Sick Puppy

I did not feel good yesterday. My tummy was making funny noises and I didn't feel like eating much. Mom and Dad made some pizza last night that had bacon on it and Dad gave Sasha and I some pieces of bacon and that ended up not being a good idea. I got sick. Dad said it was good of my to do it on the kitchen floor and not the dining room because the kitchen floor is a lot easier to clean. Whenever I get sick like that, I get really nervous. I think I'm going to get yelled at. Mom and Dad will use their "poor puppy" voices and tell me it's okay, but I still get really nervous. I curled up in the dog chair last night instead of on the couch with Mom which really worried Mom. She was on the couch next to me and petted my head which felt really good so I moved over to the couch with her and layed my head on her chest and she kept petting me. She said that I was probably still recovering from the stress of Dad being gone (she's been calling me "stinky-butt" for about a week now). Ther's a dog flu that's been going around, but Mom and Dad have been really careful that Sasha and I don't end up with it. After seeing how sick Mom was with human flu, I DEFINATELY don't want to get that! Mom didn't go to the doctor for her's, but I'm sure I'd have to go to the doctor.
I've been doing a lot of sleeping today and when Mom came home for lunch I was feeling much better so I ran around the yard. I've been sleeping all afternoon, too. Mom should be home pretty soon and I think I'll convince her to not do anything but sit on the couch with me and rub my head and my belly. Mom's are really good at making you feel better. Whenever Mom isn't feeling good, I do the same for her. We take good care of each other.
I'm going to go take a short nap now. I don't know if I'll have anything to post tomorrow. If I'm still sick, I won't have anything interesting to tell you so I might just spend the day sleeping so that I'll feel better.

Rescue Dog

Last night Mom and Dad told me what a good dog I've become. I like when they tell me how good I am. Mom and Dad sometimes talk about when they first brought me home. Mom said she was afraid that they were going to have to take me back to the place they got me because I didn't listen and I was totally chaotic (that's where I got my name). But I soon started calming down and once I started trusting my new family, I started listening better and started learning new things. I've also become more lovey. When Mom and Dad got the new couch, they said "no bog dogs on the new couch," but Mom soon realized that meant no Sunday afternoon naps with me. Mom and I sometimes lay on the couch for an hour or more taking a nap. We haven't gotten to in awhile because Mom's busy trying to get the websites updated. Mom and i have a routine at night and a special way of curling up on the couch.
The first time Dad took me hunting, he thought that was going to be the last time I went. I was so excited to go, I forgot to listen. Now, I listen really well and Dad doesn't yell at me and I get to go with him more instead of staying at the house with Mom and Sasha. Dad will whistle quietly to get my attention and point in the direction he wants me to go and I go that way. Mom couldn't believe how well I did when she came out to take our pictures last time.
I glad to finally have a home. Other rescue dogs will agree with me on this. When you bounce around from family to family or when you're running around on your own, you never get to be who you really are because everything keeps changing all the time. Usually you aren't treated very well either in the other families. I try to to think back to my old family. When Mom and Dad brought me home, I was afraid of Dad. I would only come to Mom. I got over that, but men in uniforms still make me angry. I will bark and make my hair stand up to any cop that has ever come to my door. I was a military family dog for my first year and a half so Mom and Dad think that's why I don't like uniforms. I'm sure they're right, but I don't want to remember any of that old stuff. Mom says when they first brought me home I wouldn't cuddle, hug or give kisses. Now Mom says I'm the bestest hugger and cuddler and kisses giverer ever! (Even better than Dad!!!)
Mom also says that any other dogs they adopt will be rescue dogs. She says out of all the dogs she's had growing up, the rescue dogs have been the best. They're more loving and faster learners. Mom says she got Sasha for $300 and Sasha won't listen to Mom and Dad and she hides more than she cuddles. Mom and Dad love Sasha a lot, too, but Sasha gets left out of a lot of fun stuff because she doesn't listen and whines all the time. Mom says other dogs she's had when she was growin up where the same way. She did have a chow-blue healer mix that was a good dog and it wasn't a rescue dog. Mom says that dog came from a farm though and they got it for free, so it sort of was a rescue dog. Mom likes having bigger dogs around for protection and she said it was because of that dog. She said that dog took really good care of her and her siblings and even prtected the kids that were around that she babysitted. When Mom and Dad got married they decided to get a lab dog because Mom wanted the bigger dog aroudn for protection and Dad wanted a hunting dog. Mom says they got the perfect dog for that, even if I won't fetch the dead birds for Dad.
For those of you that aren't rescue dogs, you're special, too. I'm sure you take care of your families, too. I have lots of friends that aren't rescue dogs and they love their families and protect them the same way I do.
Enough sappy stuff. I'm going to go watch for birds. There have been a ton of birds in our yard lately. Sasha and I spent most of the weekend chasing birds. Mom would cheer us on by yelling "Get those birds!!!! Good girls!!!!" Sasha is looking for squirrels, too. She says that when the birds start coming, the squirrels start coming, too. I chase the birds out of the yard to practice for pheasant season. Sasha does it because it drives her crazy that there's uninvited animals in our yard. I also think it's because she's crazy.
Talk to ya later.

