Viktorsviews. The Next Chapter.

Happy Birthday to ME!

October 27, 20152 Comments

October 27. It’s a BIG holiday today!!!! It’s my BIRTHDAY!!!! Yup – I am four years old today. Four years of joy, happiness and pure bliss for my human. OK, I guess that’s not entirely accurate. More like four years of “adventure”, entertainment, and the occasional moments of frustration. I have trained my human very well – to be prepared for ANYTHING when it comes to me. I CAN be obedient although I do have a wild, wanderlust streak in me. It’s “the call of the wild” – and I just cannot pass up the chance to commune with rabbits, foxes, the neighbor’s cat – and this past year, a porcupine too!

Ever the comedian, I love to roll on the floor, get up with my hair looking like Donald Trump in a wind tunnel, and just stare at my human. It makes her laugh EVERY time.

I torment my canine brothers to no end. Frodo is currently sporting an interesting hairdo compliments of moi. In the past, I used to just work on giving his ears an asymmetrical look. Now, this past week, I have also given him bangs. SHORT bangs. My human is NOT impressed. Personally, I love the look.

And poor Paxton, is totally accustomed to my wild side. I must learn to be nicer to the big guy – he is soooooooooooo tolerant of me. He won’t even make eye contact with me when I get crazy sometimes. I really DO like him – and I lick him every chance I get!

But despite my wild side, I AM also a very cuddly kind of guy. I love snuggling with my human – whether she is watching a movie on the sofa, sound asleep in her bed, or just sitting RIGHT next to her while she is eating her breakfast.

So it’s a day to celebrate ME – and all the crazy things I do. We are planning a PONtastic day, with extra treats, extra bananas, and extra games of fetch. And I think my human can even have a glass of wine. On me. Heaven knows, she needs it!

C-PTCSD

October 26, 2015Leave a Comment

I thought we had it bad with the obligatory Dollar Store Holiday attire, but I am happy to know we are not alone. Misery loves company. On Saturday in New York City they had what was described as the biggest Halloween Dog parade in the US. Over 400 dogs were dressed in costume in a chance to win Best in Show. The proceeds for the event go to a local dog park. Apparently there were lots of dogs dressed as dinosaurs, and even one dressed as the Pope. Honestly humans, you really ARE a strange bunch. It is nice to know the dogs in our household are not alone in this horrible “activity.” I am thinking I could start a support group for us dogs suffering from C-PTCSD – Canine Post Traumatic Costume Stress Disorder. Seriously.

And speaking of dinosaurs, my human and her mother watched the Jurassic Park movie the other night. They were indulging in some of the Halloween snacks that my human routinely buys for all the kids who NEVER show up at our house. I mean she buys snacks for 50 and we get….hmmmmm…..maybe 6 on a good night. But one never knows – so always best to be prepared. Need I remind her that she is still sporting the remnants of LAST YEAR’S snacks around her waist?! Nah. Better not. Anyway, my human thought that I might enjoy the movie since I was so engrossed when she watched Planet of the Apes. But really, dinosaurs aren’t my thing. The apes? They were pretty smart guys. The dinosaurs? Not so much. I watched those wild monsters from my comfy position on the sofa for about 15 seconds and promptly fell asleep.

So we played lots of fetch this past weekend, begged for banana pieces and had lots of belly rubs and ear scratches. Today we heard something about “grooming” so time for Frodo and I to hide. Paxton loves grooming. We vote to pick him. Paws crossed. Or maybe I can disguise myself in a costume. So my human won’t recognize me. Maybe a sheep costume….Bwhahahahahaha. I won’t have to worry about Frodo chasing me!

Happy Monday!

Pumpkin Day

October 25, 2015Leave a Comment

October 25. Pumpkin Day! A day to celebrate those orange members of the squash family that become VERY popular during this time of the year. Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America – but they are grown the world over. Except for Antarctica. I guess penguins don’t make jack-o-lanterns. In Britain and Ireland, there has been a long tradition of carving vegetables into lanterns at Halloween and they were originally turnips. But apparently pumpkins were first used in North America for jack-o-lanterns.

