I cannot imagine being anywhere else, and mom says she can't imagine it either.
This was me then:
And this is me now:
(I am a sculpture artist now - I work with Mini Slinky.) Mom says I have grown up a lot. She says I am very handsome. And she says she adores me. I like being adored.
This week has been exciting with a lot in it, and it's only Wednesday!
On Monday we had to go to the store for grain. I got a lot of attention at the co-op. I really like that place! Mom bought me a Kong Wubba. I like it. It has a squeak! I got a whole piece of chicken jerky, but in little bites. I did very good at my not jumping, and I even sat and laid down for the girl with the jerky. That place is so nice.
Yesterday we went to see Nana at the Arbors. Mom and I took her to do some errands and then we visited for a little while. I met a lady who cried and called me a "blessed angel from heaven". That made me feel really good. I like visiting the people there because they seem so happy to see me!
In the afternoon it was raining, and so mom decided to turn on the treadmill. She has not done this yet, and I would have been just fine if she never had. I hated it. This was me when mom first turned it on:
It was trying to eat her. I had to do SOMETHING!!
Mom decided that it was not ok for me to hate the treadmill. I was fine with it. I am fine with all of this stuff I hate. She has this thing about me not hating anything, ever. Picky. She went and got my leash and collar and spent some time with me. About five minutes later...
I decided it wasn't so bad. I wish I knew how she does that; how she makes me not afraid and not hate everything. She's sneaky. Or maybe she's magic.
In a little while we are going out again - to Brattleboro to mail some things, buy a frame and buy some other things for chickens I am not allowed to eat (yet, mom says) - and maybe something for me, I hope, although dad says I have too much stuff already. But we will see. We are going to a feed store, so maybe they will have something I need really really bad, like a cookie! Or a new hoof!
I have learned so many things since I came here. I think some of the best things I have learned involve this thing mom calls socialization, which sounds like something you do with other dogs or people, hanging out and stuff, but apparently extends to things like this:
On March 21, Gerbil bought Girl the gold birthday balloon of death. I hated it. I didn't care what mom said, it was evil. Even when I would get close enough to eat kibble off of the floor around it, I knew it was evil. It moved in the wind. Sometimes mom slapped it and MADE it move. Evil. Then the other day mom decided that it was time for me to get over my balloon problem once and for all. After a few minutes I decided it was actually kind of fun. I took the clip in my mouth and carried it around the house. I did it again. And again. The balloon bounced behind me, and I decided that it was REALLY fun!
On Wedsnesday we started Canine Good Citizen class. Our teacher is Christie, who is friends with mom. I decided that this meant I could get away with a lot of nonsense, like refusing to lay down and stuff. It didn't work. Mom made me do it all anyway. I guess we're going to get to meet strange dogs, and I have to do all kinds of things for a test that will happen in six weeks. There was a shopping cart, and two other dogs who didn't seem to like each other much. It was fun. I like school because it's an evening out with lots of smells and stuff, even if mom makes me behave.
On Thursday this week, the day before something called April Fool's Day, mom and I did errands. There was a rumor that we were going to get snow - a lot of snow - on Friday. Mom decided we should deliver eggs early, on Thursday, instead of waiting and seeing if snow would fall.
We started at Elgar and delivered eggs to Katy. I got to meet Alexandra, and I saw Jean and Katy and visited for a little bit. After Elgar we went to Webs to deliver the rest of the eggs. Aunt Mary, who usually is at her desk waiting for me, and Aunt Kathy, who's usually not there when we come to deliver eggs, were both in a meeting. We delivered the eggs to Tina. Mom made me do stuff like a recall from across the room with all the distraction in the office. I went to see Girl in the warehouse. I saw a LOT of customers and I worked on not jumping up. It's hard because I am little and I want to get close to people, as close as I can! Jumping up seems the best way, but mom always says no.
