Happy Birthday to me!

A lot has happened and I don't know where to start! My person and I were very sad because my half-brother Miller crossed the Rainbow Bridge before his 5th birthday. It was too sad for blogging.

Anyway, my litter celebrated our birthdays on May 28th. We are not UKC puppy seniors anymore. WE ARE ADULTS! Very exciting. I got a lovely bone and lots of playing. My person couldn't find liver at the store so I did NOT get liver brownies but am hoping for some after the puppy obedience class graduates on Tuesday. I am the helper and get to teach the newbies how to play and socialize after class so I'm hoping I'll get to party with them this week, too. I think liver brownies sound mighty fine.

My people FINALLY got my pool ready for summer and I have been swimming everyday. I just hop in and swim whenever I get hot. Walking the labyrinth, not eating pullets, and watching my person work in her garden all make me hot so I swim lots of times everyday.

Is it spring? Why isn't the pool open yet?

Ooooh, Tank and I had a wonderful trip to Pennsylvania with the old girls! We stayed upstairs in a motel with scary-fun metal stairs we could see through; learned to walk, poop, and pee on solid ice; got tons of treats and rawhides; and I even made the cut and got an extra competition in the MOOOOOOOOVEMENT CLASS, because I'm such a nice strutter! We were SO tired on the way home that we just snoozed in our crates. We're ready to go earn some titles now.

I got an EXTRA driveway walk this afternoon. Grandpa Wayne took us all this morning before he left to tune a piano. Ralphie, Miller, Molson, and I had a wonderful romp. Grandma Wendy took JUST ME this afternoon and we practiced my happy-tail-stand and strutting. I could have strutted lots more, but she kept taking rest breaks. I even got liver treats on the afternoon walk. I overheard her talking to Grandma Kathy on the phone about daily conditioning and training. I think that means more walks and adventures in my future!

All the ice and snow is gone and there are wonderful smells to smell outside. I can't understand why we can't go swimming yet. That stretchy thing is still on top of my pool.

Exciting news! My litter mate Bunny is competing this weekend in Rally and Obedience. The Grandmas are going to watch. I don't know if I get to go. Even more exciting, my other sissy Aurora is moving back to Virginia from Las Vegas! She's such a city girl now I hope she'll still let me @#!$# her backside!

SUNSHINE!

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

The sun is back and I get to play outside more. Tomorrow I leave on my Winslow Way trip to Pennsylvania. I'm so excited! Today is packing day so Grandma Wendy will restock my red travel bag that Grandma Kathy and Tank gave me for Christmas. I LOVE MY TRAVEL BAG! It has toys! It has bowls! It has chewies and bones! It has my favorite FOOD! What could be better?

BTW, I haven't told about my favorite food, Life's Abundance from Trilogy Healthy Pet Net. It is SO yummy! It makes me sleek and shiny and healthy. If you want to know more about it, check out Grandma Wendy's Healthy Pet Net website by pasting the following LONG link into your browser:

http://www.healthypetnet.com/HealthyPetNet/Home.aspx?realname=40037427

The only way to get this human-grade-ingredient food is to order it from a rep, so that's what we do. Grandma Wendy is a rep but just so I can get my favorite food. It is delivered to our front porch by UPS. If you want some, check out the site and see what you think. No pressure. I like it and it agrees with me, don't know if you'll feel the same.

Oh, almost forgot! I have a new webpage at

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/950770

Paste that link into your browser and come visit me there. Your dog can have a page, too! It's free and there's a cat part, if you want to make a page for your furry, scratchy, hissy, chase-able cat!

Rain, Ice, Sick Humans

ARGHHHHH! I have been plagued by rain, ice, and sick humans for the last long days! I haven't been down the driveway in DAYS! It's 31F and the trees and walks are icy. The humans have been using that as an excuse to skip THE WALK. Finally Grandpa Wayne took me for a walk this morning. Bro Miller and I had serious cabin fever. It was pretty slick on the driveway and Miller ran off into the woods so Grandpa Wayne's mad. I would have gone with Miller but I was on the leash. Wayne's back outside yelling and blowing the whistle now.
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Friday I will go to Harrisburg, PA with Grandmas Wendy and Kathy and Bro Tank. We're going to a "Winslow Way Seminar" to learn the finer points of AKC Dog Shows. We get to stay in a motel and jump on the beds. We'll get lots of TREATS! We'll get BONES! Whoopee! I LOVE dog show weekends!

My New Year's Adventures

Life has been so busy and exciting that Grandma Wendy hasn't had time to help me get this post online! The first weekend of 2009 we went to a United Kennel Club (UKC) Conformation Show in New Kent, VA with Brother Tank and Grandma Kathy. I earned more points and came home with lots of blue ribbons and 2 Reserve Best Male/Female ribbons. I am hot stuff!

Grandma Wendy's been under the weather since New Year's so I brought her a present in bed. She thanked me -- but only after squealing and dragging me out of her room. You see, I found one of the younger Guinea Fowl in MY dog yard, so I picked it up and ran it in to Grandma to cheer her up -- right through the doggie door with half-bro Miller right behind me. Lots of feathers fluttered into bed when I plopped the bird in front of her. Then the bird flew around the room and crash landed in the big sunken bath tub behind the bed. I got a doggie treat in the kitchen while Grandma chased the bird around the room a few times and finally caught it behind the cabinet. It would have been faster if she let me help.... Oh, the Guinea's fine. I have such a soft mouth! What a good retriever am I!

The next day I got a bloody scrape right by my eye and Grandmas Kathy and Wendy made me wear an e-collar (CONE) and meds for 2 days. How embarrassing! I couldn't even pee for the first 8 hours because every time I sniffed a good spot, it disappeared when I lifted my leg! Grandpa Wayne even tried to get me started with a little demo but I just couldn't get the hang of peeing if I couldn't see my target. Anyway, after an 8-hour dry spell, I couldn't wait any longer so I peed blind -- not very satisfying but it provided the necessary relief. Butt-sniffing, drinking, and eating were also challenging with the e-collar. My people kept making fun on me and calling me "Conehead". Grandma Wendy took the cone off yesterday afternoon but says I still have a pink scar. Doesn't bother me!