I Despise Reindeer

One of the things Lyle brought back with him in the big truck on Sunday was a reindeer.  Marty told me that reindeer help Santa take presents to good dogs, but this one does not do that, he sings.  I HATE HIM.  I REALLY, REALLY HATE HIM.

Lyle brought him into the house and I tried to eat him, but the crazies wouldn't let me.  Then, since they clearly aren't making me the priority, I decided to get back at them.  I POOPED IN THE HOUSE!  Marty didn't see me doing it, and I tried to blame the reindeer, but she didn't believe me.  Then I tried to blame Navidson, but Marty says she spends enough time picking up after both of us that she knows whose poop is whose.  I think that is super gross.  Marty hit herself in the head with a roll of paper towels for being a bad owner.  I think that was a good move on her part.

Devin and Koren are coming back this weekend, and I am going to make them take the reindeer.  I am NOT OKAY with him being in my house.

Christmas Is Exhausting!

I am only now recovering enough to update my blog.  We had a very exciting time, but wow, I am just worn out.  I had a lot of playing to do, and a lot of traveling, and a lot of supervising humans.  AND Navidson has been visiting the whole time, so we wear each other out pretty well too.

Lyle got home on Sunday night with a BIG truck full of MORE stuff.  I think maybe he was helping Santa.  Now our garage is very full, and Marty says we do not have room for more toys.  I think that just means she needs to get rid of some of hers.

Marty told Navidson on Sunday that he will be staying with us another week or so because Dan is not feeling good and is staying with Navidson's grandhumans for a while.  Navidson was a little upset when Marty told him, but I AM SO HAPPY (except a little bit sad for Dan).

I Got To Meet Yankee

Last Friday we left Mr. Tripoli's to go back to the little house.  There was more room in the car since Lyle wasn't with us, so I didn't hog the backseat quite as much.  I thought we were taking a different way, but we stopped and got out of the car, and guess who was there?  YANKEE!  Yankee is my pen pal that lives in Michigan.  We've been corresponding for a while, but this was the first time I met him.

Yankee's Uncle Brian was there (I met him at the beach) with his dog too, but his dog is old, even older than Mr. Tripoli, and she didn't want to play with us.  I met Yankee's human and his grandhumans!  Yankee's grandhumans have their own dog too.  His name is Mr. Chase, but he says puppies are too much trouble so he didn't come outside to see us.

Yankee and Navidson and I played in the yard for a long time. Yankee likes to play chase more than fetch, so he and Navidson played some while I was fetching.  Then Marty got my shooter ball toy that Devin and Koren gave me and we all took turns running after the balls!  Yankee wants a shooter ball toy of his own!

Navidson and Yankee and I stayed out in Mr. Chase's yard while the humans were inside eating and then we had to go back in the car.  We got to the little house late and we were all so tired we slept all night and almost all of Saturday.  I hope I get to play with Yankee again soon!

How To Send Me Mail

I have really enjoyed all the cards that people sent us over the last couple of weeks.  Here are a few more that have come in the last few days.

A card from everyone at my vet.  (Actually, I am not sure Dr. Richards signed it.  Maybe that is because I have been hiding under the chairs at my visits.)  We took my friends there cookies and one of my cards, but we didn't know they were sending me a card.  Their card said "The Sinclair Family", so I guess it was for Marty and Lyle too.

A card from my friend Brooke and her family.  It said "Marty + Lyle (+Anzio)".  I was a parenthetical?!  I was a little upset at first, but Marty reminded me that Brooke probably had to get help mailing it, and it did have nice pictures of Brooke and her family, so I decided it was okay.







Then I got a card from the big dogs where I was born!  IT WAS ADDRESSED PROPERLY!  Well, almost, it does say "care of Marty and Lyle", and everyone knows they don't really take care of me.  But still.

From now on, please address all correspondence like this!

Taking Presents To My Great-Grandhuman

My one great-grandhuman came down from the farm to Mr. Tripoli's and he got his presents yesterday, but my other great-grandhuman couldn't come, so Marty and I went to visit her today after I played with Belle.

I helped Marty make a calendar for her and Joyce wrapped it for us.  EVERY PICTURE IS OF ME!  My great-grandhuman liked it very much and is going to hang it up so she can look at me every day.  (None of the calendar pictures have crazy eyes, but this one does!)







She has a dog that lives with her.  He's a lot like zombie dog, but not quite as stupid.  I was pretty tired from playing with Belle, so I took a break from giving kisses and took a nap.  Marty had to wake me up when she was ready to go, even though my great-grandhuman said it would be okay for me to stay.

Having Fun With Belle!

Aunt Becky and I were just getting ready to leave when Marty got up this morning.  I told Aunt Becky to RUN, but Marty said, "Don't steal my dog."  I think Marty is a little confused about who is in charge of me.  I was going to go, but then my grandhuman reminded me it was not being a good host to leave my friend here, so I stayed.

Marty took me for a playdate at Belle's house without Mr. Tripoli (who gets tired sooner than I do) and without Navidson (who didn't want to go).  Belle taught me a new game.  It's called "I'm going to bite you!"  First Belle chases me and barks at me.  (This used to scare me, but then Belle explained it just means she's excited, so now I'm okay with it.)  Then she tackles me.  Then I turn around and make my ugly face and grab a mouthful of her fur.  Belle LOVES this game!  