In 2014, Beni Meier of Switzerland set a World Record for HUGE Pumpkins. His pumpkin weighed in at 2323 lbs!!!! I’m not sure if that record has been broken yet this year. A cool pumpkin fact – it was Howard Dill, a NOVA SCOTIA farmer, and 4 time World Champion for huge pumpkins, who developed the famous “Dill’s Atlantic Giant” seeds which have produced many of the world-record pumpkins. Those pumpkins routinely weigh more than 1000 lbs. A jack-o-lantern from one of those pumpkins could light up a small town.

Another pumpkin fact – pumpkin is EXCELLENT for us dogs when we are having dietary problems. My human always has a can handy – JUST in case one of us gets….hmmmm….how do I say this….soupy poops. Now be careful to use the PLAIN canned pumpkin – NOT the sweetened pie filling stuff. That might lead to MORE problems. My human has also used pumpkin if one of us canines has put on a few extra lbs! She had her first Bernese who became a bit portly. So she reduced his food but added pumpkin – so he felt full – and he quickly took off those added lbs. Pumpkin is a WONDERFUL additive!

So celebrate pumpkins today. And make your dog take a picture with one! And post it to my Facebook page! So I can see other dogs whose humans made then sit with a large orange squash. And look like we are having fun….Even though these things are too big to retrieve.

Not that we didn’t try…

It’s FRIDAY!!!!

October 23, 2015Leave a Comment

Well it’s Friday – so that means for the next THREE days we have our human home with us – AND her mother too. We know I am her favorite grand-dog, or at least I THINK I am, so it means lots of treats. She is familiar with the lick-the-yogurt container routine at breakfast, and she knows how to share her banana. And she has learned how to distribute those banana pieces so that Frodo doesn’t take off her fingers in the process. She is also very familiar with the treat jar – but just in CASE she doesn’t know where it is, I’ll be sure to remind her.

My human’s broken toe is healing up quite nicely. Thank goodness. Because she has had QUITE the week. While she was waiting at the red light coming home from work, someone hit her car from behind. It appears that just the bumper on Harold was damaged, and it will have to be replaced. More importantly, no one was hurt. But it is a nuisance.

So I think my human is looking forward to the weekend as much as we are. And I just KNOW she can’t WAIT to play fetch. Over. And over again. She is so lucky we keep her active.

Here I am retrieving and jumping down a garden wall. I can do this, like 3 thousand times. I LOVE retrieving!!!!

Have a grrrrrrrrreat day! I know I will! But then for us dogs, EVERY day is Friday!

International Stuttering Awareness Day

October 22, 2015Leave a Comment

October 22. Today is International Stuttering Awareness Day. Stuttering is a human communication challenge in which the flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions of sounds, syllables or words, the prolonging of sounds or the complete stoppage of speech altogether. Stuttering is not, contrary to popular belief, an “emotional” problem. It’s caused by a combination of factors – including early language challenges as a child; genetics (60% of people who stutter report that some other family member stutters, and interestingly, the ratio of male to female stutterers is 4:1); neurophysiological differences in stutterers, and family dynamics – a fast paced, high drive lifestyle can contribute to stuttering. So it’s actually a bunch of factors that come into play when someone stutters.

Some famous people who stutter(ed) include actresses Marilyn Monroe, Jane Seymour and Emily Blunt, actors James Earl Jones and Charlie Sheen, author John Updike, TV reporter John Stossel, US Vice President Joe Biden, singers Carly Simon and Elvis Presley, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and one of the most famous political individuals, King George, whose story was depicted in the movie The King’s Speech.

Speech-language Pathologists can help people who stutter but did you know that dogs can help people who stutter too?! Some people who stutter report that when they talk to their dog, they are fluent! So practicing speech techniques with a dog might be a good thing to do! We also know that dogs can reduce stress (well some dogs can) and even that may help individuals who stutter to reduce tension and practice fluent speech techniques.