Dad Comes Home Today

Mom said last night that Dad comes home today. I'm soooooo excited. I've missed him a lot! Although, I do like sleeping in the big bed (Mom says I'm a giant bed hog). We don't know when he'll get home, so I've been watching for him all morning. I thought I'd take a quick break to tell you Dad is coming home. I have to get back to watching for him though so this is a really short post. Dad is off work tomorrow and then it's the weekend so have a great weekend and I'll be back next week!

My Birthday Was Awesome!

I'm 3!!!!!! Don't I look good ?


I was going to tell you all about my birthday earlier this morning, but I was way too tired so I had to sleep in. It was a great birthday!!!! Mom took lots of pictures, too.

My special treat was called a Wag'n Wrap. It was very very very very very yummy. I had 2 and Sasha had most of 1. She left a small piece of the rawhide for me. They were a very yummy treat and I was sad when they were all gone. Mom kept having to show me the package so I could see it was empty, but I know how tricky Mom can be so I had to sniff the end table they were sitting on and around the chair. She was right, they were gone. This is what the package looked like and in my mouth:






In the package, there were stickers. I don't know why there were stickers. Mom was confused by them, too. What is a dog going to do with stickers?I know some kids though, they'll like them. Still! Why did they put stickers in dog treats?






Sasha enjoyed the special treat, too. You can't see her chewing on it though. I think she was trying to hide it from me. Sasha usually chews on things for a few minutes and then lets me have the rest. Not this time. She pretty much finished it off.

Right as we were finishing up the treats, there was somone in the driveway. I didn't know who it could be because nobody called, so I went on guard duty and then was surprised to see who it was! It was Aunt Cassie and her parents! Her parents are the fun people we go visit when I go pheasant hunting and they give us lots of cheese and other treats. I was so happy they came to visit me on my birthday! It made up for Dad not being home.

After my company left, I was really tired so I curled up in Dad's chair. I had dropped a chewie in it earlier and Mom and I couldn't get it out so I figured I'd rest and wait to see if the chewie came up or fell through. Mom took my picture again (I told you she took a bunch). One of the pictures I yawned and so it lookes like I wrinkled my nose and stuck my tongue out. hehe, that's actually what I'm really doing! I just disguised it as a yawn to trick Mom!
















Finally it was time for bed. Mom put my new pillow up on the bed for me to lay on. Since I was so tired and my pillow was there anyway and Dad isn't home right now, I decided to saty in the bed with Mom for the night. Mom said I could as long as I posed for a picture using my new pillow. There was no posing neccessary! Once I layed my head on the pillow, that was it.

That was my birthday. Now you see why I'm so tired. I'm going to go take another nap now. I wish Dad would get home soon so I didn't have to do guard duty any more. That makes me really tired, too.

It's My Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's also "National Love Your Pet Day."
Today I am 3 years old!!!!!!! Mom says I'll get my special treat after she gets off work tonight. She says it's something new that we haven't had before so she wants to keep an eye on us while Sasha and I are enjoying them. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
I love my pillow. Dad isn't home and I usually sleep in the bed with Mom when Dad's gone, but I wanted to use my pillow last night. Mom says I didn't snore at all last night. I might see if she'll put my pillow up on the bed with her tonight. It is my birthday, so I should get to do something special like that.
I hope Dad gets back soon. I hate when he's gone because I'm on high alert guard duty. Mom says it's really annoying that I bark at every little noise, but she's also happy I'm there to scare the noises away.
Mom says she'll take my picture with my new treat and my pillow so hopefully I can show you how cool my birthday is!
I CAN'T WAIT!!! MOM GETS OFF WORK IN 7 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES! Good thing she left out lots of chewies for us today. I don't know how good I can be with all the excitement!! I'm going to go watch the clock now and take a little nap so I'll be all rested up for my special treat!