Belle really likes to play tug, and she has very cool ring toys for tug, but she doesn't really like fetch (I don't understand either) and so she mostly played tug with Marty while I was fetching.  Belle had an extra fetch toy that goes in the really cool thrower thing (she has one like Navidson, but a little smaller because her yard is not as big as the park) and SHE SAID I COULD TAKE IT HOME!  Belle is so awesome!!  I feel a little bad because I didn't take her a hostess present, but Marty said it was okay just this time.  Belle has a whole lot of very cool toys.  We went through her toybox and I made some notes for Marty for later.

The coolest thing that happened while I was playing with Belle was that A BIRD FELL OUT OF A TREE!  Really, it did.  It almost fell right on top of us.  I was going to check it and be sure it was okay, but Marty grabbed my collar.  I think Belle was going to see if the bird needed help, but Uncle Andrew grabbed her collar too.  Marty and Uncle Andrew were talking to the bird, but I guess the bird didn't want to listen (I don't blame the bird) and so it flew away.  I would like to play with birds more often.

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone is spending time with their families and friends!  I am!  I am at Mr. Tripoli's house.  It's very crowded, but my grandhuman says "in a good way".  Mr. Tripoli said it would be okay for me to bring a friend with me for Christmas, so Navidson and I rode down yesterday with Marty and Lyle.  I slept and hogged the backseat.





When we first got here, Navidson was a little intimidated by Mr. Tripoli, but I told him that Mr. Tripoli is really very cool, he's just BIG, and now they are good friends.  My great-grandhuman was already here, and Uncle Rob got here just a little after we did.  Marty and Lyle got all dressed up in fake fur that I don't usually see them wear, and Navidson and I had to go in our boxes for a while.  (My great-grandhuman stayed here, but Marty still put us in our boxes.  And I am pretty sure Mr. Tripoli didn't have to go in a box.  Rude.)  When we got out of our boxes, Aunt Becky was here!  YAY!!

Uncle Andrew and Aunt Lauren were here too, and Belle.  Belle doesn't want to be friends with Navidson.  I don't know why not, but she was a little mean to him, even after I told her he was my friend and that he is nice.  So Navidson didn't get to play with Belle.  I played with Belle and we had a good time.

Mr. Tripoli and Belle and I got to hang out with the humans while they opened SO MANY presents.  We all got presents too!  I got a frog tug toy from Belle, a different frog tug toy from Mr. Tripoli, a really cool duck from Uncle Rob, and two boxes from Aunt Becky that I haven't been allowed to open yet.

By the time we had opened all the presents, it was really late, and I was very tired.  Navidson went to sleep with Marty and Lyle, but I got to stay with Aunt Becky!  That was good because Aunt Becky is not a slug like the crazies, so we got up and played this morning before anyone else was up.

When they finally got up, Navidson and Mr. Tripoli and I played all morning.  Marty and Lyle and Aunt Becky went somewhere and Lyle didn't come back.  I am a little worried, because sometimes Marty says some not very nice things and then she tells Aunt Becky she is her "alibi".  I hope Lyle is okay.  Navidson and I didn't have to go in our boxes, we stayed out with my grandhumans and Uncle Rob and we were very good.

Belle and Uncle Andrew and Aunt Lauren came back, and Navidson had to go in his box for a little while again, but now we are taking naps because it has been a very big day.

I hope everyone else had as much fun as I have!

Sleeping In My Box

I am so mad at Marty.  She made me AND Navidson both sleep in our boxes last night!  I am going to see Aunt Becky today and I might go home with her and never come back!

I thought we were having a pretty good day... Joyce and Nita came over and let Navidson and I out to run around.  Marty came home at lunch and took me to the vet to give them cookies.  (I weigh 55lbs now!)  I even jumped into the car on my own instead of making Marty pick me up like I usually do.

When the crazies got home from work, Jackson's humans came over and brought me a present (thank you Jackson!) and I shared nicely with Navidson.  Lyle went to bed early because he was tired from the night before.  (I don't know why, but Marty gave me a dirty look when she told Lyle he should go on up to bed because maybe he would get a couple of hours of peace.)  Navidson and I played for a long time and then we settled down.

When it was time for us to go to bed, I was awake again so Navidson and I were wrestling in the bedroom.  Navidson didn't bring his own bed, so he is using an extra one that was here.  I didn't want him to go to sleep, I wanted him to stay up and play with me, so I peed on his bed!  Marty was REALLY mad, because she had just taken me outside, but I always hold a little back just for situations like that!  Marty got SO mad that she made me AND Navidson sleep in our boxes.  I haven't had to sleep in my box in MONTHS!  I AM SO MAD!  And Navidson is mad at me because he says it wasn't his fault and he still got in trouble!

Tonight we are going to Mr. Tripoli's house and I am going to tell him about what happened.  I bet he says Marty is a bad human!  Maybe we can tell Santa and she won't get presents.

Navidson Is Back!

Navidson is staying with me for Christmas, because Dan has to go somewhere far away and the trip wasn't going to be any fun for Navidson.  I wish the crazies would think like that instead of throwing me in the car ALL THE TIME.

Dan brought Navidson over and we helped unpack all of his stuff.  I tried to pee on Dan's foot so he would know how excited I was that Navidson is staying, but Marty grabbed me and took me outside.  Then Navidson and I played chase and wrestle and bitey-face and Marty got very tired of us, and then Navidson got to go out and I didn't (even though I had already been about four times) so I peed on the floor by the door.

Marty is not very happy with me right now, and we have a new rule about "quiet time".  I am not a fan of this.  Pretty soon it will be bed time and I am going to try to convince Navidson to jump on the bed while the crazies are sleeping.