Aunt Mary and Aunt Kathy eventually came out of their meeting and I got to see them, too. We found Aunt Mary near customer service. I know it's kind of egotistical, but customer service really, really loves me! They get very excited, and this week they even gave me PRESENTS!! There were some wool things that needed a new home, and I love to sleep and lay and play on wool things. We got two sweaters and a rug all of this mom said needed to be felted. I just wanted them NOW, but mom said no.
We left Webs and went to Dave's to get special food for Tucker. I have never been to Dave's before. It was AMAZING! There were fish and rodents and birds and other dog smells, and a bin full of toys that said "50% off" which mom said I could pick ANYTHING out of that I wanted. Almost. She said no to the rubber chicken. I got a Lamb Kabob from those Funny Farm people, the same people who made my Tossed Chicken Salad toy. We got Tucker's food (I haven't even met him yet!) and we headed home.
It was kind of a long morning. (Dig my car seat harness? I am getting over it. I don't love it, but I live with it.)
After we got home, mom took my new stuff from Kirsten and Sara, my new wool things, and put them into the washer with hot water and soap. Then she put them in the dryer. They got small and thick and PERFECT for me to lay down on and roll around in.
I have a favorite; the striped one. Apparently it is made with Aunt Kathy's yarn, which makes sense. She must have good taste, too.
Yesterday kind of stank. Mom and dad left me here to go to a Farmer's Market, which I am pretty sure I would have liked. Mom wanted me to come along, but dad said no, that it was good for me to get used to being home alone sometimes. Now I think HE'S on to me! Anyway not much exciting happened after that. We spent some time on the deck. I have to be on a long leash on the deck because the railings are big enough for me to get my whole self through. Mom says I will get used to the long leash, but I think she should just let me loose. Boo gets to be loose. Unfair.
Anyway, this morning mom and dad took me with them. First we delivered the dog food that we got on Thursday to Tucker. I met him. He was nice, and my-size. Mom did not take a picture of us because she was busy juggling leashes. I think Tucker and I could be friends.
After we left the food at Tucker's house we went for a drive and ended up at this place with seagulls and a river and a bike path. Mom called it Unity Park. I saw a lot of new things. I saw new dogs, four of them, all from far away. I saw kids on swings, and people in cars, and people walking.
I saw a little girl on a bike and I saw seagulls. SEAGULLS!! I am pretty sure they are the best things ever. They fly! I like to watch them go over my head.
Mom let me go down to the river, which she's pretty sure is not ok, but I am spoiled so it's fine.
I could see the bridge from where I was. Mom says there's a dam too. if I looked the other way and squinted hard, mom said I could see Grandma Judy and Max's house, but I didn't see it. Apparently when dad was a kid he spent a lot of time in this river. Mom says if I am very good and wear a life vest she will take me out on it in her kayak.
All in all, I thought the walk was fun, except for the Silver Can of Death.
Mom says I will get used to it, just like the balloon of death and the vacuum. We'll see!
I am not. Mom's just been busy with work, and away from home. Dad takes pictures with his phone to send to mom, like this:
This is the cat tormenting me by sitting on my crate.
Or this is a good one.
This is me waiting with my tissue box with the kibble inside of it. I actually figured out that if I flip the box over I can chew through the corners and get to the kibble without having to put my face into the hole on the top of the box. I'm smarter than mom sometimes.
Mom was gone for two days and I did not like it much. She went to New York to teach a class. I was ok, but not thrilled. When she came home I was very excited; maybe a little too excited, so mom actually ignored me until I calmed down. She said something to dad about separation anxiety which is apparently a bad thing so it's important that I don't catch it. I like to think it was hard for her not to get right down on the floor and rub me all over. You couldn't tell by the way she was acting.
Anyway, being home alone with dad is not bad, but it's not as exciting as being home with mom. Dad took me for a walk one day, which was nice, but he doesn't make me practice all my skills during the day. He does make me wait for supper!
I have lost almost every tooth I ever had. My new ones are bigger and I like them, but for two days I have not felt much like chewing things. My big top right canine fell out while mom was gone, and then a smaller one fell out yesterday. I have one big one left on the top left and mom says it is loose and almost ready to come out. I will be glad when I can get back to the business of hard chewing on my bones and things.