Tomorrow's My Birthday!!

Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!! Tomorrow's My Birthday!!
Mom and Dad got me a pillow for my bed and I got that yesterday and I get a special treat tomorrow!!! I can't wait! Mom said the pillow is more for her. She says that if my head is on a pillow, then I don't snore. I guess I snore pretty load at night. I slept with it last night and Dad says Mom's right. I don't care. I get to sleep with pillow!! Dad says I'm spoiled, Mom says it's to keep her sane. My parents are crazy!
I can't wait to see what I get tomorrow. I'll share with Sasha of course. I can't wait!!!!!!
My friend Korra didn't come over this weekend. Her Dad said she does better moving if she stays at the new house and sees all the stuff coming in. Her dad did bring the girl over. I was really glad when they came and got her though. I didn't get my nap in! When she left, I realized how tired I was and then figured out why I was so tired! I didn't take a nap at all that day. I curled up on the couch with Mom and took a long nap while she worked on her cross-stich stuff. Mom said that's when she started her "Snoring Dog Experiment." (See how crazy she is?! She made an experiment and named it.)
Speaking of naps, I don't think I'm quit caught up yet so I'm going to go curl up on the couch again. I'll let you know what else I get. Thanks to everybody that's wished me Happy Birthday so far!

Weekend Plans

My friend Korra and her family are moving this weekend. Mom told Dad to tel Korra's dad that he can bring Korra over for the day if they want to. I hope she gets to come. I know I don't like moving. It's too stressful for us dogs. Korra can come play with me all day and then she won't have to be in the way and she'll get to have fun and not think about the moving.
My birthday is only a few days away! I can't wait! I'v been trying to figure out where my borthday presant is, but I can't figure it out. They didn't hid it under the kitchen sink like they did at Christmas. I only have a little more than an hour until Mom gets home and I can't look anymore. It's driving me crazy. Why are parents so good at hiding things? I better get back to looking before Mom comes home. Have a good weekend everybody!

My Kennel

A couple posts ago somone commented on my kennel and that my Mom and Dad shouldn't use it to punish me. I read the article (http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/crate-train.pdf ) and I don't think they are talking about my kennel. The things they are talking about in the article sound like the one that Mom and Dad use for Gunnar and sometimes when Sasha travels (not so much now that I'm around to protect her). Gunnar hates the crate because the only time he gets put in it is to go outside and then in the car (usually to the vet) and he hates being outside, the car and the vet. When Mom and Dad used to take Sasha on trips, they would take the crate so she would have a place to go hide if she wanted to. Mom said she would hide her treats in there and then lay outside the door and growl if any other animal walked near the crate. We don't take the crate anymore. There's really not enough room to pack it, but mostly because Sasha's okay with me there to help protect the treats, plus she's comfortable in the palces we go now.
My kennel is a little different. It's more of a cage looking type of kennel. It's in the corner where I'm away from all the fun stuff that's going away. Dad says it's like putting a kid in time out. When I get in trouble I automatically go to the kennel. Sometimes I'm in the kennel before Mom and Dad even walk in the door and know I've been bad. The door gets closed, but it's hardly ever latched. If it's latched I know I've been really bad. There's a blanket in the kennel just like the one I sleep with at night and I'm not in there very long (especially if Mom is the one making me sit in the corner) unless I've been REALLY bad.
I know the difference between the kennel and the crate and so does Sasha. She knows the kennel is for doing something bad and the crate is for fun things. If Mom and Sasha go somewhere on without Dad and I, Mom will take the crate for Sasha which makes Sasha very happy. When Sasha goes to stay at Grandma's while I go camping with Mom and Dad, they take the crate to Grandma's. Sasha likes Grandma to put all her toys in the crate and that way they're organized and safe. Grandma says 4 year old humans need to learn to put toys away like Sasha does. Mom says Sasha needs to start doing that at home, too. I think they're all crazy! If the toys are out inthe middle of the floor, you always know where they are.
So don't worry about me being in the kennel, but thanks for the article. I now understand why Sasha likes the crate so much. Thanks!
PS ONLY 5 DAYS TIL MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!! I'm not exactly sure what Valentine's Day is, but so far it means cookies for the puppies!!! Mom came home for lunch at a weird time and didn't stay very long and in or lunch she put a small cookie. I like cookies.
One of the neighbor girls came over this morning to ask Mom if she would take her and her sister to school this morning and she smelled like the dogs next door. She didn't like me sniffing her, but I don't like being surprised by the doorbell early in the morning. After we sniffed her down really good, she went back home. She said she was allergic to cats. I didn't know you could be allergic to cats! Gunnar was pretty upset. He likes when little kids come to scratch his ears. He says their fingers are the perfect size for scratching his ears. He was pretty upset when the girl left and never scratched his ears.
I'm going to go sniff the kitchen floor to see if there's any of those Valentine cookie crumbs on the floor.