My Human Siblings Are The Best

After Janet and Jon left this morning, my human siblings came over.  We went RUNNING!  I did not have to be nice on my leash and we got to GO FAST.  I think Marty and Lyle should start taking me running.

I got put in the box again so the humans could go get food.  Yet again, I did not get anything.  We apparently have a lot of work to do on training.  When they finally got back, I GOT A PRESENT!  I am starting to like this Christmas thing more and more.  My present had a picture of me on it so I would know it was mine.  Marty didn't let me open it, even though I know how to open presents and could have done it.



It is a special shooter that makes tennis balls fly across the park.  We took it to the park right away so we could test it out.  It's so cool!  Thank you Devin and Koren!!

More Visits From Friends

Marty's friends Janet and Jon came to visit us yesterday.  I mugged them.  Marty says this behavior is not really okay, and that we are going to have to practice having people over so I can learn nicer manners.

I got left in the box for a long time and the crazies didn't bring me any leftovers, so I think I am not the only one that needs to learn nicer manners.

Janet and Jon spent the night and took my present for Tractor Guy when they left.  I'm going to work at being a little more calm the next time they come to visit me.

Good Dog Bad Dog

Yesterday I didn't get to go to the park and I was pretty hyper.  I mugged Dan when he came over to take some pictures of me.  I even got puppy crazies and tried to run laps in the house.  Then I peed on the rug.  Humans need to understand that actions have consequences.  If the crazies don't take me to the park, they should not expect a quiet, peaceful evening at home.

Today we went to the park.  (See how effective my training is?)

Someone left the back gate open, and none of the mammals-with-opposable-thumbs bothered to go close it, so when a new friend walked by I ran out to make sure he knew it was a great day and that all of us playing were very friendly.  Navidson was going to come with me, but Dan was pretty close and he told Navidson he couldn't go.  I was pretty far out of the park, but then Marty started paying attention and called me to come back in.  Remember all the work we've been doing on them giving me treats when I run really fast to them?  Marty tried to give me a WHOLE POCKETFUL of treats for running away from a new friend to come back into the park.  I didn't want the treats though, so we went back to playing ball.  So I figured I was definitely all set for this Santa thing.

When we came back the crazies settled down to be slugs like they like to do, and I wanted to play some more.  They were ignoring me and being mean and so I had to amuse myself.  Yesterday we played with my ornament, and usually I am allowed to play with my toys and they don't get upset, so I took my ornament off the tree and chewed on it.  Marty was really mad and said Santa doesn't bring toys to bad puppies!

So now I have to be on my best behavior for the next few days.  My humans are the worst.

An Ornament For Me

Apparently humans put things on their trees when they have them inside.  I don't really understand why because the tree was perfectly fine with nothing on it, but they spent a lot of time putting lights and other stuff on it.  Then they spent a lot of time telling me not to take things off of it.  I was only trying to help.

We have been getting boxes almost every day (sometimes lots of boxes in the same day) because Marty says we need to give our friends presents.  Today we got a box that had something for me!  (It was addressed to Marty, but it has my name on it.)

Marty's friend Phoebe (remember, she stayed with us a couple of months ago when Marty was making me wear FAKE FUR while the human puppies went on walks for treats) sent me something of my own to go on the tree.  I wanted to wear it first, so Marty let me.  She wanted me to post a nice picture, but I liked this one best.

Thank you Phoebe!

I Got Another Card!

Another card came in the mail for me!  (Okay, this one had Marty and Lyle on it too.)  My great-great uncle Bob sent it to me.  I have never even met him!  He is an avid reader of my blog though, so he knows all about me!  Merry Christmas Uncle Bob, if Marty and Lyle stop being lazy slugs, maybe you will get a card from me too!

Another Big Party

We had SO MANY HUMANS at the house tonight.  Joyce and Nita were here this morning and they set up A LOT of food (but I only got to do a tiny bit of taste testing).  I didn't have to go in my box at all, the whole day!  At lunch, Marty came home and got me and we went to the park and Navidson was there!  Navidson and I played tug with a frisbee.  Navidson can catch them while they're flying, but I haven't figured that out yet.  While I was taking my nap after park time, guess who got here?  MY GRANDHUMAN!!  I think she comes to all the crazies' parties.

We really did have SO MANY HUMANS here, but I was mostly very well behaved.  Some of the humans I already knew from the beach, and Luna's humans were here, and Dan was here, but most of them were new friends.  I tried to teach them how to give me treats, and some of them even learned.  Marty thinks I was a little too excited and not super polite, but she doesn't actually have friends, so I don't think I need to worry too much about what she thinks.  There was one human puppy that was a little scared of me, so I had to go in my box for a while, but I didn't mind too much because I was really, really tired.

I had a pretty good time, and I was good at helping to clean up, but I think the
party would have been better if H. Bill had been here.

Hanging Out With H. Bill

H. Bill had a birthday today (he's 2/7), so Marty and I went over to take him some presents.  They were chew toys that you can stack up and make tiny houses for presidents to live in.  I was very well behaved and only ate one.

He had a special birthday dinner and got BACON!  I hope I get bacon for my birthday!

H. Bill was wearing fake fur today, but it's okay, one of his littermates wasn't!

Why I Call Them The Crazies

This was not my idea.

Nice Pictures

Our official pictures came in the mail today, and Marty is very happy about that, but I am VERY HAPPY because I got a new toy!  The nice lady who took our pictures wrote a note and said I might be too big, but I am NEVER going to be too big for new toys!