Mom is pretty dull for a day or two after a work trip. She is all about catching up on things and resting, which I find boring. She says if it is warm today we can have a long walk, and I will like that. I think I am to start school again this week, but I am not sure if I will be doing Canine Good Citizen, Rally Obedience, or both. Dad thinks one is enough, mom can't make up her mind.
Heartgard is GROSS! Who invented that? It's as bad as peanut butter! There should be a salmon flavored one.
Sunday
I had a bath and it was not as horrible as I thought it would be.
I smelled like Rosemary Mint for a long time after, but I took care of that with some rolling around and licking myself clean. I also had my nails done, and got brushed a lot. I am shedding a little mom says. Dad says I look ridiculous on one side where there is some hair coming out and when he says that mom yells at him.
I got to run around a lot after my bath, and everyone watched me and played with me.
I liked that part a lot.
Monday
Today was Girl's birthday and everyone went out and left me home all alone in my crate while they got dinner. During the day the cat teased me and picked on me a lot. If I am asleep sometimes he comes over and taps me with his paw until I chase him. Then he runs off too quick for me to catch him. Other times he lets me get his tail or jump on him, and then he makes angry noises, but he never hurts me. It's strange. If I am in my crate being good, he comes over and puts his paw on my crate door and teases me. Mom says this is why she does not like cats. She makes me be nice to him, but I think he should be eaten. It doesn't seem fair.
Tuesday
When I came downstairs this morning it was just like a regular day; I had my breakfast and I went for my walk. But then I noticed something very strange in the dining room. On the table there was a big gold thing, and when I looked closer I discovered that it was the Gold Birthday Balloon of Death. I barked and barked and barked.
Mom took it down from the table and made me get close to it; well, she didn't exactly make me, she just put down enough kibble that I really did not have a choice. After that I was quiet near it. She put it back on the table and I ignored it for most of the day. But then it MOVED, all by itself in the air in the house, and I got really mad at it again and barked and barked and barked. Mom brought it down on to the floor again and showed it to me, and I ate kibble from the floor all around it. I think it will be ok.
Mom had a friend over, Cindy is her name, and I got to sit on the couch and be petted and played with while they drank wine and talked a lot. Women like to talk, dad says. As long as I get petted, that's fine with me. Mom went outside with Cindy last night when Cindy was leaving and I was not happy because it was almost dark time and mom is always home at dark time. I waited very patiently.
She came back in eventually, and I was glad.
Wednesday
The Gold Birthday Balloon of Death will not LEAVE! This morning it made me very upset again. Mom tried to get me to eat kibble and accept it, and I did at first, but then I started barking again. Then she tried to distract me by making a loud sound, or clicking her tongue, but I ignored her completely. Mom thought that maybe I had decided that the balloon pooped kibble and was barking to get more, so she decided on a "deterrent", as if I need one of those. She filled up a squirt bottle with water, and every time I barked at the balloon she squirted me. After three squirts I decided that not only does the balloon not poop kibble, it's not worth my time barking at it. Mom says that the squirt bottle is her least favorite thing to use, but because I was just insistent and would not stop, she needed to up the ante. I guess it can stay, but I wish it would leave; the bottle AND the balloon!
I have lost a lot of teeth now. Mom says she is saving them and Dad wants to know why. Me too. I would like to keep them, but she grabs them up as soon as I spit them out. She can tell when I am going to lose one, she says, because I stop chewing as much. Some of them are big and annoying in my mouth when they are loose.
Mom gave me a quarter of an apple the other day because I had stopped chewing my bones and she knew one was loose. I chewed on it until the tooth fell out, and then I nibbled it with just my front teeth. Sometimes I don't want to chew my food now because of my teeth so mom is letting it soak and get mushy. It works better, I think. I will be glad when they are all out and my big teeth are all in.
It is supposed to snow tonight. Mom says that if it does not snow a lot we can go for a walk again, all the way down the road. I hope it does not snow!