Not Fair

I don't think it's fair the way Gunnar is punished. When he gets into trouble he gets squirted with a water bottle! I don't get it! I'm a good girl and they squirt the cat instead! I guess Gunnar doesn't like getting squirted with the water bottle, though. But that's not the point! I want to be squirted with the water bottle as much as Gunnar does! I love being squirted with the water bottle! I do get squirted once in awhile, mostly in the summer time. OH!! You know what's even better than a squirt bottle? A HOSE!!!!!! I love being squirted with a hose or haveing buckets of water dumped on me!! There are times when I don't like those though. Dad thinks it's weird that I love water, but I hate baths. I think what he does is pretty weird, so I guess we're even.
It's cold and snowing again. I'm going to go curl up in the blanket Mom left on the couch now.
And 1 week from today is my birthday!!!!!

9 Days Till My Birthday & I Went To Grandma's!!!

Mom and Dad took us to Grandma's house yesterday to run in her grass! I chased the floppy frisbee for a long time and then I layed in the shade in the grass and Grandmas brought me a bowl of water and I layed down to drink it. Sasha doesn't stay in the yard like I do so she had to stay on her leash, but she wanted to sniff and have Grandma feel sorry for her so she was okay, but I kept tripping on her leash. It was so much fun! There was a little mud in the back part of the yard, but we tried to mostly stay closer to the house where it was dryer. I got really warm and walked over to the snow to cool off a little, that's when Grandma decided I needed some water. She's so smart! Mom was laughing really hard at me because I was being so smart (pretty sure Mom's crazy). Sunday was so much fun!!
That morning Mom made Valentine cookies. I helped. She was really messy with the heart sprinkles so Sasha and I helped clean up the floor for her and once in awhile Mom would let me do a taste test on a cookie to make sure they were okay. They were great!! Before we went to Grandma's, Mom even went outside with me and we played with my rubber stick. There's still a bunch of mud in the yard though so Mom wouldn't throw it very far. Then Mom and Dad took Mom's car to wash it and go to the store. I was getting pretty worried that we weren't going to get to go anywhere like they had promised the day before, but then they came back and we rode in the truck!!!!!!! I love riding in the truck!!! I hopped up into my spot on the platform thing, but Sasha coudln't get up there so Dad crawled in and put her up. They didn't open the windows between the front and the back of the truck and I found out it was because they had cookies for Grandma and they didn't want us getting them or smashing them. On the way home Sasha rode in front and I spawled out on the deck cuz I was so tired.
I had so much fun!!! At first we played where Dad threw the floppy frisbee as hard as he could and I'd chase it. It was kind of windy that day so I kept getting confused when the wind messed with the frisbee in the air. Then we splayed where Dad threw it a shorter distance and I'd try to catch it. Mom said I was in some pretty funny positions in the air and she wished she had brought her camera.
When we got home I carried the frisbee in the house and then took a nap. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that much running. Grandma even made the comment that it looks like I've gained a little wait. I think I lost a bunch of that wait in her backyard though. After a short nap, I was a little hyper. I still wanted to play, but Dad wasn't feeling good. So I curled up in the chair with the frisbee just in case someone wanted to play with me, the frisbee woudl eb handy. Dad took us out for our 9 o'clock trip outside and then I came back inside and the frisbee was gone!!! I looked everywhere for it. I tried asking Gunnar if he knew what happened to it and you know what he said. "Leave me alone I'm sleeping. I'm a cat, why woudl I care where a frisbee is?" I help hime find stuff he's lost! Mom said it was put away so I went to the thing the toys are in and I smelled it and sure enough, the frisbee was put away with my harness. I'm okay with that I guess, I really wish they'd leave all the toys out all the time, btu they say the special toys have to be put away so they won't get torn up. I chewed up my throwing dummy and they haven't forgotten about it.
I can't wait to see what I get for my birthday! I've been trying to listen to hear if Mom and Dad talk about it, but I think they figured out I know what they're saying.
I CAN'T WAIT!!!
I am REALLY tired now so I'm going to go take a nap. Mom should be home for lunch soon and I want to go out in my yard for awhile since it's warm outside and the mud is finally starting to go away. Hope everybody else had a good weekend!