Santa!

Apparently, once a year some guy breaks into houses and leaves toys.  Marty said it was important that I not try to eat this guy or I might not get anything.  So today, we went to meet him so I won't be surprised if he breaks in.

He asked me if I had been a good dog this year.  Marty laughed, but I told him I was a VERY good dog.

Visiting With Ziggy

Marty took me out to play in the snow (which is what she's calling that wet white stuff that's all over the ground) this morning.  It was pretty fun and I got to run a lot.  I don't know why we don't just live at the farm all the time.  I think everyone would like it better.

After that, we played the new car game a little.  I JUMPED INTO THE CAR!  Marty was so surprised she almost forgot to throw the ball for me.  I like to keep her on her toes, but she'd better remember to throw the ball.  I like the game because it doesn't mean the car is going anywhere.

We'd just gotten done with that when Ziggy came over to visit.  I hadn't seen Ziggy in SO LONG!  I think he might be shrinking.  Last time we played together, he was a lot bigger.  He's still a very good friend though, and we had a lot of fun.

Playing Games With Miss Pat

As all my loyal readers know, I am not a big fan of being in the car.  This is unfortunate, because, judging by how much time she makes us spend in there, I think it's Marty's FAVORITE PLACE EVER.  (My favorite place ever is the beach.)

Marty has been worrying about how much I hate the car for a while, because she doesn't like it when I drool all over everything.  I don't understand what the big deal is, Marty doesn't have a nice car.  Especially the back where I ride.  Definitely not nice, trust me on this.  But Marty has been worrying, so she called Miss Pat and talked about it and yesterday we went to school for a special meeting.  (Marty's worried that I hate being in the car, so she throws me in the car for a long ride to school.  Are you beginning to understand that maybe I am not the problem here?)

I got to hang out in the training center while Marty talked with Miss Pat and Miss Shirley.  I kept looking for Miss Jessica, but she wasn't there!  They were still not paying much attention to me, so I thought that maybe I should try to search for meatballs, but I didn't find any.  Then we went outside and I let Miss Pat give me meatballs for a little while.  When it was Marty's turn to give me the meatballs I decided it was more fun to look at the horses and listen to the windchimes, so Miss Pat decided we could play a different game.

Here is how the new game works:  I get to pull on the leash (which I am not allowed to do) toward the car.  When I think I am close enough, I look at Marty and then Marty throws the ball for me and we run away.  That's it!  Pulling on the leash AND playing fetch?  Best game ever!

Exercising Your Humans

My humans are not getting enough exercise.  Worse than that, when they don't get enough exercise they are grouchy and impatient and rude.  Today when Marty came home to play with me at lunch time I was just saying hello and letting her know that I was happy to see her and she said, "I cannot deal with you like this, go get a ball."  Which I did, of course, even though I thought that was extremely rude and not at all an appropriate reaction to a genuine show of affection.  The problem with playing ball in the house is that the humans can't really throw it far enough to work out their arms, and I can't drop it far enough away to make them work very hard to get it.  It quickly became clear that inside fetch wasn't going to do it today.  I had been planning on working with Marty on giving me treats for walking on the leash, but I decided if she was being like that, I'd better take her to the park instead.  So even though I hate getting in the car, I did, and we went to the park.  I made sure not to bring the ball too close to her so she'd have to do a lot of walking.



Navidson is letting us borrow this Chuckit Launcher thing.  I had seen one before at my cousin Belle's house, but I was too small to appreciate it then.  It's pretty awesome.  Marty has it added to her list of "toys we would prefer not to live without".  (I don't know why she has a list like that.  I would prefer not to live without ANY of my toys.)  It lets her throw the ball a lot farther than she usually can and it grabs the ball right off the ground.  That was good today because there's still wet white stuff all over the ground and Marty won't play fetch for as long when her fingers are cold, we learned this the hard way at the farm.

We still need a lot of practice walking together on the leash, so we will have to work on that later tonight.  I hope Marty has plenty of meatballs ready!

Decorating

The best thing ever has happened.  There is a tree INSIDE MY HOUSE!  Joyce and Nita have been decorating our house since last week, putting up stuff mostly outside to make the little house look more like the farm.  It's nice, but it hasn't really affected me that much.  Until today.  Joyce and Nita were here almost all day, and I was allowed to stay out of my box even when no one was watching me.  Then, when Marty and Lyle finally got home we got in the car (which did not make me happy) and we drove to a place that has lots and lots and lots of trees.  The guy there TIED A TREE TO OUR CAR and then we went and got snacks and came home with the tree.

Marty and Lyle rearranged the whole downstairs to make room.  Then they brought in a board that has train tracks on it.  Does this mean we're going to have a TRAIN too?  I helped Lyle make sure everything was ready and then they brought the tree INSIDE.  Let me just say this again, THERE IS A TREE INSIDE MY HOUSE!

I Got A Christmas Card!

A few weeks ago Marty and Lyle took me to get my picture taken at a park.  We met a nice lady (Marty already knew her) and a couple of her friends and we took a lot of pictures so everyone can see how handsome and perfect I am.

Yesterday when we were at the farm, I got a card!  I am so excited, this is the first time I've gotten mail addressed to me!  And Marty and Lyle haven't gotten any Christmas cards yet!  I AM SO AWESOME!

Happy Birthday To My Great Grandhuman!

He is thirteen years old today!!