I have another new crate for the car. Dad says this makes me spoiled but Mom says it means she is indecisive. I agree with her. It is smaller than my portable crate, but when we are in the car I am only in it for short periods of time. I fit in it, which is what matters. I still like my Port-A-Crate better. Mom does too and she says she should have bought another one of those instead of the one she got.
I lost more teeth this week. I also learned that I can drag my blanket around the floor and choose where to take a nap. I like to be right under mom's feet when she is in her chair.
On Wednesday when we went for our noon walk I met something new and scary.
Well, I thought it was scary, but then it curled up into a tiny ball and just stayed there. Mom says it's called a wooly-bear and it means spring is here. I think it's prickly and weird. Then Katie came to visit with Girl and Gerbil. Mom and Dad decided that they would go down into Dad's cave while Girl and Gerbil and Katie watched a movie in the living room. So far the only time I have been downstairs was when I sneaked down and pooped on the floor. Mom had me wear a leash and collar so I could not get into trouble. It was kind of boring.
There were some of my toys, and a couch I could share with mom, and Boo was really annoyed that I was there. The whole place smells like him, so I think he thinks it's HIS space. What he doesn't know is that everything is MINE.
My last beginner obedience class was Thursday night. I passed! We got to play games and I did mostly good. I had to wear a t-shirt, with my paws through the sleeves and everything. It felt sort of like my orange raincoat. I also had to sit while mom picked up cookies and put them into a bag; I could not eat them. That was hard. Then we did a game with recall where Amanda threw two handfuls of everyone's treats all mixed up into the air, and they landed all over the mats, right between me and where mom stands to call me back. Dad says that I never saw the treats, but Mom knows I did because she saw me start to drop my head. Then I decided I could wait, and I ran to Mom instead of eating all the treats. Mom was very happy with me. We also had to heel, and mom had to carry a glass of water in her leash-hand that she could not spill a drop out of. She didn't spill any, which means I did very well and did not pull once.
I went for a long walk with Mom on Friday afternoon, from our house all the way down to the main road. Two and a half miles, and I was not even worn out. Mom worked all day and she was cranky and said she needed air, so off we went, down the hill past the brook which is very big and loud, past the neighbors and the trees and near where all the deer walk. I saw so many new things and smelled so many new smells. There were other dogs, some of them loose, and one of them followed me and was not nice about it. There are so many more houses down there!
Where we live there are hardly any houses or people, but down in the neighborhood there's kids and cars and bicycles and all kinds of new things. Then we got into the car with Dad and I crashed out, right there on mom's lap.
In fact, sometimes when we go to get in the car I am fussy, but this time I jumped right up. I have never been so glad to see the car and Dad!
Today is Saturday and it has been a very quiet day. Mom and Dad took me to the Farmer's Exchange for seeds and things, but then they left me in the car (boring!) in my crate (double boring!). I waited very patiently. We went to a place called Greenfield's next, and I stayed in the car with Dad while Mom went inside for vegetables and things. I have gotten very good at waiting quietly for Mom when she leaves me. At home we practiced heeling in the house without a leash or a collar. Mom is improving. Sometimes she forgets that she needs to talk to me more. She also taught me a new thing that I did not like at first... it's called "Leave It", and it means that if she drops something - anything, even like a whole piece of chicken - I cannot touch it. I have to wait until she either picks it up or lets me have it. THAT is difficult. I try using my sad face...
but it does not work. Mom's tough.
They're discussing a bath again, maybe tomorrow Mom says. It is going to be cold but she says I stink so it's time. She even said that if it was too cold she would light a fire and make me stay in the living room.
I saw this in the newspaper the other day.
It made mom get quiet and kind of sad. I think it means something bad has happened. That Shiba does not look happy, and the man looks funny with that mask. Mom says that there is a group working to help out the animals in Japan where this picture was taken. She found an article about it, too. She says that she loves groups like the Red Cross and appreciates and supports what they do for people when there is a disaster, and she would never say that a Shiba like this one should come before a person (which made me kind of angry at her, but I forgive her because I love her). But she said that people would not be human if they did not remember and help their animals, too. She said it's a responsibility. That made me happy! I am sad that there are other dogs in Japan that need help. But I am glad that there are groups to help them.
