the wash when she got up – and clearly there was a problem.  She shut the machine off and quickly Googled the manual for the washer.   And she searched through the error codes that were listed in the manual.  This problem – do this.  That problem- do that. Our problem – call for help.  Drat.  But not one to give up so easily, she attempted some of the OTHER solutions.  Just in case.  The first “solution” ended up with MORE water flowing out onto the floor – but she actually thought this was promising.  She threw some more towels on the floor to sop up the mess and came into the kitchen to wash off some filter thing. And she just happened to glance at the dining room carpet.  Probably 8 feet of the border edge had been ripped out from under the carpet – compliments of Elroy.  He works fast.  As she went to tuck it back under the carpet, she turned around just in time to see me balancing on two legs, trying to eat a cookie she had left on a plate.

And it was at that very moment that a banshee scream from the depths of her soul erupted and was probably heard for a  5 km radius.  We just stared at her.  She is SO dramatic sometimes.  We just looked at her and then went about doing our things – I went back to chewing a bone,  Frodo rolled over and got in a more comfortable sleeping position under a chair, and Elroy moved onto the dog bed for a nap.

The bad news, her attempt at appliance repair did not work.  But the good news – the repairman was able to come yesterday!  Now THAT was a miracle.  I think someone upstairs heard my human’s scream and figured she needed a bit of relief.  When he arrived, she put the three of us on the deck – to keep us from getting INTO the washing machine with the guy. We promptly took turns peeing on the BBQ on the deck.

The good news also was that the machine could be fixed.  It seems SOMEONE put perhaps a bit too much soap in the machine – causing the machine to protest and overflow.  I’m not pointing paws, but let’s face it – she couldn’t blame US for this one.  So $100 and several soapy wet towels later, all was right with the world.  As the repairman was writing up the bill, he told my human she could let us in – as we stood on the deck staring in through the glass.  He had a dog – so he was used to dogs.  My human cautioned him that we are a bit “wild.”  He said “no problem – let them in.” She warned him to brace himself as she opened the flood gates.  Two barking PONs raced in followed by a leaping, exuberant Picard who practically took the guy out.  He grabbed a stool to sit on so he would have better leverage.  She had warned him.

As he was getting ready to leave, Elroy grabbed the ONE dry towel that had not been used to soak up the mess – and silently took off with it under the dining room table.  Of course he did.

So that was the better part of my human’s day “off.”  Minus several good walks with us  – which she clearly needed.  The freezing fresh air was good for her.

So that was our day.  Seriously – I couldn’t make this stuff up.  Hope yours was equally exciting!!!!

I think I might be Santa Claus.  Yes – you read that correctly.  I think I AM the guy.  Or at least I have some of Santa’s power.  You know those lines in the song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town?” – They go like this: He sees you when you’re sleeping, He knows when you’re awake...

So it was the weekend.  And in THEORY, humans SHOULD be allowed to sleep in a bit on the weekends.  Unless they live with Santa Claus. Or dogs.  

You see, last week we had some disappointment in our house – I had two seizures.  Things had been going SO well – I hadn’t had ANY since late October.  But for some reason, I had two last week.  They were short – less than a minute – and I rebounded quickly.  But they are distressing just the same.  And because they occur in the middle of the night, after one happens, my human doesn’t sleep well for the next few nights.  If I move off the bed, or stretch out, or make ANY kind of sound, she wakes up.  And when she wakes up, I wake up.  Because I think it’s time to start the day.  Even if it’s 4AM.  So my human will lie in bed and pretend to be asleep.  But just like Santa – I KNOW when she’s awake.  And I stare at her.  And if she begins to move her legs – like she is going to get up – I’m jumping all over her.  She’s pretty sneaky – she moves her head ever so slightly to see what time it is. And she even pretends to breathe heavily, like she’s sleeping.  She thinks she fools me.  But she doesn’t – I have Santa powers.  Actually, I think all dogs have Santa powers.  And really it goes beyond the sleeping thing.  Think about it.  We bring joy and happiness.  We’re jolly.  Generally.  And we leave “presents”.  OK the presents thing is a bit of a stretch.  But the rest applies.

So needless to say, we had some early mornings this weekend.  Which is fine by me – Carpe Diem!  Sleeping is overrated in my mind.  

