3 Aug 2009

It has been a while since I wrote in the Dog-Blog.  I pretty much took July off - there just wasn't much to write about.  It's a dog's life - ya know?  Lots of little things - but no really big events.  Dad got really busy at that place he goes to every day.  He was leaving home early and sometimes not coming home until bed time.  There are also some days dad calls "weekends".  Dad is usually home on weekends.  But lately he has been gone some of those days too.  I don't know what dad does when he is away.  Mom says dad is making money for dog food.  I don't know what money is, and I never see dad bring home any dog food.  Some things are just too difficult for a puppy to understand I guess.  Hmmm....  when we go places sometimes mom or dad hands that green paper stuff to other people.  They trade the green paper for snacks or other stuff.  Is that money?  Does dad go out to get the green paper, then trades it for dog food?  This will require some deeper thought.

Dad and mom had to go away for a few days in early July.  I heard mom say that some friend of theirs from a long time ago joined Uncle Parker.  Dad was really sad about it when he heard the news, so it must have been a special friend.  Heidi came to watch us dogs while mom and dad were gone, and I got to play with Bobby the Skin Puppy.  I like Bobby.  He gets lots of yummy snacks, and he shares.  Well - I think he shares.  Maybe he just drops a lot of his snacks.  The end result is still the same - I get some snacks too.  Bobby doesn't play much yet - but I can tell that we will have great adventures together in the future.  How long do humans stay puppies anyway?

On Saturday mornings mom goes out shopping at some market called Ardovino's Desert Crossing.  Dad goes along sometimes, and I get to go along with dad.  Mom buys fresh vegetables and fruits.  Dad and I socialize.  There are other dogs there, but most of the people seem to like me.  And I like them too.  They always ask what kind of dog I am, and dad tells them I am a Texas Chihuahua.  That's not funny dad.  I am a Great Dane.  And I really am GREAT - I weigh over 120 pounds. Everyone laughs, then dad tells them I am a Great Dane.  Mom is always after dad and I to hurry up.  We are having fun, we don't want to go home.  Some people teach gardening classes there.  Mom wants to take some classes, and dad says we will take a dog-bed along and enjoy the nice patio while mom goes to the classes.  I think that will be fun.  Any time I go out with dad is fun.

11 Aug 2009

Yesterday (Monday) evening - some people came to visit mom and dad.  They brought two dogs with them.  They were friendly dogs, they looked like yellow Labradors with poodle hair.  No matter, they were friendly and Daisy and I had a great time racing around the yard with them.  They stayed overnight, and Tuesday morning we all went for a walk to visit the horses and cows.  Daisy didn't listen to mom, so mom got mad and threw Daisy's flexi-leash at her.  But Daisy ducked, and the flexi-leash missed Daisy and went into the canal.  Then mom was really angry at Daisy.  Whew - I was good the rest of the way home.  Then the dogs packed up with their people and drove away.  Too bad - we could have played some more.

12 Aug 2009

Wednesday evening.  We started dog training again.  This is the "ADVANCED" class.  The exercises are more difficult.  I am glad - I have been in three dog training classes, and earned two titles and 3 certificates so far.  But it was becoming boring - the same stuff over and over again and again.  This class is more challenging.  The first class, we did some of the same stuff as last time, but dad is being more demanding that I get it right.  Close isn't good enough any more.  I want to learn it right, so I can go to more dog shows with dad.  I remember Uncle Parker said he always had great fun at the dog shows.  And I want to make my dad proud of me.  I want to go on lots of great adventures after the dog shows too.  So I better train hard.  Dad has treats again.  I am always hungry, so I work to get the treats.  Dad won't give me the treat until I get the exercise right.  I don't really understand some of it yet, so I gets frustrated.  But the Alpha Human Karen tells dad different ways to work with me.  I like Karen.  Dad is a good trainer, but Karen is a great trainer.  She must have trained a thousand dogs.

That is about all.  It has been too hot to do any hiking.  There haven't been any dog shows.  James and his friends have not come to see me in a long time.  We have not visited the retirement center all summer.  There just has not been anything big to write about.  Maybe this is why it is called THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.  So I will write more when things start getting busy again.  Until then, remember to always stop and smell the fire hydrant.