11 Days Til I'm 3!

There's only 11 days left until my birthday! I can't wait!I've been trying to listen to see if Mom and Dad say what they're getting me. They think just because I'm a dog, I won't know what they're talking about. I'm really smart though. Dad is also going to be out of town on my birthday which means I might get my gift early! That's what they did for Sasha's birthday! She got her new bed before Dad left for hunting. Dad's going to something for work this time, but he's still going to be gone, so I might get it early! I can't wait!
I've been getting into some trouble lately. Not big enough that I have to get put in the kennel all day long. Just trouble enough that I have to spend some minutes in the kennel. I'm getting really frustrated with the weather and the mud. I can't remember the last time I got to go have fun. I can't even play in my own backyard because the mud is too yucky. If I do play a little, I get mud stuck up in my feet and then I have to spend hours trying to get it out because the dried mud makes my feet feel funny. Dad said I could wear my boots, but I convinced him that we don't want to get my hunting boots all muddy, cuz that might ruin them. (I'm a very smart dog.)
Heopfully soon I'll be able to play like my usual self. Mom said that if I don't be good, then I won't get anything for my birthday! I thought that rule was only for Christmas! I didn't think it applied to birthdays, too!! Has anybody else heard of this rule, or are my parents just trying to trick me?
I need to go get some more mud out of my feet. I really hate that feeling! I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

MY BIRTHDAY!!!

My birthday is coming soon! I was wondering around the house a few minutes ago and looked up at the calendar and there was my name!!!! I can't wait to see what I get this year! Last year I got a giant bone! Hopefully this year I'll get the same thing! I can't wait!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!

Still Bored

We still haven't beeen able to leave the house yet. I really hope we get to go do something soon. It's been warm the past couple days and I guess it's supposed to stay this way for awhile. That's great, but that means there's going to be lots of mud for awhile. Hopefully it will get warm enough for the sun to dry up the mud.
Everybody needs to send some good puppy vibes to my cousins Bailey, Dakota and Bruitis and my Aunt Gillian. They're going though some hard stuff right now. Hopefully things will start getting better for them soon though. Aunt Gillian starts a new job today and we're very excited about that. Mom needs some good puppy vibes, too. Her job is really stressing her out lately. I snuggle with her lots to help her feel better. Mom says I'm the bestest cuddler ever!
I'm going to go see how much mud is outside now. Hopefully there's less that there was at lunch time.

Totally Bored

I'm really tired of the mud and the snow. Last night Mom said I've been acting a little depressed and asked if it was because of the weather. I licked her hand and layed my head in her lap to tell her she's right. If the temperature is warm, then the back yard is full of mud. If the weather is cold, the mud is frozen, but it's too cold to stay outside for very long. I really haven't felt like doing much of anythng lately. Mom's been giving us lots of chewies which is nice, but what I really want to do is go outside and play. I want to get out of the house! I got up in the chair and licked the leashes when Mom and Dad were home for lunch today and Mom said she knew I was bored, but there's really nowhere to go that doesn't have a bunch of mud or isn't too cold.
Dad says Sasha and I are pretty smart because of the way we stay out of the mud. There's a path that Mom and Dad are building from the back porch to the garage. It's going to have rock in the middle of it, but right now it's just the outlining bricks along the edges. Well, Sasha and I have figured out how to walk along the brick to get to the grassy area behind the garage. I do pretty good, but Sasha's back end doesn't have very good balance so she falls off sometimes. If we stay on the bricks, then we don't have to get our feet whiped off when we want to go back inside. It's a very smart plan.
I hope I have more exciting stuff to tell you next week. I think I'm going to go take a nap on the couch now.