(Marty got the numbers wrong on his cake, don't ask me what she was thinking.)

Chores

Marty is trying to teach me to pick up my toys.  Last week when Miss Laura came to visit me, I showed her how I'm doing.  She took a video for me to share.  Marty says this is a cute trick but not really very helpful yet.  This is the unappreciative attitude I have to deal with all the time.

Puzzles

Marty finally stopped using the "my battery is dead" excuse and took a video of me with my new puzzle.  This one is a little harder than my other one, but lots of fun!

Comments

Some people have let us know they tried to leave comments but couldn't.  Marty changed something about the way the blog is set up, so now anyone should be able to.  I can't wait to hear from all of you!

My Last Puppy Graduation

Last night was another graduation.  This was our last puppy graduation.  From now on, we'll have "regular dog" school with big dogs.

We had to take a test and I peed before we even started!  That will show Marty how I feel about all this ridiculous school. 

We got to pick a toy as a graduation present, and I got a penguin.

Lyle Came Home!

Lyle finally got home on Sunday.  He was trying to hide from me in the garage, but I went to the door and barked until Marty let me out there.  I was way more excited to see him than Marty was.

Since he's been home Marty has stopped sleeping on the couch, and I get to snuggle in bed again.

The Sky Is Falling

I am not kidding.  White stuff fell out of the sky and all over the ground.  It's wet and cold and you can dig in it.

Navidson's Aunt Sarah

Saturday Navidson made Dan text us and see if we would come to the dog park.  So we did, of course, and Navidson brought his Aunt Sarah.  The humans all complained that it was cold, but I was too busy being a ball hog and trying to boss Navidson around to notice.

Navidson is going to come spend Christmas with me.  Marty is really happy about this.  I think she's forgotten how crazy we get when we're together!

It's A Small World

Marty has been very bad about helping me update my blog even though I've had a pretty busy week.  She says she has been "busy".  I say she's "a lazy slug".  Given the evidence I have previously provided, I think we all know which is true.

Thursday night I got to meet Yankee's Uncle Scott (YUS).  Yankee is my penpal that lives in Michigan.  I haven't met him yet, but I have met both his uncles!  He and I are going to get together an commiserate about our humans sometime in the next few weeks. 

YUS showed up wearing clothes that are supposed to help make it hard to see him, but he's BIG and I didn't have any trouble at all!  He's pretty good at throwing the tennis ball, but he needs to work on his attention span; he got bored with fetch WAY before I did.  YUS and Marty went to dinner and saw some of my friends from the vet's, but I didn't get to go. 

Pretty Good Day For A Wednesday

Marty and I slept on the couch last night.  I wish Lyle would get home, there's a lot more room in the bed than on the couch.  She took me outside in her pajamas, which was a little embarrassing for me, but luckily we didn't see any other dogs.  Then I went in the box for a little while until Joyce and Nita got me, and for a little while when they left, and then Marty was home again and we came up to the farm.

I am doing private lessons with Miss Laura (she works with Miss Jessica and Miss Pat) for a few weeks while everyone else is on Christmas Break.  Miss Laura told Marty I should be allowed to lay on the couch and play video games, but we all know how Marty is, so that is not what's happening.  Miss Laura came to visit us at the farm and Marty made me try to walk nicely on the leash.  First of all, there are lots of leaves up here, and second, I do not usually have to wear a leash at the farm, so I was pretty mad.  Then we worked on me getting treats for lying on my mat.  Marty calls this "Office Hours", but I think she is confused.  You're not supposed to stay there for an HOUR!  Someone needs to explain that to her.  Miss Laura is very exciting and has good treats, so it was hard for me to pay attention to teaching Marty, but Miss Laura said a lot of nice things about me anyway.

After we ate dinner, I got another visit.  Tractor Guy came over!  I was a little nervous about him coming in at first, but then we went outside and played ball and I remembered him.  He and Marty drank root beer and he gave me some!!  He is my new best friend.  We played with the tractor he gave me for a while and he threw the ball for me some.  He needs someone to teach him how to throw the ball better though, because sometimes he forgets to let it go!

I Miss Lyle

When Lyle is not here, I don't get nearly as much playtime in the morning because Marty is a lazy slug and likes to sleep as late as possible.  I made her make up for it after work yesterday.  WE PLAYED FETCH FOR FOUR HOURS!  We had to play inside because we were at the little house, but still.  A couple of times I let Marty have a short break while I worked on my puzzle.  I wanted Marty to video that, but she said her phone had to be plugged in because it had a dead battery.  I bet Lyle's battery wouldn't have been dead.  I like to help Marty get better at fetch by putting the ball under things.  Marty likes to put the ball in the platypus when she retrieves it instead of throwing it right away.  It used to take me a long time to get the ball back out, but I am getting a lot better at it.  Lyle doesn't make me dig the ball out of the platypus.  Usually Lyle helps me keep Marty from being too hyper, but since he is gone, I have to do it all myself.  It's an exhausting job and I hope he gets home soon.

Lyle Is Missing

I'm not sure what's going on, but Lyle is gone.  He came home with Marty from wherever they were while I was with the grandhumans, but he went out on Sunday and I haven't seen him since.  He's not even coming home to sleep!  Marty says he just went to visit my other grandhumans and he will be back, but I am concerned.  I heard him on the phone yesterday and I thought he was home, but he wasn't.