So there are your stuttering facts for today! No matter whether or not you stutter, go and talk to your dog and reduce your stress. Maybe.

Have a good one!

The Family Tree

October 21, 2015Leave a Comment

So a new study just came out that traces the roots of us canines back 15,000 years – and this research says we came from Central Asia – somewhere possibly around Mongolia and Nepal. I read a bit about it and while all the info is still not 100% definitive, they are learning more and more about our humble beginnings. The study is cool – it analyzed the DNA of more than 4,500 dogs of 161 breeds and 549 street dogs from 38 countries. Did you know that 75% of the earth’s one billion dogs are homeless? They scavenge for food and live outdoors. Kind of like the Littlest Hobo. Although I’m not sure that a lot of these wild dogs have as much contact with humans as The Hobo did. When I’m bad, my human reminds me that I could EASILY become a Hobo. I know she’s kidding – she could never throw me out. I think.

To get blood for the DNA study from the street dogs, the scientists reported that it was generally easy to get subjects, if the researchers had food. No kidding. Although apparently some of the dogs who live off of the carcasses of fish in small fishing villages were not interested in roast beef. Seriously? I cannot IMAGINE not wanting roast beef. Well. I can’t imagine not wanting ANY food. Except lettuce.

So that’s our latest history lesson. Imagine the family tree we could plot back for 15,000 years.

And then we would promptly pee on it.

Sorry. I couldn’t resist.

Have a great day!

I’m not the ONLY bad dog

October 20, 2015Leave a Comment

You know, sometimes you would think I am the only one who gets in trouble in this house. But not ALWAYS.

Yesterday my human was off – she has a new schedule at work – not by her own accord – so she is now home every Monday. She said it’s something called university cutbacks. I have no idea what that means. Anyway, we dogs LOVE the new schedule. More time to play fetch. And more walks. And more treats. Because we sit and stare at her so she eventually gets up from her work and gives us something to stop us from bugging her. And that lasts all of 5 minutes and we are back at our staring routine.

Yesterday she flipped some coins and went to vote. She expected some fancy voting booth like they have in the US. Instead, she put an X on a piece of paper next to the name of the person she disliked the least, and then put it in a big cardboard box. I’m not kidding. It was kind of like voting for your favorite class leader in grade school. Same level of technology.

Then she went grocery shopping. And when she came home we, of course, went CRAZY – like we hadn’t seen her in days. Even though it was more like an hour. Anyway, while she was in the kitchen putting away the groceries, she made the mistake of leaving the garage door open. The garage is where THE DOG FOOD is stored. That’s why I stand and stare at the garage door. The day before, she had bought a big bag of our gourmet food – and instead of putting it up in the bin where it is stored, she had left it on the floor. So while she was in the kitchen and Paxton and I were inspecting everything that came out of every grocery bag, she heard a strange noise. Like plastic being crumbled. She realized Frodo was not in sight – so she rushed to the garage. There was Frodo, frantically wrestling with a 40lb bag of dog food – trying with all his might to rip open the heavy bag – which has like foil inside. My human shouted “Hey – STOP that!” He stopped for one second and then tried in vain to open it before she got close enough to stop him. He didn’t win the battle. He then just shrugged his shoulders and went to see if anything from the grocery bags was left on the counter.

So you see. I’m not the ONLY bad dog in this house! Next it’s Paxton’s turn.

Sheep -2. PON -0.

October 18, 2015Leave a Comment

OK. I give up. What did you REALLY want me to DO with those sheep? I think this is what’s called “2 strikes.” Yup. Sheep- 2. PON -0.

We drove a little over an hour. And we got there early – so I could have another poop before I went in the pen. My human wanted to be SURE I was completely ready for those sheep. I delivered as expected and off we went to see the sheep.

