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Hey blogaroos. Squirmy here. At party central. OK. Truth is we have actually been behaving. At least that’s what Jane has told the Warden. I told her I would pay her to say we’re being good. Now I just need to find the Warden’s check book to pay her off…

While we’re having a great time here, apparently the Warden is also having a good time. That’s hard to believe since we are not with her. She was apparently all excited because she finally got to see a moose in the wild.

She claims if we had been there, the moose would have run for the hills. Not sure why.

She and Alice are returning today. We’ll be happy to see her – but we’re going to miss Jane, Kwik and Fidjit. This has been a vacation for everyone!

According to the crazy calendar, today is National On-line Learning Day. And if you’re interested in some online dog training, this article reviews some popular programs:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-online-dog-training-courses-5075564

We haven’t taken any of these – so we can’t really endorse them – but wanted to let you know that if you don’t have a good teacher in your area (like we do!) there are loads of resources on the net to help in training your dog.

Another great resource not on the list is Susan Garrett – an accomplished trainer and competitor in canine sports. You may want to check out her classes and videos. She’s super.

https://dogsthat.com/

Those are just a few of the many, many dog related classes available on-line. It’s helpful if you know someone who has taken a particular on-line program – to find out their review. If you don’t know someone personally, read reviews. Sure – reviews CAN be fake but chances are, if there are MANY positive reviews, the course is worth the biscuit money.

OK. Gotta go have fun with my friends before the Warden gets home.

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

Hey hey hey blogaroos. Lots of news from Wojtek-ville. Where to begin….

First off, good news. The Warden’s friend, Alice arrived late Thursday night. She’s very nice. We welcomed her with shouts and ricochets.

Now it turns out she is a cat person – but we are working on converting her to canines. And we are doing a splendid job. We beg her to pet us with longing stares, we greet her with a chorus every morning, and we jump for joy when she comes out of the bathroom. Who couldn’t love us?

Now for the bad news. She and the Warden left us. Yup. Gone. Vamoosh. They headed for Cape Breton – the place of Frodo’s orb affair. They left yesterday. So we were sad as we saw them packing their bags.

But…. Good news. Guess who is staying with us? Just guess? You give up? My teacher -Jane!!!! Frodo and I know Jane from class and we love her. Elroy is just getting to know her. Only problem- we can’t get away with anything. She’s our obedience teacher after all. No tricking her into giving us treats for no reason. But we’re having a blast because not only is Jane awesome, she came with her canine kids!!! Fidjit and Kwik are Pyrenean Shepherds. So it’s a herding breed extravaganza!!!! We’re all getting along super duper although the Coyote gets a BIT excited about company. He couldn’t sit still for the photo. Maybe today. Or not.

So although we miss the Warden … who am I kidding- we don’t miss her – we’re having a PARTEEEEEE. Sure we’ll be glad when she comes home – especially if she brings guilt gifts – but trust me – we’re not suffering!

Gotta go. Time to hang out with the company.

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

Hey blogaroos. Squirmy here on a sad Sunday. A seriously sad Sunday . I mean holy macaroni- today is triple tragic.

First we start off with the sad news about the death of the Queen. I never met her, and let’s face it, most people didn’t – but boy oh boy- lots of people felt like they knew her. I mean she’s been in the Royal job for 70 years! Yup 70 years of work. That was a looooonnnnnnggggg time. Viktor wrote about her six years ago – and provided some facts about her love for dogs…

https://viktorsviews.com/2016/04/21/salutations-and-birthday-greetings-your-majesty/

If there is an example of a life well-lived – she was it. Her reign has ended but her legacy will live on.

I’d like to volunteer to give any of her corgis a home, but the Warden said no. I’ll keep working on it.

The 2nd sad event is the date – 9/11. A tragic day in 2001 when so many lives were senselessly lost- and the world was forever changed.

And if those two sad events weren’t enough, today is also National Pet Memorial Day. A day to think about all those pets at the Rainbow Bridge. It’s not that you don’t think of them every day already, but this is designated as a day to remember them. Sigh.

All of these events fill people with grief. And in the words of Queen Elizabeth II, “ Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Phew. Talk about heavier than carrying a 40lb bag of dog food in the rain, while your dog is pulling on the leash, and you accidentally stepped in dog poo. Today is the elephant of hard days.

Yes- all these events fill us with sadness. But in the wise words of Winnie the Pooh- “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so sad.” And how lucky to have the memories tucked in the compartments of your heart….

Take it easy today. Get outdoors. Pet your dog. Or cat. Or iguana. Or some random dog on the street. But ask permission first. Smell a flower. Call a friend. Read a book. Watch a bird. Give your dog a treat. Make it two. Take a deep breath. Look at old photos. Do something nice for someone. And for yourself. Smile. And LIVE big. LIVE big. I will…. We dogs are lucky because we always do….