Lyle is the designated treat prepper for school.  (Marty is the designated treat giver.)  Without him there on Monday, Marty was not nearly as effective as some other times.  I did a lot of jumping and I even barked twice.  (I didn't pee this week though, I have to keep Marty off balance.)  Next week is another graduation, and I am going to demo my skills at putting my toys away again.  We're all a little excited about this.

Vet Visit

Monday morning early we had to go to the vet again.  It was just for a checkup, but I still hid under the chairs.  Dr. Richards took out a little stitch that hadn't gotten absorbed and I squirmed A LOT.  Considering what happened last time I let her touch me there, I think that was warranted!  Marty let her scrape my foot again too, and this time, no bad bugs!  I still get my special chicken every morning for a long time though, so I wasn't too disappointed.  

I gained five pounds since the surgery and now I weigh 50 pounds!  Marty says she usually gains weight when she stays with the grandhumans too.  We're going back down there later this month, maybe I'll gain another five!

There Is A Cat In My Yard!

Marty will not let me out to take care of this problem.  I am going to sit here like this and glare at it for as long as necessary.

Aunt Becky Is Here!

With Uncle Rob here and Belle not here, it was already a really great day at Mr. Tripoli's, but then it got even better. 

AUNT BECKY IS HERE!  I AM SO EXCITED!

My grandhumans have taken really good care of me, but I miss Marty and Lyle a little, so I am not too sad that Aunt Becky is going to take me back to the little house tonight.  I have never gotten to ride in Aunt Becky's car, so I am going to try hard not to make a mess.

I Have A Penpal!

I have a new friend, and I haven't even met him!  Mostly only Aunt Becky comments on my blog, but earlier this week, I got a comment from Yankee.  Marty's friend Brian that I met at the beach is Yankee's uncle!  He is almost my exact same age, and we would already have had playdates, but he lives far away with his human.  He and I agree that our humans have unreasonable expectations about us doing all our tricks whenever they want instead of whenever we want.  He seems like a very sensible dog.

Yankee and I are going to try to have a playdate sometime next month so we can talk more about proper management of humans and share some strategies.  This is a picture of Yankee when he was a little puppy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Humans make a big deal out of some strange things.  Yesterday they celebrated a big turkey.  Then they ate it.  I'm really glad that National Dog Day has different rules than Turkey Day!

I am still staying with Mr. Tripoli and my grandhumans while the crazies are off having fun somewhere without me.  I don't know if they celebrated a turkey wherever they are, but we sure had a lot of fun here.  Belle came over with Uncle Andrew and Aunt Lauren, and Belle's grandhumans came too!  Belle told me that they have a dog that takes care of them, but she didn't get to come.  It's probably because she's smaller and can't tell Belle to be quiet as well as I can!  I would have liked to meet her; I have had some very nice playdates with smaller dogs.

Uncle Rob was also here for the turkey.  Uncle Rob is so cool!  I am not sure why some dog hasn't picked him out for his own, but I am happy to make sure he gets played with properly so he'll be ready when one does.  I might be getting to stay with Uncle Rob for a day or two, but Mr. Tripoli seems like he would miss me a lot, so it's not for sure.  (Marty had told me that I might get to stay with Uncle Rob for the whole time the crazies were gone, but it turns out she was lying to me again.)

Mr. Tripoli and I like to play tug, but when I lie down, Mr. Tripoli can pull me all over and dust the floor.  I tried to do it that way when he was lying down, but he didn't move at all!













I found a new toy, it is AWESOME!  It looks like a bottle of the stuff that Marty is always drinking and it squeaks even better than my tennis ball at the little house.  Uncle Rob told me that Marty gives these to other dogs all the time.  Mr. Tripoli got one, and Belle got one, and Navidson got one, and Luna got one, and LOTS of other dogs I know got them.  I DO NOT HAVE ONE!!  Marty and I are going to have a serious talk about this when I go home.

Doggy Daycare At Mr. Tripoli's

I did not know that my grandhumans are running a doggie daycare center, but apparently they are.  I got up this morning to make my grandhuman take me out even earlier than usual.  Uncle Andrew brought my cousin Belle over not very long after we'd gotten up.  Apparently, Belle is a morning dog.  She came right in and started barking at me right away  I did not appreciate that at all.  I am not a morning dog.  After a while Mr. Tripoli and I went outside without her so he could teach me about chasing squirrels.  These squirrels are not like the ones I play with at home.  They run away and can climb trees.  I tried to climb a tree, but I fell out!

Pretty soon after that SOPHIE got dropped off!  I love Sophie.  She is still Mr. Tripoli's girlfriend, but if I lived closer, I could totally steal her!

We mostly played nice, but even Mr. Tripoli gets tired of all the noise sometimes.  He went back to the office and settled down with my grandhuman and left me to be in charge of Belle.  It's an exhausting job and I needed a lot of naps.

Prisoner Exchange

My humans are the worst.  I thought we were going to Mr. Tripoli's and they would stay there and hang out and help me get settled, like they did when I had my sleepover at Aunt Becky's.  That is not what happened.

As soon as school was over, we got in the car and drove to some giant loud, noisy place with bright lights and lots of stupid humans.  My grandhumans were already there, and Marty moved my stuff into their truck and gave them VERY brief instructions on taking good care of me.  Marty and Lyle said goodbye and told me to be a good puppy (as if there were any doubt) and then LYLE PULLED MY TOOTH OUT!  It was sticking out at a crazy angle, but I didn't think he had to just pull it out like that.  It would have come out by itself if he'd just left it alone (just like all my others did).  Of course, Marty put it in her pocket and saved it because she is a weirdo.  After that disgusting episode, the crazies put me in the truck and my grandhumans TOOK me!  I actually heard my grandhuman shout, "We've got the dog, let's go!"  Then he laughed manically.  I get the feeling he may have commanded liberation missions like this in the past.