I went in the pen with the three sheep. It was a gorgeous day – so we couldn’t blame anything on rain this time. My human hobbled in the pen with me – broken toe and all.

And did I even LOOK at the sheep? Nope. I stuck to my human like glue initially, and then just stood like I was stuffed in the middle of the ring. I watched a border collie move some sheep outside and then I watched my human try to move the sheep. She didn’t do such a great job either. But I just stood there. And all the coaxing, begging and praying could NOT make me go near those sheep. The judge lady didn’t even give us our full 5 minutes. She said I wasn’t interested. So my human hobbled out with me. I was quite happy to leave.

So the saying goes – three strikes and you’re out. But my human is thinking that two strikes in my case is probably enough. I’ll stick to obedience and rally. Speaking of which – Team Bark is reuniting for another competition. In November, Frodo and I will again be joining our buddies Goro and Chimo for another Team competition. I had better start practicing. At least I don’t need sheep to do it. Actually, MAYBE if we GOT some sheep, I could learn to move them. Nah. I’ll stick with rabbits. And cats. And porcupines. And leaves.

I confess. I was bad.

October 17, 2015Leave a Comment

Oh boy I am in TROUBLE this time. BIG trouble. My human has, what she is fairly certain is, a broken toe. And it’s kinda my fault. Well. It IS my fault…

She was sound asleep and at 3AM Friday she heard me growling at Paxton. I do that if he gets close to my sleeping space. And I had jumped up and I was staring at him. Poor Paxton doesn’t even LOOK at me. And I’m not even SURE why I do it. It doesn’t happen a lot – but when it does, my human is QUICK to stop me. So she woke up and JUMPED out of bed and moved quickly to grab me and in the process, JAMMED her foot into the leg of the bed. She hit it square on and she KNEW she did something to her middle toe. She heard a crack. I was quickly banished from the bedroom.

I was pretty sheepish – yes ME sheepish- when she opened the bedroom door at our usual time to get up. My human hobbled around, but she wouldn’t even LOOK at me. We didn’t get to go for very long walks – I’m thinking her toe was pretty sore. She has broken enough toes to know it is probably broken. Did I mention she IS a bit of a klutz?

Anyway, I have been on my BEST behavior. I have put my best “I’m sorry” look on. At breakfast I sat staring at her with my adorable head tilt. It worked, because before breakfast was over, she was already petting me. By the time she got home from work, she seemed to forget about my indiscretion.

Today it looks like we WILL try the sheep thing. It’s my chance to redeem myself. The pressure is on. Paws crossed the rain holds off, and my inner herding instinct comes out.

Go Akiak

October 16, 2015Leave a Comment

I want to be Akiak. Well maybe not BE Akiak. But be LIKE Akiak. Who is Akiak? He is a husky who lives in Norway. With his human Henrik Viske. It seems Henrik got the urge to travel around his country, so he quit his job and he and Akiak packed their bags and headed off for the wilderness. Google them. And take a LOOK at their BEAUTIFUL photos. They are unbelievable! I want to go on a trip like Akiak. OK – maybe not the camping part. I DO enjoy sleeping on my human’s bed. So that would be a bit of a challenge.

And getting my human to quit work might ALSO be a challenge. And then you also have a challenge of taking all THREE of us dogs on the adventure. Personally, I think my human should JUST take me – but she has this “fairness” philosophy, so I doubt she would take such a big trip with just one of us. I mean I HAVE managed to do some day trips on my own – but a big extended trip. Yeah – that’s not going to happen.

I do like the idea of the rugged outdoorsy look too– I mean you can’t carry a grooming table with you on an adventure like that. But we know THAT’s not going to happen either.

The other issue is the small fact that I do like to run off at times. Wouldn’t THAT be horrid? My human alone in the wilderness while I go search for mountain goats or something? Another deterrent…

Well, I guess for now I will have to live vicariously through Akiak’s photos. Mind you, we seem to be able to create our own adventures right in our own back yard…

Go Akiak!