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

Happy Thursday blogaroos! Squirmy here as we finish the last minute, never-ending vacuuming before our guest arrives. It’s a futile exercise- but the Warden keeps trying. She has threatened to shave off all of our coats so we look like xylophones. Wait. Make that Xoloitzcuintles. Mexican hairless dogs. Not funny.

Yesterday we had a little visit from our favorite ricochet target and all around great peep – Joanie! She was in town and paid us a visit. And guess what she said about me?! She said I’m becoming more cuddly! And I wasn’t ricocheting as much! Mind you, I did attempt to bite her a few times – not mean bites – just love nibbles. But she did think I was maturing. Guess I fooled her! She did comment that I am a clown though… The Warden wanted to show Joanie some new rugs she got in the bedroom and – Joanie witnessed me race into the bedroom , leap onto the bed – and throw myself into a roll – with my feet flailing. I would then quickly sit up- look to see if I had an audience- and would do a repeat performance. She thinks I’m hysterical. Or I have a screw loose.

So I was reviewing the news, and I have a question. Who has been to 2 Super Bowls, the Indianapolis 500, and NCAA Championship football game and the Special Olympics World Games? Eebber! A TSA bomb-sniffing dog – who just retired after 10 years of service. Check out his story:

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121449016/eebbers-tsa-cutest-canine-retires

Pretty cool dude! And a pretty long-working dog. Glad to see he can now relax and just sniff out biscuits at home. Works for me!

So there’s apparently a viral video of a bad dog going around. Check him out:

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/feel-good-stories/golden-retiver-prevents-parents-from-leaving-viral-tiktok

The Warden can totally relate to this story. Sounds like something one of us would do. In addition to the stall tactic that the woman had to deal with, you’ll notice that she is dressed up for the occasion. On the rare occasion that The Warden gets dressed up to go out, we find it critical to examine her attire. Especially the Coyote. Like the bomb sniffing dog, he must sniff any new outfit. Plus dresses and skirts are for wiping one’s face. The Warden has been known to toss biscuits on the floor to distract him so she can get out the door without being slobbered.

We know all about the right of refusal to move – particularly if a human is in a hurry. Or in the middle of the kitchen floor when meal preparation is occurring. OR if the Warden needs to wash our paws or groom us. Yesterday I got a good brushing- and as soon as I emerged from the grooming torture palace, the Boss took one look at me and took off. He figured it was his turn. He can wedge himself under furniture pretty well.

Well, time to chase and bark at the vacuum one more time.

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

Hey blogaroos! Squirmy here on the Tuesday after Labor Day. After our company left, we had a pretty quiet couple of days. Today we’ll get ready for our next victim. Er – I mean guest.

Although Fall isn’t OFFICIALLY here, humans seem to associate the end of Summer with the Labor Day weekend. People return from their cottages and kids head back to school. The days are a bit cooler and the nights can be crisp. The leaves turn crimson and gold and carpet the ground. Making poop pick up so much fun. One cannot lose sight of a deposit or there could be trouble finding it amongst the crunchy foliage.

You can also smell Fall. It’s kind of a pungent but sweet smell as the ground is carpeted by leaves. To a dog – it’s a fragrance that just urges one to roll. That’s an old photo of the Coyote – but no doubt when all the leaves are down – he’ll be performing his autumn ritual.

The changing season also signals the joyful foliage photos and the dreaded Halloween attire. I can hardly wait!

The spiders seem to be getting ready for Fall- there are webs everywhere. Often resulting in a wild dance by the Warden when we walk on the trails. Her arms are a-flailing and there’s lots of “ewwwww” sounds. Spiders must like dogs – most their webs are at human height….

On a different note, today according to the crazy calendar is Read a Book Day. And we are cheating today. Viktor wrote about reading an old Dog Book – and we think it’s time for a re-run. If you remember it – good for you! We didn’t. But then after several thousand blog posts – it’s no surprise. At least that’s our excuse. Check it out:

https://viktorsviews.com/2017/09/06/read-a-book/

Hey – I forgot to tell you somebody knocked over our green bin the other night. The humans had eaten mussels- and the shells were in the bin. Talk about roll-able aromas. Now THAT would have been fun. But it was cleaned up before we got the chance. Not sure what creature helped himself to the seafood leftovers. There haven’t been any bear sightings lately, so I’m banking on a fat raccoon. A big, fat raccoon. A big fat messy fish-smelling raccoon. I’ll let you know if we have any more action.

Time to head out. I’m on leaf color watch and bunny patrol.

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

Howdy blogaroos. Well. We are sad. Very sad. Sue and Keith leave today. Which leaves only once ricochet victim for me. The Warden. Sigh.

We had a great visit with them – and we look forward to their next visit- which MAY be before the snow flies. So we’ll do a countdown.

