Dom - are you there?

Dom/Shayda - are you reading about my adventures?  G&G bought me a package of 6 brightly colored balls.  But - my favorite is the one you gave me - it no longer has a whistle, is soft,  yukky from chewing on it, has a hole, doesn't bounce, and falls great behind the couch when I'm trying to irritate G&G/play hide/seek.  Gma  got tired of getting it out so left it there for a long time and I laid on the floor and cried/whined with my nose in the corner of the couch - she finally gave in and got it for me.  I pick it up in my mouth and throw it in the air to catch it and play with it between my feet rolling it all over the RV.  Did I ever say thank you?  It's just the best toy!

playground bully

uh oh!  I got in trouble today.  we went to the playground and  had fun running/playing with other dogs -   Then, I was playing ball with Gpa and very intent on the ball when 4 new dogs came running up behind me to play and surprised me and I turned on them with all teeth showing, growled  and took them all on.  Whoops!  they quickly left once I showed them I wasn't anyone to fool around with - Gpa wasn't very happy with me.  He was glad he didn't have to break up a fight that I almost started.   A little later 2 of the dogs returned with tails between their legs to try and play again - this time we played/had a great time and they knew I was the alpha dog (for now).  I just don't like to share my Gpa when we're playing and don't want to be messed with and I really don't like it when other dogs approach G&G and get attention. 

rest after an exhausting day at play

REST after running all day - 1st we went to the desert just outside the park where I like to chase the frisbee - I'll run as long as Gpa throws it.  Then we went to the dog park where I tried to play with all the dogs there.  Most weren't very friendly today but I ran around like a 'child in a candy store' gma sez and had fun anyway.  there were so many balls in the field I would pick one up then drop it, then go get another.  After I calmed down a bit Gpa threw some of the balls and we played for a long time.  I was sooooo tired when we got home I slept the rest of the day. 

My favorite place to rest - at first Gpa and I share the couch but we don't fit very well that way so little by little I push him out of the way so I can have the whole couch.

G&G say I'm a pretty lucky to have so much love.

SNOWBALL FIGHT W/GMA

Yes - a snowball fight with Gma here in Arizona!!  We went to Madera Canyon today and went 4-wheeling into Box Canyon.  We found snow, lots of muddy roads and gma threw snowballs while I caught them in my mouth.  They let me out of the Jeep to run ahead on the dirt road and lead the way and I kept looking back to make sure they were following.  I got really tired.  We saw strange creatures - brown, black and red things eating grass (cows) who left a lot of cow pies on the ground which I tried to roll in but Gma got real cranky about that.  Then, when we were coming down the mountain and I was in the car again we saw 4 large animals jump across the road in front of us - oh my I wanted to run after them and cried/whined but they wouldn't let me out - Gpa sez they were deer.  they ran away fast.  We saw more as we drove out of the canyon.    When we found a nice big area of snow  Gma & I got out and played - Gpa stayed with the Jeep cause he still can't walk very good.  One thing I know I don't like is riding over cattle guards - they scare me and I try and hide under Gma's feet in the front seat but when they won't allow that I just lay in the back and shake. 

when Gma sez sit/stay I do so she can take pictures of me - I really liked being in the mts today

They did soften a bit the other night when we had wind/heavy rain and I climbed up on the bed with them for the night - every time the wind blew I climbed higher in the bed until I was lying in between them and snuggled under the bedding and shook.   It helped to be close to them.  when the wind stopped they made me get down on my pillow up

AZ tidbits

we're having a rainy day in AZ so Gma wants to catch up with news.  I had so much fun at the dog park yesterday where I met more dogs 'like me' - their masters say I sure am beautiful and so well behaved (I try to do my best when G&G show me off).  They also say I'm really smart and G&G agree.  Gma gave me a shower the other day so I couldn't help but prance around the park to show off.  Here at our home I greet 3 favorite friends out walking every day - Spike, Vegas and Lucky.  