I get no computer time, so no blogging! It's very upsetting. Mom has not been taking nearly as many pictures of me either which I think is almost rude. She's so all about work sometimes. Boo is better now, which is good because it really was smelly in here. I hope mom never has to shave the hair off of my butt because I stink! I'd rather have a bath I think.
I did not get my nails cut on Sunday. Today is Tuesday and my nails still have not been cut. Either mom has forgotten or she really has been preoccupied. I am feeling very sneaky about this. Mom says not to get too comfortable because today is not over yet.
Grandpa Dan and Karen came on Sunday to visit me. They said it was for eggs, but of course that can't be the real reason! I am not supposed to jump on them, but sometimes it is very hard not to. I am little and I want to put my feet up on people so I can get closer to them. Mom says no, not unless people ask me to. I sat on mom's lap at the table for a while, but they just talk and don't play with me or anything so it can get boring fast. And now mom won't let me on the table. She has decided that it's not a good habit to get in to.
There are chickens everywhere inside and out. Since mom won't let me chase the chickens outside, I chase one inside. Sometimes dad makes it more fun for me!
Mom got me a new car seat harness and I HATE it! I belong on her lap or wandering around the car loose. She is very wrong about this, but seems very determined. The first time she took me out in it was on Monday. We went to the Farmer's Exchange and the Arbors to see Nana. I wiggled as hard as I could the whole way to get out of the harness, but it did not work. At the Farmer's Exchange I got to go inside with mom and get grain and shavings for chickens. There were not a lot of people there but there were a lot of employees and they all lined up to pet me. I sat down and was good almost the whole time. I had to wear my harness into the store which I thought was embarrassing. I do not like it.
Mom bought me a hoof even though I stole a cookie off the floor. It was shaped like a peanut and it tasted like peanut butter and I didn't even like it. Mom was mad at me but then one of the girls said that she had dropped it on the floor and forgotten to pick it up. Mom said that didn't make it ok for me to take it. It is hard to know what is right and wrong sometimes. Food is food, if you ask me!
I had to be belted back into the seat while mom got the grain and shavings. She got out of the car and closed me in, then opened the back of the door so the shavings could be loaded in. I watched very closely from the front seat. Then I got loose in the car! I stepped on the seat belt thing and there was a click and I was free! But I could not go anywhere because mom and the man had pushed the shavings into my way so I could not get really loose.
After we were done at the feed store we headed for the Arbors to see Nana. This time instead of being able to sit in the lobby and get petted by everyone we had to go up to Nana's apartment. I jumped on the desk when mom signed in and she made me sit. Then I had to heel, which means I can't just wander around, I have to stay right next to her. Then I rode on an elevator and sat in heel position on the whole ride up to the second floor. When we got to Nana's apartment I walked right in the door, but then the door closed and I got scared. I wanted to hang on mom and be clingy, and I whined a lot, but she just handed me my hoof and ignored me. I paced and whined more. Mom made Nana ignore me, too! After a while I decided it wasn't so bad in there, and besides no one was paying any attention to me. I started chewing on my hoof quietly, and then mom and Nana both petted me and played with me.
Today we went into town and mom left me in the car in that stupid harness while she went into the post office and then into the town hall to register me and Boo. She says now we are legal. It was a short trip and mom says it helps me to get used to the harness. I do not think I will ever get used to the harness.
When we came home I had lunch and played for a while. In the afternoon mom made a smoothie in her Vitamix. It is very loud but I have gotten used to it. She gave me a small piece of carrot and I liked it so she gave me a WHOLE one!
It makes my teeth feel good because it is cold and crunchy.
I still like my hoof better though.
If I had to choose, I'd take a hoof any day!
Dad's home, so I have to go and make him play fetch with me now!