I'm pretty sure that my actual humans stopped for Sonic on their way home.  My grandhumans and I did not.

Marty told them that I might throw up in the car (and after all the awesome treats at school it would have been SUPER GROSS), but I didn't, I just drooled on Mr. Tripoli's blanket.  When we finally got to Mr. Tripoli's I was so glad to get out of the car!  It was also good to see him.  He was happy to see me too, but it was very late and we were tired.

Marty sent my box down with me, but my grandhumans brought a bed out of the garage and didn't put me in the box!  The bed was okay, but I preferred to be under their bed.  I need to work on getting the crazies a bed I can get under at home.

I Will Show Them

So last night we were running late because my humans are lazy slugs (and because Washington traffic is always bad).  So Marty rushed me into class without giving me long enough to take a good potty break.  Then even though I jumped around like a crazy dog and acted like a complete idiot, she didn't take me back outside.  SO I PEED IN CLASS!  Lying Down.  I have only peed lying down once before, and that was also in class!  Other than the peeing, I was very good.  It helps that Marty had REALLY good treats this time (leftovers from when my god-grandhuman was visiting).

Going To School

We're on the way to school now.  I guess hoping for more than one week off was pointless. 

Marty is worried that I will not remember how to do any of the things I'm supposed to do.  She needs to understand that it's not that I don't remember, it's just that I don't want to.

After school we're going to meet my grandhumans.  Marty put a lot of my stuff in the car because I'm going to be staying with Mr. Tripoli while the crazies go on another adventure without me.  I would be more mad if I didn't already know that my grandhumans are going to spoil me A LOT and Mr. Tripoli will let me take his stuff and climb all over him.  (But I do kinda wish I were going to Aunt Becky's instead.)

Thank Goodness For The Farm

Since my classes with Miss Jessica are over for a little while, we didn't come up to the farm Wednesday night.  I was really mad, because we ALWAYS go to the farm at least once during the week, and usually more.  I kept trying to get the crazies to get off their lazy slug butts and go to the farm, but they wouldn't!  It didn't even matter how many times I jumped on them, or on the couch, or tried to play chomp or anything.  Marty got really frustrated and had to be reminded that we're a Peaceable Paws family.

Thursday Marty and Lyle left me in the box all day and didn't even come home for lunch.  It was only bearable because Joyce came over and played with me in the afternoon.  When the crazies did get home we got in the car and went to the farm.  Even though it was already dark when we got here, they took me out and let me play fetch for a long time.  (I have a special ball that lights up so I can find it in the dark.)  Marty said they were going to run my legs off, but my legs stayed attached.

After fetch we went inside and guess what?  My grandhuman is visiting too!  She saved me a special treat called "meatloaf".  The humans ate dinner (they did not get meatloaf) and I mostly left them alone.

Lyle took me outside after dinner for MORE fetch, which was awesome.  When we were done playing, I came inside and settled right down.  I don't understand why Marty is having so much trouble understanding that we need to play fetch for a long time EVERY DAY.  I'm thinking we may have to get some private lessons to help out with this.

Friday my grandhuman came by the little house and gave me cookies.  She is not a good thrower, but I gave her the ball anyway.  After she left I went to the dog park to play with Navidson.  It was just us because no other dogs came to play.  When Lyle got home we came back to the farm!  The farm two nights in a row!  Friday was MUCH better than Wednesday.

We spent yesterday up here too and I got to play lots of fetch and be outside and I didn't get into any trouble.  It's really, really cold up here today, so we haven't played as much fetch, but we did go to the dog food store and we bought a WHOLE LOT of treats.

This is how I like to spend time at the farm.

My Aunt Becky Loves Me

I got a get well present from my Aunt Becky!  It's got eggs that it poops out!  So far I have not been successful in getting an egg out without help, but I will be trying some more tonight.

Marty tried to take a picture of it still in the box, but I was too fast!
















In this picture you can see where they shaved my arm to put in the IV for my surgery.  Lyle is worried that the hair is never going to grow back!

My Teeth Are Falling Out Of My Head

Because I'm getting to be a biiiiiiiiiiiiggggggg (all of 45lbs when I was at the vet for the horrible surgery on Monday) dog, I am losing my puppy teeth.  Marty saves them whenever she finds them (which I think is pretty gross, but whatever).  I also leave blood all over my rawhides, my toys, and sometimes the carpet.

So far I have been pretty careful to only chew the things I'm supposed to (which isn't that hard because when we're at the little house the floor is totally covered with my toys and the farm isn't all that much better).  When I get my molars though, I'm going to do some real damage!

Locked In The Car

Marty is in a meeting right now, and I was supposed to get to attend, but I was participating "too much" and I got locked in the car!  Even worse, I have to wear the cone so I can't lick at my incision.  This is not helping Marty's plan to make me love the car.  Maybe if she didn't want me licking at the incision, she shouldn't have made me have the surgery in the first place!

Knowing Marty, I'm guessing she'll probably decide that this means we need to practice her giving me treats for lying on my mat even more.

Of course, it would probably help a lot if I got a big walk before this sort of thing, which I DID NOT.

Who Loves Who More?