Anyway – to all canines out there – don’t forget to keep practicing your Santa powers.  It’s an important skill. Now excuse me while I go and round up my reindeer…

So we all know that Frodo does not like to be “contained”.  Sequester him – and he WILL find a way out…

The other night my human had a friend over for dinner.  And while her friend was anxious to see us, my human suggested that we all meet AFTER dinner – as our table manners (i.e; begging, staring, stealing napkins) leave a bit to be desired.  So all of us were sequestered in the run in the garage.  In order to contain us (actually, in order to contain FROD0), my human had latched the door, put several bungee cords on it, placed a folded wire dog crate in front of the door and further barricaded it with two HUGE Rubbermaid bins.  Part way through dinner, my human heard Elroy squeaking.  So she went to see why.  Why was he squeaking?  He was missing Frodo and I who had managed to escape.  I basically followed Einstein, and was busily chewing the pocket of my human’s dog walking coat when she came in because, of course, the pockets always contain treats.  Frodo was wildly leaping up and down, trying to get into the dog food storage bin – which is luckily placed high up – out of reach. Interestingly, the barricade didn’t look like it had even been moved.  We’re kind of like mice, we can fit through even the SMALLEST opening.  But not Elroy.  My human called to her friend to show the escape artistry.  At which point I dashed into the dining room and was JUST about to take a mouthful of lemon tart dessert when my human ran back in.  I was too slow.  We were all THEN sequestered in the entry hall – where we could watch the ending of the meal through the french door.

Saturday morning we made sure to wake my human up at 5:30 so she could make the most of her day.  On Friday, she had PROMISED us that we would all go for a run on Saturday morning.  The only problem?  At 5:30 it is still dark.  So we went out for a quick walk and had to wait for daylight to go on our run.   Elroy got to go first.  And for SOME odd reason – and my human is not even sure why –  she put one of our 65 baby gates in front of the door leading to the entry hall.  So we could not get in the hallway.  She took Elroy for a run on the golf course, during which he was definitely answering his Call of the Wild.  My human came home exhausted after an hour of walking, hiding on him, throwing the fetch toy, trying to catch him, keeping him from eating inedible objects, keeping him from leaping on her when she put the leash on him, keeping him off the ice on the ponds (not to worry – they are ALL shallow)…a great time was had by all. 

And what did my human find when she trudged through the door and into the hallway?  Me.  And Frodo.  There we were.  This time, did Frodo knock down the gate?  Did he move it to slide through?  Did he go over it?  Nope.  He annihilated it.  He ripped one of the plastic panels out and it was in pieces on the floor.  And you KNOW what my human said…

January 21.  And according to the crazy calendar, it’s One Liner day.    A day to think about those quick witted, short sayings that make you chuckle.  Or groan.  Or – could be serious.  And I found a BUNCH of dog one liners.  Although, I think if it’s a riddle, I suppose that is TECHNICALLY two lines.  But I’ll still include them – just because they are funny.  And every now and then, like after an inauguration, we all need a little laugh…

Why do dogs always race to the door when the doorbell rings?  It’s hardly ever for them.   – Harry Hill

A chihuahua looks like a dog that is still far away.  – William Coronel

January 20.  So I looked at the crazy calendar to see what’s up today.  And I found two occasions listed – and the irony caught my eye….

Of course, the big occasion in the US is Inauguration Day.  The passing of the torch to the new President.  I was invited – as was most of the world, but I’m giving it a pass.  I have retrieving to do.  Kind of like being invited to go on a date and saying you have to wash your hair.  So for all those who thought they were dreaming about this whole election thing – nope – you are WIDE awake.  And it’s happening today.

But you want to know what OTHER day today is?  It is actually a day to recognize individuals with disabilities.  A day to recognize and support those people who may not have the same physical abilities like everyone else.  It’s a day of advocacy – and a day to empower individuals with physical challenges – and to show the world that you support people with all levels of abilities.  And you want to know what this day is called?  International Day of Acceptance. 

Does anyone see the irony in the title with the first day I mentioned? 

This is just a humble dog’s opinion, but I think it’s time for humans to work together.   Accept the reality of this inaugural day- but use your voice to advocate.  Use your voice – like Frodo.  For whatever cause you hold close to your heart.  But make sure you use your voice…and never underestimate the power of that voice….just remember how noisy Frodo is on his own – and think what our house sounds like when two more of us join in.

Have a GOOD one.