Yesterday was kind of dull. It rained in the morning, and Boo is still not feeling great.
He gets nothing to eat but rice now, which must be awful. I guess he has a "fussy stomach" as mom says. He eats things I would not even eat and I am a puppy! Mom says he is a goat who will eat anything and that's how he got a fussy tummy. I heard her tell a story about how one time he ate a whole big sheet of dirty butcher paper out of the trash. Mom had been in a rush and put it there instead of in the freezer where dogs can't get it. Boo stole it so quietly that mom never heard him. When she was not so busy and went back to get the paper, it was gone. She thought dad had put it in the freezer. I guess Boo ate the whole thing, in one big piece, without even tearing it into pieces. Mom knows because after two days all of a sudden he got sick and it came right back up in one piece. Another time he had to go to the vet for x-rays, and they found out he ate rocks. Another time it was a hairball, like CATS get! I hope I don't even become a goat. Mom says he's lucky he's alive and lucky he has not had to have an operation to take some of this stuff out of him. Then she says "...so far!". I think he's lucky too.
I did get a new friend named Yoshi (just like me, only he's GREEN!). He is fun, even though he does not have a squeaker.
I like to shake him as hard as I can, and chew on his head.
Today was much more fun. Mom went out in the morning for a while with Nana to the farmer's market. When she came home she and dad made apple crisp and started turkey soup for supper. I helped by staying right under moms feet in case she dropped anything. She only dropped one little piece of apple. Dad dropped one, too, but he was too quick and I missed it. I love apples.
Girl and Gerbil gave me a present!
It is bigger than me almost and I love to play with it!
I KNOW I can kill it!
The chickens were outside and I decided I wanted to eat them. Mom says I can't. She made me sit and stay right in front of them!! It was awful. I even whined a little. I think chickens are made to be eaten. Mom says I will learn that they are not "or else". I do not know what "or else" is, but I suspect it is not good.
I got my lobster cookie today! Mom said that it was not fair for me to not have it just because Boo is a goat who eats bones whole instead of gnawing on them like a normal dog.
It was very good, but very crunchy! I liked the yogurt frosting part the best.
Later we went to the Greenfield Farmer's Exchange for more food for me. I kind of had an accident there. I pooped on the floor, right where another dog had pooped before me. Mom was NOT happy. I am beginning to think that there are a lot of places I am not supposed to poop, and that pooping can ONLY be done outside. Dumb rule, but I suppose if that's what mom says I should probably obey.
After we got my food we went to visit Max and Milla, who live with my Grandma Judy and Grandpa Robert. Milla is a spaniel and Max is something like a Dachshund and something else all put in a blender. I had not met them yet. At first I was not happy. It's not my house and there were two dogs there and the whole house smelled like THEM. I was intimidated and it made me a little mean. After a couple of minutes and mom reminding me that I may NOT be mean to other dogs I relaxed and by the time we left Max and I were good friends.
I bet he is my best friend ever. He is only 9 months old, and I am 5 months old, and we played really hard for almost an hour. Mom said that I would be asleep in the car before we left the driveway and I almost was. We got about a mile down the road and I just crashed right where I was standing. I woke up every time we stopped or slowed down or turned a corner, but then I would just flop back down again. Once I fell asleep with my head on mom's lap and my butt still in the air. Another time I fell asleep with my butt on mom's leg and my head on dad's leg and my belly hanging down in between them.
When I am tired, I am TIRED!
There's rumors of a public walk tomorrow, an in-town one, and my nails again. That mom, she has a memory like a steel trap.
. I like it. It has a squeak! I got a whole piece of chicken jerky, but in little bites. I did very good at my not jumping, and I even sat and laid down for the girl with the jerky. That place is so nice. 
from those Funny Farm people, the same people who made my 
toy. We got Tucker's food (I haven't even met him yet!) and we headed home.
? I am getting over it. I don't love it, but I live with it.)
better. Mom does too and she says she should have bought another one of those instead of the one she got. 