They haven't given me any more pain meds, even though I have been crying.  This is how I plan to spend the night.

Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

You know how I've been a little bit hesitant about spending time at the vet?  And you know how Marty keeps telling me "nothing bad has ever happened to you here" (even though I did get that horrible shot for my microchip that one time, and even though they poke me with sharp things pretty much every time, and even though Dr. Richards scraped my foot with a scalpel blade once, and all sorts of other things that ARE SO bad)?  Well after today she can't say that ANYmore.

Marty took me to the vet this morning and had them NEUTER me.  In case you don't know what that means (I wish I didn't), it means they cut off very sensitive parts.  Marty said those parts weren't doing anybody any good, but how did SHE know?  She doesn't even HAVE parts like that!  She said that Christopher is in charge of making sure that the right dogs meet to have great puppies like me and my littermates and that he is really good at that and doesn't need my help.  She said that a lot of puppies are "accidents" and their moms and dads don't even stay together and sometimes they can't find humans to go live with.  Even though Marty and Lyle are crazy, and even though I am not very happy with them right now, I feel very sad for puppies that don't get their own humans, and I wouldn't want to grow up and be a big dog that caused that.

Dr. Richards did the surgery and the people at the vet that helped her took very good care of me, and I didn't have to stay there very long, because Marty stayed with me until after I got a shot that made me sleepy and then came and picked me up almost as soon as I was awake so that we could go home.  I do have a lot of friends at the vet and they snuggled and hugged me and told me it would be okay.

When they brought me out to Marty to go home, I decided to show everyone what I think about being treated like this and I POOPED RIGHT ON THE FLOOR!  Marty was not as upset by this as I was expecting, and the people at the vet acted like it happens a lot, but they did give me some extra pills to try and avoid any more mystery poop episodes.

I'm home now resting, but even though I got some medicine to make things not hurt, I'm still not feeling very good.  Mostly I am tired and a little upset to my stomach.  Marty didn't let me have anything to eat last night or this morning, so I'm pretty hungry and my stomach is grumbling.  I'm going to get some rice in a little while.

Marty says I might not have to go to school tonight, so at least some good may come from all this.

Upping My Game

My plans to take over the big bed and make the crazies sleep on the floor are progressing nicely.  Step one, making them put me in the bed because I was "cold" or "loud":  complete.  They've done this enough times that the idea of me sleeping in the bed with them on occasion is no longer out of the question.  Step two, getting them used to me getting in bed when I want:  in progress.  As I've previously reported, they are already resigned to my getting in the bed in the mornings after my potty break and before they get dressed for work.  They think this is "snuggle time", they are woefully ignorant that it's actually a carefully crafted step in my plan for taking over!  This week, I've started staying in bed when they get in the shower instead of hanging out in the bathroom with a Kong toy like they want me to.  So this morning I decided to forgo my potty break in favor of training my humans.  I got up on the bed with them without permission (because they were still sleeping).  They did not make me get off!  I think we're getting pretty close to being ready for the next step:  me getting in the bed before they do and spreading out so there's no room for them.  I'll keep everyone updated!

My AWESOME Weekend With Aunt Becky

Friday after we got back from the dog park, we got in the car and went to Aunt Becky's.  Marty packed practically everything I own, and I was a little worried that the crazies really were going to give me away, but really, going to live with Aunt Becky would be better than having to deal with them all the time anyway.  I explored her house a little more and unpacked some of my toys and then we got BACK in the car and went to Sonic and got a burger.  Marty rode in the back with me and made me be a lap warmer.  Aunt Becky likes to keep her house very cold.

When we got back, everyone but me was tired, so we went to bed.  I had to sleep in my box, which I did not appreciate.  Saturday morning Marty and Lyle got up very early and gave me my chicken.  Marty made Aunt Becky get up to watch.  After I'd had my chicken and almost no playtime they put me back in the box and left me!

It wound up working out GREAT though, because after Aunt Becky got a little bit more sleep, we played for the WHOLE weekend.  She didn't make me follow ANY rules!

I pretended to be missing Lyle, so I got up on the couch where he'd been on Friday night.  I am not allowed on furniture unless I'm invited, and I am not allowed to have chew toys on furniture, but here I am!










Marty and Lyle brought zombie dog too, and I am pretty tired of him getting to tag along whenever I do anything fun.  While Aunt Becky wasn't paying attention, I grabbed him and threw him on the bed and had "grownup time" with him!  Aunt Becky caught me afterward and took this picture which she sent to the crazies.






Aunt Becky took me for adventures on both Saturday and Sunday.  We got to see interesting things and meet another dog and some other people.  Everyone said I was a good dog.  (It's because Aunt Becky is so good at picking out puppies!)













When Marty and Aunt Becky and the rest of their litter were puppies, they used to play a game called "Scare Mommy" where they would do things to upset my grand-human.  (Actually, they still play it.)  Aunt Becky let me play by letting me practicing running fast with no one holding my leash and sending the picture to Marty! 







Aunt Becky has a really big yard and it has a fence, so we got to play out there a lot.  It also has one of my favorite things, MULCH!  Not only did I get to eat the mulch, but Aunt Becky even let me dig holes.  I love to dig!







I had SO MUCH FUN this weekend that I really want to go live with Aunt Becky forever.  When Marty and Lyle came back to get me I hid under the bed so I could stay longer.  I made sure to leave a lot of my toys at Aunt Becky's so we can go back soon.  Hopefully one of these days Aunt Becky will rescue me from the crazies and let me just come live with her.