G&G were gone a long time the other day and since they got home Gpa seems to walk really slow and keeps his foot in a bucket of ice water and Gma takes me walking (they said he hurt his leg while playing in the SR Olympic Basketball tournament).  Gpa's team  of 70'yr olds played  against last year champs (they were 60).  I don't think he'll play any more basketball this year.

They are both busy cutting up pieces of wood and folks say they make some nice things.  I found the perfect stick in the desert the other day but Gma took it and put some of her carvings on it (a butterfly and a hum-mule/bird).  the wood is the one with holes in it).   Gpa made a nice Indian from cotton wood bark (they just won't let me chew on any of this wood).   They are busy getting ready for the wood carving show that will be on the 14th of this month.  Gma finished her rose and they are experimenting with wood coasters that look like quilts.

Oh Oh - I got to go pick out a really nice frisbee at the dog store the other day and while I was waiting in the car to go play......well, I just couldn't resist chewing on the edge . Gma gets really cranky when I do these kinds of things.  She shakes her finger at me and sez no no no no - I hang my head and then give her my front paw and a hug and she sez "its ok I love you anyhow"  I've also learned a new trick - 'sit pretty' (sitting on my behind with legs up for a treat.  Humans really like it when we obey their commands so I do my best.  I've also learned to put away my house toys so G&G don't fall over them (I have 4 favorite balls I like to chase inside the house and I really enjoy dropping them behind the couch when we play but put them in 'my' bucket when we're done.

We are have having a great time here in AZ - I get to sleep on the couch, use my 'pillow-up' to sleep at night at the foot of G&G's bed but when they're gone I use it to sleep on their bed (it's much softer than the floor).  When they sit outside cutting up their wood, I sit with them and people stop by to visit. I also get to lay out on the patio by myself and enjoy the sun.   I especially like to lay on the couch with Gpa - sometimes I have to push him out of the way cause he takes up most of the couch and doesn't leave me much room.  I also sit in Gma's big chair to look out the front window and watch people/dogs walk by.  there is only one dog here who doesn't like me (a big black lab) and I walk out a long way from his RV spot - he still barks when I walk by.  And there are so many smells to ck out every day with new dogs (and their masters) coming /going every day.  G&G went to watch the miniature trains yesterday (there were 11 trains all running at the same time).  they said I would have really liked it but I'm not allowed in that part of the park.   That's ok - its a lot of work just keeping up with this side of the 'dog' area.   so , until our next adventure - bye  

dog friends in Tucson

running running running - G&G hunt for dog parks so I can run with other dogs (its exhausting work).  One park had about 50 dogs playing - one just like me but with a long tail (we didn't like each other very much) but I had fun with the other dogs.   Today we went to a smaller park where there was only 1 dog and we had fun.   Mostly I like the green grass and playing with Gpa.  

Agility Course mastered

I'm about 5 ft off the ground here - piece of cake - but I had to stop /pose so Gma could take a photo.
this is the same narrow plank - simple to run up/over/down
Did this one the 1st day - it's about 6-7 ft high - again - I had to stop/pose so Gma could take a photo.  Usually I just run it so fast Gma can't keep up me.
This one takes some coaxing  (treat in hand) but I can do it - have to work at doing it alone - I weave in/out every post and then go sit on the blue platform to wait for my treat.
This is part of the course from across the wash (dry river bed).  Gpa was playing on 'this' side of the wash so I had a hard time staying focused today.

I have the agility course mastered except for the tunnel - we're working on that.

I start by sitting on the blue platform and then run - jump jump jump between two poles as high as Gma sets the rail, run up the wood 'tepee' (its about 7 ft high), run up/down the stairs, through the hole in the hanging tire, jump jump jump more poles, run up the narrow wood planks/over the top/down the other side (its about 5 ft off the ground and 6" narrow), then weave in/out in/out in/out (with Gma's help) through the poles and then back to sit on the blue platform for my treat. 

Gma tried to get a photo of me jumping through the tire but I was just too fast and couldn't slow down. 

Today was muddy  from the heavy rain yesterday so we couldn't run very long and then I got to have a bath when we got home.