In the meantime, we are preparing for a new victim. A friend of the Warden’s who lives in the United States is coming this week. She’s never been to Canada’s Ocean Playground – and has obviously never been here to the zoo. The Warden will be sending off the danger waiver for her to sign before she gets here. We’re not 100% sure she’s a dog person. So our behavior could make her join the fan club – or it could reinforce cat loving. Or iguana loving. Or she may be happy with a pet rock when we’re done with her.

Hey – did you know today is Pet Rock Day? Somebody must have been stoned when they designated that holiday. Get it? Pet Rock? Stoned? Am I the only one who laughs at my jokes?

So here’s a dog who thinks rocks are super cool. I think he has rocks in his head…

https://www.thedodo.com/videos/lab-is-obsessed-with-water-and-cant-stop-diving

Looks like something the pebble Picard would do. He likes to dig. He likes water. Put them together and you have a pebble Picard- who retrieves rocks in the water. Better him than me.

Time to get ready for the send off. We’ll look all sad, so maybe they’ll give out some treats before they go. Plus now the Coyote will go into post-company depression. Maybe a hump-a- thon will make him feel better.

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

Howdy blogaroos. Happy Thursday from me – Squirmy!

I’m feeling good – the odd cough – but if we didn’t KNOW I was exposed to the plague, we might not even think twice about it. The Boss coughed twice yesterday- but at 12.5+, that’s probably par for him. And I think the Coyote let out one snarf – so I’m thinking we might be on tbe KC downslide. Yay!

So while we’re getting past one medical issue in this household, we have another one. This time it’s Aunt Sue. She has a stress fracture in her foot – and no- I didn’t cause it! She was running and she wasn’t even chasing bunnies! Running for the sake of running. A weird human thing. Although I SUPPOSE, we dogs DO get zoomies for no reason. But mind you – not for 10k!

Anyway, she’s sporting a fashionable Frankenstein boot. Which is good because before she got it, when I raced over her sore foot she screamed. Not so bad with the boot on.

With this unfortunate incident, we’re back to walking solo with the Warden in the morning. Keith is a great guy – but not a morning person. So back to the old routine- the Boss first, then me and then the Coyote. And while I’m out – or the Coyote is out, the Boss stands around shouting as loudly as possible, that we had better hurry and get back home. Now with Aunt Sue staying behind with him, she repeatedly tells him to be quiet. And he is…Except yesterday.

I was out on my walk up the road and Aunt Sue was in the kitchen with the Coyote and the Boss. The Boss had already been out for his walk. Because she told the Boss “no barking” he decided to channel his energy instead into pacing. To the deck door. To the front door. And back and forth again. So much so that Aunt Sue thought MAYBE he needed to pee. Now remember- he had JUST been out. So thinking he might need to pee, she opened the front door – and let him out – just like she had seen the Warden do dozens of times before. He’s the well behaved dog. He’s not a flight risk… But.. instead of heading to the lawn to pee, he proudly started marching up the middle of the driveway- heading for the road where the Warden and I were walking. He wanted us to come back home – and to have breakfast- NOW!

Well Aunt Sue panicked. Here she was with her Frankenstein boot – trying to go after the PON with a mission. She called his name as she hobbled along. He kept marching. She called again. He looked back at her and kept marching. But then she pleadingly said the magic words. “Do you want a treat?!” He stopped in mid march. He looked up the driveway and reconsidered. He turned around and came back. He stared at her for his treat. Which of course she didn’t have. So she convinced him if he came inside he could have one. He marched inside to the treat jar. Emergency diverted.

Not sure what’s on the agenda for today. I do need to remind Aunt Sue that although she can’t take us on long walks, we are quite happy to retrieve bumpers if she just wants to sit in a chair and keep throwing them 100 times. We can help her exercise her arms. She can thank me for being so thoughtful.

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

Howdy blogaroos. Squirmy here. With some yucky – but NOT earth shattering news…

Well we managed to avoid COVID in this house….but not the canine plague. Kennel cough. Cough. Cough.

There’s a catchy case going around and if you are a dog who is ever in contact with dogs from outside your own household – there’s a risk of catching it. It can circulate at daycares, dog shows and dog parks. And even dogs who go to training facilities can catch it – whether or not they have been vaccinated. And sometimes dogs can be asymptomatic, but they’ve been exposed to it – so they can pass it on. It turned out one of my good training buddies got it and he didn’t know it. So unfortunately, yours truly also caught the bug. The good news? I don’t have a bad case. Just a couple of snorts to let the Warden know I had it. I feel fine. Certainly hasn’t affected my appetite. In fact – I think I’ve read somewhere that if you want a quick recovery from Kennel Cough, you just get extra treats. Lots of extra treats.

Now we just hope my brothers don’t get it. Just like any kind of bug, because one gets it doesn’t mean everyone will. Paws crossed.

Unfortunately, though, whether or not the Boss gets it, he won’t be going to the trials this weekend- because even if he’s asymptomatic, we don’t want to pass it on.

So that’s the news here. Keith comes back tonight for Round 2 of his visit. Then they’ll be staying for a few more days. I hope he’s read the info about extra treats for dogs with Kennel Cough. I’ll let him know if he’s not informed.

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

Howdy blogaroos! Squirmy here. Happy Sunday! Hope you’re having a terrific weekend with good weather, with family or friends and without any runaway dogs. We’re scoring 2/3 here…

FOR A CHANGE it wasn’t yours truly in the doghouse this weekend. So if it wasn’t me who played escapee- that leaves two possible suspects. Anyone care to guess? Here’s a hint – his middle name is flight risk – and he’s the biggest dog in the house – so he’s not easy to miss. Yup – the Coyote went AWOL. It’s been a while ….

The Warden had let me and the Boss out to pee, and she stepped away from the open door for 12 seconds. And she FORGOT to close the door to the front hall. She and Aunt Sue were getting ready to go out for a drive- and she went to get some biscuits for us as guilt treats before they went out. (I forgot to mention that Keith has returned to Newfoundland for a quick trip – but he’ll be back in a few days. So he plays no role in the Coyote caper.)

Anyway, the Boss and I peed and raced back in the house for our biscuits. The Warden shut the door- and went to get the Coyote to take him for a pee. But he was nowhere to be found. She asked Aunt Sue if she had seen him – and although she had also been within feet of the front door, she never saw him sneak out. They threw open the door and yelled his name. They may as well have yelled “Merry Christmas and to all a good night” because they couldn’t even see him – and we KNOW he has intermittent recall. Or possible namenesia. We have to change that guy’s name.

Anyway – Aunt Sue ran up the driveway while the Warden ran for a leash. As Aunt Sue was futilely yelling his name, a voice called out “Are you looking for a shaggy dog?” As Aunt Sue turned the corner to the neighbors’ house – she saw a man who was doing some repair work on their driveway. He said there was a big dog up there – and sure enough, it was the runaway. He took one look at Aunt Sue and raced to greet her like he hadn’t seen her in days. Then he spotted the Warden coming up the driveway and bolted toward her like a freight train, dodging around her as he got close. Thankfully he didn’t decide to go for round two – and happily marched into the house. Smart move on his part.

It’s been quite a while since he did his escaped convict routine. And he seemed quite proud of himself when he got back. The Boss and I were too busy eating guilt treats to care.

Today the Boss is going to a rally practice. Probably not a bad idea – since he is entered in a real Rally trial next weekend. Yup. Another try for Masters. But he and the Warden are kinda rusty – so good thing they’re going to a practice. They need it. I’m not entered in the trial next weekend. The Warden feels she needs to concentrate on the old fella – so I’ll stay home with the Coyote. That will be interesting…just the two of us…

Time to get those women walking.

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

Howdy doody blogaroos! Happy Friday from your increasingly brilliant canine blogger. Don’t believe I’m smart? Well check out this article:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/signs-dog-intelligence-gifted-dogs-play-study-finds-rcna41534

So acccording to this – yours truly wins as being THE most playful in this household- and therefore I proclaim myself as being the most brilliant. The Boss pointed out that HE is known as Einstein- and while he doesn’t do 30 laps around the dining room table with a toy in his mouth, he is clearly THE most clever as an escape artist. He also likes to retrieve almost as much as I do – but he is also very clear in communicating when he’s had enough by walking to the door with the fetch toy. Yours truly would keep fetching until I collapse. OK. Maybe that’s not so brilliant after all.

The Coyote argues that fetching is a futile ridiculous game – far beneath his level of intellect. He doesn’t believe that playfulness signals intellect. He likes to play – but not routinely. Sure- he’s often up for a game of chase and hump – but then he can go for a week or two when his level of playfulness involves jumping onto the raised dog bed – and going to sleep. Maybe he’s playful in his dreams.

The Warden sometimes finds yours truly a challenge to play with. It could possibly have to do with the fact that the more playful I become, the more likely I am to use my teeth in play. I’ve improved greatly since my baby days, but my version of elevated play still turns into a scene from Shark week.

Now some might argue that attempting to roll on a dead frog in the middle of the road as not being the sign of an overly brilliant being- but I beg to differ. I didn’t actually roll ON the frog the other morning while out for our walk. I actually did the drop and roll about three feet beyond the actual carcass. Pretty clever I think. No frog bits on me. Yup. I’m one smart biscuit.

No class today or next Friday – it was rescheduled . What’s a brilliant guy to do with all his smarts and no class? The Boss just said “homework.” Right. Maybe I can get Aunt Sue to play with me. All for the sake of helping me to become even more brilliant. Look out you Border Collies- here I come!

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